"That is the kind of boy we want for a Scout. He is loyal and his honor is to be trusted. You must help me to organize the Gang, as you call them, into another patrol. But what I was going to say is this: When you and the Gang were enemies, which I hope you never will be again, what would have happened if one of you had ventured alone down near the gingham mills?"
"They would have done him up."
"Exactly. Now suppose the eight of you had stood together, back to back, shoulder to shoulder, working against a common enemy?"
"We did once," said Benny, "and they licked us, anyhow, but there were more of them than there were of us."
"Bet your life they didn't lick us very bad," put in Skinny. "It was a snowball fight. They drove us from their hill, but afterward they asked us to come back and slide with them, and we did. We had a fine time."
"It seems to me that in that case both sides won a victory. The greatest victory a boy or man can win is one over himself, over his own passions, his selfishness and meanness. The greatest enemy that he or his country can have will be found right inside his own heart. There is where we all have a fight on hand continually. But, remember, you are Scouts and a Scout's honor is to be trusted."
"Benny, what is the next law?"
"A Scout is helpful."
"There you have it. The highest type of man is the useful one. There was once an old philosopher who said that he counted that day lost in which he did no good deed. A Scout ought to feel the same way. You must try to do something for somebody every day."
"They don't have giants and dragons, any more," said Skinny. "I wish they did; we'd paralyze 'em."