, they could guide themselves by the sun, and stars, and finally,
they were husky and hard as nails and always in the best of health and
condition. Their adventurous life, always on the edge of danger and new,
unsuspected things, made them as quick as lightning and very clever at
reading character and adapting themselves to people.

In a way, too, they had to act as rough and ready police (for there were
no men in brass buttons in the woods!) and be ready to support the
right, and deal out justice, just as our "cow-boys" of later ranch days
had to prevent horse-stealing.

Now, the tales of their exploits have gone all over the world, and
healthy, active people, and especially young people, have always
delighted in just this sort of life and character. So, when you add the
fact that the word "scout" has always been used, too, to describe the
men sent out ahead of an army to gain information in the quickest,
cleverest way, it is no wonder that the great organizations of Boy and
Girl Scouts which are spreading all over the world today should have
chosen the name we are so proud of, to describe the kind of thing they
want to stand for.

Our British Scout-sisters call themselves "Girl Guides," and here is the
thrilling reason for this title given by the Chief Scout and Founder of
the whole big band that is spreading round the world today, as so many
of Old England's great ideas have spread.

WHY "GUIDES"?

On the North-West Frontier of India there is a
famous Corps of soldiers known as the Guides, and
their duty is to be always ready to turn out at
any moment to repel raids by the hostile tribes
across the Border, and to prevent them from coming
down into the peaceful plains of India. This body
of men must be prepared for every kind of
fighting. Sometimes on foot, sometimes on
horseback, sometimes in the mountains, often with
pioneer work wading through rivers and making
bridges, and so on. But they have to be a skilful
lot of men, brave and enduring, ready to turn out
at any time, winter or summer, or to sacrifice
themselves if necessary in order that peace may
reign throughout India while they keep down any
hostile raids against it. So they are true
handymen in every sense of the word, and true
patriots.

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