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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/33926-8.txt b/33926-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a40ef7 --- /dev/null +++ b/33926-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8799 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days, by Howard R. Garis + +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 Hamilton's Cadet Days + The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son + +Author: Howard R. Garis + +Release Date: October 14, 2010 [EBook #33926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "ALLOW ME TO PRESENT MY FRIEND, DICK HAMILTON." + _Page_ 175. + _Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days._] + + + + + DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS + OR + THE HANDICAP OF A MILLIONAIRE'S SON + + BY + HOWARD R. GARIS + + AUTHOR OF "DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE," "FROM OFFICE BOY TO + REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT + SEARCH," ETC. + + _ILLUSTRATED_ + + THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y. + + + Copyright, 1910, by + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + _Printed in the United States of America_ + by + THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. + CLEVELAND, O. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR BOYS: + +When I had finished the first volume of this series, telling of the +doings of Dick Hamilton, the young millionaire, I was in some doubt as +to just how you would like it. I hoped that you would be pleased with +it, and interested in Dick and his chums, and what they did, but I could +not be sure of it. + +That you did care for it, I am now assured, and I am glad to be able to +give you the second volume, relating some of Dick's experiences while at +a leading military school. + +You will recall that, after he had come into possession of his great +fortune, by fulfilling certain conditions of his mother's will, there +were still other things for him to do; matters that his mother had +planned before her death. One of these was to make sure that her son +would get a good military training. + +Dick went to Kentfield Academy, but, to his surprise, he met with a very +cold reception from the other cadets. Ray Dutton, not understanding +that, in spite of our hero's wealth, he was a fine chap, influenced the +other students against Dick, and, for a time, the young millionaire was +very lonely in the big school. But he resolved to fight his own battles, +and become popular in spite of his wealth. + +Uncle Ezra brought him bad news, but it was the means of great good luck +for Dick, though Grit, the bulldog, seemed to regard the crabbed old man +as his master's enemy, and chased him from the school. + +All this you will find set down in the present volume, and also an +account of how Dick was instrumental in locating a long missing soldier, +and how, when the society house of the Sacred Pig burned down, without +any insurance being in force, Dick, with his wealth, came to the aid of +the surprised cadets. + + Yours sincerely, + HOWARD R. GARIS. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. DICK GETS A TELEGRAM 1 + + II. A CHANGE IN PLANS 14 + + III. GRIT ROUTS UNCLE EZRA 25 + + IV. IN WHICH DICK STARTS OFF 35 + + V. AN ODD CHARACTER 42 + + VI. THE HAZING 51 + + VII. DICK THINKS HE HAS A CLUE 62 + + VIII. DICK GETS A FALL 72 + + IX. WHO FIRED THE GUN 78 + + X. DICK HAS A FIGHT 85 + + XI. DICK GIVES A SPREAD 92 + + XII. AN ANGRY FARMER 100 + + XIII. A NARROW ESCAPE 108 + + XIV. CAPTAIN HANDLEE'S VISIT 117 + + XV. ON THE GRIDIRON 121 + + XVI. FOR THE PRIZE TROOP 128 + + XVII. DICK IN TROUBLE 135 + + XVIII. A DISMAL CHRISTMAS 144 + + XIX. THE MARKSMAN'S MEDAL 152 + + XX. DICK DOESN'T TELL 159 + + XXI. THE FANCY DRESS BALL 170 + + XXII. THE CHALLENGE 181 + + XXIII. A WINTER MARCH 190 + + XXIV. THE RESCUE OF DUTTON 199 + + XXV. OFF TO CAMP 208 + + XXVI. THE SHAM BATTLE 215 + + XXVII. DICK WINS THE CONTEST 228 + + XXVIII. UNCLE EZRA AT KENTFIELD 235 + + XXIX. DICK'S GREAT RUN 243 + + XXX. A BROADSWORD COMBAT 251 + + XXXI. DICK WRITES A CHECK--CONCLUSION 261 + + + + +DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DICK GETS A TELEGRAM + + +"Hi boys! Here goes for a double summersault!" + +"Bet you don't do it, Frank." + +"You watch." + +"Every time you try it you come down on your back," added another lad of +the group of those who were watching one of their companions poised on +the end of a spring-board. + +"Well, this time I'm going to do it just like that circus chap did," and +Frank Bender, who had an ambition to become an acrobat, raised his hands +above his head and crouched for a spring. + +"If you do it I'll follow," said another boy, clad in a bright red +bathing suit. + +"Good for you, Dick!" exclaimed Walter Mead. "Don't let Frank stump +you." + +"Here I go!" cried Frank, and, a moment later, he sprang from the +spring-board, leaped high into the air, and, turning over twice, came +down in true diver style, his hands cleaving the water beneath which he +disappeared. + +"Good!" cried the boys on the shore. + +"I didn't think he'd do it," remarked "Bricktop" Norton, so called from +his shock of red hair. + +"Me either," added Fred Murdock. "Now it's up to you, Dick." + +"That's right." + +Dick Hamilton rose from a log on which he was sitting. He was a tall, +clean-cut chap, straight as an arrow, with an easy grace about him, and +it needed but a glance to show that he was of athletic build. His red +bathing suit, from which protruded bronzed arms and legs, was +particularly becoming to him. + +"There--let's--see--you--do--that!" spluttered Frank, as he came up, +some distance from where he had gone down. He shook his head to rid his +eyes and ears of water, and struck out for shore. + +"Stay there!" called Dick. "I'll swim out farther than you did." + +"Dick's cutting out some work for himself," remarked Bricktop, in a low +tone to Bill Johnson. "Frank's a dandy swimmer." + +"Yes, but Dick Hamilton usually does what he sets out to do," replied +Bill. "There he goes." + +Dick walked to the end of the spring-board. He teetered up and down on +it two or three times, testing the balance of the long plank. Then he +took a few steps backward, poised for an instant, and ran forward. + +"There he goes!" called Walter. + +Like a rubber ball Dick Hamilton arose in the air. He curled himself up +into a lump as he leaped, and then, to the surprise of his companions, +he turned over not twice, but three times ere he struck the water, which +closed up over his feet as they disappeared. + +"Well--wouldn't that sizzle your side combs!" cried Bricktop. "Three +times!" + +"A triple!" added Walter Mead. "Whoever would think Dick could do it!" + +"Aw, he's been practicing," called Frank, as he circled about in the +water, watching for Dick to come up. "He's been doing it on the sly, and +he's kept quiet about it." + +"Just like Dick," added Bill. "He isn't satisfied to do ordinary +stunts." + +"Well, he's done a good one this time," said Fred Murdock. "Say, isn't +he staying under a long time?" + +There was no sight of the millionaire youth. + +"Maybe he hit his head on a rock," suggested Bricktop, in some alarm. + +"That's so," went on Fred. "This place isn't any too deep, and he came +down hard." + +"Maybe we'd better go in after him," remarked Walter. + +"Dive down!" called Bill to Frank. + +The boys were becoming frightened. Not a ripple, save the little waves +made by Frank, as he stood upright, treading water, disturbed the +expanse of the swimming hole. There was no sign of Dick Hamilton. Frank +prepared for a dive, when, suddenly, at some distance from shore +something shot up through the water. It was the hand and arm of a boy. +An instant later his head and shoulders popped into view. + +"There he is!" cried Walter. + +"It's about time he came up," said Bill, somewhat sharply, for Dick's +long under-water swim had frightened the boys. + +"How's that, fellows?" asked Dick, as he shook the water from his face, +and struck out for shore. + +"You win!" cried Frank, "but please don't give us heart disease again." + +"Why; what's the matter?" + +"We'd thought you'd struck on a stone and weren't going to come up +again." + +"No danger of that," answered Dick, with a laugh. "I'm having too much +fun at camp here, to stay down there. Did I make a good dive?" + +"Did you? Say, you've got us all beat to a pig's whisper on Fourth of +July," admitted Bricktop. "How'd you do it?" + +"Yes, I wish you'd show me," added Frank. "You must have been practicing +it." + +"I have," admitted Dick. "It's easy when you know how. After you do a +double summersault, all you have to do--is to make another one, making +three in all, and you can see that I had nothing concealed up my sleeve, +and----" + +"And you did it without the aid of a net," added Fred, after the +fashion of the ringmaster in a circus announcing some marvelous feat. + +"I'm going to try it," said Frank, as he clambered out on the bank. + +"No, I think we've been in the water long enough this morning," said +Dick. "Besides it's most grub time. I don't know how you feel about it, +but I think I could nibble at a bit of roast chicken, which I happen to +know that our esteemed cook, Hannibal Cæsar Erastus Jones, has in the +oven." + +"Ah! Um!" murmured Bill Johnson. + +"That's it! Make a noise like a lunch-grabber!" objected Fred. "I should +think you'd be ashamed of yourself." + +"Oh, listen to the professor at the breakfast table!" cried Bill with a +laugh. "I don't s'pose you're going to nibble at any; art thou, +Reginald?" + +"Well, you just watch him," advised Fred. "He's got me beat, all right." + +"Come on!" cried Dick suddenly. "First fellow at the dining tent gets +most of the white meat!" + +He started off at a fast clip, the others sprinting after him, and he +would have won, but that he stubbed his bare toe on a stone, and had to +finish the rest of the distance on one leg, holding the injured member +in his hands, making, the while, wry faces at the pain. Bill Johnson won +the impromptu race. + +"Hurt much?" asked Walter, as Dick limped up. + +"Like sin. Say, Hannibal Cæsar Erastus Jones, will you do me a favor?" +he asked, as the colored cook, who did the camp cooking, came from his +tent. + +"Ob co'se, Massa Dick. What am it?" + +"Just go back there in the woods and bring me the pieces of that stone I +broke with my toe. I want 'em for souveniers." + +"Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Massa Dick, doan yo' go to playin' no tricks on me! Not +jest at de present auspicious moment," and the colored man grinned +broadly, showing a big expanse of white teeth, in an area of blackness. + +"Why not, Rastus?" + +"'Case as how de chicken am all done, an' if it ain't partook of +immejeet----" + +"Never mind those souveniers," said Dick. "We'll be with you in the +twinkling of a flea's left hand eyelash," and he hopped into his tent, +and began to dress, an example followed by the other boys. + +"Humph!" murmured Hannibal Cæsar Erastus Jones, as he stood in the midst +of the camp, rapidly blinking his eyes. "Fust I eber knowed a flea had a +eyelash. But Massa Dick, he must know, 'case he's po'ful smart. But I +'spects I'd better git ready to serb up de grub, as dey calls it, 'case +dey's allers pow'ful hungry when dey's been in swimmin'. Come t' t'ink +ob it, dough, dey's most allers ready t' eat." And, chuckling to +himself, Hannibal started toward the cook tent. + +It did not take the boys long to dress, and as they emerged from the +tents, their faces glowing with health, and bronzed from their life in +the open, they were as fine a group of lads as you would meet in a day's +travel, or, maybe a day and a half. They were all guests of Dick +Hamilton, who, as had been his custom for several years past, had taken +a crowd of his chums off to camp on the shores of Lake Dunkirk, a large +body of water near Hamilton Corners, where Dick lived. + +"Ah! Um! Smell that chicken!" murmured Bill Johnson, as he lifted his +nose high in the air. + +"There you go again! Displaying your lack of manners!" objected Fred. +"Why don't you wait in patience and dignity, as I do." + +"Well, wouldn't that melt your collar button!" remarked Bricktop. +"Where's the glass case they took you out of, Fred?" + +"Manners?" asked Dick, as he approached Fred from the side. "Excuse me, +but there's something sticking out there." + +As he spoke he slyly extended his foot, and, a moment later Fred +measured his length on the carpet of soft, pine needles of the woods. + +"Goodness me! Did you fall?" asked Dick, as he looked down, in apparent +surprise at his chum. "How careless of you." + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Bill. "Come here, Fred, and I'll pick you up." + +Fred arose, smiling rather sheepishly, but not at all angry. He brushed +off his clothes, and joined in the laugh that followed. + +"It's your turn next," observed the young millionaire. "I'll have to +keep my weather eye open, Fred." + +"All right," said the lad who had been tripped. + +"Well, Hannibal--Alphabet--Jones; art ready for the gathering of the +clans who hunger after the flesh-pots of Egypt?" asked Dick. + +"All ready, Massa Dick," replied the colored cook. "Come on." + +"First down! One wish-bone to gain!" called Walter Mead, as he took his +place at the table set under the tent fly. + +For the next five minutes the boys were so busy eating the roast chicken, +corn bread and other good things that Hannibal-and-the-rest-of-it-Jones, +with his knowledge of Southern cookery had provided, that they said not +a word. Then, with a long-drawn sigh of satisfaction, Bill observed: + +"There certainly is nothing like a good meal." + +"Unless it's two," added Bricktop. "I didn't much fancy Dick's plan of +taking a professional cook along when we came to camp this year, because +it used to be fun to do it ourselves, but our cooking was never like +this." + +"Never, never, never!" exclaimed Fred. "I'll have a little more chicken, +if you don't mind, Dick." + +"Certainly not. There's plenty." + +"Yes, this is better than having to do it ourselves," said Frank Bender, +as he finished polishing off a juicy leg. "No dishes to wash, nothing to +bother with after you're through, only have a good time. Dick, you're a +brick!" + +"As long as I'm not a gold one, it's all right," said the millionaire's +son. "But I thought you'd agree with me that it was best to take a cook +along." + +"It sure is all to the pancake batter," observed Bricktop. "Well, I +don't mind if I do have a little more of the white meat, if you insist," +he added, though no one had asked him to pass his plate. + +Dick laughed as he helped his chum to some choice bits. Matters were +moving more slowly, now that the first edge of hunger was dulled, and +the boys were taking occasional stops to make remarks. + +"What's the program for this afternoon?" asked Walter, as he drained his +coffee cup. "Are we going fishing?" + +"Whatever you say," replied Dick, who, like a true host, always +consulted the wishes of his guests. "We can fish, take a walk, or go out +in the motor boat." + +"The motor boat for mine," said Bill. "I want to get on a pile of +cushions and take a snooze." + +"Well, wouldn't that give you the nightmare!" came from Bricktop. +"You're getting lazier every day, Bill." + +"Help yourself," spoke the sleepy youth, as he slumped from the table +and stretched out under a tree. + +"I guess a trip in the motor boat would suit us all best," observed +Dick. "Hannibal 'Rastus, just fill up the gasolene tank, will you?" + +"Oh, why wasn't I born rich instead of handsome," murmured Bricktop, who +never would have taken a prize in a beauty show. "But my fatal gift +of----" + +"Cut it out!" cried Walter, throwing a pine cone with such good aim, +that it went right into Bricktop's open mouth. + +"Oh! Ah! Ug! Blug! Chug! Hum!" spluttered the discomfitted one. "Who +threw that?" he demanded, when he could speak. + +Nobody answered, and, feeling in no mood to get up and chastise Walter, +whose sly grin proclaimed him the culprit, Bricktop stretched out again. + +"Hark! That sounds like a wagon coming," observed Fred, as he sat up, +after a few minutes of silence. + +"Guess it's the ice man," said Dick, for he had arranged to have a +supply left at the camp. He believed in having all the comforts possible +when he went into the woods. + +"Doesn't rumble like an ice wagon," commented Bill. + +"Sounds more like a load of steel girders," added Walter. + +At this, Dick arose. He peered through the trees toward a seldom-used +wagon road, which ran near the camp. He caught sight of something +moving. + +"It's a wagon, all right," he said, "but it isn't the ice man." + +A few moments later a remarkable rig hove into sight. It consisted of a +rattle-trap of a wagon, loaded with all sorts of scrap iron, and drawn +by a horse that looked as if it had escaped from the bone yard. It just +crawled along. On the seat was a bright-faced youth, who was doing his +best to excite the animal into a speed a little better than that of a +snail. He jerked on the reins, called at the horse, and cracked his +whip, but all to no purpose. + +"It's no use!" he exclaimed, as he looked through the trees and caught +sight of Dick and his chums. "He's got the pip, or something like that." + +"Why, hello, Henry," called Dick. "What brings you away off here? +There's no scrap around here." + +"I thought maybe you boys might have had one or two that you'd sell +cheap," said the young dealer in old iron, and there was a twinkle in +his eyes. + +"They're all too lazy to fight, except me," observed Bricktop, "and I'm +too good." + +"Stow that!" commanded Fred, making a pass at his chum, who jumped back +out of reach. + +"Aren't you quite a way from home?" asked Dick, as he went up and shook +hands with Henry Darby. + +"Yes, I am. But you see I'm driving around the country, collecting old +iron. This is my dull season, and I took my oldest rig, and started off +day before yesterday. I'm taking it easy--have to you know, on account +of my horse's health. His delicate constitution makes it necessary. +There doesn't seem to be much old iron about, and I've got this far, +without picking up a full load." + +"Why don't you give some to your horse. Iron is good for the +constitution," said Dick. + +"I thought of it, but you see all the iron I have is in long pieces and +sticks out all sorts of ways. If my horse swallowed any of it he'd have +more fine points than he's got now. So I guess I'll keep him on grain." + +"But you haven't told me why you're away off here in the woods," went on +Dick. "Is there any iron about here?" + +"No, not that I know of. I came to find you." + +"To find me?" + +"Yes. I have a telegram for you. I happened to stop in the village back +there, and while I was making some inquiries in the post-office, which +is also the telegraph station, a message came for you. The operator had +no one he could send with it, and, as I happened to know where you were +camping, I said I'd take it. He gave me a quarter for bringing it out, +and so I've made some profit to-day." + +"A telegram!" cried Dick. "Why didn't you say so at first? Give it +here," and he held out his hand. + +"I didn't want to scare you," said Henry. "I was breaking the news +gently." + +He handed over the yellow envelope. Dick tore it open, and, as he read +the short message, he gave a start. + +"No bad news I hope," remarked Walter. + +"No, I guess not," replied Dick slowly. "But I've got to leave for home +at once." + +"Leave for home!" cried his chums. + +"Yes. This is from dad. It says: 'Dear Dick. Come home as soon as you +get this. Important.'" