Quickly and skilfully tourniquets were applied to arrest the flow of blood that already dyed the grass red. Everyone was pale and horrified.
“What happened?” was the whisper that passed from one to the other.
“The—chap—threw a bomb—and—made off,” said the only man fit to speak.
The young officer had returned.
“Captain Miles has had a narrow shave,” he said, “but he’s all right. He’s gone on with some more men. Now, let’s see to these poor chaps.”
But he found they were all being seen to very well, and he learnt for the first time what the Scout motto means. Through years of peace the Scouts had been preparing themselves. With keenness and energy they had been learning, practising much that seemed to outsiders of but little use. “Be Prepared,” was the motto their Chief had given them. And “Stick to it,” was the one they had added. The war has proved who, after all, was in the right.
The Kangaroos had been told to guard the mill pond. They had not been told why it was necessary to keep a sharp watch upon it, beyond that it was being used by the enemy. But, being Scouts, they had obeyed the order and kept a vigilant lookout, though it seemed quiet and peaceful enough.
The two whose turn it was to watch were lying well ambushed, their eyes upon the water, when to their immense surprise a head suddenly rose above the surface.
Its hair was plastered down with slime and duck-weed. Its eyes looked about in a terrified manner. Seeing no one, the owner of the head swam to the side of the pond, and quickly, cautiously, clambered on to the bank.
Then the two Scouts dashed forward. In a minute they had him down, his arms pinned to his sides.