“Well,” Major Garrett said, “I’m glad you got things organized. And you won’t have to go it alone from here on out. I think you know my other junior leader?”

The major gestured my way, and Compton saw me for the first time. His eyes traveled to my armband, and his mouth fell open. Actually.

“But . . .,” Compton began. His disbelief showed so clear I almost laughed out loud. I would have, except for the dose of dismay I was still struggling with. He managed a “Trawnley,” and a curt nod.

The hubbub up and down the lane grew louder as guys tossed their barracks bags out of the trucks and jumped out after them. To a man, they did the same thing: hefted up their gear, got out of the way of the unloading, and then took stock of their surroundings.

It made me take a gander at the camp again, myself, trying to see what they saw. And all of a sudden the buildings that had appeared so beautiful the night before looked rough and raw. And of course there was painting still to be done, and the signs to be put up. The lane and walks to be graveled.

The major was telling Compton, “We’ve got Moss here to thank for having the barracks ready to move into. Without his grabbing the flag the other night, everybody would be living in tents awhile.”

“Really, sir?” Compton said, giving me an unreadable glance. He nodded toward the 140 newcomers now starting to get noisy. “Shall I form them up, sir?” he asked.

“I’ll do it,” the major answered. “Men!” he called. He didn’t shout, but talk ceased at once.

He gave a short speech of welcome, saying how they’d come to the state’s third Soil Conservation Service camp. “Officially, Montana SCS-3, Company 597. Unofficially . . . Well, we don’t have an unofficial name yet. That’s something you can come up with yourselves.

“You’ll be hearing a lot about your mission to help restore the land around here to a more productive condition. It’ll be a big job, but anytime you get to doubting yourselves, just look around this camp to see what twenty CCC’ers can accomplish in a few weeks. And then think what one hundred sixty of you can do given several months.”

Then the major introduced Compton and me. “These two are your junior leaders,” he said. “They’re your first link to the rest of the leadership, and they’ll do their best to take care of you.”

He turned to us. “Ready to take over?” he asked quietly.

Without consulting me, Compton threw him a smart, “We’re ready, sir.”

It caused the major to give us both a sharp glance. Then he told everybody, “Here’s the day’s agenda. First get settled into your new quarters. Then later in the afternoon there’ll be a Christmas-tree-cutting expedition for anyone who wants to go along.