following the explorations of Washington in imagination.

"This next paragraph," he said, "reminds me of some of our own
experiences on a hike. Listen: 'My companions and I,' wrote
Washington in his journal on April eighth of that year, 'camped
in the woods; and after we had pitched our tent and made a large
fire we pulled out our knapsacks to recruit ourselves. Every
one was his own cook. Our spits were forked sticks, our plates
were large chips. As for dishes, we had none.'"

"I shall read only two more brief paragraphs:"

"'Washington's success as a surveyor for Lord Fairfax called the
attention of the Virginia authorities to him and to the unusual
accuracy of his surveys. As a consequence, he was appointed public
surveyor, deriving a discipline therefrom which was of great service
to him in his later career. By making him an able civil engineer,
it laid the foundation of his future eminence in a military capacity.
And by making him known to the principal landholders of the State,
it led to his appointment, at the age of nineteen, to the office
of adjutant-general, with the rank of major. This gave him the
charge of a district, with the duty of exercising the militia,
inspecting their arms, and superintending their discipline.'"

"That is all, boys," concluded the Scout Master, rising and closing
the volume. "But as we take up our course in surveying, with the
additional interest of its geological significance, we may like to
remember that we are following in the footsteps of no less a man
than George Washington!"