vate Smith absent."
Smith, hurrying up, curses under his breath. "Police duty today," he
knows, and makes a grimace at private Brown, who has found his place in
the fourth squad just in time.

Once the reports are in, the first sergeant orders "Inspection--Harms!"
With a rattle the guns are tossed up and opened; with another rattle, at
the next command, they are closed and snapped. The sergeant salutes the
waiting lieutenant, whose commonest proceeding, now on the hike, is to
warn us of an early start. Then perhaps he orders "Stack arms!" and we
grumble. A nuisance to have, in the company street, a line of stacks
through which we may not pass. Then, dismissed, we return to our packing,
always with an eye to the forming of a line at the cook tent. For no one
wants to be late in that line, yet all wish to get forward with the
packing. There is, on these cold mornings, another consideration: it is
pleasantest to eat breakfast in sweaters, which we know must be discarded
for the march. If the officers or sergeants come with "Hurry up those
blanket-rolls!" off the sweaters must come, and the rolls are made.
Otherwise, at the mess-call utensils are snatched up, and the men hurry
to the head of the company street, to form the double line, and to be
glad of the extra comfort that the sweaters give.

The meal disposed of and the meat-cans washed (or rather rinsed) the
remaining packing is quickly finished. The rolls are made, the squad-bags
are stuffed full, and both are carried to the trucks. The packs are made,
and the belts, heavy with the fresh ammunition that has just been handed
out, are hooked to them. A swing, a boost, a hitch or two, and our
pappooses, our constant companions, are with us till we make camp, seven
hours or more later. Then the whole company street is policed, and the
hay piled in big cocks on which, in the early sun, the men loll during
the last few minutes before the bugle calls.

Our second battalion was first in ranks this morning, drawn close
together to hear the words of the major. There was to be, he presumed, a
rencounter, or meeting engagement; he merely had sealed orders, to be
opened at a certain spot on the route. Our battalion was to start first;
he advised all officers to study the terrain as we passed along. And then
we were off, while the first battalion was decorating its hats with
white, and jeering at us as future enemies.

The trucks were a mile ahead of us; we saw the dotted line o