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A CHANGE IN PLANS + + +Following Dick's reading of the telegram there was silence among the +campers. They all imagined something had happened to Mr. Hamilton, +Dick's father, and they hesitated to give voice to their thoughts. + +"Well, I'd offer to take you home in my chariot," said Henry Darby, with +a suggestion of a smile, "only I know you'd be two days on the road. +Though it might be a good thing," he added "for your father would hear +us coming long before he could see us, with the way this old iron +rattles. I wish some one would invent noiseless scrap iron." + +"Do you--do you s'pose your father is--is hurt?" asked Walter, finally +putting into words what all the others thought. + +"Not a bit of it," replied Dick, stoutly. "Dad knows me well enough to +say right out what he means. He wants me home, for some reason or other, +but I don't know what it can be," and he looked at the telegram in a +puzzled sort of way, as if the slip of paper would solve the mystery for +him. + +"Maybe--maybe he's lost all his money," suggested Frank "and you've got +to give up the camp." + +"No, I guess there's no danger of dad losing all his money so quickly," +relied the young millionaire. "He had plenty when I came away, two weeks +ago, and he's got so many investments that he couldn't lose it all at +once, even if he tried. No, it's something else. I wonder what it is?" + +"I s'pose the best way to find out, is to go and ask him, about it," +suggested Henry. + +"That's it," assented Dick. "I could telegraph, but he might be away +from home, and wouldn't get it. I guess I'll have to leave camp, +fellows." + +"Then we'll go, too," said Bricktop. + +"No, there's no need of that. I invited you out for three weeks, and +that time isn't up yet. You might as well stay. Hannibal will cook for +you, and if I can come back I will. Otherwise you stay here and enjoy +yourselves." + +"We won't enjoy ourselves very much if you leave," said Walter +regretfully, and the others echoed his sentiment. + +"Well, that's a compliment to me," declared Dick, with a smile, "but I +guess you'll manage to exist. Now I wonder how I'd better go? Henry, I +s'pose I could ride with you to the village, and take a train." + +"I should advise you to," remarked the young iron merchant. "This nag +went to sleep four times coming out, and he's snoring now. No telling +what he'll do on the way back. He seems to like life in the woods. I +guess he must have been a wild horse once, and he's going back to +nature." + +"He's not very wild now," observed Bricktop, tickling the animal with a +switch. "He won't even move." + +"No, it takes quite a while to get him started," said Henry. "Usually I +have to begin the day before, to get him into action. No, Dick, I +shouldn't advise you to ride with me." + +"What's the matter with the motor boat?" asked Frank. "You can go to the +village in that." + +"That's so," agreed Dick. "You fellows can take me over, and bring her +back. We'll do it." + +"Well," remarked Henry, as he began to take in the slack of the reins, +preparatory to starting the horse, "I guess I'll be going. I hope you +find everything all right at home, Dick." + +"I guess I will. Probably this has something to do with business +matters. But, say, don't you want a bite to eat? We just finished grub, +and there's a little that these cannibals didn't stow away." + +"Well, I do begin to feel the need of something," said the young dealer +in old iron. "The crackers and cheese I got in the village weren't very +filling." + +"Tie your horse, and sit down to the table. +Hannibal-and-half-a-dozen-other-names will get you something. Ho! +Rastus!" called Dick. + +"No need to tie this horse," said Henry with grim smile. "If I did he'd +imagine he was home in the stable, and go so sound to sleep that it +would take two days to wake him. I'll just put some oats down in front +of him, and, maybe he'll rouse up enough to eat them. That will keep him +from taking naps." + +The youthful iron merchant did this, and, while he was making a +bountiful meal from what the colored cook set before him, Dick was +preparing to start for home, wondering, meanwhile, why his father had +sent for him so suddenly. + +Those of you who have read the first book of this series entitled "Dick +Hamilton's Fortune," will need no introduction to the millionaire youth +and his chums. But you boys and girls who have not previously met him, +may desire a little introduction. + +Dick Hamilton was the only son of Mortimer Hamilton, of Hamilton +Corners, not far from New York. The town was named after Mr. Hamilton +because he was financially interested in many of the industries of the +place. He was president of the national bank, owned large woolen mills, +a brass foundry, a lumber concern, and was head of a railroad and a +trolley line that added much of importance to the place. Mr. Hamilton +counted his fortune by the millions, and his son, who had inherited a +large sum from his mother, was also the possessor of substantial bank +accounts. + +In the first volume there was told how, on a certain birthday Dick came +into control of a large part of his wealth, subject to a peculiar +condition of his mother's will. That is, he was to make, inside of a +year, a wise and paying investment of some of his funds, under penalty +of losing control of his fortune for a time, and having to live with a +miserly uncle. + +This uncle, Ezra Larabee by name, of the town of Dankville, was Mrs. +Hamilton's brother. One of the conditions of her will was that Dick +should spend a week with his uncle before entering into possession of +the money, that he might see what sort of a life he was likely to lead, +in case he did not comply with the provisions. + +Dick had a miserable time at Mr. Larabee's. He was not allowed to have +any fun, and his uncle even objected to him walking on the paths, for +fear he would disturb the newly-raked gravel. + +Dick returned home, determined to make a paying investment if only to +escape his uncle's clutches. He did make several investments, by buying +real estate, some stock in a milk company, and some shares in a gold +mine. But they all turned out badly, and, while investigating the mine +by means of which he had been swindled, he had, with his chums, some +exciting adventures. + +In Hamilton Corners, dwelt "Hank" Darby, a shiftless sort of man, and +his son, Henry, who was as energetic as his father was lazy. Henry +started to make money, in a small way, by collecting scrap iron, and +selling it, but his shiftless parent nearly brought the business to +grief. Dick became interested in Henry's efforts, and, as the young +millionaire had plenty of money, he loaned Henry two hundred and fifty +dollars, to buy out the iron business of a man who wished to retire. +"Hank" Darby, with an exaggerated idea of his own importance, elected +himself president of the old iron company, made Dick treasurer, and +Henry secretary. + +Dick gave little thought to the money he had loaned his young friend, +but the time came when it was to prove of great benefit to him. One +after another his various investments failed, and he saw the time +approaching when he must go to live with his miserly uncle. His last +venture was to invest five hundred dollars in an airship, the inventor +of which hoped to win a government prize, which he promised to divide +with Dick. But the airship blew up, and Dick saw his next birthday dawn, +without, as he thought, having made his paying investment. + +Uncle Ezra, who was much opposed to his nephew having so much money, +came, according to agreement, to get Dick to take him to Dankville with +him. But, at the last moment, something quite unexpected happened and it +was found that Dick had, after all, complied with the terms of his +mother's will, and he was, therefore, allowed to keep control of his +fortune. But, as told in the first volume, there were still other +stipulations with which he must comply. + +Following the events told of in "Dick Hamilton's Fortune," our +millionaire hero had completed his course at a local academy. When +summer came he took some of his chums off to camp in the woods, and it +was there that Henry, who was still in the old iron business, found him. + +"Well, I guess I'm ready," remarked Dick, as he came from his tent, one +of several that formed the camp. "I'll not take any of my things, for I +may be able to come back and finish out the vacation." + +"I certainly hope so," said Bricktop fervently. + +"Same here," added Walter and the others. + +By this time Henry had made a good meal, and, as his horse showed some +signs of life, he remarked that he thought he would start, before the +beast got to sleep again. + +"Did you gasolene the motor boat, Rastus?" asked Dick of the colored +cook. + +"Yais sah, Massa Dick." + +"All right. Now see that these poor kids don't get hungry while I'm +gone. Let 'em take pieces of pie to bed with 'em, to keep 'em quiet." + +"Ho! Ho! Massa Dick. Deed an' I will. Pie to bed wif 'em! Ha! Ha! Ho! +Ho!" + +The boys entered the motor boat, leaving Hannibal in charge of camp, and +they soon reached the village, whence Dick could take a train for home. + +"Now, fellows, enjoy yourselves," he called to them, as they watched him +board the train at the depot. "I'll come back if I can. Better practice +that triple summersault, Frank." + +"I will. I'll stump you, when you come back." + +"I wish I didn't have to leave them," thought Dick, as he settled +himself in his seat. "I wonder what dad wants of me? But there's no use +worrying. I'll be home in about two hours." + +He exhibited his pass, on which he was traveling, as his father was +president of the railroad, and then sat looking at the scenery, vainly +wondering, in spite of his efforts not to dwell on it, why he had been +summoned home. + +"Well, Dick," greeted his father, when the young millionaire entered the +house. "You got back sooner than I expected." + +"Yes, dad. I started as soon as I got your message. I hope nothing is +the matter." + +"Nothing serious. The fact is I have to leave for Europe next week----" + +"For Europe! And are you going to take me?" + +"No, I'm sorry to say I can't. But I have other plans for you, which I +hope you will like. I unexpectedly received a call to England, to settle +some large financial matters in which I am interested, and, as I shall +have to be gone six months or more I decided to close the house up and +let the servants go. As that would make no place for you to stay, +unless you boarded, which you might not like, I decided to send for you, +and tell you what I propose. The reason I telegraphed for you is that I +will be so busy after to-day that I will have no time to attend to +anything." + +"What are you going to do with me?" asked Dick. + +"You remember," went on Mr. Hamilton, "that in her will, your mother +specified, in addition to making a good investment, that you must attend +a military academy----" + +"That's so!" cried Dick. "I'd forgotten about that. Say, when can I go? +This beats camp!" + +"Not so fast," cautioned his father. "There are certain conditions to be +fulfilled. Your mother had peculiar ideas regarding money. She wished +her son to become a success in spite of it. So she provided, under +certain penalties, which you will learn of later, that you were to go to +a good military academy to complete your education. + +"There, as I told you once before, though you may have forgotten it, you +are to become popular with the students in spite of your wealth. You are +to make your own way without the aid of your millions. And this is no +easy matter. While many persons have a false notion of wealth, by far +the larger class attach to it only the importance it deserves. A rich +lad can, to a certain extent, become popular, but he will never have +the real, solid friends that some youth not so well off would win. So +you've got to make friends in spite of your money." + +"That ought to be easy," said Dick, but he was to find it a harder task +than he had supposed it would be. + +"So, as I have to go away, and close up the house," went on Mr. +Hamilton, "I have arranged that you are to go to the academy a little +ahead of time, about two weeks before the term opens. That will give you +a chance to find your way around the place." + +"Where is it?" + +"It is the Kentfield Military Academy, located in one of the middle +western states, and is near Lake Wagatook. Colonel James Masterly, a +friend of mine, is the superintendent, and I have written to him +concerning you. He gave me permission to send you on ahead of time, and +that is what I propose to do. You will have to get ready to go at the +end of this week. I hope you do not object." + +"Not in the least, dad. We were having lots of fun at camp, but I'll +have more fun at Kentfield. Shoulder arms! present arms! Halt! parade +rest! Wow! Say, dad, this is the best yet!" + +"Wait until you've spent a term there," advised his father. + +"If I don't have to start until the end of the week, I might as well go +back to camp," said Dick, when he had calmed down a bit. + +"Just as you like. From now on I shall be too busy to see much of you, +but I will make all arrangements." + +"All right, dad. I'll go back to camp then. I can get a late train," and +Dick went to see what time it left, meanwhile whistling a succession of +military airs, from "The Girl I left Behind Me," to "Yankee Doodle." + +He reached camp late that night, somewhat to the surprise of his chums, +and they spent the next few days in crowding in as much pleasure as +possible. When it became time for Dick to leave, the others decided to +go back home with him, as the three weeks were nearly up. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GRIT ROUTS UNCLE EZRA + + +"There's a man out in the vestibule who wants to see you, Master Dick," +said Gibbs, the butler, one evening, a few days before the time of +departure to the academy. + +"Who is it?" + +"Captain Handlee." + +"Tell him to come in." Dick knew Captain Handlee as an old soldier, who +lived in a tumble-down house on the outskirts of the village. The +veteran, escorted by the butler, entered shyly. Dick greeted him kindly, +and the old man began almost abruptly: + +"Did you ever hear that I had a son?" + +"No, I never knew that. Where is he?" + +"That is what I want you to help me to find out." + +"You want me to help you? Why, how can I?" asked Dick. + +"I don't know that you can. I only hope so. Will you?" + +"I will do all I can for you, but perhaps you want to see my father," +for Dick had an idea that the old man wanted some money for some +purpose. + +"No, I want to see you, Mr. Dick. You see you are going to a military +academy, and that is why I think you can help me." + +"But I don't understand." + +"Listen, and I will tell you. As you know, I am an old soldier, but few +persons around here know that my only son was a soldier, too." + +"I certainly did not. I never knew that you had a son." + +"Well, I did, and he was a fine chap, too. He enlisted in the regular +army, where I served my time, but for many years I have heard nothing +about him." + +"What happened?" + +"He was among the missing after his company was sent to quell an +uprising among the Indians, out west, many years ago. No word was ever +received from him, and I don't know whether he was killed, or taken +captive. I never heard anything about him, and now I think you can aid +me in locating him." + +"But how can I?" + +"By making inquiries at the military academy." + +"But it is not likely that any one at Kentfield would know of your son." + +"They might. When your father told me you were going there, he mentioned +that Major Franklin Webster, a retired army officer, was in charge of +military tactics at the school. Now Major Webster is an old Indian +fighter, and I thought that if you asked him, he might be able to get +some news of my son. Will you do this for me?" + +"I will, gladly, but I have not much hope of the result." + +"Perhaps it will amount to nothing," said the old soldier with a sigh, +"but it is the first chance I have had in many years. All my inquiries +of the war department resulted in nothing. Perhaps you may have better +luck." + +"I hope so," replied Dick gently. "I will make some inquiries. What is +your son's name?" + +"He was christened William, but his friends in the army called him +Corporal Bill." + +"How would Major Webster know him?" + +"Oh, easily enough. I have his picture." + +The veteran drew a faded photograph from his pocket, and held the card +so that Dick could see it. "That's him," said the old man proudly. + +The young millionaire saw the photograph of a youthful soldier in +uniform. + +"Your son would be much older than that now; wouldn't he, Captain +Handlee?" + +"Yes, I suppose so. I think he must have been injured in some way, and +forgotten his name. Otherwise he would have written to me. But I know +another way in which you could recognize him." + +"How?" + +"He was the best shot in his company. He was a sharpshooter, and one of +the finest. So if you can get track of a soldier, who is a good shot, +that may be my son, Corporal Bill. Will you try?" + +"I will, Captain, I'll do my best." + +"God bless you," said the veteran fervently. "And now I'll leave you. +I'd let you take this photograph, only it's--it's all I have to +remember--my son by," and his voice choked. + +"I don't believe I'll need that," answered Dick. "I'll speak to Major +Webster, and see what I can do." + +The old soldier, murmuring his thanks, left the house. + +"Well," mused Dick, as he went to his room, "I'll soon be at Kentfield. +It'll be lonesome, at first, I expect, but the cadets will soon arrive. +And I'll try to find the captain's son. + +"I wonder how I'll make out with the cadets? I don't see why I should +have any trouble making friends, or becoming popular, no matter if I am +a millionaire, and the son of one. Money ought not to make such a +difference. Still, as dad says, I may find it a handicap." + +He looked around the room where he had spent so many pleasant hours. It +was an ideal boy's apartment, with everything the most exacting youth +could desire. + +"I think I'll make out all right," Dick mused on. "But if worst comes to +worst, I have a plan up my sleeve which I think will work." His eyes +sparkled, and it was evident that he had just thought of some scheme. +"That ought to do it," he said, speaking half aloud. "If I can't win any +other way, I'll try that." + +"Well, Dick," remarked his father, the next morning, "I suppose you are +all ready to go to Kentfield?" + +"Yes. I've got everything packed. What will be your address on the other +side?" + +"Oh, yes, I must leave you that. Here it is. You can forward me letters +in care of my London bankers, and they will see that I get them. I may +have to put in some time on the continent. By the way, Dick, I hear that +Captain Handlee called to see you last night." + +"Yes, he wants me to help him locate his missing son," and Dick told his +father of the interview with the old soldier. + +"Poor man," remarked Mr. Hamilton, shaking his head, "I fear there is +little hope for him. I once aided him in making some inquiries, but they +came to nothing." + +"Do you know him?" + +"Oh, yes, I have often aided him, and I would do more for him, but he is +too proud to accept charity. He is rather odd at times, and does not +remain at any employment long, or I could give him a good place. His +whole mind is set on finding his son. If the missing corporal could be +located it would be the making of Captain Handlee, for he would settle +down then." + +"I don't suppose I can help him." + +"No, I'm afraid not. Still, do all you can. It is barely possible that +Major Webster, or some of the officers who are stationed at Kentfield, +may be able to put you on the track, but I doubt it. Well, I think I'll +have to go down to the bank now. I'll see you to-night, and say good-bye +in the morning." + +Not long after Mr. Hamilton had left, and while Dick was in his room, +packing some of his belongings, a maid who was new in the house came to +inform him that a visitor was in the library. + +"Who is it?" he asked. + +"I don't know, but it's someone, Master Dick, who your dog doesn't like, +for he's growling something fierce." + +"I'll come down," said the young millionaire, and he hurried to the +library. As he entered a tall, thin man, with a curious little bunch of +whiskers on his chin, arose. + +"Well, I must say, Nephew Richard," he began, in a rasping voice, "that +this is a nice reception for me. Your horrible beast nearly bit me. The +house is no place for dogs." + +"I'm sorry that Grit annoyed you, Uncle Ezra," said Dick as he +recognized the miserly man whom he had once visited. + +"Hum!" grunted the old man. "If I hadn't stood on a chair he would have +bit me, and then I'd get hydrophobia, and die. Your father would have +had to pay damages, too." + +"I'm glad no such thing as that happened, Uncle Ezra." + +"Hum! Where's your father?" + +"Down to the bank. I can telephone, and let him know that you are here." + +"It isn't necessary. No need of wearing out the wires that way. I can +wait. I hear he has some foolish notion of sending you to a military +school." + +"I am going to a military academy, Uncle Ezra, in accordance with my +mother's wishes." + +"Stuff and nonsense! A wicked waste of money! The ordinary schools were +good enough for me, and they ought to be good enough for you. It's a +sinful waste of money. Mortimer Hamilton ought to be ashamed of himself. +The money ought to go to the heathen. It's foolish." + +"My father doesn't think so," replied Dick as quietly as he could, +though he was fast becoming angry at the dictatorial tone of his crabbed +uncle. + +"Hum! Much he knows about it! The idea of putting such ideas into boys' +heads as fighting and killing. Hu!" + +"But it might be useful in case of war." + +"Stuff and nonsense! It's positively wicked, I tell you. I've come to +remonstrate with Mortimer about it. If he has to go to Europe, which is +another waste of money, he could leave you with me. I'd bring you up in +the way you should go. There's no nonsense about me, nor my wife, +either. If your father consents to having you come to my place, you'll +learn more than you would at any military academy. Stuff and nonsense! +Don't talk to me! I know!" + +Dick could not repress a shudder as he thought of his uncle's gloomy +home in Dankville, a house amid a clump of fir trees, so dark, so quiet +and so lonesome that it reminded him of a vault in the cemetery. + +"I think my father has made up his mind to send me to the military +academy," said the boy. + +"Well, perhaps I can make him change his mind. He doesn't know what's +good for boys." + +How Uncle Ezra Larabee could understand what lads needed, never having +had any sons of his own, was more than Dick could fathom, but he said +nothing. + +"I'll wait and see your father," went on the crabbed man. + +"I can get my automobile and take you to the bank," suggested Dick. + +"No, you might burst a tire, and that would cost something to fix." + +Dick could hardly repress a smile at the idea of a possible injured tire +standing in the way of an auto ride. + +"What's that girl walking back and forth so much for in the next room?" +asked Uncle Ezra suddenly. + +"That's the maid, clearing away the breakfast things." + +"Hum! She'll wear the carpet out," commented the old man. "I must speak +to Mortimer about it. I think I'll caution her now." + +He rose, to do this, but accidentally stepped on one of Grit's legs, as +the animal was reposing under a chair, where Dick had sent him to get +him out of the way. The dog let out a howl, and then a savage growl, and +made for the man he felt had purposely injured him. + +"Hold him! Catch him!" cried Uncle Ezra, as he sprang away. "Hold him, +Nephew Richard!" + +"Grit!" called Dick. "Come here!" + +But the dog refused to mind. Growling and snarling, he ran after Uncle +Ezra. The latter did not stop to speak to the maid about wearing out the +carpet. Instead he kept on to the front hall, and to the entrance door, +which was, fortunately, open. Down the steps, three at a time, jumped +Mr. Larabee, the dog close behind him. + +But, by this time Dick had caught up to his pet, and grasped him by the +collar. + +"Grit! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" he asked, but he could hardly +keep from smiling, while, as for Grit, he nearly wagged off his stump of +a tail, so glad was he at having routed Uncle Ezra. + +"I'll go down and see your father at the bank!" cried the excited man, +turning when he was safely on the sidewalk. "The idea of having a +savage beast like that in the house. I'll see Mortimer and make him +change his plans. And I tell you one thing, Nephew Richard, if you come +to live with me you'll have to get rid of that bulldog," and, angrily +shaking his head, Uncle Ezra tramped down the street, walking slowly to +save shoe leather, though he was a very rich man. + +"I hope dad doesn't allow himself to be influenced by Uncle Ezra," +thought Dick, as he went back into the house with the dog. "We never +could stand it at Dankville; could we, Grit?" And the animal whined as +if he understood. