y outlined piece of canvas, provided with straps of
webbing, wider or narrower, with buckles, rings, and a big pocket. Its
attachments numerous and incomprehensible.

A cartridge belt. Easily recognized, with its many pockets and numberless
eyelets.

A first-aid kit. In a sealed tin box, buttoned in a pocket attached to
the belt.

A canteen in a cloth case. Not flat and circular, but solid and bulky.

A bacon tin. Hm--a small box?

A condiment can. A double ended contraption, in one end of which had once
been powdered chocolate.

A meat can. An oval sauce-pan, with a lid over which the hinged handle
shuts down.

A knife, fork, and spoon.

I stuffed them away again, shed my blouse, as I saw the others were
doing, and was therefore ready when, our squad having filled up, the call
came for us to fall in. Out into the street we tumbled, each of the dozen
and a half tents furnishing a squad, the squads falling in according to
number. The sergeants formed us, got us into column of squads, and
marched us away down the public street, where military persons of all
kinds went by, from lone privates to officers driving automobiles, and
where the only notice taken of us was by civilians in motor-parties, who
came to see our zoo.

So here I was, for the first time in my life marching in the ranks, like
any private not knowing where or why. For a quarter, a half, three
quarters of a mile we went at a quick pace on the macadam, till my soft
tissues knew what was meant by the "hammer, hammer, hammer on the hard
highway." And my misery had plenty of company. The man in front of me, a
bulky person, was wringing wet, and I saw another fellow with the sweat
actually dripping off his chin. It was a welcome relief to turn in at a
big gate, pass between brick buildings, and come onto a great grass field
across which we marched directly toward a building with a long portico,
on which the sight of rookies waiting promised us rest. Very willingly we
broke ranks at command. We learned from our predecessors that we were
there for physical examination.

When our turn came at last it was all very brisk and business-like, and
soon I was passed as being sound in body and feet. With most of us the
ordeal was equally successful; but one poor chap sat melancholy in a
blanket, waiting for a second test. Then I straggled back to camp with
Professor Corder, who confessed himself just under the age-limit of
forty-five. In spite of his successful