n Mason," she suggested, "we are living for the present
not far behind the lines of this American war camp. In a different sense
every woman and girl in our country should be a reserve soldier behind
the lines until the war is over. One need not wear a uniform, or carry a
gun to serve! Our American Camp Fire girls feel that they ought to be
able to give as valuable service to the country as the Boy Scouts. I
confess we have not yet altogether found our way."

By this time Mrs. Burton and Captain Mason had reached the Red Cross
tent and now had paused for a moment outside to wait for the five girls
and Dan and Billy Webster to join them.

Captain Mason nodded, waving his hand toward the open flap of the tent.

"You can help us keep our boys amused. I tell you that is the greatest
problem we older officers have to meet with young, untrained soldiers.
Discipline is comparatively easy, for few of the boys resent it; but
look in there!"

Mrs. Burton did look, while Bettina and Marta and Peggy, who were
nearest, also gazed in over her shoulders.

Several soldiers were sitting by a long board table looking at a pile of
magazines, not because they were interested, but plainly because they
had nothing else on earth they could think of to do.

On a raised platform a phonograph was playing an Italian love song. Some
one must have started it, although at present no one apparently was
listening to the music.

Several of the soldiers were writing letters, others were yawning and
half lying down on the hard wooden benches, bored and listless and
homesick.

Hearing voices outside the Y.M.C.A. tent, one young officer, who also
had been writing, lifted his eyes.

The same instant Bettina Graham walked quickly inside the tent, holding
out her hand.

"Why, here is my lieutenant!" she exclaimed. "May I call you my
lieutenant, although Marta Clark will dispute the title? For I did reach
you first after your accident and it is my first-aid treatment you seem
to have survived. I did not know you had arrived at this cantonment,
Lieutenant Carson. I do hope you have entirely recovered."

CHAPTER X

Plans

One afternoon, after resting for an hour or more, Mrs. Burton appeared
at her little front door, wondering why she was encompassed by so
unusual a silence.

The fact that at present the Sunrise camp was situated several miles
from any other human habitation, with the sea stretching before it and a
great ranch as its