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN WHICH DICK STARTS OFF + + +Mr. Hamilton came home early that afternoon, bringing Mr. Larabee, his +brother-in-law, with him. Dick was anxiously awaiting their arrival. + +"Is that fierce beast in the house?" demanded the boy's uncle, as he +stood on the front steps. "If he is I'll not come in." + +"I've sent him to the stable, uncle," replied the young millionaire. + +"That's the proper place for him. Dogs are no good. They eat as much as +a man, and what you spend on keeping them would provide for a heathen +child in Africa." + +Dick wondered if Uncle Ezra provided for any heathen children, from his +wealth, but did not think it wise to ask. + +"Well, Dick," said Mr. Hamilton, when they were all three in the +library, "your uncle thinks it would be a good plan for me to leave you +with him, while I'm away." + +"Yes?" remarked Dick, his heart beating faster than usual. + +"It's the only sensible plan," said Uncle Ezra with a snort. "Your idea +of a military academy, where he'll learn to shoot and stab his fellow +citizens, is a foolish one, Mortimer." + +"It is not altogether my plan," said Mr. Hamilton softly as he thought +of his dead wife. "Dick's mother provided for his future in her will, +and I must see that her wishes are carried out. Besides, I think a +military training is good for a young man." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "Neither you nor I had it, +Mortimer, and we got along. We're both well off." + +"Money isn't everything," said Mr. Hamilton. "No, Ezra, I'm much obliged +for your offer, but I think Dick will go to Kentfield. He is to start in +the morning." + +"Hum! It's a foolish idea," again snorted Uncle Ezra. "You'll live to +see the day you'll both be sorry for it." + +"I hope not, Ezra." + +"Well, you will." + +"We'll not discuss that now. Will you have a cigar before dinner?" + +"I never smoke. It's a dangerous and expensive habit." + +"Slightly dangerous, perhaps, but I smoke very little. As for the +expense, I think I can afford it. This has been quite a prosperous year +for me--and Dick." + +"What you spend for cigars would pay the interest on a large loan," went +on Mr. Larabee. + +"Yes, but I don't need the loan," declared Mr. Hamilton with a smile, +"and I do feel that I need a cigar to rest me after my day's work. +However, I don't advocate tobacco for young men, and Dick has promised +not to smoke until he is of age, and that will not be for a few years +yet." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as he could thing of nothing +else to say. + +"Perhaps you'd like a glass of lemonade before dinner," suggested Dick. + +"No," replied the austere man. "I don't think I'll stop for dinner. My +visit here has resulted in no good, and the sooner I get back home the +better. Besides I've got a new hired man, and I'm almost certain he'll +set the barn afire; he's so careless." + +"Oh, I hope not, Ezra," said Mr. Hamilton. + +"So do I, but I'd be nervous all night and I wouldn't sleep. Then I +might get sick, and have to pay out money for a doctor, or some +medicine. No; I'll take the late train home." + +"But that won't get you there until after midnight." + +"That's all right. It'll be cooler then, and there won't be so much +danger of overheating the horse. When you overheat a horse you sometimes +have to buy medicine for him, and horse medicine is expensive." + +Seeing that his brother-in-law could not be prevailed upon to remain, +Mr. Hamilton bade him good-bye, and Dick offered to take his uncle to +the depot in the auto, but Mr. Larabee would not hear of it. He would +walk, he said, and save the car fare. + +"He's a queer man--your uncle," said Mr. Hamilton that night. "I guess +you wouldn't fancy staying with him; eh Dick?" + +"No, indeed, dad. A military academy for mine, as Bricktop would say." + +Dick was up early the next morning, when both he and his father were to +go away from home, each for a considerable time. The servants had been +provided for, and the handsome Hamilton mansion would be closed for +several months. Dick accompanied his father to the bank after breakfast, +and planned to go to the depot from there, some of his chums having +arranged to meet him at the station. + +"Ah, good morning, gentlemen!" exclaimed a pompous voice, as Dick and +his father entered the institution, and the young millionaire saw "Hank" +Darby, ready to greet them. "I understand you are about to become a +soldier," he went on to Dick. + +"Well, a sort of one," replied our hero. + +"Ah, that's a grand and noble calling. I once thought I would be one of +the defenders of my country, but I was called into other lines of +activity," said the father of the young proprietor of the scrap iron +business. He did not specify what the other lines were. "It is indeed +noble to fight for one's flag," went on the shiftless man, "but it is +also noble to accumulate wealth with which to fit out armies. That is +what I am doing. I am accumulating wealth." + +"How is it going?" asked Mr. Hamilton, who, as well as did Dick, knew +that Henry, the son, made all the money, which "Hank" spent as fast as +he could get any of it. + +"Well, it might be better," said the shiftless one. "But I have a scheme +on hand." + +"Another scheme, eh?" + +"Yes, this is a very good one. There are enormous possibilities in it, +sir, _enormous_!" and "Hank" fairly stood on his tiptoes to get this +last word out with much emphasis. + +"Well, I hope you succeed," said Mr. Hamilton, as he and his son went to +the millionaire's private office. + +The final details for the trips of father and son were arranged. Dick +had his own bank account, and would not want for money. His father gave +him some advice, and then the two said good-bye to each other, Dick +having to leave before his father did, as the latter was to take an +express to New York, where he would get a steamer for Europe. Grit, the +dog, was to be left in charge of Henry Darby. + +"Well, my boy," said Mr. Hamilton, as he shook hands with Dick, +"remember what you are going for. You're under a big handicap, but I +guess you will win. You did the other time, though it was a close +shave." + +"Good-bye," said Dick, unable to keep back the suspicion of a tear. + +"Good-bye," replied Mr. Hamilton, turning hastily to his desk, and +fumbling among some papers, which seemed to rattle unnecessarily loud. + +On the way to the depot Dick met Captain Handlee. The veteran greeted +the lad cordially. + +"So you're off to learn to be a soldier?" he asked. + +"Well, I don't know that the military part of it amounts to much," +admitted Dick, who had no false ideas about where he was going, "but dad +thinks the discipline will be good for me, I guess." + +"That's right. Nothing like discipline of the right sort for lads. We +didn't have to learn to be soldiers in my time." + +"No, I s'pose you just went right in and fought," said Dick. + +"Indeed we did. That's what my boy did. Poor Bill! I wish I could see +him, or even hear of him again. You'll not forget your promise; will +you?" + +"No, Captain Handlee." + +"Remember he was the best shot in his company. He could drive a tack in +a board at a hundred yards. You make some inquiries, and I think you'll +get on the track of him." + +"I will," promised Dick, but he had no idea in what a strange way fate +was to bring about the old captain's desires through him. + +Dick found a crowd of his chums awaiting for him at the railroad +station. + +"Here he comes!" cried Frank Bender, as he caught sight of Dick. + +"Aren't you going to take your rifle with you?" asked Fred Murdock. + +"I guess they'll provide me with a gun at Kentfield," answered Dick. + +"But they won't give you such grub as we had at camp," remarked +Bricktop. + +"Oh, I guess they will, but maybe it won't taste so good," replied the +young millionaire. "Well, boys, I guess this is my train." + +All his chums tried to shake hands with Dick at once as the locomotive +pulled into the station. + +"Don't forget to send me a souvenier postal," called Bill Johnson. + +"Tell us how you like it," chimed in Walter. + +"Maybe my dad will send me," added Bricktop. + +"Tell us if you meet any girls as pretty as those here," was Fred's +contribution. + +"Get on the football team," advised Frank. + +"And the baseball nine," chimed in Bricktop. + +By this time a number of passengers had their heads out of the windows, +to see who was getting such a send-off. Dick's chums shook him by the +hand, clapped him on the back, and fairly carried him up the steps of +the coach. + +Then, amid a chorus of good-byes, the train pulled out, and Dick was +started on his way to become a cadet. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN ODD CHARACTER + + +It was evening when Dick arrived at Kentfield, which, from the scenes +about the station, he judged to be quite a town of little importance. +There were few signs of life, scarcely anyone being at the depot, and +only a few passengers alighting. + +"I wonder if I can get a carriage to take me out to the academy?" mused +Dick, as he looked about. "This doesn't strike me as being much of a +place, but the catalogue dad got showed quite an academy. I wonder where +it is?" + +He saw a rather dilapidated hack standing near the platform, and, +walking up to it, addressed the driver. + +"Can you take me out to the military academy?" he asked. + +"Sure," replied the man, "but there's nothing to see. It isn't open yet. +Term doesn't begin until next week." + +"I know," replied Dick. "But I'm going to attend there." + +"You?" + +The man seemed much surprised, but there was a noticeable change in his +manner. + +"Going to be a student there?" he asked respectfully. + +"Yes. I had to come on ahead of time." + +"All right. Take you out there in a jiffy," went on the hack driver +briskly. "Got any baggage?" + +Dick handed over his checks, and the man soon returned with his trunk +and suitcase. + +"This doesn't appear to be a very lively place; not as much so as I +expected," remarked the young millionaire as he got into the vehicle. + +"Oh, bless your heart, sir, you just wait until next week," said the +man. "Then this town will sit up and take notice. This is our off +season, when the military school is closed. But when the boys +arrive--wow! Say, then's when you got to look out. My! Oh my! But it's +fierce!" + +"Do they--do they cut up much?" asked Dick, secretly glad that he was to +have a hand in it if the students did. + +"Do they? Say, young man, when I start to drive a party of them cadets +anywhere I don't never know if we're going to arrive. Never can tell +when a wheel is coming off, or when my horses will start up, and leave +the coach behind. That's why I always use quiet animals. Them cadets has +life enough and to spare. Cut up? Say, jest you wait!" + +"Well, maybe it won't be so bad after I get started, and make the +acquaintance of some of the boys," thought Dick. + +But he little knew what was ahead of him. + +"Is the academy far out?" asked Dick, for, as the hack was an open one, +he could converse with the driver. + +"About a mile. We'll be there in a jiffy." + +A "jiffy" must be quite a period of time, or else the driver's estimate +of a mile was different from the accepted five thousand two hundred and +eighty feet, for dusk changed to darkness before the hackman turned in +between two big, stone pillars, and the man announced: + +"Here we are." + +"I don't see anything," objected Dick. + +"It's too dark. But the buildings are right ahead of you." + +Then the lad was able to make out the dim forms of a number of +structures located in a sort of park. + +"Where's the lake?" asked Dick. "I thought the academy was on a lake." + +"So it is. That's on the other side. We're sort of coming in from the +back, but that's the shortest road from the depot. I'll take you right +to Colonel Masterly's quarters. He's the one you want to see, I guess, +being as you're a new cadet, and he's the superintendent." + +"I suppose so," answered Dick. + +A little later he alighted in front of a large brick structure, and the +hackman lifted down his trunk and suitcase. + +"Do they expect you?" asked the driver. + +"I think so," replied our hero, hoping that some arrangements had been +made for him. + +A moment later a door opened, and a flood of light streamed out from a +broad hall. A man in semi-military uniform appeared. + +"Who's there?" he asked, and, having spoken he began to whistle a few +bars from "Marching Through Georgia," ending up with a bugle call. + +"Got a cadet for you, Toots," replied the hackman. + +"A cadet?" and once more the man in the hall whistled a martial air. + +"That's what I said, Toots. Give me a hand with this trunk, will you, +and tell Colonel Masterly that he's going to have company." + +"My name's Hamilton," began Dick. "I believe my father arranged----" + +"Oh yes, the colonel told me to look out for you," said the man who +looked like a soldier. "Come right in. The colonel will be here +directly. I'll take your baggage." + +"Thank you--er Mr.----" and Dick hesitated, for he did not just know how +to address the person in the hall, and wanted to make no mistake in +bestowing a military title. + +"Me? Oh I'm Sam Sander," said the man in the blue suit, apparently +surprised that his identity was not known. + +"Yes, that's Sam," went on the hack driver, with easy familiarity, "but +nobody calls him that; do they, Toots?" + +The other, who was helping to carry in Dick's trunk did not answer. +Instead he whistled the bugle call for "Taps," or lights out. + +"Do they, Toots?" repeated the hack driver. + +"Do they what?" inquired the soldier, who seemed to be rather absent +minded. + +"Do they call you anything but Toots?" + +"Nope. That's what they call me. I don't mind. I've almost forgotten +what my real name is. Toots is good enough I expect." + +"He's a queer chap," whispered the hackman to Dick, as our hero paid +him. "Queer, but all right. He's a sort of general helper around the +grounds. Well, good night. I'll see you again maybe, when some of the +other lads begin to arrive. And then won't there be lively times! Wow! +My! Oh my! But them students certainly know how to have fun!" + +The hackman appeared to relish the prospect, and Dick could hear him +chuckling to himself as he drove off in the darkness. + +"Right this way, Mr. Hamilton," said Toots, which name we shall adopt +for him. "I will find the colonel for you----" + +He stopped suddenly, straightened up, in spite of the suitcase which he +was carrying, and gave a stiff military salute. + +"Mr. Hamilton has arrived, sir," he said, and at that Dick caught sight +of a tall thin man, with an iron gray moustache and imperial, coming +down the broad, well-lighted hall. + +"Ah, Hamilton, glad to see you," said the soldierly-looking gentleman, +extending his hand. "I'm Colonel Masterly. You are a little early, but I +understand the case. Have you had dinner?" + +Dick had not, and said so. + +"Then you can dine with me," went on Colonel Masterly. "Sam, take Mr. +Hamilton's baggage to the room I told you to get ready for him. I'll +quarter you here for the present," he added, "until the boys arrive, and +then you will have a roommate. How is your father?" + +"Quite well," replied Dick, and then he followed the superintendent into +a reception room. There two other military-looking men sat reading +books. They looked up at the entrance of Dick and the colonel, who +introduced them to the new student as Major Henry Rockford, commandant +of the academy, and Major Franklin Webster, U. S. A., retired, who was +in charge of military tactics at the school. + +"That's the man of whom I must inquire about Captain Handlee's missing +son," thought Dick, as the two instructors shook hands with him. "But I +guess I'll wait a few days." + +Dinner was rather a formal affair, and our hero did not in the least +enjoy it. The three men talked of matters connected with the prospective +opening of the school, occasionally addressing a question to Dick, or +making some general remark. + +The academy more than came up to Dick's expectations when he saw it the +next morning. The school was made up of several buildings, consisting of +a main barracks, which was where he had spent the night, and which +contained the executive offices and class rooms, two other barracks, a +gymnasium, a large mess hall, a riding hall, a small hospital and other +structures. + +They were grouped on a large plain, that lay at the foot of quite a +mountain range, but, what pleased Dick more than anything else, was a +large lake that came right to the edge of the academy grounds. It was a +beautiful sheet of water, and, from the appearance of a large boathouse +near at hand, Dick guessed rightly that the cadet-students spent +considerable time rowing and sailing. + +After breakfast, under the guidance of Toots, who was detailed by +Colonel Masterly for that purpose, Dick was taken on a tour of the +grounds. He was particularly pleased with the big stable, which +contained a fine lot of horses. + +"Are those for the cadets to use?" he asked Toots. + +"Of course. Do you know how to ride?" + +"A little," replied Dick, who did not believe in boasting, though, in +reality, he was a fine horseman. + +"I'll certainly have a swell time here," he thought, as he strolled +about. He obtained permission to row out on the lake, and then was left +to his own resources. + +After the first novelty of seeing the buildings had worn off, Dick began +to feel a little lonesome, and he wished that the week was up, and that +the other students would begin to arrive. But he found much to interest +him, and made friends with Toots, who told him many and various stories +of student life. + +"Why do they call you Toots?" asked Dick one day. + +"Well, I s'pose it's because I've got in the habit of tooting my whistle +all the while. I'm always whistling war tunes or bugle calls, the boys +say." + +"That's so. What makes you?" + +"I don't know, except that I'm fond of a military life. Some day I'm +going to war." + +"Well, I hope you don't get shot," said Dick, as Toots left him, still +whistling. + +It was a few days after this that Dick saw a new student arrive. The +lad, for reasons similar to those affecting our hero, had been sent to +the academy in advance of the opening of the term. Dick soon made his +acquaintance, and he found the newcomer rather an odd character. His +name was William Schoop, but he was called "William the Silent" by the +other cadets, so Major Webster said, from the fact that he did not talk +much. He used only single words where others would take a sentence, and +he often made gestures answer for words. + +Dick and Will soon became friends, and the latter, who had spent a +previous term at the school, showed the young millionaire about the +buildings and grounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE HAZING + + +One morning, two days after the arrival of the silent lad, when Dick had +moved his baggage to his permanent room in the south barracks, the two +lads were strolling about the campus. Dick was beginning to wish his +companion was more sociable, when Will, with a sudden gesture, pointed +off toward the town, along the main road that led from the station. Dick +looked, and saw a cloud of dust approaching. + +"What's that?" he inquired. + +"Fellows coming," was all Will replied. + +He started off toward the main gate, and Dick followed. The dust clouds +became larger, and approached closer. Then Dick saw that they were made +by two large stages, and, a little later, he could discern that the +vehicles were crowded with youths. + +Above the rumble of the wheels could be heard laughing, joyous voices. +There were shouts, yells, cheers, whoops and cries. + +"Three cheers for Kentfield!" called some one, and the resulting yells +caused the horses of the stage to prance more madly than ever. + +A few moments later the vehicles had halted at the gate, and from them, +pell-mell leaped the cadets, returning to the academy after the long, +summer vacation. + +"There's William the Silent!" cried one lad, rushing up to Dick's odd +friend, and shaking hands with him. "Hello, Will! How are you? Are you +the only one here, so far?" + +William merely nodded. Then he waved his hand toward our hero. + +"Dick Hamilton," he said. + +Dick stepped forward to greet the students, expecting them to tell him +their names. From the group of cadets that had gathered around Will, a +tall, good looking chap, but with rather a hard, cruel gleam in his dark +eyes, stepped forth. + +"What's your name, new chap?" he asked somewhat sneeringly. + +"Hamilton--Dick Hamilton," replied the young millionaire. + +"Oh, Hamilton--Millionaire Hamilton's son, eh?" asked Dick's questioner, +with an unpleasant air. + +"I believe so," answered Dick, trying to smile good-naturedly in spite +of the overbearing air of the lad, who was no older than himself. + +"I've heard about you," went on the other. "Fellows," he said, turning +to those surrounding him, "this is the young hostage of fortune who has +consented to dwell a while in our midst. I saw a little paragraph in the +paper a few days ago to the effect that Millionaire Hamilton's son had +decided to take a course at Kentfield Military Academy. That is he +condescended to inflict his presence on us. I'm sure the academy is +highly honored," and the lad made a mocking bow. + +Dick felt the hot flush rising to his face. He had never been so +insulted before. An angry reply was on his lips. + +"Millions don't go here, Hamilton," said another youth. "Your money +won't count, and the sooner you find that out the better. Come on, +fellows, let's see if old Toots is still alive, and then we'll have some +fun." + +"Ta-ta, Hamilton, I suppose you brought a solid gold bedstead with you," +said the lad who had first spoken, as he turned on his heel, and +followed the others. "Maybe you'd like to buy the place," he fired back +over his shoulder. + +"You--you----" began Dick angrily. + +He was stopped by a touch on his shoulder. He looked around, to see +William the Silent standing near him. + +"Take it easy," was all Will said, but Dick understood. + +Choking