“Fine and dandy!” exclaimed Bob.
“Me for it!” added Jerry.
“But that isn’t getting us anywhere just now,” said Ned. “I’m detailed for kitchen police this very day.”
“So’m I,” admitted Bob, and, as it happened, Jerry was, too.
When one is detailed to the kitchen police it does not mean that the young soldier has to arrest those who eat too much, or too little.
In an army camp the cooking is done, in most instances, by soldiers detailed for it, though in some cases professional cooks may be used, such having enlisted or been drafted. Each day certain members of the company are named to help the cooks, of which there are usually three. The helpers are known as the “kitchen police,” and they do all sorts of work, peeling potatoes, washing the pots and pans, scrubbing the floors, waiting on table, bringing in coal and wood.
This kitchen policing goes by turn, so no one man gets too much of it, or has to do it too steadily. It was the first time Ned, Bob and Jerry had been assigned to this duty, and they went at it without grumbling, which is what every good soldier does. Their many camping experiences stood them in good stead in this, and the efficient manner in which they went about their tasks in cleaning up the pots and pans drew a compliment from the professional cook.
“We’ll know our soup comes out of a clean pot the next time we eat,” said Bob, as he gave the copper a final polish.
“And by the looks of things we’re going to have a good feed to-morrow,” added Ned.