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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12807-0.txt b/12807-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..413ad96 --- /dev/null +++ b/12807-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6920 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12807 *** + +DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT +or +Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps + + +By H. Irving Hancock + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. Dick Reports a Brother Cadet + II. Jordan Reaches Out for Revenge + III. Catching a Man for Breach of "Con." + IV. The Class Committee Calls + V. The Cadet "Silence" Falls + VI. Trying to Explain to the Girls + VII. Jordan Meets Disaster + VIII. Fate Serves Dick Her Meanest Trick + IX. The Class Takes Final Action + X. Lieutenant Denton's Straight Talk + XI. The News from Franklin Field + XII. Ready to Break the Camel's Back + XIII. The Figures in the Dark + XIV. The Story Carried on the Wind + XV. The Class Meeting "Sizzles" + XVI. Finding the Baseball Gait + XVII. Ready for the Army-Navy Game +XVIII. Dan Dalzell's Crabtown Grin + XIX. When the Army Fans Winced + XX. The Vivid Finish of the Game + XXI. A Cloud on Dick's Horizon + XXII. Cadet Prescott Commands at Squadron Drill +XXIII. A West Pointer's Love Affair + XXIV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DICK REPORTS A BROTHER CADET + + +"Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge. + +Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, +and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop. + +This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes +in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August +forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering. + +The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was +to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, +this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, +in theory, an unfordable river. + +"Mr. Prescott!" + +Cadet Richard Prescott, now a first classman, and captain of one +of the six cadet companies, stepped forward, saluting. + +"You will build the bridge today, Mr. Prescott, continued the +instructor, Lieutenant Armstrong, Corps of Engineers, United States +Army. + +"Very good, sir," replied Dick. + +With a second salute, which was returned, Prescott turned to divide +his command rapidly into smaller detachments. + +It was work over which not a moment of time could be lost. All +must be done with the greatest possible despatch, and a real bridge +was called for---not a toy affair or a half-way experiment. + +"Mr. Holmes," directed Prescott, "you will take charge of the +boats. Mr. Jordan, take charge of the balk carriers!" + +A balk is a heavy timber, used, in this case, in the construction +of the pontoon. + +Cadet Jordan, one of the biggest men, physically, in the first +class, scowled as he received this order for what was especially +arduous duty. + +"That's mean of you, Prescott," glowered Jordan. + +"If you have any complaints to make, sir, make them to the instructor," +return Cadet Captain Prescott, after a swift, astonished look at +his classmate. + +"You know I can't do that," muttered Cadet Jordan. "But you-----" + +"Silence, sir, and attend to your duty!" + +Then, raising his voice to one of general command, Prescott called: + +"Construct the bridge!" + +Jordan fell back, with a surly face and a muttered imprecation, to +take command of the squad of yearlings, or third classman who must +serve in carrying the heavy balks. + +In the meantime Dick's roommate, Greg Holmes, had hurried his +squad away to the flat-bottomed, square-ended pontoon boats, placing +his crews therein. + +Almost instantly, it seemed, Greg had placed the first boat in +position. + +"Lay the balks!" ordered Dick Prescott. + +Cadet Jordan moved forward with some of his yearlings, who carried +the heavy balks, or flooring timbers, on their shoulders. It was +hot, hard work---"thankless," as the young men often termed it in +private. + +These balks were laid across the first pontoon. + +As quickly as the balks had been laid the detachment of lashers were +at work securing the balks in place. + +"Shove off!" + +The first was floated to the mooring stakes and a second boat +was moved into position. + +"Chess!" + +Another column of yearlings moved forward, each with a heavy plank +on his shoulder. It was heavy, hot, hard and dirty work. Outsiders +who imagine that the Military Academy is engaged in turning out +"uniformed dudes" should see this work done by the cadets. + +Almost with the speed of magic the planks were laid in an orderly +manner forming a secure flooring over the balks. + +The second boat was anchored, and then a third, a fourth. As the +bridge grew Cadet Prescott walked out on the flooring that he +might be at the best point for directing the efforts. + +As the fifth boat reached its position, Dick turned to see that +all was going well. + +The yearlings, whose duty it was to carry the balks---"balk-chasers," +they were termed unofficially---were standing idle, though alert. +They could not move until Mr. Jordan, of the first class, gave the +order. + +And Jordan? With one hand hanging at his side, the other resting +against the small of his back, he stood gazing absently out over +the Hudson. + +"Mr. Jordan!" called Dick, hastening back over the planking. + +"Sir!" answered the surly cadet, facing him. + +"Hurry up the balks, if you please, sir." + +With a scowl, Jordan turned slowly toward the waiting yearlings. + +"Lay hold!" commanded Jordan, and, though it was hard work, the +yearlings responded willingly. This was what they were here for, +and this hard work was all part of the training that was to fit +them for command after they were graduated. + +"All possible speed, Mr. Jordan!" admonished Prescott, with a +tinge of impatience in his voice. + +"Lay hold! Raise! Shoulder!" drawled Mr. Jordan, with tantalizing +slowness. + +The yearling squad, each man feeling the cut of the sharp corners +of the heavy balk on his right shoulder, yet, bearing it patiently, +awaited the next command. + +"Mr. Jordan, this is not a loafing contest," admonished Prescott +in a low voice. + +"For---ward!" ordered Jordan with provoking deliberation. + +The yearlings under him, made of vastly better material, sprang +forward with their balks, laying them in record time across the +top of the next pontoon. The lashers then fell upon their work +of securing the balks as though they loved labor. + +"Chess!" called Dick, remaining on shore this time, and the yearlings +with the planks hastened forward, each carrying a plank. Here +and there, a lighter cadet staggered somewhat under the plank +he was carrying, yet hastened forward to finish his duty of the +moment with military speed. + +Another pontoon was ready. + +"Balks!" called Cadet Prescott. "Balks!" + +Jordan got his squad started at last. + +Dick glanced swiftly, but in wonder at Lieutenant Armstrong. +That Army officer, however, seemed industriously thinking about +something else. + +"Jordan is truly taking charge of the balks!" muttered Prescott +to himself. "He is going to balk me so that I can't get the bridge +constructed before recall!" + +"Running the balk chasers" is always unpopular work among the +cadets. Properly done, this work calls for a great deal of alertness, +speed and precision. It is work that takes every moment of the +cadet's time and attention, and incessant running in the hot sun. +Yet Prescott had, before this, chased the balk carriers, and +had not objected. He had taken up that task as he did all others, +as part of the day's work, something to be done speedily, well +and uncomplainingly. + +"What's the matter with you, Mr. Jordan?" asked Dick in an undertone. +"Are you sick?" + +"Sick of such emigrant's jobs as this!" growled Jordan. "What +made you give me-----" + +"I can't discuss that with you," replied Cadet Dick Prescott coldly. +"I shall be compelled to make it an official matter, however, if you +hinder me any more." + +"Lay hold! Raise! Shoulder! Forward!" Jordan ran with the squad. +"Halt! Lower!" + +"I reckon Jordan means to keep really on the job now," murmured +Prescott to himself, and returned to the advancing end of the +pontoon as it crawled over the little arm of the Hudson. + +Two more boats, however, and then Dick sprang sternly ashore. + +"Mr. Anstey!" called Prescott, and Anstey, the sweet-tempered +Virginian, one of Dick's staunchest friends in the corps of cadets, +came quickly up, saluting. + +"Mr. Anstey, you will chase the balk carriers," directed Dick. +"Please try to make up the time that has been lost. Mr. Jordan, +you are relieved from your duty, and will report yourself to the +instructor for gross lack of promptness in executing orders!" + +There could be no mistaking the quality of the justly aroused +temper that lay behind Cadet Prescott's flashing blue eyes. + +As for Cadet Jordan, that young man's face went instantly livid. +He clenched his fists, while the blackness of a storm was on +his features. + +"Mr. Prescott," he demanded, "do you realize what you are +saying---what you are doing?" + +"You are relieved. You will report yourself to the instructor, +sir!" Dick cut in tersely. + +Anstey was already chasing the yearling squad out with the balks, +and the young men were moving fast. + +As for Dick Prescott, he did not favor Mr. Jordan with a further +glance or word, but walked with swift step back to the task of +which he was in charge. + +With face flushed, Mr. Jordan walked over to the instructor, reporting +himself as directed. + +"Dismissed from to-day's instruction," said the Army officer briefly. +"Wait and return with the detachment, however." + +So Cadet Jordan, first class, saluted, turned on his heel, sought +the nearest shady spot and sat down to wait. + +His body idle, the young man had plenty of time to think---about +Cadet Captain Dick Prescott. + +"There's nothing to Prescott but swagger and cheap airs," decided +Mr. Jordan, idly tossing pebbles. "It's a pity he can't be taken +down a peg or two! And now I'm in for demerits before the academic +year starts. Probably I shall have to walk punishment tours, too!" + +Somehow, Jordan had come along through his more than three years +in the corps without attracting much attention. + +He had made no strong friends; even Jordan's roommate, Atterbury, +felt that he knew the man but slightly. + +True, Jordan had not so far been strongly suspected of being morose +or surly; he had escaped being ostracized, but he certainly was +not popular. If he had made no strong friendships, neither had +he so deported himself as to win enmity or even dislike. He was +regarded simply as a very taciturn fellow who desired to be let +alone, and his apparent wish in this respect was gratified. + +Dick Prescott was of an entirely different character. Open, sunny, +frank, manly, he was a born leader among men, as he had always +been among boys. + +Dick was a stickler for duty. He was in training to become an +officer of the Regular Army of the United States, and Prescott +felt that no man could be a good soldier until the duty habit +had become fixed. So, in his earlier years at West Point, Dick +had sometimes been unpopular with certain elements among the cadets +because he would not greatly depart from what he believed to be +his duty as a cadet and a gentleman. + +Readers of the _High School Boys' Series_ will recall that Prescott, +in his home town of Gridley, had been the head of Dick & Co., +a sextette of chums and High School athletes. It was in his High +School days that young Prescott had developed the qualities of +manliness which the Military Academy at West Point was now rounding +off for him. + +Readers of the preceding volumes in this series, _Dick Prescott's +First Year at West Point_, _Dick Prescott's Second Year at West +Point_ and _Dick Prescott's Third Year at West Point_, are already +familiar with the young man's career as a cadet at the United +States Military Academy. Our readers know how hard the fight +had been for Dick Prescott, who, in addition to his early struggles +to keep his place in scholarship in the corps, had been submitted +to the evil work of enemies in the corps. Some of these enemies +had been exposed in the end, and forced to leave the Military +Academy, but many had been the bitter hours that Prescott had +spent under one cloud or another as the result of the wicked work +of these enemies. + +At last, however, Prescott and his roommate and chum, Greg Holmes, +had reached the first class. They had now less than a year to go +before they would be graduated and commissioned as officers in the +Army. + +On reaching first-class dignity, both Dick and Greg had been delighted +over their appointment as cadet officers. Prescott was captain +of A company and Greg Holmes first lieutenant of the same company. + +With Anstey chasing the balk carriers, and all the other squads +attending briskly to business, the pontoon was quickly built, so +that a roadway extended from shore to shore. + +Now came the supreme test as to whether Prescott had done his +work well. + +In the shade of the nearest trees a team of mules had dozed while +the bridge construction was going on. Behind the mules was hitched +a loaded wagon belonging to the Engineer Corps. + +"Sir," reported Prescott, approaching Lieutenant Armstrong and +saluting, "I have the honor to report that the bridge is constructed." + +Lieutenant Armstrong returned the salute, next called to an engineer +soldier. + +"Carter!" + +"Sir," answered the engineer private, saluting. + +"Drive your team over the bridge and back." + +Mounting to the seat of his wagon, the soldier obeyed. + +Dick Prescott and his mates did not watch this test closely. +They were sure enough of the quality of the work that they had +done. + +Reaching land at the further side of the bridge, the engineer +soldier turned his team in a half circle, once more drove upon +the bridge and recrossed to the starting point. + +"Very well done, Mr. Prescott," nodded the Engineer officer, with +a satisfied smile. + +"Take down the bridge," ordered Dick, after having saluted the +Army instructor. + +Working as hard as before, the young men of the third and first +classes began to demolish the bridge that they had constructed. + +When this had been done, and Dick had officially reported the +fact, Lieutenant Armstrong replied: + +"Mr. Prescott, you will form your detachment and march back to +camp." + +"Very good, sir." + +Always that same salute with which a man in the Army receives +an order. + +Some thirty seconds later, the detachment was formed and Dick +was marching it back up the inclined road on the way to the summer +encampment. By that time, a sergeant and a squad of Engineer +privates---soldiers of the Regular Army---were busy taking care +of the pontoon boats and other bridge material. + +Marching his men inside the encampment, Dick halted them. + +"Detachment dismissed!" he called out. + +There was a quick break for first and third class tents. These +young men were in field uniforms---sombreros, gray flannel shirts, +flannel trousers and leggings. Most of them were dripping with +perspiration under the hot August sun. + +They were all hot and dusty, and their hands stained with tar. +Within a very few minutes every man in the detachment must be +washed irreproachably clean, without sign of perspiration. They +must be in uniforms of immaculate white duck trousers and gray +fatigue blouses, wearing cleanly polished shoes, and ready to +march to dinner. + +A great deal to be accomplished in a few minutes by the average +American boy! Yet let one of these cadets be late at dinner formation, +without an unquestionably good excuse, and he must pay the penalty +in demerits. These demerits, according to their number, bring +loss of prized privileges. + +Cadet Jordan, having done little, was among the first to be clean +and presentable. Immaculate, trim and trig he looked as he stepped +from his tent, but on his face lay a scowl that boded ill for his +appetite at the coming dinner. + +Dick was a master of swift toilets. He was on the company street +almost immediately after Jordan had stepped out under the shadow +of a tree. + +"Prescott," began Jordan stiffly, "I want a word or two with you." + +"Yes?" asked Dick, looking keenly at his classmate. "Very good." + +"Why did you report me this morning?" + +"Because you performed the work in an indolent, laggard manner, +even after I had cautioned you." + +"Do you consider yourself called upon to be a judge of your +classmates?" + +"When I am detailed in command over them in any duty---yes." + +"Shall I tell you what I think of you for reporting me?" + +"It would be in bad taste, at least," Dick answered. "It is against +the regulations for a cadet to call another to account for reporting +him officially." + +"Oh, bother the regulations!" + +"If that is actually your view," replied Dick, with a smile, "then +I will leave you to the enjoyment of your discovery concerning the +regulations." + +"Prescott, you are a prig!" snapped Mr. Jordan. + +"If it were necessary to determine that, as a matter of fact," +answered Dick coolly, though he flushed somewhat, "I would rather +leave it to a decision of the class." + +"Oh, I know you have plenty of bootlicks," sneered Jordan. "I +also know that you are class president. But that is no reason +why you should act as though you thought yourself a bigger man +than the President of the United States." + +"Jordan, has the sun been affecting your head this forenoon?" +demanded Dick, with another keen look at his classmate. + +"Well, you do act as though you thought yourself bigger than the +President," insisted Jordan sneeringly. + +"I am a cadet, not yet capable of being a second lieutenant, in +the Army," Dick replied, regaining his coolness. "The President +is commander-in-chief of the combined Army and Navy." + +"You are utterly puffed up with your own importance," cried Jordan +hotly, though in a discreetly low voice. "Prescott, you are-----" + +Something in Jordan's eyes warned Dick that a vile insult was +coming in an instant. + +"_Stop_!" commanded Prescott, shooting a look full of warning +at his classmate. "Jordan, don't say anything that will compel +me to knock you down in plain sight of the camp. It's years since +such a thing as that has happened at West Point!" + +"Oh, you lordly brute!" sneered Jordan, his face alternately white +and aflame with unreasoning anger. "Prescott, you had it in for +me. That was why you reported me this morning. That was why +you put me in line for demerits and punishment tour walking. +You are bound to use your little, petty authority to humble and +humiliate me. I shall call you out for this!" + +"If you do," shot back Dick, "I shall decline to fight you. +It would be against regulations and against all the traditions +of the corps for me to arbitrate, by a fight, the question of +whether I did right to report you." + +"You refuse a fight," warned Jordan, with a malicious grin, "and +I'll denounce you all through the class!" + +"Denounce me, then, if you wish," retorted Dick in cool contempt, +"and you'll bring trouble down on your own head instead. No class +requires, or permits, a member to fight in defence of his official +conduct." + +"Prescott is turning coward, then, is he?" + +"You or any other man who presumes to say it knows well enough +that he is thereby lying," came quickly from between Prescott's +teeth. + +"Why, hang you, you-----" + +"You'd better hush for a moment," warned Prescott. "Here comes +the corps adjutant, and I think he is looking for you." + +"Yes! With a message of discipline from the O.C. just because +I was reported by a toy martinet like you!" retorted Cadet Jordan. + +Cadet Filson, corps adjutant, wearing his white gloves, red sash +and sword, came up with brisk military stride. He halted before +Jordan, while Prescott moved away. + +"Mr. Jordan, by order of the commandant of cadets, you will confine +yourself to the company street, leaving it only under proper orders. +This, for being reported this morning during the tour of engineer +instruction. Any further punishment that is to be meted out to you +will be published in orders at dress parade this afternoon. + +"Very good, sir," replied Cadet Jordan, choking with rage. + +Wheeling about, Adjutant Filson strode away again. + +The moment he was gone, Jordan, his brow black with fury, stepped +over to Prescott. + +"So!" he hissed. "The thunderbolt of punishment has fallen, Mr. +Prescott. As for you-----" + +"Mr. Jordan," broke in Dick coolly, "you are ordered to confine +yourself to the company street. At this moment you are outside +that limit. You will return immediately to the company street!" + +Jordan glared, but he had discretion enough left to obey, for +Prescott was speaking now as cadet commander of A company, to +which company Mr. Jordan belonged. + +"Oh, I'll pay you back for this!" raged the disciplined cadet, +trembling as he stepped forward. + +By this time, many other cadets were out in the company street. +Soon after the loud, snappy tones of the bugle summoned the two +battalions to dinner formation. + +A little while before Cadet Adjutant Filson had approached Jordan, +the commandant of cadets, sitting in his tent over by post number +one, had sent for the Engineer instructor of the forenoon. + +"Mr. Armstrong," asked the commandant, "how much is there in this +report against Mr. Jordan this morning? Does Mr. Jordan deserve +severe discipline?" + +"In my opinion he does, sir," replied Lieutenant Armstrong. "I +had the whole happening under observation, though I pretended not +to see it." + +"Why did you make such pretence, Mr. Armstrong?" + +"Because I was watching to see how a man like Mr. Prescott would +conduct himself when in command." + +Lieutenant Armstrong then related all of the particulars that +he had seen of Jordan's conduct. + +"Then I am very glad that Mr. Prescott reported Mr. Jordan," replied +the commandant of cadets. "Mr. Jordan is a first classman and +should be above any such conduct. We will confine Mr. Jordan +to his company street for one week; and on Wednesday and Saturday +afternoons during the continuance of the encampment, he shall +walk punishment tours." + +Then the commandant of cadets had passed the word for Cadet Adjutant +Filson, to whom he had entrusted the order that the reader has +already seen delivered. + +But Jordan, unable to realize that he had proved himself unfit +as a soldier found his hatred of Dick Prescott growing with every +step of the march that carried the cadet corps to dinner at the +cadet mess hall. + +"Prescott may feel mighty big and proud now!" growled the disgruntled +one. "But will he---when I get through with him?" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JORDAN REACHES OUT FOR REVENGE + + +"Hello, there, Stubbs!" called Jordan from the doorway of his +tent. + +"Oh, that you, Jordan?" called Stubbs. + +"Yes; come in, won't you?" + +Cadet Stubbs, of the first class, looked slightly surprised, for +he had never been an intimate of this particular cadet. + +"What's the matter?" asked Stubbs, pushing aside the tent flap +and stepping into the tent. + +Then, remembering something he had heard, Stubbs continued quickly: + +"You're in a little trouble of some kind, aren't you, old man?" + +"Oh, I'm in con." growled Mr. Jordan. + +"Con." is the brief designation for "confinement." + +"Some report this morning, eh?" + +"Yes; that dog Prescott sprung a roorback on me. Sit down, won't +you?" + +"No, thank you," replied Cadet Stubbs more coolly. "Jordan, `dog' +is a pretty extreme word to apply to a brother cadet." + +"Oh, are you one of that fellow's admirers?" demanded the man +in con. + +"I've always been an admirer of manliness," replied Stubbs boldly. + +"Then how can you stand for a bootlick?" shot out Jordan angrily. + +"I don't stand for a bootlick," replied Cadet Stubbs. "I never +did." + +"Now, I don't want to play baby," went on Jordan half eagerly. +"I'm not resenting, on my own account, what happened to-day. +But it was an outrage on general principles, for the affair made +a fool of me before a lot of new yearlings. Stubbs, we're first +classmen, and we shouldn't be humiliated before yearlings in this +manner." + +"I wasn't there," replied Stubbs. "I was over at the rifle range, +you know." + +"Then I'll tell you what happened." + +Cadet Jordan began a narration of the scene that had ended in +his being relieved from engineering instruction that forenoon. +Jordan didn't exactly lie, which is always a dangerous thing +for a West Point cadet to do, but he colored his narrative so +cleverly as to make it rather plain that Cadet Prescott had acted +beyond his real authority. + +"Still," argued Stubbs doubtfully, "there must have been some +reason. I've known Prescott ever since he entered the Academy, +and I never saw anything underhanded in him." + +"I wouldn't call it underhanded, either," explained Jordan. +"Prescott's manner with me might much better be described as +overbearing." + +"It would have been underhanded, had he reported you when you +were really doing nothing unmilitary or improper," interposed +Stubbs quickly. + +"Are you trying to defend the fellow?" demanded Jordan swiftly. + +"No; Prescott, I think, is always quite ready to attend to his +own defence. But I'm astonished, Jordan, at the charge you make +against him, and I'm trying to understand it." + +"What I object to, more than anything else," insisted Jordan, +"was his making a fool of me before new yearlings. That is where +I think the greatest grievance lies. First classmen are men of +some dignity. We are not to be treated like plebes, especially +by any members of our own class who may be dressed in a little +brief authority. Sit down, won't you, Stubbs?" + +"No, thank you, Jordan. I must be on my way soon." + +"But I want to get you and a half a dozen other representative +first classmen together," wheedled Jordan. "I think we should +all talk this over as a strictly class matter. Then, if I'm convinced +that I'm in the wrong, I'm going to stop talking." + +Crafty Jordan didn't mean exactly what he said. + +He would stop talking, if convinced, but he didn't intend to be +convinced. He was after Dick Prescott's scalp. Jordan well knew +that, at West Point (and at Annapolis, too, for that matter) class +action against a man is severer and more irrevocable than even +any action that the authorities of the Military Academy itself +can take. He wanted to put Prescott wholly in the wrong in the +matter. Class action could, at need, drive Prescott out of the +corps and end his connection with the Army. For, if a man be +condemned by his class at West Point, the feud is carried over +into the Army as long as the offender against class ethics dares +try to remain in the service. + +At the least, Jordan hoped to stir up class feeling to such an +extent that, if Prescott were not actually "cut" by class action, +at least his popularity would be greatly dimmed. + +"So won't you take part in the meeting?" coaxed Jordan, as Cadet +Stubbs moved toward the door. + +"I don't believe I will," replied Mr. Stubbs. "I'd feel out of +place in such a crowd, for I've always considered myself Prescott's +friend." + +"Do you place your friendship for Prescott above the dignity and +honor of the class?" demanded Jordan. + +Stubbs flushed. + +"I don't believe I'll stay, Jordan, thank you. But I can offer +you some advice, if you feel in need of any." + +"Yes? Commence firing!" + +"Go slow in your grudge against Prescott. Personally, I don't +want to see either of you hurt." + +"Oh, Prescott won't really be hurt," sneered Jordan. "He told +me flatly that he'd decline any calling out that I might attempt." + +"You---you didn't try to call him out, did you?" + +"I hinted that I might do so." + +"Call him out for reporting you?" + +"Oh, I didn't specify what the cause of the challenge would be," +returned Jordan airily and with a knowing wink. + +"Jordan, old fellow, you don't mean that you'd call a cadet out +for reporting you officially? Why, that's against every tenet +we have. And if such a challenge came to the ears of the +superintendent, or of the commandant of cadets, you'd be fired out +of the corps before you'd have time to turn around twice." + +"Who'd carry the tale that I did call Prescott out?" retorted +Cadet Jordan, with a knowing leer. + +"Prescott would, if he were a tenth part of the bootlick that +you represent him to be," replied Stubbs. + +"Better stay, old man; and I'll call in a few others." + +"No, sir," returned Cadet Stubbs, with a shake of his head. "The +further I go into this matter the less I like it. I'm on my way, +Jordan." + +Within half an hour, however, Cadet Jordan had found three members +of the first class who were willing to listen to him. The matter +was threshed out very fully. Jordan, to his listeners, pooh poohed +at the idea that he was "sore" on his own account. He posed, and +rather well, as the champion of first-class dignity. + +"I think you're on the right track, Jordan," assented Durville +rather heartily. Durville was one of the few who had never liked +Dick well. Durville had always been one of the "wild" ones, and +Prescott's ideas of soldierly duty had grated a good deal on Durville's +own beliefs. + +"The class won't take severe action, anyway," hinted Tupper. +"We might vote to give Prescott a week's 'silence,' but any permanent +'cut' would be out of the question. The man has done too many +things to make himself popular." + +"Besides," chimed in Brown, "look at the place Prescott holds +on the Army football eleven. Why he---and Holmes, too, of +course---were the pair who saved us from the Navy last November. +And we rely upon that pair to a tremendous extent for the +successes we expect this coming fall." + +Jordan's jaw dropped. In the heat of his anger he had lost sight +of the football situation. Prescott and Holmes certainly were the +prize players of the Army eleven. + +"Well, it might do if the class decided on the 'silence' for Prescott +for a week," assented Jordan dubiously. + +Then, all of a sudden, he brightened as the thought flashed through +his mind: + +"If Prescott gets the 'silence,' even for a day, he'll be so furious +that he'll do half a dozen fool things that I can provoke him +into. Then he'll go so far, in his wrath, that the class will +cut him for good and all, and he'll buy his ticket home!" + +The more Jordan thought this over, while he pretended to be listening +to what his classmates were saying, the surer the cadet plotter +felt that he could work his enemy out of the corps within the +next week or so. + +"Well, I dare say that you fellows are right in advising milder +measures," admitted Jordan at last. "Of course, though I try +not to let my personal feelings enter into this at all, yet I +suppose I can't keep my sense of outraged class dignity wholly +untainted by my personal feelings. Besides, the 'silence' for +a week will doubtless cover all the needs of the case, and I don't +bear the fellow any personal grudge, or I try not to." + +"That's a sensible, manly view, Jordan," chimed in Brown, "and +it does you credit as a gentleman and a man of honor. Now, you +know, it's a fearful thing for a man who has reached the first +class to have to drop his Army career at the last moment. So +we'll try to bring the majority of the class around to the idea +of the week's 'silence.'" + +"Now, lest it appear as though I were actuated by personal motives," +continued Jordan, "I'll have to stand back and let you fellows do +the talking with the other men of the class." + +"That's all right," nodded Durville. "We wholly understand the +delicacy of your position, and we can attend to it all right. +Besides, all we have to do, anyway, is to ascertain how the class +feels on the matter." + +"Don't let it be lost sight of, though," begged Jordan, almost +betraying his over anxiety, "that it is a serious matter of class +dignity and honor." + +"We won't, old man," promised Durville, as the visitors rose. + +As soon as he was alone---for his tentmate was away on a cavalry +drill, Jordan rose, his eyes flashing with triumph. + +"Dick Prescott, I believe I have you where I want you! What a +rage you'll be in, if you get the 'silence'! 'Whom the gods would +destroy they first make mad,'" Jordan went on, under his breath, +wholly unaware that he had parodied the meaning of that famous +quotation. "You'll rage with anger, Prescott. You'll do the +very things that will warrant the class in giving you the long +'cut.'" + +The "silence" is a form of rebuke that the cadet corps, once in +many years, administers to one of the many Army officers who are +stationed over them. When the cadet corps decides to give an +officer the "silence," the proceeding is a unique one. + +Whenever an officer under this ban approaches a group of cadets +they cease talking, and remain silent as long as he is near them. +They salute the officer; they make any official communications +that may be required, and do so in a faultlessly respectful manner; +they answer any questions addressed to them by the officer under +ban. But they will not talk, while he is within hearing, on anything +except matters of duty. + +An officer under the ban of the "silence" may approach a gathering +of a hundred or more cadets, all talking animatedly until they +perceive his approach. Then, all in an instant, they become mute. +The officer may remain in their neighborhood for an hour, yet, +save upon an official matter, no cadet will speak until the officer +has moved on. + +This "silence" may be given an officer for a stated number of +days, or it may be made permanent. It has sometimes happened +that an officer has been forced to ask a transfer from West Point +to some other Army station, simply because he could not endure +the "silence." + +Very rarely, indeed, the silence is given to a cadet; it is more +especially applicable if he be a cadet officer who is in the habit +of reporting his fellow classmen for what they may consider +insufficient breaches of discipline. + +The "cut" or "Coventry" is reserved for the cadet whom it is intended +to drive from the Army altogether. If a man at West Point is +"sent to Coventry" by the whole corps, or as a result of class +action, he will never be able to form friendships in the Army +again, no matter how long he remains in the Army, or how hard he +tries to fight the sentence down. + +Cadet Jordan, as will have been noted, professed to be satisfied +if the class voted a week's "silence" to Dick Prescott, for Jordan +believed that by this time the tantalized young cadet captain +could be provoked into actions that would bring the imposition +of the "long silence" of permanent Coventry. + +At the end of the busy cadet day, when the two cadet battalions +stood in formal array at dress parade, Cadet Adjutant Filson published +the day's orders. + +One of these orders mentioned Jordan's confinement to the company +street, and added the further infliction of "punishment tours" to +be walked every Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. + +"Oh, well," thought the culprit, savagely, "as I walk I can plan +newer and newer things. I'll go into the Army, and you, Prescott, +may become a freight clerk on a jerk-water railroad." + +Unknown to either Jordan or Prescott at that moment, other +storm-clouds were gathering swiftly over the head of the popular +young cadet captain. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CATCHING A MAN FOR BREACH OF "CON." + + +Lieutenant Denton was the tac. who served as O.C. during this +tour of twenty-four hours. + +A "tac.," as has been explained in earlier volumes, is a Regular +Army officer who is on duty in the department of tactics. All +of the tacs. are subordinates of the commandant of cadets, the +latter officer being in charge of the discipline and tactical +training of cadets. Each tac. is, in turn, for a period of twenty-four +hours, officer in charge, or "O.C." + +During the summer encampment of the cadets, the O.C. occupies +a tent at headquarters, and is in command, under the commandant, +of the camp. + +It was in the evening, immediately after the return of the corps +from supper, when Lieutenant Denton had sent for Cadet Captain +Prescott. + +"Mr. Prescott," began the O.C., "there has been some trouble, +lately, as you undoubtedly know, with plebes running the guard +after taps. Now, our plebes are men very new to the West Point +discipline, and they do not appreciate the seriousness of their +conduct. Until the young men have had a little more training, +we wish, if possible, to save them from the consequences of their +lighter misdeeds. Of course, if a cadet, plebe or otherwise, +is actually found outside the guard line after taps, then we cannot +excuse his conduct. This is where the ounce of prevention comes +in. Mr. Prescott, I wish you would be up and around the camp +between taps and midnight to-night. Keep yourself in the background +a bit, and see if you can stop any plebes who may be prowling +before they have had a chance to get outside the guard lines. +If you intercept any plebes while they are still within camp +limits, demand of them their reasons for being out of their tents. +If the reasons are not entirely satisfactory, turn them over +to the cadet officer of the day. Any plebe so stopped and turned +over to the cadet officer of the day will be disciplined, of course, +but his punishment will be much lighter than if he were actually +caught outside the guard lines. You understand your instructions, +Mr. Prescott?" + +"Perfectly, sir." + +"That is all, Mr. Prescott." + +Saluting, Dick turned and left the tent. + +"That's just like Lieutenant Denton," thought Dick, as he marched +away to his own company street. "Some of the tacs. would just +as soon see the plebe caught cold, poor little beast. But Lieutenant +Denton can remember the time when he was a cadet here himself, +and he wants to see the plebe have as much of the beginner's chance +as can be given." + +As Dick pushed aside the flap and entered his tent, he beheld +his chum and roommate, Greg Holmes, now a cadet lieutenant, carefully +transferring himself to his spoony dress uniform. + +"Going to the hop to-night, old ramrod?" asked Greg carelessly, though +affectionately. + +"Not in my line of hike," yawned Prescott. "You know I'm no hopoid." + +"Oh, loyal swain!" laughed Greg in mock admiration. "You hop +but little oftener than once a year, when Laura comes on from +the home town! You throw away nearly all of the pleasures of +the waxed floor." + +"Even though but once a year, I go as often as I want," Dick answered, +with a pleasant smile. + +"But see here, ramrod, an officer is expected to be a gentleman, and +a fellow can't be an all-around gentleman unless he is at ease with +the ladies. What sort of practice do you give yourself?" + +"You're dragging a femme to the hop tonight?" queried Dick. + +"Yes, sir," admitted Greg promptly. + +"Then you're---pardon me---you're engaged to the young lady, of +course?" + +"Engaged to take her to the hop, of course," parried Holmes. + +"And engaged to be married to her, as well," insisted Dick. + +"Ye-es," admitted Cadet Holmes reluctantly. "Let me see; this +is the fourteenth girl you've been engaged to marry, isn't it?" + +"No, sir," blurted Greg indignantly. "Miss---I mean my present +betrothed, is only the eighth who has done me the honor." + +"Even eight fiancees is going it pretty swiftly for a cadet not +yet through West Point," chuckled Dick. + +"Well, confound it, it isn't my fault, is it?" grumbled Greg. +"I didn't break any of the engagements. The other seven girls +broke off with me. On the whole, though, I'm rather obliged to +the seven for handing me the mitten, for I'm satisfied that Miss---I +mean, the present young lady---is the one who is really fitted +to make me happy for life." + +"I'm almost sorry I'm not going to-night," mused Prescott aloud. +"Then I'd see the fortunate young lady." + +"Oh, there are no secrets from you, old ramrod," protested Greg +good-humoredly. "You know her, anyway, I think---Miss Steele." + +"Captain Steele's daughter?" + +"Precisely," nodded Greg. + +"Daughter of one of the instructors in drawing?" + +"Yes." + +"Greg, you're at least practical this time," laughed Dick. "That +is, you will be if Miss Steele doesn't follow the example of her +predecessors, and break the engagement too soon." + +"Practical?" repeated Cadet Holmes. "What are you talking about, +old ramrod? Has the heat been too much for you to-day? Practical! +Now, what on earth is there that's practical about a love affair?" + +"Why, if this engagement lasts long enough, Greg, old fellow, +Captain Steele and his wife will simply have to send you an invitation +to a Saturday evening dinner at their quarters. And then, in +ordinary good nature, they'll have to invite me, also, as your +roommate. Greg, do you stop to realize that we've never yet been +invited to an officer's house to dinner?" + +"And we never would be, if we depended on you," grumbled Greg. +"Women are the foundation rock of society, yet you never look +at anyone in a petticoat except Laura Bentley, who comes here +only once a year, and who may be so tired of coming here that +she'll never appear again." + +A brief cloud flitted across Dick's face. Seeing it, repentant +Greg rattled on: + +"Of course you know me well enough, old ramrod, to know that I'm +not really reproaching you for being so loyal to Laura, good, +sweet girl that she is. But you've miffed a lot, of the girls +on the post by your constancy. Why, you could have the younger +daughters of a dozen officers' following you, if you'd only look +at them." + +"The younger daughters of the officers are all in the care of +nurse-maids, Greg," Prescott retorted with pretended dignity. +"Relieving nurse-maids of their responsibilities is no part of +a cadet's training or duty." + +"Well, 'be good and you'll be happy'---but you won't have a good +time," laughed Greg, who, having finished his inspection of himself +in the tiny glass, was now ready to depart. + +"On your way, Holmesy," nodded Dick, glancing at the time. "It's +a long walk, even for a cadet, to Captain Steele's quarters." + +Greg went away, humming under his breath. + +"There's a chap whom care rarely hits," mused Dick, looking half +enviously after his chum. "I wonder really if he ever will marry?" + +Presently Dick picked up his camp chair and placed it just outside +at the door of his tent. It was pleasant to sit there in the +semi-gloom. + +But presently he began to wonder, a little, that none of the fellows +dropped around for a chat, for he was aware that a number of the +first classmen were not booked for the hop that night. + +From time to time Dick saw a first classman enter or leave the tent +of Cadet Jordan. + +"He seems unusually popular to-night," thought Prescott, with +a smile. "Well, better late than never. Poor Jordan has never +been much of a favorite before. I wonder if my reporting him +to-day has made the fellows take more notice of him? It is a +rare thing, these days, for a first classman to be confined to +his company street." + +For Prescott the evening became, in fact, so lonely that presently +he rose, left the encampment and strolled along the road leading +to the West Point Hotel. On other than hop nights, this road +was likely to be crowded with couples. That night, however, nearly +all of the young ladies at West Point had been favored with invitations +to Cullum Hall. + +Tattoo was sounding just as Prescott crossed the line at post +number one on reentering camp. In half an hour more, it would +be taps. At taps, all lights in tents were expected to be out, +and the cadets, save those actually on duty, to be in their beds. +An exception was made in favor of cadets who had received permission +to escort young ladies to the hop. Each cadet who had to return +to the hotel, or to officers' quarters with a young lady had received +the needed permission, and the time it would take him to go to +the young lady's destination and return to camp was listed at +the guard tent. Any cadet who took more than the permitted time +to escort his partner of the hop to her abiding place would be +subject for report. + +However, the special duty imposed upon Cadet Prescott for this +night related to plebes, and plebes do not go to the hops. + +Bringing out his camp chair, Dick sat once more before his tent. +Down at Jordan's tent he could still hear the low hum of cadet +voices. + +"Something is certainly going on there," mused Prescott. + +For a moment or two he felt highly curious; then he repressed +that feeling. + +"Good evening, Prescott." + +"Oh, good evening, Stubbs." + +Cadet Stubbs came to a brief halt before the cadet captain's tent. + +"I have been noticing that Jordan has a good many visitors this +evening," Dick remarked. + +"All from our class, too, aren't they?" questioned Stubbs. + +"Yes. If we were yearlings I should feel sure that they had a +plebe or two in there. But first classmen don't haze plebes." + +"No; we don't haze plebes," replied Cadet Stubbs with a half sigh, +for Prescott was the only first classman at present in camp who +did not fully know just what was in progress at Jordan's tent. + +But West Point men pride themselves on bearing no tales, so Stubbs +repressed the longing to explain to Dick what Jordan was seeking +to bring about. + +As a matter of fact, though some of the members of the first class +were hot-headed enough to accept Jordan's view of the report against +him, the class sentiment was considerably against the motion to +give Cadet Captain Richard Prescott the silence, even for a week. + +However, none came near Prescott to talk it over. That again +would be tale-bearing. Dick was not likely to hear of the move +unless summoned to present his own defense in the face of class +charges. + +Nor would Greg be approached on the subject. The accused man's +roommate or tentmate is always left out of the discussion. + +Taps sounded; almost immediately the lights in the tents went +out. Stillness settled over the encampment. + +The fact that a single candle remained lighted in Prescott's tent +showed that he had permission to run a light. The assumption +would be that he was engaged on some official duty, though the +fact of running a light did not in any way betray the nature of +that duty. + +Dick sat inside at first. Then, one by one, the cadets returning +from the hop stepped through the company streets. At last Greg +Holmes came in. + +"Still engaged, Holmesy?" asked Dick, looking up with a quizzical +smile. + +"Surest thing on the post!" returned Greg, with a radiant smile. +He had the look of being a young man very much in love and utterly +happy over his good fortune. + +"Going to run a light?" asked Holmes, gaping, as he swiftly disrobed. + +"Yes; but I'll throw the tin can around so that the blaze won't +be in your eyes." + +"It won't anyway," retorted Greg, turning down the cover of his +bed. "I'll turn my back on the glim." + +The "tin can" is a device time-honored among cadets in the summer +encampment. It is merely a reflector, made of an old tin can, +that increases and concentrates the brilliancy of the candle light. +The "tin can" may also be used in such a way as to throw a large +part of a tent in semi-darkness. + +Two minutes later, Greg's breathing proclaimed the fact that this +cadet was sound asleep. + +Dick, stifling a yawn---for it had been a long, hard and busy +day---threw a look of envy toward his chum. Then, in uniform, +Prescott stepped out into the company street. + +It was a dark, starless night; an ideal night to a plebe who wanted +to run the guard and put in some time outside of the camp limits. + +Keeping as much in the shadow as he could, Prescott stepped along +until he came near one of the sentry lines. + +For some time he stood thus, eyes and ears alert, though he lounged +in the shadow where he was not likely to be seen. + +"It's an off night for plebe mischief, I reckon," he murmured +at last. "All the plebes are good little boys to-night, and safely +tucked in their cribs." + +At last, when it was near midnight, Prescott came out from his +place of semi-concealment and stepped over near the guard line. + +It was not long ere a yearling sentry, with bayonet fixed and +gun resting over his right shoulder, came pacing toward the first +classman. + +Recognizing a cadet officer, the yearling sentry halted, holding his +piece at "present arms." + +"Walk your post," Dick directed, after having returned the salute. + +Had Prescott been a cadet private the sentry would have questioned +him as to his reasons for being out after taps. But with a cadet +captain it was different. Though Prescott was not cadet officer +of the day, he was privileged to have official reasons for being +out without making an accounting to the sentry. + +Slowly the yearling sentry paced down to the further end of his +post. Then he came back again. Having saluted Prescott recently, +he did not pause now, but kept on past the cadet officer standing +there in the shadow. + +As the sentry's footsteps again sounded softer in the distance, +Prescott suddenly became aware of something not far away from him. + +It was a little glow of fire, at an elevation of something less +than six feet from the ground, over beside a bush. + +This glow of fire looked exactly as though it came from a lighted +cigar. + +If the cigar were held by a civilian, it was a matter that needed +looking into. + +Cadets, if they wish, may smoke at certain times and within certain +limits. But nothing in the regulations permits a cadet to go +outside the guard lines after taps to smoke. + +Dick Prescott drew further back into the shadow, noiselessly, +and kept his eye on the distant glow until he heard the yearling +returning. + +"Sentry!" called Prescott sharply. The yearling, his piece at +port arms, came on the run. + +"Investigate that glow yonder," ordered Prescott. + +"Very good, sir!" + +Prescott and the sentry started together. For an instant the +glow wavered, as though the man that was behind the glow meditated +taking to his heels. + +"Halt!" called the sentry. "Who's there?" + +Now the glow disappeared, but cadet captain and sentry were close +enough to see the outlines of a figure in cadet uniform. + +The figure still moved uncertainly, as though bent on flight. +But the sight of two pursuers seemed to change the unknown's mind. + +"A cadet," he called, in answer to the sentry's challenge. + +The sentry halted. + +"Advance, cadet, to be recognized," he commanded. + +Prescott came to a halt not far from the sentry. + +Slowly, with evident reluctance, the figure moved forward. + +"Mr. Jordan!" called Prescott, in considerable amazement. + +"Yes, sir," admitted Jordan huskily. + +Now, Dick had every reason in the world for not wanting to report +this cadet again, but duty is and must be duty, in the Army. + +"Mr. Jordan, you are under orders of confinement to the company +street," cried Dick sternly. + +"Yes, sir." + +"And yet you are found outside of camp limits? Have you any +explanation to offer, sir?" + +"I was nervous, sir," replied Jordan, "and couldn't sleep. So +I slipped out past the guard line to enjoy a quieting smoke." + +"Smoking causes vastly more nervousness than it ever remedies, +Mr. Jordan," replied the young cadet captain. "Have you any additional +explanation or excuse for being outside the company street?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then return to your tent, sir." + +"I---I suppose you are going to report this, Mr. Prescott?" asked +the other first classman. + +"I have no alternative," Dick answered. "You are under confinement +to the company street; you have made a breach of confinement, and I +am your company commander." + +"Very good, sir." + +Jordan stiffened up, saluted, then passed on across the guard +line, making for the street of A company. + +Dick turned back, more slowly, a thoughtful frown gathering on +his fine face, while the yearling sentry was muttering to himself: + +"Great Caesar, but Prescott surely has put both feet in it. He +reports a fellow classman for a little thing like a late smoke, +and the man reported will be doomed to go into close arrest! +Glad I'm not Prescott!" + +It would be untruthful to deny that Dick Prescott was worried; +nevertheless, he made his way briskly to the tent of the O.C. + +"Jove, what luck!" chuckled Jordan tremulously, as he hastened +along the street of A company to his tent. "Of course I'll be +in for all sorts of penalties, and I'll have to be mighty good, +after this, to keep within safe limits on demerits. But I have +Prescott just where I want the insolent puppy! The class, this +evening, was much in doubt about giving him the silence. But +flow! When he has gone out of his way to catch me in such an +innocent little breach of con.! Whew! But my lucky star is surely +at the top of the sky to-night." + +Cadet Jordan was soon tucked in under his bed cover. He had not +fallen asleep, however, when he heard a step coming down the street. + +Dick had chanced to find the O.C. still up. In a few words Prescott +made his report. + +"This is a very serious report against a first classman, Mr. Prescott," +said kind-hearted Lieutenant Denton gravely. "It is most unfortunate +for Mr. Jordan that he has not a better excuse. You will go to +Mr. Jordan's tent, Mr. Prescott, and direct him to remain in his +tent, in close arrest, until he hears as to the further disposition +of his case by the commandant of cadets." + +"Very good, sir," Prescott answered, saluting. + +"And then you may go to your own tent and retire, Mr. Prescott. +I fancy the plebes have been good to-night." + +"Thank you, sir." + +With a rather heavy heart, though outwardly betraying no sign, +Prescott walked along until he reached Jordan's tent, where he +delivered the order from the O.C. + +"Did you hear that, old man?" growled Jordan to his tentmate, +after the cadet captain had gone. + +"Pretty rough!" returned the tentmate sleepily. + +Rough? The first class was seething when it received the word +next morning, for it was the common belief that Prescott must +have shadowed and followed his classmate in order to entrap him. + +"It's surely time for class action now," Durville told several +of his classmates. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CLASS COMMITTEE CALLS + + +Outwardly A company and the entire corps of cadets was as placid +and unruffled as ever when the two battalions marched to breakfast +that morning. + +One conversant with military procedure, however, would have noted +that Jordan, being a prisoner, marched in the line of the file +closers. + +And Mr. Jordan's face was wholly sulky, strive as he would to +banish the look and appear indifferent. + +Even to a fellow naturally as unsocial as the cadet now in arrest, +it was no joke to be confined to his tent even for the space of +a week, except when engaged in official duties; and to be obliged, +two afternoons in a week, to march in full equipment and carry +his piece, for three hours in the barracks quadrangle under the +watchful eyes of a cadet corporal. + +This penalty would last during the remaining weeks of the encampment +and would be pronounced upon Jordan as soon as the commandant of +cadets perfunctorily confirmed the temporary order of Lieutenant +Denton. + +Dick, at the head of A company, looked as impassive as ever, though +he felt far from comfortable. + +Through the ranks, wherever first classmen walked, excitement +was seething. + +When Prescott was seated at table in the cadet mess hall, Greg, +who sat next his chum, turned and raised his eyebrows briefly, as +though to say: + +"There's something warm in the air." + +Dick's momentary glance in return as much as said: + +"I know it." + +None of the other cadets at the same table turned to address Prescott +directly, with the single exception of Greg Holmes. True, when +Dick had occasion, twice or thrice, to address other men at his +table, they answered him, though briefly. + +Whatever was in the air it had not broken yet. That was as much +as Prescott could guess. + +The instant that they had returned to camp, and the two chums +were in their tent, Greg whispered fiercely: + +"That sulker, Jordan, is putting up trouble for you, as sure as +you're alive." + +"Then I've given him a bully handle to his weapon," admitted Dick +Prescott dryly. + +They were hustling into khaki field uniform now, and there was +little time for comment; none for Greg to go outside and find +out what was really in the air. Battery drill was right ahead +of them. Barely were the chums changed to khaki field uniform +before the call sounded on the bugle. + +On the recall from battery drill, the chums had but a few moments +before they were called out for a drill in security and information. + +So the time passed until dinner. Again Jordan marched in the +line of the file closers, and now this first classman had received +his official sentence from the commandant of cadets. + +So far as the demeanor of the class toward Prescott was concerned, +dinner was an exact repetition of breakfast. + +On the return of the corps to camp, a few minutes followed that +were officially assigned to recreation. + +Dick stood just inside the door of his tent when he heard the tread +of several men approaching. + +Looking out, he saw seven men of his own class coming up. Durville +was at their head. + +"Good afternoon, Prescott," began Durville. + +"Good afternoon, gentlemen," nodded Dick. + +"We represent the class in a little matter," continued Durville, +"and I have been asked to be the spokesman. Can you spare us a +little time?" + +"All the time that I have before the call sounds for my next drill," +replied Prescott. + +"Mr. Prescott, you reported a member of our class last night," began +Durville. + +"I did so officially," Dick answered. + +"Of course, Mr. Prescott, we understand that. The offender was +a member of A company, and you are the cadet captain of that company. +But this affair happened at the guard line, and you were not cadet +officer of the day. Mr. Jordan feels that you exerted yourself to +catch him in his delinquency." + +"I did not," replied Prescott promptly. "At the time when I called +upon the cadet sentry to apprehend Mr. Jordan, I had not the remotest +idea that it was Mr. Jordan." + +"Then," asked Durville bluntly, "how did you, who were not the +cadet officer of the day, happen to be where you could catch Mr. +Jordan so neatly?" + +"In that matter I have no explanation to offer," Prescott replied. + +One less a stickler for duty than Prescott might have replied that +he had been on the spot the night before in obedience to a special +order from the officer in charge. + +Dick Prescott, however, felt that to make such a statement would +be a breach of military faith. The order that he had received +from Lieutenant Denton he looked upon as a confidential military +order that could not be discussed, except on permission or order +from competent military sources. + +"Now, Prescott," continued Cadet Durville almost coaxingly, "we +don't want to be hard on you, and we don't want to do anything +under a misapprehension. Can't you be more explicit?" + +"I have already regretted my inability to go further into the +matter with you," Dick replied, pleasantly though firmly. + +"And you can give us no explanation whatever of how you came to +report Jordan for being beyond the camp limits?" + +"All I am able to tell you is that my reporting of Mr. Jordan +was a regrettable but military necessity." + +"Is that all we wish to ask, gentlemen?" inquired Durville, turning +to his six companions. + +"It ought to be," retorted Brown dryly. + +The seven nodded very coldly. Durville turned on his heel, leading +the others away. + +"Unless I'm a poor kitchen judge, old ramrod, your goose is cooked," +muttered Greg Holmes mournfully. + +"Then it will have to be," spoke Dick resolutely. + +"But you haven't told even me how you came to be, last night, just + where you could fall afoul of Jordan so nicely." + +"Old chum," cried Dick, turning and resting a hand on Greg's right +arm, "I can discuss that matter no further with you than I did with +the class committee." + +"You're a queer old extremist, anyway, with all your notions of +duty and other bugaboos. This affair has given me the shivers." + +"Then cheer up, Holmesy!" laughed Cadet Captain Prescott. + +"Oh, it's you I'm shivering for," muttered Greg. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE CADET "SILENCE" FALLS + + +Six companies of sun-browned, muscular young men marched away to +cadet mess hall that evening. + +If any of these cadets were more than properly fatigued, none +of them betrayed the fact. Their carriage was erect, their step +springy and martial. In ranks their faces were impassive, but +when they filed into the mess hall, seated themselves at table +and glanced about, an orderly Babel broke loose. + +At all, that is to say, save one table. That was the table at +which Cadet Captain Richard Prescott sat. + +Greg was the first to make the discovery. He turned to Brown +with a remark. Brown glanced at Holmes, nodding slightly. All +the other cadets at that board were eating, their eyes on their +plates. + +"What's the matter?" quizzed Holmes. "You're ideas moving slowly?" + +Again Brown glanced up at his questioner, but that was all. + +"How's the cold lamb, Durville?" questioned Dick. + +Durville passed the meat without speaking, nor did he look directly +at Prescott. + +Dick and Greg exchanged swift glances. They understood. The +blow had fallen. + +_The Silence had been given_! + +Dick felt a hot flush mounting to his temples. The blood there +seemed to sting him. Then, as suddenly, he went white, clammy +perspiration beading his forehead and temples. + +This was the verdict of the class---of the corps? He had offended +the strict traditions and inner regulations of the cadet corps, and +was pronounced unfit for association! + +That explained the constrained atmosphere at this one table, the +one spot in all the big room where silence replaced the merry +chatter of mealtime. + +"The fellows are mighty unjust!" thought Dick bitterly, as he +went on eating mechanically. He no longer knew, really, whether +he were eating meat, bread or potato. + +That was the first thought of Prescott. But swiftly his view +changed. He realized about him, were hundreds of the flower of +the young manhood of the United States. These young men were +being trained in the ways of justice and honor, and were trying +to live up to their ideals. + +If such an exceptional, picked body of young men had condemned +him---had sentenced him to bitter retribution---was it not wholly +likely that there was much justice on their side? + +"The verdict of so many good and true men must contain much justice," +Prescott thought, as he munched mechanically, trying proudly to +bide his dismay from watchful eyes. "Then I have offended against +manhood, in some way. Yet how? I have obeyed orders and have +performed my duties like a soldier. How, then, have I done wrong?" + +Once more it seemed indisputable to Prescott that his comrades +had wronged him. But once more his own sense of justice triumphed. + +"I am not really at fault," he told himself, "nor is the class. +The class has acted on the best view of appearances that it could +obtain. I was wholly right in obeying the orders that I received +from Lieutenant Denton, and equally right in not communicating +those orders to a class committee. Nor could I refrain from reporting +Mr. Jordan for breach of con. That was my plain duty, more especially +as Mr. Jordan is a member of the company that I command. But the +appearances have been all against me, and I have refused to explain. +The class is hardly to be blamed for condemning me, and I imagine +that Mr. Jordan, in accusing me, has not been at all reticent. +Probably, too, he has taken no extreme pains to adhere to the +exact truth. I do not see how I can get out of the scrape in +which I find myself. I wonder if the silence is to be continued +until I am forced to resign and give up a career in the Army?" + +With such thoughts as these it was hard, indeed, to look and act +as though nothing had happened. + +But Cadet Jordan, taking eager, covert looks at his enemy from +another table, got little satisfaction from anything that he detected +in Prescott's face. + +"Why, that b.j.