When he was talking it over with his advisers, someone said: "There's a young fellow called Rowan who seems to be able to get anything done that you ask him. Why not try him?"
So Rowan was sent for, and when he came in the President explained why he had sent for him, and, putting the letter in his hand, said: "Now, I want that letter sent to Garcia."
The lad simply smiled and said, "I see," and walked out of the room without saying another word.
Some weeks passed and Rowan appeared again at the President's door and said, "I gave your letter to Garcia, sir," and walked out again. Of course, Mr. McKinley had him back and made him explain how he had done it.
It turned out that he had got a boat and sailed away in her for some days; had landed on the coast of Cuba, and disappeared into the jungle; in three weeks' time he reappeared on the other side of the island having gone through the enemy and found Garcia, and given him the letter.
He was a true scout, and that is the way a scout should carry out an order when he gets it. No matter how difficult it may seem he should tackle it, with a smile; the more difficult it is the more interesting it will be to carry out.
Most fellows would have asked a lot of questions—first as to how they were to set about it, how they could get to the place, where were they to get food from, and so on; but not so Rowan: he merely learnt what duty was wanted of him, and he did the rest without a word; any fellow who acts like that is certain to get on.
We have a lot of good scouts already in England among the District Messenger Boys in London. These lads, from having difficult jobs frequently given them and being expected to carry them out successfully, take them on with the greatest confidence in themselves; and, without asking a lot of silly questions, they start off in a businesslike way, and do them.
That is the way to deal with any difficulty in life. If you get a job or a trouble that seems to you to be too big for you, don't shirk it: smile, think out a way by which you might get successfully through with it, and then go at it.
Remember that "a difficulty is no longer a difficulty when once you laugh at it—and tackle it."