Items:
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Directions:
The troop is divided into halves; one half camps one side of the wood and one half camps the other. These halves are called respectively "French," and "Prussians." In the Prussian camp is a traitor, who has made an agreement with the French that will place a letter containing important information Prussian plans in a tree which he, will mark in a certain way. This tree should be near the center of the wood. When the game commences, the "traitor" places the letter in the tree and retires again to his own camp. His perfidy is supposed to have been discovered during his absence, and on his arrival he is arrested. He refuses to divulge, the hiding-place of the letter. He is sentenced to be shot, which sentence is supposed to be carried out, and henceforth he takes the part of onlooker. At a given signal from the umpire, the Prussians set out to recover their letter, and try to prevent the French from obtaining it, while the French simultaneously leave their camp intent on obtaining the letter, and watching the Prussians. Each Scout is armed with a tennis-ball or with fir-cones if they are to be found. The "traitor" should be careful when hiding the letter to snap a twig or two, and leave an impression of his boot here and there in order to give the Prussians a chance of finding the letter. The French, of course, have to look for a tree marked a particular way. When two opponents meet, the one first hit by a ball or fir-cone will be "out of action" and the Scout so hit is on his honor to take no further part in the game. One point counts against the French or Prussians for every man out of action. Four points count to the side who obtains possession of the letter. The sides whose points total most are the winners.