And notice all tracks—that is footmarks of men, animals, birds, wheels, etc., for from these you can read the most important information, as Captain d'Artagnan did in the story of the secret duel, of which I shall tell you later.
This track-reading is of such importance that I shall give you a lecture on that subject by itself.
USING YOUR EYES.
Let nothing be too small for your notice, a button, a match, a cigar ash, a feather, or a leaf, might be of great importance.
A scout must not only look to his front but also to either side and behind him, he must have "eyes at the back of his head" as the saying is.
Often by suddenly looking back you will see an enemy's scout or a thief showing himself in a way that he would not have done had he thought you would look round.
There is an interesting story by Fenimore Cooper called "The Pathfinder" in which the action of a Red Indian scout is well described. He had "eyes at the back of his head," and after passing some bushes he caught sight of a withered leaf or two among the fresh ones which made him suspect that somebody might have put the leaves there to make a better hiding place, and so he discovered some hidden fugitives.
NIGHT SCOUTING.
A scout has to be able to notice small details just as much by night as by day and this he has to do chiefly by listening, occasionally by feeling or smelling.
In the stillness of the night sounds carry further than by day. If you put your ear to the ground or place it against a stick, or especially against a drum, which is touching the ground, you will hear the shake of horses' hoofs or the thud of a man's footfall a long way off. Another way is to open a knife with a blade at each end, stick one blade into the ground and hold the other between your teeth and you will hear all the better. The human voice, even though talking low, carries to a great distance and is not likely to be mistaken for any other sound.