(fresh) puppy is quite equal to cheeking his way on +through the last year and into the Army!" thought Jordan maliciously. +"However, he's done for! No matter if he sticks, he'll never get +any joy out of his shoulder straps." + +Little could Jordan imagine that Prescott's proud nature would +long resist the silence. If this rebuke were to become permanent, +then Prescott was not in the least likely to attempt to enter +upon his studies at the beginning of they Academic year in September. + +And Greg! He didn't waste any time in trying to be just to any +one. All his hot blood rose and fomented within him at the bare +thought of this terrible indignity put upon that prince of good +fellows, Dick Prescott. Holmes felt, in truth, as though he would +be glad to fight, in turn, every member of the first class who +had voted for the silence. + +That practically all the fellows of the first class had voted +for the silence, Greg did not for an instant believe. He was +well aware that Dick had many staunch friends in the class who +would stand out for him in the face of any appearances. But a +vote of the majority in favor of the silence would be enough; +the rest of the class would be bound by the action of the majority. +And all the lower classes would observe and respect any decision +of the first class concerning one of its own members. + +Not a word did Greg say to Dick. Yet, under the table, Holmes +employed one of his knees to give Dick's knee a long, firm pressure +that conveyed the hidden message of unfaltering friendship and +loyalty. + +For the other cadets at the table the silence imposed more or +less hardship, since they could utter only the most necessary +words. They however, were not objects against whom the silence +was directed, and they could endure the absence of conversation +with far more indifference than was possible for Prescott. + +It was a relief to all at the table, none the less, when the rising +order was given. When the corps had marched back to camp, and +had been dismissed, Dick Prescott, head erect, and betraying no +sign of annoyance, walked naturally into A company's Street, drew +out his camp chair and seated himself on it in the open. + +Barely had he done so, when Greg arrived. Cadet Holmes, however, +did not stop or speak, but hurried on. + +"Greg has his hands full," thought Dick. "He's going to investigate. +And I'm afraid his hot head will get him into some sort of trouble, +too." + +The imposition of the silence did not affect Greg in his relations +with his tentmate. When a cadet is sent to Coventry, or has the +silence "put" on him, his tentmate or roommate may still talk +unreservedly with him without fear of incurring class disfavor. +To impose the rule of silence on the tentmate or roommate of +the rebuked one would be to punish an innocent man along with +the guilty one. + +Rarely, after all, does the corps err in its judgment when Coventry +or the silence is meted out. None the less, in Dick's case a +grave mistake had been made. + +Time slipped by, and darkness came on, but Greg had not returned. + +There was band concert in camp that night. Many cadets of the +first and third classes had already gone to meet girls whom they +would escort in strolling near the bandstand. Plebes are not +expected to escort young ladies to these concerts. The members +of the second class were away on the summer furlough, as Dick +and Greg had been the summer before. + +As the musicians began to tune up at the bandstand, most of the +remaining cadets sauntered through the company streets on their +way to get close to the music. + +All cadets who passed through A company's street became suddenly +silent when within ten paces of Dick's tent, and remained silent +until ten paces beyond. + +Dick's tent being at the head of the street, he was quite near +enough to the music. But he was not long in noting that both +cadet escorts and cadets without young ladies took pains not to +approach too close to where he sat. It was enough to fill him +with savage bitterness, though he still strove to be just to his +classmates who had been blinded by Cadet Jordan's villainous scheme. + +Of a sudden the band struck up its lively opening march. Just +at that moment Prescott became aware of the fact that Greg Holmes +was lifting out a campstool and was placing it beside him. + +"Well," announced Greg, "I've found out all there is behind the +silence." + +"I took it for granted that was your purpose," Dick responded. + +"Aren't you anxious to hear the news, old ramrod?" + +"Yes; very." + +"I'm hanged if you look anxious!" muttered Greg, studying his +chum's face keenly. + +"I fancy I've got to display a good deal of skill in masking my +feelings," smiled Dick wearily. + +"Oh, I don't know," returned Cadet Holmes hopefully. "It may not +turn out to be so bad." + +"Then a permanent silence hasn't been imposed?" + +"Not yet," replied Greg. + +"By which, I suppose, you mean that the length of the silence has +not yet been decided upon." + +"It hasn't," Greg declared. "It was only after the biggest, swiftest +and hardest kind of campaign, in fact, that the class was swung +around to the silence. Only a bare majority were wheedled into +voting for it. Nearly half of the class stood out for you stubbornly, +pointing to your record here as a sufficient answer. And that nearly +half are still your warm adherents." + +"Yet, of course, they are bound by the majority action?" + +"Of course," sighed Greg. "That's the old rule here, isn't it? +Well, to sum it up quickly, old ramrod, the silence has been +put on you, and that's as far as the decision runs up to date. +The class is yet to decide on whether the silence is to be for +a week or a month. Of course, a certain element will do all in +its power to make the silence a permanent thing. Even if it is +made permanent, Dick, you'll stick, won't you?" + +"No." + +"What?" + +"I shall not even try to stick against any permanent silence," +replied Prescott slowly. + +"I thought you had more fight in you than that," muttered Greg +in a tone of astonishment. + +"I think I have enough fight," Dick replied with some warmth. +"And I honestly believe I have enough in me to make at least +a moderately capable officer of the Army. But, Greg, I'm not +going to make a stubborn, senseless effort, all through life, +to stay among comrades who don't want me, and who will make it +plain enough that they do not consider me fit to be of their number. +Greg, in such an atmosphere I couldn't bring out the best that is +in me. I couldn't make the most of my own life, or do the best by +those who are dear to me." + +There was an almost imperceptible catch in Dick Prescott's voice. +He was thinking of Laura Bentley as the one for whom he had hoped +to do all his best things in life. + +"I don't know but you're right, old fellow. But it's fearfully +hard to decide such a matter off-hand," returned Greg. His own +voice broke. For some moments Holmes sat in moody silence. + +At last he reached out a hand, resting it on Dick's arm. + +"If you get out, old ramrod, it's the outs for me on the same day." + +"Greg!" + +"Oh, that's all right," retorted Cadet Holmes, trying to force +a cheery ring into his voice. "If you can't get through and live +under the colors, Dick, I don't want to!" + +"But Greg, old fellow, you mustn't look at it that way. You have +had three years of training here at the nation's expense. It will +soon be four. You owe your country some return for this magnificent +training." + +"How about you, then?" asked Holmes, regarding his friend quizzically. + +"Me? I'd stay under the colors, and give up my life for the country +and the Army, if my comrades would have it. But if they won't, then +it's for the best interests of the service that I get out, Greg." + +"Well, talk yourself blind, if it will give you any relief. But +post this information up on your inside bulletin board: When you +quit the service, old ramrod, it will be 'good-bye' for little +Holmesy!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THE GIRLS + + +Breakfast, the next morning, was a repetition of what had happened +the night before. + +At Dick's table the silence was absolute. + +Even Captain Reid, cadet commissary, noticed it and understood, +in his trip of inspection through mess hall. + +The thing that Reid, who was an Army officer, did not know was---who +was the victim? He never guessed Prescott, who was class president, +and believed to be one of the tallest of the class idols. + +It speaks volumes for the intended justice of the cadets when they +will, in time of fancied need, destroy even their idols. + +Thus it went on for some days. + +Dick performed all of his duties as usual, and as well as usual. +Nothing in his demeanor showed how keenly he felt the humiliation +that had been put upon him. Only in his failure to attempt any +social address of a classmate did he betray his recognition of +the silence. + +Greg did his best to cheer up his chum. Anstey expressed greatest +sorrow and sympathy for his friend Prescott. Holmes promptly +reported this conversation to Dick. Other good friends expressed +their sorrow to Holmes. In every case he bore the name and the +implied message hastily to the young cadet captain. + +A few whom Dick had considered his good friends did not thus put +themselves on record. Dick thereupon understood that they had +acted upon their best information and convictions, and he honored +them for being able to put friendship aside in the interests of +tradition and corps honor. + +The silence had lasted five days when, one evening, a class meeting +was called. Though Cadet Prescott was class president, he did +not attend, for he knew very well that he was not wanted. + +Greg's sense of delicacy told the latter that it was not for him +to attend the meeting, either. + +The vice president of the class was called to the chair. Then +Durville and others made heated addresses in which they declared +that Prescott could no longer consistently retain the class presidency. + +A motion was made that Prescott be called upon to resign. It was +seconded by several first classmen. + +Then Anstey, the Virginian, claimed the floor in behalf of the +humiliated class president. The blood of Virginian orators flowed +in Anstey's veins, nor did he discredit his ancestry. + +In an impassioned yet deliberate and logical speech Anstey declared +that great injustice had been done Cadet Richard Prescott, and by +the members of his own class. + +"Every man within reach of my voice knows Mr. Prescott's record," +declared the Virginian warmly. "When we were plebes, who stood +up most staunchly as our class champion? Why, suh, why did we +choose Mr. Prescott as our class president? Was it not because +we believed, with all our hearts, that in Richard Prescott lay +all the best elements of noble, upright and manly cadethood? +Do you remember, suh, and fellow classmen, the wild enthusiasm +that prevailed when we, by our suffrages, had declared Mr. Prescott +to be our ideal of the man to lead the class in all the paths +of honor?" + +Anstey paused for an instant. Then, lowering his voice somewhat, +he continued, with scathing irony: + +"_And now you give this best man of our class the silence, and +seek to remove him from the presidency of the class_!" + +"It's a shame!" roared another cadet. + +There were cheers. + +"It is a shame," cried Anstey in a ringing voice. "And now you +seek to deepen the shame by further degrading Prescott, who has +always been the champion of our class. Mr. President, I move +that we lay the motion on the table indefinitely. As soon as +that has been done I shall make another motion, that we remove +the silence from the grand, good fellow who has had it put upon +him." + +There were others, however, with nearly Anstey's gift for oratory. +One of them now took the floor, pointing out that the class would +not have rebuked Prescott for having reported Jordan in the tour +of pontoon bridge construction. + +"That may have been justified," continued the speaker. "But, +afterwards, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Prescott had words. There must +have been some bitterness in that. That same night Mr. Jordan +was caught and reported by Mr. Prescott, who was not cadet officer +of the day, and who therefore must have deliberately shadowed +Mr. Jordan in order to catch him." + +"Prescott did not shadow Mr. Jordan, or do anything of a sneaky +nature," shouted Anstey. + +"He refused to explain to our class committee how he happened +to be on band at just the time to catch Jordan," shouted Durville. + +"Then be assured he had a good military, a good soldierly, a good +manly reason for his silence," clamored Anstey. + +The meeting was an excited one from all points of view. In the +end the best that the staunch friends of Dick could secure was +that action on the resignation of the class presidency be deferred +until a cooler hour, but that the silence be continued for the +present. + +And so the meeting broke up. Jordan had been dismayed, fearing +that Anstey's impassioned speech might result in putting his enemy +back into greater popularity than ever. + +But now Jordan was reassured. He was satisfied that things were +still moving in his direction, and that Prescott's proud spirit +would soon lead him into some action that must make the breach with +the class wider than ever. + +At noon the next day Prescott returned from the second drill of +the forenoon. In his absence a mail orderly had been around. An +envelope lay on the table addressed to Dick. + +"From Laura," he exclaimed in delight. + +"That'll cheer you some," smiled Greg. + +"Why it's postmarked from New York," continued Dick swiftly. +"Whew! She must be headed this way!" + +Hurriedly Prescott tore the envelope open. + +"It couldn't have happened at a worse time," he muttered, turning +white. + +"What?" + +"Laura, Mrs. Bentley and Belle Meade are in New York, and will +reach here this afternoon. Laura says they have learned that +there is a hop on to-night, and they are bringing their prettiest +frocks." + +"Whew! That is a facer!" breathed Greg in perplexity. + +"Of course I can't take Laura to the hop." + +"You can, if you have the nerve," insisted Greg. + +"And I have the nerve!" retorted Dick defiantly. "But how about +Laura? She would discover, within a few minutes, that I am on +strained terms with the other fellows. That would do worse than +spoil her evening." + +"Well," demanded Greg thoughtfully, "why do you need to take her +to the hop?" + +"Because she says that's what the girls have come for." + +"Bother! Do you suppose it's you, or the hop, that Laura comes for?" + +But Dick, instead of being cheered by this view, turned very white. + +"I've got to tell her," he muttered hoarsely, "that I'm in eclipse. +That the fellows have voted that I am not a fit associate for +gentlemen." + +"And I'll tell her a heap more," retorted Cadet Holmes. "Dick, +do you think either of the girls would go back on you, just because +a lot of raw, half-baked cadets have got you sized up wrong? +Is that all the faith you have in your friends? And, especially, +such a friend as Laura Bentley? Was that the way she acted when +you were under charges of cribbing? You were in disgrace, then, +weren't you? Did Laura look at you with anything but sympathy +in her eyes?" + +"No; heaven bless her!" + +"Now, see here, Dick. If the girls are up here this evening, +we won't take 'em to the hop. Instead, we'll sit out on the north +porch at the hotel, with Mrs. Bentley near by. We'll have such +a good old talk with the girls as we never could have at a hop." + +"Everything in life would be easy, Greg, if you could explain it +away," laughed Dick Prescott, but his tone was bitter. + +"Well, as you can't take the girls to the hop, with any regard +for their comfort, my plan is best of all, isn't it?" + +"I---I suppose so." + +"So make the best of it, old ramrod. There's nothing so bad that +it couldn't be a lot worse." + +There was a long tour of work with the field battery guns that +afternoon. For once Prescott found his mind entirely off his +work. Nor could he rally his senses to his work. He got a low +marking, indeed, in the instructor's record for that afternoon's +work. + +Then, hot, dusty and tired, this detachment of cadets came in +from work. + +In the visitors' seats, near headquarters, Dick and Greg espied +Mrs. Bentley and the girls. How lovely the two latter looked! + +The instant that ranks were broken Laura. and Belle were on their +feet, glancing eagerly in the direction of their cadets. Dick +and Greg had to go over, doff their campaign hats and shake hands +with Mrs. Bentley and the girls. + +"We've given you a surprise, this time," laughed Laura. "I hope +you're pleased." + +"Can you doubt it?" asked Dick so absently, so reluctantly, that +Laura Bentley shot a swift, uneasy look at the handsome young +cadet captain. + +"You don't seem over delighted," broke in Belle Meade. "Gracious! +I hope we haven't been indiscreet in coming almost unannounced? +See here, you haven't invited any other girls to to-night's hop, +have you?" + +Both girls, flushed and rather uneasy looking, were now eyeing +the two ill-at-ease young first classmen. + +"No; we haven't invited anyone else. But there's something to +be explained," replied Dick lamely. "Greg, you explain, won't +you? And you'll all excuse me, won't you, while I hurry away +to tog for dress parade?" + +Laura's face was almost as white as Dick's had been at noon, as +she gazed after the receding Prescott. + +Then Greg, in his bluntest way, tried to put it all straight, +and quickly, at that. + +"Oh, is that all?" asked Belle with a sniff of contempt. "Why +couldn't Dick remain and tell us himself? You cadets are certainly +cowards in some things---sometimes!" + +But the tears were struggling for a front place in Laura's fine +eyes. + +"Is this 'silence' going to affect Dick very much in his career +in the Army?" she asked with emotion. + +"Not if his staunchest friends can prevent it," replied Greg almost +fiercely. "And old ramrod has a host of friends in his class, +at that." + +"It's too bad they're not in the majority, then," murmured Miss +Meade. + +"They will be, in the end," asserted Greg. "We're working things +around to that point. You should have heard the fierce row we put +up at the class meeting last night." + +When it was too late Greg could have bitten his tongue. + +"Class meeting?" asked Laura. "Then has there been further action +taken?" + +Greg nodded, biting his lips. + +"What was last night's meeting held for?" persisted Laura. + +"To try to oust Dick from the class presidency," confessed Cadet +Holmes. + +"Did they do it?" quivered Laura Bentley. + +"No!" + +"Ah! Then the attempt was defeated. Dick is to retain the presidency +of his class?" + +"Action was deferred," replied Greg in a low voice. + +He wished with all his heart he could get away, for he saw that, +no matter how he tried to hedge the facts about, these keen-witted +girls realized that Dick Prescott's plight was about as black +as it could be for a young man who wanted, with all his soul, +to remain in the military service of his country. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +JORDAN MEETS DISASTER + + +Belle, with her combination of impulsive temperament, good judgment +and bluntness, came to the temporary rescue. + +"Greg is trying to conceal the fact that he'll have a desperate +rush to get into his dress uniform in time for parade," Miss Meade +interposed. "Anyway, there's far more about this matter than +we can understand in a moment. Greg, you and Dick can call on +us at the hotel this evening, can't you?" + +"We most surely can." + +"Then come, as early as you can. We'll eat the earliest dinner +we can get there, and be prepared for a long evening. Now, hurry +to your tent, for I don't want to see you reported for being late +at formation." + +Between her visits to West Point, and her trips to Annapolis to +see Dave Darrin, as related in the Annapolis Series, Belle had +by this time a very considerable knowledge of formations, and +of other incidents in the lives of Army and Navy cadets. + +"This evening, then," replied Greg, shifting his campaign hat +to the other hand and feeling like a man who has secured a reprieve. + +"And give my love to Dick," Belle went on hastily, "and tell him +that the President of the United States couldn't, if he wanted +to, change our opinion of dear old Dick in the least." + +"Thank you," bowed Greg, gratitude welling up in his heart. + +"And you send him your love, don't you, Laura?" insisted Belle +swiftly. + +Laura recoiled quickly, flushing violently. + +It was all right for Belle Meade to send her "love" to Prescott, +for they were old friends, and Belle was known to be Dave Darrin's +loyal sweetheart. + +With Laura the situation was painfully different. She and Dick +had been schoolboy and schoolgirl sweethearts, after a fashion, +but Dick had never openly declared his love for her. + +Would he misunderstand, and think her unwomanly? + +She trembled with the sudden doubt at the thought. + +Besides, another, a prosperous young merchant back in Gridley, +had been ardent in his attentions to Miss Bentley. + +"Of course Laura sends her love," broke in Greg promptly. "Who +wouldn't, when the dear old fellow is in such a scrape? And I'll +deliver the message of love from you both---and from Mrs. Bentley, +too?" + +Greg looked inquiringly, but expectantly at Laura's mother, who +nodded and smiled in ready sympathy. + +Then Greg made his best soldier's bow and hastened off to his +chum, whose heart he succeeded in gladdening somewhat while the +two made all haste to get ready for parade call. + +When the corps marched on to the field that afternoon, Mrs. Bentley +and the girls were there among the eager spectators. Dick saw +them almost instantly, and his heart bounded within him. It was +Laura's mute message of sympathy and hope to him! He held up +his head higher, if that were possible, and went through every +movement with even more than his usual precision. + +As the corps was marching off the field again, however, Dick's +heart sank rapidly within him. + +"If I have to leave the Army, I can never ask Laura for her love," +he groaned wretchedly. "If I go from West Point as anything but +a graduate and an officer, I shall have to start life all over +again. It will take me years to find my place and get solidly on +my feet I could never ask a girl to wait as long as that!" + +In the early evening Laura, Belle and Mrs. Bentley were on the +veranda near the hotel entrance. Cadets Jordan and Douglass made +their appearance. Jordan had obtained official permission to +present Douglass to his sister, who was to go to the hop that +evening. + +"By Jove, there's a spoony femme (pretty girl) over there," breathed +Jordan in Douglass' ear. "You don't happen to know her, do you?" + +"Why, yes, that's Miss Bentley, and the other is Miss Meade. +The chaperon is Miss Bentley's mother," replied Cadet Douglass. + +"You know them?" throbbed Jordan, his eyes resting eagerly on +Laura's face. "What luck! Present me, old chap!" + +So Douglass, who, in some respects, had a bad memory, piloted +his classmate over to the ladies and halted. + +"Good evening, ladies," greeted Douglass, raising his uniform +cap in his most polished manner. "Mrs. Bentley, Miss Bentley, +Miss Meade, will you permit me to present my friend and classmate +Mr. Jordan?" + +Belle, who was nearest, bowed and held out her hand. + +But Laura drew herself up haughtily. "Mr. Douglass," she answered +coldly, "my apologies to you, but I don't wish to know---Mr. Jordan!" + +Belle caught the name again, and remembered. + +"Oh!" she cried, snatching her hand away ere Jordan could touch it. + +"I'm sorry, ladies," stammered Douglass. But they found themselves +confronted by rear views of two shapely pairs of young shoulders, +while Mrs. Bentley had the air of looking through the young men +without being able to see either. + +Two very much disconcerted cadets, and very red in the face, stiffly +resumed their caps and marched away. + +"Great Scott, what did that mean?" gasped Jordan, struck all in a +heap by his strange reception. + +Cadet Douglass gasped. + +"Jordan," he exclaimed contritely, "I'm the greatest ass in the +corps!" + +"You must be!" exploded Dick's enemy. "But what was the cause +of it all?" + +"Why, Jordan, you---you see-----" + +"Who is Miss Bentley?" + +"Jordan, she's Prescott's girl!" + +"What?" gasped the other cadet, staring at his classmate. + +"Fact!" + +"Prescott's---girl?" + +"Yes." + +"Jove, a puppy like Prescott has no business with a superb girl +like that." + +"All the same, Jordan, the fact will prevent you from knowing her." + +"Now, I'm not so sure of that!" cried Jordan suddenly, with strange +fire in his eyes. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Oh, nothing," mumbled Jordan, suddenly recovering himself. + +Then, under his breath, he chuckled gleefully: + +"Miss Bentley is just struck on the uniform, of course. A girl +like that couldn't care for a misfit like Prescott. Well, he +won't be in the uniform much longer. I won't lose sight of Miss +Bentley. I'll find her again when Prescott is out of the uniform +for good!" + +Now, aloud, he asked: + +"Doug, do you happen to remember Miss Bentley's first name?" + +"Larry," answered Cadet Douglass absently. + +"Stop that!" cried Jordan almost fiercely. + +"Oh, a thousand pardons, Jordan. I'm so rattled I don't know +what I'm doing or saying. The girl's first name is Laura. Peach, +isn't she?" + +"Laura! That's a sweet name," murmured Jordan to himself. His +mind was now running riot, not only with plans to drive Dick Prescott +out of the Army, but also to win the heart of Laura Bentley. + +"Hold on, Jord," begged Douglass, halting and leaning against +a post in the veranda structure. "Don't take me to your sister +just yet. Let me get my breath, my nerves, my wits back again." + +"Take an hour," advised Jordan laconically. "You need it. Didn't +you know Miss Bentley was Prescott's girl?" + +"Yes; but it had slipped my memory. It's mighty hard, when you +come to think of it, to remember the girls of so many hundreds of +fellows," explained Cadet Douglass plaintively. + +Ten minutes later Dick and Greg appeared, greeting the ladies. +Mrs. Bentley assented to their going around to the north side +of the porch, whence they could look up the river to the lights +of Newburgh. + +"We very nearly had an adventure, Dick," laughed Belle. + +"Yes?" + +"We very nearly shook hands with Mr. Jordan. It was Laura's quick +cry that saved me, just in the nick of time, from touching hands +with the fellow." + +Miss Meade then related their experience, and the discomfiture +of Cadets Douglass and Jordan. + +"That's just about like Doug," observed Greg Holmes. "I'll bet +he never thought until Laura called off the signal for the kick." + +"What's that?" demanded Miss Bentley. + +"Pardon me," apologized Greg. "I think in football terms altogether +too often. But I'm glad Jordan saw the goal and then lost it." + +"I think Dick wants to tell us something about the fellow Jordan, +and some of the other cadets," Belle hinted. + +Between them the chums told the story of how the "silence" had come +to be imposed. Prescott did not, however, tell his feminine visitors +how he had happened to catch Jordan outside the guard line. + +"How did that happen?" asked Laura innocently. + +"Now, I'd tell you before I would any one else on earth," protested +Dick with warmth, "but I haven't told Greg or anyone else. I had +good military reasons, not personal ones." + +"Oh!" replied Laura. And, not understanding, she felt more than +a little hurt by Dick's failure to answer frankly. + +Both girls, however, talked very comfortingly, and Mrs. Bentley +very sensibly aided their efforts. All three tried to make it +quite plain to Dick Prescott that no amount, or consequence, of +lack of understanding by his classmates could make any difference +with his standing in their eyes. + +Presently Mrs. Bentley consented to the girls strolling down the +road between the hotel and cadet barracks. Dick, of course, walked +with Laura, while Greg and Belle remained at a discreet, +out-of-earshot distance. + +At last they stood again by the gateway through the shrubbery at +the edge of the hotel grounds. + +"Dick-----" began Laura hesitatingly. + +"Yes?" asked the young cadet captain. + +"Dick, no matter how far your classmates push this matter," begged +Laura, her eyes big and earnest, "don't let their acts force you +out of the Army. No matter what happens---stick!" + +Cadet Prescott shook his head wearily. "I can't stick," he replied +firmly, "if I am shown that my presence in the Army is not going +to be for the good and the harmony of the service!" + +Laura sighed. Another keen pang of disappointment, was hers. + +She now believed that her influence over Dick Prescott was not +anywhere near as strong as she had hoped it would be. + +A very wretched girl rested her head on a pillow that night, and +slept but poorly. + +In the forenoon, while the corps was absent on an infantry practice +march, Laura, her mother and her friend went dejectedly away from +West Point. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FATE SERVES DICK HER MEANEST TRICK + + +The furloughed second class returned, the encampment ended and the +corps marched back into cadet barracks. + +The new academic year had begun, with new text-books, new studies, +new intellectual torments for the hundreds of ambitious young +soldiers at the United States Military Academy. + +By this time both Dick and Greg had acquired the habits of study +so thoroughly that neither any longer feared for his standing or +markings. + +To Prescott there was one big comfort about being back in the +old, gray cadet barracks. + +The silence put upon Dick was not now quite as much in evidence. +With long study hours, Prescott had not so much need to meet his +classmates. + +In the section rooms nothing in the deportment of the other cadets +could emphasize the silence. + +It was only in the authorized visiting hours that Prescott noted +the change keenly. + +Of course, according to the traditions of the Military Academy, +Anstey and all the other loyal friends who ached to call were +barred from so doing. + +While taps sounds at ten o'clock, and members of the three lower +classes must be in bed, with lights out, at the first sound of +taps, first classmen are privileged, whenever they wish, to run +a light until eleven at night, provided the extra time be spent +in study. + +One evening in early September, Dick and Greg were both busy at +study table, when Dick chanced to look over some papers connected +with his studies. As he did so, he drew out an officially backed +sheet, and started. + +"Jupiter!" he muttered. "I should have turned this in before +supper formation." + +"Who gets the report?" asked Greg, looking up. + +"It goes to the officer in charge," Dick answered. + +"Oh, well, he's up yet. You can slip over to his office with +it," replied Greg easily. + +"And I'll do it at once. It may mean a demerit or two, for lack +of punctuality, but I'm glad it's no worse." + +Jumping up and donning his fatigue cap, Prescott thrust the neglected +official report into the breast of his uniform blouse, soldier +fashion. + +Then he walked slowly out, halting just inside the subdivision +door. + +"I don't mind a few demerits, but I don't like to be accused of +unsoldierly neglect," mused the young cadet captain. "Let me +see if I can think up a way of presenting my statement so that +the O.C. won't scorch me." + +As Dick stood there in the gloom, a quick, soft step sounded outside. +Then the door was carefully opened, and a young man in citizen's +dress entered. + +Civilians rarely have a right, to be in cadet barracks at any +time of the day. It is wholly out of the question for one to +enter barracks after taps. + +"What are you doing in here, sir?" Dick questioned sternly, putting +out his hand to take the other's arm. + +Then the young cadet captain drew back in near-horror. + +"Good heavens! Durville?" he gasped. + +"Yes. Sh!" whispered the other cadet, slinking back, a frightened +look in his eyes. + +No cadet, while at West Point, may, without proper permission, +appear in any clothing save the uniform of the day or of the tour. +No cadet ever attempts to don "cits." unless he is up to some +grave mischief, such as leaving the post. + +"Don't say a word! Let me reach my room!" whispered Durville +hoarsely. + +Dick Prescott wished, with all his heart, to be able to comply +with the other cadet's frenzied request. + +But duty stepped in with loud voice. As a cadet officer, as captain +of Durville's company, Prescott had no alternative within the +lines of that duty. He must report Cadet Durville. + +"Now, don't look at me so strangely," begged Durville. "Let me +go by, and tell me you'll keep this quiet. By Jove, Prescott, +you know what it means to me if I'm placed on report for---this!" + +"Yes, I know," nodded Dick, dejectedly, and speaking as hoarsely +as did the other man. "Oh, Durville, I wish I could do it, but-----" + +Dick had to clench his fists and gulp hard. Then the soldier in +him triumphed. + +"Mr. Durville"---he spoke in an impassive official tone, now---"you +will accompany me to the office of the officer in charge, and +will there make such official explanation as you may choose." + +"Prescott, for the love of-----" began the other over again, in +trembling desperation. + +"About face, Mr. Durville. Forward!" + +Now, all the gameness in the other cadet came to the surface. +He wheeled about, head up, his clenched fists seeking the seams +of his condemning "cit." trousers. Durville marched defiantly +out into the quadrangle, across and into the cadet guard house, +up the flight of stairs and into the office of the officer in +charge. + +Lieutenant Denton was again O.C. that night. + +Both cadets saluted when they entered after knocking. + +Lieutenant Denton glanced in sheer dismay at the "cit." clothes +worn by Durville. + +"Sir," began Dick huskily, "I regret being obliged to report that +I just discovered Mr. Durville entering the sub-division in citizen's +dress." + +"Have you any explanation to offer, Mr. Durville?" asked Lieutenant +Denton in his official tone. + +"None, sir." + +"Very good, Mr. Durville. You will go to your room and remain in +close arrest until you receive further official communication in +this matter." + +"Very good, sir." + +Durville spoke in steady, if icy tones, as he saluted and made +this response. + +"That is all, Mr. Durville." + +"Very good, sir." + +Like one frozen, the cadet in unfamiliar attire turned and left +the office. + +"How did you happen to make the discovery, Mr. Prescott?" gasped +the O.C. + +"I discovered, sir, that I had overlooked this report, which I +now turn in, sir," Dick replied rather hoarsely. "It was just +as I was about to leave the sub-division that Mr. Durville came +in. I had no alternative but to report him, sir." + +"You are right, Mr. Prescott. As a cadet officer you had no +alternative." + +Then, with a memory of his own West Point days, Lieutenant Denton +unbent enough to remark feelingly: + +"You have unassailable courage, too, Mr. Prescott." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Is that all?" + +"You have finished your official business?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Good night," Mr. Prescott. + +"Good night, sir." + +Saluting, Dick turned from the office. As he pushed open the door +and reentered the subdivision, he beheld Durville, standing there +with arms folded. + +"Possibly at the risk of being reported for breaking my arrest, +Mr. Prescott," began Durville, "I have lingered here to say to +you that you have succeeded in wreaking a most complete revenge +upon one who led a bit in having the silence conferred upon you." + +All Dick's reserve melted for an instant. + +"Durville, man---you---don't believe I did this for---for revenge?" +Prescott demanded. + +Cadet Durville smiled sarcastically. + +"I shall undoubtedly be broken for this night's affair, Mr. Prescott, +and you and the rest will continue to believe that I was absent +merely on some vulgar escapade! I go, now, to my arrest, which +is doubtless the last military service I shall be called upon to +render. Mr. Prescott, I congratulate you, sir, upon your ability +to spy upon other men and to serve your highest ideas of suitable +vengeance." + +Gloomily Durville turned to his room. Dick almost stumbled to +his own quarters. + +Greg Holmes's face blanched when he heard the news. + +"There'll be fine class ructions by to-morrow!" he told himself +with unwonted grimness. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CLASS TAKES FINAL ACTION + + +By the time the corps of cadets was seated at breakfast, in the +great mess hall, the following morning, the news began to circulate +rapidly. + +It was discussed in low tones at every table save that at which the +silence against Prescott prevailed. + +The silence by this time had ceased to be literal, except so far +as it applied to Dick. Other cadets at his table talked among +themselves, though never to Prescott. Greg, being Dick's roommate, +was the sole cadet exempted from this rule. + +But the men at Prescott's table restrained their curiosity until +the two battalions had marched back to barracks and had been dismissed. + +After the dismissal of the companies Dick and Greg strolled along +slowly. Wherever they passed backs were turned to them, though +this would not have happened to Holmes had he been alone. + +Though the news was discussed, no class action was taken. This +must not be done until Durville's fate had overtaken him. Otherwise, +the Military Academy authorities might take such action as defiant +and visit a more severe penalty upon Cadet Durville. + +For five days Durville remained in close arrest. This meant, to +the initiated, that the Superintendent had taken up the matter with +the War Department at Washington. + +On the sixth day Durville was once more sent for by the commandant +of cadets. His sentence was handed out to him. On account of +an academic reputation of high grade, and a hitherto good-conduct +report, Mr. Durville was not dropped from the corps. Had the +offender, before leaving West Point in "cits.," gone to the cadet +guard house and made any false report concerning his absence, +nothing could have saved him from dismissal for making a false +official report. All things being taken into consideration, Cadet +Durville was "let off" with loss of privileges up to the time +of semi-annual examinations, with, in addition, the walking of +punishment tours every Saturday afternoon during the same period. + +Now the gathering wrath broke loose upon Dick. A class meeting +was called, that neither Prescott nor Holmes could attend with +propriety. + +Durville, as a matter of policy, did not attend, but there were +not wanting first classmen who looked upon Durville as a sacrifice, +and who were fully capable of presenting his side of the case at +the meeting. + +Upon Anstey, as on a former occasion, fell the task of making +Prescott's side clear. + +The class meeting had not been in session many minutes when Dick's +accusers had made it rather plain that Mr. Prescott, following +his previous course with Jordan, had revenged himself also on +Durville, who had taken an active part in securing the imposition +of the silence. + +Anstey took the floor in a fiery defence. He brought forth the +statement that Prescott had not made any attempt to pry into the +goings or comings of the unlucky Durville. The Virginian declared +that Prescott had happened to be abroad in time to "catch" Mr. +Durville, simply because Prescott had started for the office of +the officer in charge with an official paper that he had been +tardy about turning in. + +Though Anstey dwelt upon this side of the case with consummate +oratory, the defence was regarded as "too transparent." Anstey's +good faith was not questioned, but Prescott's was. + +In the turmoil the office of class president was declared vacant. +Anstey was nominated for the office just made vacant, but, with +cold politeness, he refused what, at any other time, would have +been a high honor. + +Cadet Douglass was presently elected class president. + +Then further action was taken with regard to Cadet Richard Prescott. +Without further debate a motion was carried that Prescott be sent +to Coventry for good and all. + +The class meeting adjourned, and upon Greg Holmes, who was informed +by Anstey, fell the task of carrying the decision to Dick. + +"I expected it, Holmesy," was Dick's quiet reply. + +"Buck up, anyway, old ramrod," begged Greg. "This terrible mess +will all be straightened out before graduation." + +"Not in time to do me any good," replied Dick gloomily. + +"Now what do you mean?" + +But Dick closed his jaws firmly. + +Greg knew better than to press his questioning further, just then. +He contented himself with crossing the room, resting both hands +on Dick's shoulders. + +"Now, old ramrod, just remember this: Into every life a good deal +of trouble comes. It is up to each fellow, in his own case, to +show how much of a man he is. The fellow who lies down, or runs +away, isn't a man. The fellow who fights his trouble out to a +grim finish, is a man every inch of his five or six feet! The +class is wild, just now, but on misinformation. Fight it out! +Enemies of yours have brought you to this pass. Don't run away! +All your friends are with you as much as ever they were." + +Dick was a good deal affected. + +"Believe me, Greg, whatever I decide on doing won't be in the +line of running away. Whatever I decide upon will be what I finally +believe to be for the best good of the service." + +"Humph!" muttered Greg, looking wonderingly at his chum. + +In the closing period of the next forenoon Dick's section did not +recite. Greg's did. So Prescott was left alone in the room with +his books. + +Despite himself, Greg was so worried, during that recitation, that +he "fessed cold"---that is, he secured a mark but a very little +above zero. + +As soon as the returning section was dismissed Cadet Holmes, his +heart beating fast, hurried to his room. + +There sat Dick, at the study table, as Greg had left him. But +Prescott had pushed his textbooks aside. Before him rested only +a sheet of paper. With pen in hand Prescott wrote something at +the bottom just as Holmes entered the room. Then Dick looked +up with a half cheery face. + +"I've done it, Greg," he announced simply, in a hard, dry voice. + +"Done it?" echoed Cadet Holmes. "What?" + +"I have written my resignation as a member of the corps of cadets, +United States Military Academy." + +"Bosh!" roared Cadet Holmes in a great rage. "The resignation +is written, signed, and---it sticks!" returned Dick Prescott +with quiet emphasis. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +LIEUTENANT DENTON'S STRAIGHT TALK + + +"Let me have that paper!" demanded Greg, darting forward. + +There was fire in Cadet Holmes's eyes and purpose in his heart +as he reached forward to snatch the sheet from the desk. + +Yet Dick Prescott stepped before him, thrusting him quietly aside +with a manner that was not to be overridden. + +"Don't touch it, Greg!" he ordered in a low voice that was none +the less compelling. + +"But you shan't send that resignation in!" quivered Greg. + +"My dear boy, you know very well that I shall!" + +"Have you no thought for me?" Cadet Holmes demanded. + +"My going may put you in a blue streak for a week, old fellow, +but it will put me in a blue streak for a lifetime. Yet there's +no other way for me. What's the use of being an ostracized officer +in the service? With you, Greg, old chum, it is different. You +will, after a little, be very happy in the Army." + +"Happy in the---nothing!" exploded Greg. "I told you, weeks ago, +that if you quit the service, I would do the same thing." + +"But you won't," urged Dick. "In these weeks you have had time +to reflect and turn sensible." + +"Do you suppose I care to go on, old chum, if you don't?" + +"Yes," answered Dick quietly. "And if the case were reversed, +and you were resigning, I should go on just the same and stick +in the service. Why, Greg, if we both went on into the Army, +and under the happiest conditions, we wouldn't be together, anyway. +You might be in one regiment, down in Florida, and I in another +out in the Philippines. When I was serving in Cuba, you'd be +in Alaska. Don't be foolish, Greg. I've got to leave, but there's +no earthly reason why you should. Your resigning would be mistaken +loyalty to me, and would cast no rebuke or regret over the cadet +corps or the Army. The fellows who are going to stick would simply +feel that one weak-kneed chap had dropped by the wayside. They'd +merely march on and forget you." + +"There goes the first call for dinner formation," cried Holmes, +wheeling and beginning his hasty preparations. + +"That's better," laughed Dick, as he shoved his resignation into +the drawer of the table. + +Then Dick, too, made his hurried preparations. Second call found +them ready to watch the forming of A company. At the command +Dick gave his own company order: + +"Fours right! Forward---march!" + +Away went A company, at the head of the corps, the whole long line +giving forth the rhythmic sound of marching feet. + +No outsider could have guessed that the young senior cadet captain +was utterly discredited by the majority of his class, and that he +was about to drop hopelessly out of this stirring life. + +On the return from dinner Dick went at once to his room. + +"What are you going to do?" demanded Greg impatiently, as Prescott +seated himself at the study table. + +"I am going to address an envelope to hold the sheet of paper +of which you so much disapprove." + +Greg knew it was useless to expostulate. Instead, he hurried +out, found Anstey, and called the Virginian so that both could +stand in the place where they would be sure to see Prescott if +he attempted to come out. + +Feverishly, in undertones, Greg confided the news to Anstey. + +"I don't just see what we can do, suh," answered the southerner +with a puzzled look. + +"Prescott is doing, suh, just what I reckon I'd do myself, suh, if +I were in his place." + +"But we can't lose him," urged Greg. + +"I know we'll hate like thunder to, suh. But what can we do? +Can we beg Prescott to stay, and face the cold shoulder, suh, +all the time he is here, and in the Army afterwards?" + +"I'm not getting much comfort out of you, Anstey," muttered Greg +grimly. + +"And that, suh, is because I don't see where the comfort comes +in. Holmesy, don't think I'm not suffering, suh. It'll break +my heart to see old ramrod drop out of the corps." + +"Then you don't think we can stop Prescott?" + +"I reckon I don't Holmesy. This is the kind of matter, suh, that +every man must settle for himself. If I were a much older man, +Holmesy, with much more experience in the Army, I reckon I might +be able to give him some very sound advice. But as it is, suh, +I know I can't." + +When Greg returned to the room he found Dick preparing books and +papers to march to the next section recitation. + +"What have you done with that resignation of yours?" growled Greg. + +"It's in that drawer," replied Dick, with a weary smile, "and +I rely on you, old fellow, not to do anything to it. It would +only give me all the pain over again if I had to rewrite it." + +"Dick, can nothing change your mind?" + +"I have thought it all over, old friend." + +The call for section formation sounded, and both hurried away. + +Later, Dick's section returned a full minute and a half ahead +of the one to which Holmes belonged. + +"Now's the time!" muttered Dick, opening the drawer and slipping +the envelope into the breast of his blouse. + +Then he hurried out, crossing the quadrangle to the cadet guard +house. Cadet Holmes, in section ranks, marched into the quadrangle +in time just to catch a glimpse of Prescott's disappearing back. + +Going up the stairs, Dick knocked on the door of the office of +the O.C. + +"Come in!" called the officer in charge, who proved to be none +other than Lieutenant Denton again. + +"What is it, Mr. Prescott?" inquired the Army officer, as Prescott, +saluting, advanced to the officer's desk, then halted, standing +at attention. + +"Sir, I have come to ask for some information." + +"What is it, Mr. Prescott?" + +"Sir, I have a paper, addressed to the superintendent. I do not +know whether I should take it to the adjutant's office, or whether +I should forward it through this office." + +"I thought you understood your company paper work, Mr. Prescott," +smiled Lieutenant Denton. + +"I think I do, sir; but this kind of paper I have never had to put +in before." + +"What kind of paper is it?" + +"My resignation, sir," replied Dick quietly. Lieutenant Denton +looked almost as much astonished as he felt. + +"What?" he choked. Then a slight smile came into his face. + +"Oh, I think I begin to understand, Mr. Prescott. You wish more +time for your studies, and so you are resigning your post as captain +of A company." + +"This is my resignation, sir, from the corps of cadets." + +Lieutenant Denton looked utterly nonplussed. + +"Oh, very good, Mr. Prescott. If you are bent on leaving the +Military Academy, I presume I have no right to demand your reasons. +But---won't you sit down?" + +The lieutenant pointed to a chair near his own. + +"Thank you, sir," nodded Prescott. Taking off his fatigue cap, +he dropped into the chair, though he sat very erect. + +"Now," smiled Mr. Denton, "perhaps we can drop, briefly, some +of the relation between officer and cadet. We may be able to +talk as friends---real friends. I trust so. May I feel at liberty +to ask you, Mr. Prescott, whether there are any urgent family +reasons behind this sudden move of yours?" + +"None, sir." + +"Then is it---but I don't wish to be intrusive." + +"I certainly don't consider you intrusive, Mr. Denton, and I +appreciate your sympathy and friendship. But I am resigning from +the corps for the best of good reasons." + +"May I question you, Mr. Prescott?" + +"If you care to, sir." + +"I do wish it, very much," rejoined Lieutenant Denton, "though +I have asked your consent because, in what I am now seeking to +do, I am going rather beyond my place as a tactical officer of +the Military Academy. If you are sure, however, that you do not +find me intrusive, and if you would like to talk this matter +over---not as officer and cadet, but as between a young man and a +somewhat older one, and as friends above all, then I am going to +ask you a few questions." + +"Although I am certain that you cannot help me, Mr. Denton, I +am very grateful for every sign of interest that you may show +in me. It is something of balm to me to feel that I shall leave +behind some who will regret my going." + +"Prescott," asked the officer abruptly, "you have been sent to +Coventry, haven't you? You needn't answer unless you wish." + +"I have, sir," Dick assented. + +"Twice it has happened, when I have been on duty, that you have +had to report classmates to me. Now, I'm not going to step over +the line by asking you whether those reports were the basis of +your being sent to Coventry. But, to please myself, I'm going +to assume that such is the case." + +To this Dick made no reply. It was an instance in which a cadet +could not, with propriety, discuss class action with an officer +on duty at the Military Academy. + +"Now, Prescott, I'm not going to ask you whether my surmise is +a correct one, but I'm going to ask you another question, as a +friend only, and in no official way. Of course, in a friendly +matter you may suit yourself about answering it. Have you done +anything else that could excuse the class in punishing you?" + +"Nothing whatever, sir." + +"Mr. Prescott, aren't you wholly satisfied with your conduct?" + +"I don't quite know how to answer that, Mr. Denton," + +"Have you done anything that you wouldn't repeat if the need arose?" + +"I have not, sir," replied Dick with great earnestness. + +"Do you feel, in your own soul, that you have done anything to +discredit the splendid old gray uniform that you wear?" + +"I do not, sir." + +"Answer this, or not, as you please. Don't you feel wholly convinced +that your class has done you an injustice which it would reverse +instantly if it knew all the circumstances?" + +"I feel certain that my classmates would restore me at once to their +favor, if they knew the full circumstances." + +"Have you felt obliged to refuse them any information for which a +class committee had asked, Prescott?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Let me do some hard thinking, my lad. Ah, now, as I look back +to the night when you were obliged to report Mr. Jordan for being +outside the guard lines, I had myself that night assigned you +to official duty near the guard lines. You were to intercept +plebes who might try to run the guard, and to send them back to +their tents." + +"Yes, sir." + +"That was special duty," resumed Lieutenant Denton. "Now, if you +had been asked, by a class committee, to explain how you happened +to be out there at the right time to catch Mr. Jordan, you would +have felt bound to refuse to reveal your orders from me?" + +"I certainly would have felt so bound, Mr. Denton." + +"Ah! Now I think I understand a good deal, Prescott. Then, at +another time, very recently, you forgot, until late, to turn in +an official report to me. You started to hurry over here, and, +in so doing, you must have accidentally encountered a certain +cadet returning in "cit." clothes. As his company commander, +you surely felt bound to report him for so flagrant a breach of +discipline. Yet, if your class did not fully understand or credit +the fact that only an oversight of yours had thrown you in that +cadet's way, it would make the class feel that you had deliberately +trapped the man, after having spied on his actions earlier in +the evening." + +Dick remained silent, but Lieutenant Denton was a clear headed +and logical guesser. + +"In my cadet days," smiled the lieutenant, "such a suspicion against +a cadet officer would certainly have resulted in ostracism for him." + +"Now, Prescott," asked the officer in charge, leaning over and +resting a friendly hand on the cadet's arm, "you feel that you +have been, throughout, a gentleman and a good soldier, and that +you have not done anything sneaky?" + +"That is my opinion of myself, Mr. Denton." + +"And yet, feeling that your course has been wholly honorable, +you are going to throw up your career in the Army, and waste some +twenty thousand dollars of the nation's money that has been expended +in giving you your training here?" + +"It sounds like a fearful thing to do, Mr. Denton, but I can see +no way out of it, sir. If I am to go on into the Army, and be +an ostracized officer, I should be of no value to myself or to +the service. Wherever I should go, my usefulness would be gone +and my presence demoralizing." + +"Now, if that ostracism continued, your usefulness would be gone, +Prescott, beyond a doubt, and the Army would be better off without +you. But if justice should triumph, later, you would be restored +to your full usefulness, and to the full enjoyment of your career. +Now, Prescott, my boy"---here the officer's voice became tender, +friendly, earnest---"you have been attending chapel every Sunday?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You have listened to the chaplain's discourses, and I take it +that you have had earlier religious instruction, also. Prescott, +do you or do you not believe that there is a God above who sees +all, loves all and rights all injustice in His own good time?" + +"Assuredly I believe it, sir." + +"And yet, in your own case, you have so little faith in that justice +that, though you feel your course has been honorable, you cannot +wait for justice to be done. Prescott, isn't that kind of faith +almost blasphemy?" + +Dick felt staggered. Although his lot had been cast with Army +officers for more than three years, he had never heard any of +them, save the chaplain, discuss matters of Christian faith. +Yet he knew that Denton, who sat beside him, smiling with friendly +eyes, was talking from full conviction. + +"You've made me see my present predicament in a somewhat different +light, sir," Dick stammered. + +"Prescott, I have knocked about in a good deal of rough life since +I was graduated from here, but I have full faith that every upright +and honorable man is ultimately safe under Heaven's justice. +So have you, or I am mistaken in you. Why not buck up, and make +up your mind to go through your hard rub here firm in the conviction +that this is only a passing cloud that is certain to be dispelled? +Why not stick, like a man of faith and honor? Now, as officer +in charge, I will inform you that you should take a letter of +resignation to the adjutant's office, and hand it to that officer +in person." + +As your friend, I suggest that you give me your letter, with your +permission to destroy it." + +"Here is the letter, Mr. Denton." + +"Thank you, my boy. You may see what I do with it." + +Rising, Lieutenant Denton crossed to an open fire that was burning +low. He laid the envelope across the embers. + +Prescott, too, rose, feeling that the interview was at an end. + +"Just a moment more of friendly conversation, Prescott," continued +the lieutenant, coming forward and taking the cadet's hand. "I +want you to remember that you are not to write or send in any +other letter of resignation until you have first talked it over +with me. And I want you to remember that a soldier should be +a man of faith as well as of honor. Further, Prescott, you may +feel yourself wholly at liberty to explain, at any time, what +your orders from me were that led to your catching and reporting +Mr. Jordan." + +"Thank you, sir; but I'm afraid I shan't be asked for any further +explanations." + +"Seek me, at any time, if there is anything you wish to ask me, +or anything that puzzles you." + +"Yes, sir; thank you." + +Dick had again placed his fatigue cap on his head, and was standing +rigidly at attention. They were once more tactical officer and cadet. + +"That is all, Mr. Prescott, and I am very glad that you came to +see me," continued the officer in charge. + +Prescott saluted, received the officer's acknowledging salute, +turned and left the office. + +A minute later he was allowing good old Greg to pump the details +of that interview out of him. + +"Say," muttered Cadet Holmes, staring soberly at his chum, "an +officer like Lieutenant Denton can put a different look on things, +can't be?" + +"He certainly can, Greg." + +"I'm not going to be fresh, while I'm a cadet," continued Holmes. +"But when I'm an officer I'm going to seek Mr. Denton and ask him +to be my friend, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE NEWS FROM FRANKLIN FIELD + + +Though Dick was firmly resolved on his new course, life none the +less was bitter for him. + +The Army football team was now being organized and drilled in +earnest. Douglass captained it this year, and was doing excellent +work, though his material was not as good as he could have wished. + +Anstey was developing speed and strategy in the position of quarterback, +and, in football matters, was a close confidant of Douglass. + +"This Prescott muss has given us a bad setback this year," growled +Douglass. + +"It certainly has, suh," agreed the Virginian. "We're certainly +going to feel the loss of Prescott and Holmes when we come to +face the Navy eleven with such men as Darrin and Dalzell." + +"Hang it, yes. I'm shivering already," growled Douglass. "Now, +of course, we can't ask Prescott to join." + +"And he wouldn't come in, suh, while in Coventry, if we asked him." + +"But Holmes, who is almost as good a man, ought not to hold back +where the Army's credit and honor are at stake. Holmes ought +to stand for the Army, asleep or awake!" + +"If I were in Holmesy's place, I wouldn't come in," rejoined the +Virginian. "I'd stay out, just as Holmesy is doing." + +"But you were one of Prescott's thick friends, too." + +"I'm not his roommate, or his schoolboy chum, suh. Holmesy is. + +"It's hard to lose either of them," sighed Douglass, "and fierce +to lose both of them. We've worked like real heroes, but I can't +see any such team coming on as the Army had last year. And the +Navy eleven will undoubtedly be better this year than it was last." + +"The Army must stand to lose by the action of the first class," +insisted Anstey doggedly. + +Though every man in the corps would have thrown up his cap at +the announcement that Prescott and Holmes were to play again this +year, the leaders of first-class opinion could see no reason to +alter their judgment of Dick. So he continued in Coventry. + +The football season came on with a rush at last. The Army won +some of its games, from minor teams, but none from the bigger +college elevens. + +Then came the fateful Saturday when the corps went over to +Philadelphia. Dick and Greg were the only two members of the +corps, not under severe discipline, who remained behind at the +Military Academy. + +Late that afternoon Greg, with a long face, brought in the football +news from Franklin Field. + +"The Navy has wiped us up, ten to two," grumbled Holmes. + +"I'm heartily sorry," cried Dick, and he spoke the truth. + +"Well, it's our class's fault," growled Greg. "The Army can thank +our class." + +"We might not have been able to save the game," argued Prescott. + +"We could have rattled Dave and Dan a lot," retorted Greg. "My +own belief is we could have saved the day." + +"You might have played, Greg. I wouldn't have resented it." + +"No; but I'd have felt a fine contempt for myself," retorted Cadet +Holmes scornfully. "Besides, Dick, though I have done some fairly +good things in football, I don't believe I'd be worth a kick without +you. It was playing with you that made me shine, always." + +Late that evening the cadet corps returned, in the gloomiest frame +of mind. + +"I can just see the blaze of bonfires at Annapolis," groaned Douglass. +"Say, the middies just fairly tore our scalps off. I always had +an ambition to captain the Army eleven, but I never thought I'd be +dragged down so deep under the mire!" + +The details of that sad game for the Army need not be gone into +here. All the particulars of that spiritedly fought disaster +will be found in the fourth volume of the Annapolis Series, entitled +"_Dave Darrin's Fourth Year At Annapolis_." + +A lot of the cadets who felt sorry for "Doug" came to his room. + +"I haven't altogether gotten it through my weak mind yet," confessed +the disheartened Army football captain. "I can't understand how +those little middies managed to treat us quite so badly." + +"I can tell you," retorted Anstey. + +"Then I wish you would," begged "Doug." + +"Go ahead!" clamored a dozen others. + +"I don't know whether you fellows believe in hoodoos?" asked Anstey. + +"Hoodoos?" + +"Yes; the Army is under one now." + +"Pshaw, Anstey!" + +"Explain yourself, Anstey!" + +"There is a man in this class," replied the Virginian solemnly, +"who has been treated unjustly by the others. Lots of you won't +see it, and can't be made to reason. But that injustice has put +the hoodoo on the Army's athletics, and the hoodoo will strut +along beside the present first class all the way through this +year. You'll find it out more and more as time goes on. Just +wait until next spring, and see the Navy walk away with the baseball +game, too." + +"Stop that, Anstey!" + +"Put him out!" + +"Give him soothing syrup." + +"Wait until June, gentlemen," retorted the Virginian calmly. +"Then you'll see." + +"What rot!" sneered Jordan bitterly. + +"Well, of course," admitted others in undertones, "we lost through +not having Prescott and Holmes on the eleven. But we'd better lose, +even, than win through men not fit to associate with." + +"Prescott must be chuckling," jeered Durville. + +"He's doing nothing of the sort, suh!" flared Anstey. "And I'm +prepared to maintain my position." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +READY TO BREAK THE CAMEL'S BACK + + +From Thanksgiving to Christmas the time seemed to fly all too fast +for most of the young men of the corps of cadets. + +Dick Prescott, however, had never known time to drag so fearfully. +Cut off from association with any but Greg, Dick had much, very +much time on his hands. + +Full of a dogged purpose to stick to his word given to Lieutenant +Denton, Prescott used nearly all of his waking time in study when +he was not at recitation. In his classes he soared. In engineering +and law, the studies of this term which called for the most exacting +thought, Prescott showed unusual signs of "maxing," or getting +among the highest marks. Yet, after all this was done, so much +leisure did the lonely Dick have that he found time to coach Greg +and pull him along over the hard parts. + +"Look at that fellow recite! Look where he stands in the sections!" +growled Durville in bewilderment to Jordan. + +"It looks as if the sneak meant to stick," uttered Jordan incredulously. + +"Yet of course he knows he can't. If it were only for West Point +he might stick, but the Army, through his lifetime, would be just +as bad for him." + +It had been a general notion that Prescott, either too proud or +too stubborn to allow himself to be forced out, would wait and +"fess out cold" at the January semi-annuals. Thus he would be +dropped for deficiency, and would not have to admit to anyone +that he had allowed himself to be driven from the Military Academy +by the "silence" that had been extended to him. + +Jordan knew better than to go near the fiery young Anstey, so he +managed to induce Durville to speak to the Virginian as to +Prescott's plans. + +"I don't know Mr. Prescott's intentions, suh," replied Anstey +with perfect truth and a good deal of dignity. "I am bound, suh, +to follow the class's action, suh, much as I disapprove of it. +So I have had no word with Mr. Prescott later than you have." + +"But you know the fellow's roommate, Mr. Holmes," suggested Durville. + +"I am under the impression that you do, too, suh," replied Anstey +significantly, yet without infusing offence into his even tones. + +It was no use. The first class could only guess. No cadet knew, +unless it were Holmes, what Prescott's intentions were about quitting +the corps in the near future. And Greg, usually both chatty and +impulsive, could be as cold and silent as a sphinx where his chum's +secrets or interests were concerned. + +Had he wished, he might have gone home at Christmas, for a day +or two, for he was on the good-conduct roll; but Dick felt that +Christmas at home would be a heart break just now. As he did +not go, Greg did not go either. + +The reader may be sure that Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell, at Annapolis, +knew the state of affairs with their old-time friend and leader. +Greg had sent word of what was happening with Dick. + +"Buck up---that's all, old chap," Dave wrote from the Naval Academy. +"You never did a mean thing, and you never will. Even your class +will learn that before very long. So buck up! Hit the center +of the line and charge through! Don't think Dan and I are not +sorry for you, but we're even more interested in seeing you charge +right through all disaster in a way that fits the pride, courage +and honor that we know you to possess. I asked Dan if he had +any message to send you. Old Dan's reply was: 'Dick doesn't need +any message. If there's any fellow on earth who can jump in and +scalp Fate, it's our old Dick.' There you are, Army chum! We're +merely waiting for word that you've won out, for you're bound +to." + +January came, and with it the semi-annual examinations. So high +was Dick's class standing that he had to go up for but one "writ." +That was Spanish. + +"I reckon Spanish is where he falls," chuckled Durville, when +Jordan spoke to him about it. "It's easy to make mistakes enough +on Spanish verbs and declensions to throw a fellow down and out. +That'll be Prescott's line." + +"Of course," nodded Jordan. Yet Dick's enemy was very far from +feeling hopeful that such would be the case. + +"I never imagined the fellow could stick as long as he has," Jordan +told himself disconsolately. + +One night Anstey, just before the semi-ans., took a chance. Usually +the Virginian was careful in matters of discipline. But now he +invited a dozen members of his class to his room to discuss an +"important matter." + +"Going?" asked Durville of Jordan. + +"I'm not invited, Durry," replied the other. + +"I am, and I'm going." + +"But you don't know the subject of the meeting?" + +"No; that's what puzzles me," admitted Durville. "I'm wondering +if it has anything to do with choosing the class ring, or selecting +our uniforms for after graduation." + +"You simpleton!" cried Jordan in disgust. "You don't see far, +do you? Can't you guess what the meeting is to discuss?" + +"I'm blessed if I can." + +"Anstey, outside of Holmes, has been the most constant friend of +Prescott. Now, Prescott has his chance of passing, if the class +'silence' on him can be lifted. Anstey is going to sound class +opinion. If the 'silence' can't be lifted, then Prescott is +going to 'fess' down and out, and we shall see the last of him." + +"Poor old fellow!" muttered Durville. "Say, do you know, I'm +growing almost sorry for the poor beggar and his long, bitter dose." + +"After what he did to you?" demanded Jordan with instant scorn. +"Durville, I thought you a man of spirit." + +"May a man of spirit forgive his enemy, especially when he sometimes +doubts whether the other fellow really is an enemy?" demanded +Durville. + +"Oh, he may, I suppose," replied Jordan, his lip curling. "On +the whole, however, I am a good deal surprised at seeing you accept +the loss of all your liberties and privileges so easily as you +are doing." + +Naturally, the effect of Jordan's words was to kill a good deal +of Durville's fleeting sympathy, for the latter had suffered a +good deal from the restraint of his liberties, following the escapade +for which Dick had reported him. + +The meeting in Anstey's room resulted in the secret gathering +of a dozen men. Eight of these were friends of Dick, who would +still like to see the class action reversed or ended. But Anstey +had been clever enough also to invite four men who were numbered +among Prescott's adversaries. One of these was Douglass, the +cadet who had been elected to succeed Dick as class president. + +"Now, gentlemen," began Anstey, in his soft voice of ordinary +conversation, "I don't believe we have any need of a presiding +officer in this little meeting. With your permission, I will +state why I have asked you to come here. + +"For months, now, we have had a member of this class in Coventry. +Barely more than a majority believed in that Coventry, but once +action had been taken by the class, the disapproving minority +stood loyally by class action. I have been among those of the +minority to abide by majority action, and I can assure you that +I have suffered very nearly as much as has Mr. Prescott, whose +case I am now discussing. + +"The majority has had its way for months. Is it not now time, +if the class will not grant full justice, at least to grant something +to the wishes of the minority?" + +"What do you mean?" asked one of Dick's opponents. "Mr. Prescott +will let himself be found deficient in at least one study, won't +he, and thus take his unpopular presence away from the Military +Academy?" + +"I cannot answer that," admitted Anstey slowly. "Doubtless many +of you will be surprised when I tell you that I have had no word +in the matter from Mr. Prescott. I have not even mentioned the +subject to his roommate, Mr. Holmes." + +"Then whom do you represent?" demanded the other cadet. + +"Myself and other believers in Mr. Prescott," replied Anstey simply. +"The very least we ask is that you stop punishing so many of +us through Mr. Prescott. Gentlemen, do you not feel that any +man who commands as many friends in his class as does Mr. Prescott +must be a man above the petty meannesses of which he was accused, +and for which he was sent to Coventry?" + +"I've been one of the sufferers through Mr. Prescott," commented +Durville grimly. "As for me, I'll admit that I'd be glad to see +the 'silence' lifted. I feel that Mr. Prescott has been punished +enough, and that, if we now lift the 'silence,' he would be more +careful after this. I think he has been chastened enough. If +I could find any reason whatever for refusing to vote for the +end of the Coventry, it would come from the question as to whether +any one class has the right to upset the traditions and establish +a new precedent for such cases." + +"There is the most of the case in a nutshell I am afraid," declared +Cadet Douglass. "In our interior corps discipline we not only +work from tradition, but we strengthen or weaken it for the classes +that are to follow us. Have we any right to weaken a tradition +that is as old as the Military Academy itself?" + +These simple remarks, made with an absence of bitter feeling, +swung the tide against Dick. The meeting in Anstey's room lasted +for more than an hour. When the meeting broke up Anstey and some +of his advisers felt convinced that to call a class meeting would +be merely to bring about a vote that Prescott was to be kept in +Coventry for all time to come. + +Anstey told Greg the result of the meeting, but Holmes did not +tell his chum. + +"It's all settled as it ought to be," declared Cadet Jordan. + +"You mean-----" asked Durville. + +"Why, either Prescott will have to be 'found' in his exams., or +else he'll be bound to resign as soon as he has proved that his +departure from West Point was not due to poor scholarship. Which +ever way he prefers to do it, the fellow will have to get out +of the corps within the next few days!" + +"Yes; I suppose so," almost sighed Durville. + +"Why, hang you, Durry, you talk like a man whose good opinion can +be won by a kicking." + +"Do you" asked Durville, with a warning flash in his eyes. + +"Oh, don't take me too seriously," protested Jordan. "But I cannot +help marveling at your near liking for the man who landed you +in such a scrape." + +"I don't enjoy hitting a man who is down; that is all," returned +Durville. "I've seen Mr. Prescott down for so many weeks and +months that I'd like to see how he looks when he's a man instead +of an under dog." + +"Well, I'm glad to say the class is plainly not of your way of +thinking," growled Jordan. "The class is for maintaining higher +ideals of the honor of military service and true comradeship. So +it's only a matter of what date the fellow selects for leaving +here." + +And truly that was the view that seemed to be pressing more and +more tightly upon Dick Prescott. The pressure was becoming more +than he could bear. He had followed Lieutenant Denton's advice, +and had put up a good and a brave fight. But to be "the only +dog in a cage of lions" is a fearful ordeal for the +bravest---especially when the door is open. + +Greg never seemed to notice the sighs that occasionally escaped +Dick Prescott's lips. Holmes no longer tried to cheer his friend +by open speech or advice. Yet not a thing that Dick did escaped +the covert watchfulness of his roommate. + +The semi-ans. over, and the results posted on the bulletin board +in the Academic Building, it was discovered that Cadet Richard +Prescott now stood number twenty-four in his class---a rank never +heretofore won by him. + +Cadet Jordan was so furious that his face was ghastly white when he +made the discovery. + +"Will nothing ever drive that living disgrace Prescott out of +the corps?" Jordan asked three or four of the men. "Why, the +fellow is defying class authority! He's making fools of us all. +He bluntly asks us what we think we can do about it!" + +"We'll have to show Prescott, then," grimly replied one of the +cadets with whom Jordan talked. + +"But how?" demanded Cadet Jordan craftily. "Is there any possible +way of making as thickheaded or stubborn a fellow as Prescott +realize that he simply can't go on with us? That we won't have him +with us?" + +"Oh, I think there's a way," smiled the other cadet. + +"Then I wonder why some one doesn't find it?" demanded Jordan +wrathfully. + +"We shall, I think." + +Greg scented new mischief in the air, yet he was hardly the one to +do the scouting. + +Anstey, however, could look about for the news, and he could properly +discuss it with Cadet Holmes. + +With the beginning of the last half of the year the members of the +first class found themselves sufficiently busy with their studies. +Dick's affair was allowed to slumber for a few days. + +Even Cadet Jordan, whose sole purpose now in life was to "work" +Prescott out of the corps, was clever enough to assent to letting +the matter rest for a few days. + +After another fortnight, however, the first class, in its moments +of leisure, especially in the brief rests right after meals, again +began to throb over what was considered the brazen and open defiance +of Dick Prescott in persisting in remaining a cadet at the Military +Academy. + +So many members of the class, however, insisted on going slowly +and with great deliberation that the Jordan faction did not make +the mistake of rushing matters. At any rate, Prescott was in +Coventry, and there he would stay. + +Thus February came on and passed slowly. To all outward appearances +Prescott was as selfpossessed and contented as ever he had been +while at the Military Academy. + +Now, Army baseball was the topic. The nine and other members +of the baseball squad were practising in earnest. Durville had +been chosen to captain the nine. + +Though there was some mighty good material in the nine, neither the +coaches nor Durville were wholly satisfied. + +"Holmesy," broached Durville plaintively one day, "you play a +grand game of football." + +"Thank you," replied Greg, with a pretense of mock modesty; "I +know it." + +"And you must play a great game of ball, too." + +"I did once---pardon these blushes. Dick Prescott was my old trainer +in baseball." + +"Oh, bother Prescott! We can't have him." + +"I don't play well without him," remarked Greg blandly. + +"Come over to practice this afternoon, won't you?" + +"Yes; but I don't believe I'll try for the nine." + +"Come over and let us see your style, any way." + +Greg turned up late that afternoon for practice. What he showed +the captain and coaches had them fairly "rattled" with desire to +slip Greg into the nine. + +"I'm much obliged to you all," Greg insisted gently, "but I told +you I wasn't going to try for the nine. I never played a game +without Prescott, and I know I'd be a hoodoo if I did." + +Though a great lot of pressure was brought to bear upon him, Holmes +still held out. It was his privilege to refuse to play, if he so +chose. Above all, the coaches, who were Army officers, could not +urge him. + +"That man Holmes is just the fellow we need to round out the team," +complained one of the players to Durville. + +"Yes," sighed the captain of the Army nine; "and Holmesy tells +me that he's a tyro to Mr. Prescott." + +"Then Mr. Prescott must be a wonder on the diamond," grunted the +other cadet. + +"I hear that he is," assented Durville. "By the way, you remember +Darrin and Dalzell, who helped the Navy team to wipe the field up +with us last year?" + +"I reckon I do." + +"Well, it seems that Prescott, Holmes, Darrin and Dalzell were +all members of the athletic squad in the same High School before +they entered the service." + +"Darrin and Dalzell are going to make it possible for the Navy to +wipe us up again this year, too," continued the other cadet +plaintively. + +"I don't believe they would, if we could put in Mr. Prescott and +Holmesy for this year." + +"But we can't, Durry." + +"No; I know it." + +"So what's the use of talking." Nevertheless, there was a lot +of talking, and dozens waylaid Greg and tried to induce him to +reconsider. But he wouldn't, and that was all there was to it. +No one even thought of lifting the ban from Prescott in order +to gain either or both of these cadet athletes. West Point cadets +are consistent. They will never lift the ban, once they believe +it to have been justly laid, just in order to make a better athletic +showing. The Academy authorities demand that a team athlete shall +stand well in his studies and general discipline; the cadets themselves +demand also that the man who carries their athletic colors must +conform to cadet ideals of honor. And Prescott, being in Coventry, +surely was not to be regarded as a man of honor. + +Washington's Birthday had come and passed, and Prescott still +lingered in the cadet corps. Indeed, he seemed as determined as +ever upon graduating. + +There were limits, however, to class patience. It was Anstey who +got on the track of the news and brought it to Greg. + +"A class meeting is to be called ten days hence," reported the +Virginian. "The meeting will be announced at supper formation +to-night. It is set well ahead in order to give the fellows plenty +of time to think over the subject for discussion." + +"That discussion," guessed Holmes, "is to be as to the best means +of driving Dick from the corps." + +"You've guessed it, suh," replied the Virginian sorrowfully. +"Whatever the class feels called upon to do, suh, I reckon it will +be something that will break our poor camel's back." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FIGURES IN THE DARK + + +And Dick? + +The reader will hardly need to be told that this spirited young +cadet was suffering his unmerited disgrace as keenly as ever. + +More keenly, in fact, for every day that the silence continued it +seemed to add to the weight of the burden that bound him down. + +Yet Greg asked no questions, for he felt that it would be safer +not to do so. He had just barely told Prescott of the purpose +of the coming class meeting, which the latter cadet had already +guessed for himself, however. + +"I suppose I'll have a few loyal friends at that meeting?" asked +Dick, with a sad smile. + +"Just as many friends as ever," asserted Holmes stoutly. + +"I'm mighty grateful for that," nodded Dick. "But what I seem to +need is more friends than ever." + +"We'll find them for you, if there's any way to do it," promised +Holmes, and there the talk dropped. + +"If the class goes against me again, and harder than before, I'm +certain I shall have to see Lieutenant Denton once more and tell +him that I can't stand it any longer," Dick told himself. + +The class meeting was to be held on a Monday evening. On the +night of the Saturday before, when scores of cadets were over +at Cullum Hall at a merry "hop," Prescott slipped out of barracks +by himself in Greg's absence. + +Almost unconsciously Prescott's steps turned in the direction +of Trophy Point. In the darkness he stood before Battle Monument, +on which are inscribed the names of the West Point graduates who +have fallen in battles. + +"Will my name ever be there, or have any chance to be there?" +wondered Dick, a big lump rising in his throat. + +A tear stood in either eye, but he brushed them aside as unworthy +of a soldier. Was he ever going to be a soldier, he wondered. + +"I don't know that I'm really ready to be killed in battle," thought +Dick grimly. "It would be enough to know that my name is to be +on the roll of graduates of the Military Academy, and afterwards +on the rolls of the Army as an officer who had served with credit +wherever he had been placed. But the fates seem against even +that much. Hang it all, what was it that Lieutenant Denton said +about faith and right, and faith being as much the soldier's duty +as honor? I guess he was never placed in just such a fix as mine!" + +For, slowly, all of Dick's iron-clad resolution to "stick it out" +was wearing away. It was becoming plainer to him, every day, +that he could not stay in the Army if he were always to live in +Coventry as far as his brother officers were concerned. + +"I wonder what the fellows will do at the meeting next Monday +night?" Dick pondered, as he turned and strolled back by another +road. "If the fellows could only realize how unjust they are +without meaning to be! But I can't make them see that. I'll +have to resign, of course, but I promised Lieutenant Denton to +talk it over with him before doing anything of the sort, and I'll +keep my word." + +Very absent minded did the young cadet become in the midst of +his perplexed musings. He heard the sound of martial music and +unconsciously his feet moved in quicker time. + +It was as though he were marching, led on by he knew not what. + +Straight toward the music he moved, with the tread of a soldier +responding to the drums. + +Then, at last, when he was almost upon the building, Prescott +came to himself and stopped abruptly. + +"Cullum Hall!" he muttered, with a harsh laugh. "The night of +the cadet hop. My classmates are in there, free-hearted and happy, +and taking their lessons in the social graces---while I am on +the outside, the social outcast of the class!" + +Yet, as there were no cadets in sight, out at this north end of +the handsome building, Prescott presently moved forward, nearer. + +"The old, old story of the beggar on the outside! The man on +the outside, looking in!" muttered Dick with increasing bitterness. +"Yet I may as well look, since there is none to see me or deny me." + +Around the north end Dick passed, just as the brilliant music +of the Military Academy orchestra was drawing to its close. In +his misery the young cadet leaned against the face of the building, +behind an angle in the wall. + +As he stood there Dick saw the figure of a man flit, by him. The +stranger was dressed in citizen's clothes. There was nothing +suspicions in that, since there is no law to prevent citizens +from visiting the Military Academy. But there was something stealthy +about this stranger's movements. + +"It is a wonder he didn't see me," mused Dick. "He went by within +eight feet of me." + +Dick was about to make his presence known by stepping out into sight, +when the stranger halted. + +"Perhaps it may be as well not to show myself just yet," flashed +through Prescott's mind. "If the fellow is up to any mischief +probably I can prevent it." + +A cold, biting breeze swept up from the Hudson River below. It +was chilling in the extreme, here at the top of the bluff, but +Dick, in his misery, had been proof against weather. + +Not so with the stranger. He stamped his feet and struck his +hands against his sides. Then, after some moments, as though +angry at some one within Cullum Hall, the stranger wheeled and +shook one clenched fist at the windows overhead. + +"Whom has that fellow a grouch against?" Dick wondered in spite +of himself. + +Just an instant later he heard a quick step coming around the north +end of the building. + +A cadet was coming, beyond a doubt, and very likely to meet this +impatient or angry stranger. + +Prescott had too much honor to play the eavesdropper. He was +just about to step out when the newcomer turned the corner, coming +on straight past where Prescott stood in the deep shadow. + +The newcomer was a cadet, and that cadet was Mr. Jordan. + +"Well, my good fellow, have I kept you waiting long?" demanded +Jordan, just the second after he had stepped past Dick without +seeing the latter. + +"You could a jumped faster," growled the stranger. "With all +I know against you, Jordan, it will pay you to nurse my good feeling +a little harder." + +"Why, what's the matter with you now?" demanded Jordan more seriously. + +Somehow, Dick could not pull himself away just then. + +"Have you brought me some of that money you owe me?" demanded the +stranger gruffly. + +"Now, you know I can't, before graduation day," pleaded Jordan +whiningly. + +"And I know that, when graduation day comes, you'll tell me that +every dollar you had in the world had to go into uniforms," snapped +the stranger. "I'll tell you what I do know about you, Jordan, +my boy. I know that if you don't find the money, turn it over +and get back my note, you'll never graduate! Cadets can't borrow +money on their notes; it's against the regulations. If it was +known that you had borrowed five hundred dollars of me already, +and that you were defaulting on principal and interest, too-----" + +"It wasn't five hundred," broke in Jordan nervously. "It was +just two hundred and fifty dollars." + +"The note says five hundred," retorted the stranger tersely, with +a shrug of his shoulders. And there's interest on it, too. And +you haven't paid a dollar. You told me you could get the money +from home." + +"I---I thought I could, at that," stammered Cadet Jordan. "But +I wrote my father, and he said he was near bankruptcy-----" + +"Near bankruptcy?" almost screamed the stranger. "You young swindler. +You told me your father was a wealthy man!" + +"Sh!" begged Jordan tremulously. "Not so loud! Some one will +hear you." + +"I don't care who hears me," retorted the stranger in an ugly +tone. "You've been swindling me right along, it seems. Now, +you'll hand me some money to-night, and all of the balance by +next Wednesday, or I'll go straight to the superintendent. Then +you'll lose your nice little berth here. You putting on airs, +and yet you told me how you had rebuked and paid back another +cadet for doing the same breezy thing." + +Dick, his cheeks burning with the shame of having allowed himself +to listen to so much, was on the very point of slipping away around +the north end of Cullum Hall. But this last remark gripped him, +holding him feverishly to the spot. + +"Prescott, I believe you said the fellow's name was," went on +the stranger. + +"Yes," admitted Jordan. "And I put it all over him in a way that +should make anyone else afraid of having me for an enemy!" + +Dick's heart gave a great, almost strangling bound. Then it was +quiet again, and his ears seemed preternaturally keen. + +So sharp was his hearing, in fact, that he heard a sound that +did not reach the ears of the other cadet or the latter's companion. + +It was someone else coming. With all the stealth in the world +Dick now managed to slip around the end of the building and toward +the front. + +A cadet had stepped out as though seeking a breath of cool air +between dances. Dick darted forward on tiptoe until he recognized +the oncoming one. It was Douglass, president of the first class. + +"Mr. Douglass!" whispered Dick, stopping squarely before his successor +in class honors. + +Douglass, without looking at his appealing fellow classman, or opening +his lips to answer, stepped around Prescott. + +But Dick caught his unwilling comrade firmly by the arm. + +"Douglass," he whispered, "in the name of justice, listen to me +just an instant---a swift instant, too! I think the chance has +come to clear me of the load of dislike and contempt with which +I am regarded here. This appeal is between man and man! Jordan +is around the corner, telling a stranger how he trapped me and +got me into disgrace with the class. As a matter of cadet justice +and honor, I beg you to go softly to the corner and hear what +is being said. Do not let Jordan suspect that you are near. +What he is saying will clear me. Go, and go softly, I beg you, +as a matter of justice from one man to another!" + +All the time that Dick had held his arm Douglass had stood there, +not seeking to snatch himself free. + +Nor did he utter a word. The class president stood there, like +a statue, looking straight past Prescott, as though he did not +know that such a being existed anywhere in the world. + +Now, with despair tugging at his heart, Prescott released his hold. + +Cadet Douglass moved forward again. Dick stood watching his brother +cadet with a feeling of despair until he saw that Douglass was +moving softly. Dick saw him go quietly around the corner of the +building. Now, Dick was at his heels, stealthy as any Indian +could have been, until he looked around the corner and saw that +Cadet Douglass had slipped into the same shadow that Dick himself +had occupied until a moment before. + +"Now, if that pair yonder will only go on talking about me for +sixty seconds!" thought Dick in a frenzy. + +Again he flew toward the front of the building. There was just +one other cadet outside---Durville, the man whom he had been obliged +to report for a tremendously grave breach of discipline. + +But Dick Prescott's courage was up now. He raced forward, fairly +gripping Durville and holding him tight. + +"Durville, listen to me for just a moment," begged Dick. "I know +you don't like me, but you're a man of honor. Jordan is on the +east side of this building, and I believe he is confessing a plot +that he put into successful operation against me. Douglass is +already there listening. Will you slip there softly, and listen, +too? I don't ask this as a matter of friendship, but of honor! +Will you go---and softly?" + +Slowly Durville turned and looked into Prescott's eyes. Then he +did not speak, but he nodded. + +"Thank you, Durville! Be quick---and stealthy! Let me guide you." + +Class President Douglass stood in the shadow. He heard Jordan's +own tongue telling the stranger the familiar story of how he, +Jordan, had been reported for indolence in the bridge construction +work. + +"I had to get square," Jordan was continuing, just as Dick piloted +Durville within hearing. + +"And you think you did it slickly, I suppose?" jeered the stranger. + +Though Jordan did not seem to suspect it, the stranger was seeking +this information as another blackmailing club to hold over Jordan's +head. + +"Slick?" queried Jordan, with a sneer. "Well, it wasn't altogether +that. There was a good bit of luck in the whole job, too, but +Prescott is in Coventry, and there he'll stick, too. He'll be +away from here inside of two or three days more." + +"How did you manage to do it?" asked the stranger, concealing +his anxiety to have Jordan tell the story. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE STORY CARRIED ON THE WIND + + +"Oh, I fixed it all right," insisted Jordan confidently. + +He was speaking in a rather low tone, but the breeze carried every +word to the ears of the listeners. + +"You're talking just to hear yourself talking," sneered the stranger +coarsely. + +"No; I'm not, Henckley," retorted the cadet. + +"What was the trick, then?" + +"Don't you wish you knew?" laughed Jordan. + +"I don't care much," replied the stranger named Henckley. "But +I can't just picture you as doing anything extremely clever. +Even if it was luck, as you say, I can't figure how you were smart +enough to know how to profit by it. That's why I'm just a bit +curious, but no more." + +"Why, you see, it happened this way," went on Jordan. "I saw +Prescott, that night back into camp, going into the tent of the +O.C. I thought that perhaps Prescott was going there in order +to say more about the matter that he had reported me for that +forenoon. So I moved close and listened. It seemed that some +of the plebes had been running the guard nights. Lieutenant Denton +asked the fellow Prescott, who is a cadet captain, to keep a watch +and stop plebes before they had a chance to get on the other side +of the guard line. + +"Well, I knew the point at which plebes were in the habit of getting +past the guard line, and so did Prescott, I guess. So, a little +after taps, I slipped outside the guard near where I judged Prescott +would be watching. Then, after I had heard him speak with the +cadet sentry I presently stooped low in the bushes and lit a cigar. +Then I stood up straight and the glowing end of the cigar showed +from where Prescott stood. He did just what a fellow like him +feels bound to do, and what I knew he'd do. He hailed me. I +acted as though I wanted to get away, then allowed myself to be +overhauled. I was reported, of course, and made to pay the penalty. +But I was able to make the other fellows in the class believe +that Prescott had trailed me, on purpose to rub it into me. That +looked like over zeal, backed by a grudge, and the first class +swallowed it in fine shape. They gave him the silence, but had +not made it permanent Coventry. Then he caught another man, named +Durville, for going off the post in 'cit.' clothes, and that settled +the case against that fellow Prescott. But it was my trick that +made all the rest possible." + +"I don't see that that was anything very clever," rejoined Henckley. + +"I told you, didn't I," argued Jordan, "that it was as much luck +as cleverness." + +"What part of it was clever, anyway?" jeered Henckley. + +"Why, putting the whole game through, and making the class take +it up, yet doing it all so that the trick could never be traced +back to me," replied Jordan. + +In the shadow, Durville turned briskly, gripping Dick's hand with +his own. + +Douglass saw. After a bare instant's hesitation the class president +also took Prescott's hand, giving it a mighty squeeze. + +In the joy of that friendly grasp from his own classmen, Dick +Prescott almost felt that all the bitterness of the last few months +had been wiped out in a second. + +Then Douglass stepped out from the shadow, his face stern and set. + +"Perhaps you will want to stop talking, Mr. Jordan," he called. +"Your conversation has not been a private one!" + +With the strong wind blowing away from Jordan, that cadet heard +only a rumble of voices. Both he and Henckley, however, caught +sight of the advancing figures. + +"Hello! What are you fellows doing here?" demanded the money +lender, with blustering indignation. + +"I might ask that question of you, fellow, but I won't, for I +already know," replied Cadet Douglass, fixing his eyes on the +stranger. + +"You've been listening to our talk?" demanded Henckley angrily, +while Jordan, after his first gasp of dismay, seemed to shrivel +back against the wall of Cullum Hall. + +"Mr. Jordan," continued the class president, facing the dismayed +one in gray uniform, "I don't believe the significance of this +meeting has escaped you?" + +"No-o-o," wailed Jordan in misery. + +"Now, see here, young fellows, don't you go and blab what you've +been spying on just now," remonstrated Mr. Henckley, a note of +dismay creeping into his tone. + +"It can hardly concern you, sir," flashed Cadet Douglass, wheeling +upon the money shark. "Yet I suppose it does, too. For now I +do not see how Mr. Jordan can hope to remain at the Military Academy. +That, I suppose, may possibly affect your security for the money +which, I take it, Mr. Jordan has borrowed from you." + +"But you won't blab, and have him kicked out?" coaxed Mr. Henckley, +his voice now wholly wheedling. + +"What the cadets may see fit to do for their own protection is hardly +a matter that can be discussed with you, sir," returned Douglass +coldly. + +"Oh, now see here, there are ways and ways," spoke Henckley in +a wheedling tone. "Let's all be friendly." + +Before Douglass could guess what was happening the money shark +had pressed a hand against the cadet's. With an impatient gesture +Douglass shook his own hand free. But something like paper remained +in his palm. Douglass held up that hand, and discovered that it held +a banknote that Henckley had slipped into Douglass' hand as a bribe. + +Cadet Douglass calmly tore that banknote in bits and flung it +off on the breeze. The fragments were out of sight in an instant. +Then Douglass coolly knocked the money shark down. + +"Come along, fellows," spoke the class president quietly, and +turned on his heel. + +"Confound you, Mr. Fresh, I'll report this to the superintendent," +bellowed Henckley. + +"Do!" called Douglass in cool contempt over his shoulder. + +Douglass, Durville and Prescott tramped together around to the +front of Cullum Hall. + +There Douglass again paused to hold out his hand, remarking: + +"Mr. Prescott, the class meeting is not to be held until Monday +evening. All I am privileged to say is that I think what we have +overheard tonight will very materially affect the class action. +I am very grateful to you, my dear sir, for having called us." + +Durville, too, held out his hand in sign that the past grudge was +forgotten so far as he was concerned. + +Full of a new happiness, Dick trudged back to cadet barracks. +Finding Greg Holmes in, Prescott imparted the wonderful news. + +Greg leaped up delightedly, pumphandling his chum's arm and patting +him on the back. + +"Come out all right?" sputtered Holmes. "Of course it will, and +I always knew it would." + +Meanwhile Cadet Jordan was surveying Henckley with a look of mingled +rage, disgust and consternation. + +"Now, you've gone and done it, you bull-necked, toad-brained idiot!" +cried the elegant Mr. Jordan. + +"Why didn't you pay up like a man, and this would never have happened," +growled Henckley, rubbing the spot where Douglass had struck him. + +"Pay up like a man?" sneered Jordan. "Well, this affair has one +small, good side to it. You've got me run out of the cadet corps, +but-----" + +"Out of the cadet corps?" screamed Henckley. "Then what becomes +of what you owe me?" + +"That's something you'll have to settle to your own satisfaction," +jeered the dismayed cadet. "I can offer you no help." + +Jordan turned on his heel, starting to walk away, when Mr. Henckley +leaped after him, seizing him by the arm. + +"See here-----" began the money shark hoarsely. + +"Let go of my arm," warned Jordan in a rage, "or I'll hit you +harder than Douglass did." + +As the money lender shrank back out of Jordan's reach, the cadet +strode off swiftly. + +Mr. Jordan was in his bed when the subdivision inspector went +through the rooms that night. + +At morning roll call, however, Jordan did not answer. + +An investigation showed that he had gone. All his uniforms and +other equipment he had left behind, from which it was judged that +Jordan had, in some way, managed to get hold of an outfit of civilian +attire. + +Jordan had deserted, with a heart full of hate for Dick Prescott, +with whom the deserter swore to be "even" before the academic year +was out. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE CLASS MEETING "SIZZLES" + + +That Sunday, save Greg, none of the cadets addressed Prescott. + +Anstey, however, thought up a new way of getting around the "silence." +As he passed Dick, the Virginian winked very broadly. Other cadets +were quick to catch the idea. Wherever Dick went that Sunday he was +greeted with winks. + +Monday Dick was in a fever of excitement. For once he fared badly +in his marks won in the section rooms. + +When evening came around every member of the first class, save +Prescott, hurried off to class meeting. For the first time in +many months, Greg attended. + +As the cadets began to gather, excitement ran high. The room +was full of suppressed noise until President Douglass rapped sharply +for order. + +Then, instantly all became as still as a church. + +"Will Mr. Fullerton please take the chair?" asked the class president. +"The present presiding officer wishes the privileges of the floor." + +Amid more intense silence Fullerton went forward to the chair, while +Douglass stepped softly down to the floor. + +"Mr. Chairman," called Douglass. + +"Mr. Douglass has the floor." + +Douglass was already on his feet, of course. He plunged into +an accurate narrative of what had happened, and what he had overheard, +on Saturday night. He told it all without embellishment or flourish, +and wound up by calling attention to Jordan's plain enough desertion +from the corps. + +Durville then obtained the floor. He corroborated all that the class +president had just narrated. + +"May I now make a motion, sir?" demanded Durville, turning finally +toward the class president. + +"Yes," nodded Cadet Douglass. + +"Mr. Chairman, I move that the first class, United States Military +Academy, remove the Coventry and the silence that have been put +upon our comrade, Mr. Richard Prescott. I move that, by class +resolution, we express to him our regret for the great though +unintentional injustice that has been done Mr. Prescott during +these many months." + +"I second the motion!" shouted Douglass. + +It was carried amid an uproar. If there were any present who +did not wish to see Dick thus reinstated, they were wise enough +to keep their opinions to themselves. + +"Mr. Chairman!" shouted another voice over the hubbub. + +"Mr. Mallory," replied the chair. + +"I move that Messrs. Holmes and Anstey be appointed a committee +of two to go after Mr. Prescott and to bring him here---by force, +if necessary." + +Amid a good deal of laughter this motion, too, was carried. The +two more than willing messengers departed on the run. + +"Mr. Chairman!" + +"Mr. Douglass." + +The class president rose, waving his right hand for utter silence. +Then, slowly and modestly, he said: + +"I have greatly enjoyed the honor of being president of this class. +But I can no longer take pride in holding this office, for, in +common with the rest of you, I realize that I secured the honor +through a misapprehension. I therefore tender my resignation +as president of the first class." + +"No, no, no!" shouted several. + +"Thank you, gentlemen," replied Douglass with feeling. "I appreciate +it all, but I feel that I have no longer any right to the presidency +of the class, and I therefore resign it---renounce it! Gentlemen, +comrades, will you do me the favor of accepting my resignation at +once?" + +"On account of the form in which the request is put," said Durville, +as soon as he had secured the chair's recognition, "I move that +our president's resignation be accepted in the same good faith in +which it is offered." + +"Thank you, Durry, old man!" called Douglass in a low voice. + +A seconder was promptly obtained. Then Chairman Fullerton put +the motion. There were cries of "too bad," but no dissenting +votes. + +In the meantime Greg and Anstey all but broke down a door in their +effort to reach Dick quickly. + +"Come on, old chap!" called Greg, pouncing upon his chum. "It's +all off! Savvy? We have orders to drag you to class meeting, if +force be necessary. Come on the jump!" + +"Won't I, though?" cried Dick, seizing his fatigue cap and hurrying +on his uniform overcoat. + +A smaller mind might have insisted on taking slowly the request +from the class that had unintentionally done him such an injustice. +But Cadet Prescott was made of broader, nobler stuff. He realized +that, without exception, the manly fellows in his class were heartily +glad to do him justice, now that they knew how blameless he had +been. Dick was as anxious to meet his class as they were to reinstate +him. + +So he hurried along between the jubilant Holmes and Anstey. + +The meeting had just quieted down again by the time that the three +cadets entered the room. + +But in an instant Halsey was on his feet, regardless of rules of +parliamentary procedure. + +"Give old ramrod the long corps yell!" he shouted. + +With hardly the pause of a second it came, and never had it sounded +sweeter, truer, grander than when some hundred powerful young +throats sent forth the refrain: + +_"Rah, rah, ray! Rah, rah, ray! West Point, West Point, Armee +Ray, ray, ray! U.S.M.A.!_" + +_"Prescott!"_ + +Dick Prescott's chest began to heave, though he strove to conceal +all emotion. It was sweet, indeed, to have all this enthusiasm over +him, after he had so long been the innocent outcast of the class. + +Tears shone in either eye. Ashamed to raise a hand to brush the +moisture away, Dick tried to wink them out of sight. + +But Douglass, Durville and the others gave him no time to think. +They came crowding about him faster than they could reach him, +each with outstretched hand. + +Little was said. Soldiers are proverbially silent, preferring +deeds to words. So, for nearly ten minutes, the handshaking proceeded. +At last Douglass, with a warning nod and several gestures, brought +the temporary chairman to his senses. + +Rap! rap! rap! rang the gavel on the desk. + +"The class will please come to order," called Chairman Fullerton. +"Now, gentlemen, is there any further business to come before +the class?" + +"Mr. Chairman," called Douglass, "I move that we proceed to the +election of a class president." + +"Second the motion," cried Durville. + +The motion was carried with a rush. + +"Mr. Chairman!" called the tireless ex-class president. + +"Mr. Douglass." + +"Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I am going to make a mistake that +has become time honored among public speakers, that of telling +you what you already know as well as I do. This is that Mr. Prescott +ought never to have been deposed from the class presidency. I +move, therefore, sir, that we rectify our stupidity and blindness +by making Mr. Prescott once more our president. I beg, sir, to +place in nomination for the class presidency the name of Richard +Prescott, first class, U.S.M.A." + +"I second the nomination, suh!" boomed out the voice of Anstey. + +"Other nominations for the class presidency are in order," announced +Chairman Fullerton. + +Again silence fell. + +"Mr. Chairman!" + +"Mr. Douglass." + +"Since there are no more nominations, I move you, sir, that Mr. +Prescott be elected president of this class by acclamation." + +"Sir, I second the motion," came from Durville's throat. + +There was wild glee as a volley of "ayes" was fired. + +"Those of a contrary mind will say 'no,'" requested the chair. + +Not a "no" could be heard. + +"The chair will now withdraw, after appointing Mr. Douglass, Mr. +Durville, Mr. Holmes and Mr. Anstey a committee of honor to escort +the new-old class president to the chair." + +While the little procession was in motion the windowpanes rattled +more than ever, with the long corps yell for Prescott. + +The instant his hand touched the gavel, Dick rapped for order. + +"Gentlemen of the first class," he said quietly, "I thank you +all. Little more need be said. I am sure that mere words cannot +express my great happiness at being here. I will not deny that +I have felt the injustice of the cloud that has hung over me for +the last few months. Anyone of you would have felt it under the +same circumstances. But it is past---forgotten, and I know how +happy you all are that the truth has been discovered." + +There was a moment's silence. Then Dick asked, as he had so often +done before: + +"Is there any further business to come before the class meeting?" + +Silence. + +"A motion to adjourn is in order." + +The motion was put, offered and carried. Dick Prescott stepped down +from the platform, a man restored to his birthright of esteem from +his comrades. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FINDING THE BASEBALL GAIT + + +"Morning, old ramrod!" + +Never had greeting a sweeter sound than when Dick strolled about in +the quadrangle after breakfast the next morning. + +Scores who, for months, had looked straight past Prescott when +meeting him, now stopped to speak, or else nodded in a friendly +manner. + +Twenty minutes later, the sections were marching off into the +academic building, in the never-ceasing grind of recitations. + +"Prescott," declared Durville, during the after-dinner recreation +period, "we want you to come around to show what you can do at +baseball. We've some good, armor-proof material for the squad, +but we need a lot more. And we want Holmesy, too. Bring him +around with you, won't you?" + +"If he'll come," nodded Dick. + +"He must come. But you'll hold yourself ready, anyway, won't you?" + +"I'd hate to go in without Greg," replied Dick. "He and I generally +work together in anything we attempt." + +"That was just the kick Holmesy made when you---when things were +different," corrected the captain of the Army nine hastily. + +"Well, you see, 'Durry,' we were always chums back in the good old +High School days. We always played together, then, in any game, +and either of us would feel lonesome now without the other." + +"Oh, of course," nodded Durville. "Well, I'll see Holmesy and +try to round him up, if you say so." + +"I think I can get him to come around," smiled Dick. "But you +may be tremendously disappointed in both of us." + +"Can you play ball as well as Holmesy?" + +"Perhaps; nearly, I guess." + +"Then we surely do need you both, for we've seen Holmesy toy with +the ball, and we know where he'd rate. Do you think you play +baseball at the same gait that you do football, old ramrod?" + +"I think it's possible that I do," Dick half admitted slowly. + +"Always modest, aren't you?" laughed "Durry" good humoredly. +"Somehow, Prescott, it seems almost impossible to think of you +heading a charge, or graduating number one in your class. You'd +be too much afraid that someone else wanted either honor." + +Prescott laughed good humoredly. Then, dropping his voice, he +went on very gravely: + +"Durry, you've behaved very nicely to me in more ways than one, +after that time when I necessarily reported you. Are you sure +that you wholly overlooked my act." + +"Glad you asked me, Prescott. I've come to realize that you did +your full duty, and the only thing you could do as the captain +of my company. But I was terribly upset that night. Nothing but +a matter of the first importance would ever have driven me to slip +into 'cits.' and sneak off the post in that fashion." + +"I can quite believe that," nodded Dick. + +"Well, it---it was a girl, of course," confessed "Durry." + +"You know, cadets have a habit of being interested in girls, and +this girl means everything to me. She's up in Newburgh, and was +ill. I thought she was more ill than she really was. But I knew +that I could hardly get official permission to go and see her, +so---so I chanced it and went without leave. I wouldn't have +done such a thing under any other circumstances." + +"Did the young lady recover?" asked Prescott with deep interest. + +"Oh, yes; I dragged her to the hop the other night. She was stepping +around the hall with another fellow, for one of the dances, and +that was how I came to be out in the air alone. But I'll look +for both you and Holmesy at practice this afternoon," ended "Durry," +hastening away. + +"Go to a diamond try-out?" asked Greg when Dick broached the subject. + +"Of course I will, and crazy over the chance. All that has held me +back so far, old ramrod, was the fact that you hadn't been invited. +But now that has all been changed." + +When the diamond squad reported, Lieutenant Lawrence, the head +baseball coach, ordered the young men outdoors to the field. + +"Come over here, please, Prescott and Holmes," called the coach, +who had been conferring in low tones with "Durry." + +"What positions do you two feel that you would be at your best in?" + +"Why, we have conceit enough, sir, to think that we might make +at least a half-way battery," smiled Dick. + +"Battery, eh?" repeated Lieutenant Lawrence. "Good enough! Get +out and do it. Durville, you're one of the real batsmen. Run +out there to the home plate, and see whether Prescott and Holmes +can put anything past you." + +How good it felt to be in field clothes again! And both Greg +and Dick wore on the breasts of their sweaters the Army "A," won +by making the football eleven the year before. + +Dick fingered the ball carefully while Greg was trotting away +to place behind the home plate. Lieutenant Lawrence went more +deliberately, but took his place where the umpire would have stood +in a game. + +"What kind of a ball do you like best, Durry?" asked Prescott, +smilingly. + +"A medium slow one, close to the end of the stick, about here," +replied Durville. + +"I'll try to give you something else, then," chuckled Dick. + +And give the batsman something else was just what he did. + +Crack! Durville swatted the ball. It rose steeply at first, +then sailed away gracefully towards the clouds. + +"Get a fresh ball!" shouted one member of the training squad. +"That leather isn't going to come down again!" + +It did, though a scout had to run far afield to pick it up. + +Lieutenant Lawrence didn't look exactly disappointed, but he had +hoped to see something better than this had been. + +Five more Dick pitched in, and of these "Durry" put his mark on +three. + +"That will be enough to-day, I guess, Mr. Prescott," remarked +Lieutenant Lawrence in an even voice. + +Poor Dick flushed, but was about to turn away from the pitcher's +box when Durville turned to the Army coach. + +"If you really don't mind, sir, I'd like to see Prescott throw +in a few more. He hasn't held a ball in his hands for a long +time, and I think he has only been warming up." + +"If you really think it worth while," nodded the lieutenant. +Then, raising his voice: + +"We'll have you try just a few more, Prescott. Try to astonish +everyone!" + +Greg, whose face had flushed with mortification, now crouched +a bit, sending Dick one of the old-time signals. Holmes was not +even sure his chum would remember the signal. + +It is doubtful if anyone noticed the return that Dick sent back to +show that he understood. + +Durville took a good grip on his stick, his alert gaze on the man +in the box. + +With hardly a trace of flourish Dick let the ball go. On it came, +not very swift and straight over the plate. "Durry" himself felt +a sinking of the heart that. Dick should let such an easy one +leave him. + +Yet Durville had his own work to do honestly. He must pound this +easy one and drive it as far as he could. + +Durville swung and let go. But just as he did so---that ball +dropped! + +It passed on a level two feet below the swinging stick, and Greg, +with a quiet grin, neatly mitted it. + +"Good!" muttered Coach Lawrence under his breath. "Got any more +like that, Prescott?" he called. + +"I think I have a few, sir, when I get my arm warmed up and limbered," +Dick admitted. + +"Take your time, then. Don't knock your arm out of shape." + +Again Greg was signaling, though the signal was so difficult to +catch that many of the onlookers wondered if Holmes really had +signaled. + +Swish---ew---ew---zip! + +Again Durville had fanned truly, though nothing but air. The +outshoot had seemed to spring lazily around, just out of reach +of the end of his stick. + +Now, every member of the squad, and all of the spectators were +beginning to take keen notice. + +"Slowly, Prescott. Take your time between," admonished Lieutenant +Lawrence, who knew how easily a pitcher out of training might +wrench his muscles and go stale for several days. + +Greg had signaled for what had once been one of his chum's best---a +modification of the "jump ball" that had cost this young pitcher +much hard study and arm-strain. + +As Dick stood ready to let go of the ball he seemed inclined to +dawdle over it. It wasn't going to be one of his snappiest---any +onlooker could judge that, at least, so it seemed. + +Even Durville was fooled, though he did not let up much in the way +of alertness. + +Now the ball came on, with not much speed or steam behind it. +Durville took a good look, made some calculation for possible +deception, then made his swing with the stick. + +Slightly forward Durville had to bend, in order to get low enough +to make the crack. + +As his bat swished half lazily through the air, Durville "ducked" +suddenly, for the upbounding ball had gone so close to his ear +as to seem bent on removing some of the skin off that member. + +Greg, who had been stooping, was up in time to mit the ball. +Then Durville, his face flushing, heard Holmes chuckle. + +"One or two more, if you like, sir," called Dick, facing the coach. +"But I think, sir, I'd better be in finer trim before I do too +much tossing in one afternoon." + +"You've done enough, Prescott," cried Lieutenant Lawrence, stepping +forward and resting one hand cordially on Dick's shoulder. + +"Train with us for a fortnight, and you'll take all the hide off +of the Navy's mascot goat." + +There was a laugh from the members of the squad who stood within +hearing. But, as Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes walked over to +the side of the field they were greeted by a cheer from all who +had watched their performance. + +"I'm very glad you asked for a further trial for Prescott," murmured +Lieutenant Lawrence to the captain of the Army nine. + +"I thought you would be, sir," Durville replied. + +"We have a line-up, after these two men have been trained into +shape, that will make one of the strongest Army nines in a generation." + +"We'd have tanned the Navy last year, sir," ventured Durville, "if +we had known what material we had in Prescott and Holmes, and had +been able to get them out." + +At cadet mess that evening the talk ran high with joy. West Point +was sure it had found its baseball gait! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +READY FOR THE ARMY-NAVY GAME + + +In between times, in the strenuous hours that followed, Dick found +the time, somehow, to write two letters of moment. + +One was to his mother, the other to Laura Bentley. In both he +told how the last bar to his happiness in the Army had been removed. +Yet Dick did not go very deeply into details. He merely explained +that the class had discovered, on indisputable evidence, that +he had been dealt with unjustly. He made it plain, however, that +he was now again in high favor with his class, and that he had +even been honored by reelection to the class presidency. + +"Greg, you send Dave Darrin a short note for me, will you?" begged +Dick, as he toiled away at the missive to Laura. "Old Dave will +want only the bare facts; that will be enough for him. He'll +cheerfully wait for details until some time when we're all graduated +and meet in the service." + +Dave Darrin's reply was short, but characteristic: + +"Of course dear old Dick came through all right! He's the kind +of fellow that always does and always must come through all +right---otherwise there'd be no particular use in being manly." + +No word came from the missing Jordan. Truth to tell, no one seemed +to care, outside of the young man's father. It is rare, indeed, +that a cadet deserts, and when he does, unless he has taken government +property with him, no effort is made to find him. + +By the end of the week, Dick Prescott was the hope of the Army nine, +as he had once been of the eleven. + +A cadet is always in condition. His daily training keeps him there. +So Dick had only to give his arm a little extra work, increasing +it some each day. + +"Do you think I'm going to be in satisfactory shape, sir?" Dick +asked the Army coach Friday afternoon. + +"If something doesn't happen to you, Prescott, you're going to +be the strongest, speediest pitcher I've ever seen on the Army +nine," replied Lieutenant Lawrence. + +"Isn't that saying a good deal, sir?" + +"Yes; but you're the sort of athlete that one may say a great +deal about," replied Lieutenant Lawrence, with a confident smile. +"And Mr. Holmes is very nearly as good a man as you are." + +"I always thought him fully as good, even better," replied Prescott. + +"There isn't much to choose between you," admitted coach. "I wish +we could always look for such men on our Army teams." + +"You can one of these days, sir." + +"When will that day come?" + +"It will come, sir, when public-spirited citizens everywhere go in +strongly for athletics in the High Schools, as they did in the town +where Holmes and I received our earlier training." + +The letter from Cadet Prescott's mother came almost by return +mail. She had never for a moment lost faith, she wrote, that +all would come out right with her boy, and she was heartily glad +that her faith had been justified. She was sorry, indeed, for +that unfortunate other cadet whose enmity for Dick had been his +own undoing in the long run. + +It was some days later when Laura's letter reached the now eager +pitcher of the Army nine. + +Now that letter was cordial enough in every way, and Laura made +no secret of her delight and of her pride in her friend. + +"Yet there's something lacking here," murmured Prescott uneasily, +as he read the letter through once more. "What is it? Laura +writes as if she were trying to show more reserve with me than +she did once. What is the matter? Has she cooled toward me at +just the time when I shall soon be able to offer her my name and +my future?" + +The thought was torment. Nor, of course, did Dick fail to remember +all about that prosperous and agreeable Gridley merchant, Leonard +Cameron, who, for upwards of two years, had been one of Miss Bentley's +most devoted admirers. + +"I suppose he's the kind of fellow who is calculated to please +a woman," mused Dick with a sinking at heart. "And Cameron has +had the great advantage of being right on the spot all the time. +Moreover, he has had his future mapped out for him, while I wasn't +assured about my own, and he hasn't been afraid to speak. Great +Scott, I must wait until the night of the graduation ball before +I can speak and find out how the land lies for me. But is Laura +coming to that hop?" + +Again Dick ran hastily through the letter. Yet, look as he would, +he could find no allusion of Laura's to coming on for the Graduation +Hop. + +"What an idiot I am!" growled Prescott to himself. "I'm certain +I forgot to ask her, in my last letter. If I did, it was solely +because I've always been so sure that she'd be on here for +graduation week as a matter of course." + +After pacing his room for a few moments, Dick sat down and wrote +feverishly back to Laura Bentley, asking her if she were coming +on for graduation and the hop. + +"I've always looked forward to having you here as a matter of +course on that great occasion," Dick penned, "so I'm not very +certain that I have made the invitation as explicit as I've meant +to. But you'll come, won't you, Laura? It would be a poor graduation +for me, without your face in the throng, for the others will be +strangers to me. Won't you please write promptly and set my mind +at ease on this vital point?" + +In three days Laura's answer came. Unless unavoidably prevented +she would be on hand during a part of graduation week. + +"And I certainly want to attend the graduation hop," Laura added, +"for it will probably be the only one that I shall ever have a +chance to attend." + +"Now, what does she mean by that last statement?" pondered Dick, +finding new cause for worry. "Does she mean that she expects +to cut the Army after this year? Is she really planning to marry +that fellow Cameron? Gracious, how time has flown during these +hurried years at West Point! For two years past Laura has been +fully old enough to wed! What a folly she'd commit in waiting +all these years for backward me to get ready to open my lips! +Yes; I guess it's going to be Cameron." + +Cadet Prescott compressed his lips grimly, but he was soldier +enough to be game and face the music. + +"I've got to be patient a few weeks more, and take the chances," +Dick told himself, as he scurried away to daily ball practice. +"With a rival in the field I wouldn't dare, anyway, to trust +my fate to a pleading set down on paper. But I'll send Laura +a letter once a week now, anyway. She may guess from that, as +graduation approaches, that I am sending my thoughts more and +more in her direction." + +With the bravery of which he was so capable, Dick ceased his worry +about his sweetheart as much as he could, and threw his leisure +hours heartily into his work in the ball squad. + +It will not be possible to describe the games of the season in +detail. There were twenty scheduled games in all, though three +were called off on account of rain. The Army won twelve out of +sixteen games played with college teams. Dick and Greg were the +battery in the heaviest nine of the winning games, and in one +of the games lost. + +Prescott and Holmes had no difficulty in putting up a game that +has sent them down in history as being the best Army battery to +that date. + +But the Navy, that year, had an exceptionally fine team, too, +with Dave Darrin and Dalzell for its star battery. + +"This is the game we've got to win, fellows," called out Durville +earnestly, two days before the Annapolis nine was due at West +Point in the latter part of May. "We've done finely this year, +better than we had hoped. But, after all, what is it to beat +every other college, and then have to go down before the Navy in +defeat at the end?" + +"Who says we're going down in defeat?" grumbled Greg. + +"If you say we're not, you and Prescott, then you can do a lot +to hearten us up," continued Durville, with a sharp glance at the +star battery pair. + +"See here, old ramrod, you know all about that Annapolis battery," +broke in Hackett, of the nine. "What about them as ball players? +I understand you went to school with Darrin and Dalzell. Do +that pair play ball the way they do football?" + +"Yes," nodded Dick. "If anything, they play baseball better." + +"But you and Holmesy put them out at football. Can't you do it +on the diamond, too?" insisted Hackett. + +"I hope so, but Greg and I will feel a lot more like bragging, +possibly, after we've played the game through. There isn't much +brag about us now, eh, Greg?" + +"Not much," confessed Greg. "And you fellows want to remember +that old ramrod and I are to play only two out of the nine positions. +Don't depend on us to play the whole game for the Army." + +"Of course not," agreed Hackett, perhaps a bit tartly. "But if +the other seven of us were wonders we'd stand no show unless we +had a battery that can do up these awful ogres of the Navy nine." + +"Oh, you're better than the Navy battery, aren't you, old ramrod?" +demanded Beckwith. + +"No, we're not," replied Dick slowly, thoughtfully. + +"Don't tell us that the salt-water catcher and pitcher are ahead +of you two!" protested Durville with new anxiety. + +"If either crowd is better, they're likely to be It," murmured Dick. + +Thereupon all in the dressing room wheeled to take a look at Greg. +But young Holmes nodded his head in confirmation. + +"Don't talk that way," pleaded Beckwith. + +"You'll have us all scared cold before we touch foot to the field +day after to-morrow." + +"Just what I said," grumbled Greg. "Some of the fellows on the +Army nine expect two men who are not above the average to win the +whole game." + +From all private and newspaper accounts many of the West Point +fans were inclined to the belief that the Navy outpointed the +Army in the matter of battery. It had been so the year before +when, as readers of "_Dave Darrin's Third Year At Annapolis_" will +recall, the Navy had succeeded in carrying the game away with +neatness and despatch. + +"You young men have simply got to hustle and keep cool. That's +all you can do," urged Lieutenant Lawrence. "We haven't had so +good a nine in years. Whatever you do, don't lie down at the +last moment, and give up to the Navy the only game of the year that +is really worth winning." + +Then came two hard afternoons of practice. Every onlooker watched +Dick and Greg closely, anxious to make sure that neither young man +was going stale. + +With each added hour it must be confessed that anxiety at West +Point rose another notch. + +Then came the day of the game. Even the tireless and merciless +instructors over in the Academic Building eased up a bit on the +cadets that day, if ever the instructors did such a thing. + +The Annapolis nine arrived before one o'clock and was promptly +taken to dinner. + +All that forenoon, the factions had been gathering. + +Most of the visitors, to be sure, came to "root" for the Army, +though there were not wanting several good-sized crowds that came +to cheer and urge the Navy young men on to victory. + +By noon there were three thousand outsiders on the West Point +reservation. Afternoon trains, stages and automobiles brought +crowds after that. By three o'clock everyone that expected to +see the game had arrived. There were now nine thousand people +on the grandstands and along the sides. + +"Nine?" repeated Durville in the dressing room, when the word +was brought to him. "Five thousand used to be about the usual +crowd, I believe. Old ramrod, you and Holmesy are surely responsible +for the other four thousand. Darrin and Dalzell can't have done +it all, for the Navy always travels light on baggage when headed +this way. Yes, you and Holmesy have dragged the crowd in." + +"Quit your joshing," muttered Greg, who was bending over his shoe +laces. + +"Yes; cut it. We can stand it better after the game," laughed Dick. + +"Get your men out in five minutes more, Durville," called Lieutenant +Lawrence, looking in. "The Navy fellows have been on the field +ten minutes already. You want to limber up your men a bit before +game is called." + +Already the sound had reached dressing quarters of the visiting +fans cheering for the Navy. + +In three minutes more the cheering ascended with four times as +much volume, for now Durville marched the picked Army nine on +to the field, and the fans on the stands caught sight of these +trim young soldiers. + +"I've got a hunch you'll do it for us to-day," whispered Beckwith +in Prescott's ear. + +"Look out. A little hunch is a dangerous thing," retorted Dick, +with a grim smile. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +DAN DALZELL'S CRABTOWN GRIN + + +Six minutes later, the umpire called the captains to the home +plate for the toss. + +"There they are---the same old chums!" cried Dick, hitting Greg +a nudge. + +Darrin and Dalzell, of the Navy nine, had been trying to catch the +eyes of the Army battery. + +Now the four old chums raced together to a point midway between +pitcher's box and home plate. There they met and clasped each +others' hands. + +"The same old pair, I know!" cried Dave Darrin heartily. + +"And we think as much of you two as ever, even if you are in the +poor old Army," grinned Dan. "We've come all the way up from +Crabtown to teach you how to play ball. The knowledge will probably +prove useful to you some day." + +"Why, Dick," protested Holmes in mock astonishment, "these cabin +boys seem to think they can really play ball!" + +"And all I'm afraid of is that they can," laughed Dick. + +"Can't we, though---just!" mocked Dan, dancing a brief little step. +"Wait until you take a stick to our work, and then see where +you'll live!" + +"Cut it, Danny, little lion-fighter, cut it!" warned Dave Darrin, +with quiet good nature. "You know what they tell us all the time, +down at Crabtown---that 'brag never scuttled a fighting ship yet.' + +"Dave, you don't expect Danny to believe that, do you?" asked +Greg, grinning hard. "Danny never went into anything that he +didn't try to win by scaring the other side cold. If our instructors +here know what they're talking about, hot air isn't necessarily +fatal to the enemy." + +"I can tell you one thing, anyway," chipped in Dan, while the +other three grinned indulgently at him. + +"Yes; you have it straight that this is to be the Army's game," +mocked Greg. "But we knew that before we saw you to-day." + +"There goes our joy-killer," grunted Prescott, as the umpire's +shrill whistle sounded in. "Dave, we'll be in the Navy's dressing +room just as soon as-----" + +"Just as soon as this cruel war is over," hummed Dan. + +The toss having been won by the Navy, the captain of that nine +had chosen to go to bat. + +Now the players on both sides were scattering swiftly to their +posts. + +Dick took but a bound or two back to the box, just as the umpire +broke the package around the new ball and tossed it to the Army +pitcher. + +"Play ball!" + +It was on, with a rush, and a cheer, led by some eight measures +of music from the Military Academy Band, which had been quiet for +a few minutes. + +Then the cheer settled down, for Prescott found himself facing Dan +Dalzell at the bat, with Darrin on deck. + +"Wipe 'em!" signaled Greg's antics. + +Now, to "wipe" Dalzell, who had known everyone of Dick's old curves +and tricks in former days, did not look like a promising task, +for Dalzell, in addition to his special knowledge about this pitcher, +was an expert with the bat. But there might be a chance to put +Dan on the mourner's bench. If Dalzell succeeded in picking up +even a single from Dick's starting delivery, then Dave could be +all but depended upon to push his Navy chum a bag or two further +around the course. + +"If I can twist Dan all up, it may serve to rattle Dave, too," +thought the Army pitcher like a flash. + +Dalzell poised the bat, and stood swinging it gently, with an +expectant grin that, had it been a school audience, would have made +the youngsters on the bleachers yell: + +"Get your face closed tight, Danny! That grin hides the stick!" + +Dalzell had often had that hurled at him in the old days, but he +did not have to dread it now. But Prescott knew that old broad +grin. It was Dalzell's favorite "rattler" for the balltosser. + +"I think I know the scheme for getting the hair off your goat," +mused Prescott, as he sent in his first. + +"Ball one!" called the umpire. + +Dan's grin broadened. + +"Ball two!" + +Dalzell knew he had the Army pitcher going now, and didn't take +the trouble to reach for the ball. + +"Strike one!" + +That took some of the starch out of the Navy batsman, who suddenly +realized that this twirler for the Army was up to old tricks. + +"Strike two!" + +Dan was sure he had that one, and he missed it only by an inch. + +Gone, now, was the grin on Dalzell's face. A frown gathered between +his eyes as he took harder hold of the stick and waited. + +Nor did Prescott keep him long waiting. The ball came in, and +Dan gauged it fairly well. Yet he fanned for the third time. + +"Batsman out!" + +Dan hesitated an almost imperceptible instant at the plate. Swift +as lightning he made a wry little mouth at Prescott. It nearly +broke Dick up with laughter as Dalzell stalked moodily to the +bench and Dave stepped forward. + +In fact, the Army pitcher choked and shook so that Durville called +to him in a quiet, anxious voice from shortstop's beat: + +"Anything wrong, ramrod?" + +None of the spectators heard this, but most of them saw Dick's +short, vigorous shake of the head as he palmed the ball. + +Then he let it go, for Darrin was waiting, and in grand old Dave's +eyes flashed the resolve to retrieve what had just been taken from +the Navy. + +"Darry can't lose, anyway. He'll take the conceit out of these +Army hikers," predicted some of the knowing ones among the Navy +fans. + +"Ball one!" + +Though not sure, Dave had expected this, and did not try keenly +for Dick's first delivery, which, as he knew of old, was seldom +of this pitcher's best. + +Then came what looked like a high ball. Of old, this had been +the poorest sort for Darrin to bit, and Dick seemed to remember +it. But Darrin had changed with the years, and he felt a swift +little jolt of amusement as he swung for that high one. + +Just about three feet away from the plate, however, that ball +took a most unexpected drop, and passed on fully eighteen inches +under the swing of Darrin's stick. + +"Strike one!" + +At the next Darrin's judgment forbade him to offer, but the umpire +judged it a fair ball, and called: + +"Strike two!" + +Dalzell, on the bench, was leaning forward now, his chin plunged +in between his hands. + +"Dick Prescott hasn't lost any of his knack for surprises," muttered +Danny. "And if we, who know his old tricks, can't fathom him at +all, what are the other seven of us going to do?" + +As the ball arched slowly back into Dick's hands, Dalzell, in +his anxiety, found himself leaping to his feet. + +And now Prescott pitched, in answer to Greg's signal, what looked +like a coming jump ball. + +Dave Darrin knew that throw, and was ready. In another instant +he could have dropped with chagrin, for the ball, after all, was +another "drop," and Greg Holmes had mitted it for the Army in +tune to the umpire's: + +"Strike three-out! Two out!" + +"David, little giant, your hand!" begged Dalzell, in a fiery whisper +as his chum reached the bench. + +"What's up?" asked Darrin half suspiciously. + +"Agree with me, now---make deep and loud the solemn vow that we'll +use Dick and Greg just as they've treated us!" + +"We will, if we can," nodded Darrin, more serious than his chum. +"But I always try to tell you, Danny boy, that it's best not to do +your bragging until after you've scuttled your ship." + +Just as Dave had stepped away from the plate, Hutchins, the little +first baseman of the Navy, had bounded forward. + +Hutchins was wholly cool, and had keen eye for batting. He hoped, +despite what he had heard of Prescott's cleverness, to send Navy +spirits booming by at least a two-bagger. + +"Strike one!" + +Prescott had not wasted any moments, this time, and Hutchins was +caught unawares. The little first baseman flushed and a steely +look came into his eyes. + +At the next one he struck, but it came across the plate as an +out-shoot that was just too far out for Hutchins's reach. Had +he not offered it would have been a "called ball." + +With two strikes called against him, and nothing moving, Hutchins +felt the ooze coming out of his neck and forehead. The Navy had +been playing grand ball that spring. It would never do to let the +Army get too easy a start. + +But Dick poised, twirled and let go. It was a straight-away, +honest and fair ball that he sent. To be sure there was a trace +of in-shoot about it that made Hutchins misjudge it so that, in +the next instant, the passionless umpire sounded the monotonous +solo: + +"Strike three---and out. Side out!" + +From the Navy seats dead calm, but from the band came a blare +of brass and a clash of drums and cymbals as the cheering started. + +In an instant, out of all the hubbub, came the long corps yell +from the cadets, ending with: + +"Prescott! Holmes!" + +Sweet music, indeed, to the Army battery. But Greg heard it on +the wing, so to speak, for at the changing of the sides he had +hastened forward, so as to pass Dan Dalzell: + +"Danny boy, after the game, I want you to do something big for +me," whispered Cadet Holmes. + +"Surely," murmured Dalzell. "What shall it be?" + +"I think I know how you get that grin of yours, that conquering +grin on your face, but I wish you'd show me how you make it stick!" + +"Call you out for that some day," hissed Dalzell, as, with heightened +color, he made his way to catcher's post of duty behind the plate. + +Dave Darrin received the ball, and handled it, after the ways +of his kind, for a few seconds, to detect any irregularities there +might be to its surface or any flaws in its roundness. + +"Play ball!" called the umpire. + +With Beckwith holding the stick, and Durville on deck, Dick had +time to do what he was most anxious to do---to make a study of +any new things that Darrin might have learned. + +Dave appeared to be fully warmed at the start. "Strike one!" +called the umpire, though Beckwith had not dared offer. + +Then: + +"Strike two!" + +Dick began to see light. Dave was in fine form, and was sending +them in with such terrific speed that it was barely possible to +gauge them. That style of pitching carried big hopes for a Navy +victory! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHEN THE ARMY FANS WINCED + + +As Darrin sent in the third ball Beckwith made a desperate sweep for +it. It was not to be his, however. + +"Three strikes! Striker out!" + +That broad grin had come back to Dan Dalzell's face, as he held up +the neatly mitted ball for an instant, then hurled it lazily back +to Dave Darrin. + +Now, Durville came to bat, and the captain of the Army nine was +an accurate and hard hitter. + +"Ball one!" + +"Strike one!" + +"Strike two!" + +"Ball two!" + +Then came a slight swish of willow against leather. Durville +had at last succeeded in just touching the ball. But it was a +foul hit, and that was all. Dan, however, was not out at the +side in time to pick that foul into his own mitten. + +Durville, his face somewhat pale and teeth clenched, stood ready +for his last chance. It came, in one of Darrin's trickiest throws. +It was no use, after all. Durville missed, and Dalzell didn't. + +"Strike three---striker out!" + +"Prescott, you know that Navy fellow! Go after him---hammer him +all the way down the river!" groaned Durville in a low voice as +Dick came forward. + +Dan's quick ears heard, however, and his grin broadened. Well +enough Dalzell knew that Darrin had a lot of box tricks secreted +that would fool even a Prescott. + +But Dick was not to be rattled, at any rate. He picked up the +bat, "hefted" it briefly, then stepped up beside the plate, ready +in a few seconds after Durville had gone disconsolately back to +the bench. + +"I won't try to decipher Dave's deliveries; I'll judge them by +what they look like after the ball has started," swiftly decided +Prescott. + +"Ball one!" + +"Ball two!" + +"Strike one!" + +"Strike two!" + +"Crack!" + +So fast did Prescott start when that fly popped, that he was nearly +half way to first base when he dropped his bat. It was only a +fly out to right field, but it was a swift one, and it struck +turf before the Navy fielder could hoof it to the spot. He caught +it up, whirled, and drove straight to first, but Prescott's toe +had struck the bag a fraction of a second before. + +"Runner safe at first!" called the umpire quietly. Then the ball +went back to Dave, who now had a double task of alertness, for +Holmes held the bat at the plate, while Prescott was trying to +steal second. Well did Dave Darrin know the trickiness of both +these Army players! + +Greg, too, was cool, though a good deal apprehensive. With him +the call stood at balls three and strikes two when Greg thought +he saw his real chance. + +Swat! Greg struck with all his strength, and at the sound, a +cheer rose from the seats of the Army fans. But the ball was +lower than Greg had calculated, and after all his assault on the +leather had resulted only in a bunt. + +Navy's pitcher took a few swift steps, then bent, straightened +up and sent the ball driving to first. + +"Runner out at first!" + +Then indeed a wail went up. What did it matter that Prescott +had reached second? Greg's disaster had put the side out. And +now the Navy came back to bat. In this half of the second, three +hits were taken out of Prescott's delivery, and at one time there +were two sailors on bases. Then the Navy went out to grass and +the Army marched in for a trial. This time, however, the Army +had neither Durville, Prescott nor Holmes at the plate, and with +these three best batters on the bench, Dave had the satisfaction +of striking the soldiers out in one, two, three. + +In the third inning neither side scored. Then, in the fourth, +with two sailors out when he came to bat, Dalzell exploded a two-bagger +that brought the Navy to its feet on the benches, cheering and +hat-waving. By the time that Dan's flying feet had kicked the +first bag on the course Dave Darrin was holding the willow and +standing calmly by the plate, watching. + +Two of Dick's offers, Dave let go by without heeding, one ball +and one strike being called. But Dave, though he looked sleepy, +was wholly alert. At the third offer he drove a straight, neat +little bunt that was left for the Army's second baseman. That +baseman had it in season to drive to Lanton, at Army first base. +But Dave had hit the bag first, and was safe, while Dan Dalzell +was making pleased faces over at third. + +Now, a member of the Navy team slipped over to that side of the +diamond to coach Dan on his home-running. In addition to pitching, +Dick had to watch first and third bases, in which situation Dave +Darrin, with great impudence and coolness, stole second in between +two throws. + +On the faces of the Army fans, by this time, anxiety was written +in large letters. They had heard much about the Navy battery, but +not of its base-running qualities. + +It was little Hutchins now again at the bat. His last time there +he had been struck out without trouble. + +"But, it never does to be too positive that a fellow is a duffer," +mused Prescott grimly, as he gripped the leather. + +Just when little Hutchins seemed on the point of going to pieces +he misjudged one of Dick's puts so completely that he struck it, +by accident, a fearful crack. A cloud of dust marked the limits +of the diamond, while the air was filled with yells and howls. +When the dust cleared and the howls had subsided it was found +that Dalzell had loped in across the home plate, Darrin had come +along more swiftly and was in, while Hutchins touched the second +base an instant after the ball had nestled in Greg Holmes's Army +mitt. + +It mattered little that Earl, who came next to bat, struck out. +The Navy had pulled in two runs---the only runs scored so far! + +In the other half the Army nine secured nothing. + +In the fifth neither team scored. In the sixth the Navy scored +one more run. In the sixth Lanton, of the Army, got home with +a single run. + +Thus, at the beginning of the seventh, the score stood at three +to one with the grin on the Naval face. + +During the seventh inning nothing was scored. Now, the sailor +boys came to bat for the first half of the eighth, with a din +of Navy yells on the air. West Point's men came back with a sturdy +assortment of good old Military Academy yells, but the life was +gone out. The Army was proud of such men as Durville, Prescott, +Holmes, but admitted silently that Darrin and Dalzell appeared +to belong to a slightly better class of ball. + +"It's our fault, too," muttered the Army coach, Lieutenant Lawrence, +to a couple of brother officers. "Darrin and Dalzell have been +training with the Navy nine for two years, while Prescott and +Holmes came in late this season. Even if they wouldn't play last +year, these two men of ours should have reported for the very +first day's work last February." + +"Prescott couldn't do it," remarked Lieutenant Denton, who had just +joined the group. + +"Why not, Denton?" asked Lieutenant Lawrence. + +"He was in Coventry." + +"Pshaw!" + +"Didn't you know that?" asked Denton. + +"Not a word of it, though Durville once hinted to me that there +was some sort of reason why Prescott couldn't come in." + +"There was---the Coventry," Denton replied. "But that trouble +blew over when the first classmen found themselves wrong in something +of which Jordan had accused Prescott." + +"Humph!" growled Lieutenant Lawrence, in keen displeasure. "Then, +if we lose to-day, the first class can blame itself!" + +"You think our battery pair better than the Navy's, then?" asked +Lieutenant Denton. + +"Our men would have been better, by a shade, anyway, had they +been as long in training. But as it is-----" + +"As it is," supplied another officer in the group, "we are wiped +off the slate by the Navy, this year, and no one can know it better +than we do ourselves." + +Just as the fortunes of war would have it, Dan Dalzell again stood +by the plate at the beginning of the eighth. + +"Wipe off that smile, Danny boy," called Darrin softly. + +But Dan only shook his head with a deepening grin which seemed +to declare that he found the Navy situation all to the good. + +In fact, Dalzell felt such a friendly contempt for poor old Dick's +form by this time, that he cheerily offered at Dick's first. + +Crack! That ball arched up for right field, and Dan, hurling +his bat, started to make tracks and time. Beckwith, however, +was out in right field, and knew what was expected of him. He +ran in under that dropping ball, held out his hands and gathered +it in. + +Dick smiled quietly, almost imperceptibly, while Dan strolled +mournfully back to the bench. Then Prescott turned, bent on +annihilating his good old friend Darrin, if possible. In great +disgust, Dave struck out. The look on the Navy fan's faces could +be interpreted only as saying: + +"Oh, well, we don't need runs, anyway!" + +But when Hutchins struck out---one, two, three!---after as many +offers, Navy faces began to look more grave. + +"Hold 'em down, Navy---hold 'em down!" rang the appeal from Navy +seats when the Army went to bat in the eighth. + +Dick was first at bat now, with Greg on deck. As Prescott swung +the willow and eyed Darrin, there was "blood" in the Army pitcher's +eyes. + +Then Darrin gave a sudden gasp, for, at his first delivery, Dick +sized up the ball, located it, and punched it. That ball dropped +in center field just as Dick was turning the first bag. It sped +on, but Dick turned back from too big a risk. + +But he looked at Greg, waiting idly at bat, and Holmes caught the +full meaning of that appealing look. + +"It's now or never," growled Greg between his teeth. "It's seldom +any good to depend at all on the ninth inning." + +Darrin, with a full knowledge of what was threatened to the Navy +by the present situation, tried his best to rattle Greg. And +one strike was called on Holmesy, but the second strike he called +himself by some loud talk of bat against leather. Then, while +the ball sped into right field, Greg ran after it, stopping, however, +at first bag, while Prescott sprinted down to second bag, kicked +it slightly, and came back to it. + +It was up to Lanton, of the Army, now! In this crisis the Army +first baseman either lacked true diamond nerve, or else he could +not see Darrin's curves well, for Lanton took the call of two +strikes before he was awarded called balls enough to permit him +to lope contentedly away to first. This advanced both Dick and +Greg. + +Bases full---no outs! Three runs needed! + +This was the throbbing situation that confronted Cadet Carter +as he picked up an Army bat and stood by the plate, facing the +"wicked" and well-nigh invincible Darrin of the Navy! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE VIVID FINISH OF THE GAME + + +On both sides of the field, every one was standing on seats. + +Even the cadets had risen to their feet, every man's eye turned +on the diamond, while the cadet cheer-master danced up and down, +ready to spring the yell of triumph if only Carter and the player +on deck could give the chance. + +Lieutenant Lawrence wiped his perspiring face and neck. The coach +probably suffered more than any other man on the field. It was his +work that had prepared for this supreme game of the whole diamond +season! + +Over at third base Cadet Prescott danced cautiously away, yet every +now and then stole nearly back. Dick was never going to lose a +scored run through carelessness. + +"Now, good old Carter, can't you?" groaned Durville, as the Army +batsman went forward to the plate. + +"Durry, I'll come home with my shield, or on it," muttered Carter, +with set teeth and white lips as he went to pick up the bat that +he was to swing. + +Carter was not one of the best stick men of the Army baseball +outfit, but there is sometimes such a thing as batting luck. +For this, Carter prayed under his breath. + +Darrin, of course, was determined to baffle this strong-hope man +of West Point. He sent in one of his craftiest outshoots. For a +wonder, Carter guessed it, and reached out for it---but missed. + +"Strike two!" followed almost immediately from the placid's umpire's +lips. + +Everyone who hoped for the Army was trembling now. + +Dan Dalzell did some urgent signaling. In response, Darrin took an +extra hard twist around the leather, unwound, unbent and let go. + +_Crack_! Batter's luck, and nothing else! + +"Carter, Carter, Carter!" broke loose from the mouths of half a +thousand gray-clad cadets, and the late anxious batter was sprinting +for all there was in him. + +Just to right of center field, and past, went the ball---a good +old two-bagger for any player that could run. + +From third Dick came in at a good jog, but he did not exert himself. +He had seen how long it must take to get the ball in circulation. + +As for Holmes, he hit a faster pace. He turned on steam, just +barely touching third as he turned with no thought of letting +up this side of the home plate. + +Lanton made third---he had to, for Carter was bent on kicking +the second bag in time. + +Had there been another full second to spare Carter would have +made it. But Navy center field judged that it would be far easier +to put Carter out than to play that trick on Lanton, since the +latter had but ninety feet to run, anyway. + +So Carter was out, but Lanton was hanging at third, crazy with +eagerness to get in. + +It all hung on Lanton now. If he got across the home plate in +time enough it would give the Army the lead by one run. At this +moment the score was tied---three to three! + +"Get out there and coach Lantin, old ramrod," begged "Durry," +and Dick was off, outside of the foul line, his eye on Dave Darrin +and on every other living figure of the Navy nine. + +It was Holden up, now, and, though the cadets on the grandstand +looked at Carter briefly, with praise in their eyes for his two-bagger +that had meant two runs, the eyes of the young men in gray swiftly +roved over by the plate, to keep full track of Holden's performance. + +But Holden struck out, and Army hopes sank. Tyrrell came in to +the plate, and on him hung the last hope. If he failed, Army +fans would be near despair. + +Dave Darrin was beginning to feel the hot pace a bit, for in this +inning he had exerted himself more than in any preceding one. +However, that was all between Darrin and himself. Not another +player on the field guessed how glad Dave would be for the end +of the game. Yet he steeled himself, and sent in swift, elusive +ones for Tyrrell to hit. + +Swat! Tyrrell landed a blow against the leather, at the last +chance that he had at it. It was a bunt, but Navy's shortstop +simply couldn't reach it in time to pick it up without the slightest +fumble. That delay brought Lanton home and over the plate. + +How the plain resounded with cheers! For now the Army led by +a single run, and Tyrrell was safe at first. + +Jackson up, with Beckwith on deck. There was hope of further +scoring. + +Yet no keen disappointment was felt when Jackson struck out. + +In from pasture trooped the Navy men, eager to retrieve all in +the ninth. + +"Fit to stay in the box, old ramrod?" anxiously asked "Durry," +as the nines changed. + +"Surely," nodded Dick. + +"Don't stick it out, unless you know you can do the trick," insisted +the Army captain earnestly. + +"I'm just in feather!" smiled Dick. + +Greg, too, had been a bit anxious; but when the first ball over +the plate stung his one unmitted hand, Holmes concluded that Prescott +did not need to be helped out of the box just at that time. + +Then followed something which came so fast that the spectators all +but rubbed their eyes. + +One after another Dick Prescott struck out three Navy batsmen. + +Greg Holmes made this splendid work perfect by not letting anything +pass him. + +That wound up the game, for Navy had not scored in the ninth, and +the rules forbade the Army nine to go again to bat to increase a +score that already stood at four to three. + +Instantly the Academy band broke loose. Yet above it all dinned +the cheers of the greater part of the nine thousand spectators +present. + +As soon as the band stopped the corps yell rose, with the names +of Durville, Prescott and Holmes, and of Carter whose batting luck +had played such a part in the eighth. + +But, by the time that the corps yell rose the Army nine was nearly +off the field. + +"Listen to the good noise, old ramrod," glowed Greg. + +"It's the last time we'll ever hear the corps yell for any work +we do in West Point athletics," went on Greg mournfully. + +"I know it," sighed Dick. "If we ever hear cheers for us again, +we'll have to win the noise by a gallant charge, or something +like that." + +"In the Army," replied Greg, choking somewhat. + +"Yes; in the good old Army," went on Dick, his eyes kindling. +"I don't feel any uneasiness about getting through the final +exams. now. We're as good as second lieutenants already, Holmesy!" + +While thus chatting, however, the two chums were keeping pace with +their comrades of the nine. The nine from Annapolis moved in a +compact group a little ahead down the road. + +Just before the Army ball-tossers reached the dressing quarters, +Lieutenant Lawrence, their coach, hastened ahead of them, meeting +them in the doorway. + +"The best nine we've had in a long number of years, gentlemen," +glowed coach, as he shook the hand of each in passing. "Thank +you all for your splendid, hard work!" + +Thanks like that was sweet music, after all. But Dick raced to +dressing quarters full of but one thing. + +"Quick, Holmesy! We don't know how soon the Navy team may have +to run down the road to a train." + +"Aren't they going to have supper at the mess?" demanded Greg, +as he stripped. + +"I don't know; I'm afraid not." + +Dick and Greg were the first of the Army nine to be dressed in +their fatigue uniforms. Immediately they made a quick break for +the Navy quarters. + +"It looks almost cheeky to throw ourselves in on the other fellows," +muttered Greg dubiously. "Some of the middies will think we've come +in on purpose to see how they take their beating." + +"They didn't get a bad enough beating to need to feel ashamed," +replied Dick. "And we won't say a word about the game, anyway." + +"May we come in?" called Prescott, knocking on the door of the +middies' quarters. + +"Who's there?" called a voice. Then the Navy coach, in uniform, +opened the door. + +"Oh, come in, gentlemen," called the coach, holding out his hand. +"And let me congratulate you, Prescott and Holmes, on the very +fine game that you two had a star part in putting up for the nine +from Crabtown." + +"Thank you, sir," Dick replied. "But we didn't call on that account. +There are two old chums of ours here, sir, that we're looking for." + +"See anything of them anywhere?" smiled Dave Darrin, stepping +forward, minus his blouse and holding out both hands. + +Dick and Greg pounced upon Dave. Then Dan struggled into another +article of clothing and ran forward from the rear of the room. + +"How soon do you go?" asked Dick eagerly. + +"The 6.14 train to New York," replied Dave. + +"Oh, then you're not going to have supper at cadet mess?" asked +Greg in a tone of deep disappointment. + +"No," answered Dan Dalzell. "It would get us through too late. +We dine in New York on arrival." + +"Hurry up and get dressed," Dick urged. Then, turning to the +coach, he inquired: + +"May we keep Darrin and Dalzell with us, sir, until your train +leaves?" + +"No reason on earth why you shouldn't," nodded the Navy coach. + +So Dave and Dan were dressed in a trice, it seemed, though with +the care that a cadet or midshipman must always display in the +set of his immaculate uniform. + +Dick seized Dave by the elbow, marching him forth, while Greg +piloted Dan. + +"Great game for you-----" began Dan, as soon as the quartette +of old chums were outside. + +"Send all that kind of talk by the baggage train," ordered Cadet +Holmes. "What we want to talk about are the dear old personal +affairs." + +"You youngsters are through here, after not so many more days, +aren't you?" began Darrin. + +"Yes; and so are you, down at Annapolis," replied Prescott. + +"Not quite," rejoined Dave gravely. "There's this difference. +In a few days you'll be through here, and will proceed to your +homes. Then, within the next few days, you'll both receive your +commissions as second lieutenants in the Army, and will be ordered +to your regiments. You're officers for all time to come! We +of the first class at Annapolis will receive our diplomas, surely. +But what beyond that? While you become officers at once, we +have to start on the two years' cruise, and we're still midshipmen. +After two years at sea, we have to come back and take another +exam. If we pass that one, then we'll be ensigns---officers at +last. But if we fail in the exam, two years hence then we're +dropped from the service. After we've gone through our whole +course at Annapolis we still have to guess, for two years, whether +we're going to be reckoned smart enough to be entitled to serve +the United States as officers. I can't feel, Dick, that we of +Annapolis, get a square deal." + +"It doesn't sound like it," Prescott, after a moment, admitted. +"Still, you can do nothing about it. And you knew the game when +you went to Annapolis." + +"Yes, I knew all this four years ago," Darrin admitted. "Still, +the four years haven't made the deal look any more fair than it +did four years ago. However, Dick, hang all kickers and sea-lawyers! +Isn't it grand, anyway, to feel that you're in your country's +uniform, and that all your active life is to be spent under the +good old flag---always working for it, fighting for it if need be!" + +"Then you still love the service?" asked Dick, turning glowing eyes +upon his Annapolis chum. + +"Love it?" cried Dave. "The word isn't strong enough!" + +"Are you engaged, old fellow?" asked Greg of Dan Dalzell. + +"Kind of half way," grinned Dan. "That is, I'm willing, but the +girl can't seem to make up her mind. And you?" + +"I've been engaged nine times in all," sighed Greg. Yet each and +every one of the girls soon felt impelled to ask me to call it off." + +"Any show just at present?" persisted Dalzell. + +"Why, strange to say," laughed Greg, "I'm fancy free at the present +moment." + +"How did the old affair ever come out between Dick and Laura Bentley?" +asked Dan curiously. + +"Why, the strange part of it is, I don't believe there ever has been +any formal affair between Dick and Laura," Greg went on. "That is, +no real understanding between them. And now-----" + +"Yes?" urged Dan. + +"A merchant over in Gridley, a rather decent chap, too, has been +making up to Laura pretty briskly, I hear by way of home news," +Greg continued. + +"Does the yardstick general win out?" demanded Dan. + +"From all the news, I'm half afraid he does." + +"How does Dick take that?" Dan was eager to know. + +"I can't tell you," Greg responded solemnly, "for I have never +ventured on that topic with old ramrod. But if he loses out with +Laura, I feel it in my bones that he'll take it mighty hard." + +"Poor old Dick!" sighed Dan, loyal to the old days. "Somehow, +I can't quite get it through my head that it's at all right for +anyone to withhold from Dick Prescott anything he really wants." + +Greg sighed too. + +"Any idea what arm of the service you're going to choose?" asked +Dan presently. + +"I believe I'll do better to wait and see what my class standing +is at graduation," laughed Greg. "That is the thing that settles +how much choice I'm to have in the matter of arm of the service." + +"Any liking for heavy artillery?" asked Dan. + +"Not a whit. Cavalry or infantry for mine." + +"Not the engineers?" + +"Only the honor men of the class can get into the engineers," +grunted Greg. "Neither Dick nor I stand any show to be honor +men. We feel lucky enough to get through the course and graduate +at all." + +Dick and Dave, too, were talking earnestly about the future, though +now and then a word was dropped about the good old past, as described +in the _High School Boys' Series_. + +Ten minutes before the train time two chums in Army gray and two +in Navy blue reached the platform of the railway station. The +other middies were there ahead of them. In the time that was +left Dick and Greg were hastily introduced to the other middies. +A few jolly words there were, but the other members of the Army +nine and still other cadets were on hand, and so the talk was +general. + +Amid noisy, heartfelt cheering the middy delegation climbed aboard +the incoming train. Amid more cheers their train bore them away +and then some sixty West Point cadets climbed the long, steep road, +next hastening on to be in time for supper formation. + +For the members of the first class West Point athletics had now +become a matter of history only! + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A CLOUD ON DICK'S HORIZON + + +Final exams. were passed! Not a member of the first class had +"fessed" himself down and out, so all were to be graduated. + +The Board of Visitors---a committee of United States Senators and +Representatives appointed by the President from among the members +of the National Congress, arrived. + +A detachment of cavalry and another of field artillery, both from +the Regular Army, rode to the railway station to aid in the reception +of the Board. + +Also the entire Corps of Cadets, two battalions of them, in spick +and span full-dress uniform, and with all metal accoutrements +glistening, in the sun, stood drawn up as the visitors were escorted +to their carriages by waiting Army officers. + +Now, the imposing procession started up the steep slope, at a little +past mid-afternoon. + +Just as the head of the line reached the flat plain above, most +of the members of the Board of Visitors felt tempted to clap their +hands to their ears. For a second detachment of artillery, waiting +on the plain, now thundered forth the official artillery salute to +the visitors. + +One of these visitors, a member of the national House of +Representatives, who had served with distinction in the Civil War, +having then risen to the grade of major general of volunteers, +looked out over the plain, then at the stalwart cadets behind, +with moist eyes. He had been a cadet here in the late fifties. +He was now too old to fight, but all the ardor of the soldier +still burned in his veins! + +Yet only a moment did the line of carriages pause at the plain. +Then the members of the Board were carried on to the West Point +Hotel, where the best quarters had been reserved for such as were +not to be personal guests of officers on the post. + +During the brief wait at the station, Cadet Captain Prescott, +standing before the company that he had commanded during this +year, caught a brief glimpse of a familiar figure---his mother. +By chance Mrs. Prescott had journeyed to West Point on the same +train. + +Yet not a chance did Dick get for a word with his mother until +long after. He was almost frenzied with eagerness for word of +Laura, and this his mother would have, in some form, but he must +wait until all the duties of the day had been performed and leisure +had come to him. + +Mrs. Prescott, on catching sight of her boy, felt a sudden, exultant +throb in her mother heart. Then she stepped quickly back, fearful +of attracting her lad's attention at a moment when he must give his +whole thought to his soldier duties. + +"My noble, manly boy!" thought the mother, with moistening eyes. +"I wonder if I do wrong to think him the noblest of them all?" + +Dick had caught that one swift glance, but did not again see his +mother, for his eyes were straight ahead. + +When the time came for his particular company to wheel and swing +into the now moving line of gray, Mrs. Prescott heard his measured, +manly voice: "Fours left---march!" + +When the last company of cadets had fallen into line, Mrs. Prescott +was one of the two dozen or so civilians who fell in at some distance +to the rear, climbing the slope behind the moving line of gray. +Wholly absorbed in the corps, Dick's mother had forgotten to +board the stage that would have carried her to the hotel. + +After the visitors had been left at the hotel, the corps marched +away. Barely half an hour later, however, the two battalions +again marched on to the plain. Then the most fascinating, the +most inspiring of all military ceremonies was gone through with +by the best body of soldiery in the world. The cadets of the +United States Military Academy went through all the solemnity +of dress parade. It is a sight which, once seen at West Point, +can never be forgotten by a lover of his flag. + +One bespectacled young spectator there was who found his breath +coming in quick, sharp gasps as he looked on at this magnificent +display. He was tall, yet with a slight stoop in his shoulders. +His face was covered with a bushy, sandy beard. He was neither +particularly well nor very badly dressed, and would have attracted +little attention in any crowd. + +Yet this stranger was not looking on a new sight. For nearly four +years it had been as the breath of life to him. + +Stoop-shouldered as a matter of disguise, and with beard and +spectacles adding to his security from recognition, this slouching +young man bent most of his gaze upon the stalwart, erect figure of +Cadet Captain Prescott. + +"You drove me out of here! You cheated me of all the glory of +this career, Prescott! Have you been fool enough to think that +I'd forget---that I could forget? You are close to your diploma, +now---but before that moment arrives I shall find the way to spoil +your chances of a career in the Army. And I can get away again +without anyone recognizing in me the man who was once known as +Cadet Jordan, of the first class!" + +Yes; it was Jordan, back at West Point, sure of escaping recognition, +and bent on a desperate errand of wrecking Dick Prescott's promising +career. + +But Dick performed all his duties through that dress parade conscious +only of the glory of the soldier's life. He thought he had caught +a fleeting glimpse of his mother once, in the crowd, as his company +executed a wheeling, and he was happy in what he knew her happiness +to be. + +Then, when it was all over, and the corps again marched from the +field, Mrs. Prescott, who knew the ways of West Point, went and +stood at the edge of the grassy plain, nearly opposite the north +sally-port. Five minutes after the last of the corps had marched +in under the port, Dick, his dress uniform changed for the fatigue, +came out with bounding step and crossed the road. + +Wholly unashamed, he passed his arms around his mother, gave her +a big hug, several kisses, and then, hat in hand, turned to stroll +with her under the trees. + +"Dad couldn't come, I'm afraid?" Dick asked in disappointment. + +"He had to stay and look after the store, you know, Dick, my boy. +But the store will be closed two days this week, for your father +is coming on here to see you graduate. Nothing could keep him +away from that." + +"And how is everyone at home? How is Laura?" Dick asked eagerly. + +"She will be here in time for the graduation hop," replied Mrs. +Prescott. "She told me she had seen you so far through your West +Point life, that she would feel uneasy over not being here to +see the last move of all. Dick, do you mind your mother asking +you a question? You used to care especially for Laura Bentley, +did you not?" + +"Why, mother?" asked Prescott with a sudden sinking at heart. + +Lounging against the other side of a tree that Prescott and his +mother were passing, the disguised Jordan was close enough to hear. + +What he heard seemed to deepen the scowl of hatred on his face; +but mother and son were soon out of ear shot, and the miserable +Jordan slunk away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CADET PRESCOTT COMMANDS AT SQUADRON DRILL + + +The Military Academy found itself in a whirling round of recitations +and drills, arranged for the delight of the Board of Visitors. + +There were other hundreds of spectators at first, and thousands +later, to see all that was going on, for there are hosts of citizens +who know what inspiring sights are to be found at West Point in +Graduation Week. + +"Mr. Prescott is directed to report at the office of the commandant +of cadets." + +This order was borne by a soldier orderly immediately after breakfast +on the day before graduation. + +"Mr. Prescott," said the commandant, when the tall, soldierly looking +cadet knocked, entered and saluted, "you will take command at the +cavalry squadron drill, which takes place at three this afternoon." + +Dick's heart bounded with pleasure. It was an honor that could +come to but one man in the first class, and he was greatly delighted +that it should have fallen to him. + +"Mr. Holmes will command the first troop, and Mr. Anstey the second," +continued the commandant of cadets, who then rattled off the names +of the cadets who would act as subalterns in the squadron. + +It was a splendid detail, that of commanding the squadron in the +cavalry drill---splendid because it is one of the most picturesque +events of the week, and also because it calls for judgment and high +ability to command. + +"I must be sure to get word to mother; she mustn't miss a sight +that will delight her so greatly," murmured Dick, as he hastened +away to notify Greg and Anstey. + +This done, he hastened off to other duties, though not without +yielding much thought to the belief that Laura Bentley would be +here this afternoon, since she was pledged to go with him to the +graduation ball in the evening. + +"Mother can be sure to see Laura, and they can see the squadron +drill together," ran through Prescott's mind. + +A splendid, swift bit of pontoon bridge building had been shown +the visitors on the day before; one battalion had given a lively +glimpse of tent pitching in perfect alignment as to company streets, +and in record time. + +In the forenoon, there was to be a lively battery drill, to be +followed by a dizzying demonstration of the speed at which machine +guns may be moved, placed in position and fired so fast that there +is a hail of projectiles. + +For this afternoon, the cavalry drill in squadron, and after that, +infantry drill that would include a picture of infantry on the +firing line. After that, the last dress parade in which the present +first classmen would ever take part as cadets. + +Oh, it was a stirring picture, full of all the dash, the precision +and glamour of the soldier's life! The pity of it all was that +every red-blooded American boy could not be there to see it all. + +Just before three o'clock every man of the first class turned out +through the north sallyport in the full equipment of a cavalryman. +Here they halted before barracks. + +Dick caught sight of four figures standing hardly more than across +the road. A swift glance at the time, and Prescott stepped over +the road. + +"Good afternoon, mother. Good afternoon, Mrs. Bentley. And Laura +and Belle---oh, how delighted I am to see you both here!" + +Genuine joy shone in this manly cadet's eyes; none could mistake +that. + +"You did not know that Greg had invited me to the graduation ball, +did you?" asked Belle Meade. + +"I did not," Dick answered truthfully. "Yet I guessed it as soon +as I saw you here. And you have been at the Annapolis graduation, +too?" + +"Why, of course!" exclaimed Belle, almost in astonishment. "And +Laura went with me. That's something else you didn't know, Dick." + +"I've been through the course at West Point," laughed the cadet, +"and by this time I am not astonished at the number of things that +I don't know." + +"Dave and Dan said they had seen you only a few days ago, but +they sent their love again," rattled on Miss Meade. "But I'm +taking up all of the talk, and I know you're dying to talk to +Laura." + +Belle accompanied her words with a little gesture of one hand that +displayed the flash of a small solitaire diamond set in a band of +gold on the third finger of the left hand. + +Dick did not need inquire. He knew that Dave Darrin had placed +that ring where it now flashed. + +Just then Greg came through the sally-port. In an instant he +bounded across the road. He immediately took it upon himself +to talk with Belle, and Dick turned to Laura with flushed face +and wistful eyes. + +In the first instant Miss Bentley flushed; then a sudden pallor +succeeded the flush. Dick, taking her dear face as his barometer, +felt a sudden indescribable sinking of his heart. + +They exchanged a few words, then----- + +Ta-ra-ta-ra-ta-ra-ta! + +It was the bugle calling the assembly. + +Swiftly Greg sprang across the road to form his troop, while Anstey +formed the other. + +Both acting troop leaders turned to report to Dick that their +respective troops were formed. + +Then Prescott, for the last time as a cadet, marched the class +across the plain at swift, rhythmic tread, to where the veteran +cavalry horses stood saddled and tethered. + +Reaching the cavalry instructor, Prescott halted, saluted, and +reported his command. + +"Stand to horse!" ordered the instructor briskly. There was a +dash; in another instant each cadet stood by the head of his selected +mount. + +"Prepare to mount!" + +Each cadet seized mane and bridle, also thrusting his left foot +into stirrup box. + +"Mount!" + +Like so many figures operated by machinery, the first classmen rose, +throwing right legs over saddles, then settling down in the seat. +Then, all in a twinkling, the ranks reformed. + +"Mr. Prescott, take command of the squadron, sir!" rang the +instructor's voice. + +Dick thrilled with pleasure as he received the command with a salute. +He had not looked, but he knew that those dearest to him were in +the crowd beyond, looking on. + +"Draw sabre!" sounded Dick's not loud but clean-cut order. + +Greg and Anstey repeated the order in turn. Instantly all down +the strong line naked steel leaped forth. The sabres sprang to +the "carry," and the superb picture breathed of military might. + +Cadet Captain Dick Prescott, well in advance, sat facing his squadron; +he throbbed with a soldier's ardor at the beauty of the scene. + +"Fours right!" he shouted. + +"Fours right! Fours right!" sounded in the differing tones of +Greg and Anstey. + +"March!" + +"March! March!" + +Into a long column of fours, to the tune of jingling accoutrements, +the squadron swung. Prescott wheeled about and rode forward at a +walk. In the same instant, the bugler, a musician belonging to the +Regular Army, trotted forward, then slowed down to a walk close to +the young squadron commander. From that time on, all the commands +were to be given by the bugle. + +"Trot! March!" traveled on clear, musical notes, and the long +line of young horsemen moved forward at a faster gait. There +was none of the bumping up and down in saddle that disfigures +the riding taught in most riding schools. These gray-clad young +centaurs rode as though parts of their animals. + +Straight past the canvas shelter that had been erected for the +superintendent, the Board of Visitors and their ladies, swung +the four platoons in magnificent order and rhythm. + +Then, on the return, the young cavalrymen swept, at a gallop, +by platoons, in echelon and by column of squads. This done, the +cadets rode forward, baiting in line before the reviewers. Here +the senior cavalry instructor rode in front and gave the command: + +"Present---sabres!" + +The salute to the superintendent and his guests was given with +magnificent precision. + +"Continue the drill, Mr. Prescott!" rang the senior instructor's +voice. + +Once more the line of gray and steel swept over the plain. Now, +the evolutions were those of the field in war time. The charge +brought cheers from a thousand throats, and a great fluttering +of handkerchiefs. + +Then, while three platoons halted, remaining motionless in saddle, +the fourth platoon, after starting at the gallop, sheathed sabres +and drew pistols. + +Crack! crack! Crack! crack! It was merely mimic war, with +blank ammunition, but not an onlooker escaped the impression of +how much death and destruction such a line of charging, firing +men might carry before them. + +Now the whole squadron was in motion once more. At the sharp, +clear order of the bugle the line halted. At the next peal one +man in every four stood at the heads of four horses, while the +other three of each four ran quickly forward, in fine though open +formation. + +"Halt! Kneel! Ready! Aim! At will---_fire_!" + +Here was battle, real enough in everything but the fatalities. +Each man on the firing line fired rapidly, several shots to the +minute, though real aim was taken every time the bolt was shot +forward and before the trigger was pulled. Tiny, almost invisible +puffs of smoke issued from the carbine muzzles. Next, an orderly +spirited, swift retreat in the face of an imaginary enemy, was +made to the horses, which were mounted like a flash, and spurred +away. Some horses carried double, for some of the cadets lay +limp and useless, impersonating men wounded by the pursuing enemy. +It was all so stirring, so grand, that the plain rang with cheers. + +In an hour the drill was over, and the young cavalrymen stood +under the showers or disported in the pool. Only for a few minutes, +however. The infantry drill followed swiftly, after which these +same men must swiftly be immaculate in white ducks and the handsome +gray full-dress jackets. + +Then followed dress parade, after which came supper, and the first +classmen at West Point were through with the last day of full duty +in gray! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A WEST POINTER'S LOVE AFFAIR + + +With beating heart Dick Prescott presented himself at the hotel +that evening, and sent up his card to Mrs. Bentley and the girls. +Greg was with his chum, of course, but Greg was not in a flutter. +He was to escort Belle Meade---an arrangement of chumship, for +Belle wore the engagement ring of Dave Darrin, one of Greg's old +High School chums. + +For Dick, this was the night to which he had looked forward during +four years. To-night he felt sure of his career; he was to be +graduated into the Army, with a position in life fine enough for +Laura to grace with him. + +It was on this night, that he had determined to find out whether +her heart beat for him, or whether it had already been captured +by young Mr. Cameron back in the home town. + +"And very likely she wouldn't think of having either of us," smiled +Dick to himself. "It's easy enough for a girl to be a fellow's +friend, but when it comes to selecting a husband she is quite +likely to be more particular." + +It was just after dark as the two young couples sauntered away from +the hotel on their way to Cullum Hall. + +"You young men are now sure of your Army careers," remarked Belle, +as the four strolled down the road. + +"As absolutely sure as one can ever be of anything," Dick responded. +"Yes, I feel positive that I am now to be an officer in the Army." + +"While poor Dave has just started on a two-year cruise, and must +then come back for another examination before he is sure of his +commission," sighed Belle. + +"The middies don't get a square deal," said Dick regretfully. +"When Darrin and Dalzell were graduated, the other day, they +should have been commissioned as ensigns before they were ordered +to sea. Some day Congress and the people will see the injustice +of it all, and the unfairness will be remedied." + +How could Prescott possibly know that his commission in the Army +was not yet sure? + +That same sandy-bearded, bespectacled and stoop-shouldered ex-cadet +Jordan was even now eyeing Dick from a little distance. + +"Humph! Prescott feels mighty big at this moment!" growled the +young scoundrel. "I wonder how he'll be feeling at midnight, +down in cadet hospital, when the surgeons tell him he has no chance +of ever being a sound man again? Confound him! I could almost +find it in my heart to kill the fellow, instead of merely maiming +him. But maiming will be the keener revenge. All his life hereafter +Prescott will be thinking what might have been if he hadn't met +me this night! Shall I leap on him when he's coming back from +the hotel, after the graduation ball? No; for he'd have Holmes +with him then. I'll send in word and call him out from the ball, +with a message that an old schoolmate wants to see him on something +most urgent. I'll have Prescott to myself, and all I need is +a few seconds. I'm half as powerful again as Prescott is!" + +Jordan was not at all lacking in a certain type of ferocious brute +courage. As he had just boasted to himself, he was powerful enough +to be able to overpower Dick in a hand-to-hand conflict, yet the +scoundrel meant to attack Prescott unawares, without giving the +latter a chance to defend himself. + +Then, too, the sight of Laura, looking sweeter and more beautiful +than she had ever appeared in her life, goaded Jordan on to greater +fury. + +"That is the very girl I had planned to cut Prescott out with, +after he had been kicked from the service, and I was still in +the uniform. But it fell out the other way about," gritted Jordan. +"Prescott wears the uniform, and I've been dishonorably dropped +from the rolls! Prescott, I've a double score to settle with you +to-night!" + +But of all this, of course, Prescott was wholly unaware. + +"How much time have we to spare?" queried Dick, then glancing +at his watch. "Ten minutes. Laura, will you stroll around the +Hall with me and look down over the cliff at the noble old Hudson! +This will be one of my last glimpses as a cadet." + +Laura assented. Greg was about to follow, when Belle Meade drew +him back. + +"Take me inside," she urged. "I am eager to see the decorations." + +"But Dick and Laura?" queried Greg. + +"They're of age and can take care of themselves," smiled Miss +Meade. + +Dick Prescott's heart was beating, now, like a trip-hammer. Even +the next day's graduation, and the entrance into the Army looked +insignificant to him compared with the question of his fate that +was now seething in his brain and which he must now have settled. + +Two or three times he opened his lips to speak, then closed them, +as the two young people stood glancing down at the river through +the darkness. + +"Aren't you unusually silent, Dick?" asked Laura. + +"Perhaps so," he assented in a low voice. "I'm scared." + +"Scared!" + +"Yes; scared cold. I never knew such a fright in my life before." + +"Why, what-----" + +"Laura, I reckon the brief, direct way of the soldier will be best. +Laura, ever since we were in High School together I have loved you. +Through all the years that have followed, that love has never +slumbered for an instant. It has grown stronger with every passing \ +week. I-----" + +With a little cry Laura Bentley drew back. + +"I'm going right through to the end," cried Dick desperately. "Then +you can throw cold water over me---if you must. Laura, I love you, +and that love is nearly all of my life! I ask you to become a +soldier's bride---mine!" + +"And---and---is that what has scared you?" asked Laura in a very +low voice. + +"Yes!" + +"What a pitiful coward you are, then, to be a candidate for a +commission in the Army," laughed Laura Bentley softly. + +"But you---you haven't answered me." + +"Why, Dick, I've never had another thought, in six years, than that +I loved you!" + +"Laura! You love me?" + +"Why, of course, Dick. What has ailed your eyes and your reasoning +powers?" + +With a glad cry, Prescott gathered his betrothed in his arms, +claiming a lover's privilege. + +Then out of an inner pocket he drew a little box, drew out a circlet +of gold in which a solitaire glistened, and slipped the ring over +the finger set apart for the purpose of wearing such pledges. + +"And how soon, Laura---sweetheart?" he demanded eagerly. + +"Now, as to that, you must act like a creature of reason," Laura +laughingly insisted. "You are not yet in the Army. At first, +after you do receive your commission, you must be saving and careful. +It needs furniture and all those things, you see, Dick, dearest, +to form the background of a home. We must wait a little while---but +what sweet waiting it will be!" + +"Won't it, though!" demanded Dick with fervor. "Laura, it seems +to me that I must be dreaming. I can scarcely realize my great +good fortune." + +"Nor can I," replied Laura softly. "You have always been my boy +knight, Dick." + +As they stepped inside and approached their nearest friends, Belle +murmured in Greg's ear: + +"Look at the electric glow that comes from the third finger of +Laura's left hand. Now, do you comprehend, booby, what a fatal +mistake you would have made, had I allowed you to tag them around +to the cliff?" + +"Well, I'm jiggered!" gasped Cadet Holmes. "Which means that +I'm petrified with delight." + +"Get practical, then," chided Belle. "Take me forward to them, +and we'll have the happiness of being the first to congratulate +the newest arrivals in paradise!" + +Two minutes later, the leader of the orchestra swung his baton. +As the music pealed forth, Dick Prescott knew, for the first +time in his life, the full meaning of the dance in Cullum Hall. + +There were many other newly betrothed couples on the floor that +happy night of the graduation ball. The air was fragrant with +flowers, but there was more---the atmosphere of new-found happiness +on all sides. + +Outside, in the shadow of the moonless night, a stoop-shouldered +figure prowled in the near vicinity of Cullum Hall. This was +Jordan, intent on guessing when would be the most favorable moment +for sending in the message that should call Prescott out to his +doom. + +One of the watchmen, a soldier, in the quartermaster's department, +belted, and with a revolver hanging therefrom in its holster, +passed by and noted Jordan. + +"Are you waiting for anyone, sir?" asked the watchman, halting +a moment, though only in mild curiosity. + +"I'm going to send a message in, after the music stops, for my +cousin," replied Jordan, who knew that he must give some account +of himself. + +"Your cousin? A cadet?" asked the watchman. + +"Oh, yes. Mr. Atterbury, of the first class," responded Jordan, +giving the name of his former roommate at a venture. + +"Very good, sir," replied the watchman, and passed on. + +Mr. Atterbury, however, at that very moment, chanced to be standing +on the further side of a tree not far distant, and with him were +two other first classmen. + +"Who is that fellow?" queried Atterbury in a low whisper. "I've +seen him around here before this, and his voice sounds mighty +familiar." + +The passing watchman heard the question, so he answered: "He says +he is your cousin, sir!" + +"He is not my cousin," replied Atterbury with strange sternness. +"And, since the fellow is here in disguise, it ought to be our +business to ask him some questions. Come on, fellows!" + +Atterbury strode out of the shadow, followed just a second later +by "Durry" and "Doug." + +The prowler's first instinct was to run, but he dare not; that +would proclaim guilt. + +"See here, sir," demanded Atterbury, striding straight up to the +stoop-shouldered, bewhiskered one, "your name is Jordan, isn't it?" + +"No!" lied the wretch, in a voice that he strove to disguise. + +"Yes, it is," insisted Atterbury. "Rooming with you nearly four +years, I can't be fooled with any suddenly pickled voice. Jordan, +what are you doing here in disguise?" + +"I don't know that my presence here is any of your business," +growled the ex-cadet. + +"Yes; it is," insisted Atterbury. "And you'll give us an account, +too, or we'll lay hold of you and turn you over to some one official." + +At that threat Jordan turned to bolt. As he did so, three cadets +sprang after him. At the third or fourth bound they had hold of +him and bore him, fighting, to the earth. + +Even now Jordan used his splendid physique and strength in a +determined, bitter struggle. + +But "Durry" helped turn the fellow over, face down, and then all +three sat on their catch. + +"Doug," however, felt something hard. Leaping up, he made a quick +search, then drew from Jordan's hip pocket a length of lead pipe +wrapped in red flannel. + +"Ye gods of war," gasped Douglass, "what sort of weapon is this +for a former gentleman to carry?" + +"Let me up," pleaded Jordan, "and I'll make a quick hike!" + +"Don't you let him up, fellows," warned Douglass. "Now, whom +did Jordan seek with an implement like this? There could be but +one of our men---Prescott." + +"Have you anything to say, Jordan?" demanded Atterbury. + +"Not a blessed word," growled Jordan, no longer attempting to +disguise his voice. + +"Then we have," returned "Doug." + +"But you two fellows hold him until I come back." + +Douglass ran over to the cliff, then, with a mighty throw, hurled +the bar of lead out into the Hudson, far below. Then he darted +back. + +"Now, fellows," muttered Douglass in a low voice, "I'd like mighty +well to turn this scoundrel over. But we don't want to put such +a foul besmirchment on the class name, if we can avoid it, the +night before graduation. Jordan, if we let you go, will you hike, +and never stop hiking until you're miles and miles away from West +Point?" + +"Yes; on my honor," protested the other eagerly. + +"On your---bosh!" retorted "Doug" impatiently. "Don't spring such +strange oaths on us, fellow. Let him." + +"Now, Jordan, start moving, and keep it up!" Then the trio, after +watching the rascal out of sight, went inside, and Douglass, at +the first opportunity, warned Dick of what had happened outside in +the summer darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + + +The graduating exercises at West Point had finished. The Secretary +of War, in the presence of the superintendent, the commandant +and the members of the faculty of the United States Military Academy, +flanked by the Board of Visitors, had handed his diploma to the +last man, the cadet at the foot of the graduating class, Mr. Atterbury. + +Dick had graduated as number thirty-four; Greg as thirty-seven. +Either might have chosen the cavalry, or possibly the artillery +arm of the service, but both had already expressed a preference +for the infantry arm. + +"The 'doughboys' (infantry) are always the fellows who see the +hardest of the fighting in war time," was the way Dick put it. + +Now the superintendent made a few closing remarks. These finished, +the band blared out with a triumphal march, to the first notes +of which the first class rose and marched out, amid cheers and +hand-clapping, to be followed by the other classes. + +Five minutes later the young graduates were laying aside the gray +uniform for good and all. Cit. clothes now went on, and each +grad. surveyed himself with some wonder in attire which was so +unfamiliar. + +Out in the quadrangle, for the last time, the grads. met. There, +too, were the members of the classes remaining, but these latter +were still in the cadet gray, and would be until the close of their +own grad. days. + +Hurried good-byes were said. Warm handclasps sounded on all sides. +Few words were said, but there were many wet eyes. + +Then some of the grads. raced for the station to board the next +city-bound train. + +Greg remained behind with Dick. After quitting the quadrangle, +they bent swift steps toward the hotel, where awaited Mrs. Prescott, +Mrs. Bentley, Laura and Belle. + +Something else waited, too---a carriage, or rather, a small bus, for +Dick and Greg were no longer cadets and might ride over the post +in a carriage if they chose. + +"It was beautifully impressive, dear," whispered Laura, referring +to the graduating exercises. + +"But, thank goodness, it's over, and I have my diploma in this +suit case," murmured Dick grimly. "No more fearful grind, such +as we've been going through for more than four years. No more +tortured doubts as to whether we'll ever grad. and get our commissions +in the Army. That is settled, now. And think, Laura, if I hear +a bugle in the city to-morrow morning, I can simply turn over +and take another nap." + +"You lazy boy!" laughed Laura half chidingly. + +"You spend four years and three months here, and see if you don't +feel the same way about it," smiled Dick. "But I love every gray +stone in these grand old buildings, just the same. West Point +shall be ever dear in my memory!" + +Greg's mother now came out and joined the ladies on the porch. +A moment or two later Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes stepped out +and grasped their sons' hands. + +"We haven't a heap of time left if we want to catch the down-river +steamboat," suggested Dick, with a glance at his watch. + +So this happy little home party entered the bus, and the drive +to the dock began. + +They passed scores of cadets, who carefully saluted these grads. + +Everyone in the party knew of the betrothal of Dick and Laura. +Greg had had to stand a good deal of good-natured chaffing from +his parents because he had not fared as well. + +"The next girl I get engaged to," sighed Greg, "I'm going to insist +on marrying instantly. Then there'll be no danger of losing her." + +At the dock, Anstey, Durville, Douglass and other grads. waited, +though the majority of the members of the late first class were +already speeding to New York on a train that had started a few +minutes earlier. + +"I couldn't bear to go down by train, suh," explained Anstey +in a very low voice. "I want to stand at the stern of the steamer, +and see West Point's landmarks fade and vanish one by one. And +I don't reckon, suh, that I shall want anyone to talk to me while +I'm looking back from the stern of the boat." + +"Same here," observed Greg, with what was, for him, a considerable +display of feeling. + +Then the boat swept in, and the West Point party went silently +aboard. All made their way to the stern on the saloon deck. + +That evening the class was to meet, for the last time as a whole, +at one of the theaters in New York. And the late cadets would +sit together, solidly, as a class. + +Friends of graduates who wished would attend the theater, though +in seats away from the class. + +Dick and Greg's relatives and friends were all to attend. More, +they were to stop at the same hotel. The next forenoon the ladies +would attend to some shopping. Then the reunited party would +journey back to Gridley. + +A dozen or so West Point graduates stood at the stern of the swift +river steamer. The captain of the craft, a veteran in the river +service, knew something of how these young men just out of the +gray felt. For the first five miles down the river the swift +craft went at half speed. Then, suddenly, full speed ahead was +rung on the engine-room bell, and the craft went on under greatly +increased headway. + +"Well, gentlemen," murmured Anstey, moving around and walking +slowly forward, "the United States Military Academy is the grandest +alma mater that a fellow could possibly have. I'm glad to be +through, glad to be away from West Point, but I shall journey +reverently back there any time when I have any leisure in this +bright part of the good old world." + +How sweet the joys of the great metropolis! Yet these joys would +have palled had our travelers remained there too long. The following +afternoon they were again journeying toward what is, after all, +the one real spot on earth---home! + +Gridley well-nigh went wild over its returning West Pointers---though +now West Pointers no longer. + +One of Dick Prescott's first tasks was to go proudly to Dr. Bentley, +to state that he had had the wonderful good fortune to win Laura's +heart, and to ask whether her father had any objection. + +"Objection, Dick?" beamed the good old physician. "Why, lad, for +years I've been hoping---yes, praying that you and Laura would +have this good fortune. Wherever you may be stationed in the world, +you'll let our daughter come back to us once in a while, I hope." + +Dick solemnly promised, whereat Dr. Bentley smiled. + +"That's all nonsense, Dick," laughed Laura's father. "I know, +in my own heart, that you're going to be as good a son to mother +and me as you have been to your own parents. God bless you both!" + +A new lot of High School boys Dick and Greg found in Gridley, +but the new crop seemed to be fully as promising as any that Dick +and Greg could remember in their own old High School days when +Dick & Co. had flourished. + +A fortnight, altogether, Dick and Greg enjoyed in the good old home +town, hallowed to them by so many memories. + +Then one morning each received a bulky official envelope bearing +the imprint of the War Department at Washington. + +How their eyes glistened, then moistened, as each young West Point +grad. drew out of the envelope the parchment on which was written +his commission as a second lieutenant of United States infantry. + +More, their request had been granted. They had been assigned +to the same regiment---the forty-fourth. + +Their instructions called for them to start within forty-eight +hours, and to wire acknowledgment of orders to Washington. + +The Forty-fourth United States Infantry was at that time in the far +West, in a country that at times teemed with adventure for Uncle +Sam's soldiers. + +Here we must take leave of Lieutenant Dick Prescott and of Lieutenant +Greg Holmes, United States Army, for their cadet days are over +and gone. + +Readers, however, who wish to meet these sterling young Americans +again, and who would also like to renew acquaintance with two +former members of Dick & Co., Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, will +be able to do so in Volume Number Five of the _Young Engineers' +Series_, entitled: "_The Young Engineers On The Gulf_." + +In this very interesting volume the young engineers and the young +Army officers will be found to have some very startling adventures +together. + +Readers will also be able to learn more of the careers of Dick +Prescott and Greg Holmes, as Army officers, in the "_Boys Of The +Army Series_." Some of their campaigns will be described very +fully, for these splendid young officers served as officers and +instructors of the "_Boys of the Army_." + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West +Point, by H. Irving Hancock + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12807 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e5615d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12807 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12807) diff --git a/old/12807.txt b/old/12807.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59f2c83 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12807.