down, as best he could, his righteous wrath at the mean +treatment accorded him, Dick strolled down to the lake. Will did not +attempt to follow, for he understood. + +Sorely puzzled over the conduct of those whom he hoped would be his +friends, Dick got into a boat, and went out for a solitary row. He +wanted to be alone and think. + +"It's queer they should treat me that way," he mused. "I'm sure I don't +make any fuss about my money. Maybe they are afraid I'll try to, and +they're taking no chances. But they ought to give a fellow a show +first." + +After rowing about for an hour Dick felt better. He resolved not to +force his friendship on the students, but to let matters take their +course. He had expected a little "stand-offishness" on the part of the +older cadets, who were always, more or less, inclined to be on their +dignity with freshmen. + +"Well, I'll wait until some new fellows arrive," thought Dick. "I guess +I can make friends with them." + +When he returned to shore he found that many more students had come in, +the next day marking the opening of the term. Among the lads were a +number of new cadets, as Dick could easily tell by their bashful, +diffident manners. He felt that he had somewhat the advantage of them, +for he had been at the place more than a week. + +"Still, my only acquaintances, outside of the teachers are William the +Silent, Toots and the hostler," he reflected. + +There was a notice posted on the campus bulletin board to the effect +that all new students were to report at the south barrack. Thither Dick +went, finding Captain Hayden, the head master in charge, showing the +boys to their rooms. + +"Ah, Hamilton," called the captain, as he caught sight of Dick, "you are +to room with Paul Drew, on the second floor. Room Twenty-six is yours. I +think you can find your way there. Go up and take Drew with you." + +A tall quiet youth greeted Dick with a smile. + +"I'm Drew," he said. "I suppose you're Hamilton?" + +"What there is of me," answered the millionaire youth. "Is this your +first term?" + +He knew it was, but he wanted to say something. + +"Yes. I'm from Kentucky." + +"I'm a York Stater. Come on and I'll show you where we bunk." + +The two made their way through crowds of new boys and were soon in their +apartment. + +It was like all the others provided for the use of the students. It +contained two small iron beds, and was simply furnished. + +"Here's where we'll be at home," observed Dick. "Have you any choice as +to a bed?" + +"No, either one will suit me." + +"All right, we'll toss up for it. Heads is the one nearest the window. +You call." + +Dick spun a coin in the air. + +"Tails!" cried young Drew. + +"Tails it is," announced Dick. + +"Then I'll take the bed away from the window. It's likely to be cold in +the winter." + +"I don't mind. I like a cool breeze now and then. But stow away your +things and come on down. There's lots to see. I hope we get into our +uniforms soon. You've got yours, haven't you?" + +"Yes," replied Dick's roommate. Dick had been provided with the +necessary dress uniform before leaving home, and he was anxious to don +it. The other uniforms were to be obtained at the academy. + +The two boys, after hastily putting away their things, went down on the +campus, which was fairly swarming with old and new students. More boys +were arriving with every stage, and the shouts and cries, as former +acquaintances greeted one another, made the green sound like an athletic +ground with a championship match in progress. + +As Dick and Paul stood looking about them, the young millionaire felt +some one touch him on the arm. He turned and saw William Schoop. Will +nodded his head to indicate that he wanted Dick to step aside for a +moment. Excusing himself from his roommate Dick walked a little +distance, following William the Silent. + +"Don't mind Dutton," said William. + +"Who's Dutton?" inquired Dick. + +"Fellow that rigged you. He's an uppish chap, but he's a leader with +the upper classmen. Don't let him worry you." + +This was a longer speech than Will usually made. + +"But why should he be down on me because I've got money?" asked Dick. +"It isn't my fault." + +"Very exclusive school, this," explained Will. "Patronized by old, +blue-blooded families, who pretend to have a horror of the newly-rich." + +"But my father has been wealthy many years." + +Will shrugged his shoulders. + +"They seem to have a prejudice against you," he went on. "Don't mind. +It'll wear off. Dutton--Ray Dutton's put 'em up to it. He's a cad. Don't +mind him," and with that Will turned and walked away. + +"Well, I guess I can get along without Dutton and his crowd," thought +Dick. "Queer, I never supposed money would make this sort of a +difference. It didn't at home. Well, I'll try to get along, but it's +evidently going to be up-hill work. Still, I'll do it, and, if money +stands in the way--well----" + +Dick shrugged his shoulders in a sort of helpless fashion, and rejoined +Paul. The two strolled about, noting the scenes taking place on every +hand. They saw many cadets, obviously freshmen, and some of the latter +introduced themselves to Dick and his companion. They were Franklin +Boardman, Stanley Booker, Lyndon Butler and Eugene Graham. + +"Let's stick together for a while," proposed 'Gene, as the boys called +him. "It'll soon be grub time, I understand, and we'll sit near each +other." + +This suited the others, and, when the gong rang, summoning them to the +mess hall, the six lads went in a body, finding seats in a row on one +side of the long tables, which were served by colored waiters. + +Discipline had not yet been put into force, and no one was in uniform. +The mess hall was a lively place, for the older cadets were continually +calling jokes back and forth to their chums, or jollying the waiters +whom they knew of old. + +Dick and his new acquaintances conversed together, and, in spite of +their rather awkward feelings, managed to partake of a good meal, for +Kentfield Academy was noted for the excellence of its cuisine. + +When the meal was nearly over Toots appeared in the hall, with a hammer, +and a piece of paper. He tacked a notice up on the bulletin board. + +"Hey, Toots; what's that?" called Ray Dutton. + +"Notice about appearing in uniform, Mr. Dutton," replied the odd +soldier. + +"When's it to be?" + +"To-morrow morning." + +"Aw, tear that down, Toots, you imitation brigadier general you!" called +another youth. + +"Sure. We don't want to tog up until the first of the week," added +another. "Swallow that, Toots, and tell the commandant you lost it." + +"Orders is orders," said Toots firmly, hammering in the last tack, and +leaving the hall. + +The afternoon was spent in assigning the new cadets to their classes, +and arranging for the courses of study. They were told that formal +drills would not begin until Monday, this being Thursday, nor would any +recitations be heard until then. + +After supper, or dinner as it was called at the academy, the new boys +strolled about in little groups, Dick and his five friends keeping +together. + +"I wonder where all the older cadets are?" said Dick, as he looked +about, and noticed that none was in sight. + +"That's so, they have disappeared," added Lyndon Butler. "I wonder what +that means?" + +They did not have long to wait for an answer. A figure slid up to Dick, +and, almost without turning he knew it to be Will. The silent youth +spoke but one word: + +"Hazing!" + +Then he walked away as silently as he had approached, and Dick turned to +his companions. + +"I guess they're getting ready to haze us freshmen," he remarked. + +"I thought they didn't haze here," said 'Gene Graham quickly. He was +rather a small chap, and seemed very nervous. + +"I guess they do it in spite of the rules," said Dick. "Well, the best +way is to take what's coming, and bear it as well as you can. If you +don't it will be unpleasant for you. I don't believe it will be very +bad." + +"Are you going to let 'em haze you?" asked Paul Drew. + +"Sure," answered Dick. + +"Then I guess I will, too." + +"Well, I s'pose it's got to be," said little 'Gene with a sigh. "I hope +they don't toss us in a blanket, though." + +"If they do, just lie still, and you'll come down easy," advised Dick. +"It'll soon be over." + +That night, in their room, Dick and Paul heard the sound of footsteps +along the corridor. Then came smothered cries, and strange sounds in the +apartments adjoining. + +"They're coming," whispered Paul. + +Dick nodded grimly. + +A moment later there came a soft knock on their portal. + +"Well?" asked Dick, though he knew who it was. + +"Open, in the name of the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Mystic +Pig," came the demand in a whisper. + +Dick opened the door, and in rushed several of the older cadets, led by +Ray Dutton. + +"Oh, we've drawn a millionaire!" Dutton cried, in sneering tones. "Well, +take the other chap first, fellows. Lively, now, we've got a heap of 'em +to initiate!" + +Several lads seized Paul, who submitted with as good grace as possible. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DICK THINKS HE HAS A CLUE + + +"What's it to be, Ray, the blanket, outside, or the ordeal of the +pitcher?" asked one of the cadets holding Paul. + +"The pitcher, I guess," answered Dutton. "The blanket's getting too +tame, and we have so many to look after that we can't take 'em outside. +Any water in the jug, Beeby?" + +"Full," replied a fat lad, taking up one of the two pitchers in the +room. + +"Up with him!" commanded Dutton, and several cadets seized Paul in an +instant. Before he knew what was happening they had stood him on his +head, two of them holding each of his rather long legs upright. + +"Hold open his trouser legs," said Dutton. "I'll do the pouring." + +He had the pitcher full of water, and, as his fellow hazers made a sort +of funnel of the two legs of the victim's trousers, Ray poured the +contents of the water pitcher down them. The fluid spurted out at the +unlucky new student's waist and collar, and ran in a little stream over +the floor. Paul struggled but could not escape. + +"Sop that up, fellows!" cried Dutton. "We don't want it to ruin the +ceilings below. Use the bed clothes." + +The other cadets, who were not holding Paul, grabbed the sheets and +spreads from the neatly made beds, and piled them in the little pond of +water on the floor. + +"Hand me the other pitcher, Naylor," commanded the leader. + +"Better save it for----" and Naylor glanced at Dick, who was standing +quietly in a corner, under guard of several cadets, awaiting his turn. + +"We'll not need it for him," replied Dutton. "Give it here." + +Some one handed him the other pitcher full of water, and the fluid in +that, a moment later, went gurgling down the inside of Paul's clothes, +spurting out as had the other. + +"You're initiated into the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Mystic +Pig," announced Dutton, making a sign to his comrades to let Paul regain +his feet. "Do you solemnly promise to be most respectful to your +superiors, and not to partake of ham and eggs or any form of pork until +after Christmas?" + +"You'd better promise," said one of the cadets to Paul, who hesitated. + +"Oh, I promise all right," he said, with a rueful smile as he looked +down at his soaked garments, and surveyed the confusion in the room. +There was not a dry article of bed clothing left. + +"Now for the other one!" cried Beeby, making a grab for Dick. + +The young millionaire was ready to submit to any form of hazing that +might be inflicted, but, to his surprise Dutton said: + +"Never mind him. We'll let him go." + +"Why he's a freshman," objected several of the cadets, evidently +thinking Dutton imagined Dick to be immune. + +"I know it, but he's in a different class," went on the leader with a +covert sneer. "He might buy up the police authorities and have us +arrested for having a little fun. We'll let him alone. We're only after +common mortals." + +Dick flushed. + +"You're mistaken," he said as calmly as he could. "If hazing is in order +I'm ready to take my share. I assure you I won't squeal. I'm not that +kind." + +It hurt him, to think that he should be taken for a "squealer." He, Dick +Hamilton, who had done his own share of hazing in the academy at home. + +"No, thank you. It's too risky monkeying with millionaires," said +Dutton. "Come on, fellows." + +The band of hazing cadets filed out of Dick's room, bent on subjecting +other students to their harmless pranks. As they left, Dick heard one of +them say: + +"Aw, Dutton, why didn't we try the rope and window game on him? It would +have been sport. He looks like an all-right sort." + +"He isn't in our class," replied the leader of the hazers. "He thinks +his money can get him anything he wants, but he'll find out he's +mistaken. It's a shame the faculty allowed him to come here, where only +the best families are represented." + +Dick heard it all plainly. He realized how he had been misjudged, but he +resolved to live down the wrong opinion the other students seemed to +have formed of him. Or perhaps they merely followed Dutton's leadership. + +And so Dick was not hazed, though he was the only freshman in all the +academy who escaped the ordeal, and, though many lads would gladly have +dispensed with the ceremony, Dick Hamilton felt as if he would have +parted with some of his fortune to have been included in the unfortunate +class. For, had he been, it would have meant that he was considered as a +future chum and comrade of the upperclassmen. But he had been left +severely alone. + +"Well, you got off lucky," commented Paul, as he began to remove his wet +garments. + +"Do you think so?" asked Dick, somewhat bitterly. "I rather wish they +had given me what you got." + +"Why?" asked his roommate. + +Dick told his reasons. + +"I don't see why they hold my money against me," he added. + +"I heard some talk about it," admitted Paul. "Some of the older cadets +have read the things printed in the papers about you; when you went out +west to investigate that gold mine, and when you hired the circus to +come to Hamilton Corners. They evidently think you depend on your money +to win popularity, and I heard some of them say you were to be taught a +lesson." + +"They're beginning already," said Dick. "Perhaps you would rather not +room with such an unpopular chap as I seem to be. I guess I could get an +apartment alone, by paying double rates," he added, sarcastically. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Paul. "I'm not that sort, and I don't believe +you'll find many cadets who are. I don't care for money, one way or the +other. I wish my dad had a little more. Don't let Dutton and his cronies +worry you. You'll have friends among the freshmen, anyway." + +"Not if Dutton has his say." + +"Well, perhaps he won't have it. He comes of a very old family, I'm +told, who have not much money, but who are very proud. I don't care for +him myself, but he's considered a leader here." + +"My, you certainly got a soaking," commented Dick, as Paul stripped. He +was glad to change the unpleasant subject. + +"I sure did," admitted the other "and what's more we've got to sleep in +a damp bed, unless we ask the housekeeper for other covers." + +"No, don't do that. I would give the hazing away, and I might become +more unpopular than I am," and Dick laughed a little uneasily. + +"I don't fancy sleeping between damp sheets, though." + +"I've got an extra suit of pajamas in my case," said Dick. "You can put +them on, and we'll stretch out on the beds without covers. + +"It's not cold. We'll take our medicine. Or, rather, I'll share part of +yours." + +They passed a rather uncomfortable night, but did not think of +complaining. In the morning they compared notes with the other freshmen, +many of whom had had the same experience. + +That day was spent in forming the new cadets into companies, and, to +Dick's disgust he found that he was in the company of which Ray Dutton +was the cadet captain, and John Stiver, a crony of the captain, was +lieutenant. Paul Drew was in Company B, Dick's being designated as +Company A. But our hero took some consolation from the fact that his odd +friend William the Silent was a sergeant in his company. + +The new cadets were given their rifles, made to don uniforms, put +through a preliminary drill that afternoon, and told something of the +routine that would be in order when matters had settled down into their +usual grooves. Dick picked out his line of studies, received his text +books and took them to his room, where he found Paul. + +The next day being Saturday the cadets had the afternoon free and they +strolled about the grounds, went off on horseback or rowing, as they +desired. Somewhat to his regret Dick noticed that a rule was posted +forbidding freshmen to go out rowing or riding alone after Saturday. +They must be accompanied by a teacher or cadet officer. + +"They must think we're babies," he murmured. + +"Well, when we get to know the ropes a little better," said Paul, "we'll +go out together." + +That evening, when the mail was distributed, Dick received a letter from +his father, posted just as the ship was sailing. There were also several +missives from his chums at home, and quite a bulky letter, which when +the young millionaire opened it, he saw was from aged Captain Handlee, +and contained a photograph. + +With many words, and a somewhat lengthy explanation, the old soldier +stated that he had had copies made of the photograph of his son, and was +sending one to Dick, to aid him in tracing the missing man. + +"There, I nearly forgot about my promise," said Dick, recalling it as he +saw the picture. "I must make some inquiries of Major Webster as soon as +possible." + +He took the photograph to his room, and placed it on a shelf, where he +would be sure to see it, to remind him of his quest, though he had +little hopes that it would amount to anything. + +It was Sunday morning when Dick, who had awakened rather early, heard +steps coming along the corridor, and then came the whistled strains of +"Just Before the Battle, Mother," followed by the reveille, cheerily +warbled. + +"That's Toots," said Dick to Paul, who awakened just then. + +Toots stopped outside Dick's door and knocked. + +"Come," cried the young millionaire, and Toots, the odd character, +entered, carrying a pail of hot water. + +"One of the janitors is sick," he explained, "and I'm helping out. You +can use this for shaving or drink it, just as you like," he added with a +smile. + +He filled the boys' hot water pitchers, and was about to leave the room, +when he caught sight of the photograph of Corporal Bill Handlee on the +shelf. + +"Where--where did you get that?" he asked, turning quickly to the two +lads. + +"Why?" asked Dick, much impressed by the manner of Toots. + +"Because I--I think I know him--or did once," and the man set down his +pail of water, and drew his hand across his forehead, as if trying to +brush away some cobwebs. Dick noticed that there was a scar on the man's +brow. + +"Where did you see him? When was it? Where was it?" asked Dick rapidly, +thinking he had stumbled on a clue. + +"I don't know--I can't recollect, but the face--that face seems +familiar," and Toots, taking up the photo, gazed earnestly at it. + +"That is the picture of the missing son of an old soldier who lives in +Hamilton Corners," said Dick. "Captain Handlee asked me to make some +inquiries about him. It's queer you should think you recognized it, +Toots. Were you ever in the army?" + +The man shook his head slowly. + +"I don't know," he said. "I'm a fine shot though. I ought to be in the +army." + +Dick felt a new hope. The missing man said he was an expert marksman. +But then Dick recalled what he had heard about Toots; that the man had a +delusion that he was a sharpshooter, but that he could scarcely hit the +outer edge of a big target. + +"Can't you recall where you have seen this man?" asked Dick earnestly. + +Toots slowly shook his head. + +"What was his name?" he asked. + +"Corporal Bill Handlee." + +"No, that name doesn't sound familiar. But I'm sure I've seen him +somewhere. I can't think--something seems to stop me here," and the man +again passed his hand across his forehead. + +"Try," urged Dick. + +Toots made a strong effort to recall the past, but it was of no avail. + +He shook his head once more, picked up his pail, and started out. + +"I guess I'm mistaken," he said. "But some day you boys must come and +see me shoot. I'm a dandy at it." + +Then he went down the corridor whistling "The Star Spangled Banner," and +ending up with a spirited rendition of the bugle call to charge. + +"That's queer," murmured Dick. "I thought I was going to get some news +for Captain Handlee. Well, I must inquire of Major Webster." + +"Hark," exclaimed Paul, as a bugle sounded clear and crisp on the +morning air. + +"Reveille--first call! Ten minutes to dress and turn out," said Dick, +who had been studying the rules, and he began to get into his uniform. