The Cantonment
A few days after their visit at the ranch, arrangements were made for
Mrs. Burton and members of her party to drive over to the new cantonment
which was situated on a broad mesa not many miles away.
Gerry Williams announced that because of the dust and discomfort she
preferred being left behind.
Sally Ashton also declined, stating that she was not well enough to
consider undertaking the long drive and then being forced to walk about
over whatever portion of the camp they were permitted to inspect. After
her mishap, which Sally considered no one had regarded with sufficient
seriousness, she had acquired a prejudice against excursions of any
character.
Sally's attitude the Camp Fire guardian understood, although she was
somewhat puzzled by Gerry Williams, as always before Gerry had been
enthusiastic over change and excitement. One would have supposed that
among all the girls she would have been most interested in the new war
camp and the possibility of seeing and meeting the young American
soldiers.
Mrs. Webster would not consider the trip, feeling that her heart would
only be torn by the sight of so many war preparations, and more if she
should chance to come in contact with an unusually homesick boy. Her
sister could bring back word of whatever she could actually _do_ to be
of service, since often enough she was the pioneer who went forth in
search of new ideas which Mrs. Webster put into execution.
Dan Webster was of course essential to the expedition, as he was
chauffeur. Billy was not only invited, but Mrs. Burton insisted upon his
accompanying them after he had very generously demurred, saying there
was no reason why he should crowd the others when he really was not
interested in war camps. She hoped, however, that the sight of the
cantonment might exert either a mental or a spiritual influence upon
him.
It was possible to manage eight in the car, although ordinarily it held
but seven, yet one was willing to be a little inconvenienced under the
circumstances, so the five girls, Vera Lagerloff, Bettina Graham, Alice
Ashton, Marta Clark and Peggy Webster also accompanied Mrs. Burton.
The first part of the drive followed the now familiar line of the shore.
Yet the outlook was never the same! Now and then one would see a heron
or sand crane standing upon one leg near the water, apparently lost in
immortal thought; sea gulls were dipping in and out, or else riding
serenely on the waves; occasionally a buzzard, grim as Odin, soared
overhead.
Once Marta Clark, who was on the front seat with Dan, gave a cry of
surprise. She had discovered that what she supposed a great bird winging
its flight over their car, was in reality an aeroplane on a long
practice flight from North Island.
Finally leaving the coast, the automobile began a long climb over an
undulating line of hills. The hills were bare except for occasional
bunches of cacti and bushes of bright yellow tar weed. There were acres
and acres of sage brush, sometimes a field of wild buckwheat and once in
a while a small grove of live oak shrubs or of red and blue gum trees.
The mesa upon which the new cantonment was springing up like a magic
city was a great desert of sand and sage. For years the thousands of
acres had been of no use because of the lack of water. Now great
irrigating ditches had been laid and the camp was being plentifully
supplied with water by the city of San Diego.
The surroundings of the camp were cheerless enough, it is true, yet
there was nothing cheerless in the atmosphere of the place itself. Even
as the Camp Fire party approached they felt the undercurrent of the fine
new force, the splendid vitality which the war has awakened in the
world.
A sentry ordered Dan to stop his car within a few yards of the officers'
quarters and Mrs. Burton was told that she must receive an official
permit for their inspection of certain features of the camp.
From inside the little house, which looked like a miniature bungalow of
unpainted pine, one heard the noise, not of the rattle of musketry, but
the endless tip, tap, tap of many typewriters.
Captain Mason, who had been told of Mrs. Burton's intended visit, came
out to greet her and her party.
He explained that just at present there were only a few hundred soldiers
within the cantonment, although they were expecting many thousands
within the next few weeks.
An army of workmen were at present engaged in preparing the way for the
coming of the soldiers and the big artillery.
Strolling apart from the other laborers and still carrying a large
hammer, Mr. Jefferson Simpson, the late Camp Fire guide, philosopher and
friend, walked over to speak to Mrs. Burton and her companions. He
offered no explanation for his presence at the camp, but it was obvious
he had concluded that his efforts here were of more importance than his
previous occupation. The Sunrise Camp Fire had always considered his
remaining with them for so long a time an obvious absurdity and presumed
that it was because of Mr. Simpson's continuing interest in Marie,
although he had paid no attention to her since the breaking of their
engagement.
But apparently his leading motive in life was to discover the number and
variety of vocations in which he could engage.
After receiving a written order from the commanding officer for the day,
Captain Mason led the way with Mrs. Burton walking beside him.
They were to be allowed to see only places of minor importance, the
temporary tents and mess room, the Y. M. C. A. quarters. Mrs. Burton had
explained that one of the chief reasons for their visit was a desire to
find out how they might be of service in even the smallest possible way.
"You see, Captain Mason," she suggested, "we are living for the present
not far behind the lines of this American war camp. In a different sense
every woman and girl in our country should be a reserve soldier behind
the lines until the war is over. One need not wear a uniform, or carry a
gun to serve! Our American Camp Fire girls feel that they ought to be
able to give as valuable service to the country as the Boy Scouts. I
confess we have not yet altogether found our way."
By this time Mrs. Burton and Captain Mason had reached the Red Cross
tent and now had paused for a moment outside to wait for the five girls
and Dan and Billy Webster to join them.
Captain Mason nodded, waving his hand toward the open flap of the tent.
"You can help us keep our boys amused. I tell you that is the greatest
problem we older officers have to meet with young, untrained soldiers.
Discipline is comparatively easy, for few of the boys resent it; but
look in there!"
Mrs. Burton did look, while Bettina and Marta and Peggy, who were
nearest, also gazed in over her shoulders.
Several soldiers were sitting by a long board table looking at a pile of
magazines, not because they were interested, but plainly because they
had nothing else on earth they could think of to do.
On a raised platform a phonograph was playing an Italian love song. Some
one must have started it, although at present no one apparently was
listening to the music.
Several of the soldiers were writing letters, others were yawning and
half lying down on the hard wooden benches, bored and listless and
homesick.
Hearing voices outside the Y.M.C.A. tent, one young officer, who also
had been writing, lifted his eyes.
The same instant Bettina Graham walked quickly inside the tent, holding
out her hand.
"Why, here is my lieutenant!" she exclaimed. "May I call you my
lieutenant, although Marta Clark will dispute the title? For I did reach
you first after your accident and it is my first-aid treatment you seem
to have survived. I did not know you had arrived at this cantonment,
Lieutenant Carson. I do hope you have entirely recovered."