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7307 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West Point +by H. Irving Hancock + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West Point + Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps + +Author: H. Irving Hancock + +Release Date: July 3, 2004 [EBook #12807] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT *** + + + + +Produced by Jim Ludwig + + + + + +DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT +or +Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps + + +By H. Irving Hancock + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTERS + I. Dick Reports a Brother Cadet + II. Jordan Reaches Out for Revenge + III. Catching a Man for Breach of "Con." + IV. The Class Committee Calls + V. The Cadet "Silence" Falls + VI. Trying to Explain to the Girls + VII. Jordan Meets Disaster + VIII. Fate Serves Dick Her Meanest Trick + IX. The Class Takes Final Action + X. Lieutenant Denton's Straight Talk + XI. The News from Franklin Field + XII. Ready to Break the Camel's Back + XIII. The Figures in the Dark + XIV. The Story Carried on the Wind + XV. The Class Meeting "Sizzles" + XVI. Finding the Baseball Gait + XVII. Ready for the Army-Navy Game +XVIII. Dan Dalzell's Crabtown Grin + XIX. When the Army Fans Winced + XX. The Vivid Finish of the Game + XXI. A Cloud on Dick's Horizon + XXII. Cadet Prescott Commands at Squadron Drill +XXIII. A West Pointer's Love Affair + XXIV. Conclusion + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DICK REPORTS A BROTHER CADET + + +"Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge. + +Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched, +and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop. + +This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classes +in the United States Military Academy, was out on this August +forenoon for instruction in actual military engineering. + +The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, was +to lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, +this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing, +in theory, an unfordable river. + +"Mr. Prescott!" + +Cadet Richard Prescott, now a first classman, and captain of one +of the six cadet companies, stepped forward, saluting. + +"You will build the bridge today, Mr. Prescott, continued the +instructor, Lieutenant Armstrong, Corps of Engineers, United States +Army. + +"Very good, sir," replied Dick. + +With a second salute, which was returned, Prescott turned to divide +his command rapidly into smaller detachments. + +It was work over which not a moment of time could be lost. All +must be done with the greatest possible despatch, and a real bridge +was called for---not a toy affair or a half-way experiment. + +"Mr. Holmes," directed Prescott, "you will take charge of the +boats. Mr. Jordan, take charge of the balk carriers!" + +A balk is a heavy timber, used, in this case, in the construction +of the pontoon. + +Cadet Jordan, one of the biggest men, physically, in the first +class, scowled as he received this order for what was especially +arduous duty. + +"That's mean of you, Prescott," glowered Jordan. + +"If you have any complaints to make, sir, make them to the instructor," +return Cadet Captain Prescott, after a swift, astonished look at +his classmate. + +"You know I can't do that," muttered Cadet Jordan. "But you-----" + +"Silence, sir, and attend to your duty!" + +Then, raising his voice to one of general command, Prescott called: + +"Construct the bridge!" + +Jordan fell back, with a surly face and a muttered imprecation, to +take command of the squad of yearlings, or third classman who must +serve in carrying the heavy balks. + +In the meantime Dick's roommate, Greg Holmes, had hurried his +squad away to the flat-bottomed, square-ended pontoon boats, placing +his crews therein. + +Almost instantly, it seemed, Greg had placed the first boat in +position. + +"Lay the balks!" ordered Dick Prescott. + +Cadet Jordan moved forward with some of his yearlings, who carried +the heavy balks, or flooring timbers, on their shoulders. It was +hot, hard work---"thankless," as the young men often termed it in +private. + +These balks were laid across the first pontoon. + +As quickly as the balks had been laid the detachment of lashers were +at work securing the balks in place. + +"Shove off!" + +The first was floated to the mooring stakes and a second boat +was moved into position. + +"Chess!" + +Another column of yearlings moved forward, each with a heavy plank +on his shoulder. It was heavy, hot, hard and dirty work. Outsiders +who imagine that the Military Academy is engaged in turning out +"uniformed dudes" should see this work done by the cadets. + +Almost with the speed of magic the planks were laid in an orderly +manner forming a secure flooring over the balks. + +The second boat was anchored, and then a third, a fourth. As the +bridge grew Cadet Prescott walked out on the flooring that he +might be at the best point for directing the efforts. + +As the fifth boat reached its position, Dick turned to see that +all was going well. + +The yearlings, whose duty it was to carry the balks---"balk-chasers," +they were termed unofficially---were standing idle, though alert. +They could not move until Mr. Jordan, of the first class, gave the +order. + +And Jordan? With one hand hanging at his side, the other resting +against the small of his back, he stood gazing absently out over +the Hudson. + +"Mr. Jordan!" called Dick, hastening back over the planking. + +"Sir!" answered the surly cadet, facing him. + +"Hurry up the balks, if you please, sir." + +With a scowl, Jordan turned slowly toward the waiting yearlings. + +"Lay hold!" commanded Jordan, and, though it was hard work, the +yearlings responded willingly. This was what they were here for, +and this hard work was all part of the training that was to fit +them for command after they were graduated. + +"All possible speed, Mr. Jordan!" admonished Prescott, with a +tinge of impatience in his voice. + +"Lay hold! Raise! Shoulder!" drawled Mr. Jordan, with tantalizing +slowness. + +The yearling squad, each man feeling the cut of the sharp corners +of the heavy balk on his right shoulder, yet, bearing it patiently, +awaited the next command. + +"Mr. Jordan, this is not a loafing contest," admonished Prescott +in a low voice. + +"For---ward!" ordered Jordan with provoking deliberation. + +The yearlings under him, made of vastly better material, sprang +forward with their balks, laying them in record time across the +top of the next pontoon. The lashers then fell upon their work +of securing the balks as though they loved labor. + +"Chess!" called Dick, remaining on shore this time, and the yearlings +with the planks hastened forward, each carrying a plank. Here +and there, a lighter cadet staggered somewhat under the plank +he was carrying, yet hastened forward to finish his duty of the +moment with military speed. + +Another pontoon was ready. + +"Balks!" called Cadet Prescott. "Balks!" + +Jordan got his squad started at last. + +Dick glanced swiftly, but in wonder at Lieutenant Armstrong. +That Army officer, however, seemed industriously thinking about +something else. + +"Jordan is truly taking charge of the balks!" muttered Prescott +to himself. "He is going to balk me so that I can't get the bridge +constructed before recall!" + +"Running the balk chasers" is always unpopular work among the +cadets. Properly done, this work calls for a great deal of alertness, +speed and precision. It is work that takes every moment of the +cadet's time and attention, and incessant running in the hot sun. +Yet Prescott had, before this, chased the balk carriers, and +had not objected. He had taken up that task as he did all others, +as part of the day's work, something to be done speedily, well +and uncomplainingly. + +"What's the matter with you, Mr. Jordan?" asked Dick in an undertone. +"Are you sick?" + +"Sick of such emigrant's jobs as this!" growled Jordan. "What +made you give me-----" + +"I can't discuss that with you," replied Cadet Dick Prescott coldly. +"I shall be compelled to make it an official matter, however, if you +hinder me any more." + +"Lay hold! Raise! Shoulder! Forward!" Jordan ran with the squad. +"Halt! Lower!" + +"I reckon Jordan means to keep really on the job now," murmured +Prescott to himself, and returned to the advancing end of the +pontoon as it crawled over the little arm of the Hudson. + +Two more boats, however, and then Dick sprang sternly ashore. + +"Mr. Anstey!" called Prescott, and Anstey, the sweet-tempered +Virginian, one of Dick's staunchest friends in the corps of cadets, +came quickly up, saluting. + +"Mr. Anstey, you will chase the balk carriers," directed Dick. +"Please try to make up the time that has been lost. Mr. Jordan, +you are relieved from your duty, and will report yourself to the +instructor for gross lack of promptness in executing orders!" + +There could be no mistaking the quality of the justly aroused +temper that lay behind Cadet Prescott's flashing blue eyes. + +As for Cadet Jordan, that young man's face went instantly livid. +He clenched his fists, while the blackness of a storm was on +his features. + +"Mr. Prescott," he demanded, "do you realize what you are +saying---what you are doing?" + +"You are relieved. You will report yourself to the instructor, +sir!" Dick cut in tersely. + +Anstey was already chasing the yearling squad out with the balks, +and the young men were moving fast. + +As for Dick Prescott, he did not favor Mr. Jordan with a further +glance or word, but walked with swift step back to the task of +which he was in charge. + +With face flushed, Mr. Jordan walked over to the instructor, reporting +himself as directed. + +"Dismissed from to-day's instruction," said the Army officer briefly. +"Wait and return with the detachment, however." + +So Cadet Jordan, first class, saluted, turned on his heel, sought +the nearest shady spot and sat down to wait. + +His body idle, the young man had plenty of time to think---about +Cadet Captain Dick Prescott. + +"There's nothing to Prescott but swagger and cheap airs," decided +Mr. Jordan, idly tossing pebbles. "It's a pity he can't be taken +down a peg or two! And now I'm in for demerits before the academic +year starts. Probably I shall have to walk punishment tours, too!" + +Somehow, Jordan had come along through his more than three years +in the corps without attracting much attention. + +He had made no strong friends; even Jordan's roommate, Atterbury, +felt that he knew the man but slightly. + +True, Jordan had not so far been strongly suspected of being morose +or surly; he had escaped being ostracized, but he certainly was +not popular. If he had made no strong friendships, neither had +he so deported himself as to win enmity or even dislike. He was +regarded simply as a very taciturn fellow who desired to be let +alone, and his apparent wish in this respect was gratified. + +Dick Prescott was of an entirely different character. Open, sunny, +frank, manly, he was a born leader among men, as he had always +been among boys. + +Dick was a stickler for duty. He was in training to become an +officer of the Regular Army of the United States, and Prescott +felt that no man could be a good soldier until the duty habit +had become fixed. So, in his earlier years at West Point, Dick +had sometimes been unpopular with certain elements among the cadets +because he would not greatly depart from what he believed to be +his duty as a cadet and a gentleman. + +Readers of the _High School Boys' Series_ will recall that Prescott, +in his home town of Gridley, had been the head of Dick & Co., +a sextette of chums and High School athletes. It was in his High +School days that young Prescott had developed the qualities of +manliness which the Military Academy at West Point was now rounding +off for him. + +Readers of the preceding volumes in this series, _Dick Prescott's +First Year at West Point_, _Dick Prescott's Second Year at West +Point_ and _Dick Prescott's Third Year at West Point_, are already +familiar with the young man's career as a cadet at the United +States Military Academy. Our readers know how hard the fight +had been for Dick Prescott, who, in addition to his early struggles +to keep his place in scholarship in the corps, had been submitted +to the evil work of enemies in the corps. Some of these enemies +had been exposed in the end, and forced to leave the Military +Academy, but many had been the bitter hours that Prescott had +spent under one cloud or another as the result of the wicked work +of these enemies. + +At last, however, Prescott and his roommate and chum, Greg Holmes, +had reached the first class. They had now less than a year to go +before they would be graduated and commissioned as officers in the +Army. + +On reaching first-class dignity, both Dick and Greg had been delighted +over their appointment as cadet officers. Prescott was captain +of A company and Greg Holmes first lieutenant of the same company. + +With Anstey chasing the balk carriers, and all the other squads +attending briskly to business, the pontoon was quickly built, so +that a roadway extended from shore to shore. + +Now came the supreme test as to whether Prescott had done his +work well. + +In the shade of the nearest trees a team of mules had dozed while +the bridge construction was going on. Behind the mules was hitched +a loaded wagon belonging to the Engineer Corps. + +"Sir," reported Prescott, approaching Lieutenant Armstrong and +saluting, "I have the honor to report that the bridge is constructed." + +Lieutenant Armstrong returned the salute, next called to an engineer +soldier. + +"Carter!" + +"Sir," answered the engineer private, saluting. + +"Drive your team over the bridge and back." + +Mounting to the seat of his wagon, the soldier obeyed. + +Dick Prescott and his mates did not watch this test closely. +They were sure enough of the quality of the work that they had +done. + +Reaching land at the further side of the bridge, the engineer +soldier turned his team in a half circle, once more drove upon +the bridge and recrossed to the starting point. + +"Very well done, Mr. Prescott," nodded the Engineer officer, with +a satisfied smile. + +"Take down the bridge," ordered Dick, after having saluted the +Army instructor. + +Working as hard as before, the young men of the third and first +classes began to demolish the bridge that they had constructed. + +When this had been done, and Dick had officially reported the +fact, Lieutenant Armstrong replied: + +"Mr. Prescott, you will form your detachment and march back to +camp." + +"Very good, sir." + +Always that same salute with which a man in the Army receives +an order. + +Some thirty seconds later, the detachment was formed and Dick +was marching it back up the inclined road on the way to the summer +encampment. By that time, a sergeant and a squad of Engineer +privates---soldiers of the Regular Army---were busy taking care +of the pontoon boats and other bridge material. + +Marching his men inside the encampment, Dick halted them. + +"Detachment dismissed!" he called out. + +There was a quick break for first and third class tents. These +young men were in field uniforms---sombreros, gray flannel shirts, +flannel trousers and leggings. Most of them were dripping with +perspiration under the hot August sun. + +They were all hot and dusty, and their hands stained with tar. +Within a very few minutes every man in the detachment must be +washed irreproachably clean, without sign of perspiration. They +must be in uniforms of immaculate white duck trousers and gray +fatigue blouses, wearing cleanly polished shoes, and ready to +march to dinner. + +A great deal to be accomplished in a few minutes by the average +American boy! Yet let one of these cadets be late at dinner formation, +without an unquestionably good excuse, and he must pay the penalty +in demerits. These demerits, according to their number, bring +loss of prized privileges. + +Cadet Jordan, having done little, was among the first to be clean +and presentable. Immaculate, trim and trig he looked as he stepped +from his tent, but on his face lay a scowl that boded ill for his +appetite at the coming dinner. + +Dick was a master of swift toilets. He was on the company street +almost immediately after Jordan had stepped out under the shadow +of a tree. + +"Prescott," began Jordan stiffly, "I want a word or two with you." + +"Yes?" asked Dick, looking keenly at his classmate. "Very good." + +"Why did you report me this morning?" + +"Because you performed the work in an indolent, laggard manner, +even after I had cautioned you." + +"Do you consider yourself called upon to be a judge of your +classmates?" + +"When I am detailed in command over them in any duty---yes." + +"Shall I tell you what I think of you for reporting me?" + +"It would be in bad taste, at least," Dick answered. "It is against +the regulations for a cadet to call another to account for reporting +him officially." + +"Oh, bother the regulations!" + +"If that is actually your view," replied Dick, with a smile, "then +I will leave you to the enjoyment of your discovery concerning the +regulations." + +"Prescott, you are a prig!" snapped Mr. Jordan. + +"If it were necessary to determine that, as a matter of fact," +answered Dick coolly, though he flushed somewhat, "I would rather +leave it to a decision of the class." + +"Oh, I know you have plenty of bootlicks," sneered Jordan. "I +also know that you are class president. But that is no reason +why you should act as though you thought yourself a bigger man +than the President of the United States." + +"Jordan, has the sun been affecting your head this forenoon?" +demanded Dick, with another keen look at his classmate. + +"Well, you do act as though you thought yourself bigger than the +President," insisted Jordan sneeringly. + +"I am a cadet, not yet capable of being a second lieutenant, in +the Army," Dick replied, regaining his coolness. "The President +is commander-in-chief of the combined Army and Navy." + +"You are utterly puffed up with your own importance," cried Jordan +hotly, though in a discreetly low voice. "Prescott, you are-----" + +Something in Jordan's eyes warned Dick that a vile insult was +coming in an instant. + +"_Stop_!" commanded Prescott, shooting a look full of warning +at his classmate. "Jordan, don't say anything that will compel +me to knock you down in plain sight of the camp. It's years since +such a thing as that has happened at West Point!" + +"Oh, you lordly brute!" sneered Jordan, his face alternately white +and aflame with unreasoning anger. "Prescott, you had it in for +me. That was why you reported me this morning. That was why +you put me in line for demerits and punishment tour walking. +You are bound to use your little, petty authority to humble and +humiliate me. I shall call you out for this!" + +"If you do," shot back Dick, "I shall decline to fight you. +It would be against regulations and against all the traditions +of the corps for me to arbitrate, by a fight, the question of +whether I did right to report you." + +"You refuse a fight," warned Jordan, with a malicious grin, "and +I'll denounce you all through the class!" + +"Denounce me, then, if you wish," retorted Dick in cool contempt, +"and you'll bring trouble down on your own head instead. No class +requires, or permits, a member to fight in defence of his official +conduct." + +"Prescott is turning coward, then, is he?" + +"You or any other man who presumes to say it knows well enough +that he is thereby lying," came quickly from between Prescott's +teeth. + +"Why, hang you, you-----" + +"You'd better hush for a moment," warned Prescott. "Here comes +the corps adjutant, and I think he is looking for you." + +"Yes! With a message of discipline from the O.C. just because +I was reported by a toy martinet like you!" retorted Cadet Jordan. + +Cadet Filson, corps adjutant, wearing his white gloves, red sash +and sword, came up with brisk military stride. He halted before +Jordan, while Prescott moved away. + +"Mr. Jordan, by order of the commandant of cadets, you will confine +yourself to the company street, leaving it only under proper orders. +This, for being reported this morning during the tour of engineer +instruction. Any further punishment that is to be meted out to you +will be published in orders at dress parade this afternoon. + +"Very good, sir," replied Cadet Jordan, choking with rage. + +Wheeling about, Adjutant Filson strode away again. + +The moment he was gone, Jordan, his brow black with fury, stepped +over to Prescott. + +"So!" he hissed. "The thunderbolt of punishment has fallen, Mr. +Prescott. As for you-----" + +"Mr. Jordan," broke in Dick coolly, "you are ordered to confine +yourself to the company street. At this moment you are outside +that limit. You will return immediately to the company street!" + +Jordan glared, but he had discretion enough left to obey, for +Prescott was speaking now as cadet commander of A company, to +which company Mr. Jordan belonged. + +"Oh, I'll pay you back for this!" raged the disciplined cadet, +trembling as he stepped forward. + +By this time, many other cadets were out in the company street. +Soon after the loud, snappy tones of the bugle summoned the two +battalions to dinner formation. + +A little while before Cadet Adjutant Filson had approached Jordan, +the commandant of cadets, sitting in his tent over by post number +one, had sent for the Engineer instructor of the forenoon. + +"Mr. Armstrong," asked the commandant, "how much is there in this +report against Mr. Jordan this morning? Does Mr. Jordan deserve +severe discipline?" + +"In my opinion he does, sir," replied Lieutenant Armstrong. "I +had the whole happening under observation, though I pretended not +to see it." + +"Why did you make such pretence, Mr. Armstrong?" + +"Because I was watching to see how a man like Mr. Prescott would +conduct himself when in command." + +Lieutenant Armstrong then related all of the particulars that +he had seen of Jordan's conduct. + +"Then I am very glad that Mr. Prescott reported Mr. Jordan," replied +the commandant of cadets. "Mr. Jordan is a first classman and +should be above any such conduct. We will confine Mr. Jordan +to his company street for one week; and on Wednesday and Saturday +afternoons during the continuance of the encampment, he shall +walk punishment tours." + +Then the commandant of cadets had passed the word for Cadet Adjutant +Filson, to whom he had entrusted the order that the reader has +already seen delivered. + +But Jordan, unable to realize that he had proved himself unfit +as a soldier found his hatred of Dick Prescott growing with every +step of the march that carried the cadet corps to dinner at the +cadet mess hall. + +"Prescott may feel mighty big and proud now!" growled the disgruntled +one. "But will he---when I get through with him?" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JORDAN REACHES OUT FOR REVENGE + + +"Hello, there, Stubbs!" called Jordan from the doorway of his +tent. + +"Oh, that you, Jordan?" called Stubbs. + +"Yes; come in, won't you?" + +Cadet Stubbs, of the first class, looked slightly surprised, for +he had never been an intimate of this particular cadet. + +"What's the matter?" asked Stubbs, pushing aside the tent flap +and stepping into the tent. + +Then, remembering something he had heard, Stubbs continued quickly: + +"You're in a little trouble of some kind, aren't you, old man?" + +"Oh, I'm in con." growled Mr. Jordan. + +"Con." is the brief designation for "confinement." + +"Some report this morning, eh?" + +"Yes; that dog Prescott sprung a roorback on me. Sit down, won't +you?" + +"No, thank you," replied Cadet Stubbs more coolly. "Jordan, `dog' +is a pretty extreme word to apply to a brother cadet." + +"Oh, are you one of that fellow's admirers?" demanded the man +in con. + +"I've always been an admirer of manliness," replied Stubbs boldly. + +"Then how can you stand for a bootlick?" shot out Jordan angrily. + +"I don't stand for a bootlick," replied Cadet Stubbs. "I never +did." + +"Now, I don't want to play baby," went on Jordan half eagerly. +"I'm not resenting, on my own account, what happened to-day. +But it was an outrage on general principles, for the affair made +a fool of me before a lot of new yearlings. Stubbs, we're first +classmen, and we shouldn't be humiliated before yearlings in this +manner." + +"I wasn't there," replied Stubbs. "I was over at the rifle range, +you know." + +"Then I'll tell you what happened." + +Cadet Jordan began a narration of the scene that had ended in +his being relieved from engineering instruction that forenoon. +Jordan didn't exactly lie, which is always a dangerous thing +for a West Point cadet to do, but he colored his narrative so +cleverly as to make it rather plain that Cadet Prescott had acted +beyond his real authority. + +"Still," argued Stubbs doubtfully, "there must have been some +reason. I've known Prescott ever since he entered the Academy, +and I never saw anything underhanded in him." + +"I wouldn't call it underhanded, either," explained Jordan. +"Prescott's manner with me might much better be described as +overbearing." + +"It would have been underhanded, had he reported you when you +were really doing nothing unmilitary or improper," interposed +Stubbs quickly. + +"Are you trying to defend the fellow?" demanded Jordan swiftly. + +"No; Prescott, I think, is always quite ready to attend to his +own defence. But I'm astonished, Jordan, at the charge you make +against him, and I'm trying to understand it." + +"What I object to, more than anything else," insisted Jordan, +"was his making a fool of me before new yearlings. That is where +I think the greatest grievance lies. First classmen are men of +some dignity. We are not to be treated like plebes, especially +by any members of our own class who may be dressed in a little +brief authority. Sit down, won't you, Stubbs?" + +"No, thank you, Jordan. I must be on my way soon." + +"But I want to get you and a half a dozen other representative +first classmen together," wheedled Jordan. "I think we should +all talk this over as a strictly class matter. Then, if I'm convinced +that I'm in the wrong, I'm going to stop talking." + +Crafty Jordan didn't mean exactly what he said. + +He would stop talking, if convinced, but he didn't intend to be +convinced. He was after Dick Prescott's scalp. Jordan well knew +that, at West Point (and at Annapolis, too, for that matter) class +action against a man is severer and more irrevocable than even +any action that the authorities of the Military Academy itself +can take. He wanted to put Prescott wholly in the wrong in the +matter. Class action could, at need, drive Prescott out of the +corps and end his connection with the Army. For, if a man be +condemned by his class at West Point, the feud is carried over +into the Army as long as the offender against class ethics dares +try to remain in the service. + +At the least, Jordan hoped to stir up class feeling to such an +extent that, if Prescott were not actually "cut" by class action, +at least his popularity would be greatly dimmed. + +"So won't you take part in the meeting?" coaxed Jordan, as Cadet +Stubbs moved toward the door. + +"I don't believe I will," replied Mr. Stubbs. "I'd feel out of +place in such a crowd, for I've always considered myself Prescott's +friend." + +"Do you place your friendship for Prescott above the dignity and +honor of the class?" demanded Jordan. + +Stubbs flushed. + +"I don't believe I'll stay, Jordan, thank you. But I can offer +you some advice, if you feel in need of any." + +"Yes? Commence firing!" + +"Go slow in your grudge against Prescott. Personally, I don't +want to see either of you hurt." + +"Oh, Prescott won't really be hurt," sneered Jordan. "He told +me flatly that he'd decline any calling out that I might attempt." + +"You---you didn't try to call him out, did you?" + +"I hinted that I might do so." + +"Call him out for reporting you?" + +"Oh, I didn't specify what the cause of the challenge would be," +returned Jordan airily and with a knowing wink. + +"Jordan, old fellow, you don't mean that you'd call a cadet out +for reporting you officially? Why, that's against every tenet +we have. And if such a challenge came to the ears of the +superintendent, or of the commandant of cadets, you'd be fired out +of the corps before you'd have time to turn around twice." + +"Who'd carry the tale that I did call Prescott out?" retorted +Cadet Jordan, with a knowing leer. + +"Prescott would, if he were a tenth part of the bootlick that +you represent him to be," replied Stubbs. + +"Better stay, old man; and I'll call in a few others." + +"No, sir," returned Cadet Stubbs, with a shake of his head. "The +further I go into this matter the less I like it. I'm on my way, +Jordan." + +Within half an hour, however, Cadet Jordan had found three members +of the first class who were willing to listen to him. The matter +was threshed out very fully. Jordan, to his listeners, pooh poohed +at the idea that he was "sore" on his own account. He posed, and +rather well, as the champion of first-class dignity. + +"I think you're on the right track, Jordan," assented Durville +rather heartily. Durville was one of the few who had never liked +Dick well. Durville had always been one of the "wild" ones, and +Prescott's ideas of soldierly duty had grated a good deal on Durville's +own beliefs. + +"The class won't take severe action, anyway," hinted Tupper. +"We might vote to give Prescott a week's 'silence,' but any permanent +'cut' would be out of the question. The man has done too many +things to make himself popular." + +"Besides," chimed in Brown, "look at the place Prescott holds +on the Army football eleven. Why he---and Holmes, too, of +course---were the pair who saved us from the Navy last November. +And we rely upon that pair to a tremendous extent for the +successes we expect this coming fall." + +Jordan's jaw dropped. In the heat of his anger he had lost sight +of the football situation. Prescott and Holmes certainly were the +prize players of the Army eleven. + +"Well, it might do if the class decided on the 'silence' for Prescott +for a week," assented Jordan dubiously. + +Then, all of a sudden, he brightened as the thought flashed through +his mind: + +"If Prescott gets the 'silence,' even for a day, he'll be so furious +that he'll do half a dozen fool things that I can provoke him +into. Then he'll go so far, in his wrath, that the class will +cut him for good and all, and he'll buy his ticket home!" + +The more Jordan thought this over, while he pretended to be listening +to what his classmates were saying, the surer the cadet plotter +felt that he could work his enemy out of the corps within the +next week or so. + +"Well, I dare say that you fellows are right in advising milder +measures," admitted Jordan at last. "Of course, though I try +not to let my personal feelings enter into this at all, yet I +suppose I can't keep my sense of outraged class dignity wholly +untainted by my personal feelings. Besides, the 'silence' for +a week will doubtless cover all the needs of the case, and I don't +bear the fellow any personal grudge, or I try not to." + +"That's a sensible, manly view, Jordan," chimed in Brown, "and +it does you credit as a gentleman and a man of honor. Now, you +know, it's a fearful thing for a man who has reached the first +class to have to drop his Army career at the last moment. So +we'll try to bring the majority of the class around to the idea +of the week's 'silence.'" + +"Now, lest it appear as though I were actuated by personal motives," +continued Jordan, "I'll have to stand back and let you fellows do +the talking with the other men of the class." + +"That's all right," nodded Durville. "We wholly understand the +delicacy of your position, and we can attend to it all right. +Besides, all we have to do, anyway, is to ascertain how the class +feels on the matter." + +"Don't let it be lost sight of, though," begged Jordan, almost +betraying his over anxiety, "that it is a serious matter of class +dignity and honor." + +"We won't, old man," promised Durville, as the visitors rose. + +As soon as he was alone---for his tentmate was away on a cavalry +drill, Jordan rose, his eyes flashing with triumph. + +"Dick Prescott, I believe I have you where I want you! What a +rage you'll be in, if you get the 'silence'! 'Whom the gods would +destroy they first make mad,'" Jordan went on, under his breath, +wholly unaware that he had parodied the meaning of that famous +quotation. "You'll rage with anger, Prescott. You'll do the +very things that will warrant the class in giving you the long +'cut.'" + +The "silence" is a form of rebuke that the cadet corps, once in +many years, administers to one of the many Army officers who are +stationed over them. When the cadet corps decides to give an +officer the "silence," the proceeding is a unique one. + +Whenever an officer under this ban approaches a group of cadets +they cease talking, and remain silent as long as he is near them. +They salute the officer; they make any official communications +that may be required, and do so in a faultlessly respectful manner; +they answer any questions addressed to them by the officer under +ban. But they will not talk, while he is within hearing, on anything +except matters of duty. + +An officer under the ban of the "silence" may approach a gathering +of a hundred or more cadets, all talking animatedly until they +perceive his approach. Then, all in an instant, they become mute. +The officer may remain in their neighborhood for an hour, yet, +save upon an official matter, no cadet will speak until the officer +has moved on. + +This "silence" may be given an officer for a stated number of +days, or it may be made permanent. It has sometimes happened +that an officer has been forced to ask a transfer from West Point +to some other Army station, simply because he could not endure +the "silence." + +Very rarely, indeed, the silence is given to a cadet; it is more +especially applicable if he be a cadet officer who is in the habit +of reporting his fellow classmen for what they may consider +insufficient breaches of discipline. + +The "cut" or "Coventry" is reserved for the cadet whom it is intended +to drive from the Army altogether. If a man at West Point is +"sent to Coventry" by the whole corps, or as a result of class +action, he will never be able to form friendships in the Army +again, no matter how long he remains in the Army, or how hard he +tries to fight the sentence down. + +Cadet Jordan, as will have been noted, professed to be satisfied +if the class voted a week's "silence" to Dick Prescott, for Jordan +believed that by this time the tantalized young cadet captain +could be provoked into actions that would bring the imposition +of the "long silence" of permanent Coventry. + +At the end of the busy cadet day, when the two cadet battalions +stood in formal array at dress parade, Cadet Adjutant Filson published +the day's orders. + +One of these orders mentioned Jordan's confinement to the company +street, and added the further infliction of "punishment tours" to +be walked every Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. + +"Oh, well," thought the culprit, savagely, "as I walk I can plan +newer and newer things. I'll go into the Army, and you, Prescott, +may become a freight clerk on a jerk-water railroad." + +Unknown to either Jordan or Prescott at that moment, other +storm-clouds were gathering swiftly over the head of the popular +young cadet captain. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +CATCHING A MAN FOR BREACH OF "CON." + + +Lieutenant Denton was the tac. who served as O.C. during this +tour of twenty-four hours. + +A "tac.," as has been explained in earlier volumes, is a Regular +Army officer who is on duty in the department of tactics. All +of the tacs. are subordinates of the commandant of cadets, the +latter officer being in charge of the discipline and tactical +training of cadets. Each tac. is, in turn, for a period of twenty-four +hours, officer in charge, or "O.C." + +During the summer encampment of the cadets, the O.C. occupies +a tent at headquarters, and is in command, under the commandant, +of the camp. + +It was in the evening, immediately after the return of the corps +from supper, when Lieutenant Denton had sent for Cadet Captain +Prescott. + +"Mr. Prescott," began the O.C., "there has been some trouble, +lately, as you undoubtedly know, with plebes running the guard +after taps. Now, our plebes are men very new to the West Point +discipline, and they do not appreciate the seriousness of their +conduct. Until the young men have had a little more training, +we wish, if possible, to save them from the consequences of their +lighter misdeeds. Of course, if a cadet, plebe or otherwise, +is actually found outside the guard line after taps, then we cannot +excuse his conduct. This is where the ounce of prevention comes +in. Mr. Prescott, I wish you would be up and around the camp +between taps and midnight to-night. Keep yourself in the background +a bit, and see if you can stop any plebes who may be prowling +before they have had a chance to get outside the guard lines. +If you intercept any plebes while they are still within camp +limits, demand of them their reasons for being out of their tents. +If the reasons are not entirely satisfactory, turn them over +to the cadet officer of the day. Any plebe so stopped and turned +over to the cadet officer of the day will be disciplined, of course, +but his punishment will be much lighter than if he were actually +caught outside the guard lines. You understand your instructions, +Mr. Prescott?" + +"Perfectly, sir." + +"That is all, Mr. Prescott." + +Saluting, Dick turned and left the tent. + +"That's just like Lieutenant Denton," thought Dick, as he marched +away to his own company street. "Some of the tacs. would just +as soon see the plebe caught cold, poor little beast. But Lieutenant +Denton can remember the time when he was a cadet here himself, +and he wants to see the plebe have as much of the beginner's chance +as can be given." + +As Dick pushed aside the flap and entered his tent, he beheld +his chum and roommate, Greg Holmes, now a cadet lieutenant, carefully +transferring himself to his spoony dress uniform. + +"Going to the hop to-night, old ramrod?" asked Greg carelessly, though +affectionately. + +"Not in my line of hike," yawned Prescott. "You know I'm no hopoid." + +"Oh, loyal swain!" laughed Greg in mock admiration. "You hop +but little oftener than once a year, when Laura comes on from +the home town! You throw away nearly all of the pleasures of +the waxed floor." + +"Even though but once a year, I go as often as I want," Dick answered, +with a pleasant smile. + +"But see here, ramrod, an officer is expected to be a gentleman, and +a fellow can't be an all-around gentleman unless he is at ease with +the ladies. What sort of practice do you give yourself?" + +"You're dragging a femme to the hop tonight?" queried Dick. + +"Yes, sir," admitted Greg promptly. + +"Then you're---pardon me---you're engaged to the young lady, of +course?" + +"Engaged to take her to the hop, of course," parried Holmes. + +"And engaged to be married to her, as well," insisted Dick. + +"Ye-es," admitted Cadet Holmes reluctantly. "Let me see; this +is the fourteenth girl you've been engaged to marry, isn't it?" + +"No, sir," blurted Greg indignantly. "Miss---I mean my present +betrothed, is only the eighth who has done me the honor." + +"Even eight fiancees is going it pretty swiftly for a cadet not +yet through West Point," chuckled Dick. + +"Well, confound it, it isn't my fault, is it?" grumbled Greg. +"I didn't break any of the engagements. The other seven girls +broke off with me. On the whole, though, I'm rather obliged to +the seven for handing me the mitten, for I'm satisfied that Miss---I +mean, the present young lady---is the one who is really fitted +to make me happy for life." + +"I'm almost sorry I'm not going to-night," mused Prescott aloud. +"Then I'd see the fortunate young lady." + +"Oh, there are no secrets from you, old ramrod," protested Greg +good-humoredly. "You know her, anyway, I think---Miss Steele." + +"Captain Steele's daughter?" + +"Precisely," nodded Greg. + +"Daughter of one of the instructors in drawing?" + +"Yes." + +"Greg, you're at least practical this time," laughed Dick. "That +is, you will be if Miss Steele doesn't follow the example of her +predecessors, and break the engagement too soon." + +"Practical?" repeated Cadet Holmes. "What are you talking about, +old ramrod? Has the heat been too much for you to-day? Practical! +Now, what on earth is there that's practical about a love affair?" + +"Why, if this engagement lasts long enough, Greg, old fellow, +Captain Steele and his wife will simply have to send you an invitation +to a Saturday evening dinner at their quarters. And then, in +ordinary good nature, they'll have to invite me, also, as your +roommate. Greg, do you stop to realize that we've never yet been +invited to an officer's house to dinner?" + +"And we never would be, if we depended on you," grumbled Greg. +"Women are the foundation rock of society, yet you never look +at anyone in a petticoat except Laura Bentley, who comes here +only once a year, and who may be so tired of coming here that +she'll never appear again." + +A brief cloud flitted across Dick's face. Seeing it, repentant +Greg rattled on: + +"Of course you know me well enough, old ramrod, to know that I'm +not really reproaching you for being so loyal to Laura, good, +sweet girl that she is. But you've miffed a lot, of the girls +on the post by your constancy. Why, you could have the younger +daughters of a dozen officers' following you, if you'd only look +at them." + +"The younger daughters of the officers are all in the care of +nurse-maids, Greg," Prescott retorted with pretended dignity. +"Relieving nurse-maids of their responsibilities is no part of +a cadet's training or duty." + +"Well, 'be good and you'll be happy'---but you won't have a good +time," laughed Greg, who, having finished his inspection of himself +in the tiny glass, was now ready to depart. + +"On your way, Holmesy," nodded Dick, glancing at the time. "It's +a long walk, even for a cadet, to Captain Steele's quarters." + +Greg went away, humming under his breath. + +"There's a chap whom care rarely hits," mused Dick, looking half +enviously after his chum. "I wonder really if he ever will marry?" + +Presently Dick picked up his camp chair and placed it just outside +at the door of his tent. It was pleasant to sit there in the +semi-gloom. + +But presently he began to wonder, a little, that none of the fellows +dropped around for a chat, for he was aware that a number of the +first classmen were not booked for the hop that night. + +From time to time Dick saw a first classman enter or leave the tent +of Cadet Jordan. + +"He seems unusually popular to-night," thought Prescott, with +a smile. "Well, better late than never. Poor Jordan has never +been much of a favorite before. I wonder if my reporting him +to-day has made the fellows take more notice of him? It is a +rare thing, these days, for a first classman to be confined to +his company street." + +For Prescott the evening became, in fact, so lonely that presently +he rose, left the encampment and strolled along the road leading +to the West Point Hotel. On other than hop nights, this road +was likely to be crowded with couples. That night, however, nearly +all of the young ladies at West Point had been favored with invitations +to Cullum Hall. + +Tattoo was sounding just as Prescott crossed the line at post +number one on reentering camp. In half an hour more, it would +be taps. At taps, all lights in tents were expected to be out, +and the cadets, save those actually on duty, to be in their beds. +An exception was made in favor of cadets who had received permission +to escort young ladies to the hop. Each cadet who had to return +to the hotel, or to officers' quarters with a young lady had received +the needed permission, and the time it would take him to go to +the young lady's destination and return to camp was listed at +the guard tent. Any cadet who took more than the permitted time +to escort his partner of the hop to her abiding place would be +subject for report. + +However, the special duty imposed upon Cadet Prescott for this +night related to plebes, and plebes do not go to the hops. + +Bringing out his camp chair, Dick sat once more before his tent. +Down at Jordan's tent he could still hear the low hum of cadet +voices. + +"Something is certainly going on there," mused Prescott. + +For a moment or two he felt highly curious; then he repressed +that feeling. + +"Good evening, Prescott." + +"Oh, good evening, Stubbs." + +Cadet Stubbs came to a brief halt before the cadet captain's tent. + +"I have been noticing that Jordan has a good many visitors this +evening," Dick remarked. + +"All from our class, too, aren't they?" questioned Stubbs. + +"Yes. If we were yearlings I should feel sure that they had a +plebe or two in there. But first classmen don't haze plebes." + +"No; we don't haze plebes," replied Cadet Stubbs with a half sigh, +for Prescott was the only first classman at present in camp who +did not fully know just what was in progress at Jordan's tent. + +But West Point men pride themselves on bearing no tales, so Stubbs +repressed the longing to explain to Dick what Jordan was seeking +to bring about. + +As a matter of fact, though some of the members of the first class +were hot-headed enough to accept Jordan's view of the report against +him, the class sentiment was considerably against the motion to +give Cadet Captain Richard Prescott the silence, even for a week. + +However, none came near Prescott to talk it over. That again +would be tale-bearing. Dick was not likely to hear of the move +unless summoned to present his own defense in the face of class +charges. + +Nor would Greg be approached on the subject. The accused man's +roommate or tentmate is always left out of the discussion. + +Taps sounded; almost immediately the lights in the tents went +out. Stillness settled over the encampment. + +The fact that a single candle remained lighted in Prescott's tent +showed that he had permission to run a light. The assumption +would be that he was engaged on some official duty, though the +fact of running a light did not in any way betray the nature of +that duty. + +Dick sat inside at first. Then, one by one, the cadets returning +from the hop stepped through the company streets. At last Greg +Holmes came in. + +"Still engaged, Holmesy?" asked Dick, looking up with a quizzical +smile. + +"Surest thing on the post!" returned Greg, with a radiant smile. +He had the look of being a young man very much in love and utterly +happy over his good fortune. + +"Going to run a light?" asked Holmes, gaping, as he swiftly disrobed. + +"Yes; but I'll throw the tin can around so that the blaze won't +be in your eyes." + +"It won't anyway," retorted Greg, turning down the cover of his +bed. "I'll turn my back on the glim." + +The "tin can" is a device time-honored among cadets in the summer +encampment. It is merely a reflector, made of an old tin can, +that increases and concentrates the brilliancy of the candle light. +The "tin can" may also be used in such a way as to throw a large +part of a tent in semi-darkness. + +Two minutes later, Greg's breathing proclaimed the fact that this +cadet was sound asleep. + +Dick, stifling a yawn---for it had been a long, hard and busy +day---threw a look of envy toward his chum. Then, in uniform, +Prescott stepped out into the company street. + +It was a dark, starless night; an ideal night to a plebe who wanted +to run the guard and put in some time outside of the camp limits. + +Keeping as much in the shadow as he could, Prescott stepped along +until he came near one of the sentry lines. + +For some time he stood thus, eyes and ears alert, though he lounged +in the shadow where he was not likely to be seen. + +"It's an off night for plebe mischief, I reckon," he murmured +at last. "All the plebes are good little boys to-night, and safely +tucked in their cribs." + +At last, when it was near midnight, Prescott came out from his +place of semi-concealment and stepped over near the guard line. + +It was not long ere a yearling sentry, with bayonet fixed and +gun resting over his right shoulder, came pacing toward the first +classman. + +Recognizing a cadet officer, the yearling sentry halted, holding his +piece at "present arms." + +"Walk your post," Dick directed, after having returned the salute. + +Had Prescott been a cadet private the sentry would have questioned +him as to his reasons for being out after taps. But with a cadet +captain it was different. Though Prescott was not cadet officer +of the day, he was privileged to have official reasons for being +out without making an accounting to the sentry. + +Slowly the yearling sentry paced down to the further end of his +post. Then he came back again. Having saluted Prescott recently, +he did not pause now, but kept on past the cadet officer standing +there in the shadow. + +As the sentry's footsteps again sounded softer in the distance, +Prescott suddenly became aware of something not far away from him. + +It was a little glow of fire, at an elevation of something less +than six feet from the ground, over beside a bush. + +This glow of fire looked exactly as though it came from a lighted +cigar. + +If the cigar were held by a civilian, it was a matter that needed +looking into. + +Cadets, if they wish, may smoke at certain times and within certain +limits. But nothing in the regulations permits a cadet to go +outside the guard lines after taps to smoke. + +Dick Prescott drew further back into the shadow, noiselessly, +and kept his eye on the distant glow until he heard the yearling +returning. + +"Sentry!" called Prescott sharply. The yearling, his piece at +port arms, came on the run. + +"Investigate that glow yonder," ordered Prescott. + +"Very good, sir!" + +Prescott and the sentry started together. For an instant the +glow wavered, as though the man that was behind the glow meditated +taking to his heels. + +"Halt!" called the sentry. "Who's there?" + +Now the glow disappeared, but cadet captain and sentry were close +enough to see the outlines of a figure in cadet uniform. + +The figure still moved uncertainly, as though bent on flight. +But the sight of two pursuers seemed to change the unknown's mind. + +"A cadet," he called, in answer to the sentry's challenge. + +The sentry halted. + +"Advance, cadet, to be recognized," he commanded. + +Prescott came to a halt not far from the sentry. + +Slowly, with evident reluctance, the figure moved forward. + +"Mr. Jordan!" called Prescott, in considerable amazement. + +"Yes, sir," admitted Jordan huskily. + +Now, Dick had every reason in the world for not wanting to report +this cadet again, but duty is and must be duty, in the Army. + +"Mr. Jordan, you are under orders of confinement to the company +street," cried Dick sternly. + +"Yes, sir." + +"And yet you are found outside of camp limits? Have you any +explanation to offer, sir?" + +"I was nervous, sir," replied Jordan, "and couldn't sleep. So +I slipped out past the guard line to enjoy a quieting smoke." + +"Smoking causes vastly more nervousness than it ever remedies, +Mr. Jordan," replied the young cadet captain. "Have you any additional +explanation or excuse for being outside the company street?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then return to your tent, sir." + +"I---I suppose you are going to report this, Mr. Prescott?" asked +the other first classman. + +"I have no alternative," Dick answered. "You are under confinement +to the company street; you have made a breach of confinement, and I +am your company commander." + +"Very good, sir." + +Jordan stiffened up, saluted, then passed on across the guard +line, making for the street of A company. + +Dick turned back, more slowly, a thoughtful frown gathering on +his fine face, while the yearling sentry was muttering to himself: + +"Great Caesar, but Prescott surely has put both feet in it. He +reports a fellow classman for a little thing like a late smoke, +and the man reported will be doomed to go into close arrest! +Glad I'm not Prescott!" + +It would be untruthful to deny that Dick Prescott was worried; +nevertheless, he made his way briskly to the tent of the O.C. + +"Jove, what luck!" chuckled Jordan tremulously, as he hastened +along the street of A company to his tent. "Of course I'll be +in for all sorts of penalties, and I'll have to be mighty good, +after this, to keep within safe limits on demerits. But I have +Prescott just where I want the insolent puppy! The class, this +evening, was much in doubt about giving him the silence. But +flow! When he has gone out of his way to catch me in such an +innocent little breach of con.! Whew! But my lucky star is surely +at the top of the sky to-night." + +Cadet Jordan was soon tucked in under his bed cover. He had not +fallen asleep, however, when he heard a step coming down the street. + +Dick had chanced to find the O.C. still up. In a few words Prescott +made his report. + +"This is a very serious report against a first classman, Mr. Prescott," +said kind-hearted Lieutenant Denton gravely. "It is most unfortunate +for Mr. Jordan that he has not a better excuse. You will go to +Mr. Jordan's tent, Mr. Prescott, and direct him to remain in his +tent, in close arrest, until he hears as to the further disposition +of his case by the commandant of cadets." + +"Very good, sir," Prescott answered, saluting. + +"And then you may go to your own tent and retire, Mr. Prescott. +I fancy the plebes have been good to-night." + +"Thank you, sir." + +With a rather heavy heart, though outwardly betraying no sign, +Prescott walked along until he reached Jordan's tent, where he +delivered the order from the O.C. + +"Did you hear that, old man?" growled Jordan to his tentmate, +after the cadet captain had gone. + +"Pretty rough!" returned the tentmate sleepily. + +Rough? The first class was seething when it received the word +next morning, for it was the common belief that Prescott must +have shadowed and followed his classmate in order to entrap him. + +"It's surely time for class action now," Durville told several +of his classmates. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE CLASS COMMITTEE CALLS + + +Outwardly A company and the entire corps of cadets was as placid +and unruffled as ever when the two battalions marched to breakfast +that morning. + +One conversant with military procedure, however, would have noted +that Jordan, being a prisoner, marched in the line of the file +closers. + +And Mr. Jordan's face was wholly sulky, strive as he would to +banish the look and appear indifferent. + +Even to a fellow naturally as unsocial as the cadet now in arrest, +it was no joke to be confined to his tent even for the space of +a week, except when engaged in official duties; and to be obliged, +two afternoons in a week, to march in full equipment and carry +his piece, for three hours in the barracks quadrangle under the +watchful eyes of a cadet corporal. + +This penalty would last during the remaining weeks of the encampment +and would be pronounced upon Jordan as soon as the commandant of +cadets perfunctorily confirmed the temporary order of Lieutenant +Denton. + +Dick, at the head of A company, looked as impassive as ever, though +he felt far from comfortable. + +Through the ranks, wherever first classmen walked, excitement +was seething. + +When Prescott was seated at table in the cadet mess hall, Greg, +who sat next his chum, turned and raised his eyebrows briefly, as +though to say: + +"There's something warm in the air." + +Dick's momentary glance in return as much as said: + +"I know it." + +None of the other cadets at the same table turned to address Prescott +directly, with the single exception of Greg Holmes. True, when +Dick had occasion, twice or thrice, to address other men at his +table, they answered him, though briefly. + +Whatever was in the air it had not broken yet. That was as much +as Prescott could guess. + +The instant that they had returned to camp, and the two chums +were in their tent, Greg whispered fiercely: + +"That sulker, Jordan, is putting up trouble for you, as sure as +you're alive." + +"Then I've given him a bully handle to his weapon," admitted Dick +Prescott dryly. + +They were hustling into khaki field uniform now, and there was +little time for comment; none for Greg to go outside and find +out what was really in the air. Battery drill was right ahead +of them. Barely were the chums changed to khaki field uniform +before the call sounded on the bugle. + +On the recall from battery drill, the chums had but a few moments +before they were called out for a drill in security and information. + +So the time passed until dinner. Again Jordan marched in the +line of the file closers, and now this first classman had received +his official sentence from the commandant of cadets. + +So far as the demeanor of the class toward Prescott was concerned, +dinner was an exact repetition of breakfast. + +On the return of the corps to camp, a few minutes followed that +were officially assigned to recreation. + +Dick stood just inside the door of his tent when he heard the tread +of several men approaching. + +Looking out, he saw seven men of his own class coming up. Durville +was at their head. + +"Good afternoon, Prescott," began Durville. + +"Good afternoon, gentlemen," nodded Dick. + +"We represent the class in a little matter," continued Durville, +"and I have been asked to be the spokesman. Can you spare us a +little time?" + +"All the time that I have before the call sounds for my next drill," +replied Prescott. + +"Mr. Prescott, you reported a member of our class last night," began +Durville. + +"I did so officially," Dick answered. + +"Of course, Mr. Prescott, we understand that. The offender was +a member of A company, and you are the cadet captain of that company. +But this affair happened at the guard line, and you were not cadet +officer of the day. Mr. Jordan feels that you exerted yourself to +catch him in his delinquency." + +"I did not," replied Prescott promptly. "At the time when I called +upon the cadet sentry to apprehend Mr. Jordan, I had not the remotest +idea that it was Mr. Jordan." + +"Then," asked Durville bluntly, "how did you, who were not the +cadet officer of the day, happen to be where you could catch Mr. +Jordan so neatly?" + +"In that matter I have no explanation to offer," Prescott replied. + +One less a stickler for duty than Prescott might have replied that +he had been on the spot the night before in obedience to a special +order from the officer in charge. + +Dick Prescott, however, felt that to make such a statement would +be a breach of military faith. The order that he had received +from Lieutenant Denton he looked upon as a confidential military +order that could not be discussed, except on permission or order +from competent military sources. + +"Now, Prescott," continued Cadet Durville almost coaxingly, "we +don't want to be hard on you, and we don't want to do anything +under a misapprehension. Can't you be more explicit?" + +"I have already regretted my inability to go further into the +matter with you," Dick replied, pleasantly though firmly. + +"And you can give us no explanation whatever of how you came to +report Jordan for being beyond the camp limits?" + +"All I am able to tell you is that my reporting of Mr. Jordan +was a regrettable but military necessity." + +"Is that all we wish to ask, gentlemen?" inquired Durville, turning +to his six companions. + +"It ought to be," retorted Brown dryly. + +The seven nodded very coldly. Durville turned on his heel, leading +the others away. + +"Unless I'm a poor kitchen judge, old ramrod, your goose is cooked," +muttered Greg Holmes mournfully. + +"Then it will have to be," spoke Dick resolutely. + +"But you haven't told even me how you came to be, last night, just + where you could fall afoul of Jordan so nicely." + +"Old chum," cried Dick, turning and resting a hand on Greg's right +arm, "I can discuss that matter no further with you than I did with +the class committee." + +"You're a queer old extremist, anyway, with all your notions of +duty and other bugaboos. This affair has given me the shivers." + +"Then cheer up, Holmesy!" laughed Cadet Captain Prescott. + +"Oh, it's you I'm shivering for," muttered Greg. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE CADET "SILENCE" FALLS + + +Six companies of sun-browned, muscular young men marched away to +cadet mess hall that evening. + +If any of these cadets were more than properly fatigued, none +of them betrayed the fact. Their carriage was erect, their step +springy and martial. In ranks their faces were impassive, but +when they filed into the mess hall, seated themselves at table +and glanced about, an orderly Babel broke loose. + +At all, that is to say, save one table. That was the table at +which Cadet Captain Richard Prescott sat. + +Greg was the first to make the discovery. He turned to Brown +with a remark. Brown glanced at Holmes, nodding slightly. All +the other cadets at that board were eating, their eyes on their +plates. + +"What's the matter?" quizzed Holmes. "You're ideas moving slowly?" + +Again Brown glanced up at his questioner, but that was all. + +"How's the cold lamb, Durville?" questioned Dick. + +Durville passed the meat without speaking, nor did he look directly +at Prescott. + +Dick and Greg exchanged swift glances. They understood. The +blow had fallen. + +_The Silence had been given_! + +Dick felt a hot flush mounting to his temples. The blood there +seemed to sting him. Then, as suddenly, he went white, clammy +perspiration beading his forehead and temples. + +This was the verdict of the class---of the corps? He had offended +the strict traditions and inner regulations of the cadet corps, and +was pronounced unfit for association! + +That explained the constrained atmosphere at this one table, the +one spot in all the big room where silence replaced the merry +chatter of mealtime. + +"The fellows are mighty unjust!" thought Dick bitterly, as he +went on eating mechanically. He no longer knew, really, whether +he were eating meat, bread or potato. + +That was the first thought of Prescott. But swiftly his view +changed. He realized about him, were hundreds of the flower of +the young manhood of the United States. These young men were +being trained in the ways of justice and honor, and were trying +to live up to their ideals. + +If such an exceptional, picked body of young men had condemned +him---had sentenced him to bitter retribution---was it not wholly +likely that there was much justice on their side? + +"The verdict of so many good and true men must contain much justice," +Prescott thought, as he munched mechanically, trying proudly to +bide his dismay from watchful eyes. "Then I have offended against +manhood, in some way. Yet how? I have obeyed orders and have +performed my duties like a soldier. How, then, have I done wrong?" + +Once more it seemed indisputable to Prescott that his comrades +had wronged him. But once more his own sense of justice triumphed. + +"I am not really at fault," he told himself, "nor is the class. +The class has acted on the best view of appearances that it could +obtain. I was wholly right in obeying the orders that I received +from Lieutenant Denton, and equally right in not communicating +those orders to a class committee. Nor could I refrain from reporting +Mr. Jordan for breach of con. That was my plain duty, more especially +as Mr. Jordan is a member of the company that I command. But the +appearances have been all against me, and I have refused to explain. +The class is hardly to be blamed for condemning me, and I imagine +that Mr. Jordan, in accusing me, has not been at all reticent. +Probably, too, he has taken no extreme pains to adhere to the +exact truth. I do not see how I can get out of the scrape in +which I find myself. I wonder if the silence is to be continued +until I am forced to resign and give up a career in the Army?" + +With such thoughts as these it was hard, indeed, to look and act +as though nothing had happened. + +But Cadet Jordan, taking eager, covert looks at his enemy from +another table, got little satisfaction from anything that he detected +in Prescott's face. + +"Why, that b.j.