vering dawn, and then, while the camp
was just beginning to stir, and when I had the bucket and spigot to
myself, I washed out shirt, underclothes, stockings, handkerchiefs, and
pajamas. The water was painfully cold, and often I had to stop and warm
my hands in my sweater. But I got the work done, and hung the clothes on
the lines, knotted together, that are used to regulate the caps on tents
8 and 10. The clothes-pins were most useful, for the wind blew strongly
all day, and many a piece of laundry went sailing off to leeward.
Inspection compelled me to take the things in once, but I got them out
again, and in the evening I had the pleasure of putting on again, dry,
the pajamas that I washed in the morning. I never should have been able
to fold them properly for stowing away.

Our inspection was very formidable this morning, for the major was
expected, and the captain came down the street, and in his mildest voice
gave strictest orders. Washing was taken in, extra clothes were taken
down from tent-poles, and tents were made perfectly neat inside and out.
I was tent-policeman for the day, but my job was light, for everyone was
concerned to have the place look well, and picked up round his cot,
borrowed the broom and wielded it, and laid out his kit in the best of
order. From the next tent we heard Randall in his usual controversy with
his squad, refusing to help his neighbor roll up the walls of the tent,
and loudly complaining when his washing and his rubber coat were thrown
on his cot with orders to put them out of sight. But in spite of himself
he was compelled to share in the housecleaning. Outside, the street was
policed of every cigarette-butt and scrap of paper, and then the two
police squads, with rakes and brooms, went down the whole length of it
and made it as orderly as a garden walk.

Then at command we lined up outside the tents, dressed in two lines down
the street, facing each other. Down this aisle came the Major, glancing
keenly about, and peering sharply into each tent. Of our corporal he
asked if we had blankets enough. Captain Kirby came next with the first
sergeant, and carefully inspected each tent. Then he called us all
together in a circle, said that the major had been unusually pleased with
us; a man of few words, he has seldom praised a company so heartily. This
set us all up. Then the captain, for his own part, gave us his thanks,
told us we'd done well, and apologized for working us so hard.