When the boys and their visitors had returned to Camp Barlight, and the young cadets had seen the girls safely on their way in the two automobiles, they set out on a hunt for Werner and his crowd. But those unworthies kept well out of sight, only showing themselves at roll call and when it was time to eat, and then disappearing as if by magic.
“They are afraid to meet us,” was Fred’s comment.
“Well, I’m just as well satisfied,” answered Jack. “If we got into a fight it might mean all sorts of trouble for us if Captain Dale or the professors heard of it.”
The Rovers were up bright and early the following morning and on the lookout once more for the girls. Soon they came in sight, and then the Rovers, along with Gif and Spouter, got into the two automobiles, and all headed straight for Camp Huxwell.
“My, what a big place!” exclaimed Jack, when, after being inspected, they were permitted to pass through the main gateway.
“I understand they have over twenty-five thousand men here now,” said Spouter.
Some bodies of soldiers at a distance were going through various maneuvers, while other bodies still further away were hard at work at bayonet practice, charging and stabbing some sacks of hay hung on long wires. At still another point the soldiers were constructing trenches and dugouts in real military fashion.
“They’ve got to learn a lot to be real soldiers,” was Randy’s comment.
By following the directions given to them, it did not take long for the young folks to reach the vicinity of the regiment to which Dick Rover and his brother Sam were attached. The captain and the lieutenant were on the lookout for them, and hurried to meet them.
“We are very glad to see all of you,” said Dick Rover, catching his son by the hand and kissing his daughter affectionately. “You can’t imagine how much we have missed you.”