(fresh) puppy is quite equal to cheeking his way on +through the last year and into the Army!" thought Jordan maliciously. +"However, he's done for! No matter if he sticks, he'll never get +any joy out of his shoulder straps." + +Little could Jordan imagine that Prescott's proud nature would +long resist the silence. If this rebuke were to become permanent, +then Prescott was not in the least likely to attempt to enter +upon his studies at the beginning of they Academic year in September. + +And Greg! He didn't waste any time in trying to be just to any +one. All his hot blood rose and fomented within him at the bare +thought of this terrible indignity put upon that prince of good +fellows, Dick Prescott. Holmes felt, in truth, as though he would +be glad to fight, in turn, every member of the first class who +had voted for the silence. + +That practically all the fellows of the first class had voted +for the silence, Greg did not for an instant believe. He was +well aware that Dick had many staunch friends in the class who +would stand out for him in the face of any appearances. But a +vote of the majority in favor of the silence would be enough; +the rest of the class would be bound by the action of the majority. +And all the lower classes would observe and respect any decision +of the first class concerning one of its own members. + +Not a word did Greg say to Dick. Yet, under the table, Holmes +employed one of his knees to give Dick's knee a long, firm pressure +that conveyed the hidden message of unfaltering friendship and +loyalty. + +For the other cadets at the table the silence imposed more or +less hardship, since they could utter only the most necessary +words. They however, were not objects against whom the silence +was directed, and they could endure the absence of conversation +with far more indifference than was possible for Prescott. + +It was a relief to all at the table, none the less, when the rising +order was given. When the corps had marched back to camp, and +had been dismissed, Dick Prescott, head erect, and betraying no +sign of annoyance, walked naturally into A company's Street, drew +out his camp chair and seated himself on it in the open. + +Barely had he done so, when Greg arrived. Cadet Holmes, however, +did not stop or speak, but hurried on. + +"Greg has his hands full," thought Dick. "He's going to investigate. +And I'm afraid his hot head will get him into some sort of trouble, +too." + +The imposition of the silence did not affect Greg in his relations +with his tentmate. When a cadet is sent to Coventry, or has the +silence "put" on him, his tentmate or roommate may still talk +unreservedly with him without fear of incurring class disfavor. +To impose the rule of silence on the tentmate or roommate of +the rebuked one would be to punish an innocent man along with +the guilty one. + +Rarely, after all, does the corps err in its judgment when Coventry +or the silence is meted out. None the less, in Dick's case a +grave mistake had been made. + +Time slipped by, and darkness came on, but Greg had not returned. + +There was band concert in camp that night. Many cadets of the +first and third classes had already gone to meet girls whom they +would escort in strolling near the bandstand. Plebes are not +expected to escort young ladies to these concerts. The members +of the second class were away on the summer furlough, as Dick +and Greg had been the summer before. + +As the musicians began to tune up at the bandstand, most of the +remaining cadets sauntered through the company streets on their +way to get close to the music. + +All cadets who passed through A company's street became suddenly +silent when within ten paces of Dick's tent, and remained silent +until ten paces beyond. + +Dick's tent being at the head of the street, he was quite near +enough to the music. But he was not long in noting that both +cadet escorts and cadets without young ladies took pains not to +approach too close to where he sat. It was enough to fill him +with savage bitterness, though he still strove to be just to his +classmates who had been blinded by Cadet Jordan's villainous scheme. + +Of a sudden the band struck up its lively opening march. Just +at that moment Prescott became aware of the fact that Greg Holmes +was lifting out a campstool and was placing it beside him. + +"Well," announced Greg, "I've found out all there is behind the +silence." + +"I took it for granted that was your purpose," Dick responded. + +"Aren't you anxious to hear the news, old ramrod?" + +"Yes; very." + +"I'm hanged if you look anxious!" muttered Greg, studying his +chum's face keenly. + +"I fancy I've got to display a good deal of skill in masking my +feelings," smiled Dick wearily. + +"Oh, I don't know," returned Cadet Holmes hopefully. "It may not +turn out to be so bad." + +"Then a permanent silence hasn't been imposed?" + +"Not yet," replied Greg. + +"By which, I suppose, you mean that the length of the silence has +not yet been decided upon." + +"It hasn't," Greg declared. "It was only after the biggest, swiftest +and hardest kind of campaign, in fact, that the class was swung +around to the silence. Only a bare majority were wheedled into +voting for it. Nearly half of the class stood out for you stubbornly, +pointing to your record here as a sufficient answer. And that nearly +half are still your warm adherents." + +"Yet, of course, they are bound by the majority action?" + +"Of course," sighed Greg. "That's the old rule here, isn't it? +Well, to sum it up quickly, old ramrod, the silence has been +put on you, and that's as far as the decision runs up to date. +The class is yet to decide on whether the silence is to be for +a week or a month. Of course, a certain element will do all in +its power to make the silence a permanent thing. Even if it is +made permanent, Dick, you'll stick, won't you?" + +"No." + +"What?" + +"I shall not even try to stick against any permanent silence," +replied Prescott slowly. + +"I thought you had more fight in you than that," muttered Greg +in a tone of astonishment. + +"I think I have enough fight," Dick replied with some warmth. +"And I honestly believe I have enough in me to make at least +a moderately capable officer of the Army. But, Greg, I'm not +going to make a stubborn, senseless effort, all through life, +to stay among comrades who don't want me, and who will make it +plain enough that they do not consider me fit to be of their number. +Greg, in such an atmosphere I couldn't bring out the best that is +in me. I couldn't make the most of my own life, or do the best by +those who are dear to me." + +There was an almost imperceptible catch in Dick Prescott's voice. +He was thinking of Laura Bentley as the one for whom he had hoped +to do all his best things in life. + +"I don't know but you're right, old fellow. But it's fearfully +hard to decide such a matter off-hand," returned Greg. His own +voice broke. For some moments Holmes sat in moody silence. + +At last he reached out a hand, resting it on Dick's arm. + +"If you get out, old ramrod, it's the outs for me on the same day." + +"Greg!" + +"Oh, that's all right," retorted Cadet Holmes, trying to force +a cheery ring into his voice. "If you can't get through and live +under the colors, Dick, I don't want to!" + +"But Greg, old fellow, you mustn't look at it that way. You have +had three years of training here at the nation's expense. It will +soon be four. You owe your country some return for this magnificent +training." + +"How about you, then?" asked Holmes, regarding his friend quizzically. + +"Me? I'd stay under the colors, and give up my life for the country +and the Army, if my comrades would have it. But if they won't, then +it's for the best interests of the service that I get out, Greg." + +"Well, talk yourself blind, if it will give you any relief. But +post this information up on your inside bulletin board: When you +quit the service, old ramrod, it will be 'good-bye' for little +Holmesy!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THE GIRLS + + +Breakfast, the next morning, was a repetition of what had happened +the night before. + +At Dick's table the silence was absolute. + +Even Captain Reid, cadet commissary, noticed it and understood, +in his trip of inspection through mess hall. + +The thing that Reid, who was an Army officer, did not know was---who +was the victim? He never guessed Prescott, who was class president, +and believed to be one of the tallest of the class idols. + +It speaks volumes for the intended justice of the cadets when they +will, in time of fancied need, destroy even their idols. + +Thus it went on for some days. + +Dick performed all of his duties as usual, and as well as usual. +Nothing in his demeanor showed how keenly he felt the humiliation +that had been put upon him. Only in his failure to attempt any +social address of a classmate did he betray his recognition of +the silence. + +Greg did his best to cheer up his chum. Anstey expressed greatest +sorrow and sympathy for his friend Prescott. Holmes promptly +reported this conversation to Dick. Other good friends expressed +their sorrow to Holmes. In every case he bore the name and the +implied message hastily to the young cadet captain. + +A few whom Dick had considered his good friends did not thus put +themselves on record. Dick thereupon understood that they had +acted upon their best information and convictions, and he honored +them for being able to put friendship aside in the interests of +tradition and corps honor. + +The silence had lasted five days when, one evening, a class meeting +was called. Though Cadet Prescott was class president, he did +not attend, for he knew very well that he was not wanted. + +Greg's sense of delicacy told the latter that it was not for him +to attend the meeting, either. + +The vice president of the class was called to the chair. Then +Durville and others made heated addresses in which they declared +that Prescott could no longer consistently retain the class presidency. + +A motion was made that Prescott be called upon to resign. It was +seconded by several first classmen. + +Then Anstey, the Virginian, claimed the floor in behalf of the +humiliated class president. The blood of Virginian orators flowed +in Anstey's veins, nor did he discredit his ancestry. + +In an impassioned yet deliberate and logical speech Anstey declared +that great injustice had been done Cadet Richard Prescott, and by +the members of his own class. + +"Every man within reach of my voice knows Mr. Prescott's record," +declared the Virginian warmly. "When we were plebes, who stood +up most staunchly as our class champion? Why, suh, why did we +choose Mr. Prescott as our class president? Was it not because +we believed, with all our hearts, that in Richard Prescott lay +all the best elements of noble, upright and manly cadethood? +Do you remember, suh, and fellow classmen, the wild enthusiasm +that prevailed when we, by our suffrages, had declared Mr. Prescott +to be our ideal of the man to lead the class in all the paths +of honor?" + +Anstey paused for an instant. Then, lowering his voice somewhat, +he continued, with scathing irony: + +"_And now you give this best man of our class the silence, and +seek to remove him from the presidency of the class_!" + +"It's a shame!" roared another cadet. + +There were cheers. + +"It is a shame," cried Anstey in a ringing voice. "And now you +seek to deepen the shame by further degrading Prescott, who has +always been the champion of our class. Mr. President, I move +that we lay the motion on the table indefinitely. As soon as +that has been done I shall make another motion, that we remove +the silence from the grand, good fellow who has had it put upon +him." + +There were others, however, with nearly Anstey's gift for oratory. +One of them now took the floor, pointing out that the class would +not have rebuked Prescott for having reported Jordan in the tour +of pontoon bridge construction. + +"That may have been justified," continued the speaker. "But, +afterwards, Mr. Jordan and Mr. Prescott had words. There must +have been some bitterness in that. That same night Mr. Jordan +was caught and reported by Mr. Prescott, who was not cadet officer +of the day, and who therefore must have deliberately shadowed +Mr. Jordan in order to catch him." + +"Prescott did not shadow Mr. Jordan, or do anything of a sneaky +nature," shouted Anstey. + +"He refused to explain to our class committee how he happened +to be on band at just the time to catch Jordan," shouted Durville. + +"Then be assured he had a good military, a good soldierly, a good +manly reason for his silence," clamored Anstey. + +The meeting was an excited one from all points of view. In the +end the best that the staunch friends of Dick could secure was +that action on the resignation of the class presidency be deferred +until a cooler hour, but that the silence be continued for the +present. + +And so the meeting broke up. Jordan had been dismayed, fearing +that Anstey's impassioned speech might result in putting his enemy +back into greater popularity than ever. + +But now Jordan was reassured. He was satisfied that things were +still moving in his direction, and that Prescott's proud spirit +would soon lead him into some action that must make the breach with +the class wider than ever. + +At noon the next day Prescott returned from the second drill of +the forenoon. In his absence a mail orderly had been around. An +envelope lay on the table addressed to Dick. + +"From Laura," he exclaimed in delight. + +"That'll cheer you some," smiled Greg. + +"Why it's postmarked from New York," continued Dick swiftly. +"Whew! She must be headed this way!" + +Hurriedly Prescott tore the envelope open. + +"It couldn't have happened at a worse time," he muttered, turning +white. + +"What?" + +"Laura, Mrs. Bentley and Belle Meade are in New York, and will +reach here this afternoon. Laura says they have learned that +there is a hop on to-night, and they are bringing their prettiest +frocks." + +"Whew! That is a facer!" breathed Greg in perplexity. + +"Of course I can't take Laura to the hop." + +"You can, if you have the nerve," insisted Greg. + +"And I have the nerve!" retorted Dick defiantly. "But how about +Laura? She would discover, within a few minutes, that I am on +strained terms with the other fellows. That would do worse than +spoil her evening." + +"Well," demanded Greg thoughtfully, "why do you need to take her +to the hop?" + +"Because she says that's what the girls have come for." + +"Bother! Do you suppose it's you, or the hop, that Laura comes for?" + +But Dick, instead of being cheered by this view, turned very white. + +"I've got to tell her," he muttered hoarsely, "that I'm in eclipse. +That the fellows have voted that I am not a fit associate for +gentlemen." + +"And I'll tell her a heap more," retorted Cadet Holmes. "Dick, +do you think either of the girls would go back on you, just because +a lot of raw, half-baked cadets have got you sized up wrong? +Is that all the faith you have in your friends? And, especially, +such a friend as Laura Bentley? Was that the way she acted when +you were under charges of cribbing? You were in disgrace, then, +weren't you? Did Laura look at you with anything but sympathy +in her eyes?" + +"No; heaven bless her!" + +"Now, see here, Dick. If the girls are up here this evening, +we won't take 'em to the hop. Instead, we'll sit out on the north +porch at the hotel, with Mrs. Bentley near by. We'll have such +a good old talk with the girls as we never could have at a hop." + +"Everything in life would be easy, Greg, if you could explain it +away," laughed Dick Prescott, but his tone was bitter. + +"Well, as you can't take the girls to the hop, with any regard +for their comfort, my plan is best of all, isn't it?" + +"I---I suppose so." + +"So make the best of it, old ramrod. There's nothing so bad that +it couldn't be a lot worse." + +There was a long tour of work with the field battery guns that +afternoon. For once Prescott found his mind entirely off his +work. Nor could he rally his senses to his work. He got a low +marking, indeed, in the instructor's record for that afternoon's +work. + +Then, hot, dusty and tired, this detachment of cadets came in +from work. + +In the visitors' seats, near headquarters, Dick and Greg espied +Mrs. Bentley and the girls. How lovely the two latter looked! + +The instant that ranks were broken Laura. and Belle were on their +feet, glancing eagerly in the direction of their cadets. Dick +and Greg had to go over, doff their campaign hats and shake hands +with Mrs. Bentley and the girls. + +"We've given you a surprise, this time," laughed Laura. "I hope +you're pleased." + +"Can you doubt it?" asked Dick so absently, so reluctantly, that +Laura Bentley shot a swift, uneasy look at the handsome young +cadet captain. + +"You don't seem over delighted," broke in Belle Meade. "Gracious! +I hope we haven't been indiscreet in coming almost unannounced? +See here, you haven't invited any other girls to to-night's hop, +have you?" + +Both girls, flushed and rather uneasy looking, were now eyeing +the two ill-at-ease young first classmen. + +"No; we haven't invited anyone else. But there's something to +be explained," replied Dick lamely. "Greg, you explain, won't +you? And you'll all excuse me, won't you, while I hurry away +to tog for dress parade?" + +Laura's face was almost as white as Dick's had been at noon, as +she gazed after the receding Prescott. + +Then Greg, in his bluntest way, tried to put it all straight, +and quickly, at that. + +"Oh, is that all?" asked Belle with a sniff of contempt. "Why +couldn't Dick remain and tell us himself? You cadets are certainly +cowards in some things---sometimes!" + +But the tears were struggling for a front place in Laura's fine +eyes. + +"Is this 'silence' going to affect Dick very much in his career +in the Army?" she asked with emotion. + +"Not if his staunchest friends can prevent it," replied Greg almost +fiercely. "And old ramrod has a host of friends in his class, +at that." + +"It's too bad they're not in the majority, then," murmured Miss +Meade. + +"They will be, in the end," asserted Greg. "We're working things +around to that point. You should have heard the fierce row we put +up at the class meeting last night." + +When it was too late Greg could have bitten his tongue. + +"Class meeting?" asked Laura. "Then has there been further action +taken?" + +Greg nodded, biting his lips. + +"What was last night's meeting held for?" persisted Laura. + +"To try to oust Dick from the class presidency," confessed Cadet +Holmes. + +"Did they do it?" quivered Laura Bentley. + +"No!" + +"Ah! Then the attempt was defeated. Dick is to retain the presidency +of his class?" + +"Action was deferred," replied Greg in a low voice. + +He wished with all his heart he could get away, for he saw that, +no matter how he tried to hedge the facts about, these keen-witted +girls realized that Dick Prescott's plight was about as black +as it could be for a young man who wanted, with all his soul, +to remain in the military service of his country. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +JORDAN MEETS DISASTER + + +Belle, with her combination of impulsive temperament, good judgment +and bluntness, came to the temporary rescue. + +"Greg is trying to conceal the fact that he'll have a desperate +rush to get into his dress uniform in time for parade," Miss Meade +interposed. "Anyway, there's far more about this matter than +we can understand in a moment. Greg, you and Dick can call on +us at the hotel this evening, can't you?" + +"We most surely can." + +"Then come, as early as you can. We'll eat the earliest dinner +we can get there, and be prepared for a long evening. Now, hurry +to your tent, for I don't want to see you reported for being late +at formation." + +Between her visits to West Point, and her trips to Annapolis to +see Dave Darrin, as related in the Annapolis Series, Belle had +by this time a very considerable knowledge of formations, and +of other incidents in the lives of Army and Navy cadets. + +"This evening, then," replied Greg, shifting his campaign hat +to the other hand and feeling like a man who has secured a reprieve. + +"And give my love to Dick," Belle went on hastily, "and tell him +that the President of the United States couldn't, if he wanted +to, change our opinion of dear old Dick in the least." + +"Thank you," bowed Greg, gratitude welling up in his heart. + +"And you send him your love, don't you, Laura?" insisted Belle +swiftly. + +Laura recoiled quickly, flushing violently. + +It was all right for Belle Meade to send her "love" to Prescott, +for they were old friends, and Belle was known to be Dave Darrin's +loyal sweetheart. + +With Laura the situation was painfully different. She and Dick +had been schoolboy and schoolgirl sweethearts, after a fashion, +but Dick had never openly declared his love for her. + +Would he misunderstand, and think her unwomanly? + +She trembled with the sudden doubt at the thought. + +Besides, another, a prosperous young merchant back in Gridley, +had been ardent in his attentions to Miss Bentley. + +"Of course Laura sends her love," broke in Greg promptly. "Who +wouldn't, when the dear old fellow is in such a scrape? And I'll +deliver the message of love from you both---and from Mrs. Bentley, +too?" + +Greg looked inquiringly, but expectantly at Laura's mother, who +nodded and smiled in ready sympathy. + +Then Greg made his best soldier's bow and hastened off to his +chum, whose heart he succeeded in gladdening somewhat while the +two made all haste to get ready for parade call. + +When the corps marched on to the field that afternoon, Mrs. Bentley +and the girls were there among the eager spectators. Dick saw +them almost instantly, and his heart bounded within him. It was +Laura's mute message of sympathy and hope to him! He held up +his head higher, if that were possible, and went through every +movement with even more than his usual precision. + +As the corps was marching off the field again, however, Dick's +heart sank rapidly within him. + +"If I have to leave the Army, I can never ask Laura for her love," +he groaned wretchedly. "If I go from West Point as anything but +a graduate and an officer, I shall have to start life all over +again. It will take me years to find my place and get solidly on +my feet I could never ask a girl to wait as long as that!" + +In the early evening Laura, Belle and Mrs. Bentley were on the +veranda near the hotel entrance. Cadets Jordan and Douglass made +their appearance. Jordan had obtained official permission to +present Douglass to his sister, who was to go to the hop that +evening. + +"By Jove, there's a spoony femme (pretty girl) over there," breathed +Jordan in Douglass' ear. "You don't happen to know her, do you?" + +"Why, yes, that's Miss Bentley, and the other is Miss Meade. +The chaperon is Miss Bentley's mother," replied Cadet Douglass. + +"You know them?" throbbed Jordan, his eyes resting eagerly on +Laura's face. "What luck! Present me, old chap!" + +So Douglass, who, in some respects, had a bad memory, piloted +his classmate over to the ladies and halted. + +"Good evening, ladies," greeted Douglass, raising his uniform +cap in his most polished manner. "Mrs. Bentley, Miss Bentley, +Miss Meade, will you permit me to present my friend and classmate +Mr. Jordan?" + +Belle, who was nearest, bowed and held out her hand. + +But Laura drew herself up haughtily. "Mr. Douglass," she answered +coldly, "my apologies to you, but I don't wish to know---Mr. Jordan!" + +Belle caught the name again, and remembered. + +"Oh!" she cried, snatching her hand away ere Jordan could touch it. + +"I'm sorry, ladies," stammered Douglass. But they found themselves +confronted by rear views of two shapely pairs of young shoulders, +while Mrs. Bentley had the air of looking through the young men +without being able to see either. + +Two very much disconcerted cadets, and very red in the face, stiffly +resumed their caps and marched away. + +"Great Scott, what did that mean?" gasped Jordan, struck all in a +heap by his strange reception. + +Cadet Douglass gasped. + +"Jordan," he exclaimed contritely, "I'm the greatest ass in the +corps!" + +"You must be!" exploded Dick's enemy. "But what was the cause +of it all?" + +"Why, Jordan, you---you see-----" + +"Who is Miss Bentley?" + +"Jordan, she's Prescott's girl!" + +"What?" gasped the other cadet, staring at his classmate. + +"Fact!" + +"Prescott's---girl?" + +"Yes." + +"Jove, a puppy like Prescott has no business with a superb girl +like that." + +"All the same, Jordan, the fact will prevent you from knowing her." + +"Now, I'm not so sure of that!" cried Jordan suddenly, with strange +fire in his eyes. + +"What do you mean?" + +"Oh, nothing," mumbled Jordan, suddenly recovering himself. + +Then, under his breath, he chuckled gleefully: + +"Miss Bentley is just struck on the uniform, of course. A girl +like that couldn't care for a misfit like Prescott. Well, he +won't be in the uniform much longer. I won't lose sight of Miss +Bentley. I'll find her again when Prescott is out of the uniform +for good!" + +Now, aloud, he asked: + +"Doug, do you happen to remember Miss Bentley's first name?" + +"Larry," answered Cadet Douglass absently. + +"Stop that!" cried Jordan almost fiercely. + +"Oh, a thousand pardons, Jordan. I'm so rattled I don't know +what I'm doing or saying. The girl's first name is Laura. Peach, +isn't she?" + +"Laura! That's a sweet name," murmured Jordan to himself. His +mind was now running riot, not only with plans to drive Dick Prescott +out of the Army, but also to win the heart of Laura Bentley. + +"Hold on, Jord," begged Douglass, halting and leaning against +a post in the veranda structure. "Don't take me to your sister +just yet. Let me get my breath, my nerves, my wits back again." + +"Take an hour," advised Jordan laconically. "You need it. Didn't +you know Miss Bentley was Prescott's girl?" + +"Yes; but it had slipped my memory. It's mighty hard, when you +come to think of it, to remember the girls of so many hundreds of +fellows," explained Cadet Douglass plaintively. + +Ten minutes later Dick and Greg appeared, greeting the ladies. +Mrs. Bentley assented to their going around to the north side +of the porch, whence they could look up the river to the lights +of Newburgh. + +"We very nearly had an adventure, Dick," laughed Belle. + +"Yes?" + +"We very nearly shook hands with Mr. Jordan. It was Laura's quick +cry that saved me, just in the nick of time, from touching hands +with the fellow." + +Miss Meade then related their experience, and the discomfiture +of Cadets Douglass and Jordan. + +"That's just about like Doug," observed Greg Holmes. "I'll bet +he never thought until Laura called off the signal for the kick." + +"What's that?" demanded Miss Bentley. + +"Pardon me," apologized Greg. "I think in football terms altogether +too often. But I'm glad Jordan saw the goal and then lost it." + +"I think Dick wants to tell us something about the fellow Jordan, +and some of the other cadets," Belle hinted. + +Between them the chums told the story of how the "silence" had come +to be imposed. Prescott did not, however, tell his feminine visitors +how he had happened to catch Jordan outside the guard line. + +"How did that happen?" asked Laura innocently. + +"Now, I'd tell you before I would any one else on earth," protested +Dick with warmth, "but I haven't told Greg or anyone else. I had +good military reasons, not personal ones." + +"Oh!" replied Laura. And, not understanding, she felt more than +a little hurt by Dick's failure to answer frankly. + +Both girls, however, talked very comfortingly, and Mrs. Bentley +very sensibly aided their efforts. All three tried to make it +quite plain to Dick Prescott that no amount, or consequence, of +lack of understanding by his classmates could make any difference +with his standing in their eyes. + +Presently Mrs. Bentley consented to the girls strolling down the +road between the hotel and cadet barracks. Dick, of course, walked +with Laura, while Greg and Belle remained at a discreet, +out-of-earshot distance. + +At last they stood again by the gateway through the shrubbery at +the edge of the hotel grounds. + +"Dick-----" began Laura hesitatingly. + +"Yes?" asked the young cadet captain. + +"Dick, no matter how far your classmates push this matter," begged +Laura, her eyes big and earnest, "don't let their acts force you +out of the Army. No matter what happens---stick!" + +Cadet Prescott shook his head wearily. "I can't stick," he replied +firmly, "if I am shown that my presence in the Army is not going +to be for the good and the harmony of the service!" + +Laura sighed. Another keen pang of disappointment, was hers. + +She now believed that her influence over Dick Prescott was not +anywhere near as strong as she had hoped it would be. + +A very wretched girl rested her head on a pillow that night, and +slept but poorly. + +In the forenoon, while the corps was absent on an infantry practice +march, Laura, her mother and her friend went dejectedly away from +West Point. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FATE SERVES DICK HER MEANEST TRICK + + +The furloughed second class returned, the encampment ended and the +corps marched back into cadet barracks. + +The new academic year had begun, with new text-books, new studies, +new intellectual torments for the hundreds of ambitious young +soldiers at the United States Military Academy. + +By this time both Dick and Greg had acquired the habits of study +so thoroughly that neither any longer feared for his standing or +markings. + +To Prescott there was one big comfort about being back in the +old, gray cadet barracks. + +The silence put upon Dick was not now quite as much in evidence. +With long study hours, Prescott had not so much need to meet his +classmates. + +In the section rooms nothing in the deportment of the other cadets +could emphasize the silence. + +It was only in the authorized visiting hours that Prescott noted +the change keenly. + +Of course, according to the traditions of the Military Academy, +Anstey and all the other loyal friends who ached to call were +barred from so doing. + +While taps sounds at ten o'clock, and members of the three lower +classes must be in bed, with lights out, at the first sound of +taps, first classmen are privileged, whenever they wish, to run +a light until eleven at night, provided the extra time be spent +in study. + +One evening in early September, Dick and Greg were both busy at +study table, when Dick chanced to look over some papers connected +with his studies. As he did so, he drew out an officially backed +sheet, and started. + +"Jupiter!" he muttered. "I should have turned this in before +supper formation." + +"Who gets the report?" asked Greg, looking up. + +"It goes to the officer in charge," Dick answered. + +"Oh, well, he's up yet. You can slip over to his office with +it," replied Greg easily. + +"And I'll do it at once. It may mean a demerit or two, for lack +of punctuality, but I'm glad it's no worse." + +Jumping up and donning his fatigue cap, Prescott thrust the neglected +official report into the breast of his uniform blouse, soldier +fashion. + +Then he walked slowly out, halting just inside the subdivision +door. + +"I don't mind a few demerits, but I don't like to be accused of +unsoldierly neglect," mused the young cadet captain. "Let me +see if I can think up a way of presenting my statement so that +the O.C. won't scorch me." + +As Dick stood there in the gloom, a quick, soft step sounded outside. +Then the door was carefully opened, and a young man in citizen's +dress entered. + +Civilians rarely have a right, to be in cadet barracks at any +time of the day. It is wholly out of the question for one to +enter barracks after taps. + +"What are you doing in here, sir?" Dick questioned sternly, putting +out his hand to take the other's arm. + +Then the young cadet captain drew back in near-horror. + +"Good heavens! Durville?" he gasped. + +"Yes. Sh!" whispered the other cadet, slinking back, a frightened +look in his eyes. + +No cadet, while at West Point, may, without proper permission, +appear in any clothing save the uniform of the day or of the tour. +No cadet ever attempts to don "cits." unless he is up to some +grave mischief, such as leaving the post. + +"Don't say a word! Let me reach my room!" whispered Durville +hoarsely. + +Dick Prescott wished, with all his heart, to be able to comply +with the other cadet's frenzied request. + +But duty stepped in with loud voice. As a cadet officer, as captain +of Durville's company, Prescott had no alternative within the +lines of that duty. He must report Cadet Durville. + +"Now, don't look at me so strangely," begged Durville. "Let me +go by, and tell me you'll keep this quiet. By Jove, Prescott, +you know what it means to me if I'm placed on report for---this!" + +"Yes, I know," nodded Dick, dejectedly, and speaking as hoarsely +as did the other man. "Oh, Durville, I wish I could do it, but-----" + +Dick had to clench his fists and gulp hard. Then the soldier in +him triumphed. + +"Mr. Durville"---he spoke in an impassive official tone, now---"you +will accompany me to the office of the officer in charge, and +will there make such official explanation as you may choose." + +"Prescott, for the love of-----" began the other over again, in +trembling desperation. + +"About face, Mr. Durville. Forward!" + +Now, all the gameness in the other cadet came to the surface. +He wheeled about, head up, his clenched fists seeking the seams +of his condemning "cit." trousers. Durville marched defiantly +out into the quadrangle, across and into the cadet guard house, +up the flight of stairs and into the office of the officer in +charge. + +Lieutenant Denton was again O.C. that night. + +Both cadets saluted when they entered after knocking. + +Lieutenant Denton glanced in sheer dismay at the "cit." clothes +worn by Durville. + +"Sir," began Dick huskily, "I regret being obliged to report that +I just discovered Mr. Durville entering the sub-division in citizen's +dress." + +"Have you any explanation to offer, Mr. Durville?" asked Lieutenant +Denton in his official tone. + +"None, sir." + +"Very good, Mr. Durville. You will go to your room and remain in +close arrest until you receive further official communication in +this matter." + +"Very good, sir." + +Durville spoke in steady, if icy tones, as he saluted and made +this response. + +"That is all, Mr. Durville." + +"Very good, sir." + +Like one frozen, the cadet in unfamiliar attire turned and left +the office. + +"How did you happen to make the discovery, Mr. Prescott?" gasped +the O.C. + +"I discovered, sir, that I had overlooked this report, which I +now turn in, sir," Dick replied rather hoarsely. "It was just +as I was about to leave the sub-division that Mr. Durville came +in. I had no alternative but to report him, sir." + +"You are right, Mr. Prescott. As a cadet officer you had no +alternative." + +Then, with a memory of his own West Point days, Lieutenant Denton +unbent enough to remark feelingly: + +"You have unassailable courage, too, Mr. Prescott." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Is that all?" + +"You have finished your official business?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Good night," Mr. Prescott. + +"Good night, sir." + +Saluting, Dick turned from the office. As he pushed open the door +and reentered the subdivision, he beheld Durville, standing there +with arms folded. + +"Possibly at the risk of being reported for breaking my arrest, +Mr. Prescott," began Durville, "I have lingered here to say to +you that you have succeeded in wreaking a most complete revenge +upon one who led a bit in having the silence conferred upon you." + +All Dick's reserve melted for an instant. + +"Durville, man---you---don't believe I did this for---for revenge?" +Prescott demanded. + +Cadet Durville smiled sarcastically. + +"I shall undoubtedly be broken for this night's affair, Mr. Prescott, +and you and the rest will continue to believe that I was absent +merely on some vulgar escapade! I go, now, to my arrest, which +is doubtless the last military service I shall be called upon to +render. Mr. Prescott, I congratulate you, sir, upon your ability +to spy upon other men and to serve your highest ideas of suitable +vengeance." + +Gloomily Durville turned to his room. Dick almost stumbled to +his own quarters. + +Greg Holmes's face blanched when he heard the news. + +"There'll be fine class ructions by to-morrow!" he told himself +with unwonted grimness. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE CLASS TAKES FINAL ACTION + + +By the time the corps of cadets was seated at breakfast, in the +great mess hall, the following morning, the news began to circulate +rapidly. + +It was discussed in low tones at every table save that at which the +silence against Prescott prevailed. + +The silence by this time had ceased to be literal, except so far +as it applied to Dick. Other cadets at his table talked among +themselves, though never to Prescott. Greg, being Dick's roommate, +was the sole cadet exempted from this rule. + +But the men at Prescott's table restrained their curiosity until +the two battalions had marched back to barracks and had been dismissed. + +After the dismissal of the companies Dick and Greg strolled along +slowly. Wherever they passed backs were turned to them, though +this would not have happened to Holmes had he been alone. + +Though the news was discussed, no class action was taken. This +must not be done until Durville's fate had overtaken him. Otherwise, +the Military Academy authorities might take such action as defiant +and visit a more severe penalty upon Cadet Durville. + +For five days Durville remained in close arrest. This meant, to +the initiated, that the Superintendent had taken up the matter with +the War Department at Washington. + +On the sixth day Durville was once more sent for by the commandant +of cadets. His sentence was handed out to him. On account of +an academic reputation of high grade, and a hitherto good-conduct +report, Mr. Durville was not dropped from the corps. Had the +offender, before leaving West Point in "cits.," gone to the cadet +guard house and made any false report concerning his absence, +nothing could have saved him from dismissal for making a false +official report. All things being taken into consideration, Cadet +Durville was "let off" with loss of privileges up to the time +of semi-annual examinations, with, in addition, the walking of +punishment tours every Saturday afternoon during the same period. + +Now the gathering wrath broke loose upon Dick. A class meeting +was called, that neither Prescott nor Holmes could attend with +propriety. + +Durville, as a matter of policy, did not attend, but there were +not wanting first classmen who looked upon Durville as a sacrifice, +and who were fully capable of presenting his side of the case at +the meeting. + +Upon Anstey, as on a former occasion, fell the task of making +Prescott's side clear. + +The class meeting had not been in session many minutes when Dick's +accusers had made it rather plain that Mr. Prescott, following +his previous course with Jordan, had revenged himself also on +Durville, who had taken an active part in securing the imposition +of the silence. + +Anstey took the floor in a fiery defence. He brought forth the +statement that Prescott had not made any attempt to pry into the +goings or comings of the unlucky Durville. The Virginian declared +that Prescott had happened to be abroad in time to "catch" Mr. +Durville, simply because Prescott had started for the office of +the officer in charge with an official paper that he had been +tardy about turning in. + +Though Anstey dwelt upon this side of the case with consummate +oratory, the defence was regarded as "too transparent." Anstey's +good faith was not questioned, but Prescott's was. + +In the turmoil the office of class president was declared vacant. +Anstey was nominated for the office just made vacant, but, with +cold politeness, he refused what, at any other time, would have +been a high honor. + +Cadet Douglass was presently elected class president. + +Then further action was taken with regard to Cadet Richard Prescott. +Without further debate a motion was carried that Prescott be sent +to Coventry for good and all. + +The class meeting adjourned, and upon Greg Holmes, who was informed +by Anstey, fell the task of carrying the decision to Dick. + +"I expected it, Holmesy," was Dick's quiet reply. + +"Buck up, anyway, old ramrod," begged Greg. "This terrible mess +will all be straightened out before graduation." + +"Not in time to do me any good," replied Dick gloomily. + +"Now what do you mean?" + +But Dick closed his jaws firmly. + +Greg knew better than to press his questioning further, just then. +He contented himself with crossing the room, resting both hands +on Dick's shoulders. + +"Now, old ramrod, just remember this: Into every life a good deal +of trouble comes. It is up to each fellow, in his own case, to +show how much of a man he is. The fellow who lies down, or runs +away, isn't a man. The fellow who fights his trouble out to a +grim finish, is a man every inch of his five or six feet! The +class is wild, just now, but on misinformation. Fight it out! +Enemies of yours have brought you to this pass. Don't run away! +All your friends are with you as much as ever they were." + +Dick was a good deal affected. + +"Believe me, Greg, whatever I decide on doing won't be in the +line of running away. Whatever I decide upon will be what I finally +believe to be for the best good of the service." + +"Humph!" muttered Greg, looking wonderingly at his chum. + +In the closing period of the next forenoon Dick's section did not +recite. Greg's did. So Prescott was left alone in the room with +his books. + +Despite himself, Greg was so worried, during that recitation, that +he "fessed cold"---that is, he secured a mark but a very little +above zero. + +As soon as the returning section was dismissed Cadet Holmes, his +heart beating fast, hurried to his room. + +There sat Dick, at the study table, as Greg had left him. But +Prescott had pushed his textbooks aside. Before him rested only +a sheet of paper. With pen in hand Prescott wrote something at +the bottom just as Holmes entered the room. Then Dick looked +up with a half cheery face. + +"I've done it, Greg," he announced simply, in a hard, dry voice. + +"Done it?" echoed Cadet Holmes. "What?" + +"I have written my resignation as a member of the corps of cadets, +United States Military Academy." + +"Bosh!" roared Cadet Holmes in a great rage. "The resignation +is written, signed, and---it sticks!" returned Dick Prescott +with quiet emphasis. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +LIEUTENANT DENTON'S STRAIGHT TALK + + +"Let me have that paper!" demanded Greg, darting forward. + +There was fire in Cadet Holmes's eyes and purpose in his heart +as he reached forward to snatch the sheet from the desk. + +Yet Dick Prescott stepped before him, thrusting him quietly aside +with a manner that was not to be overridden. + +"Don't touch it, Greg!" he ordered in a low voice that was none +the less compelling. + +"But you shan't send that resignation in!" quivered Greg. + +"My dear boy, you know very well that I shall!" + +"Have you no thought for me?" Cadet Holmes demanded. + +"My going may put you in a blue streak for a week, old fellow, +but it will put me in a blue streak for a lifetime. Yet there's +no other way for me. What's the use of being an ostracized officer +in the service? With you, Greg, old chum, it is different. You +will, after a little, be very happy in the Army." + +"Happy in the---nothing!" exploded Greg. "I told you, weeks ago, +that if you quit the service, I would do the same thing." + +"But you won't," urged Dick. "In these weeks you have had time +to reflect and turn sensible." + +"Do you suppose I care to go on, old chum, if you don't?" + +"Yes," answered Dick quietly. "And if the case were reversed, +and you were resigning, I should go on just the same and stick +in the service. Why, Greg, if we both went on into the Army, +and under the happiest conditions, we wouldn't be together, anyway. +You might be in one regiment, down in Florida, and I in another +out in the Philippines. When I was serving in Cuba, you'd be +in Alaska. Don't be foolish, Greg. I've got to leave, but there's +no earthly reason why you should. Your resigning would be mistaken +loyalty to me, and would cast no rebuke or regret over the cadet +corps or the Army. The fellows who are going to stick would simply +feel that one weak-kneed chap had dropped by the wayside. They'd +merely march on and forget you." + +"There goes the first call for dinner formation," cried Holmes, +wheeling and beginning his hasty preparations. + +"That's better," laughed Dick, as he shoved his resignation into +the drawer of the table. + +Then Dick, too, made his hurried preparations. Second call found +them ready to watch the forming of A company. At the command +Dick gave his own company order: + +"Fours right! Forward---march!" + +Away went A company, at the head of the corps, the whole long line +giving forth the rhythmic sound of marching feet. + +No outsider could have guessed that the young senior cadet captain +was utterly discredited by the majority of his class, and that he +was about to drop hopelessly out of this stirring life. + +On the return from dinner Dick went at once to his room. + +"What are you going to do?" demanded Greg impatiently, as Prescott +seated himself at the study table. + +"I am going to address an envelope to hold the sheet of paper +of which you so much disapprove." + +Greg knew it was useless to expostulate. Instead, he hurried +out, found Anstey, and called the Virginian so that both could +stand in the place where they would be sure to see Prescott if +he attempted to come out. + +Feverishly, in undertones, Greg confided the news to Anstey. + +"I don't just see what we can do, suh," answered the southerner +with a puzzled look. + +"Prescott is doing, suh, just what I reckon I'd do myself, suh, if +I were in his place." + +"But we can't lose him," urged Greg. + +"I know we'll hate like thunder to, suh. But what can we do? +Can we beg Prescott to stay, and face the cold shoulder, suh, +all the time he is here, and in the Army afterwards?" + +"I'm not getting much comfort out of you, Anstey," muttered Greg +grimly. + +"And that, suh, is because I don't see where the comfort comes +in. Holmesy, don't think I'm not suffering, suh. It'll break +my heart to see old ramrod drop out of the corps." + +"Then you don't think we can stop Prescott?" + +"I reckon I don't Holmesy. This is the kind of matter, suh, that +every man must settle for himself. If I were a much older man, +Holmesy, with much more experience in the Army, I reckon I might +be able to give him some very sound advice. But as it is, suh, +I know I can't." + +When Greg returned to the room he found Dick preparing books and +papers to march to the next section recitation. + +"What have you done with that resignation of yours?" growled Greg. + +"It's in that drawer," replied Dick, with a weary smile, "and +I rely on you, old fellow, not to do anything to it. It would +only give me all the pain over again if I had to rewrite it." + +"Dick, can nothing change your mind?" + +"I have thought it all over, old friend." + +The call for section formation sounded, and both hurried away. + +Later, Dick's section returned a full minute and a half ahead +of the one to which Holmes belonged. + +"Now's the time!" muttered Dick, opening the drawer and slipping +the envelope into the breast of his blouse. + +Then he hurried out, crossing the quadrangle to the cadet guard +house. Cadet Holmes, in section ranks, marched into the quadrangle +in time just to catch a glimpse of Prescott's disappearing back. + +Going up the stairs, Dick knocked on the door of the office of +the O.C. + +"Come in!" called the officer in charge, who proved to be none +other than Lieutenant Denton again. + +"What is it, Mr. Prescott?" inquired the Army officer, as Prescott, +saluting, advanced to the officer's desk, then halted, standing +at attention. + +"Sir, I have come to ask for some information." + +"What is it, Mr. Prescott?" + +"Sir, I have a paper, addressed to the superintendent. I do not +know whether I should take it to the adjutant's office, or whether +I should forward it through this office." + +"I thought you understood your company paper work, Mr. Prescott," +smiled Lieutenant Denton. + +"I think I do, sir; but this kind of paper I have never had to put +in before." + +"What kind of paper is it?" + +"My resignation, sir," replied Dick quietly. Lieutenant Denton +looked almost as much astonished as he felt. + +"What?" he choked. Then a slight smile came into his face. + +"Oh, I think I begin to understand, Mr. Prescott. You wish more +time for your studies, and so you are resigning your post as captain +of A company." + +"This is my resignation, sir, from the corps of cadets." + +Lieutenant Denton looked utterly nonplussed. + +"Oh, very good, Mr. Prescott. If you are bent on leaving the +Military Academy, I presume I have no right to demand your reasons. +But---won't you sit down?" + +The lieutenant pointed to a chair near his own. + +"Thank you, sir," nodded Prescott. Taking off his fatigue cap, +he dropped into the chair, though he sat very erect. + +"Now," smiled Mr. Denton, "perhaps we can drop, briefly, some +of the relation between officer and cadet. We may be able to +talk as friends---real friends. I trust so. May I feel at liberty +to ask you, Mr. Prescott, whether there are any urgent family +reasons behind this sudden move of yours?" + +"None, sir." + +"Then is it---but I don't wish to be intrusive." + +"I certainly don't consider you intrusive, Mr. Denton, and I +appreciate your sympathy and friendship. But I am resigning from +the corps for the best of good reasons." + +"May I question you, Mr. Prescott?" + +"If you care to, sir." + +"I do wish it, very much," rejoined Lieutenant Denton, "though +I have asked your consent because, in what I am now seeking to +do, I am going rather beyond my place as a tactical officer of +the Military Academy. If you are sure, however, that you do not +find me intrusive, and if you would like to talk this matter +over---not as officer and cadet, but as between a young man and a +somewhat older one, and as friends above all, then I am going to +ask you a few questions." + +"Although I am certain that you cannot help me, Mr. Denton, I +am very grateful for every sign of interest that you may show +in me. It is something of balm to me to feel that I shall leave +behind some who will regret my going." + +"Prescott," asked the officer abruptly, "you have been sent to +Coventry, haven't you? You needn't answer unless you wish." + +"I have, sir," Dick assented. + +"Twice it has happened, when I have been on duty, that you have +had to report classmates to me. Now, I'm not going to step over +the line by asking you whether those reports were the basis of +your being sent to Coventry. But, to please myself, I'm going +to assume that such is the case." + +To this Dick made no reply. It was an instance in which a cadet +could not, with propriety, discuss class action with an officer +on duty at the Military Academy. + +"Now, Prescott, I'm not going to ask you whether my surmise is +a correct one, but I'm going to ask you another question, as a +friend only, and in no official way. Of course, in a friendly +matter you may suit yourself about answering it. Have you done +anything else that could excuse the class in punishing you?" + +"Nothing whatever, sir." + +"Mr. Prescott, aren't you wholly satisfied with your conduct?" + +"I don't quite know how to answer that, Mr. Denton," + +"Have you done anything that you wouldn't repeat if the need arose?" + +"I have not, sir," replied Dick with great earnestness. + +"Do you feel, in your own soul, that you have done anything to +discredit the splendid old gray uniform that you wear?" + +"I do not, sir." + +"Answer this, or not, as you please. Don't you feel wholly convinced +that your class has done you an injustice which it would reverse +instantly if it knew all the circumstances?" + +"I feel certain that my classmates would restore me at once to their +favor, if they knew the full circumstances." + +"Have you felt obliged to refuse them any information for which a +class committee had asked, Prescott?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Let me do some hard thinking, my lad. Ah, now, as I look back +to the night when you were obliged to report Mr. Jordan for being +outside the guard lines, I had myself that night assigned you +to official duty near the guard lines. You were to intercept +plebes who might try to run the guard, and to send them back to +their tents." + +"Yes, sir." + +"That was special duty," resumed Lieutenant Denton. "Now, if you +had been asked, by a class committee, to explain how you happened +to be out there at the right time to catch Mr. Jordan, you would +have felt bound to refuse to reveal your orders from me?" + +"I certainly would have felt so bound, Mr. Denton." + +"Ah! Now I think I understand a good deal, Prescott. Then, at +another time, very recently, you forgot, until late, to turn in +an official report to me. You started to hurry over here, and, +in so doing, you must have accidentally encountered a certain +cadet returning in "cit." clothes. As his company commander, +you surely felt bound to report him for so flagrant a breach of +discipline. Yet, if your class did not fully understand or credit +the fact that only an oversight of yours had thrown you in that +cadet's way, it would make the class feel that you had deliberately +trapped the man, after having spied on his actions earlier in +the evening." + +Dick remained silent, but Lieutenant Denton was a clear headed +and logical guesser. + +"In my cadet days," smiled the lieutenant, "such a suspicion against +a cadet officer would certainly have resulted in ostracism for him." + +"Now, Prescott," asked the officer in charge, leaning over and +resting a friendly hand on the cadet's arm, "you feel that you +have been, throughout, a gentleman and a good soldier, and that +you have not done anything sneaky?" + +"That is my opinion of myself, Mr. Denton." + +"And yet, feeling that your course has been wholly honorable, +you are going to throw up your career in the Army, and waste some +twenty thousand dollars of the nation's money that has been expended +in giving you your training here?" + +"It sounds like a fearful thing to do, Mr. Denton, but I can see +no way out of it, sir. If I am to go on into the Army, and be +an ostracized officer, I should be of no value to myself or to +the service. Wherever I should go, my usefulness would be gone +and my presence demoralizing." + +"Now, if that ostracism continued, your usefulness would be gone, +Prescott, beyond a doubt, and the Army would be better off without +you. But if justice should triumph, later, you would be restored +to your full usefulness, and to the full enjoyment of your career. +Now, Prescott, my boy"---here the officer's voice became tender, +friendly, earnest---"you have been attending chapel every Sunday?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"You have listened to the chaplain's discourses, and I take it +that you have had earlier religious instruction, also. Prescott, +do you or do you not believe that there is a God above who sees +all, loves all and rights all injustice in His own good time?" + +"Assuredly I believe it, sir." + +"And yet, in your own case, you have so little faith in that justice +that, though you feel your course has been honorable, you cannot +wait for justice to be done. Prescott, isn't that kind of faith +almost blasphemy?" + +Dick felt staggered. Although his lot had been cast with Army +officers for more than three years, he had never heard any of +them, save the chaplain, discuss matters of Christian faith. +Yet he knew that Denton, who sat beside him, smiling with friendly +eyes, was talking from full conviction. + +"You've made me see my present predicament in a somewhat different +light, sir," Dick stammered. + +"Prescott, I have knocked about in a good deal of rough life since +I was graduated from here, but I have full faith that every upright +and honorable man is ultimately safe under Heaven's justice. +So have you, or I am mistaken in you. Why not buck up, and make +up your mind to go through your hard rub here firm in the conviction +that this is only a passing cloud that is certain to be dispelled? +Why not stick, like a man of faith and honor? Now, as officer +in charge, I will inform you that you should take a letter of +resignation to the adjutant's office, and hand it to that officer +in person." + +As your friend, I suggest that you give me your letter, with your +permission to destroy it." + +"Here is the letter, Mr. Denton." + +"Thank you, my boy. You may see what I do with it." + +Rising, Lieutenant Denton crossed to an open fire that was burning +low. He laid the envelope across the embers. + +Prescott, too, rose, feeling that the interview was at an end. + +"Just a moment more of friendly conversation, Prescott," continued +the lieutenant, coming forward and taking the cadet's hand. "I +want you to remember that you are not to write or send in any +other letter of resignation until you have first talked it over +with me. And I want you to remember that a soldier should be +a man of faith as well as of honor. Further, Prescott, you may +feel yourself wholly at liberty to explain, at any time, what +your orders from me were that led to your catching and reporting +Mr. Jordan." + +"Thank you, sir; but I'm afraid I shan't be asked for any further +explanations." + +"Seek me, at any time, if there is anything you wish to ask me, +or anything that puzzles you." + +"Yes, sir; thank you." + +Dick had again placed his fatigue cap on his head, and was standing +rigidly at attention. They were once more tactical officer and cadet. + +"That is all, Mr. Prescott, and I am very glad that you came to +see me," continued the officer in charge. + +Prescott saluted, received the officer's acknowledging salute, +turned and left the office. + +A minute later he was allowing good old Greg to pump the details +of that interview out of him. + +"Say," muttered Cadet Holmes, staring soberly at his chum, "an +officer like Lieutenant Denton can put a different look on things, +can't be?" + +"He certainly can, Greg." + +"I'm not going to be fresh, while I'm a cadet," continued Holmes. +"But when I'm an officer I'm going to seek Mr. Denton and ask him +to be my friend, too!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE NEWS FROM FRANKLIN FIELD + + +Though Dick was firmly resolved on his new course, life none the +less was bitter for him. + +The Army football team was now being organized and drilled in +earnest. Douglass captained it this year, and was doing excellent +work, though his material was not as good as he could have wished. + +Anstey was developing speed and strategy in the position of quarterback, +and, in football matters, was a close confidant of Douglass. + +"This Prescott muss has given us a bad setback this year," growled +Douglass. + +"It certainly has, suh," agreed the Virginian. "We're certainly +going to feel the loss of Prescott and Holmes when we come to +face the Navy eleven with such men as Darrin and Dalzell." + +"Hang it, yes. I'm shivering already," growled Douglass. "Now, +of course, we can't ask Prescott to join." + +"And he wouldn't come in, suh, while in Coventry, if we asked him." + +"But Holmes, who is almost as good a man, ought not to hold back +where the Army's credit and honor are at stake. Holmes ought +to stand for the Army, asleep or awake!" + +"If I were in Holmesy's place, I wouldn't come in," rejoined the +Virginian. "I'd stay out, just as Holmesy is doing." + +"But you were one of Prescott's thick friends, too." + +"I'm not his roommate, or his schoolboy chum, suh. Holmesy is. + +"It's hard to lose either of them," sighed Douglass, "and fierce +to lose both of them. We've worked like real heroes, but I can't +see any such team coming on as the Army had last year. And the +Navy eleven will undoubtedly be better this year than it was last." + +"The Army must stand to lose by the action of the first class," +insisted Anstey doggedly. + +Though every man in the corps would have thrown up his cap at +the announcement that Prescott and Holmes were to play again this +year, the leaders of first-class opinion could see no reason to +alter their judgment of Dick. So he continued in Coventry. + +The football season came on with a rush at last. The Army won +some of its games, from minor teams, but none from the bigger +college elevens. + +Then came the fateful Saturday when the corps went over to +Philadelphia. Dick and Greg were the only two members of the +corps, not under severe discipline, who remained behind at the +Military Academy. + +Late that afternoon Greg, with a long face, brought in the football +news from Franklin Field. + +"The Navy has wiped us up, ten to two," grumbled Holmes. + +"I'm heartily sorry," cried Dick, and he spoke the truth. + +"Well, it's our class's fault," growled Greg. "The Army can thank +our class." + +"We might not have been able to save the game," argued Prescott. + +"We could have rattled Dave and Dan a lot," retorted Greg. "My +own belief is we could have saved the day." + +"You might have played, Greg. I wouldn't have resented it." + +"No; but I'd have felt a fine contempt for myself," retorted Cadet +Holmes scornfully. "Besides, Dick, though I have done some fairly +good things in football, I don't believe I'd be worth a kick without +you. It was playing with you that made me shine, always." + +Late that evening the cadet corps returned, in the gloomiest frame +of mind. + +"I can just see the blaze of bonfires at Annapolis," groaned Douglass. +"Say, the middies just fairly tore our scalps off. I always had +an ambition to captain the Army eleven, but I never thought I'd be +dragged down so deep under the mire!" + +The details of that sad game for the Army need not be gone into +here. All the particulars of that spiritedly fought disaster +will be found in the fourth volume of the Annapolis Series, entitled +"_Dave Darrin's Fourth Year At Annapolis_." + +A lot of the cadets who felt sorry for "Doug" came to his room. + +"I haven't altogether gotten it through my weak mind yet," confessed +the disheartened Army football captain. "I can't understand how +those little middies managed to treat us quite so badly." + +"I can tell you," retorted Anstey. + +"Then I wish you would," begged "Doug." + +"Go ahead!" clamored a dozen others. + +"I don't know whether you fellows believe in hoodoos?" asked Anstey. + +"Hoodoos?" + +"Yes; the Army is under one now." + +"Pshaw, Anstey!" + +"Explain yourself, Anstey!" + +"There is a man in this class," replied the Virginian solemnly, +"who has been treated unjustly by the others. Lots of you won't +see it, and can't be made to reason. But that injustice has put +the hoodoo on the Army's athletics, and the hoodoo will strut +along beside the present first class all the way through this +year. You'll find it out more and more as time goes on. Just +wait until next spring, and see the Navy walk away with the baseball +game, too." + +"Stop that, Anstey!" + +"Put him out!" + +"Give him soothing syrup." + +"Wait until June, gentlemen," retorted the Virginian calmly. +"Then you'll see." + +"What rot!" sneered Jordan bitterly. + +"Well, of course," admitted others in undertones, "we lost through +not having Prescott and Holmes on the eleven. But we'd better lose, +even, than win through men not fit to associate with." + +"Prescott must be chuckling," jeered Durville. + +"He's doing nothing of the sort, suh!" flared Anstey. "And I'm +prepared to maintain my position." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +READY TO BREAK THE CAMEL'S BACK + + +From Thanksgiving to Christmas the time seemed to fly all too fast +for most of the young men of the corps of cadets. + +Dick Prescott, however, had never known time to drag so fearfully. +Cut off from association with any but Greg, Dick had much, very +much time on his hands. + +Full of a dogged purpose to stick to his word given to Lieutenant +Denton, Prescott used nearly all of his waking time in study when +he was not at recitation. In his classes he soared. In engineering +and law, the studies of this term which called for the most exacting +thought, Prescott showed unusual signs of "maxing," or getting +among the highest marks. Yet, after all this was done, so much +leisure did the lonely Dick have that he found time to coach Greg +and pull him along over the hard parts. + +"Look at that fellow recite! Look where he stands in the sections!" +growled Durville in bewilderment to Jordan. + +"It looks as if the sneak meant to stick," uttered Jordan incredulously. + +"Yet of course he knows he can't. If it were only for West Point +he might stick, but the Army, through his lifetime, would be just +as bad for him." + +It had been a general notion that Prescott, either too proud or +too stubborn to allow himself to be forced out, would wait and +"fess out cold" at the January semi-annuals. Thus he would be +dropped for deficiency, and would not have to admit to anyone +that he had allowed himself to be driven from the Military Academy +by the "silence" that had been extended to him. + +Jordan knew better than to go near the fiery young Anstey, so he +managed to induce Durville to speak to the Virginian as to +Prescott's plans. + +"I don't know Mr. Prescott's intentions, suh," replied Anstey +with perfect truth and a good deal of dignity. "I am bound, suh, +to follow the class's action, suh, much as I disapprove of it. +So I have had no word with Mr. Prescott later than you have." + +"But you know the fellow's roommate, Mr. Holmes," suggested Durville. + +"I am under the impression that you do, too, suh," replied Anstey +significantly, yet without infusing offence into his even tones. + +It was no use. The first class could only guess. No cadet knew, +unless it were Holmes, what Prescott's intentions were about quitting +the corps in the near future. And Greg, usually both chatty and +impulsive, could be as cold and silent as a sphinx where his chum's +secrets or interests were concerned. + +Had he wished, he might have gone home at Christmas, for a day +or two, for he was on the good-conduct roll; but Dick felt that +Christmas at home would be a heart break just now. As he did +not go, Greg did not go either. + +The reader may be sure that Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell, at Annapolis, +knew the state of affairs with their old-time friend and leader. +Greg had sent word of what was happening with Dick. + +"Buck up---that's all, old chap," Dave wrote from the Naval Academy. +"You never did a mean thing, and you never will. Even your class +will learn that before very long. So buck up! Hit the center +of the line and charge through! Don't think Dan and I are not +sorry for you, but we're even more interested in seeing you charge +right through all disaster in a way that fits the pride, courage +and honor that we know you to possess. I asked Dan if he had +any message to send you. Old Dan's reply was: 'Dick doesn't need +any message. If there's any fellow on earth who can jump in and +scalp Fate, it's our old Dick.' There you are, Army chum! We're +merely waiting for word that you've won out, for you're bound +to." + +January came, and with it the semi-annual examinations. So high +was Dick's class standing that he had to go up for but one "writ." +That was Spanish. + +"I reckon Spanish is where he falls," chuckled Durville, when +Jordan spoke to him about it. "It's easy to make mistakes enough +on Spanish verbs and declensions to throw a fellow down and out. +That'll be Prescott's line." + +"Of course," nodded Jordan. Yet Dick's enemy was very far from +feeling hopeful that such would be the case. + +"I never imagined the fellow could stick as long as he has," Jordan +told himself disconsolately. + +One night Anstey, just before the semi-ans., took a chance. Usually +the Virginian was careful in matters of discipline. But now he +invited a dozen members of his class to his room to discuss an +"important matter." + +"Going?" asked Durville of Jordan. + +"I'm not invited, Durry," replied the other. + +"I am, and I'm going." + +"But you don't know the subject of the meeting?" + +"No; that's what puzzles me," admitted Durville. "I'm wondering +if it has anything to do with choosing the class ring, or selecting +our uniforms for after graduation." + +"You simpleton!" cried Jordan in disgust. "You don't see far, +do you? Can't you guess what the meeting is to discuss?" + +"I'm blessed if I can." + +"Anstey, outside of Holmes, has been the most constant friend of +Prescott. Now, Prescott has his chance of passing, if the class +'silence' on him can be lifted. Anstey is going to sound class +opinion. If the 'silence' can't be lifted, then Prescott is +going to 'fess' down and out, and we shall see the last of him." + +"Poor old fellow!" muttered Durville. "Say, do you know, I'm +growing almost sorry for the poor beggar and his long, bitter dose." + +"After what he did to you?" demanded Jordan with instant scorn. +"Durville, I thought you a man of spirit." + +"May a man of spirit forgive his enemy, especially when he sometimes +doubts whether the other fellow really is an enemy?" demanded +Durville. + +"Oh, he may, I suppose," replied Jordan, his lip curling. "On +the whole, however, I am a good deal surprised at seeing you accept +the loss of all your liberties and privileges so easily as you +are doing." + +Naturally, the effect of Jordan's words was to kill a good deal +of Durville's fleeting sympathy, for the latter had suffered a +good deal from the restraint of his liberties, following the escapade +for which Dick had reported him. + +The meeting in Anstey's room resulted in the secret gathering +of a dozen men. Eight of these were friends of Dick, who would +still like to see the class action reversed or ended. But Anstey +had been clever enough also to invite four men who were numbered +among Prescott's adversaries. One of these was Douglass, the +cadet who had been elected to succeed Dick as class president. + +"Now, gentlemen," began Anstey, in his soft voice of ordinary +conversation, "I don't believe we have any need of a presiding +officer in this little meeting. With your permission, I will +state why I have asked you to come here. + +"For months, now, we have had a member of this class in Coventry. +Barely more than a majority believed in that Coventry, but once +action had been taken by the class, the disapproving minority +stood loyally by class action. I have been among those of the +minority to abide by majority action, and I can assure you that +I have suffered very nearly as much as has Mr. Prescott, whose +case I am now discussing. + +"The majority has had its way for months. Is it not now time, +if the class will not grant full justice, at least to grant something +to the wishes of the minority?" + +"What do you mean?" asked one of Dick's opponents. "Mr. Prescott +will let himself be found deficient in at least one study, won't +he, and thus take his unpopular presence away from the Military +Academy?" + +"I cannot answer that," admitted Anstey slowly. "Doubtless many +of you will be surprised when I tell you that I have had no word +in the matter from Mr. Prescott. I have not even mentioned the +subject to his roommate, Mr. Holmes." + +"Then whom do you represent?" demanded the other cadet. + +"Myself and other believers in Mr. Prescott," replied Anstey simply. +"The very least we ask is that you stop punishing so many of +us through Mr. Prescott. Gentlemen, do you not feel that any +man who commands as many friends in his class as does Mr. Prescott +must be a man above the petty meannesses of which he was accused, +and for which he was sent to Coventry?" + +"I've been one of the sufferers through Mr. Prescott," commented +Durville grimly. "As for me, I'll admit that I'd be glad to see +the 'silence' lifted. I feel that Mr. Prescott has been punished +enough, and that, if we now lift the 'silence,' he would be more +careful after this. I think he has been chastened enough. If +I could find any reason whatever for refusing to vote for the +end of the Coventry, it would come from the question as to whether +any one class has the right to upset the traditions and establish +a new precedent for such cases." + +"There is the most of the case in a nutshell I am afraid," declared +Cadet Douglass. "In our interior corps discipline we not only +work from tradition, but we strengthen or weaken it for the classes +that are to follow us. Have we any right to weaken a tradition +that is as old as the Military Academy itself?" + +These simple remarks, made with an absence of bitter feeling, +swung the tide against Dick. The meeting in Anstey's room lasted +for more than an hour. When the meeting broke up Anstey and some +of his advisers felt convinced that to call a class meeting would +be merely to bring about a vote that Prescott was to be kept in +Coventry for all time to come. + +Anstey told Greg the result of the meeting, but Holmes did not +tell his chum. + +"It's all settled as it ought to be," declared Cadet Jordan. + +"You mean-----" asked Durville. + +"Why, either Prescott will have to be 'found' in his exams., or +else he'll be bound to resign as soon as he has proved that his +departure from West Point was not due to poor scholarship. Which +ever way he prefers to do it, the fellow will have to get out +of the corps within the next few days!" + +"Yes; I suppose so," almost sighed Durville. + +"Why, hang you, Durry, you talk like a man whose good opinion can +be won by a kicking." + +"Do you" asked Durville, with a warning flash in his eyes. + +"Oh, don't take me too seriously," protested Jordan. "But I cannot +help marveling at your near liking for the man who landed you +in such a scrape." + +"I don't enjoy hitting a man who is down; that is all," returned +Durville. "I've seen Mr. Prescott down for so many weeks and +months that I'd like to see how he looks when he's a man instead +of an under dog." + +"Well, I'm glad to say the class is plainly not of your way of +thinking," growled Jordan. "The class is for maintaining higher +ideals of the honor of military service and true comradeship. So +it's only a matter of what date the fellow selects for leaving +here." + +And truly that was the view that seemed to be pressing more and +more tightly upon Dick Prescott. The pressure was becoming more +than he could bear. He had followed Lieutenant Denton's advice, +and had put up a good and a brave fight. But to be "the only +dog in a cage of lions" is a fearful ordeal for the +bravest---especially when the door is open. + +Greg never seemed to notice the sighs that occasionally escaped +Dick Prescott's lips. Holmes no longer tried to cheer his friend +by open speech or advice. Yet not a thing that Dick did escaped +the covert watchfulness of his roommate. + +The semi-ans. over, and the results posted on the bulletin board +in the Academic Building, it was discovered that Cadet Richard +Prescott now stood number twenty-four in his class---a rank never +heretofore won by him. + +Cadet Jordan was so furious that his face was ghastly white when he +made the discovery. + +"Will nothing ever drive that living disgrace Prescott out of +the corps?" Jordan asked three or four of the men. "Why, the +fellow is defying class authority! He's making fools of us all. +He bluntly asks us what we think we can do about it!" + +"We'll have to show Prescott, then," grimly replied one of the +cadets with whom Jordan talked. + +"But how?" demanded Cadet Jordan craftily. "Is there any possible +way of making as thickheaded or stubborn a fellow as Prescott +realize that he simply can't go on with us? That we won't have him +with us?" + +"Oh, I think there's a way," smiled the other cadet. + +"Then I wonder why some one doesn't find it?" demanded Jordan +wrathfully. + +"We shall, I think." + +Greg scented new mischief in the air, yet he was hardly the one to +do the scouting. + +Anstey, however, could look about for the news, and he could properly +discuss it with Cadet Holmes. + +With the beginning of the last half of the year the members of the +first class found themselves sufficiently busy with their studies. +Dick's affair was allowed to slumber for a few days. + +Even Cadet Jordan, whose sole purpose now in life was to "work" +Prescott out of the corps, was clever enough to assent to letting +the matter rest for a few days. + +After another fortnight, however, the first class, in its moments +of leisure, especially in the brief rests right after meals, again +began to throb over what was considered the brazen and open defiance +of Dick Prescott in persisting in remaining a cadet at the Military +Academy. + +So many members of the class, however, insisted on going slowly +and with great deliberation that the Jordan faction did not make +the mistake of rushing matters. At any rate, Prescott was in +Coventry, and there he would stay. + +Thus February came on and passed slowly. To all outward appearances +Prescott was as selfpossessed and contented as ever he had been +while at the Military Academy. + +Now, Army baseball was the topic. The nine and other members +of the baseball squad were practising in earnest. Durville had +been chosen to captain the nine. + +Though there was some mighty good material in the nine, neither the +coaches nor Durville were wholly satisfied. + +"Holmesy," broached Durville plaintively one day, "you play a +grand game of football." + +"Thank you," replied Greg, with a pretense of mock modesty; "I +know it." + +"And you must play a great game of ball, too." + +"I did once---pardon these blushes. Dick Prescott was my old trainer +in baseball." + +"Oh, bother Prescott! We can't have him." + +"I don't play well without him," remarked Greg blandly. + +"Come over to practice this afternoon, won't you?" + +"Yes; but I don't believe I'll try for the nine." + +"Come over and let us see your style, any way." + +Greg turned up late that afternoon for practice. What he showed +the captain and coaches had them fairly "rattled" with desire to +slip Greg into the nine. + +"I'm much obliged to you all," Greg insisted gently, "but I told +you I wasn't going to try for the nine. I never played a game +without Prescott, and I know I'd be a hoodoo if I did." + +Though a great lot of pressure was brought to bear upon him, Holmes +still held out. It was his privilege to refuse to play, if he so +chose. Above all, the coaches, who were Army officers, could not +urge him. + +"That man Holmes is just the fellow we need to round out the team," +complained one of the players to Durville. + +"Yes," sighed the captain of the Army nine; "and Holmesy tells +me that he's a tyro to Mr. Prescott." + +"Then Mr. Prescott must be a wonder on the diamond," grunted the +other cadet. + +"I hear that he is," assented Durville. "By the way, you remember +Darrin and Dalzell, who helped the Navy team to wipe the field up +with us last year?" + +"I reckon I do." + +"Well, it seems that Prescott, Holmes, Darrin and Dalzell were +all members of the athletic squad in the same High School before +they entered the service." + +"Darrin and Dalzell are going to make it possible for the Navy to +wipe us up again this year, too," continued the other cadet +plaintively. + +"I don't believe they would, if we could put in Mr. Prescott and +Holmesy for this year." + +"But we can't, Durry." + +"No; I know it." + +"So what's the use of talking." Nevertheless, there was a lot +of talking, and dozens waylaid Greg and tried to induce him to +reconsider. But he wouldn't, and that was all there was to it. +No one even thought of lifting the ban from Prescott in order +to gain either or both of these cadet athletes. West Point cadets +are consistent. They will never lift the ban, once they believe +it to have been justly laid, just in order to make a better athletic +showing. The Academy authorities demand that a team athlete shall +stand well in his studies and general discipline; the cadets themselves +demand also that the man who carries their athletic colors must +conform to cadet ideals of honor. And Prescott, being in Coventry, +surely was not to be regarded as a man of honor. + +Washington's Birthday had come and passed, and Prescott still +lingered in the cadet corps. Indeed, he seemed as determined as +ever upon graduating. + +There were limits, however, to class patience. It was Anstey who +got on the track of the news and brought it to Greg. + +"A class meeting is to be called ten days hence," reported the +Virginian. "The meeting will be announced at supper formation +to-night. It is set well ahead in order to give the fellows plenty +of time to think over the subject for discussion." + +"That discussion," guessed Holmes, "is to be as to the best means +of driving Dick from the corps." + +"You've guessed it, suh," replied the Virginian sorrowfully. +"Whatever the class feels called upon to do, suh, I reckon it will +be something that will break our poor camel's back." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE FIGURES IN THE DARK + + +And Dick? + +The reader will hardly need to be told that this spirited young +cadet was suffering his unmerited disgrace as keenly as ever. + +More keenly, in fact, for every day that the silence continued it +seemed to add to the weight of the burden that bound him down. + +Yet Greg asked no questions, for he felt that it would be safer +not to do so. He had just barely told Prescott of the purpose +of the coming class meeting, which the latter cadet had already +guessed for himself, however. + +"I suppose I'll have a few loyal friends at that meeting?" asked +Dick, with a sad smile. + +"Just as many friends as ever," asserted Holmes stoutly. + +"I'm mighty grateful for that," nodded Dick. "But what I seem to +need is more friends than ever." + +"We'll find them for you, if there's any way to do it," promised +Holmes, and there the talk dropped. + +"If the class goes against me again, and harder than before, I'm +certain I shall have to see Lieutenant Denton once more and tell +him that I can't stand it any longer," Dick told himself. + +The class meeting was to be held on a Monday evening. On the +night of the Saturday before, when scores of cadets were over +at Cullum Hall at a merry "hop," Prescott slipped out of barracks +by himself in Greg's absence. + +Almost unconsciously Prescott's steps turned in the direction +of Trophy Point. In the darkness he stood before Battle Monument, +on which are inscribed the names of the West Point graduates who +have fallen in battles. + +"Will my name ever be there, or have any chance to be there?" +wondered Dick, a big lump rising in his throat. + +A tear stood in either eye, but he brushed them aside as unworthy +of a soldier. Was he ever going to be a soldier, he wondered. + +"I don't know that I'm really ready to be killed in battle," thought +Dick grimly. "It would be enough to know that my name is to be +on the roll of graduates of the Military Academy, and afterwards +on the rolls of the Army as an officer who had served with credit +wherever he had been placed. But the fates seem against even +that much. Hang it all, what was it that Lieutenant Denton said +about faith and right, and faith being as much the soldier's duty +as honor? I guess he was never placed in just such a fix as mine!" + +For, slowly, all of Dick's iron-clad resolution to "stick it out" +was wearing away. It was becoming plainer to him, every day, +that he could not stay in the Army if he were always to live in +Coventry as far as his brother officers were concerned. + +"I wonder what the fellows will do at the meeting next Monday +night?" Dick pondered, as he turned and strolled back by another +road. "If the fellows could only realize how unjust they are +without meaning to be! But I can't make them see that. I'll +have to resign, of course, but I promised Lieutenant Denton to +talk it over with him before doing anything of the sort, and I'll +keep my word." + +Very absent minded did the young cadet become in the midst of +his perplexed musings. He heard the sound of martial music and +unconsciously his feet moved in quicker time. + +It was as though he were marching, led on by he knew not what. + +Straight toward the music he moved, with the tread of a soldier +responding to the drums. + +Then, at last, when he was almost upon the building, Prescott +came to himself and stopped abruptly. + +"Cullum Hall!" he muttered, with a harsh laugh. "The night of +the cadet hop. My classmates are in there, free-hearted and happy, +and taking their lessons in the social graces---while I am on +the outside, the social outcast of the class!" + +Yet, as there were no cadets in sight, out at this north end of +the handsome building, Prescott presently moved forward, nearer. + +"The old, old story of the beggar on the outside! The man on +the outside, looking in!" muttered Dick with increasing bitterness. +"Yet I may as well look, since there is none to see me or deny me." + +Around the north end Dick passed, just as the brilliant music +of the Military Academy orchestra was drawing to its close. In +his misery the young cadet leaned against the face of the building, +behind an angle in the wall. + +As he stood there Dick saw the figure of a man flit, by him. The +stranger was dressed in citizen's clothes. There was nothing +suspicions in that, since there is no law to prevent citizens +from visiting the Military Academy. But there was something stealthy +about this stranger's movements. + +"It is a wonder he didn't see me," mused Dick. "He went by within +eight feet of me." + +Dick was about to make his presence known by stepping out into sight, +when the stranger halted. + +"Perhaps it may be as well not to show myself just yet," flashed +through Prescott's mind. "If the fellow is up to any mischief +probably I can prevent it." + +A cold, biting breeze swept up from the Hudson River below. It +was chilling in the extreme, here at the top of the bluff, but +Dick, in his misery, had been proof against weather. + +Not so with the stranger. He stamped his feet and struck his +hands against his sides. Then, after some moments, as though +angry at some one within Cullum Hall, the stranger wheeled and +shook one clenched fist at the windows overhead. + +"Whom has that fellow a grouch against?" Dick wondered in spite +of himself. + +Just an instant later he heard a quick step coming around the north +end of the building. + +A cadet was coming, beyond a doubt, and very likely to meet this +impatient or angry stranger. + +Prescott had too much honor to play the eavesdropper. He was +just about to step out when the newcomer turned the corner, coming +on straight past where Prescott stood in the deep shadow. + +The newcomer was a cadet, and that cadet was Mr. Jordan. + +"Well, my good fellow, have I kept you waiting long?" demanded +Jordan, just the second after he had stepped past Dick without +seeing the latter. + +"You could a jumped faster," growled the stranger. "With all +I know against you, Jordan, it will pay you to nurse my good feeling +a little harder." + +"Why, what's the matter with you now?" demanded Jordan more seriously. + +Somehow, Dick could not pull himself away just then. + +"Have you brought me some of that money you owe me?" demanded the +stranger gruffly. + +"Now, you know I can't, before graduation day," pleaded Jordan +whiningly. + +"And I know that, when graduation day comes, you'll tell me that +every dollar you had in the world had to go into uniforms," snapped +the stranger. "I'll tell you what I do know about you, Jordan, +my boy. I know that if you don't find the money, turn it over +and get back my note, you'll never graduate! Cadets can't borrow +money on their notes; it's against the regulations. If it was +known that you had borrowed five hundred dollars of me already, +and that you were defaulting on principal and interest, too-----" + +"It wasn't five hundred," broke in Jordan nervously. "It was +just two hundred and fifty dollars." + +"The note says five hundred," retorted the stranger tersely, with +a shrug of his shoulders. And there's interest on it, too. And +you haven't paid a dollar. You told me you could get the money +from home." + +"I---I thought I could, at that," stammered Cadet Jordan. "But +I wrote my father, and he said he was near bankruptcy-----" + +"Near bankruptcy?" almost screamed the stranger. "You young swindler. +You told me your father was a wealthy man!" + +"Sh!" begged Jordan tremulously. "Not so loud! Some one will +hear you." + +"I don't care who hears me," retorted the stranger in an ugly +tone. "You've been swindling me right along, it seems. Now, +you'll hand me some money to-night, and all of the balance by +next Wednesday, or I'll go straight to the superintendent. Then +you'll lose your nice little berth here. You putting on airs, +and yet you told me how you had rebuked and paid back another +cadet for doing the same breezy thing." + +Dick, his cheeks burning with the shame of having allowed himself +to listen to so much, was on the very point of slipping away around +the north end of Cullum Hall. But this last remark gripped him, +holding him feverishly to the spot. + +"Prescott, I believe you said the fellow's name was," went on +the stranger. + +"Yes," admitted Jordan. "And I put it all over him in a way that +should make anyone else afraid of having me for an enemy!" + +Dick's heart gave a great, almost strangling bound. Then it was +quiet again, and his ears seemed preternaturally keen. + +So sharp was his hearing, in fact, that he heard a sound that +did not reach the ears of the other cadet or the latter's companion. + +It was someone else coming. With all the stealth in the world +Dick now managed to slip around the end of the building and toward +the front. + +A cadet had stepped out as though seeking a breath of cool air +between dances. Dick darted forward on tiptoe until he recognized +the oncoming one. It was Douglass, president of the first class. + +"Mr. Douglass!" whispered Dick, stopping squarely before his successor +in class honors. + +Douglass, without looking at his appealing fellow classman, or opening +his lips to answer, stepped around Prescott. + +But Dick caught his unwilling comrade firmly by the arm. + +"Douglass," he whispered, "in the name of justice, listen to me +just an instant---a swift instant, too! I think the chance has +come to clear me of the load of dislike and contempt with which +I am regarded here. This appeal is between man and man! Jordan +is around the corner, telling a stranger how he trapped me and +got me into disgrace with the class. As a matter of cadet justice +and honor, I beg you to go softly to the corner and hear what +is being said. Do not let Jordan suspect that you are near. +What he is saying will clear me. Go, and go softly, I beg you, +as a matter of justice from one man to another!" + +All the time that Dick had held his arm Douglass had stood there, +not seeking to snatch himself free. + +Nor did he utter a word. The class president stood there, like +a statue, looking straight past Prescott, as though he did not +know that such a being existed anywhere in the world. + +Now, with despair tugging at his heart, Prescott released his hold. + +Cadet Douglass moved forward again. Dick stood watching his brother +cadet with a feeling of despair until he saw that Douglass was +moving softly. Dick saw him go quietly around the corner of the +building. Now, Dick was at his heels, stealthy as any Indian +could have been, until he looked around the corner and saw that +Cadet Douglass had slipped into the same shadow that Dick himself +had occupied until a moment before. + +"Now, if that pair yonder will only go on talking about me for +sixty seconds!" thought Dick in a frenzy. + +Again he flew toward the front of the building. There was just +one other cadet outside---Durville, the man whom he had been obliged +to report for a tremendously grave breach of discipline. + +But Dick Prescott's courage was up now. He raced forward, fairly +gripping Durville and holding him tight. + +"Durville, listen to me for just a moment," begged Dick. "I know +you don't like me, but you're a man of honor. Jordan is on the +east side of this building, and I believe he is confessing a plot +that he put into successful operation against me. Douglass is +already there listening. Will you slip there softly, and listen, +too? I don't ask this as a matter of friendship, but of honor! +Will you go---and softly?" + +Slowly Durville turned and looked into Prescott's eyes. Then he +did not speak, but he nodded. + +"Thank you, Durville! Be quick---and stealthy! Let me guide you." + +Class President Douglass stood in the shadow. He heard Jordan's +own tongue telling the stranger the familiar story of how he, +Jordan, had been reported for indolence in the bridge construction +work. + +"I had to get square," Jordan was continuing, just as Dick piloted +Durville within hearing. + +"And you think you did it slickly, I suppose?" jeered the stranger. + +Though Jordan did not seem to suspect it, the stranger was seeking +this information as another blackmailing club to hold over Jordan's +head. + +"Slick?" queried Jordan, with a sneer. "Well, it wasn't altogether +that. There was a good bit of luck in the whole job, too, but +Prescott is in Coventry, and there he'll stick, too. He'll be +away from here inside of two or three days more." + +"How did you manage to do it?" asked the stranger, concealing +his anxiety to have Jordan tell the story. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE STORY CARRIED ON THE WIND + + +"Oh, I fixed it all right," insisted Jordan confidently. + +He was speaking in a rather low tone, but the breeze carried every +word to the ears of the listeners. + +"You're talking just to hear yourself talking," sneered the stranger +coarsely. + +"No; I'm not, Henckley," retorted the cadet. + +"What was the trick, then?" + +"Don't you wish you knew?" laughed Jordan. + +"I don't care much," replied the stranger named Henckley. "But +I can't just picture you as doing anything extremely clever. +Even if it was luck, as you say, I can't figure how you were smart +enough to know how to profit by it. That's why I'm just a bit +curious, but no more." + +"Why, you see, it happened this way," went on Jordan. "I saw +Prescott, that night back into camp, going into the tent of the +O.C. I thought that perhaps Prescott was going there in order +to say more about the matter that he had reported me for that +forenoon. So I moved close and listened. It seemed that some +of the plebes had been running the guard nights. Lieutenant Denton +asked the fellow Prescott, who is a cadet captain, to keep a watch +and stop plebes before they had a chance to get on the other side +of the guard line. + +"Well, I knew the point at which plebes were in the habit of getting +past the guard line, and so did Prescott, I guess. So, a little +after taps, I slipped outside the guard near where I judged Prescott +would be watching. Then, after I had heard him speak with the +cadet sentry I presently stooped low in the bushes and lit a cigar. +Then I stood up straight and the glowing end of the cigar showed +from where Prescott stood. He did just what a fellow like him +feels bound to do, and what I knew he'd do. He hailed me. I +acted as though I wanted to get away, then allowed myself to be +overhauled. I was reported, of course, and made to pay the penalty. +But I was able to make the other fellows in the class believe +that Prescott had trailed me, on purpose to rub it into me. That +looked like over zeal, backed by a grudge, and the first class +swallowed it in fine shape. They gave him the silence, but had +not made it permanent Coventry. Then he caught another man, named +Durville, for going off the post in 'cit.' clothes, and that settled +the case against that fellow Prescott. But it was my trick that +made all the rest possible." + +"I don't see that that was anything very clever," rejoined Henckley. + +"I told you, didn't I," argued Jordan, "that it was as much luck +as cleverness." + +"What part of it was clever, anyway?" jeered Henckley. + +"Why, putting the whole game through, and making the class take +it up, yet doing it all so that the trick could never be traced +back to me," replied Jordan. + +In the shadow, Durville turned briskly, gripping Dick's hand with +his own. + +Douglass saw. After a bare instant's hesitation the class president +also took Prescott's hand, giving it a mighty squeeze. + +In the joy of that friendly grasp from his own classmen, Dick +Prescott almost felt that all the bitterness of the last few months +had been wiped out in a second. + +Then Douglass stepped out from the shadow, his face stern and set. + +"Perhaps you will want to stop talking, Mr. Jordan," he called. +"Your conversation has not been a private one!" + +With the strong wind blowing away from Jordan, that cadet heard +only a rumble of voices. Both he and Henckley, however, caught +sight of the advancing figures. + +"Hello! What are you fellows doing here?" demanded the money +lender, with blustering indignation. + +"I might ask that question of you, fellow, but I won't, for I +already know," replied Cadet Douglass, fixing his eyes on the +stranger. + +"You've been listening to our talk?" demanded Henckley angrily, +while Jordan, after his first gasp of dismay, seemed to shrivel +back against the wall of Cullum Hall. + +"Mr. Jordan," continued the class president, facing the dismayed +one in gray uniform, "I don't believe the significance of this +meeting has escaped you?" + +"No-o-o," wailed Jordan in misery. + +"Now, see here, young fellows, don't you go and blab what you've +been spying on just now," remonstrated Mr. Henckley, a note of +dismay creeping into his tone. + +"It can hardly concern you, sir," flashed Cadet Douglass, wheeling +upon the money shark. "Yet I suppose it does, too. For now I +do not see how Mr. Jordan can hope to remain at the Military Academy. +That, I suppose, may possibly affect your security for the money +which, I take it, Mr. Jordan has borrowed from you." + +"But you won't blab, and have him kicked out?" coaxed Mr. Henckley, +his voice now wholly wheedling. + +"What the cadets may see fit to do for their own protection is hardly +a matter that can be discussed with you, sir," returned Douglass +coldly. + +"Oh, now see here, there are ways and ways," spoke Henckley in +a wheedling tone. "Let's all be friendly." + +Before Douglass could guess what was happening the money shark +had pressed a hand against the cadet's. With an impatient gesture +Douglass shook his own hand free. But something like paper remained +in his palm. Douglass held up that hand, and discovered that it held +a banknote that Henckley had slipped into Douglass' hand as a bribe. + +Cadet Douglass calmly tore that banknote in bits and flung it +off on the breeze. The fragments were out of sight in an instant. +Then Douglass coolly knocked the money shark down. + +"Come along, fellows," spoke the class president quietly, and +turned on his heel. + +"Confound you, Mr. Fresh, I'll report this to the superintendent," +bellowed Henckley. + +"Do!" called Douglass in cool contempt over his shoulder. + +Douglass, Durville and Prescott tramped together around to the +front of Cullum Hall. + +There Douglass again paused to hold out his hand, remarking: + +"Mr. Prescott, the class meeting is not to be held until Monday +evening. All I am privileged to say is that I think what we have +overheard tonight will very materially affect the class action. +I am very grateful to you, my dear sir, for having called us." + +Durville, too, held out his hand in sign that the past grudge was +forgotten so far as he was concerned. + +Full of a new happiness, Dick trudged back to cadet barracks. +Finding Greg Holmes in, Prescott imparted the wonderful news. + +Greg leaped up delightedly, pumphandling his chum's arm and patting +him on the back. + +"Come out all right?" sputtered Holmes. "Of course it will, and +I always knew it would." + +Meanwhile Cadet Jordan was surveying Henckley with a look of mingled +rage, disgust and consternation. + +"Now, you've gone and done it, you bull-necked, toad-brained idiot!" +cried the elegant Mr. Jordan. + +"Why didn't you pay up like a man, and this would never have happened," +growled Henckley, rubbing the spot where Douglass had struck him. + +"Pay up like a man?" sneered Jordan. "Well, this affair has one +small, good side to it. You've got me run out of the cadet corps, +but-----" + +"Out of the cadet corps?" screamed Henckley. "Then what becomes +of what you owe me?" + +"That's something you'll have to settle to your own satisfaction," +jeered the dismayed cadet. "I can offer you no help." + +Jordan turned on his heel, starting to walk away, when Mr. Henckley +leaped after him, seizing him by the arm. + +"See here-----" began the money shark hoarsely. + +"Let go of my arm," warned Jordan in a rage, "or I'll hit you +harder than Douglass did." + +As the money lender shrank back out of Jordan's reach, the cadet +strode off swiftly. + +Mr. Jordan was in his bed when the subdivision inspector went +through the rooms that night. + +At morning roll call, however, Jordan did not answer. + +An investigation showed that he had gone. All his uniforms and +other equipment he had left behind, from which it was judged that +Jordan had, in some way, managed to get hold of an outfit of civilian +attire. + +Jordan had deserted, with a heart full of hate for Dick Prescott, +with whom the deserter swore to be "even" before the academic year +was out. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE CLASS MEETING "SIZZLES" + + +That Sunday, save Greg, none of the cadets addressed Prescott. + +Anstey, however, thought up a new way of getting around the "silence." +As he passed Dick, the Virginian winked very broadly. Other cadets +were quick to catch the idea. Wherever Dick went that Sunday he was +greeted with winks. + +Monday Dick was in a fever of excitement. For once he fared badly +in his marks won in the section rooms. + +When evening came around every member of the first class, save +Prescott, hurried off to class meeting. For the first time in +many months, Greg attended. + +As the cadets began to gather, excitement ran high. The room +was full of suppressed noise until President Douglass rapped sharply +for order. + +Then, instantly all became as still as a church. + +"Will Mr. Fullerton please take the chair?" asked the class president. +"The present presiding officer wishes the privileges of the floor." + +Amid more intense silence Fullerton went forward to the chair, while +Douglass stepped softly down to the floor. + +"Mr. Chairman," called Douglass. + +"Mr. Douglass has the floor." + +Douglass was already on his feet, of course. He plunged into +an accurate narrative of what had happened, and what he had overheard, +on Saturday night. He told it all without embellishment or flourish, +and wound up by calling attention to Jordan's plain enough desertion +from the corps. + +Durville then obtained the floor. He corroborated all that the class +president had just narrated. + +"May I now make a motion, sir?" demanded Durville, turning finally +toward the class president. + +"Yes," nodded Cadet Douglass. + +"Mr. Chairman, I move that the first class, United States Military +Academy, remove the Coventry and the silence that have been put +upon our comrade, Mr. Richard Prescott. I move that, by class +resolution, we express to him our regret for the great though +unintentional injustice that has been done Mr. Prescott during +these many months." + +"I second the motion!" shouted Douglass. + +It was carried amid an uproar. If there were any present who +did not wish to see Dick thus reinstated, they were wise enough +to keep their opinions to themselves. + +"Mr. Chairman!" shouted another voice over the hubbub. + +"Mr. Mallory," replied the chair. + +"I move that Messrs. Holmes and Anstey be appointed a committee +of two to go after Mr. Prescott and to bring him here---by force, +if necessary." + +Amid a good deal of laughter this motion, too, was carried. The +two more than willing messengers departed on the run. + +"Mr. Chairman!" + +"Mr. Douglass." + +The class president rose, waving his right hand for utter silence. +Then, slowly and modestly, he said: + +"I have greatly enjoyed the honor of being president of this class. +But I can no longer take pride in holding this office, for, in +common with the rest of you, I realize that I secured the honor +through a misapprehension. I therefore tender my resignation +as president of the first class." + +"No, no, no!" shouted several. + +"Thank you, gentlemen," replied Douglass with feeling. "I appreciate +it all, but I feel that I have no longer any right to the presidency +of the class, and I therefore resign it---renounce it! Gentlemen, +comrades, will you do me the favor of accepting my resignation at +once?" + +"On account of the form in which the request is put," said Durville, +as soon as he had secured the chair's recognition, "I move that +our president's resignation be accepted in the same good faith in +which it is offered." + +"Thank you, Durry, old man!" called Douglass in a low voice. + +A seconder was promptly obtained. Then Chairman Fullerton put +the motion. There were cries of "too bad," but no dissenting +votes. + +In the meantime Greg and Anstey all but broke down a door in their +effort to reach Dick quickly. + +"Come on, old chap!" called Greg, pouncing upon his chum. "It's +all off! Savvy? We have orders to drag you to class meeting, if +force be necessary. Come on the jump!" + +"Won't I, though?" cried Dick, seizing his fatigue cap and hurrying +on his uniform overcoat. + +A smaller mind might have insisted on taking slowly the request +from the class that had unintentionally done him such an injustice. +But Cadet Prescott was made of broader, nobler stuff. He realized +that, without exception, the manly fellows in his class were heartily +glad to do him justice, now that they knew how blameless he had +been. Dick was as anxious to meet his class as they were to reinstate +him. + +So he hurried along between the jubilant Holmes and Anstey. + +The meeting had just quieted down again by the time that the three +cadets entered the room. + +But in an instant Halsey was on his feet, regardless of rules of +parliamentary procedure. + +"Give old ramrod the long corps yell!" he shouted. + +With hardly the pause of a second it came, and never had it sounded +sweeter, truer, grander than when some hundred powerful young +throats sent forth the refrain: + +_"Rah, rah, ray! Rah, rah, ray! West Point, West Point, Armee +Ray, ray, ray! U.S.M.A.!_" + +_"Prescott!"_ + +Dick Prescott's chest began to heave, though he strove to conceal +all emotion. It was sweet, indeed, to have all this enthusiasm over +him, after he had so long been the innocent outcast of the class. + +Tears shone in either eye. Ashamed to raise a hand to brush the +moisture away, Dick tried to wink them out of sight. + +But Douglass, Durville and the others gave him no time to think. +They came crowding about him faster than they could reach him, +each with outstretched hand. + +Little was said. Soldiers are proverbially silent, preferring +deeds to words. So, for nearly ten minutes, the handshaking proceeded. +At last Douglass, with a warning nod and several gestures, brought +the temporary chairman to his senses. + +Rap! rap! rap! rang the gavel on the desk. + +"The class will please come to order," called Chairman Fullerton. +"Now, gentlemen, is there any further business to come before +the class?" + +"Mr. Chairman," called Douglass, "I move that we proceed to the +election of a class president." + +"Second the motion," cried Durville. + +The motion was carried with a rush. + +"Mr. Chairman!" called the tireless ex-class president. + +"Mr. Douglass." + +"Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I am going to make a mistake that +has become time honored among public speakers, that of telling +you what you already know as well as I do. This is that Mr. Prescott +ought never to have been deposed from the class presidency. I +move, therefore, sir, that we rectify our stupidity and blindness +by making Mr. Prescott once more our president. I beg, sir, to +place in nomination for the class presidency the name of Richard +Prescott, first class, U.S.M.A." + +"I second the nomination, suh!" boomed out the voice of Anstey. + +"Other nominations for the class presidency are in order," announced +Chairman Fullerton. + +Again silence fell. + +"Mr. Chairman!" + +"Mr. Douglass." + +"Since there are no more nominations, I move you, sir, that Mr. +Prescott be elected president of this class by acclamation." + +"Sir, I second the motion," came from Durville's throat. + +There was wild glee as a volley of "ayes" was fired. + +"Those of a contrary mind will say 'no,'" requested the chair. + +Not a "no" could be heard. + +"The chair will now withdraw, after appointing Mr. Douglass, Mr. +Durville, Mr. Holmes and Mr. Anstey a committee of honor to escort +the new-old class president to the chair." + +While the little procession was in motion the windowpanes rattled +more than ever, with the long corps yell for Prescott. + +The instant his hand touched the gavel, Dick rapped for order. + +"Gentlemen of the first class," he said quietly, "I thank you +all. Little more need be said. I am sure that mere words cannot +express my great happiness at being here. I will not deny that +I have felt the injustice of the cloud that has hung over me for +the last few months. Anyone of you would have felt it under the +same circumstances. But it is past---forgotten, and I know how +happy you all are that the truth has been discovered." + +There was a moment's silence. Then Dick asked, as he had so often +done before: + +"Is there any further business to come before the class meeting?" + +Silence. + +"A motion to adjourn is in order." + +The motion was put, offered and carried. Dick Prescott stepped down +from the platform, a man restored to his birthright of esteem from +his comrades. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FINDING THE BASEBALL GAIT + + +"Morning, old ramrod!" + +Never had greeting a sweeter sound than when Dick strolled about in +the quadrangle after breakfast the next morning. + +Scores who, for months, had looked straight past Prescott when +meeting him, now stopped to speak, or else nodded in a friendly +manner. + +Twenty minutes later, the sections were marching off into the +academic building, in the never-ceasing grind of recitations. + +"Prescott," declared Durville, during the after-dinner recreation +period, "we want you to come around to show what you can do at +baseball. We've some good, armor-proof material for the squad, +but we need a lot more. And we want Holmesy, too. Bring him +around with you, won't you?" + +"If he'll come," nodded Dick. + +"He must come. But you'll hold yourself ready, anyway, won't you?" + +"I'd hate to go in without Greg," replied Dick. "He and I generally +work together in anything we attempt." + +"That was just the kick Holmesy made when you---when things were +different," corrected the captain of the Army nine hastily. + +"Well, you see, 'Durry,' we were always chums back in the good old +High School days. We always played together, then, in any game, +and either of us would feel lonesome now without the other." + +"Oh, of course," nodded Durville. "Well, I'll see Holmesy and +try to round him up, if you say so." + +"I think I can get him to come around," smiled Dick. "But you +may be tremendously disappointed in both of us." + +"Can you play ball as well as Holmesy?" + +"Perhaps; nearly, I guess." + +"Then we surely do need you both, for we've seen Holmesy toy with +the ball, and we know where he'd rate. Do you think you play +baseball at the same gait that you do football, old ramrod?" + +"I think it's possible that I do," Dick half admitted slowly. + +"Always modest, aren't you?" laughed "Durry" good humoredly. +"Somehow, Prescott, it seems almost impossible to think of you +heading a charge, or graduating number one in your class. You'd +be too much afraid that someone else wanted either honor." + +Prescott laughed good humoredly. Then, dropping his voice, he +went on very gravely: + +"Durry, you've behaved very nicely to me in more ways than one, +after that time when I necessarily reported you. Are you sure +that you wholly overlooked my act." + +"Glad you asked me, Prescott. I've come to realize that you did +your full duty, and the only thing you could do as the captain +of my company. But I was terribly upset that night. Nothing but +a matter of the first importance would ever have driven me to slip +into 'cits.' and sneak off the post in that fashion." + +"I can quite believe that," nodded Dick. + +"Well, it---it was a girl, of course," confessed "Durry." + +"You know, cadets have a habit of being interested in girls, and +this girl means everything to me. She's up in Newburgh, and was +ill. I thought she was more ill than she really was. But I knew +that I could hardly get official permission to go and see her, +so---so I chanced it and went without leave. I wouldn't have +done such a thing under any other circumstances." + +"Did the young lady recover?" asked Prescott with deep interest. + +"Oh, yes; I dragged her to the hop the other night. She was stepping +around the hall with another fellow, for one of the dances, and +that was how I came to be out in the air alone. But I'll look +for both you and Holmesy at practice this afternoon," ended "Durry," +hastening away. + +"Go to a diamond try-out?" asked Greg when Dick broached the subject. + +"Of course I will, and crazy over the chance. All that has held me +back so far, old ramrod, was the fact that you hadn't been invited. +But now that has all been changed." + +When the diamond squad reported, Lieutenant Lawrence, the head +baseball coach, ordered the young men outdoors to the field. + +"Come over here, please, Prescott and Holmes," called the coach, +who had been conferring in low tones with "Durry." + +"What positions do you two feel that you would be at your best in?" + +"Why, we have conceit enough, sir, to think that we might make +at least a half-way battery," smiled Dick. + +"Battery, eh?" repeated Lieutenant Lawrence. "Good enough! Get +out and do it. Durville, you're one of the real batsmen. Run +out there to the home plate, and see whether Prescott and Holmes +can put anything past you." + +How good it felt to be in field clothes again! And both Greg +and Dick wore on the breasts of their sweaters the Army "A," won +by making the football eleven the year before. + +Dick fingered the ball carefully while Greg was trotting away +to place behind the home plate. Lieutenant Lawrence went more +deliberately, but took his place where the umpire would have stood +in a game. + +"What kind of a ball do you like best, Durry?" asked Prescott, +smilingly. + +"A medium slow one, close to the end of the stick, about here," +replied Durville. + +"I'll try to give you something else, then," chuckled Dick. + +And give the batsman something else was just what he did. + +Crack! Durville swatted the ball. It rose steeply at first, +then sailed away gracefully towards the clouds. + +"Get a fresh ball!" shouted one member of the training squad. +"That leather isn't going to come down again!" + +It did, though a scout had to run far afield to pick it up. + +Lieutenant Lawrence didn't look exactly disappointed, but he had +hoped to see something better than this had been. + +Five more Dick pitched in, and of these "Durry" put his mark on +three. + +"That will be enough to-day, I guess, Mr. Prescott," remarked +Lieutenant Lawrence in an even voice. + +Poor Dick flushed, but was about to turn away from the pitcher's +box when Durville turned to the Army coach. + +"If you really don't mind, sir, I'd like to see Prescott throw +in a few more. He hasn't held a ball in his hands for a long +time, and I think he has only been warming up." + +"If you really think it worth while," nodded the lieutenant. +Then, raising his voice: + +"We'll have you try just a few more, Prescott. Try to astonish +everyone!" + +Greg, whose face had flushed with mortification, now crouched +a bit, sending Dick one of the old-time signals. Holmes was not +even sure his chum would remember the signal. + +It is doubtful if anyone noticed the return that Dick sent back to +show that he understood. + +Durville took a good grip on his stick, his alert gaze on the man +in the box. + +With hardly a trace of flourish Dick let the ball go. On it came, +not very swift and straight over the plate. "Durry" himself felt +a sinking of the heart that. Dick should let such an easy one +leave him. + +Yet Durville had his own work to do honestly. He must pound this +easy one and drive it as far as he could. + +Durville swung and let go. But just as he did so---that ball +dropped! + +It passed on a level two feet below the swinging stick, and Greg, +with a quiet grin, neatly mitted it. + +"Good!" muttered Coach Lawrence under his breath. "Got any more +like that, Prescott?" he called. + +"I think I have a few, sir, when I get my arm warmed up and limbered," +Dick admitted. + +"Take your time, then. Don't knock your arm out of shape." + +Again Greg was signaling, though the signal was so difficult to +catch that many of the onlookers wondered if Holmes really had +signaled. + +Swish---ew---ew---zip! + +Again Durville had fanned truly, though nothing but air. The +outshoot had seemed to spring lazily around, just out of reach +of the end of his stick. + +Now, every member of the squad, and all of the spectators were +beginning to take keen notice. + +"Slowly, Prescott. Take your time between," admonished Lieutenant +Lawrence, who knew how easily a pitcher out of training might +wrench his muscles and go stale for several days. + +Greg had signaled for what had once been one of his chum's best---a +modification of the "jump ball" that had cost this young pitcher +much hard study and arm-strain. + +As Dick stood ready to let go of the ball he seemed inclined to +dawdle over it. It wasn't going to be one of his snappiest---any +onlooker could judge that, at least, so it seemed. + +Even Durville was fooled, though he did not let up much in the way +of alertness. + +Now the ball came on, with not much speed or steam behind it. +Durville took a good look, made some calculation for possible +deception, then made his swing with the stick. + +Slightly forward Durville had to bend, in order to get low enough +to make the crack. + +As his bat swished half lazily through the air, Durville "ducked" +suddenly, for the upbounding ball had gone so close to his ear +as to seem bent on removing some of the skin off that member. + +Greg, who had been stooping, was up in time to mit the ball. +Then Durville, his face flushing, heard Holmes chuckle. + +"One or two more, if you like, sir," called Dick, facing the coach. +"But I think, sir, I'd better be in finer trim before I do too +much tossing in one afternoon." + +"You've done enough, Prescott," cried Lieutenant Lawrence, stepping +forward and resting one hand cordially on Dick's shoulder. + +"Train with us for a fortnight, and you'll take all the hide off +of the Navy's mascot goat." + +There was a laugh from the members of the squad who stood within +hearing. But, as Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes walked over to +the side of the field they were greeted by a cheer from all who +had watched their performance. + +"I'm very glad you asked for a further trial for Prescott," murmured +Lieutenant Lawrence to the captain of the Army nine. + +"I thought you would be, sir," Durville replied. + +"We have a line-up, after these two men have been trained into +shape, that will make one of the strongest Army nines in a generation." + +"We'd have tanned the Navy last year, sir," ventured Durville, "if +we had known what material we had in Prescott and Holmes, and had +been able to get them out." + +At cadet mess that evening the talk ran high with joy. West Point +was sure it had found its baseball gait! + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +READY FOR THE ARMY-NAVY GAME + + +In between times, in the strenuous hours that followed, Dick found +the time, somehow, to write two letters of moment. + +One was to his mother, the other to Laura Bentley. In both he +told how the last bar to his happiness in the Army had been removed. +Yet Dick did not go very deeply into details. He merely explained +that the class had discovered, on indisputable evidence, that +he had been dealt with unjustly. He made it plain, however, that +he was now again in high favor with his class, and that he had +even been honored by reelection to the class presidency. + +"Greg, you send Dave Darrin a short note for me, will you?" begged +Dick, as he toiled away at the missive to Laura. "Old Dave will +want only the bare facts; that will be enough for him. He'll +cheerfully wait for details until some time when we're all graduated +and meet in the service." + +Dave Darrin's reply was short, but characteristic: + +"Of course dear old Dick came through all right! He's the kind +of fellow that always does and always must come through all +right---otherwise there'd be no particular use in being manly." + +No word came from the missing Jordan. Truth to tell, no one seemed +to care, outside of the young man's father. It is rare, indeed, +that a cadet deserts, and when he does, unless he has taken government +property with him, no effort is made to find him. + +By the end of the week, Dick Prescott was the hope of the Army nine, +as he had once been of the eleven. + +A cadet is always in condition. His daily training keeps him there. +So Dick had only to give his arm a little extra work, increasing +it some each day. + +"Do you think I'm going to be in satisfactory shape, sir?" Dick +asked the Army coach Friday afternoon. + +"If something doesn't happen to you, Prescott, you're going to +be the strongest, speediest pitcher I've ever seen on the Army +nine," replied Lieutenant Lawrence. + +"Isn't that saying a good deal, sir?" + +"Yes; but you're the sort of athlete that one may say a great +deal about," replied Lieutenant Lawrence, with a confident smile. +"And Mr. Holmes is very nearly as good a man as you are." + +"I always thought him fully as good, even better," replied Prescott. + +"There isn't much to choose between you," admitted coach. "I wish +we could always look for such men on our Army teams." + +"You can one of these days, sir." + +"When will that day come?" + +"It will come, sir, when public-spirited citizens everywhere go in +strongly for athletics in the High Schools, as they did in the town +where Holmes and I received our earlier training." + +The letter from Cadet Prescott's mother came almost by return +mail. She had never for a moment lost faith, she wrote, that +all would come out right with her boy, and she was heartily glad +that her faith had been justified. She was sorry, indeed, for +that unfortunate other cadet whose enmity for Dick had been his +own undoing in the long run. + +It was some days later when Laura's letter reached the now eager +pitcher of the Army nine. + +Now that letter was cordial enough in every way, and Laura made +no secret of her delight and of her pride in her friend. + +"Yet there's something lacking here," murmured Prescott uneasily, +as he read the letter through once more. "What is it? Laura +writes as if she were trying to show more reserve with me than +she did once. What is the matter? Has she cooled toward me at +just the time when I shall soon be able to offer her my name and +my future?" + +The thought was torment. Nor, of course, did Dick fail to remember +all about that prosperous and agreeable Gridley merchant, Leonard +Cameron, who, for upwards of two years, had been one of Miss Bentley's +most devoted admirers. + +"I suppose he's the kind of fellow who is calculated to please +a woman," mused Dick with a sinking at heart. "And Cameron has +had the great advantage of being right on the spot all the time. +Moreover, he has had his future mapped out for him, while I wasn't +assured about my own, and he hasn't been afraid to speak. Great +Scott, I must wait until the night of the graduation ball before +I can speak and find out how the land lies for me. But is Laura +coming to that hop?" + +Again Dick ran hastily through the letter. Yet, look as he would, +he could find no allusion of Laura's to coming on for the Graduation +Hop. + +"What an idiot I am!" growled Prescott to himself. "I'm certain +I forgot to ask her, in my last letter. If I did, it was solely +because I've always been so sure that she'd be on here for +graduation week as a matter of course." + +After pacing his room for a few moments, Dick sat down and wrote +feverishly back to Laura Bentley, asking her if she were coming +on for graduation and the hop. + +"I've always looked forward to having you here as a matter of +course on that great occasion," Dick penned, "so I'm not very +certain that I have made the invitation as explicit as I've meant +to. But you'll come, won't you, Laura? It would be a poor graduation +for me, without your face in the throng, for the others will be +strangers to me. Won't you please write promptly and set my mind +at ease on this vital point?" + +In three days Laura's answer came. Unless unavoidably prevented +she would be on hand during a part of graduation week. + +"And I certainly want to attend the graduation hop," Laura added, +"for it will probably be the only one that I shall ever have a +chance to attend." + +"Now, what does she mean by that last statement?" pondered Dick, +finding new cause for worry. "Does she mean that she expects +to cut the Army after this year? Is she really planning to marry +that fellow Cameron? Gracious, how time has flown during these +hurried years at West Point! For two years past Laura has been +fully old enough to wed! What a folly she'd commit in waiting +all these years for backward me to get ready to open my lips! +Yes; I guess it's going to be Cameron." + +Cadet Prescott compressed his lips grimly, but he was soldier +enough to be game and face the music. + +"I've got to be patient a few weeks more, and take the chances," +Dick told himself, as he scurried away to daily ball practice. +"With a rival in the field I wouldn't dare, anyway, to trust +my fate to a pleading set down on paper. But I'll send Laura +a letter once a week now, anyway. She may guess from that, as +graduation approaches, that I am sending my thoughts more and +more in her direction." + +With the bravery of which he was so capable, Dick ceased his worry +about his sweetheart as much as he could, and threw his leisure +hours heartily into his work in the ball squad. + +It will not be possible to describe the games of the season in +detail. There were twenty scheduled games in all, though three +were called off on account of rain. The Army won twelve out of +sixteen games played with college teams. Dick and Greg were the +battery in the heaviest nine of the winning games, and in one +of the games lost. + +Prescott and Holmes had no difficulty in putting up a game that +has sent them down in history as being the best Army battery to +that date. + +But the Navy, that year, had an exceptionally fine team, too, +with Dave Darrin and Dalzell for its star battery. + +"This is the game we've got to win, fellows," called out Durville +earnestly, two days before the Annapolis nine was due at West +Point in the latter part of May. "We've done finely this year, +better than we had hoped. But, after all, what is it to beat +every other college, and then have to go down before the Navy in +defeat at the end?" + +"Who says we're going down in defeat?" grumbled Greg. + +"If you say we're not, you and Prescott, then you can do a lot +to hearten us up," continued Durville, with a sharp glance at the +star battery pair. + +"See here, old ramrod, you know all about that Annapolis battery," +broke in Hackett, of the nine. "What about them as ball players? +I understand you went to school with Darrin and Dalzell. Do +that pair play ball the way they do football?" + +"Yes," nodded Dick. "If anything, they play baseball better." + +"But you and Holmesy put them out at football. Can't you do it +on the diamond, too?" insisted Hackett. + +"I hope so, but Greg and I will feel a lot more like bragging, +possibly, after we've played the game through. There isn't much +brag about us now, eh, Greg?" + +"Not much," confessed Greg. "And you fellows want to remember +that old ramrod and I are to play only two out of the nine positions. +Don't depend on us to play the whole game for the Army." + +"Of course not," agreed Hackett, perhaps a bit tartly. "But if +the other seven of us were wonders we'd stand no show unless we +had a battery that can do up these awful ogres of the Navy nine." + +"Oh, you're better than the Navy battery, aren't you, old ramrod?" +demanded Beckwith. + +"No, we're not," replied Dick slowly, thoughtfully. + +"Don't tell us that the salt-water catcher and pitcher are ahead +of you two!" protested Durville with new anxiety. + +"If either crowd is better, they're likely to be It," murmured Dick. + +Thereupon all in the dressing room wheeled to take a look at Greg. +But young Holmes nodded his head in confirmation. + +"Don't talk that way," pleaded Beckwith. + +"You'll have us all scared cold before we touch foot to the field +day after to-morrow." + +"Just what I said," grumbled Greg. "Some of the fellows on the +Army nine expect two men who are not above the average to win the +whole game." + +From all private and newspaper accounts many of the West Point +fans were inclined to the belief that the Navy outpointed the +Army in the matter of battery. It had been so the year before +when, as readers of "_Dave Darrin's Third Year At Annapolis_" will +recall, the Navy had succeeded in carrying the game away with +neatness and despatch. + +"You young men have simply got to hustle and keep cool. That's +all you can do," urged Lieutenant Lawrence. "We haven't had so +good a nine in years. Whatever you do, don't lie down at the +last moment, and give up to the Navy the only game of the year that +is really worth winning." + +Then came two hard afternoons of practice. Every onlooker watched +Dick and Greg closely, anxious to make sure that neither young man +was going stale. + +With each added hour it must be confessed that anxiety at West +Point rose another notch. + +Then came the day of the game. Even the tireless and merciless +instructors over in the Academic Building eased up a bit on the +cadets that day, if ever the instructors did such a thing. + +The Annapolis nine arrived before one o'clock and was promptly +taken to dinner. + +All that forenoon, the factions had been gathering. + +Most of the visitors, to be sure, came to "root" for the Army, +though there were not wanting several good-sized crowds that came +to cheer and urge the Navy young men on to victory. + +By noon there were three thousand outsiders on the West Point +reservation. Afternoon trains, stages and automobiles brought +crowds after that. By three o'clock everyone that expected to +see the game had arrived. There were now nine thousand people +on the grandstands and along the sides. + +"Nine?" repeated Durville in the dressing room, when the word +was brought to him. "Five thousand used to be about the usual +crowd, I believe. Old ramrod, you and Holmesy are surely responsible +for the other four thousand. Darrin and Dalzell can't have done +it all, for the Navy always travels light on baggage when headed +this way. Yes, you and Holmesy have dragged the crowd in." + +"Quit your joshing," muttered Greg, who was bending over his shoe +laces. + +"Yes; cut it. We can stand it better after the game," laughed Dick. + +"Get your men out in five minutes more, Durville," called Lieutenant +Lawrence, looking in. "The Navy fellows have been on the field +ten minutes already. You want to limber up your men a bit before +game is called." + +Already the sound had reached dressing quarters of the visiting +fans cheering for the Navy. + +In three minutes more the cheering ascended with four times as +much volume, for now Durville marched the picked Army nine on +to the field, and the fans on the stands caught sight of these +trim young soldiers. + +"I've got a hunch you'll do it for us to-day," whispered Beckwith +in Prescott's ear. + +"Look out. A little hunch is a dangerous thing," retorted Dick, +with a grim smile. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +DAN DALZELL'S CRABTOWN GRIN + + +Six minutes later, the umpire called the captains to the home +plate for the toss. + +"There they are---the same old chums!" cried Dick, hitting Greg +a nudge. + +Darrin and Dalzell, of the Navy nine, had been trying to catch the +eyes of the Army battery. + +Now the four old chums raced together to a point midway between +pitcher's box and home plate. There they met and clasped each +others' hands. + +"The same old pair, I know!" cried Dave Darrin heartily. + +"And we think as much of you two as ever, even if you are in the +poor old Army," grinned Dan. "We've come all the way up from +Crabtown to teach you how to play ball. The knowledge will probably +prove useful to you some day." + +"Why, Dick," protested Holmes in mock astonishment, "these cabin +boys seem to think they can really play ball!" + +"And all I'm afraid of is that they can," laughed Dick. + +"Can't we, though---just!" mocked Dan, dancing a brief little step. +"Wait until you take a stick to our work, and then see where +you'll live!" + +"Cut it, Danny, little lion-fighter, cut it!" warned Dave Darrin, +with quiet good nature. "You know what they tell us all the time, +down at Crabtown---that 'brag never scuttled a fighting ship yet.' + +"Dave, you don't expect Danny to believe that, do you?" asked +Greg, grinning hard. "Danny never went into anything that he +didn't try to win by scaring the other side cold. If our instructors +here know what they're talking about, hot air isn't necessarily +fatal to the enemy." + +"I can tell you one thing, anyway," chipped in Dan, while the +other three grinned indulgently at him. + +"Yes; you have it straight that this is to be the Army's game," +mocked Greg. "But we knew that before we saw you to-day." + +"There goes our joy-killer," grunted Prescott, as the umpire's +shrill whistle sounded in. "Dave, we'll be in the Navy's dressing +room just as soon as-----" + +"Just as soon as this cruel war is over," hummed Dan. + +The toss having been won by the Navy, the captain of that nine +had chosen to go to bat. + +Now the players on both sides were scattering swiftly to their +posts. + +Dick took but a bound or two back to the box, just as the umpire +broke the package around the new ball and tossed it to the Army +pitcher. + +"Play ball!" + +It was on, with a rush, and a cheer, led by some eight measures +of music from the Military Academy Band, which had been quiet for +a few minutes. + +Then the cheer settled down, for Prescott found himself facing Dan +Dalzell at the bat, with Darrin on deck. + +"Wipe 'em!" signaled Greg's antics. + +Now, to "wipe" Dalzell, who had known everyone of Dick's old curves +and tricks in former days, did not look like a promising task, +for Dalzell, in addition to his special knowledge about this pitcher, +was an expert with the bat. But there might be a chance to put +Dan on the mourner's bench. If Dalzell succeeded in picking up +even a single from Dick's starting delivery, then Dave could be +all but depended upon to push his Navy chum a bag or two further +around the course. + +"If I can twist Dan all up, it may serve to rattle Dave, too," +thought the Army pitcher like a flash. + +Dalzell poised the bat, and stood swinging it gently, with an +expectant grin that, had it been a school audience, would have made +the youngsters on the bleachers yell: + +"Get your face closed tight, Danny! That grin hides the stick!" + +Dalzell had often had that hurled at him in the old days, but he +did not have to dread it now. But Prescott knew that old broad +grin. It was Dalzell's favorite "rattler" for the balltosser. + +"I think I know the scheme for getting the hair off your goat," +mused Prescott, as he sent in his first. + +"Ball one!" called the umpire. + +Dan's grin broadened. + +"Ball two!" + +Dalzell knew he had the Army pitcher going now, and didn't take +the trouble to reach for the ball. + +"Strike one!" + +That took some of the starch out of the Navy batsman, who suddenly +realized that this twirler for the Army was up to old tricks. + +"Strike two!" + +Dan was sure he had that one, and he missed it only by an inch. + +Gone, now, was the grin on Dalzell's face. A frown gathered between +his eyes as he took harder hold of the stick and waited. + +Nor did Prescott keep him long waiting. The ball came in, and +Dan gauged it fairly well. Yet he fanned for the third time. + +"Batsman out!" + +Dan hesitated an almost imperceptible instant at the plate. Swift +as lightning he made a wry little mouth at Prescott. It nearly +broke Dick up with laughter as Dalzell stalked moodily to the +bench and Dave stepped forward. + +In fact, the Army pitcher choked and shook so that Durville called +to him in a quiet, anxious voice from shortstop's beat: + +"Anything wrong, ramrod?" + +None of the spectators heard this, but most of them saw Dick's +short, vigorous shake of the head as he palmed the ball. + +Then he let it go, for Darrin was waiting, and in grand old Dave's +eyes flashed the resolve to retrieve what had just been taken from +the Navy. + +"Darry can't lose, anyway. He'll take the conceit out of these +Army hikers," predicted some of the knowing ones among the Navy +fans. + +"Ball one!" + +Though not sure, Dave had expected this, and did not try keenly +for Dick's first delivery, which, as he knew of old, was seldom +of this pitcher's best. + +Then came what looked like a high ball. Of old, this had been +the poorest sort for Darrin to bit, and Dick seemed to remember +it. But Darrin had changed with the years, and he felt a swift +little jolt of amusement as he swung for that high one. + +Just about three feet away from the plate, however, that ball +took a most unexpected drop, and passed on fully eighteen inches +under the swing of Darrin's stick. + +"Strike one!" + +At the next Darrin's judgment forbade him to offer, but the umpire +judged it a fair ball, and called: + +"Strike two!" + +Dalzell, on the bench, was leaning forward now, his chin plunged +in between his hands. + +"Dick Prescott hasn't lost any of his knack for surprises," muttered +Danny. "And if we, who know his old tricks, can't fathom him at +all, what are the other seven of us going to do?" + +As the ball arched slowly back into Dick's hands, Dalzell, in +his anxiety, found himself leaping to his feet. + +And now Prescott pitched, in answer to Greg's signal, what looked +like a coming jump ball. + +Dave Darrin knew that throw, and was ready. In another instant +he could have dropped with chagrin, for the ball, after all, was +another "drop," and Greg Holmes had mitted it for the Army in +tune to the umpire's: + +"Strike three-out! Two out!" + +"David, little giant, your hand!" begged Dalzell, in a fiery whisper +as his chum reached the bench. + +"What's up?" asked Darrin half suspiciously. + +"Agree with me, now---make deep and loud the solemn vow that we'll +use Dick and Greg just as they've treated us!" + +"We will, if we can," nodded Darrin, more serious than his chum. +"But I always try to tell you, Danny boy, that it's best not to do +your bragging until after you've scuttled your ship." + +Just as Dave had stepped away from the plate, Hutchins, the little +first baseman of the Navy, had bounded forward. + +Hutchins was wholly cool, and had keen eye for batting. He hoped, +despite what he had heard of Prescott's cleverness, to send Navy +spirits booming by at least a two-bagger. + +"Strike one!" + +Prescott had not wasted any moments, this time, and Hutchins was +caught unawares. The little first baseman flushed and a steely +look came into his eyes. + +At the next one he struck, but it came across the plate as an +out-shoot that was just too far out for Hutchins's reach. Had +he not offered it would have been a "called ball." + +With two strikes called against him, and nothing moving, Hutchins +felt the ooze coming out of his neck and forehead. The Navy had +been playing grand ball that spring. It would never do to let the +Army get too easy a start. + +But Dick poised, twirled and let go. It was a straight-away, +honest and fair ball that he sent. To be sure there was a trace +of in-shoot about it that made Hutchins misjudge it so that, in +the next instant, the passionless umpire sounded the monotonous +solo: + +"Strike three---and out. Side out!" + +From the Navy seats dead calm, but from the band came a blare +of brass and a clash of drums and cymbals as the cheering started. + +In an instant, out of all the hubbub, came the long corps yell +from the cadets, ending with: + +"Prescott! Holmes!" + +Sweet music, indeed, to the Army battery. But Greg heard it on +the wing, so to speak, for at the changing of the sides he had +hastened forward, so as to pass Dan Dalzell: + +"Danny boy, after the game, I want you to do something big for +me," whispered Cadet Holmes. + +"Surely," murmured Dalzell. "What shall it be?" + +"I think I know how you get that grin of yours, that conquering +grin on your face, but I wish you'd show me how you make it stick!" + +"Call you out for that some day," hissed Dalzell, as, with heightened +color, he made his way to catcher's post of duty behind the plate. + +Dave Darrin received the ball, and handled it, after the ways +of his kind, for a few seconds, to detect any irregularities there +might be to its surface or any flaws in its roundness. + +"Play ball!" called the umpire. + +With Beckwith holding the stick, and Durville on deck, Dick had +time to do what he was most anxious to do---to make a study of +any new things that Darrin might have learned. + +Dave appeared to be fully warmed at the start. "Strike one!" +called the umpire, though Beckwith had not dared offer. + +Then: + +"Strike two!" + +Dick began to see light. Dave was in fine form, and was sending +them in with such terrific speed that it was barely possible to +gauge them. That style of pitching carried big hopes for a Navy +victory! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +WHEN THE ARMY FANS WINCED + + +As Darrin sent in the third ball Beckwith made a desperate sweep for +it. It was not to be his, however. + +"Three strikes! Striker out!" + +That broad grin had come back to Dan Dalzell's face, as he held up +the neatly mitted ball for an instant, then hurled it lazily back +to Dave Darrin. + +Now, Durville came to bat, and the captain of the Army nine was +an accurate and hard hitter. + +"Ball one!" + +"Strike one!" + +"Strike two!" + +"Ball two!" + +Then came a slight swish of willow against leather. Durville +had at last succeeded in just touching the ball. But it was a +foul hit, and that was all. Dan, however, was not out at the +side in time to pick that foul into his own mitten. + +Durville, his face somewhat pale and teeth clenched, stood ready +for his last chance. It came, in one of Darrin's trickiest throws. +It was no use, after all. Durville missed, and Dalzell didn't. + +"Strike three---striker out!" + +"Prescott, you know that Navy fellow! Go after him---hammer him +all the way down the river!" groaned Durville in a low voice as +Dick came forward. + +Dan's quick ears heard, however, and his grin broadened. Well +enough Dalzell knew that Darrin had a lot of box tricks secreted +that would fool even a Prescott. + +But Dick was not to be rattled, at any rate. He picked up the +bat, "hefted" it briefly, then stepped up beside the plate, ready +in a few seconds after Durville had gone disconsolately back to +the bench. + +"I won't try to decipher Dave's deliveries; I'll judge them by +what they look like after the ball has started," swiftly decided +Prescott. + +"Ball one!" + +"Ball two!" + +"Strike one!" + +"Strike two!" + +"Crack!" + +So fast did Prescott start when that fly popped, that he was nearly +half way to first base when he dropped his bat. It was only a +fly out to right field, but it was a swift one, and it struck +turf before the Navy fielder could hoof it to the spot. He caught +it up, whirled, and drove straight to first, but Prescott's toe +had struck the bag a fraction of a second before. + +"Runner safe at first!" called the umpire quietly. Then the ball +went back to Dave, who now had a double task of alertness, for +Holmes held the bat at the plate, while Prescott was trying to +steal second. Well did Dave Darrin know the trickiness of both +these Army players! + +Greg, too, was cool, though a good deal apprehensive. With him +the call stood at balls three and strikes two when Greg thought +he saw his real chance. + +Swat! Greg struck with all his strength, and at the sound, a +cheer rose from the seats of the Army fans. But the ball was +lower than Greg had calculated, and after all his assault on the +leather had resulted only in a bunt. + +Navy's pitcher took a few swift steps, then bent, straightened +up and sent the ball driving to first. + +"Runner out at first!" + +Then indeed a wail went up. What did it matter that Prescott +had reached second? Greg's disaster had put the side out. And +now the Navy came back to bat. In this half of the second, three +hits were taken out of Prescott's delivery, and at one time there +were two sailors on bases. Then the Navy went out to grass and +the Army marched in for a trial. This time, however, the Army +had neither Durville, Prescott nor Holmes at the plate, and with +these three best batters on the bench, Dave had the satisfaction +of striking the soldiers out in one, two, three. + +In the third inning neither side scored. Then, in the fourth, +with two sailors out when he came to bat, Dalzell exploded a two-bagger +that brought the Navy to its feet on the benches, cheering and +hat-waving. By the time that Dan's flying feet had kicked the +first bag on the course Dave Darrin was holding the willow and +standing calmly by the plate, watching. + +Two of Dick's offers, Dave let go by without heeding, one ball +and one strike being called. But Dave, though he looked sleepy, +was wholly alert. At the third offer he drove a straight, neat +little bunt that was left for the Army's second baseman. That +baseman had it in season to drive to Lanton, at Army first base. +But Dave had hit the bag first, and was safe, while Dan Dalzell +was making pleased faces over at third. + +Now, a member of the Navy team slipped over to that side of the +diamond to coach Dan on his home-running. In addition to pitching, +Dick had to watch first and third bases, in which situation Dave +Darrin, with great impudence and coolness, stole second in between +two throws. + +On the faces of the Army fans, by this time, anxiety was written +in large letters. They had heard much about the Navy battery, but +not of its base-running qualities. + +It was little Hutchins now again at the bat. His last time there +he had been struck out without trouble. + +"But, it never does to be too positive that a fellow is a duffer," +mused Prescott grimly, as he gripped the leather. + +Just when little Hutchins seemed on the point of going to pieces +he misjudged one of Dick's puts so completely that he struck it, +by accident, a fearful crack. A cloud of dust marked the limits +of the diamond, while the air was filled with yells and howls. +When the dust cleared and the howls had subsided it was found +that Dalzell had loped in across the home plate, Darrin had come +along more swiftly and was in, while Hutchins touched the second +base an instant after the ball had nestled in Greg Holmes's Army +mitt. + +It mattered little that Earl, who came next to bat, struck out. +The Navy had pulled in two runs---the only runs scored so far! + +In the other half the Army nine secured nothing. + +In the fifth neither team scored. In the sixth the Navy scored +one more run. In the sixth Lanton, of the Army, got home with +a single run. + +Thus, at the beginning of the seventh, the score stood at three +to one with the grin on the Naval face. + +During the seventh inning nothing was scored. Now, the sailor +boys came to bat for the first half of the eighth, with a din +of Navy yells on the air. West Point's men came back with a sturdy +assortment of good old Military Academy yells, but the life was +gone out. The Army was proud of such men as Durville, Prescott, +Holmes, but admitted silently that Darrin and Dalzell appeared +to belong to a slightly better class of ball. + +"It's our fault, too," muttered the Army coach, Lieutenant Lawrence, +to a couple of brother officers. "Darrin and Dalzell have been +training with the Navy nine for two years, while Prescott and +Holmes came in late this season. Even if they wouldn't play last +year, these two men of ours should have reported for the very +first day's work last February." + +"Prescott couldn't do it," remarked Lieutenant Denton, who had just +joined the group. + +"Why not, Denton?" asked Lieutenant Lawrence. + +"He was in Coventry." + +"Pshaw!" + +"Didn't you know that?" asked Denton. + +"Not a word of it, though Durville once hinted to me that there +was some sort of reason why Prescott couldn't come in." + +"There was---the Coventry," Denton replied. "But that trouble +blew over when the first classmen found themselves wrong in something +of which Jordan had accused Prescott." + +"Humph!" growled Lieutenant Lawrence, in keen displeasure. "Then, +if we lose to-day, the first class can blame itself!" + +"You think our battery pair better than the Navy's, then?" asked +Lieutenant Denton. + +"Our men would have been better, by a shade, anyway, had they +been as long in training. But as it is-----" + +"As it is," supplied another officer in the group, "we are wiped +off the slate by the Navy, this year, and no one can know it better +than we do ourselves." + +Just as the fortunes of war would have it, Dan Dalzell again stood +by the plate at the beginning of the eighth. + +"Wipe off that smile, Danny boy," called Darrin softly. + +But Dan only shook his head with a deepening grin which seemed +to declare that he found the Navy situation all to the good. + +In fact, Dalzell felt such a friendly contempt for poor old Dick's +form by this time, that he cheerily offered at Dick's first. + +Crack! That ball arched up for right field, and Dan, hurling +his bat, started to make tracks and time. Beckwith, however, +was out in right field, and knew what was expected of him. He +ran in under that dropping ball, held out his hands and gathered +it in. + +Dick smiled quietly, almost imperceptibly, while Dan strolled +mournfully back to the bench. Then Prescott turned, bent on +annihilating his good old friend Darrin, if possible. In great +disgust, Dave struck out. The look on the Navy fan's faces could +be interpreted only as saying: + +"Oh, well, we don't need runs, anyway!" + +But when Hutchins struck out---one, two, three!---after as many +offers, Navy faces began to look more grave. + +"Hold 'em down, Navy---hold 'em down!" rang the appeal from Navy +seats when the Army went to bat in the eighth. + +Dick was first at bat now, with Greg on deck. As Prescott swung +the willow and eyed Darrin, there was "blood" in the Army pitcher's +eyes. + +Then Darrin gave a sudden gasp, for, at his first delivery, Dick +sized up the ball, located it, and punched it. That ball dropped +in center field just as Dick was turning the first bag. It sped +on, but Dick turned back from too big a risk. + +But he looked at Greg, waiting idly at bat, and Holmes caught the +full meaning of that appealing look. + +"It's now or never," growled Greg between his teeth. "It's seldom +any good to depend at all on the ninth inning." + +Darrin, with a full knowledge of what was threatened to the Navy +by the present situation, tried his best to rattle Greg. And +one strike was called on Holmesy, but the second strike he called +himself by some loud talk of bat against leather. Then, while +the ball sped into right field, Greg ran after it, stopping, however, +at first bag, while Prescott sprinted down to second bag, kicked +it slightly, and came back to it. + +It was up to Lanton, of the Army, now! In this crisis the Army +first baseman either lacked true diamond nerve, or else he could +not see Darrin's curves well, for Lanton took the call of two +strikes before he was awarded called balls enough to permit him +to lope contentedly away to first. This advanced both Dick and +Greg. + +Bases full---no outs! Three runs needed! + +This was the throbbing situation that confronted Cadet Carter +as he picked up an Army bat and stood by the plate, facing the +"wicked" and well-nigh invincible Darrin of the Navy! + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE VIVID FINISH OF THE GAME + + +On both sides of the field, every one was standing on seats. + +Even the cadets had risen to their feet, every man's eye turned +on the diamond, while the cadet cheer-master danced up and down, +ready to spring the yell of triumph if only Carter and the player +on deck could give the chance. + +Lieutenant Lawrence wiped his perspiring face and neck. The coach +probably suffered more than any other man on the field. It was his +work that had prepared for this supreme game of the whole diamond +season! + +Over at third base Cadet Prescott danced cautiously away, yet every +now and then stole nearly back. Dick was never going to lose a +scored run through carelessness. + +"Now, good old Carter, can't you?" groaned Durville, as the Army +batsman went forward to the plate. + +"Durry, I'll come home with my shield, or on it," muttered Carter, +with set teeth and white lips as he went to pick up the bat that +he was to swing. + +Carter was not one of the best stick men of the Army baseball +outfit, but there is sometimes such a thing as batting luck. +For this, Carter prayed under his breath. + +Darrin, of course, was determined to baffle this strong-hope man +of West Point. He sent in one of his craftiest outshoots. For a +wonder, Carter guessed it, and reached out for it---but missed. + +"Strike two!" followed almost immediately from the placid's umpire's +lips. + +Everyone who hoped for the Army was trembling now. + +Dan Dalzell did some urgent signaling. In response, Darrin took an +extra hard twist around the leather, unwound, unbent and let go. + +_Crack_! Batter's luck, and nothing else! + +"Carter, Carter, Carter!" broke loose from the mouths of half a +thousand gray-clad cadets, and the late anxious batter was sprinting +for all there was in him. + +Just to right of center field, and past, went the ball---a good +old two-bagger for any player that could run. + +From third Dick came in at a good jog, but he did not exert himself. +He had seen how long it must take to get the ball in circulation. + +As for Holmes, he hit a faster pace. He turned on steam, just +barely touching third as he turned with no thought of letting +up this side of the home plate. + +Lanton made third---he had to, for Carter was bent on kicking +the second bag in time. + +Had there been another full second to spare Carter would have +made it. But Navy center field judged that it would be far easier +to put Carter out than to play that trick on Lanton, since the +latter had but ninety feet to run, anyway. + +So Carter was out, but Lanton was hanging at third, crazy with +eagerness to get in. + +It all hung on Lanton now. If he got across the home plate in +time enough it would give the Army the lead by one run. At this +moment the score was tied---three to three! + +"Get out there and coach Lantin, old ramrod," begged "Durry," +and Dick was off, outside of the foul line, his eye on Dave Darrin +and on every other living figure of the Navy nine. + +It was Holden up, now, and, though the cadets on the grandstand +looked at Carter briefly, with praise in their eyes for his two-bagger +that had meant two runs, the eyes of the young men in gray swiftly +roved over by the plate, to keep full track of Holden's performance. + +But Holden struck out, and Army hopes sank. Tyrrell came in to +the plate, and on him hung the last hope. If he failed, Army +fans would be near despair. + +Dave Darrin was beginning to feel the hot pace a bit, for in this +inning he had exerted himself more than in any preceding one. +However, that was all between Darrin and himself. Not another +player on the field guessed how glad Dave would be for the end +of the game. Yet he steeled himself, and sent in swift, elusive +ones for Tyrrell to hit. + +Swat! Tyrrell landed a blow against the leather, at the last +chance that he had at it. It was a bunt, but Navy's shortstop +simply couldn't reach it in time to pick it up without the slightest +fumble. That delay brought Lanton home and over the plate. + +How the plain resounded with cheers! For now the Army led by +a single run, and Tyrrell was safe at first. + +Jackson up, with Beckwith on deck. There was hope of further +scoring. + +Yet no keen disappointment was felt when Jackson struck out. + +In from pasture trooped the Navy men, eager to retrieve all in +the ninth. + +"Fit to stay in the box, old ramrod?" anxiously asked "Durry," +as the nines changed. + +"Surely," nodded Dick. + +"Don't stick it out, unless you know you can do the trick," insisted +the Army captain earnestly. + +"I'm just in feather!" smiled Dick. + +Greg, too, had been a bit anxious; but when the first ball over +the plate stung his one unmitted hand, Holmes concluded that Prescott +did not need to be helped out of the box just at that time. + +Then followed something which came so fast that the spectators all +but rubbed their eyes. + +One after another Dick Prescott struck out three Navy batsmen. + +Greg Holmes made this splendid work perfect by not letting anything +pass him. + +That wound up the game, for Navy had not scored in the ninth, and +the rules forbade the Army nine to go again to bat to increase a +score that already stood at four to three. + +Instantly the Academy band broke loose. Yet above it all dinned +the cheers of the greater part of the nine thousand spectators +present. + +As soon as the band stopped the corps yell rose, with the names +of Durville, Prescott and Holmes, and of Carter whose batting luck +had played such a part in the eighth. + +But, by the time that the corps yell rose the Army nine was nearly +off the field. + +"Listen to the good noise, old ramrod," glowed Greg. + +"It's the last time we'll ever hear the corps yell for any work +we do in West Point athletics," went on Greg mournfully. + +"I know it," sighed Dick. "If we ever hear cheers for us again, +we'll have to win the noise by a gallant charge, or something +like that." + +"In the Army," replied Greg, choking somewhat. + +"Yes; in the good old Army," went on Dick, his eyes kindling. +"I don't feel any uneasiness about getting through the final +exams. now. We're as good as second lieutenants already, Holmesy!" + +While thus chatting, however, the two chums were keeping pace with +their comrades of the nine. The nine from Annapolis moved in a +compact group a little ahead down the road. + +Just before the Army ball-tossers reached the dressing quarters, +Lieutenant Lawrence, their coach, hastened ahead of them, meeting +them in the doorway. + +"The best nine we've had in a long number of years, gentlemen," +glowed coach, as he shook the hand of each in passing. "Thank +you all for your splendid, hard work!" + +Thanks like that was sweet music, after all. But Dick raced to +dressing quarters full of but one thing. + +"Quick, Holmesy! We don't know how soon the Navy team may have +to run down the road to a train." + +"Aren't they going to have supper at the mess?" demanded Greg, +as he stripped. + +"I don't know; I'm afraid not." + +Dick and Greg were the first of the Army nine to be dressed in +their fatigue uniforms. Immediately they made a quick break for +the Navy quarters. + +"It looks almost cheeky to throw ourselves in on the other fellows," +muttered Greg dubiously. "Some of the middies will think we've come +in on purpose to see how they take their beating." + +"They didn't get a bad enough beating to need to feel ashamed," +replied Dick. "And we won't say a word about the game, anyway." + +"May we come in?" called Prescott, knocking on the door of the +middies' quarters. + +"Who's there?" called a voice. Then the Navy coach, in uniform, +opened the door. + +"Oh, come in, gentlemen," called the coach, holding out his hand. +"And let me congratulate you, Prescott and Holmes, on the very +fine game that you two had a star part in putting up for the nine +from Crabtown." + +"Thank you, sir," Dick replied. "But we didn't call on that account. +There are two old chums of ours here, sir, that we're looking for." + +"See anything of them anywhere?" smiled Dave Darrin, stepping +forward, minus his blouse and holding out both hands. + +Dick and Greg pounced upon Dave. Then Dan struggled into another +article of clothing and ran forward from the rear of the room. + +"How soon do you go?" asked Dick eagerly. + +"The 6.14 train to New York," replied Dave. + +"Oh, then you're not going to have supper at cadet mess?" asked +Greg in a tone of deep disappointment. + +"No," answered Dan Dalzell. "It would get us through too late. +We dine in New York on arrival." + +"Hurry up and get dressed," Dick urged. Then, turning to the +coach, he inquired: + +"May we keep Darrin and Dalzell with us, sir, until your train +leaves?" + +"No reason on earth why you shouldn't," nodded the Navy coach. + +So Dave and Dan were dressed in a trice, it seemed, though with +the care that a cadet or midshipman must always display in the +set of his immaculate uniform. + +Dick seized Dave by the elbow, marching him forth, while Greg +piloted Dan. + +"Great game for you-----" began Dan, as soon as the quartette +of old chums were outside. + +"Send all that kind of talk by the baggage train," ordered Cadet +Holmes. "What we want to talk about are the dear old personal +affairs." + +"You youngsters are through here, after not so many more days, +aren't you?" began Darrin. + +"Yes; and so are you, down at Annapolis," replied Prescott. + +"Not quite," rejoined Dave gravely. "There's this difference. +In a few days you'll be through here, and will proceed to your +homes. Then, within the next few days, you'll both receive your +commissions as second lieutenants in the Army, and will be ordered +to your regiments. You're officers for all time to come! We +of the first class at Annapolis will receive our diplomas, surely. +But what beyond that? While you become officers at once, we +have to start on the two years' cruise, and we're still midshipmen. +After two years at sea, we have to come back and take another +exam. If we pass that one, then we'll be ensigns---officers at +last. But if we fail in the exam, two years hence then we're +dropped from the service. After we've gone through our whole +course at Annapolis we still have to guess, for two years, whether +we're going to be reckoned smart enough to be entitled to serve +the United States as officers. I can't feel, Dick, that we of +Annapolis, get a square deal." + +"It doesn't sound like it," Prescott, after a moment, admitted. +"Still, you can do nothing about it. And you knew the game when +you went to Annapolis." + +"Yes, I knew all this four years ago," Darrin admitted. "Still, +the four years haven't made the deal look any more fair than it +did four years ago. However, Dick, hang all kickers and sea-lawyers! +Isn't it grand, anyway, to feel that you're in your country's +uniform, and that all your active life is to be spent under the +good old flag---always working for it, fighting for it if need be!" + +"Then you still love the service?" asked Dick, turning glowing eyes +upon his Annapolis chum. + +"Love it?" cried Dave. "The word isn't strong enough!" + +"Are you engaged, old fellow?" asked Greg of Dan Dalzell. + +"Kind of half way," grinned Dan. "That is, I'm willing, but the +girl can't seem to make up her mind. And you?" + +"I've been engaged nine times in all," sighed Greg. Yet each and +every one of the girls soon felt impelled to ask me to call it off." + +"Any show just at present?" persisted Dalzell. + +"Why, strange to say," laughed Greg, "I'm fancy free at the present +moment." + +"How did the old affair ever come out between Dick and Laura Bentley?" +asked Dan curiously. + +"Why, the strange part of it is, I don't believe there ever has been +any formal affair between Dick and Laura," Greg went on. "That is, +no real understanding between them. And now-----" + +"Yes?" urged Dan. + +"A merchant over in Gridley, a rather decent chap, too, has been +making up to Laura pretty briskly, I hear by way of home news," +Greg continued. + +"Does the yardstick general win out?" demanded Dan. + +"From all the news, I'm half afraid he does." + +"How does Dick take that?" Dan was eager to know. + +"I can't tell you," Greg responded solemnly, "for I have never +ventured on that topic with old ramrod. But if he loses out with +Laura, I feel it in my bones that he'll take it mighty hard." + +"Poor old Dick!" sighed Dan, loyal to the old days. "Somehow, +I can't quite get it through my head that it's at all right for +anyone to withhold from Dick Prescott anything he really wants." + +Greg sighed too. + +"Any idea what arm of the service you're going to choose?" asked +Dan presently. + +"I believe I'll do better to wait and see what my class standing +is at graduation," laughed Greg. "That is the thing that settles +how much choice I'm to have in the matter of arm of the service." + +"Any liking for heavy artillery?" asked Dan. + +"Not a whit. Cavalry or infantry for mine." + +"Not the engineers?" + +"Only the honor men of the class can get into the engineers," +grunted Greg. "Neither Dick nor I stand any show to be honor +men. We feel lucky enough to get through the course and graduate +at all." + +Dick and Dave, too, were talking earnestly about the future, though +now and then a word was dropped about the good old past, as described +in the _High School Boys' Series_. + +Ten minutes before the train time two chums in Army gray and two +in Navy blue reached the platform of the railway station. The +other middies were there ahead of them. In the time that was +left Dick and Greg were hastily introduced to the other middies. +A few jolly words there were, but the other members of the Army +nine and still other cadets were on hand, and so the talk was +general. + +Amid noisy, heartfelt cheering the middy delegation climbed aboard +the incoming train. Amid more cheers their train bore them away +and then some sixty West Point cadets climbed the long, steep road, +next hastening on to be in time for supper formation. + +For the members of the first class West Point athletics had now +become a matter of history only! + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +A CLOUD ON DICK'S HORIZON + + +Final exams. were passed! Not a member of the first class had +"fessed" himself down and out, so all were to be graduated. + +The Board of Visitors---a committee of United States Senators and +Representatives appointed by the President from among the members +of the National Congress, arrived. + +A detachment of cavalry and another of field artillery, both from +the Regular Army, rode to the railway station to aid in the reception +of the Board. + +Also the entire Corps of Cadets, two battalions of them, in spick +and span full-dress uniform, and with all metal accoutrements +glistening, in the sun, stood drawn up as the visitors were escorted +to their carriages by waiting Army officers. + +Now, the imposing procession started up the steep slope, at a little +past mid-afternoon. + +Just as the head of the line reached the flat plain above, most +of the members of the Board of Visitors felt tempted to clap their +hands to their ears. For a second detachment of artillery, waiting +on the plain, now thundered forth the official artillery salute to +the visitors. + +One of these visitors, a member of the national House of +Representatives, who had served with distinction in the Civil War, +having then risen to the grade of major general of volunteers, +looked out over the plain, then at the stalwart cadets behind, +with moist eyes. He had been a cadet here in the late fifties. +He was now too old to fight, but all the ardor of the soldier +still burned in his veins! + +Yet only a moment did the line of carriages pause at the plain. +Then the members of the Board were carried on to the West Point +Hotel, where the best quarters had been reserved for such as were +not to be personal guests of officers on the post. + +During the brief wait at the station, Cadet Captain Prescott, +standing before the company that he had commanded during this +year, caught a brief glimpse of a familiar figure---his mother. +By chance Mrs. Prescott had journeyed to West Point on the same +train. + +Yet not a chance did Dick get for a word with his mother until +long after. He was almost frenzied with eagerness for word of +Laura, and this his mother would have, in some form, but he must +wait until all the duties of the day had been performed and leisure +had come to him. + +Mrs. Prescott, on catching sight of her boy, felt a sudden, exultant +throb in her mother heart. Then she stepped quickly back, fearful +of attracting her lad's attention at a moment when he must give his +whole thought to his soldier duties. + +"My noble, manly boy!" thought the mother, with moistening eyes. +"I wonder if I do wrong to think him the noblest of them all?" + +Dick had caught that one swift glance, but did not again see his +mother, for his eyes were straight ahead. + +When the time came for his particular company to wheel and swing +into the now moving line of gray, Mrs. Prescott heard his measured, +manly voice: "Fours left---march!" + +When the last company of cadets had fallen into line, Mrs. Prescott +was one of the two dozen or so civilians who fell in at some distance +to the rear, climbing the slope behind the moving line of gray. +Wholly absorbed in the corps, Dick's mother had forgotten to +board the stage that would have carried her to the hotel. + +After the visitors had been left at the hotel, the corps marched +away. Barely half an hour later, however, the two battalions +again marched on to the plain. Then the most fascinating, the +most inspiring of all military ceremonies was gone through with +by the best body of soldiery in the world. The cadets of the +United States Military Academy went through all the solemnity +of dress parade. It is a sight which, once seen at West Point, +can never be forgotten by a lover of his flag. + +One bespectacled young spectator there was who found his breath +coming in quick, sharp gasps as he looked on at this magnificent +display. He was tall, yet with a slight stoop in his shoulders. +His face was covered with a bushy, sandy beard. He was neither +particularly well nor very badly dressed, and would have attracted +little attention in any crowd. + +Yet this stranger was not looking on a new sight. For nearly four +years it had been as the breath of life to him. + +Stoop-shouldered as a matter of disguise, and with beard and +spectacles adding to his security from recognition, this slouching +young man bent most of his gaze upon the stalwart, erect figure of +Cadet Captain Prescott. + +"You drove me out of here! You cheated me of all the glory of +this career, Prescott! Have you been fool enough to think that +I'd forget---that I could forget? You are close to your diploma, +now---but before that moment arrives I shall find the way to spoil +your chances of a career in the Army. And I can get away again +without anyone recognizing in me the man who was once known as +Cadet Jordan, of the first class!" + +Yes; it was Jordan, back at West Point, sure of escaping recognition, +and bent on a desperate errand of wrecking Dick Prescott's promising +career. + +But Dick performed all his duties through that dress parade conscious +only of the glory of the soldier's life. He thought he had caught +a fleeting glimpse of his mother once, in the crowd, as his company +executed a wheeling, and he was happy in what he knew her happiness +to be. + +Then, when it was all over, and the corps again marched from the +field, Mrs. Prescott, who knew the ways of West Point, went and +stood at the edge of the grassy plain, nearly opposite the north +sally-port. Five minutes after the last of the corps had marched +in under the port, Dick, his dress uniform changed for the fatigue, +came out with bounding step and crossed the road. + +Wholly unashamed, he passed his arms around his mother, gave her +a big hug, several kisses, and then, hat in hand, turned to stroll +with her under the trees. + +"Dad couldn't come, I'm afraid?" Dick asked in disappointment. + +"He had to stay and look after the store, you know, Dick, my boy. +But the store will be closed two days this week, for your father +is coming on here to see you graduate. Nothing could keep him +away from that." + +"And how is everyone at home? How is Laura?" Dick asked eagerly. + +"She will be here in time for the graduation hop," replied Mrs. +Prescott. "She told me she had seen you so far through your West +Point life, that she would feel uneasy over not being here to +see the last move of all. Dick, do you mind your mother asking +you a question? You used to care especially for Laura Bentley, +did you not?" + +"Why, mother?" asked Prescott with a sudden sinking at heart. + +Lounging against the other side of a tree that Prescott and his +mother were passing, the disguised Jordan was close enough to hear. + +What he heard seemed to deepen the scowl of hatred on his face; +but mother and son were soon out of ear shot, and the miserable +Jordan slunk away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +CADET PRESCOTT COMMANDS AT SQUADRON DRILL + + +The Military Academy found itself in a whirling round of recitations +and drills, arranged for the delight of the Board of Visitors. + +There were other hundreds of spectators at first, and thousands +later, to see all that was going on, for there are hosts of citizens +who know what inspiring sights are to be found at West Point in +Graduation Week. + +"Mr. Prescott is directed to report at the office of the commandant +of cadets." + +This order was borne by a soldier orderly immediately after breakfast +on the day before graduation. + +"Mr. Prescott," said the commandant, when the tall, soldierly looking +cadet knocked, entered and saluted, "you will take command at the +cavalry squadron drill, which takes place at three this afternoon." + +Dick's heart bounded with pleasure. It was an honor that could +come to but one man in the first class, and he was greatly delighted +that it should have fallen to him. + +"Mr. Holmes will command the first troop, and Mr. Anstey the second," +continued the commandant of cadets, who then rattled off the names +of the cadets who would act as subalterns in the squadron. + +It was a splendid detail, that of commanding the squadron in the +cavalry drill---splendid because it is one of the most picturesque +events of the week, and also because it calls for judgment and high +ability to command. + +"I must be sure to get word to mother; she mustn't miss a sight +that will delight her so greatly," murmured Dick, as he hastened +away to notify Greg and Anstey. + +This done, he hastened off to other duties, though not without +yielding much thought to the belief that Laura Bentley would be +here this afternoon, since she was pledged to go with him to the +graduation ball in the evening. + +"Mother can be sure to see Laura, and they can see the squadron +drill together," ran through Prescott's mind. + +A splendid, swift bit of pontoon bridge building had been shown +the visitors on the day before; one battalion had given a lively +glimpse of tent pitching in perfect alignment as to company streets, +and in record time. + +In the forenoon, there was to be a lively battery drill, to be +followed by a dizzying demonstration of the speed at which machine +guns may be moved, placed in position and fired so fast that there +is a hail of projectiles. + +For this afternoon, the cavalry drill in squadron, and after that, +infantry drill that would include a picture of infantry on the +firing line. After that, the last dress parade in which the present +first classmen would ever take part as cadets. + +Oh, it was a stirring picture, full of all the dash, the precision +and glamour of the soldier's life! The pity of it all was that +every red-blooded American boy could not be there to see it all. + +Just before three o'clock every man of the first class turned out +through the north sallyport in the full equipment of a cavalryman. +Here they halted before barracks. + +Dick caught sight of four figures standing hardly more than across +the road. A swift glance at the time, and Prescott stepped over +the road. + +"Good afternoon, mother. Good afternoon, Mrs. Bentley. And Laura +and Belle---oh, how delighted I am to see you both here!" + +Genuine joy shone in this manly cadet's eyes; none could mistake +that. + +"You did not know that Greg had invited me to the graduation ball, +did you?" asked Belle Meade. + +"I did not," Dick answered truthfully. "Yet I guessed it as soon +as I saw you here. And you have been at the Annapolis graduation, +too?" + +"Why, of course!" exclaimed Belle, almost in astonishment. "And +Laura went with me. That's something else you didn't know, Dick." + +"I've been through the course at West Point," laughed the cadet, +"and by this time I am not astonished at the number of things that +I don't know." + +"Dave and Dan said they had seen you only a few days ago, but +they sent their love again," rattled on Miss Meade. "But I'm +taking up all of the talk, and I know you're dying to talk to +Laura." + +Belle accompanied her words with a little gesture of one hand that +displayed the flash of a small solitaire diamond set in a band of +gold on the third finger of the left hand. + +Dick did not need inquire. He knew that Dave Darrin had placed +that ring where it now flashed. + +Just then Greg came through the sally-port. In an instant he +bounded across the road. He immediately took it upon himself +to talk with Belle, and Dick turned to Laura with flushed face +and wistful eyes. + +In the first instant Miss Bentley flushed; then a sudden pallor +succeeded the flush. Dick, taking her dear face as his barometer, +felt a sudden indescribable sinking of his heart. + +They exchanged a few words, then----- + +Ta-ra-ta-ra-ta-ra-ta! + +It was the bugle calling the assembly. + +Swiftly Greg sprang across the road to form his troop, while Anstey +formed the other. + +Both acting troop leaders turned to report to Dick that their +respective troops were formed. + +Then Prescott, for the last time as a cadet, marched the class +across the plain at swift, rhythmic tread, to where the veteran +cavalry horses stood saddled and tethered. + +Reaching the cavalry instructor, Prescott halted, saluted, and +reported his command. + +"Stand to horse!" ordered the instructor briskly. There was a +dash; in another instant each cadet stood by the head of his selected +mount. + +"Prepare to mount!" + +Each cadet seized mane and bridle, also thrusting his left foot +into stirrup box. + +"Mount!" + +Like so many figures operated by machinery, the first classmen rose, +throwing right legs over saddles, then settling down in the seat. +Then, all in a twinkling, the ranks reformed. + +"Mr. Prescott, take command of the squadron, sir!" rang the +instructor's voice. + +Dick thrilled with pleasure as he received the command with a salute. +He had not looked, but he knew that those dearest to him were in +the crowd beyond, looking on. + +"Draw sabre!" sounded Dick's not loud but clean-cut order. + +Greg and Anstey repeated the order in turn. Instantly all down +the strong line naked steel leaped forth. The sabres sprang to +the "carry," and the superb picture breathed of military might. + +Cadet Captain Dick Prescott, well in advance, sat facing his squadron; +he throbbed with a soldier's ardor at the beauty of the scene. + +"Fours right!" he shouted. + +"Fours right! Fours right!" sounded in the differing tones of +Greg and Anstey. + +"March!" + +"March! March!" + +Into a long column of fours, to the tune of jingling accoutrements, +the squadron swung. Prescott wheeled about and rode forward at a +walk. In the same instant, the bugler, a musician belonging to the +Regular Army, trotted forward, then slowed down to a walk close to +the young squadron commander. From that time on, all the commands +were to be given by the bugle. + +"Trot! March!" traveled on clear, musical notes, and the long +line of young horsemen moved forward at a faster gait. There +was none of the bumping up and down in saddle that disfigures +the riding taught in most riding schools. These gray-clad young +centaurs rode as though parts of their animals. + +Straight past the canvas shelter that had been erected for the +superintendent, the Board of Visitors and their ladies, swung +the four platoons in magnificent order and rhythm. + +Then, on the return, the young cavalrymen swept, at a gallop, +by platoons, in echelon and by column of squads. This done, the +cadets rode forward, baiting in line before the reviewers. Here +the senior cavalry instructor rode in front and gave the command: + +"Present---sabres!" + +The salute to the superintendent and his guests was given with +magnificent precision. + +"Continue the drill, Mr. Prescott!" rang the senior instructor's +voice. + +Once more the line of gray and steel swept over the plain. Now, +the evolutions were those of the field in war time. The charge +brought cheers from a thousand throats, and a great fluttering +of handkerchiefs. + +Then, while three platoons halted, remaining motionless in saddle, +the fourth platoon, after starting at the gallop, sheathed sabres +and drew pistols. + +Crack! crack! Crack! crack! It was merely mimic war, with +blank ammunition, but not an onlooker escaped the impression of +how much death and destruction such a line of charging, firing +men might carry before them. + +Now the whole squadron was in motion once more. At the sharp, +clear order of the bugle the line halted. At the next peal one +man in every four stood at the heads of four horses, while the +other three of each four ran quickly forward, in fine though open +formation. + +"Halt! Kneel! Ready! Aim! At will---_fire_!" + +Here was battle, real enough in everything but the fatalities. +Each man on the firing line fired rapidly, several shots to the +minute, though real aim was taken every time the bolt was shot +forward and before the trigger was pulled. Tiny, almost invisible +puffs of smoke issued from the carbine muzzles. Next, an orderly +spirited, swift retreat in the face of an imaginary enemy, was +made to the horses, which were mounted like a flash, and spurred +away. Some horses carried double, for some of the cadets lay +limp and useless, impersonating men wounded by the pursuing enemy. +It was all so stirring, so grand, that the plain rang with cheers. + +In an hour the drill was over, and the young cavalrymen stood +under the showers or disported in the pool. Only for a few minutes, +however. The infantry drill followed swiftly, after which these +same men must swiftly be immaculate in white ducks and the handsome +gray full-dress jackets. + +Then followed dress parade, after which came supper, and the first +classmen at West Point were through with the last day of full duty +in gray! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A WEST POINTER'S LOVE AFFAIR + + +With beating heart Dick Prescott presented himself at the hotel +that evening, and sent up his card to Mrs. Bentley and the girls. +Greg was with his chum, of course, but Greg was not in a flutter. +He was to escort Belle Meade---an arrangement of chumship, for +Belle wore the engagement ring of Dave Darrin, one of Greg's old +High School chums. + +For Dick, this was the night to which he had looked forward during +four years. To-night he felt sure of his career; he was to be +graduated into the Army, with a position in life fine enough for +Laura to grace with him. + +It was on this night, that he had determined to find out whether +her heart beat for him, or whether it had already been captured +by young Mr. Cameron back in the home town. + +"And very likely she wouldn't think of having either of us," smiled +Dick to himself. "It's easy enough for a girl to be a fellow's +friend, but when it comes to selecting a husband she is quite +likely to be more particular." + +It was just after dark as the two young couples sauntered away from +the hotel on their way to Cullum Hall. + +"You young men are now sure of your Army careers," remarked Belle, +as the four strolled down the road. + +"As absolutely sure as one can ever be of anything," Dick responded. +"Yes, I feel positive that I am now to be an officer in the Army." + +"While poor Dave has just started on a two-year cruise, and must +then come back for another examination before he is sure of his +commission," sighed Belle. + +"The middies don't get a square deal," said Dick regretfully. +"When Darrin and Dalzell were graduated, the other day, they +should have been commissioned as ensigns before they were ordered +to sea. Some day Congress and the people will see the injustice +of it all, and the unfairness will be remedied." + +How could Prescott possibly know that his commission in the Army +was not yet sure? + +That same sandy-bearded, bespectacled and stoop-shouldered ex-cadet +Jordan was even now eyeing Dick from a little distance. + +"Humph! Prescott feels mighty big at this moment!" growled the +young scoundrel. "I wonder how he'll be feeling at midnight, +down in cadet hospital, when the surgeons tell him he has no chance +of ever being a sound man again? Confound him! I could almost +find it in my heart to kill the fellow, instead of merely maiming +him. But maiming will be the keener revenge. All his life hereafter +Prescott will be thinking what might have been if he hadn't met +me this night! Shall I leap on him when he's coming back from +the hotel, after the graduation ball? No; for he'd have Holmes +with him then. I'll send in word and call him out from the ball, +with a message that an old schoolmate wants to see him on something +most urgent. I'll have Prescott to myself, and all I need is +a few seconds. I'm half as powerful again as Prescott is!" + +Jordan was not at all lacking in a certain type of ferocious brute +courage. As he had just boasted to himself, he was powerful enough +to be able to overpower Dick in a hand-to-hand conflict, yet the +scoundrel meant to attack Prescott unawares, without giving the +latter a chance to defend himself. + +Then, too, the sight of Laura, looking sweeter and more beautiful +than she had ever appeared in her life, goaded Jordan on to greater +fury. + +"That is the very girl I had planned to cut Prescott out with, +after he had been kicked from the service, and I was still in +the uniform. But it fell out the other way about," gritted Jordan. +"Prescott wears the uniform, and I've been dishonorably dropped +from the rolls! Prescott, I've a double score to settle with you +to-night!" + +But of all this, of course, Prescott was wholly unaware. + +"How much time have we to spare?" queried Dick, then glancing +at his watch. "Ten minutes. Laura, will you stroll around the +Hall with me and look down over the cliff at the noble old Hudson! +This will be one of my last glimpses as a cadet." + +Laura assented. Greg was about to follow, when Belle Meade drew +him back. + +"Take me inside," she urged. "I am eager to see the decorations." + +"But Dick and Laura?" queried Greg. + +"They're of age and can take care of themselves," smiled Miss +Meade. + +Dick Prescott's heart was beating, now, like a trip-hammer. Even +the next day's graduation, and the entrance into the Army looked +insignificant to him compared with the question of his fate that +was now seething in his brain and which he must now have settled. + +Two or three times he opened his lips to speak, then closed them, +as the two young people stood glancing down at the river through +the darkness. + +"Aren't you unusually silent, Dick?" asked Laura. + +"Perhaps so," he assented in a low voice. "I'm scared." + +"Scared!" + +"Yes; scared cold. I never knew such a fright in my life before." + +"Why, what-----" + +"Laura, I reckon the brief, direct way of the soldier will be best. +Laura, ever since we were in High School together I have loved you. +Through all the years that have followed, that love has never +slumbered for an instant. It has grown stronger with every passing \ +week. I-----" + +With a little cry Laura Bentley drew back. + +"I'm going right through to the end," cried Dick desperately. "Then +you can throw cold water over me---if you must. Laura, I love you, +and that love is nearly all of my life! I ask you to become a +soldier's bride---mine!" + +"And---and---is that what has scared you?" asked Laura in a very +low voice. + +"Yes!" + +"What a pitiful coward you are, then, to be a candidate for a +commission in the Army," laughed Laura Bentley softly. + +"But you---you haven't answered me." + +"Why, Dick, I've never had another thought, in six years, than that +I loved you!" + +"Laura! You love me?" + +"Why, of course, Dick. What has ailed your eyes and your reasoning +powers?" + +With a glad cry, Prescott gathered his betrothed in his arms, +claiming a lover's privilege. + +Then out of an inner pocket he drew a little box, drew out a circlet +of gold in which a solitaire glistened, and slipped the ring over +the finger set apart for the purpose of wearing such pledges. + +"And how soon, Laura---sweetheart?" he demanded eagerly. + +"Now, as to that, you must act like a creature of reason," Laura +laughingly insisted. "You are not yet in the Army. At first, +after you do receive your commission, you must be saving and careful. +It needs furniture and all those things, you see, Dick, dearest, +to form the background of a home. We must wait a little while---but +what sweet waiting it will be!" + +"Won't it, though!" demanded Dick with fervor. "Laura, it seems +to me that I must be dreaming. I can scarcely realize my great +good fortune." + +"Nor can I," replied Laura softly. "You have always been my boy +knight, Dick." + +As they stepped inside and approached their nearest friends, Belle +murmured in Greg's ear: + +"Look at the electric glow that comes from the third finger of +Laura's left hand. Now, do you comprehend, booby, what a fatal +mistake you would have made, had I allowed you to tag them around +to the cliff?" + +"Well, I'm jiggered!" gasped Cadet Holmes. "Which means that +I'm petrified with delight." + +"Get practical, then," chided Belle. "Take me forward to them, +and we'll have the happiness of being the first to congratulate +the newest arrivals in paradise!" + +Two minutes later, the leader of the orchestra swung his baton. +As the music pealed forth, Dick Prescott knew, for the first +time in his life, the full meaning of the dance in Cullum Hall. + +There were many other newly betrothed couples on the floor that +happy night of the graduation ball. The air was fragrant with +flowers, but there was more---the atmosphere of new-found happiness +on all sides. + +Outside, in the shadow of the moonless night, a stoop-shouldered +figure prowled in the near vicinity of Cullum Hall. This was +Jordan, intent on guessing when would be the most favorable moment +for sending in the message that should call Prescott out to his +doom. + +One of the watchmen, a soldier, in the quartermaster's department, +belted, and with a revolver hanging therefrom in its holster, +passed by and noted Jordan. + +"Are you waiting for anyone, sir?" asked the watchman, halting +a moment, though only in mild curiosity. + +"I'm going to send a message in, after the music stops, for my +cousin," replied Jordan, who knew that he must give some account +of himself. + +"Your cousin? A cadet?" asked the watchman. + +"Oh, yes. Mr. Atterbury, of the first class," responded Jordan, +giving the name of his former roommate at a venture. + +"Very good, sir," replied the watchman, and passed on. + +Mr. Atterbury, however, at that very moment, chanced to be standing +on the further side of a tree not far distant, and with him were +two other first classmen. + +"Who is that fellow?" queried Atterbury in a low whisper. "I've +seen him around here before this, and his voice sounds mighty +familiar." + +The passing watchman heard the question, so he answered: "He says +he is your cousin, sir!" + +"He is not my cousin," replied Atterbury with strange sternness. +"And, since the fellow is here in disguise, it ought to be our +business to ask him some questions. Come on, fellows!" + +Atterbury strode out of the shadow, followed just a second later +by "Durry" and "Doug." + +The prowler's first instinct was to run, but he dare not; that +would proclaim guilt. + +"See here, sir," demanded Atterbury, striding straight up to the +stoop-shouldered, bewhiskered one, "your name is Jordan, isn't it?" + +"No!" lied the wretch, in a voice that he strove to disguise. + +"Yes, it is," insisted Atterbury. "Rooming with you nearly four +years, I can't be fooled with any suddenly pickled voice. Jordan, +what are you doing here in disguise?" + +"I don't know that my presence here is any of your business," +growled the ex-cadet. + +"Yes; it is," insisted Atterbury. "And you'll give us an account, +too, or we'll lay hold of you and turn you over to some one official." + +At that threat Jordan turned to bolt. As he did so, three cadets +sprang after him. At the third or fourth bound they had hold of +him and bore him, fighting, to the earth. + +Even now Jordan used his splendid physique and strength in a +determined, bitter struggle. + +But "Durry" helped turn the fellow over, face down, and then all +three sat on their catch. + +"Doug," however, felt something hard. Leaping up, he made a quick +search, then drew from Jordan's hip pocket a length of lead pipe +wrapped in red flannel. + +"Ye gods of war," gasped Douglass, "what sort of weapon is this +for a former gentleman to carry?" + +"Let me up," pleaded Jordan, "and I'll make a quick hike!" + +"Don't you let him up, fellows," warned Douglass. "Now, whom +did Jordan seek with an implement like this? There could be but +one of our men---Prescott." + +"Have you anything to say, Jordan?" demanded Atterbury. + +"Not a blessed word," growled Jordan, no longer attempting to +disguise his voice. + +"Then we have," returned "Doug." + +"But you two fellows hold him until I come back." + +Douglass ran over to the cliff, then, with a mighty throw, hurled +the bar of lead out into the Hudson, far below. Then he darted +back. + +"Now, fellows," muttered Douglass in a low voice, "I'd like mighty +well to turn this scoundrel over. But we don't want to put such +a foul besmirchment on the class name, if we can avoid it, the +night before graduation. Jordan, if we let you go, will you hike, +and never stop hiking until you're miles and miles away from West +Point?" + +"Yes; on my honor," protested the other eagerly. + +"On your---bosh!" retorted "Doug" impatiently. "Don't spring such +strange oaths on us, fellow. Let him." + +"Now, Jordan, start moving, and keep it up!" Then the trio, after +watching the rascal out of sight, went inside, and Douglass, at +the first opportunity, warned Dick of what had happened outside in +the summer darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +CONCLUSION + + +The graduating exercises at West Point had finished. The Secretary +of War, in the presence of the superintendent, the commandant +and the members of the faculty of the United States Military Academy, +flanked by the Board of Visitors, had handed his diploma to the +last man, the cadet at the foot of the graduating class, Mr. Atterbury. + +Dick had graduated as number thirty-four; Greg as thirty-seven. +Either might have chosen the cavalry, or possibly the artillery +arm of the service, but both had already expressed a preference +for the infantry arm. + +"The 'doughboys' (infantry) are always the fellows who see the +hardest of the fighting in war time," was the way Dick put it. + +Now the superintendent made a few closing remarks. These finished, +the band blared out with a triumphal march, to the first notes +of which the first class rose and marched out, amid cheers and +hand-clapping, to be followed by the other classes. + +Five minutes later the young graduates were laying aside the gray +uniform for good and all. Cit. clothes now went on, and each +grad. surveyed himself with some wonder in attire which was so +unfamiliar. + +Out in the quadrangle, for the last time, the grads. met. There, +too, were the members of the classes remaining, but these latter +were still in the cadet gray, and would be until the close of their +own grad. days. + +Hurried good-byes were said. Warm handclasps sounded on all sides. +Few words were said, but there were many wet eyes. + +Then some of the grads. raced for the station to board the next +city-bound train. + +Greg remained behind with Dick. After quitting the quadrangle, +they bent swift steps toward the hotel, where awaited Mrs. Prescott, +Mrs. Bentley, Laura and Belle. + +Something else waited, too---a carriage, or rather, a small bus, for +Dick and Greg were no longer cadets and might ride over the post +in a carriage if they chose. + +"It was beautifully impressive, dear," whispered Laura, referring +to the graduating exercises. + +"But, thank goodness, it's over, and I have my diploma in this +suit case," murmured Dick grimly. "No more fearful grind, such +as we've been going through for more than four years. No more +tortured doubts as to whether we'll ever grad. and get our commissions +in the Army. That is settled, now. And think, Laura, if I hear +a bugle in the city to-morrow morning, I can simply turn over +and take another nap." + +"You lazy boy!" laughed Laura half chidingly. + +"You spend four years and three months here, and see if you don't +feel the same way about it," smiled Dick. "But I love every gray +stone in these grand old buildings, just the same. West Point +shall be ever dear in my memory!" + +Greg's mother now came out and joined the ladies on the porch. +A moment or two later Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes stepped out +and grasped their sons' hands. + +"We haven't a heap of time left if we want to catch the down-river +steamboat," suggested Dick, with a glance at his watch. + +So this happy little home party entered the bus, and the drive +to the dock began. + +They passed scores of cadets, who carefully saluted these grads. + +Everyone in the party knew of the betrothal of Dick and Laura. +Greg had had to stand a good deal of good-natured chaffing from +his parents because he had not fared as well. + +"The next girl I get engaged to," sighed Greg, "I'm going to insist +on marrying instantly. Then there'll be no danger of losing her." + +At the dock, Anstey, Durville, Douglass and other grads. waited, +though the majority of the members of the late first class were +already speeding to New York on a train that had started a few +minutes earlier. + +"I couldn't bear to go down by train, suh," explained Anstey +in a very low voice. "I want to stand at the stern of the steamer, +and see West Point's landmarks fade and vanish one by one. And +I don't reckon, suh, that I shall want anyone to talk to me while +I'm looking back from the stern of the boat." + +"Same here," observed Greg, with what was, for him, a considerable +display of feeling. + +Then the boat swept in, and the West Point party went silently +aboard. All made their way to the stern on the saloon deck. + +That evening the class was to meet, for the last time as a whole, +at one of the theaters in New York. And the late cadets would +sit together, solidly, as a class. + +Friends of graduates who wished would attend the theater, though +in seats away from the class. + +Dick and Greg's relatives and friends were all to attend. More, +they were to stop at the same hotel. The next forenoon the ladies +would attend to some shopping. Then the reunited party would +journey back to Gridley. + +A dozen or so West Point graduates stood at the stern of the swift +river steamer. The captain of the craft, a veteran in the river +service, knew something of how these young men just out of the +gray felt. For the first five miles down the river the swift +craft went at half speed. Then, suddenly, full speed ahead was +rung on the engine-room bell, and the craft went on under greatly +increased headway. + +"Well, gentlemen," murmured Anstey, moving around and walking +slowly forward, "the United States Military Academy is the grandest +alma mater that a fellow could possibly have. I'm glad to be +through, glad to be away from West Point, but I shall journey +reverently back there any time when I have any leisure in this +bright part of the good old world." + +How sweet the joys of the great metropolis! Yet these joys would +have palled had our travelers remained there too long. The following +afternoon they were again journeying toward what is, after all, +the one real spot on earth---home! + +Gridley well-nigh went wild over its returning West Pointers---though +now West Pointers no longer. + +One of Dick Prescott's first tasks was to go proudly to Dr. Bentley, +to state that he had had the wonderful good fortune to win Laura's +heart, and to ask whether her father had any objection. + +"Objection, Dick?" beamed the good old physician. "Why, lad, for +years I've been hoping---yes, praying that you and Laura would +have this good fortune. Wherever you may be stationed in the world, +you'll let our daughter come back to us once in a while, I hope." + +Dick solemnly promised, whereat Dr. Bentley smiled. + +"That's all nonsense, Dick," laughed Laura's father. "I know, +in my own heart, that you're going to be as good a son to mother +and me as you have been to your own parents. God bless you both!" + +A new lot of High School boys Dick and Greg found in Gridley, +but the new crop seemed to be fully as promising as any that Dick +and Greg could remember in their own old High School days when +Dick & Co. had flourished. + +A fortnight, altogether, Dick and Greg enjoyed in the good old home +town, hallowed to them by so many memories. + +Then one morning each received a bulky official envelope bearing +the imprint of the War Department at Washington. + +How their eyes glistened, then moistened, as each young West Point +grad. drew out of the envelope the parchment on which was written +his commission as a second lieutenant of United States infantry. + +More, their request had been granted. They had been assigned +to the same regiment---the forty-fourth. + +Their instructions called for them to start within forty-eight +hours, and to wire acknowledgment of orders to Washington. + +The Forty-fourth United States Infantry was at that time in the far +West, in a country that at times teemed with adventure for Uncle +Sam's soldiers. + +Here we must take leave of Lieutenant Dick Prescott and of Lieutenant +Greg Holmes, United States Army, for their cadet days are over +and gone. + +Readers, however, who wish to meet these sterling young Americans +again, and who would also like to renew acquaintance with two +former members of Dick & Co., Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton, will +be able to do so in Volume Number Five of the _Young Engineers' +Series_, entitled: "_The Young Engineers On The Gulf_." + +In this very interesting volume the young engineers and the young +Army officers will be found to have some very startling adventures +together. + +Readers will also be able to learn more of the careers of Dick +Prescott and Greg Holmes, as Army officers, in the "_Boys Of The +Army Series_." Some of their campaigns will be described very +fully, for these splendid young officers served as officers and +instructors of the "_Boys of the Army_." + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West +Point, by H. Irving Hancock + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT *** + +***** This file should be named 12807.txt or 12807.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/8/0/12807/ + +Produced by Jim Ludwig + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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