"Makes a fellow feel as if he was going off to the war!" observed
Sam. "I don't know but what I would like to be a soldier some
day."
The battalion marched away one Monday morning, with flags flying,
drums beating loudly, and the fifers blowing away upon "Yankee
Doodle" with all of their might. The route was the lake road, and
many of the farmhouses passed were decorated in honor of the
departure. As they passed the Stanhope homestead, Dora and Mrs.
Stanhope came forth and waved their handkerchiefs, and Dick, as
second lieutenant of Company A, could not resist the temptation to
wave his sword at them.
The camping-out spot was reached that afternoon at five o'clock.
The provision wagon and that loaded with the tents had already
come up, and soon the cadets were putting up their tents, while
the cooking detail was preparing supper. The evening mal
consisted of nothing but bread, coffee, and beef stew, but never
did plain fare taste better, with such pure mountain air for
sauce.
"It's just boss!" said Tom on the second day in camp. "Living in
a tent suits me to death."
The next day, however, he changed his tune, for it rained in
torrents, and everybody got soaked to the skin.
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