Troop One of the Labrador | Page 8

the 'Jack,' but it may have been because
in the old days, the English knights, when they went out to fight their
battles, wore a jacket over their armour with the St. George's Cross
upon it, so it would be known to what nation they belonged. This jacket
was sometimes called a 'jack' for short.
"The Union Jack did not become a complete flag as we have it to-day
until the year 1801, when St. Patrick's Cross was added to it. The Stars
and Stripes, the flag of my country, was first made in 1776, and on
June 14, 1777, it was adopted by the United States Congress as the
national emblem, so you see it is even older than the British flag. The
flags of all nations in the world have changed since 1777 excepting
only the United States flag, and every American is proud of the fact
that his flag is older than the flag of any other Christian nation in the
world."
The boys, and Thomas and Margaret also, were fascinated with Doctor
Joe's brief story of the flags. They were quite excited with the thought
that they were to be a part of the great army of Boy Scouts, and to do
the same things that other boys in far-away lands were doing, and the

other boys that they had never seen seemed suddenly very much nearer
to them and more like themselves than they had ever seemed before.
The three buried their noses in the handbook, now and again asking
Doctor Joe questions. They were so excited and so interested, indeed,
that they could scarcely lay the books aside when Thomas announced
that it was time to "turn in," and Andy declared he could hardly wait for
morning when they could be at them again.
And so it came about that Troop I, Boy Scouts of The Labrador, was
organized, and in the nature of things the troop was destined to meet
many adventures and unusual experiences.
CHAPTER II
PLANS
The cabin at The Jug had three rooms. There was a square living-room,
entered through an enclosed porch on its western grade. At the end of
the living-room opposite the entrance were two doors, one leading to
Margaret's room, the other to the room occupied by the boys. Thomas
himself slept in a bunk, resembling a ship's bunk, built against the north
wall.
The furnishings of the living-room consisted of a home-made table, a
big box stove, three home-made chairs and some chests, which served
the double purpose of storage places for clothing and seats. A cupboard
was built against the wall at the left of the entrance, and between two
windows on the south side of the room, which looked out upon The Jug,
was a shelf upon which Thomas kept his Bible and Margaret her
sewing basket--a little basket which she had woven herself from native
grasses. Behind the stove was a bench, upon which stood a bucket of
water and the family wash basin, and over the basin hung a towel for
general family use.
Pasted upon the walls were pictures from old newspapers and
magazines. There were no other decorations but these and snowy
muslin curtains at the windows, but the floor, table, chairs--all the

woodwork, indeed--were scoured to immaculate whiteness with sand
and soap, and everything was spotlessly clean and tidy. Despite the
austere simplicity of the room and its furnishings, it possessed an
indescribable atmosphere of cosy comfort.
Doctor Joe's bed was spread upon the floor. It was still candle-light
when he was awakened by Thomas building a fire in the stove, for in
this land of stern living there is no lolling in bed of mornings.
"Good-morning, Thomas," said Doctor Joe, with a yawn and a stretch
as he sat up.
"Marnin'," said Thomas.
"How's the morning, Thomas, fair for our trip to Fort Pelican?"
"Aye, 'tis a fine marnin'," announced Thomas, "but I were thinkin'
'twould be better to wait over till to-morrow for the trip. After your
long voyage 'twould be a bit trying for you to turn back to-day to Fort
Pelican without restin' up, and I'm not doubtin' a day whatever'll do no
harm to the potaters and things."
"I believe you're right, Thomas," and Doctor Joe spoke with evident
relief. "I thought you'd be getting ready for the trapping and would like
to get the Fort Pelican trip out of the way. We'll put the trip off till
to-morrow."
Doctor Joe dressed hurriedly, and went out to enjoy the cool, crisp
morning. Everything was white with hoarfrost. The air was charged
with the perfume of balsam and spruce and other sweet odours of the
forest. Doctor Joe took long, deep, delicious breaths as he looked about
him at the familiar scene.
The last stars were