You see I had been married only six months; the women at home, and in Germany also, had always shown great deference to their husbands' wishes.

But at that moment I almost wished Major Worth and Jack and Bowen and the mess-chest at the bottom of the Rio Colorado.

However, I nerved myself for the effort, and when Bowen had his camp-fire made, he came and called me.
At the best, I never had much confidence in my ability as a cook, but as a camp cook! Ah, me! Everything seemed to swim before my eyes, and I fancied that the other women were looking at me from their tents.

Bowen was very civil, turned back the cover of the mess-chest and propped it up.

That was the table.