The Wolf Patrol

Reproduction of the original: The Wolf Patrol by John Finnemore

John Finnemore (1863-1915) was a British school teacher and writer of fictional novels and history and geography texts of countries - most are for younger readers. Finnemore contributed stories to popular boys' magazines of his time such as The Boy's Own Paper and Boys' Realm but he is best remembered for his books about Teddy Lester and his friends at Slapton, a fictitious English public school. The stories have a strong sporting focus, with Lester excelling at rugby, cricket and other games. He also wrote a few adult novels. Finnemore was also a writer of early Boy Scout fiction.

I. A Scout's honour is to be trusted. II. A Scout is loyal to the King, and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers. III. A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others. He must do a good turn to somebody every day. IV. A Scout is a friend to all, and a brother to every other Scout, no matter to what social class the other belongs. V. A Scout is courteous, and he must not take any reward for being helpful and courteous. VI. A Scout is a friend to animals. VII. A Scout obeys orders of his patrol-leader or scout-master without question. VIII. A Scout smiles and whistles under all circumstances. When he gets an order he should obey it cheerily and readily, not in a slow, hang-dog sort of way. IX. A Scout is thrifty-that is, he saves every penny he can, and puts it into the bank, so that he may have money to keep himself when out of work, and thus not make himself a burden to others, or that he may have money to give away to others when they need it.