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DICK GETS A FALL + + +At the chapel service, which the cadets were required to attend, Dick +saw, for the first time, all his fellow students gathered together under +one roof. They were a fine body of young men, and he felt proud that he +was one of them. Every one was in full dress uniform, and a spick and +span appearance the lads made, as they marched to and from chapel, to +the music of the cadet band. + +Sunday seemed quite long to Dick, but he managed to spend some pleasant +hours, strolling about with Paul Drew, and some other new cadets. He was +glad, however, when Monday came, bringing with it many duties. + +For the next two weeks Dick was kept so busy, being initiated into the +mysteries of the drill, guard mounting, parade, marching in different +formations, learning the meaning of the military commands, his studies +and preparing for inspection, that he had little time to think of other +matters. + +He found opportunity to ask Major Webster concerning missing Bill +Handlee, and the tactical officer made some inquiries of the war office, +but all to no effect. All trace of the veteran's son seemed to have +vanished. + +"But what do you suppose made Toots--I mean Sam Sander--think he +recognized the photo?" asked Dick. + +"Well, you know poor Sam isn't quite right in his head," replied the +major kindly. "He received an injury some years ago, I understand. You +can see the scar on his forehead now. That made him rather simple +minded, though he is a good worker, and very useful." + +"Then I'm afraid I can't send Captain Handlee any good news." + +"I'm afraid not, Hamilton." + +Dick had to write the sorrowful tidings to the old soldier, much to his +regret. The young millionaire also sent a missive to his father, telling +something of the life at the academy, but saying nothing of the manner +in which he had been treated. Dick bravely resolved to fight his own +battles. + +He found the studies anything but easy, but as he applied himself to his +books, he stood well in his class. + +In the meantime matters were beginning to move with military regularity, +and the cadets in their natty uniforms, presented at drill, or +inspection, inspiring pictures. + +At first Dick, and all the new cadets, were rather awkward at drill, +but this was to be expected, and little was thought of it. On several +occasions though, Captain Dutton, who was in command over Dick, made +sneering remarks evidently intended for our hero, who, however, did not +reply. + +With the exception of Sunday and Monday, the same general routine was +followed. Reveille was sounded at six o'clock, with a second call ten +minutes later. Then came "police" inspection, and woe betide the youth +who was not spick and span. Sick call followed, but usually it was a +mere form, for the cadets were as healthy as Spartans. + +On Monday there was always general inspection, when it behooved Dick and +his fellows to have their quarters in good order. Plenty of time was +allowed for study and recitation, and there was much attention given to +military life. There were lectures on tactics, and they were followed by +practical illustrations. + +"I wish they'd let us have a chance at the horses," remarked Dick, to +Paul, when they were studying in their room one evening. "The older +cadets have plenty of cavalry drill, but we have to march around, +carrying heavy guns, and doing all sorts of stunts like that." + +"I understand we're to have our innings next week." + +"Is that so? Good!" + +Dick, and many other of the new cadets who loved horses were pleased to +see a notice posted, a few days after this, stating that instructions in +riding, and cavalry exercises, were to be given in the big shed and +would begin the following Monday. + +"Now we'll have some fun," said Dick. "Aren't you glad, Paul?" + +"Well, I don't care much about horses. I feel safer on my feet." + +"Oh, you'll get used to a horse soon enough, and then you'll never want +to walk." + +There were good horses in the academy stables, and, to his delight, a +fine mount was assigned to Dick. He made friends with the animal at +once, and when the "awkward squad" was put through their paces, Dick +earned commendation from the drill master for the excellent seat he +maintained. + +For a week or more Dick and his fellow freshmen practiced every day in +the riding hall. The cadets who at first sat insecurely in the saddle +were beginning to learn how to maintain themselves, and one afternoon +the drill master announced that the next day they would be allowed to go +out on the cavalry plain. + +"That's the stuff!" cried Dick. "I've been wanting a good gallop for a +long time." + +"Guess we won't have much chance to gallop," replied Paul, who had been +transferred to Dick's company. "Dutton's so mean he'll probably keep us +at an easy walk. He thinks no one knows how to ride but him." + +"I'll show him, if I get a chance," murmured Dick. + +The cadets were formed into four companies the next day, and sent out on +the cavalry plain for practice. + +"Now I don't want any exhibitions of fancy riding," announced Ray +Dutton, as he led the cadets over whom he had charge out from the drill +hall. "You've got to creep before you walk, you know. Just take it easy, +and we'll make a few circuits of the grounds." + +"Pity he wouldn't let us gallop," said Dick, in a low voice to Paul, +beside whom he was riding. + +"Silence in the ranks!" exclaimed the cadet captain sharply. "Hamilton, +if you speak again I'll report you." + +Dick felt the hot blood mount to his face, but he kept his temper. + +They went around at a slow pace, many of the lads chaffing under the +restraint. Then Dutton gave the command to trot, and they let their +horses out a trifle. + +Whether something frightened Dick's horse, or whether the animal wanted +to take a good run and show the others what he could do, it was +impossible to say. At any rate our hero's steed gave a sudden spring, +and, rushing through the opened ranks of the cadet horsemen ahead of +him, sailed past Captain Dutton at a fast gait. + +"Halt!" cried the leading cadet. "Where are you going, Hamilton? Come +back here at once! I'll report you! Come back!" + +Dick tried to rein his horse in, but the animal had the bit in his +teeth, and it was useless to pull on the leather. Still the young +millionaire was not frightened. He knew he could manage the animal. + +But Dutton, with a muttered exclamation, spurred after Dick. + +"Halt!" he cried again. "Halt, or I'll place you under arrest for +disobeying orders!" + +"I can't stop him!" Dick flung back, over his shoulder. + +Dutton's horse was a fast one, and he soon caught up to the young cadet. +He crossed in front of him, wheeled about and, a moment later the two +horses collided violently. Dick was flung up in the air, and, the next +instant, came heavily to the ground, where he lay quiet, while his horse +bolted. + +Dutton, who had retained his seat, looked down on the prostrate figure. + +"Come. Get up," he said. "No shamming." + +Dick did not move. + +"Here, Drew, Butler, Graham!" called Captain Dutton. "Here's a chance to +practice first aid to the injured. See what's the matter with him." + +The three cadets he had named galloped forward, while the remainder of +the company came to a halt. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +WHO FIRED THE GUN? + + +"Pick him up, and see if he's hurt," ordered Dutton though he did not +take the trouble to get off his horse to ascertain. "Very likely he's +only shamming." + +But is needed only a look at Dick's pale face to show that he had had a +hard fall. The breath was knocked out of him. + +The three cadets bent over him, and, while one raised him to a sitting +position, the others chaffed his hands. Dick opened his eyes, and stared +wonderingly about him. + +"What--what--where am I?" he asked, and then he saw the mounted +students, he added, "I fell." + +"Are you hurt?" asked Graham. + +"No--no, I guess not." + +But when Dick tried to stand he found he was so dizzy that his fellow +cadets had to support him. + +"Take him back to the hospital," ordered Dutton, "and then you three +rejoin your company." + +At that moment Major Webster, who had been drilling some of the older +cadets, in advanced tactics on a distant part of the field, came +galloping up. + +"What has happened?" he asked. "Ah, Hamilton, eh? Are you hurt?" + +"I fell off my horse. He bolted with me," replied Dick. + +"Are you sure you're not hurt?" + +"Yes; only a trifle dizzy." + +"I'm sending him back to the hospital," announced Dutton. + +"That's proper. Are you sure you'll be all right, Hamilton?" asked the +major kindly. + +"Oh, yes. I believe I can ride now." + +"No, I can't allow it. You must take a rest." + +On the way back with the cadets, Dick insisted that he could go alone, +and did not need help. + +"Orders are orders," replied Graham with a smile. "Dutton might make a +fuss if we didn't do as he said." + +"It was all his fault," added Paul Drew. "He deliberately collided with +you, Dick." + +"Oh, no; I hardly think he would do that!" + +"But he did," insisted Butler. "He didn't need to gallop in front of you +that way. I looked just as if he wanted to unseat you, didn't it, +fellows?" + +"That's right," added Paul. "I'd report him if I were you." + +"Oh, no," answered Dick quickly. "There's no use making trouble. Even +if he did do it on purpose, I wouldn't gain anything by reporting him. +I'm no squealer." + +"But you might have been badly hurt," said Butler. + +"I wasn't though, and a miss is as good as a mile." + +"That's a good way of looking at it," commented Paul. "I'd feel like +fighting him, if he did that to me." + +"Say, I'm all right. There's no need for you fellows to come back with +me," went on Dick. + +"If we don't Dutton may make a row," objected Butler. "We'd better do +it." + +Not wanting to get his fellow cadets into trouble, Dick allowed them to +accompany him to the hospital, which was maintained by the academy. +There the surgeon in charge, a grizzled war veteran, felt of our hero's +bones, and announced, gruffly, that he was all right, but that he had +better rest a while. + +Which Dick was glad enough to do, as his head was beginning to ache. + +"Dutton must want to get rid of me," he thought, as he stretched out on +the bed in his room. "If he keeps on I shall certainly have a clash with +him, and then I s'pose there'll be trouble. I don't want to fight, but +I'm not going to submit to his meanness. I certainly am under a handicap +here. I wish I could ask dad to send me to some other school. No, I +don't either. I'll fight it out here, and I'll win, too, or I'll know +the reason why!" + +Major Webster, when he returned from the drill, inquired how Dick felt, +and received the assurance that the lad was all right. + +"We must give you a quieter horse," he said with a smile. + +"Oh, no, I can manage him all right," said Dick. "Captain Dutton--er--he +and I happened to collide, or it never would have happened." + +"Strange, Dutton is an excellent rider," commented the major as he +walked away. + +A slight headache the next day was all the ill effect that Dick +experienced from his tumble. He appeared at chapel, and took part in all +the day's duties. For a week or more life went on rather uneventfully at +the academy. Dick had a letter from his father, stating that business +was likely to keep him abroad longer than he expected. + +Dick also got a letter from Henry Darby, giving some news of Hamilton +Corners, and telling how Dick's chums missed him. The letter closed with +this: + +"Grit misses you very much. He doesn't eat hardly anything, and he lies +in his kennel all day." + +"Poor Grit," said Dick to Paul, and he told of his bulldog. "I wish I +could have him here with me." + +"Why don't you?" suggested his roommate. "Some of the other cadets are +allowed special privileges, why don't you ask if you can bring Grit +here? You could keep him in the stable." + +"I believe I will," said Dick, and he sought and received permission +from Colonel Masterly to do this. + +A few days later Grit arrived, and he was probably the happiest dog +living, as Dick took him out of the shipping crate. The animal bounded +about, and fairly leaped over his master's head in the excess of his +joy. + +Grit made friends with such few chums as Dick had among the freshmen, +and they were not many, for Dutton's influence seemed even to extend to +them. The advent of the bulldog appeared to further arouse the ire of +the young captain. + +"I expect our millionaire cadet will be having a private menagerie +next," he said with a sneer. "But I tell you one thing, Hamilton, if I +catch the brute around my quarters I'll kick him out." + +"I shouldn't advise you to try it," said Dick coolly. "It might not be +healthy--for you." + +"Do you mean that you'd attack me?" asked Dutton, taking a step toward +Dick. + +"No, but Grit might; eh, Grit, old boy." + +The dog growled in a menacing manner, and Dutton, turning on his heel, +made off up the campus, but the scowl he gave Dick augured anything but +well for the young millionaire. + +It was about a week after this when, one evening, Dick, who was sitting +in his room, studying with Paul, suddenly exclaimed: + +"There, I've left my algebra out under the three elms. I was studying +there this afternoon." + +The three elms were a clump of giant trees on the campus, and a +recognized stamping ground for the freshmen, who frequently studied +there, when it was too hot in their rooms. + +"Better go out and get it," advised Paul. "It looks like rain, and you +know it means a demerit to have soiled books." + +"Guess I'll slip out and get it," decided Dick. "I'll have just about +time enough before taps." + +He started down the long corridor, but he had not taken a dozen steps +before taps was sounded on the bugle, the plaintive call of "lights out" +vibrating clearly on the night air. + +"Better come back," advised Paul, from the open door of their room, as +he prepared to turn out the electric lamp. + +"No, I think I'll chance it," decided Dick. "No one is likely to see me, +and I might as well get a demerit for this as for having a rain-soaked +algebra. Leave the door open so I can find the place in the dark." + +He kept on, stealing quietly down the hall. Paul went to bed, and was +just dozing off when he was startled by the loud report of the cannon +used for firing the sunrise and sunset guns. The echoes thundered among +the academy buildings, and were re-echoed from the distant hills. Paul +arose. Clearly some of the cadets were up to a trick, and had fired the +gun. + +A few minutes later Dick came running into the room. + +"Did you get the book? Who fired the gun?" asked Paul in a whisper. + +"Yes, I got the algebra, and, just as I did the gun went off. I saw some +of the fellows running, and of course I was running too, but, just as I +was coming in, Stiver, who is doing guard duty, saw me." + +"What did he say?" + +"Called to me halt, but I didn't." + +"He'll report you, and you may be blamed for--" + +An instant later the tramp of feet was heard in the corridor. + +"It's inspection!" gasped Paul. "Undress quick, and get into bed!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DICK HAS A FIGHT + + +But it was too late. The door of Dick's room was pushed open, and, in +the light of the incandescent that burned in the hall, the two cadets +could see Captain Hayden and several of the instructors looking in. + +"Hamilton--Drew--are you here?" asked Captain Hayden sharply. + +"Yes, sir," replied Dick, but an instant later the light revealed him +fully dressed, whereas he should have been in bed at taps. + +"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. "This will bear investigation. Why +aren't you in bed, Hamilton?" + +"I went down to get my algebra, which I left under the elms." + +"Did you have anything to do with firing the saluting gun?" + +"No, sir." + +"I will have to investigate. Report in my room in ten minutes." + +Captain Hayden marched on, and the two cadets could hear distant sounds +that indicated a general inspection of quarters. + +"I guess you're in for it, Dick," said Paul. + +"I can prove what I went out for." + +"Maybe. But I wonder who fired that gun?" + +"I don't know. Some of the older cadets likely. Well, I s'pose I've got +to go to Captain Hayden's room." + +Dick found several other students gathered in the reception apartment of +the head master. They were lads who had been found still up when their +rooms were hurriedly entered after the blowing of taps, and the firing +of the gun. + +"Who was captain of the guard?" asked Captain Hayden, when he came in +and faced a rather frightened lot of cadets. + +"I was, sir," replied John Stiver. + +"What did you see?" + +"I was on duty, sir, near the main entrance of the south barracks, and +the first I knew I saw the flash of the gun, and heard it go off." + +"What else did you see?" + +"I saw a cadet run from the campus into the barracks. He would not halt +when I called to him." + +"Who was it?" + +"I don't like to say, sir." + +"Very likely not, but you must." + +"It was--it was Hamilton, sir." + +"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. + +"I went to the three elms to get my algebra which I had forgotten," said +Dick. + +"After taps?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then you broke one of the rules." + +"Yes, sir, but I thought that if it rained, and my book got wet, I'd get +a demerit for that, so I decided I would take a chance on going after +taps. I started before the bugle sounded." + +"Ha! I will look into that afterward. You are sure you were not near the +gun?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"I might add," went on Stiver, "that, after I called to Hamilton to +halt, and he would not, I saw his dog running after him, and the animal +seemed to have something tied to its tail." + +"To it's tail?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What was it?" + +"It seemed like a piece of string." + +"A piece of string. That may explain it. Hamilton, what do you know of +this?" + +"Nothing, Captain Hayden. Grit was not with me. I left him in his +kennel, in the stable, chained up." + +"We must look into this. Lieutenant Stiver, tell Sander to bring the +bulldog here." + +"Perhaps I had better go along," suggested Dick. "Grit might make a +fuss." + +"If he goes, you had better make sure he doesn't slip the string off the +dog's tail," put in Dutton, with a sneer. + +Dick started, and looked angrily at his enemy. + +"That will do, Dutton," said Captain Hayden quietly. "You may accompany +Sander, Hamilton." + +Toots, who was on hand, started for the stables, followed by Dick. + +"Are you going to get into trouble?" asked the old man, who had taken +quite a fancy to our hero. + +"I hope not. If Grit had anything to do with firing the gun, by means of +a string tied to his tail, some one who had a grudge against me is +responsible for it." + +"I'm sure of it, Mr. Hamilton," and Toots marched on, whistling "Dixy +Land," ending up with a series of bugle calls. + +They found Grit cowering in his kennel, as if much frightened. Dick and +Toots looked him over. Sure enough there was a stout piece of cord tied +to his stump of a tail. + +"It looks bad," commented Toots. + +"I'm not worried," declared Dick. + +Captain Hayden looked grave, when Toots handed him the bit of cord. He +sent Sander to the saluting gun, and Toots returned presently with same +cord, which matched that taken from Grit's tail. + +"Was this on the gun?" asked the head master. + +"Attached to a primer, that had been fired," replied Toots. + +"Hamilton," began Captain Hayden, "I don't like to accuse you on such +circumstantial evidence, but it looks--" + +"I had nothing to do with firing the gun," said Dick quickly. "If my dog +did it, some one else tied the string to his tail." + +"Whom do you suspect?" + +"I don't know." + +"If you please, sir," spoke up Graham, "I don't think Hamilton had +anything to do with firing the gun." + +"Why not?" + +"Because my window is right opposite it. I was looking out, just before +it went off, and I saw a crowd of students near it. They had a dog, for +I could hear him growl, and I heard some one say 'look out or the brute +will put his teeth in you.' Then some one else said, 'I guess I can +manage him.' If Hamilton had been there I don't believe Grit would have +growled." + +"He certainly would not," said Dick, noticing that Dutton was scowling +at Graham. + +"Ha! Hum," mused the head master. "I believe you are right, Graham. +Hamilton, you are practically exonerated, but this matter will not be +allowed to drop. Firing the gun was a serious infraction of the rules, +and dangerous in the bargain. Whoever fired it must have stolen into the +ammunition house, which is a risky thing to do, especially in the dark." + +"I am glad you don't think I did it, sir," said Dick to Captain Hayden. + +"I am glad, also, but I shall have to mark you five off for being out +after taps. When I find out who fired the gun I shall punish them +severely. It seems as though it was done to throw suspicion on you." + +"That is what I think," said Dick quickly. + +"Whom do you suspect?" + +"I had rather not say, sir." + +"Of course not, no, I wouldn't want you to on mere suspicion. You young +gentlemen may retire to your rooms, now. I will look into this matter +further." + +The cadets filed out, all of them breathing easier. As Dutton passed +Dick in the hall, he said: + +"Did you refer to me when you said you suspected some one?" + +"Not particularly." + +"You looked at me," said the cadet captain angrily. + +"Well, a cat may look at a king, I suppose." + +"None of your impertinence." + +"I'm not impertinent, but I don't propose to have you dictate to me." + +"You'll have to, as long as you're a freshman. I say you intimated that +I fired that gun and tried to throw the blame on you." + +"I can't help what you say." + +"Do you believe I did it?" + +"I refuse to answer." + +"Then I'll make you! Take that!" and before Dick could step back Dutton +had hit him a blow in the face. "You know what that means, I suppose," +said Dutton with a sneer. + +"A fight?" asked Dick quietly. + +"Of course. I'll send a friend to you to-morrow and we'll see if you'll +back up your words." + +"Don't worry. I'll be on hand," replied Dick, as he went to his room. + +He told Paul of what had happened, and the latter consented to act as +second to him in the fight. The matter was quietly arranged, and, the +next afternoon Dick, and the few chums he had, slipped off after the +evening parade to a secluded spot, where all the fistic battles of the +academy took place. Dutton and a large throng of his supporters were on +hand, and the preliminaries were soon settled. + +"Time!" called Lieutenant Stiver, who acted as Dutton's second. + +The two youths faced each other, but dispensed with the ceremony of +shaking hands. The next moment Dutton aimed a blow at Dick's face, but +our hero cleverly dodged and sent a stiff right hander to the cadet +captain's jaw. