“But who tells you if you can be a Boy Scout and who bosses ’em?” asked one boy.
“You boss yourselves. You elect your own leader. Your company is called a patrol and the leader, whoever is selected, is called the patrol leader. When there are enough patrols in one locality they all select a scout master for the troop, for that’s what several patrols and their officer are called. And each patrol does as it pleases, goes into the country in pleasant weather, has camps in the summer and a club room to meet in in the winter.”
Another wave of enthusiasm was chilled by Phil Abercrombie.
“What’s all them hats and knapsacks and things cost?” he asked cautiously.
“I wouldn’t bother about that,” replied Mr. Trevor, “for you can get those things when you are ready. But they cost less than three dollars an outfit if all the patrol members buy them.”
“I’d want a hat anyway,” urged Wart Ware. “I think it’s swell.”
“Let’s stop a few minutes,” broke in Mr. Trevor, “while I tell you more closely what this all means.”
The boys went back to their seats, for the ice cream had just been served, while Mr. Trevor explained further:
“A patrol is made up of nine boys with a patrol leader, ten in all. But you may add to that as many as you like until you have enough to make two patrols. The boys select a patrol leader by vote. After this, each boy fills out a blank which he sends to the nearest Boy Scout headquarters. Then the headquarters secretary will tell you where you can buy your uniforms, and he will send you badges and the ‘Manual of Scout Laws.’
“Ten boys make a patrol; ten patrols form a troop. The leader of a patrol is a patrol leader. The leader of a troop is a scout master. In fair weather a patrol holds its drills and parades and executes its scouting maneuvers in the open air. In the winter a meeting place indoors is secured where instructions are given on specified evenings. No boy candidate can begin his work until he has taken the ‘Scout’s Oath.’”