CHAPTER XV
ON THE MARCH TO CAMP
_Rat-tat-tat!_ _Rat-tat-tat!_ _Rat-tat-tat!_
The cadets got their first taste of the annual encampment early in themorning, when, instead of hearing the familiar bell, they were awakenedby the rolling of the drum.
"Time to get up, everybody!" cried Sam, flinging the covers from him."It won't do to be late this morning."
"That is true, Private Rover," came solemnly from Dick. "I will fineany soldier of my command who is behind time."
"Thank you, Captain Rover, I'll remember that," came from one of theother cadets. "And how is Lieutenant Rover this morning"?
"Fine as silk," came from Tom, who was already splashing in the coldwater of his washbowl. "I'll bet a big red apple against a turnip thatI'm down first," and he began to don his uniform with remarkablerapidity.
All of the students were soon below, and then the various companiesmarched into the messroom for their last breakfast at the Hall for sometime to come.
"I see the wagons have already left," said Sam.
"Yes, the drivers are to get the camp in readiness for to-night,"answered his big brother.
Knowing that they had a long march before them, the majority of thecadets ate a hearty breakfast. Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, was sorryto have them leave, and had prepared an unusually fine repast.
"Mrs. Green is just all right," declared Tom. "I move we give her avote of thanks." And this was later on done, much to the old lady'sdelight.
It was a perfect day. The sun shone brightly, and there was just enoughbreeze to keep the atmosphere fresh and exhilarating. Captain Putnamwas to accompany the students on horseback, and the teachers hadalready gone off with the wagons.
"Battalion, attention!" shouted Major Larry Colby, when the cadets wereassembled on the parade ground. And the order was immediately obeyed.
"Shoulder arms!" was the next order given, and up went every gun inunison. The movement was so pretty that the spectators who had gatheredto see the boys march off clapped their hands in approval.
"Forward--march!" came next, and the drums and fifes struck up, andaway went the cadets, company front, toward the road.
"By column of fours!" was the next command, and Captain Dick Roverturned to his company.
"By column of fours!" he repeated, and Company A broke up into fourabreast and turned into the road leading off in the direction of PineIsland. The other companies also broke up, and in a minute more thecadets were really and truly on the march for the camp.
The drums and fifes sounded well on that bracing morning air, and quitea crowd of boys and not a few girls followed the students over thefirst of the hills back of Putnam Hall. But here the crowd droppedgradually away, until the young soldiers had the country roadpractically to themselves.
For a full mile the cadets were made to keep in step. Then came theorder, "Route step!" and they moved forward as pleased them, keepingtogether, however, by companies. The route step is given that one maytake the step that is most natural to him, be it longer or shorter thanthe regulation step.
Farms were rather scattered in that neighborhood, but occasionallythey passed country homes, when all the folks would rush forth to learnwhat the drumming and fifing meant.
"They are the Putnam Hall cadets," said one farm woman. "How neat theylook and how nicely they march!"
"Puts me in mind o' war times, Mirandy," said her husband. "Don't youremember how the boys marched away in them days"?
"Indeed I do, Ira," answered the woman. "But that was real, while thisis only for fun."
"Well, I reckon some o' those lads would make putty good soldiers, werethey put to it. They handle their guns like veterans."
The cadets marched until ten o'clock and then stopped for a brief restnear a fine hillside spring, where all procured a drink. Then theymoved forward again until noon, when they reached a small village wheredinner already awaited them.
"We have covered twelve miles," said Captain Putnam. "Eight more, andthe day's march will be over."
The cadets were glad enough to eat their dinner and take it easy on theporch of the old country hotel at which they had stopped.
"Imagine us marching off to war," observed Sam. "How would you like it,Tom"?
"Oh, I don't think I would complain," was the answer. "Anything for abit of excitement."
The day's march was completed long before sundown, and the battalioncame to a halt in an open field through which flowed a shaded brook.
The tents were at hand and the students lost no time in putting up theshelters.
Food was supplied for the occasion by a farmer living near, for it wasnot deemed advisable to unload the cook stoves and build the necessaryfires.
The farmer gave the students permission to visit his apple orchard, andthis the majority did, returning to the temporary camp with theirpockets fairly bulging with apples.
The weather remained clear and warm, so the first night in the openproved very agreeable. A camp-fire was lit just for the look of things,and around this the cadets gathered, telling stories and singing songsuntil it was time to turn in.
Sleeping in a tent just suited the Rover boys and none of them awokeuntil sunrise. Soon the whole camp was astir, and each cadet took agood washing up at the brook. Breakfast was supplied by the farmer,and by nine o'clock the column was once again in motion on its way toPine Island.
"Dot sleeping out in der air vos a funny dings," said Hans Mueller toSam. "I vake up der middle of der night in und find a pig mouskeetermine toe on alretty!"
"Be thankful that it wasn't something worse, Hans," said Sam. "Whatwould you do if you woke up and saw a big black bear standing besideyour cot"?
"I dink I cofer mine head kvick, Sammy."
"But the bear might chew the cover up."
"Den I vos rund for mine life und holler like sixty!"
"Well, you want to keep your eyes open for bears," added Sam, thinkinghe scented fun ahead.
"How vos I going to keep mine eyes oben of I go to sleep, tell me dot"?
"You'll have to figure that out yourself, Hansy, old boy;" and herethe talk had to come to an end.
By the middle of the afternoon they came in sight of Bass Lake, abeautiful sheet of water about two miles and a half long by nearly halfa mile wide. Close to the south shore lay Pine Island, so calledbecause it was covered in spots with tall pine trees. Between the mainshore and Pine Island were two smaller islands, and there were lowwooden bridges from one to the other, connecting the big island withthe mainland.
The wagons had already gone over the bridges to the spot selected forthe camp, and now the battalion marched across, from island to island,under low arching trees and over ground covered with fallen leaves andmoss.
"What a grand spot for a camp!"
It was Dick who uttered the words when the final halt was made. Hiswords were true, and his fellow students agreed with him that CaptainPutnam could not have made a better selection.
There was an open space nearly an acre in extent, covered with shortgrass and sloping slightly toward the lake. At the water's edge was asmall wooden dock, where the boats were tied up, and next to this asandy strip excellent for bathing purposes. Back of the open space wasa fine grove of trees, to which the students could retire when the sunbecame too hot for them. More trees lined the north shore, some hangingout far over the water, making ideal spots for reading or fishing.There were beautiful walks through the woods, and in the center of theisland was a rocky hill from the top of which one could obtain a viewof the country for several miles around.
Captain Putnam insisted upon it that the camp be laid out in truemilitary fashion, and two students who knew a little about civilengineering put down the necessary stakes. There was a street for eachcompany, with a tent for the captain and his lieutenants at the head.Each tent was of the wall pattern and large enough to accommodate foursoldiers. That the flooring of the tent might be kept dry around each atrench was dug, by which the water could
run off when it rained. On thebottom pine boughs were strewn, giving a delicious smell to theinterior.
"This smell of pine is very good for a cold in the head," said MajorLarry to Dick. "My sister always uses a pillow filled with pine needlesfor that purpose."
The students worked hard that evening getting their tents ready foroccupancy and as a consequence all were glad to retire when the propertime came. Captain Putnam had expected that there would be someskylarking, but he was mistaken. That was to come later--when the ladsfelt more rested.
The Rover Boys in Camp; or, The Rivals of Pine Island Page 15