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DICK GIVES A SPREAD + + +The shock of the blow made Dutton stagger back, but he quickly regained +his balance, and rushed at Dick, raising his foot to give him a kick. + +"Hold on, that's not fair!" cried Paul. "Do you stand for that, Stiver?" + +Stiver plainly wanted to side with Dutton, but there were cries of +"Shame! That's not fair!" from several in the crowd and Dutton's second +was forced to caution his man. + +"Don't do that, Dutton," he said. "You can lick him with your fists." + +"Yes, and I'll fix him, all right!" exclaimed the angry cadet captain. + +Dick, who had stepped back, out of reach of his opponent's foot, now +stood up to meet the rush of Dutton. + +"There! I guess that will teach you to make insinuations about me!" +spluttered the angry lad, as he aimed a fierce blow at Dick. Our hero +easily dodged it, however, and countered with a stiff upper cut, which +gave Dutton quite a jolt. + +Dick was not quite quick enough in getting away, however, and received a +blow on the chest, which he did not mind, much. Then Dutton closed in, +and both boys exchanged several severe blows, but Dick had the best of +it, for he had taken boxing lessons from an experienced instructor at +home. + +"Go in and do him!" called Dutton's friends. + +"Stand up to him, Dick," advised Paul, in low tones at the conclusion of +the first round. "You've got him going." + +Dutton tried to be calm as he came up the second time, but he speedily +lost his temper, as he saw how easily Dick parried his blows. + +"Why don't you stand up and fight?" he asked. + +"Why don't you hit me?" retorted Dick, as he tapped his antagonist on +the nose, making it bleed slightly. + +"I'll pay you for that!" cried Dutton, rushing forward. + +"Not so loud!" cautioned Stiver. "You'll bring some of the professors +down on us." + +Once more Dick dodged a straight left hander, and, in return, sent in a +terrific right, that caught Dutton on the point of the jaw. The cadet +went down like a log, and lay still. + +"You've knocked him out, Hamilton," remarked one of the older cadets, +who acted as referee. "I congratulate you." + +"Yes, he fought well," added another, but there was no heartiness in his +tones, and, to Dick, it seemed almost as if they were sorry he had won. + +For won he had, as Dutton did not arise. He had been fairly, but +harmlessly, knocked out. + +"Do you throw up the sponge?" asked Paul, of Stiver. + +"I guess so," was the rather surly response. "Your man wins." + +"I hope I didn't hurt him," said Dick. "I didn't mean to hit so hard, +but he rushed right into it." + +"You didn't hurt me!" suddenly exclaimed Dutton, as he struggled to his +feet. "I'm game yet." + +"You've had enough," said his second. "You can have another try later." + +"I can do him," mumbled Dutton, but even his friends were forced to +admit that he had been well beaten. + +"Will you shake hands?" asked Dick, advancing toward his antagonist. + +"No!" exclaimed Dutton, surlily. + +A hot flush came to Dick's face, and he was about to turn away when, the +older cadet, who had complimented him said: + +"Shake hands, Dutton. Don't be a cad." + +This was equivalent to a command, and Dutton grudingly complied. + +"Do you think he will be better friends with you after this?" asked +Paul, as he and Dick walked away together. + +"I hope so, but I doubt it." + +Dick was right. Though he had gained the victory he had whipped one of +the most popular cadets, which Dutton was, in spite of his caddishness. + +Our hero's victory took nothing away from the regard in which Dutton was +held, while, as for Dick, save a few friends whom he had made among the +younger lads, he was not admitted to the comradeship of the older +cadets, to which place, of right, he belonged. The fight had not made +him popular, as he had hoped it would, after he had won it, though the +sporting element in the academy could not but admire his fistic +abilities. + +"I don't seem to be making much progress," remarked Dick to his +roommate, one afternoon. "You have more friends than I have." + +"Oh, I don't think so." + +"Yes, you have. It would be different, if I was at home, but here, +everyone seems to follow Dutton's lead, and turns a cold shoulder to +me." + +"Maybe you'll have more acquaintances next term." + +"I doubt it. I wish I could get in with the fellows. They'll be making +up the football eleven, soon, and I'd like a chance to play." + +"Do you play?" + +"I did at home. I was right half-back. But I don't s'pose I'll have any +show here." + +"I tell you what you might do," said Paul, after a pause. "Why don't +you give a spread?" + +"A spread?" + +"Yes, a feast, you know. You can get permission to have it in one of the +rooms, and you can invite a lot of the fellows. Several of the new +fellows have done that, and some of them got proposed for membership in +the Sacred Pig society." + +This was one of the exclusive secret organizations of the academy, and +Dick, as well as many others, wished to join. But one had to be invited +to apply for membership, and only those students on whom the seal of +approval was set by the older cadets had this honor. + +"Do you think that would do any good?" asked Dick. + +"It might." + +"Then I'll try. Here's a chance where I can use some of my money. If +this plan doesn't work, I have another that I'll spring." + +"What is it?" + +"Well, I don't want to say yet. I may want to get you to help me at it, +though." + +"I'll do anything I can." + +"I know you will, Paul. I wish there were more like you." + +Dick obtained permission from Colonel Masterly to give a spread in one +of the barrack rooms, and he made elaborate preparations for it. A town +caterer was given orders to supply a fine supper, and then Dick sent out +his invitations. He included all the lads in his class, and every +member of the so-called "sporting crowd." + +"Are you going to invite Dutton?" asked Paul. + +"Of course. I want him more than all the others. If he would drop his +hard feelings we could be friends." + +"After he tried to get you into trouble about your dog, and the firing +of the cannon?" + +"Do you think he did?" + +"I'm sure of it, and so are lots of others." + +"Captain Hayden can't seem to find out anything about it." + +"No, because all of Dutton's cronies are keeping mum. But I'm sure he +did it." + +"Well, I'll forgive him, if he'll be friends. I got even by whipping +him, I guess." + +"Perhaps, though I don't believe he thinks so." + +Dick received acceptances from nearly all the lads in his class, but +regarding the others he heard nothing, and did not know whether they +would come or not. He hoped they would--particularly Dutton and his +chums. + +On the afternoon of the evening on which Dick's spread was to come off, +he met Dutton and Stiver on the campus. + +"Let's see, isn't your spread to-morrow night?" asked Stiver, with +studied carelessness. + +"It's to-night," said Dick, pleasantly. "I hope you are both coming." + +"I'll see," answered Stiver. + +"Is there going to be anything to drink?" asked Dutton with a covert +sneer. + +"Lemonade," replied Dick promptly. + +"Is that all? I should think a millionaire cadet like you would provide +champagne; or at least beer." + +"It's against the rules," said Dick. + +"Then you'll have some cigars." + +"No." + +"Cigarettes then?" + +"No." + +"I suppose you'll give us malted milk and crackers," sneered Dutton, as +he turned aside. "I don't think that will suit us. Eh, Stiver?" + +"No indeed. I thought you wanted to be a sport, Hamilton?" + +"I don't care about breaking rules," replied Dick. "Besides, I don't use +tobacco or liquor." + +"Ah, he's a regular Sunday school brand of millionaire," remarked +Dutton, with a mean laugh. "He gives his money to the heathen, instead +of buying cigars. Come on, Stiver." + +At Dick's spread, that night, only a few freshmen came, and, though they +tried to be jolly, the affair was a dismal failure, after the elaborate +preparations that had been made. None of Dutton's friends came, and not +a member of the sporting element. + +"Dutton told 'em to stay away," said Paul, as he and Dick went to their +room, after it was all over. + +"I suppose so," answered Dick gloomily, and there was a heavy feeling in +his heart, that the thought of all his wealth could not lighten. + +He was beginning to realize what it meant to fulfill the conditions of +his mother's will. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN ANGRY FARMER + + +"Say, Dick," remarked Paul, the next morning, as they leaped out of bed +at the sound of the bugle giving the first call, "that spread must have +cost you a pretty penny." + +"I don't mind that a bit," replied the young millionaire, as he +struggled into his uniform. "I'd be willing to spend a lot more if only +the fellows would have come. But there's no use crying over spilled +milk, as my dad says. Hurry up, Paul. Get this room in shape, or we'll +be in for some bad marks at inspection." + +The cadets quickly had their apartment in good order, and then got ready +for breakfast. + +They were a fine lot of cadets who filed into the mess hall a little +later, well set-up young fellows, each with his uniform spick and span, +marching with regular step that nearly approached the perfection of the +trained soldier. For, such was the discipline at Kentfield, that even +green lads quickly fell into the routine, and by this time Dick and the +other freshmen carried themselves almost as well as did the senior +students. + +"Ah, that'll be some fun," remarked Paul, as they were leaving the +mess-hall after the meal. + +"What?" asked Dick. + +"Target practice. There's a notice on the bulletin board that we're to +have it right after the first study period. Are you a good shot?" + +"I used to be, but the guns here are heavier than I'm accustomed to. I +don't believe I can do as well." + +"Oh, I guess you can. I hear that some of the third year lads can't do +very extra." + +There were two target ranges at Kentfield, one for long distance +shooting, in the open, and the other in a rifle pit, indoors. It was +there that a number of the cadets and their officers assembled a little +later. Toots, who was a sort of janitor about the pits, was on hand. + +"Ah, Toots, going to show us how to shoot to-day?" asked a student. + +"Sure," replied Sam. "I'll give you a few lessons. Lend me your gun." + +"Here you go, Tootsy old chap," added another cadet, passing over his +rifle. + +As all the cadets had not yet arrived discipline was rather lax, and the +officers made no objection. + +"Here's where I crack the bullseye first shot!" exclaimed Toots. He +handled the gun as though he had long been used to it, and took quick +aim. A sharp report followed, but there was no corresponding "ping" of +the target to indicate a shot. + +"Ha! Ha! Toots, you missed it altogether," cried Russell Glen, a +first-year and somewhat sporty student in Dick's class. + +"No, I didn't neither!" objected Sam. "It went clean through the target, +that's why you didn't hear it. I'm a crack shot I am." + +He really appeared to believe it, and was much disappointed when the +marker called back that the bullet had gone about a foot over the +target. + +"Try again, Toots," said Glen. + +"I will. This time I'll go right in the center." + +Once more he fired, and the resulting laugh told that he had again +missed. + +"I guess this is your off day," observed Captain Dutton. + +"Looks like it," remarked Toots ruefully, as he walked off, whistling +"In a Prison Cell I Sit," and ending with the bugle call to charge. + +The target practice soon began, and Dick, to his own surprise, made a +good score, getting forty-nine out of a possible fifty. + +"We have decided to have a practice march, around the lake, to-morrow," +Major Webster announced to the cadets after target practice was over. +"Fatigue uniforms of khaki will be worn, and the affair will last all +day. Lunch will be taken in the field. You know the regulations, Captain +Dutton, so inform your command of them, and be ready after reveille +to-morrow." + +The major paused, Captain Dutton saluted, and his superior officer +turned away, his sword clanking at his heels. + +"A practice march!" exclaimed Paul to Dick. "That will be sport." + +"It sure will," added Dick. + +"Silence in the ranks;" cried Dutton, in a dictatorial manner. +"Lieutenant Stiver, watch Hamilton, I think he talks altogether too +much." + +It was an unjust accusation, but Dick knew better than to answer back. + +That afternoon further instructions were issued regarding the practice +march. The cadets would take one ration with them, and a wagon +containing utensils for making coffee, etc., would accompany the amateur +soldiers. They would have their rifles with them, and, during the day +would have practice in skirmish firing, in throwing up trenches, and +advancing on an imaginary enemy. + +They started off soon after breakfast, led by Colonel Masterly, Major +Rockford and Major Webster, while the cadet officers were in charge of +the four companies, A, B, C and D. + +It was a fine day in October, just right for a march, and the cadets +presented a neat appearance, as, headed by the superior officers on +horseback, they marched along the shores of the lake, off towards a +wooded plain. The boys were attired in blue flannel shirts, khaki +trousers and leggings. + +"I hope they have more of these hikes before winter," remarked Paul to +Dick. + +"'Hike?' is that what you call 'em?" + +"That's what the regulars do. It's a good name, I think." + +"It sure is. Say, you get a fine view of the lake here." + +The boys talked on, for there were no rules against it, and the +experience of the march was a new one for many of them, including Dick. + +They reached some suitable ground about ten o'clock and on orders from +Major Webster the companies were formed into one command, under his +direction. Then, an imaginary enemy having been located in a clump of +woodland, the cadets were sent forward on the run, in skirmish parties, +firing at will, and in volleys. + +"Advance, and form trenches!" suddenly ordered the major. + +The lads, using their bayonets as spades, and scooping the dirt up with +their hands, soon formed shallow ditches, with an embankment of earth in +front, and, lying prone behind this, ruthlessly mowed down the ranks of +the enemy who still refused to show himself. + +The rattle and bang of the rifles, the clouds of smoke, the flashes of +fire, mingled with the hoarse commands of the major who was a war +veteran; the rushing forward of the cadets, and their activity in +digging trenches, made the scene one of excitement. It was glorious +sport, Dick thought. + +Tired, dusty and warm, though willing to keep at this war game +indefinitely, the young soldiers finally reached the edge of the woods, +where, having dislodged the enemy, they were conceded to have won a +victory, and the march was again taken up. + +A halt for dinner was made beside a little brook. Toots, who had charge +of the provision wagon brought it up, and proceeded to build fires to +make coffee. + +"Toots, you old scoundrel," affectionately exclaimed a senior cadet, +"did you bring the cream for my coffee?" + +"Yes, Mr. Morton. I brought a jug full," replied Toots, who entered into +the spirit of the fun. + +"And I want a white table cloth," stipulated another. + +"I've got one up my sleeve," answered Toots, busying himself about the +wagon. + +Campfires were soon ablaze, and the appetizing smell of coffee and +steaks filled the air. The cadets opened their haversacks, and were +preparing to eat, having formed into little informal groups, each +company by itself. + +"Say, Stiver," remarked Dutton, to his lieutenant, looking at a field of +late sweet corn, which was near where they were camped, "I'd like a few +of those ears to roast. How about you?" + +"Sure's you're a foot high; but you know the orders. Mustn't do any +foraging." + +"Ah, what's the rule between friends? Besides, Colonel Masterly and +Major Webster are away over on the other side of the woods. Send some of +the freshmen after some corn." + +"I'm not going to. You can if you want to." + +"I will. Here, Boardman, you and Booker and Hamilton go and get some of +that green corn." + +"I'll not," replied Dick promptly, who knew that this refusal to obey +his superior officer would be upheld, if, indeed, Dutton would dare +prefer a charge against him. + +"Afraid, eh?" sneered the young captain. "Very well, then, you take +Hamilton's place, Butler." + +The three lads designated, either being afraid to incur Dutton's +displeasure, or because they wanted some of the corn, quietly sneaked +into the field, and quickly returned with big armsful, which were soon +put to roast, the husks being concealed under the leaves in the woods. + +"Maybe, you'll have some?" asked Dutton, in sneering tones, of Dick, as +the captain and his cronies began eating the roast corn. + +"No thank you. Not that I don't like it, but I prefer to get it another +way." + +Dick felt that he was putting himself further than ever beyond the pale +of his comrades' liking by his conduct, but he could not help it. + +The lunch was almost over, and most of the corn had disappeared, when +an elderly man, evidently a farmer, crawled through the fence near where +Dick's company was. There was an angry look on his face. + +"Which of you lads stole my corn?" he demanded. "And besides that you +trampled down a lot. Who done it? That's what I want to know." + +There was no need to answer. The evidences of the stolen corn were all +about. + +"I'm going to report this to Colonel Masterly," said the farmer, +striding off toward where the superintendent was talking to the two +majors. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +"Hold on!" cried Dutton, springing to his feet. "Wait a minute, +Mr.--er--Mr.--" + +"No, you can't come any game like that over me!" cried the angry farmer. +"You stole my corn, and trampled a lot of it down. That's agin orders, +an' I know it. I'll report to your superior officers, and we'll see how +you'll like it." + +"But--er--but I say--" stammered Dutton, wishing he could do something +to placate the man, for he knew that all the blame would fall on him, +and that he would be severely dealt with; perhaps reduced to the ranks. + +"No. I'll not listen to you," replied the farmer. "I'm going to report +to Colonel Masterly." + +"Now look at the mess you've got us into, Dutton," said Stiver. "Why +couldn't you let the corn alone." + +"Shut up!" retorted the cadet captain. "I say, Mr.--Mr. Farmer," he +called after the man. + +"My name's not Farmer, but I know what yours will be; it'll be Mud, +soon. I'll teach you tin soldiers to spoil my corn." + +There were murmurs among the cadets. They feared lest the whole company +might be punished. But a scheme had come into Dick Hamilton's mind. +Without asking permission from Dutton he hurried after the farmer. + +"How much will pay for the damage to your corn, and what the boys took," +he asked quietly, holding out a roll of bills, for Dick never was +without a substantial sum. + +"Now you're talking, sonny," said the farmer, a different look coming +into his face. "Why didn't that captain of yours say so at first?" + +"What's the damage?" asked Dick. From experience he had learned that +cash will make up for almost any kind of a hurt. + +"Wa'al, seein' as that was particularly fine corn, I'll have to charge +you ten dollars for what ye took, and what damage ye done." + +"Ten dollars! That's too much!" cried Paul Drew. "Don't pay it, Dick." + +"Wa'al, then I'll see the colonel. I guess he'll pay that, rather than +have his school sued," said the angry man. + +"Here are ten dollars," said Dick quietly, handing over a bill. "I guess +the boys found the corn worth it," he added with a smile. + +"That's all right," said the farmer, as he pocketed the money. "I +wouldn't 'a made a fuss if I'd a knowed you was goin' to pay for it. I'm +reasonable, I am." + +"Not at selling corn," murmured Paul, as the man went back into his +field. + +"Hurrah for Hamilton!" cried several cadets, who realized what Dick's +action meant for them. "He's all right." + +"He got us out of a bad scrape," observed Lieutenant Stiver. "My record +won't stand many more demerits." + +But instead of thanking Dick, Dutton turned aside. He acted as if he +disliked to be under any obligations to the cadet who he so unreasonably +hated. + +"Hamilton wanted to show off, and let us see that he had money," said +the captain, contemptuously. "I suppose we ought to vote him a medal--a +gold one, studded with diamonds, seeing that he's a millionaire." + +"That's not right, Ray," murmured Stiver in a low tone. "He's got us out +of a hole." + +"I don't care! I wish he'd take himself out of this academy. We don't +want millionaires here." + +Probably most of Dutton's feeling toward Dick, was due to jealousy, for +Ray's father, though wealthy, was far from being as rich as Mr. +Hamilton. + +Dick bit his lip, to keep back a sharp reply at the unjust construction +put upon his act. + +"I shouldn't do anything for him again," whispered Paul. + +"Well, I did it for the whole company, as much as for him," replied the +young millionaire. "In another minute Colonel Masterly would have heard +the row, and there'd been the mischief to pay." + +The march was resumed after dinner and academy was reached in time for +supper. The cadets were much pleased with their practice "hike," while +the officers were complimented on the order they had maintained. + +"I guess the colonel would preach a different sort of a sermon if he +knew about the corn," remarked Paul, as he and Dick started for their +quarters. + +"Well, as long as he doesn't know, there's no harm done." + +"My, but I'm tired," announced Paul, as he undressed. "I'm glad we don't +have any lessons to-morrow." + +"What do we have?" + +"Artillery drill. Have you forgotten?" + +"That's so. I had. I've got to ride one of the leading horses too. Guess +there'll be plenty of excitement." + +"Shouldn't wonder. I'm on the gun-carriage, where I reckon I'll be +shaken so my liver pin will fall out." + +"I'll try not to let it. There go taps. Douse the glim." + +The two cadets crawled into bed and were soon asleep. + +Artillery drill at the Kentfield academy was as near like the real +article as possible. The guns were four-inch field pieces, each drawn by +six horses, the two leaders being ridden by cadets, while seven men +were on the gun itself, an arrangement somewhat different from that in +the regular army. Real ammunition was used in practice, the pieces being +directed at target placed against a hill of soft dirt, in which the +balls buried themselves. + +The artillery practice began soon after morning inspection. The cadets +had all been instructed in how to load, aim and fire the field pieces, +and had also had practice in driving the artillery into place. For the +first time, however, they were now to indulge in this under the critical +eye of an officer from the regular army, who