Page:Scouting for girls, adapted from Girl guiding.djvu/61

Rh away to the commanding officer of the British troops. Through difficulties and dangers she sped without a fear for her own safety; she trudged on through forests and bogs, going twenty miles round out of the beaten track so as to avoid being traced. In the dusk of the evening her path was checked by a deep stream. Here she felt almost hopeless, until she found a tree-trunk fallen across the water, and by this she managed to scramble to the opposite bank. Whilst dreading what might happen at home to her invalid husband and her little children left behind, Laura Secord still pressed forward through the darkness, tired and weak, till she at length reached the British camp, and was able to unburden her mind and give the news of the danger to the officer in command. All present were struck with admiration for her gallant effort, and with the knowledge of the impending danger thus gained, the British were able to.

Now, did not this Laura Secord, though quite untrained, do every part of the duty of a Girl Scout? She showed in leaving all that was dearest to her to go off to the commander.

She showed cleverness and in getting through the American outposts by driving her cow in front of her, pretending that she was merely taking her out to graze.

She showed going such a long journey rapidly and well, being healthy and fit for hard work.

Also in being able to find her way by a circuitous route through forests and by night, and yet not seen by the enemy—, too, not only of the