MRS. JOSEPHINE MALABA
Several Guides were camping in the Matopos. The Guides were young and enthusiastic and the Guiders were in excellent spirits.
The programme drawn up by the Camp organisers included an overnight hike by Patrols to a point six miles from our base. Members of my patrol were given detailed directions to our destination. To our amazement the other patrols boarded the Guide Bus: Guides are long suffering: And so we left our base on foot.
The sky was cloudless. We trudged on and did some "Scouts Pace". The heat of the sun was merciless and dampened the spirits of my Guides. Our path was very awkward.
We had walked about three miles when one of the girls slipped on a rock and cut her leg. And so we had our first casualty. Guides are always prepared. Our First Aid box was well equipped, our patient was soon walking again, to the delight of her friends.
These girls are used to walking long distances In term time they run to and from school daily, and there are household chores for them too. So one would assume that six miles would not pose problems for them. This was walking - but with a difference! It was gentle mountaineering.
We had walked about five miles when we had our second casualty. One of the girls suddenly passed out. My brave little girls behaved like frightened mice! They lost confidence in themselves and in their ability to reach their destination. When our patient came to, we found out, for the first time, that she had very recently received treatment for bilharzia. We could now proceed at our second patient's pace. We rested her by carrying her on our backs. We prayed to see the Guide Bus, but our prayers were not answered. We reached our destination tired, thirsty, bruised and hungry. There was water to drink and food to eat but there were no Guides there and no bus. Puzzled we found some firewood and started preparing our evening meal.
Thirty minutes later, members of the other patrols arrived on foot! They were sweating, thirsty and tired. The Guide Bus had taken them to a point six miles beyond our destination and left them there to find their way to the camp! He laughs best who laughs last.
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