was visiting the academy. + +The first part of the drill consisted in firing at targets, before +horses were hitched to the guns. The cadets did well at this, the +different squads making good scores. Dick, who was detailed at the +breech, had a chance to aim. He thought he sighted perfectly, but when +it was fired the ball did not hit the target cleanly. It was the last +shot in that particular part of the tactics, and it left Dick's squad +with the lowest record. + +"That's all your fault, Hamilton!" cried Captain Dutton angrily. "Why +didn't you aim that right? Then we'd have had a chance to make a good +score." + +"I did aim it right, but the gun must have shifted. Maybe one of the +wheels was on a small stone." + +"Nonsense. It's your stupidity. You've lost us a good mark." + +Dutton angrily slammed the breech-block shut. Dick gave a start, but +stifled the cry of pain that he was ready to give utterance to, for one +of his fingers was caught in the breech, and the blood spurted from it, +as the angry captain closed the gun. + +"Open the breech! Quick!" cried Paul, who had seen what had happened. + +"What's that?" asked Dutton, who had turned aside. + +Dick's roommate did not answer. Instead he took hold of the block with +both hands, and wrenched it open, releasing our hero, whose white face +showed the pain he suffered. + +"Sorry I hurt you," said Dutton, calmly. "You shouldn't have had your +finger there. I suppose you can't drive now, in the next test." + +"I'll drive," said Dick, grimly, as he bound his handkerchief tightly +around his finger, to stop the bleeding. The nail was smashed, and it +was very painful. + +"Then hurry up, and get the horses. They're ready to begin." + +This test was a difficult one. In turn the different gun squads were to +approach a certain spot on the gallop. They were to go through a narrow +passage, indicated by stakes stuck into the ground, and, at the end were +to suddenly wheel the gun, fire three shots, and continue on at a +gallop to the end of the course. If any of the stakes were touched it +counted against the squad, and other points were won or lost by the +speed and accuracy of firing. + +In spite of his pain Dick mounted his horse, and was soon ready, with +'Gene Graham, who was to ride the other steed, to start off with the +field piece. + +A squad from Company B went first. They cleared the stakes nicely, and +did good work in wheeling and firing. + +"I hope we beat them," murmured Captain Dutton, who was on the gun +carriage. + +Dick grimly resolved that if he had anything to do with it they would. + +Company C's team came next, and did well, but the off horse struck a +stake. + +"Don't let that happen, Hamilton," cautioned Captain Dutton, as it came +their turn. + +Dick and Graham urged their animals to a gallop, and with a deep rumble +the gun followed after them. On and on they went, toward the narrow lane +formed by the upright stakes. Dick's heart was beating hard as he neared +them. Would he clear them? + +With unerring eye the young millionaire guided his animal, and so did +Graham. With folded arms, and almost as stiff as ramrods, the cadets sat +on the gun carriage. The leading horses were at the first stakes now, +but the real test would come when the wide gun carriage reached them. + +"Go on!" yelled Dick to his horse, a swift pace being most essential in +order to keep on a straight course. + +Dick gave a glance back. One wheel seemed about to hit a stake, but he +quickly swerved his horse and the danger was averted. They got through +without touching, and at a swifter pace than had any of their +competitors. A burst of cheers from the watching cadets, and some +visitors, rewarded them. + +"Careful now!" cautioned Captain Dutton, as Dick wheeled his horse +about. + +Whether the animal was frightened at the cheering, or whether Dick, +because of his injured finger, did not have a proper hold of the reins, +was never known but, at that instant, the horse suddenly swerved, +turning almost at right angles, and pulling off the course. So quickly +was it done that it seemed as if the gun and carriage would upset, +injuring several of the lads. + +But Dick was equal to the occasion. Though the strain, which he had to +put on the reins hurt his wounded hand very much, he never flinched. +With a steady pull, and a sharp word of command, he swung his horse's +head around, and just in time to avoid sending the gun over sideways. + +Then, with a smart blow of his hand on the animal's flank Dick set him +to a sharp gallop. Graham's steed, which had been pulled from his +stride, regained it, and the horses behind, straightening out of the +confusion into which they had been thrown, leaped forward, pulling the +rumbling gun after them. Through it all, and in spite of their narrow +escape, the cadets on the carriage had not so much as unfolded their +arms. + +On toward the place where they were to fire Dick and Graham rushed their +horses. A moment later they wheeled them, the cadets leaped down, the +gun was unlimbered, a shot rammed home, and the men stood at attention. + +"Fire!" cried Captain Dutton. + +A puff of white smoke, a sliver of flame and then a deep boom, while a +black ball was hurled toward the distant target. + +Twice more this was repeated, and then the gun was limbered, or attached +to the limber, the forward part of the carriage, and the horses galloped +off with it. Dick's squad had made a perfect score, in spite of the +actions of his horse, and the cadets that came after them failed, so +Captain Dutton's men won in the test. + +But Dick felt sick and faint from the pain in his finger which had +started to bleeding again, because of the strain caused by the reins. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CAPTAIN HANDLEE'S VISIT + + +"Very well done, young gentlemen--very well done indeed," complimented +Colonel Masterly, as Dick and his fellow cadets came driving slowly past +where the head of the academy sat with some visitors, and the army +officer. + +"Indeed, the regulars will have to look to their laurels when such lads +as these are doing as well as that," observed the officer. "I thought +they were going to have a spill there, at one time. But the lad on the +off horse saved the day. Who is he?" + +"Millionaire Hamilton's son," said the superintendent in a low voice, +yet not so low but that Dick heard him. + +"I wish they wouldn't refer to me that way," he thought. "I'd like to be +myself once in a while--just Dick Hamilton. Money isn't what it's +cracked up to be." + +"Why, Hamilton, are you hurt?" asked Major Webster, as Dick guided his +horse to the place where the animals would be unhitched. He looked at +the red-stained handkerchief around the young millionaire's hand. + +"Just a scratch," replied Dick bravely, though the pain of his crushed +finger made him wince. "I caught it in the gun. It doesn't amount to +anything." + +He saw Dutton looking at him, and he fancied he detected a sneer on the +cadet captain's face. + +"Well, go to the surgeon, and have it dressed," said the major. "We +don't want you to get blood poison. Is yours the only injury of the +day?" + +"I guess so," replied Dick, with an attempted laugh. + +"A scratch!" exclaimed the surgeon, when Dick had so characterized the +wound, as he came to have it dressed. "Well, I wouldn't want many +scratches like that. Why the top of the finger is crushed. You shouldn't +have kept on after you got this." + +"I'd have to if we were fighting in earnest," was all Dick said, and he +gritted his teeth hard to keep from screaming out when the surgeon +dressed the wound. + +Fortunately the remainder of the week was devoted to the more quieter +forms of military life, the cadets spending considerable time in +studying, drilling and reciting. + +One afternoon word was sent to Dick, who was studying in his room, that +a visitor desired to see him. + +"Who is it?" he asked the housekeeper, who brought the message. + +"I don't know. It's a gentleman from Hamilton Corners." + +"I hope it's some of the boys," murmured Dick. "Or even a sight of +'Hank' Darby would be welcome," for, in spite of the activities at +Kentfield, Dick was a bit homesick. + +He found waiting for him Captain Handlee. + +"I come to see if you had any news of my son," said the veteran +pitifully. "I'm about to go out west on a clue I have, but I thought I'd +stop off here." + +"No," replied Dick, "I'm sorry, but I haven't any news for you. I wrote +you about my inquiries." + +"Yes, I know, but I hoped something might have happened since then." + +"No, I regret to say, there hasn't. But how does it come that you're +going out west?" + +"Well, I have an idea I can get some clues there. I'm going to look up +some old soldiers who were in my son's company. Your father gave me the +money to go." + +"My father? Is he home?" asked Dick quickly, hoping his parent had +unexpectedly returned from abroad. + +"Oh, no. He gave it to me before he left. I mentioned that I'd like to +go out west, and he gave me a good sum. I don't know what I'd do but for +him." + +"When are you going west?" asked Dick. + +"Right away. I guess I'd better be leaving here now." + +"If you have any time to spare, captain, perhaps you'd like to stay and +see the cadets go through some drills." + +"I think I would, if the commander will let me." + +"Of course he will. Old soldiers are always welcome here. We're going to +have some wall-scaling drills just before parade this evening. I'd like +to have you stay and see them." + +"I will, thanks." + +Dick spoke to Colonel Masterly about Captain Handlee, and the veteran +not only received a cordial invitation to remain, but was taken in +charge by Major Webster, who asked him to occupy his quarters, and take +his meals there. + +The wall-scaling drills were always enjoyed by the cadets as they +offered chances for rough and ready fun. The walls were structures of +boards, between ten and fifteen feet high, placed on the open field, and +the object was for the lads, by means of a pyramid formation, to get all +their comrades over the top, while the men left behind, who had assisted +their fellows over, would either scramble up by means of a rope, +anchored by lads on the other side, or would be pulled up by their +comrades who leaned over the high fence. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +ON THE GRIDIRON + + +When the exercises for the day were over, Dick sought out Captain +Handlee, and inquired how he liked the wall-scaling. + +"Fine! Fine!" exclaimed the veteran. "We never had such practice when I +was in the army, but we did pretty near the same in real life. I +remember one occasion at Chancellorsville--" + +"Now Captain Handlee," interrupted Major Webster, who had constituted +himself host to the veteran, "you keep all such stories for me. If you +get telling them to the cadets, first thing I know I'll have to be +providing big brick walls for them to scale." + +He led the veteran away, the aged captain bidding good-bye to Dick. + +"I hope you'll be successful on your trip," said the young millionaire. + +"I hope so, too, Dick, for I miss my son more and more as I grow older." + +In spite of the good record he made in the drills, at artillery practice +and in his class, Dick found as the weeks went by, that he was making +no progress in becoming popular with the main body of students at +Kentfield. He had a few chums among the freshmen, and of course was on +speaking terms with all the others, but aside from Paul Drew, his +roommate, he had no close friends. This state of affairs made him feel +sad, for at home he had been the most popular lad in town. + +"I'm not succeeding as I thought I would," he said to himself, one day. +"I guess I'll have to put my plan into operation. But perhaps I'd better +wait a while yet. I'll give this way a fair show." + +As fall advanced there began to be talk about forming the football +eleven. A number of new players were needed, because some of the best +had graduated the previous year. + +"I hope I can make the team," said Dick to Paul one evening during their +study period. "I used to be considered a good player at home." + +"I don't see why you can't get on. Fortunately Dutton has nothing to say +about who shall play, though he's considered one of the team's +supporters and backers." + +"Still he may influence Captain Rutledge. I hear they are going to pick +candidates this week." + +"Yes, I heard Harry Hale, the coach, talking about it. I hope you make +the eleven, Dick." + +It was the following day, when Dick was out in the field, with some +other cadets of his class, getting instruction in survey work, that he +overheard something which made him feel more than ever like giving up +the fight against his handicap. He was standing near a thick hedge, +holding the scale rod, while another cadet was reading it through the +instrument, when he heard voices behind the shrubbery. + +"Looks to me like Hamilton would make a good player," he caught, and he +knew that Coach Hale was speaking. + +"You're right," said Captain Rutledge. "He's got the right build, and I +hear he played at home." + +"Aw, you don't want him on the team," expostulated a voice which Dick +knew at once belonged to Captain Dutton. + +"Why not?" asked the coach, in some surprise. + +"Well, none of the other fellows like him. You wouldn't get good team +work if he played." + +"Are you sure?" asked Captain Rutledge. + +"Sure. He's not popular." + +"What's the matter with him?" + +"Well, he's got too much money, and he's always trying to make it known. +He gives himself as many airs as if he came of an old family." + +This was an unjust accusation, but the coach and captain did not know +it, as they were upper-class cadets, and did not mingle much with the +freshmen. + +"Well, we won't want to get an unpopular fellow on the eleven," said the +coach, dubiously. + +"No, indeed," agreed the captain. "Still, we need good players. Suppose +we give him a trial?" + +"You'll be sorry if you do," Dutton assured them. + +Dick longed to drop the rod, leap over the hedge and give a +well-deserved threshing to Dutton, but he knew he would lose more than +he would gain. He was brought quickly out of his fit of righteous anger +by the sharp command of the officer in charge of the surveying party. + +"Plumb east there! Hamilton!" was the cry, and Dick saw that he had +allowed the rod to slant too much. He straightened it, and, glancing at +the hedge saw the three cadets who had been talking, moving away. But, +before they got out of earshot Dick heard Dutton say: + +"I wouldn't put him on the team, if I were you, for I don't think he'll +be here long." + +"Why not? Doesn't he like it?" asked Captain Rutledge. + +"Oh, I guess he likes it all right, but we don't like him. I shouldn't +wonder but what something would happen to make him leave," and Dutton +laughed sarcastically. + +"I guess I'd better be on my guard," thought Dick as he moved the rod to +another place, in obedience to the instructions from the cadet at the +instrument. + +A few days after this, a notice was posted on the bulletin board in the +gymnasium, telling all candidates for the football team to report on +the gridiron that afternoon, as selections for the regular and scrub +teams would be made. Members of the scrub would act as substitutes on +the regular. + +"Here's where I get my chance," said Dick to Paul. + +"Well, I hope you make the regular team," replied his roommate, as the +young millionaire went to submit himself for examination. + +Coach Hale, Captain Rutledge, and a number of the former players were on +hand, as was Dutton, and some of his cronies. All the candidates were +looked over, sized up physically, and put through a course of "sprouts" +in running, leaping, and tackling. Then their football history was +inquired into. + +"I guess you'll do, Hamilton," said the coach, and Dick was delighted. + +A moment later, however, he saw his hopes dashed to the ground. Dutton +called Harry Hale over to him, whispered a bit, and then Captain +Rutledge joined them. + +"You'll be on the scrub, Hamilton," said Hale, a little later. "You'll +probably have a chance to play in several games, however, for I like +your form. You've got to be regular at practice however." + +Though much disappointed, Dick vowed to do his best at practice. This +was started a few days later, and, when the regular team lined up +against the substitutes, Dick resolved that they would make no gains +through him, for he was playing at left guard, though he preferred being +back of the line. + +"Well, how are we making out," Dick overheard Captain Rutledge asking +the coach, one afternoon, following some hard scrimmages. + +"Pretty good. That Hamilton is like a brick wall, though. We can't gain +a foot through him. I wish we had him on the regular." + +"Well, you know what Dutton said." + +"Yes, I know, but I don't believe all Dutton says. He's got queer +notions. I think Hamilton is every bit as good as he is. Besides, Dutton +doesn't play football." + +"I know it, but he has lots of influence." + +Dick fully subscribed to this, for he knew it was due to Dutton that he +was on the scrub instead of on the regular team. But he resolved to have +patience. + +As Dick walked off the gridiron, following the practice, he was met, +before he reached his barracks, by Grit, who had been let out of his +kennel in the stables. + +"Hello, Grit old fellow!" exclaimed Dick, and the dog nearly dislocated +his stump of a tail, so excited was he. Since rejoining his master he +had picked up wonderfully. "I've got you for a friend, even if I haven't +many others," said Dick, as he bent over to fondle the dog. As he did so +he saw some marks on the animal's smooth, satin-like coat, that made him +start. + +"Grit, you've been fighting!" he exclaimed. "How did that happen?" He +knew there were no other dogs near the academy with whom his pet would +quarrel. He asked the stableman about it. + +"Sure Grit's been in a fight," replied one of the hostlers. "I thought +you matched him in a scrap wid a dorg in town. Grit won, anyhow. It was +a couple a' nights ago." + +"Matched him in a fight? Why, did some one--some of the cadets take Grit +to town, and let him fight?" + +"Thot's what they done, Muster Hamilton, an' they won a pot of money on +him too, I understand." + +"Who took him?" asked Dick, trying to speak calmly. + +"Why, uts no secret. Muster Dutton an' Muster Stiver tuck him one night. +Ut was a foin foight, I heard 'em say." + +Dick started away, after chaining Grit up, a set look on his face. + +"I'll have it out with Dutton," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FOR THE PRIZE TROOP + + +After a bath and rub down in the gymnasium Dick dressed for evening +parade. When this was over he sought out Dutton, who was strolling off +the campus with some chums. + +"Captain Dutton, I wish to speak to you," said Dick, formally saluting. + +"Well, I don't know that I wish to speak to you. What is it?" asked the +young snob, barely acknowledging Dick's courtesy. + +"Did you take my bulldog to town, and match him to fight another?" + +Dutton started, then looked insolently at Dick. + +"What of it?" he asked sneeringly. + +"This much. That you haven't any right to do that, even if you are my +superior officer. Grit is my personal property, and I won't have him +fighting." + +"Aw, what's the harm, Hamilton. He put up a dandy fight and licked a +bigger dog than he is," put in one of the cadets. + +"I don't care, I don't want him to fight." + +"Oh, you don't?" asked Dutton coolly. + +"No; and if you take him again----" + +"Well, what will you do? Report me, I suppose?" said the captain. + +"No, but I'll thrash you worse than I did the other time, Captain +Dutton, that's what I'll do!" exclaimed Dick, hotly. "You leave Grit +alone! If you take him again you know what to expect!" + +Dutton turned pale. He strode toward Dick, but at that moment Captain +Grantly, one of the instructors, strolled past. Dutton turned aside. + +"You haven't heard the last of this--my fresh millionaire," he said in a +whisper to Dick, as he and his cronies walked off. "You'll wish you +hadn't insulted me." + +Dick saluted, as the rules required, and marched back to quarters. He +felt that he would have enjoyed a good stiff fight with his mean enemy. + +"I don't suppose this will add to my popularity, among the sporting +element," he said to himself. "But I don't care; they shan't fight +Grit!" + +Football practice went on every afternoon, and Dick and the other scrubs +were faithful at it. The regular eleven was being whipped into shape, +and the first game was close at hand. When it was played Dick found +himself wishing he could have a chance, but no such thing happened. The +opponents of Kentfield were light-weight players, and the cadets had no +difficulty in piling up a big score. + +"But it will be different next week," Captain Rutledge warned them. "We +tackle Mooretown then, and you'll find your work cut out for you." + +This game was indeed a stiff one, and several players were hurt. The +cadets were slightly ahead in the second half, when the right half-back +was knocked out, and, as there had been one substitute already put in at +that position, there was a call for another one. + +"Try Hamilton," suggested the coach, after a hurried consultation with +the captain. + +Dick's heart gave a wild throb, as he was called, and, stripping off his +sweater, he bounded in from the side line. He was given the ball for a +play around the left end, and, getting clear of the opposing players +started down the field on a run. But, alas for his hopes of making a +touchdown! The referee's whistle blew when he was on the thirty-five +yard line, ending the game, in favor of Kentfield. + +There was rejoicing among the cadets, for Mooretown was an ancient +rival, and they played three games with the students of that +non-military academy every year, for the local championship. + +"You didn't get much of a show, Hamilton," said Coach Hale, as the team +was in the dressing room. "But you started off well. I guess you'll get +into a game yet." + +Dick was grateful for this praise. He knew he could do good work if he +had half a chance. + +"This is Saturday," observed Paul Drew, as he crawled out of bed the +next morning. "Not so many lessons to-day, and lots of fun for you, I +suppose on the horses. It's rough-riding to-day." + +"So it