Chapter 9

           Beforethenighthadbrokenatallthevoiceofawakeningmensoundedthroughthecamp.Therewereaxe-strokesonwood,andtherattlingoftherustystoves.Inafewmomentsthesweetsmellofburningpineandapplewoodfilledthecamp.Thecooks’detailwasbusy.Neartheroaringstovesthebucketsofcoffeewereset.Thewashboilersofbeansbegantowarm.Outofthetentsthepeoplecrept,andwenttostandnearthestoveswheretheycrowdedsocloselythatthecookshadnoroomtowork.

           Dakin’struckdroveofftoAnderson’shouseandcamebackwiththreebarrelsofwater.Thewordpassed,"Dakinwantstoseethesquadleaders.Hewantstotalkto’emrightaway."TheleaderswalkedimportantlytowardDakin’stent.

           Nowthelineoforchardtopgrewsharpagainsttheeasternskyandtheparkedcarsweregreylyvisible.Thebucketsofcoffeebegantoboil,andarank,nourishingsmellcamefromthebeankettles.Thecooksladledoutbeansintoanythingthepeoplebrought,pans,jars,cansandtinplates.Manysatontheground,andwiththeirpocket-knivescarvedlittlewoodenpaddleswithwhichtoeattheirbeans.Thecoffeewasblackandbitter,butmenandwomenwhohadbeensilentanduncomfortablewerewarmedbyitsothattheybegantotalk,tolaugh,tocallgreetingstooneanother.Thedaylightcameoverthetreesandthegroundturnedgreyish-blue.Threegreatbandsofgeeseflewover,highinthelight.

           MeanwhileDakin,flankedbyBurkeandLondon,stoodinfrontofhistent.BeforeDakinthesquadleadersstoodandwaited,andMacandJimstoodamongthem,forMachadexplainedtoJim,"We’vegottogoprettyslowforawhile.Wedon’twanttheguystothrowusoutnow."