Three of the approaching wagons continued along the trail, while the other three turned in at the side of the grove.
Corporal Reynolds and four men were detailed to unload and put up the eight-by-ten khaki-colored tent that was to be occupied by the three company officers.
"I notice that the wide stripes don't care about sleeping in pup-houses," grumbled Hooper to his bunkie.
"Wide-stripe" is the nick-name sometimes given an officer on account of the fact that the side stripe down the trousers' leg of the blue uniform is much broader than that worn by the non-commissioned officer. Privates wear no stripes on the trousers' leg, with the exception of musicians, who wear two very narrow parallel stripes.
Soon after the erection of the little village of tents, the soldiers scattered, though they soon returned with bundles of fire wood.
"You had better go and chase the stuff for our fire, Bill," proposed Dowley.
"Chase it yourself," retorted Hooper.
"Not this trip," retorted Dowley. "It's up to you this time."
Hooper swore that he wouldn't, but it ended by his starting tardily after fagots. Dowley was already gaining the ascendancy over Private Bill and making a half servant of him.
Presently some forty fires were blazing brightly in an irregular line at a distance of some yards from the line of dog-tents. American soldiers were preparing their evening meal in the field. The operation was an extremely simple one. First, each soldier dropped a handful of coffee beans into his agate drinking cup. With the butt of the bayonet he crushed these beans, the fineness depending upon his skill. Then from the canteen each man poured water enough nearly to fill the cup, which was then set on the fire for boiling.