Scout Badge.
The scout's badge is the arrow head, which shows the north on a map or on the compass. It is the badge of the scout in the Army, because he shows the way: so, too, a peace scout shows the way in doing his duty and helping others.
The motto on it is the scout's motto of
BE PREPARED.
(B. P., my initials), which means that a scout must always be prepared at any moment to do his duty, and to face danger in order to help his fellow-men. Its scroll is turned up at the ends like a scout's mouth, because he does his duty with a smile and willingly.
The knot is to remind the scout to do a good turn to some one daily.
A scout's badge represents and is called his "life." It is given him when he passes the tests in scout-craft necessary to make him a scout.
He will be called on at some time or the other to risk his life, that is to perform some difficult task, and if he fails in it he loses his life—that is his badge. In such case a Court of Honour may allow him to remain in the patrol, but he cannot have his badge again, unless he performs some very specially good work.
If he breaks his word of honour, or otherwise disgraces himself, his life is taken (that is his badge), and he is expelled from the patrol.
The badge is worn by scout masters on the left side of the hat or cap.