How Girls Can Help Their Country Part 17

All sorts of changes may be made when the signals are committed to memory. Flags--up for a dot and side for a dash is one of the commonest and easiest for the beginner; or whistles--long and short blasts. Even the hand or a hat may be subst.i.tuted; coughing, stamping, and scratching with the foot or a bit of stick. In fact endless changes may be invented for use with this Code.

COMMANDS AND SIGNALS

_For the use of the Girl Scouts the following list of words of command and whistle signals has been compiled._

Commands

"Fall in" (in line).

"Alert" (stand up smartly).

"Easy" (stand at ease).

"Sit easy" (sit or lie in ranks).

"Dismiss" (break off).

"Right" or "Left" (turn accordingly).

"Patrol right or patrol left" (patrol in line wheels).

"Quick march" (step off with the left foot first).

"Double" (run with arms down).

"Scouts' pace" (walk fifty paces and run fifty paces alternately).

Whistle Signals

1. One long blast means "Silence," "Alert," "Listen for next signal."

2. A succession of long slow blasts means "Go out," "Get farther away,"

or "Advance," "Extend," "Scatter."

3. A succession of quick short blasts means "Rally," "Close in," "Come together," "Fall in."

4. Alternate short and long blasts mean "Alarm," "Look out," "Be ready,"

"Man your alarm posts."

5. Three short blasts followed by one long one from the Captain calls up the patrol leaders.

Any whistle signal must be instantly obeyed at the double as fast as you can run, regardless of anything you may be doing.

By previous agreement many other signals may be arranged. It all depends on the exigencies to be met or the special order or information to be conveyed. But these few important signals should be strictly adhered to in all drills and exercises of Scouts. The compiler of the present volume thinks it unwise to print the secret words so they are left for the patrol leaders and Captain to communicate verbally.

Hand Signals

"ADVANCE"} Swing the arm from rear to front, below the shoulder.

"FORWARD"}

"RETIRE" Circle the arm above the head.

"HALT" Raise the arm to full extension above head.

"DOUBLE" The closed fist moved up and down between your shoulder and thigh.

"QUICK TIME" To change from the "Double" to the "Quick Time," raise the hand to the shoulder.

"REINFORCE" Swing the arm from the rear to the front above the shoulder.

"LIE DOWN" With the open hand make two or three slight movements towards the ground.

"WHEEL" Extend your arm in line with your shoulder and make a circular movement in the direction required.

"INCLINE" Extend your arm in line with your shoulder and make a turn with your body in the direction required.

Indian Signs

Burnt sticks are placed at the last camp-fire to tell the direction the Indians have gone from this spot. Two of them always make a V point and if the third is laid at the point of the [V=] it means north. Across the open end of the [=V] it means south. At one side V it means east and V would mean west. Now the above mark as made to indicate south would really mean southwest, if the stick which indicates direction were a little way to the west side--V. Northwest would be V_.

[V=] North [=V] South V East V West V Southwest V_ Northwest

Scout Signs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign Secret Meaning.

Patrol or Troop Sign. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [symbol] Road to be followed.

[symbol] Letter hidden 3 paces from here in direction of arrow.

[symbol] This path not to be followed.

[symbol] "I have gone home."

[symbol] War or trouble about.

[symbol] Peace.

[symbol] We camped here because one of us was sick.

[symbol] A long way to good water, go in direction of arrow.

[symbol] Good water not far, in this direction.

[symbol] This is good water.

[symbol] Signature of Scout No. 4 of the Fox Patrol, 21st Glasgow.

Shaking a blanket: I want to talk to you.

Hold up a tree-branch: I want to make peace.

Hold up a weapon (axe) means war: I am ready to fight.

Hold up a pole horizontally, with hands on it: I have found something.

Self-Defense

SHOOTING