Allan, if you wanted to do a one-off scan of a few slides, I have used a digital camera :
In the absence of a scanner a few years back, I cut a rectangular hole in the bottom of an empty yoghurt tub, held it out at arm's length holding the slide over the hole with my finger and used my digital camera on Macro setting. Needs good lighting but not direct sun. Bit of a McGyver or Heath Robinson effort(Rube Goldberg if you are in USA), but if you crop the picture down it can look OK. But best to get a scanner!
Stu