“Well, I bet our Red Cross friend there has to eat his share of hog fat and hoe cake!”
This went on for a good three-quarters of an hour until the last lorry had passed. Then the lads turned to a hasty breakfast.
“They’re the marines, Wash; the Fifth and Sixth Regiments. You know they have a slogan in the Navy: ‘a marine never retreats’.”
“In de Navy. What dem sojahs doin’ in de Navy?”
“They’re the soldiers attached to battle-ships. They fight on land when needed, and I guess they’re going to be needed here!”
“Did yu-all know enny of ’em pussonel, Mist’ Donal’? Ah seed yo’ lookin’ lak yo’ was gwine ter call a feller in one o’ de las’ cars be name, en’ he look at yo’ so’t o’ queeah, too.”
“Yes, I happen to know one of them, Wash. You are some observer. He’s a chap from my home town. His name’s Clement Stapley. He joined the marines before I left home. But I hardly think he knew me, Wash.”
“Yes, Ah t’ink he done knowed yo’, frum de look awn his face. But mebbe he wa’n’t quite shuah. Why’n’t yu-all holler at him en’ pass de time o’ day an’ yell how he is?”
“Oh, well, you see, we were not such very good friends, and I was afraid he might still feel sore at me. Maybe I’ll get a chance to see him again. Well, come on; we’ve got to be going. There’s a lot of work ahead.”