A lady was walking on the Sussex Downs with her old father, who was an
invalid. Suddenly, she saw below her a number of sheep penned in, as
they often are, for the night. Two large dogs had got among them, and
the bodies of two dead sheep told of the mischief already done, while
the other frightened sheep were huddled together, waiting for their
turn to be attacked.
The lady did not know what to do; she did not like to leave her
invalid father alone while she went down, and it was far too steep a
descent for the latter to attempt.
Just then, round the corner came five Scouts, quite small, the eldest
being only thirteen years old. They soon took in the situation and
advanced to the fray. When the dogs saw them, they left the sheep and
rushed, barking, at them, and the Scouts fled. But only for a minute!
A council of war was held, and again they advanced, poles in hand, and
this time succeeded in driving off the dogs. The last the lady saw was
the plucky little patrol kneeling, with their coats off, round a poor
sheep on the ground. After that, she left, feeling the sheep was in
good hands.
In a few moments the sheep revived, its temples were laved with water,
some of which it also drank and enjoyed. Still, it was beyond standing
alone, and what was to be done next?
A stretcher was made with the poles and coats, and then came the
difficulty of getting the heavy body on to the stretcher. At last this
difficulty was overcome, and the procession started over the rough
field to the farm, two miles off.
At last the farm was reached, and the Scouts, after helping the farmer
render further, and perhaps more useful, first-aid, started on their
journey homeward.
This is an absolutely true story. What would have happened twenty
years ago had five town boys seen those dogs at work destroying sheep?
They might perhaps have run away, possibly to seek help, but I am none
too sure that they would not have looked on and rather enjoyed it,
merely thinking what a good story they would have to tell their
comrades on their return home.
Scouting has not only taught boys what to do in an emergency, but it
has taught, and is teaching, our small boys the meaning of love and
kindness to other human beings and also to animals.
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