“And I want to see my dad, too,” added Fred enthusiastically.
The twins were likewise eager to see the government camp and their uncles, but they were somewhat depressed, and could not help but show it.
“I know what’s the matter,” whispered Martha to her brother. “They are thinking about their father. Poor Uncle Tom! What a shame it is that he couldn’t join father and Uncle Sam.”
“Well, you know how they arranged it,” answered the young captain. “Somebody had to stay at home to manage the business.”
While the Rovers and their chums were showing the girls around the camp, Gabe Werner and Bill Glutts eyed them enviously.
“I don’t see why they are permitted to have girls come here and visit them,” growled the ex-lieutenant.
“Girls are all out of place in a camp like this,” added the wholesale butcher’s son. “You can’t have the same amount of freedom with those skirts around.”
“I just heard something,” put in Codfish, who had come up a moment before. “The Rovers and those other fellows are going to take the girls out into the woods for a picnic.”
“Where did you get that news?” asked Glutts quickly.
“I heard the cook telling one of his helpers. They are fixing up a great big bunch of grub for them.”