“By Gordon!” cried Wright, flinging his brawny right arm straight out from the shoulder, as only a good pugilist can. “And don’t you say ‘they’ again, old man, Curtis. Say ‘we will do all that you tell us, doctor.’ ’Cause I’m your medical manager. Just you look after your meteorological apparatus—your lenses, your magnetic machinery, your anemometers, your thingummyometers, and all the rest of your paraphernalia, and leave all other matters to me—Dr. Wright of Edinboro toon.”
“Bravo, my friend!” cried Ingomar, coming up at the time. “Just you keep Curtis under and well in hand, Wright. Curtis would kick over the traces if Curtis could, you bet.”
So Dr. Wright proclaimed martial law; and soon the portable bungalow and the tents were up and ready.
There is a lot to be done in camps even by the seashore in old England, and in regularity alone, combined with method, lies their comfort.
Taffy was the good doctor’s loblolly boy. In her care were the medicine wallet and surgical instruments. But the doctor had also taught her the bugle-calls, for Wright himself was a musician and a volunteer officer at home. She was also cook’s assistant, Sheelah being cook supreme.
Taffy and Sheelah slept together in one bag. These were excellent bags, too. Wright and Slap-dash had spent a good deal of time over their making. You popped in or wriggled in, and when your head was easy, simply drew the lid over your head. No fear of smothering in your own carbonic acid in ordinary weather. Taffy sounded the first bugle at 6 a.m., or, in easier language, four bells; and if some one wasn’t astir five minutes after, that “some one” heard of it. You had just five minutes, or, say six, to rub your eyes and say your prayers, then you began to kick yourself clear of the bag and commence ablutions forthwith.
The doctor insisted upon these being conducted secundum artem and in a perfect way.
There was no hot water, and there was no cold, but there were snow and an easily dissolvable soap, and towels galore. Your very face would shine after this, and your spirits rise.
Then exercise for half an hour. Walking, running, leaping, or dancing, or boxing, or fencing.
The doctor had an eagle eye, and no one must shirk this.