How Manuel passed the test: a boy scout story

Title

Creator

De la Cruz, Ricardo

Language

English

Source

The Young Citizen. 3 (4) May 1937

Year

1937

Subject

Short stories

Boy Scouts in literature

Courage in children

Ability testing

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

_-.,lay, 1937 I HI: YOUI\G CITIZE!'< 129 AMONG THE BOY SCOUTSBy Ricardo de lo Cruz" How Manuel Passed the Test (A Boy Scout Story) :Vlanuel was sad. Ht: was disappointed. Trying his best to pass his First Class examinations. he still failed. As to how he failed, he could not tell. All he knew was rhat he had become confused during th.: examination and had answered fooiishly the questions put to him by the Scoutmaster. They were in camp then. Having sdectcd a nice, comfortable camp site in Malolos. Bulacan, they-a Scoutmaster and twenty-four boys-had been Staying in the place for three days. It was Manuel's first cxp;!ricnce in the out-ofdoors. Mr. Castro. his S.:outmaster. had told him of the life in an op..:n camp and Manuel really found it to be one full of thrills and enjoyment. But that was before he took his First Aid examinations. And as he sat there. leaning against the sturdy bough of a full-grown guava tree. leisurdy carving his name on an opposite branch, he \/as mentally reviewing the examination. He was 2.ssigned as guard. together with Vicente, another Scout from the Cobra Patrol. Vicente was fetching water from a stream behind the camp area. All the othi::r boys had gone out to the woods. led by Mr. Castro. He was giving them instruction in Tracking. Briefly and bitterly, Manuel recalled the questions. He was being tested on "artificial rcspir<?tion. The Scoutr.nster had a~k:d him to • Manager, Publicity Department, Philippine Council, B.S.A. demonstrate. f\ boy was called upon to lie down and Manuel was asked to administer artificial respiration. It so happened that the boy was ticklish. The moment Manuel placed his hands on the boy's ribs, the latter started to wiggle and laugh The ocher Scouts could not he! p but laugh too, and a general con· fusion took place. Perspiring terribly, Manuel tried his ~est to apply what he had learned. All was of no av.ti!. He rose with flushed face and flaming ch::eks He was ashamed and angry with himself. 'The Scoutmaster then began to ask him question·s. "How many seconds are required to make one complete respiration~.. "Fifteen seconds." he had answered. The titter that swept around the other Scouts began to confuse him further Three other questions wcr\! a~k12d ~nd in all cases. his answers sounded foolish and ridiculous. He had failed. All these relurned to his mind as he remained thus, absently engrossed in his c.uving. Suddenly. he heard a slight noise coming from the rear part of the camp. He paused and strained his ears .. Hrlp: Hdp: The cry was feeble. almost inaudible. Y ct he heard it quite distinctly. He recognized the voice. It was Vicente'. Yes. Vicente! He had gone to fetch somL water. The call (Please furn to pagt> 1-J;J) .May, 1937 AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS (Continued f1·om page 129) ing from the rear part of the camp, in the direction of the stream. It must be h~ ~ He was drowning! With a bound, Manuel was up and away. Hastily closing his knife. he exerted himself and sped as fast as he could. all the while unbuttoning his shirt. Upon reaching the bank. he saw a glimpse of his brother scout's head disappearing into the water. Vicente was a Tenderfoot Scout. And he did not know how to swirr:. Without as much as a moment's hesitation·, M a n u e I threw a s i d e his shirt and plunged into the river. The current was not so strong ,and in no time, he found himi;elf within a foot from the drown-· ing boy. Manuel was not an expert in life-saving. In fact, he did not ~even know why he ever dared to jump into the river in order to save that boy when he was ignorant of life-saving and its methods. Why had he not secured a rope instead? But it was not the time for meditation. It was a time for action. Cautiously he approached the drowning boy. Vicente's eyes were closed; but hz perhaps felt the presence of somebody near him. In his blind effort in clutching at somebody, he accidentally got hold of Manuel's forearm. Vicente was a bigger boy. Excited greatly by his discovery of aid he tightened his hold and pulled Manu.el closer to him. M a n u e I was frantic. He THE YOUNG CITIZEN knew what that meant. If Vicente would drown. he would have to drown too. He was alarmed. But he did not entirely lose his presence of mind. Taking a careful aim, he planted a terrific blow on Vicente's jaw. Gradually. the latter's struggles stopped. He became quiet. He had become stunned and was unconscious. Manuel breathed a sigh of relief and wasted no time in pulling the boy to shore. He himself was exhausted. He wanted to rest upon reaching the shore but he knew ·that it would not do to let the minutes pass. breathing. Vicente w.as He might die. Artificial respiration yes, that's it! not Manuel forgot that he failed in this examination that morning. He forgot that he was a Second Class Scout. He was a SCOUT! Knowing that a pause might mean the death of his friend and brother scout, he immediately set to work. It was strange: he experienced no difficulty at all. It seemed as if he had been a veteran life-saver. Placing his hands on the ribs. pressing them, pushing them. releasing them with a snappy jcrk.-Manuel was regular in his movements. almost like an expert. Ten minuces twenty minutes one hour no results. Manuel was facigued. But he knew char he muse continue. and he did. Gradually, Vicente began to IH show signs of life. He was breathing! Thank God! Manuel was owrjoyed. He almost shouted with pride and gratitude. But he himself was weak. Vicente was revive_d. He needed stimulant. Manuel would get some for him. As he rnse. however. a sudden attack of dizziness assailed him, and he toppled over in a faint. When h~ regained consciousness. he found himself surrounded by his brother scouts. All were anxiously gazing at him. He fancied he saw looks 0£ admiration in their faces. About five Yards away. there was another group of Scouts. They were huddled around somebody on a cot. The fog in Manuel's brain began to clear away. AU that had happened returned to him vividly. He recalled the struggle in th..: water: then, the rescue, the ar· tificial respiration. The Scouts must have arrived immediate! y after he had fainted. He smiled a little as he recalled th~ fact that he had saved a comrJde's lifr.. From out of th:? group of boys emerged Mr. Castro. He approached Manuel and laid his hands on the boy's shouldi?r:>. "I am proud of you, my boy. I am proud of you," he said. his voice trembling with emotion. !vlanuel knew that his Scoutmaster meant what he said. And as th~ boy-hero drank the cup of coffee which his Patrol Leader extended to him. .l'vlr. Castro smiled and added. "You have passed he test."

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