I heard of a lady who, when riding on Wimbledon Common, came across a
party of Boy Scouts. She discovered their whereabouts by the immense
amount of jabbering that was going on; so, being the wife of an
officer, and knowing a good deal about scouting, she rode up to the
Scouts, and told them just what I should have told them, that unless
you practise keeping quiet at all times, you will forget to do so on
some important occasion, and so will give yourselves away.
Scouts should always talk low and quietly, and also should always move
quietly and lightly.
Remember on a still day or in the night a heavy, thumping footfall can
be heard a long way off, even in open country, and very much more so
in a street or in a house. So practise always treading lightly and
silently, and you will soon gain the Scouts' habit of moving unheard.
I have heard from an officer at the Front, who regrets that two old
Scouts whom he had with him have been killed or wounded. He found that
ordinary soldiers would not move quietly at night, and so were useless
to him. He has now got an ex-burglar as the next best thing to an
ex-Boy Scout!