The scouts were only too glad that their elders were so interested in
thus gathering together, and they did all they could to keep the room
clean, and make it as bright as possible. They themselves met twice a
week, and when the captain was able to get around, the regular scout
work was continued.

Captain Josh had studied hard to keep ahead of the boys, and in this he
did remarkably well. But when it came to giving addresses on First Aid
to the Injured, he candidly confessed his ignorance.

"Give me a broken rope," he said, "and I'll splice it in no time. But
a broken bone is too much fer me. As fer veins, arteries, bandaging,
and sich things, ye can't expect an old man like me to understand about
them. No, we've got to leave that to some one else."

And that some one proved to be Doctor Travis, a young man who had
recently settled in the parish. He was much interested in the scouts,
and hearing of their need through Parson Dan, he offered his services
free, which were gratefully accepted by the scouts.

It was a raw winter night when the doctor gave his first lecture to the
boys. A stiff wind was swinging in from the northeast, plainly telling
that a heavy storm was near at hand. But safe within their warm room,
the scouts gave no heed to what was taking place outside. They
listened with intense interest as the doctor explained to them what a
wonderful machine the human body really is, the difference between
veins and arteries, the various kinds of fractures, and other things
necessary for a second-class scout to know.