is," agreed Dick. "I like that best of all, except, maybe, hiking +on a practice march, and firing from the trenches. I hope I get the +horse I had last time." + +"To-day's the last of the tests," went on Paul, as he slipped into his +uniform. + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean the officers are going to choose from those who ride to-day, the +cadets who can take part in the tests for joining the prize troop." + +"Right you are. Say, I'm going to make that troop or bust a leg." + +"Well, I hope you don't break any bones. But I guess there's no danger. +You seem right at home on a horse." + +"I ought to. I've been riding ever since I was a kid. I'm going to do my +best to-day." + +As Paul had said, this was the final weeding out of candidates among the +cadets, who had no chance in the tests that would be held later, to +determine who should be members of the prize troop. This troop consisted +of the best riders at the academy, and took part in several state +evolutions and parades, having won a number of trophies. + +Scores of cadets, in their service uniforms, reported on the cavalry +plain for practice. They were required to vault into the saddle while +their horse was standing still, and at varying speeds, up to a smart +gallop. Many failed in this, but Dick did not. + +Then came mounting and dismounting at hurdles, which was more difficult, +and weeded out a number, and then, the last of the semifinals, was the +feat of standing astride on two horses, driving a steed on either side, +and, while doing this, to take a difficult hurdle. + +More than a score did not succeed at this, and Dick was not a little +nervous when it came his turn, as, though he was an expert, he had not +practiced this evolution much. + +On his steeds thundered over the ground, one being a skittish horse, and +hard to manage. + +"If they don't jump together," thought Dick, "I'm done for. If one of +them knocks down the hurdle bar it's all up with my chances." + +He called encouragingly to the animals, and took a tighter hold on the +reins, while he shifted his weight on the backs of the horses. + +"Over you go now, boys!" he exclaimed at the take-off, and he fairly +lifted the four animals as one, over the bar, clearing it cleanly. + +"Good, Hamilton!" was the quiet praise of Major Webster, who acted as +judge. "That was finely done." + +So Dick qualified for the finals. + +But there was more hard work ahead of him. Thus far not many of the +freshmen had kept up to Dick, and there were envious eyes cast at him. +But those who envied him his good fortune realized that he had earned +it. + +"Now, gentlemen, ready for the finals," ordered Major Webster. "I want +you all to be careful, and take no unnecessary risks, at the same time, +don't be afraid, for no one ever became a good horseman who was afraid." + +The final tests consisted in riding bareback, in different postures, +such as might become necessary during a battle, in riding at different +speeds, in removing the saddle from the horse while at full gallop, in +leaping hurdles, and taking water jumps. + +Other tests were in leaping hurdles four feet high, and as the cadets +vaulted, taking a suspending ring on a lance, in leaping clean over a +running horse and in forming pyramids, with ten cadets on four horses. + +The last test was, perhaps, the most difficult of all. It consisted in +one cadet lying on the ground, and another riding toward him at full +speed. The one on the horse had to pick up his comrade from the earth, +by leaning over and grasping his up-stretched hand, and then assisting +him up behind him on his horse, continuing to gallop away. + +When it came Dick's turn he noticed, with some uneasiness, that the +cadet he was to pick up, was one of the heaviest in the school, but he +resolved to succeed, and he braced himself for the ordeal, as his horse +galloped toward the prostrate youth. + +As he neared the recumbent figure Dick leaned over, holding on as +tightly as he could with his legs. His hand grasped the belt and part of +the clothing of the cadet, and then Dick's arm felt as if it would be +torn from the socket. He feared he would be dragged from his horse. + +But, with a sudden pull, he lifted the lad from the ground and swung him +upon his horse. There was some applause at Dick's feat, as his steed +galloped on over the course. + +"Guess I'm something of a load, old chap," said the cadet to Dick. + +"You're no feather," was Dick's comment, as he halted his horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +DICK IN TROUBLE + + +"Well, Hamilton, I think we shall admit you to membership in the prize +troop," said Major Webster. "It was a severe test, and you did well." + +"I'm glad you think so, sir," replied Dick, saluting. + +There were some further trials, in some of them Dick acting the part of +the reclining cadet. 'Gene Graham could not succeed in the test, and was +rejected, much to his disappointment. + +Dick was delighted to be a member of the prize troop for it brought with +it many privileges; and there was a chance to take part in parades and +similar affairs to which the other cadets were not admitted. + +Very few freshmen had won the coveted honor, but it can not be said that +Dick was received with open arms into the troop. Dutton and many of his +friends belonged, and they had lost none of their unreasonable feeling +against Dick. Still they did nothing more than turn a cold shoulder +toward him, though this was enough to make the young millionaire +miserable. + +However, he managed to forget some of his bad feeling in anticipation of +another football game, which was to take place two days later. He hoped +to get a chance to play, as, following a rather tame affair with a team +which the Kentfield eleven "walked all over," there was to be the second +of the championship contests with Mooretown. + +This was a lively and strenuous game. Mooretown put in some new players, +and, though they did not score in the first half, when Kentfield made +one touchdown, the opponents of the cadet warriors of the gridiron took +such a brace in the second that the score was ten to four, in favor of +Mooretown, when the referee's whistle blew. + +"What's the matter with your men?" asked Coach Hale of Captain Rutledge, +after the game. "They couldn't hold those fellows for a cent." + +"Too much beef for us," replied the captain. + +"Yes, and they tore holes in your line that you could drive an ice wagon +through," went on the coach. "Both your guards were weak. Hamilton +should have been put in." + +"I couldn't very well do it, when no men were hurt." + +"No, I suppose not. But if the next game doesn't go better than this one +did, I'll make a change. We can't afford to lose it." + +"We shan't lose it," promised the captain, and Dick, who overheard what +was said, hoped he would get a chance to play. + +Meanwhile he reported regularly for practice, and was a tower of +strength to the scrub eleven, many of the players on which, regardless +of Dutton's influence, made of Dick a better friend than heretofore. + +Several unimportant games followed, one of which resulted in a tie, +Kentfield winning the others, and then came the occasion of the final +struggle with Mooretown. It was the greatest game of the season, as it +meant much to both academies. + +The day before the contest Dick was surprised to receive a visit from +Russell Glen, one of the freshmen cadets, who, hitherto, had scarcely +taken the trouble to nod to him. Glen wanted to be considered a "sport," +and Dick had heard that he had had a hand in taking Grit off to the dog +fight. + +"I had a letter from a friend of mine to-day," said Glen, by way of +introduction, as he lolled in one of Dick's easy chairs. "It contained +some surprising news." + +"Yes?" asked Dick politely. + +"Yes, it was from Guy Fletcher, of Hamilton Corners. He spoke of you, +and asked me if I knew you." + +"Well?" asked Dick, wondering what was coming. + +"I was quite surprised to know that you and Guy were friends," went on +Glen. + +"Oh, yes, I've known Guy for some time," said Dick, not caring to go +into particulars, and tell what a mean trick Guy, in company with Simon +Scardale, had once played on him. + +"So he says. He speaks very highly of you. I've known him for some time. +He and I used to be quite chummy. But I had no idea you and he lived in +the same town, until he spoke of it in his letter. He mentioned that you +attended this academy, and asked if I was acquainted with you. I wrote +back and said that I was." + +Dick looked rather surprised at this, as well he might, for, beyond a +mere nod, Glen had never shown that he knew him. + +"I don't suppose I am as well acquainted with you as I might be," went +on the young "sport," calmly, "and that's my fault. I've been so busy +attending to my studies, that I haven't had much time for social calls." + +Neither had many of the other cadets, Dick thought bitterly. + +"But I'll make amends now," went on Glen. "I want to get to know you +better, because we both have the same friend in Guy Fletcher." + +Dick didn't think it worth while to state that Guy was no particular +friend of his, since certain happenings told of in the first volume of +this series. But Glen continued: + +"I wish you'd come to a little spread I'm giving to-night. Just a small +affair for some of the freshmen." + +"I'll come," promised our hero, glad of the chance to meet some of his +classmates informally. + +"It won't be as elaborate as the one I hear you gave," went on Glen, +"for I'm not a millionaire," and he laughed. "But I'll do the best I +can." + +At first Dick thought he was going to have a good time at the affair, +for the guests, most of whom were of the "sporting" element, greeted him +cordially enough. But when Glen produced several bottles of beer, and +some cigars, Dick felt uneasy. + +It was an offense, calling for severe punishment, to have intoxicants or +tobacco in the academy, and Dick realized that discovery might come any +moment. Still, he did not want to bring upon himself ridicule, and +perhaps anger, by leaving. + +"Have some beer, Hamilton," urged Glen. + +"It's the right sort of stuff. I had it smuggled in from town. And these +are prime cigars. I snibbled some from dad's stock before I came away." + +"No, thank you," replied Dick. "I don't care for any." + +"What, don't you drink?" + +"No." + +"Aw, you don't know what life is. Have a cigar then." + +"No, I don't smoke, either." + +"Humph! You're a regular molly-coddle, you are," said Glen, with a +brutal laugh. + +Dick flushed. + +"Maybe," he admitted, as pleasantly as he could, "but I have an idea I +shouldn't drink or smoke while in training, if for no other reason." + +"Your training doesn't seem to be doing you much good," said another +cadet. "You haven't had a show in any of the games yet. Better quit +training and have some beer." + +"No, thank you. Maybe I'll get a chance to play to-morrow." + +But Dick's refusal had no effect on Glen's other guests. They drank more +than was good for them, and smoked considerable. They were becoming +rather noisy and silly, and Dick was in momentary terror lest some guard +or instructor should come along and discover the violation of the rules. +The spread was held in an unused room, in the basement of the east +barrack, and, though permission for it had been given, the officer in +charge of the building was supposed to keep a sort of lookout over such +affairs. + +If one of the cadet officers discovered the beer and cigars he would +hardly "squeal" on his comrades, but one of the academy staff would not +be so lenient. + +The fun became more and more noisy, and Dick was thinking of +withdrawing, no matter if he did offend his host, when he was saved the +trouble by something that happened. + +A cadet officer, who was on night guard knocked on the door, and when +there came a sudden hush to the merry-making, he whispered that Major +Webster was approaching, and would almost certainly discover the breach +of rules. + +"Quick fellows, get this stuff out of the way, and then skip!" cried +Glen, and the boys quickly hid the beer bottles, and threw away their +cigars. Then, by opening the windows, the smoke was gotten rid of, and +the cadets prepared to disperse. + +"I say, Hamilton," began Glen, a bit thickly, as he walked alongside +Dick, to his room, "you couldn't lend me twenty-five dollars; could you? +I spent more on this racket than I intended, and I'm a bit short until I +get my next allowance. I want to bet a little on the game to-morrow." + +"I guess I can let you have it," said Dick good naturedly. "Come to my +room, and I'll get it." + +It was after ten o'clock, but as Dick had received permission to attend +the spread, he had a permit to be out after taps. Paul, who had not been +invited, was asleep when Dick and Glen entered. + +"I say, Hamilton, you keep your room looking nice," said the "sport" as +he looked around the neat apartment. "I'm always getting a mark at +police inspection, for having something out of kilter. You and Drew are +as neat as girls." + +"Hush! Not so loud," cautioned Dick. "You'll wake, Paul." + +"Aw, what's the odds. He'll go to sleep again. It's early yet. Be a +sport!" + +Glen was noisy from the beer which he had taken. + +"Here is the money," said Dick, handing over some bills. + +"Thanks, old chap. I'll see that you get it back all right." + +"There's no hurry." + +"All right; if I win, though, I'll pay you to-morrow. Do you think we'll +lick Mooretown?" + +"I hope so. But you'd better go to bed now." + +"Me? Go to bed? Wha' for?" + +"Well, it's getting late, and some one might come along. You'd better +go." + +"That's a' right. I'm goin'. You're a' right, Ham'ton. You're a' right. +You're sport!" + +And, rather unsteady on his legs, poor, foolish Glen went away, much to +Dick's relief. + +"I don't much care for friends, such as he is," thought Dick, as he got +into bed. + +In his generousness it never occurred to him that Glen had cultivated +his acquaintance merely that he might borrow money from him. + +Dick was awakened by the clear, sweet notes of the bugle sounding +reveille. He and Paul jumped out of bed, and were soon in their +uniforms. Then they got their room in order for police inspection, +which, on some days, was made while they were at breakfast. This was one +of those occasions. + +"There, I guess they can't find any fault with that," observed Dick, as +he and his roommate, putting the finishing touches to their apartment, +descended to form in line to march to the mess hall. + +Dick was leaving the table, to attend chapel, when Cadet Captain Naylor, +who was in charge of the police inspection, tapped him on the shoulder. + +"Hamilton, report to Major Rockford," he said curtly. + +"To Major Rockford? What for?" + +"Room out of order." + +"Room out of order?" + +Dick knew that he and Paul had left their apartment in perfect trim. + +But Captain Naylor did not answer, and Dick, with a heavy heart, started +for the commandant's office. It was the first time he had been made to +report for a breach of discipline of this sort. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A DISMAL CHRISTMAS + + +"You are reported as not having your room in order, Hamilton," began +Major Rockford, as Dick entered. + +"I don't see how that can be, sir," replied Dick, saluting. "When Paul +Drew and I left it for breakfast it was in order." + +"Drew's side is yet, but your bureau is stated by Captain Naylor to be +in great disorder." + +"I--I left it in order, sir." + +"Very well, we will go and take a look at it." + +Accompanied by the commandant, Dick went to his apartment. To his +surprise his neat bureau was in great disorder, the objects on it being +scattered all about. + +"Well?" asked Major Rockford. + +"Some one--some one must have been in here, sir," said Dick. + +"Ha! Do you wish to accuse any one?" + +Dick went closer to his bureau. Something on it caught his eye. It was a +note written in pencil. It read: + + "DEAR HAMILTON: I am awfully sick this morning. I lost that + twenty-five you loaned me. Can you let me have some more? I + called but you were out, so I wrote this note here. Please let + me have the money. + "RUSSELL GLEN." + +Then Dick understood. Glen, suffering from the effects of his +dissipation the night before, had called at the room after our hero and +Paul had left to go to breakfast. In writing the note Glen had, probably +unthinkingly, disarranged the things on Dick's bureau, where he wrote +and left the missive. Then he had gone away, and, Captain Naylor, on +police inspection, had seen the disorder, and reported Dick. + +"Do you wish to accuse any one?" went on Major Rockford. + +Dick thought rapidly. To tell the true circumstances, and show Glen's +note, would mean that the facts of the spread would come out. Glen and +his chums would be punished, and Dick might be censured. It would be +better to accept the blame for having his room in disorder, rather than +incur the displeasure of his comrades by being the means of informing on +Glen. + +So Dick answered: + +"I--I guess I was mistaken, sir. I am sorry my room was out of order." + +"So am I, Hamilton, for you have a good record. Still there have been +several violations of late, among the cadets, and I must make an +example. But, in view of your good conduct, and record I will not give +you any demerits." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Still, I must inflict some punishment You will not be allowed to attend +the football game this afternoon, but must remain in your room." + +That was punishment indeed, for Dick felt that he would have a chance to +play. Still, like a good soldier, he did not murmur. He concealed Glen's +note in his hand, saluted the major and then, as chapel was over, he +marched to his classroom, with a heavy heart. + +"I wonder if that was part of a plot to get me into trouble," thought +Dick, as he recalled what he had overheard Dutton say. "They're trying +to force me to leave the academy. But I'll not go! I'll fight it out!" + +He felt very lonesome as he had to retire to his room that afternoon, +and heard the merry shouts of the football eleven, the substitutes, and +the other cadets leaving for the final battle on the gridiron with +Mooretown. + +"How I wish I could go!" thought Dick. "I'm punished for something I +didn't do. It isn't right. Still, perhaps Glen was so sick he didn't +know what he was doing." + +He had already sent Glen some more money, for he did not want to refuse +one of the few favors that had been asked of him since coming to the +academy. + +As he was moping in his room, Toots came along, whistling "Three Cheers +for the Red, White and Blue," and giving a succession of bugle calls. + +"What? Not at the game, Mister Hamilton?" asked the jolly janitor. + +"No; I'm a prisoner." + +"That's nothing. Many a time I got out of the guard house. There's no +one around now, and I won't look, nor squeal. You can easily slip out, +and go to the game." + +"No," said Dick, though the temptation was strong. "By the way, Toots, +did you ever call to mind about this picture?" and he showed him the one +of missing Bill Handlee, which was still on the mantle. + +"No," replied Toots, again striving hard to remember about it. "It's +clean gone from me, Mr. Hamilton. But, are you sure you don't want to +escape? I can find some work to do at the other side of the barracks, if +you want to go." + +"No. I'll stay." + +And stay Dick did, all that long afternoon. It was dusk when the players +and the other cadets came back, and there was an ominous silence about +their return. + +"It doesn't sound as if they'd won," thought Dick. "If they did they're +celebrating very quietly." + +Paul Drew came in a little later. + +"How about the game?" asked Dick eagerly. + +"We lost," said Paul. "We might have won, only Henderson, who had a +chance to score a winning touchdown, couldn't run fast enough with the +ball, and he was downed on the five-yard line, too late for another try +to cross the Mooretown goal. I wish you had played. You'd have won the +game for us." + +"Oh, I guess not." + +"Yes, you would. Captain Rutledge admitted as much." + +"Well, maybe I'll get a chance next time." + +"There won't be any next time this year. The game is over for the +season, and Mooretown did us two contests out of three. It's too bad. +The fellows are all cut up over it. Say, have you any idea who mussed up +your bureau? Was it Dutton?" + +"No, it wasn't Dutton," said Dick quietly, and that was all he could be +induced to say about it. + +Discipline, which had been somewhat relaxed during the football season, +was now in force again, and the cadets found they were kept very busy +with their studies and drills. Dick was standing well in his classes, +but he made no more progress in gaining the friendship of the students, +other than a few freshmen. + +Even Glen showed no disposition to make much of Dick. He did not repay +the money borrowed, on the plea that he was in debt quite heavily, and +had lost much on the football game. Still he had the cheek to ask Dick +for more, and when the young millionaire properly refused Glen called +him a "tight-wad," and sneered at him, making no pretense of retaining +his friendship. + +One night, following several spreads, to none of which was Dick invited, +he wrote a rather discouraged letter to his father, hinting that he +wished he could attend some other school. + +In due time there came an answer, part of which was as follows: + + "You know the terms were that you were to remain at least a full + term. Still, if you do not wish to, you have the choice of going + to your Uncle Ezra. He will send you to a boarding school of his + own selection. Let me know what you will do. I will not be able + to get home by Christmas, as I expected, and you had better + remain at the academy over the holidays. I know it will be + lonesome for you, but it can't be helped." + +"Go to a boarding school selected by Uncle Ezra," murmured Dick. "Never! +I'll stay here a full term, even if no one but the teachers speak to me. +I never could stand Uncle Ezra and Dankville. This is bad enough, but +there are some bright spots in it. The sun never shines where Uncle Ezra +is." + +Yet the time was coming when Uncle Ezra was to do Dick a great favor, +though he himself was not aware of it. + +So Dick sent word to his father that he would remain at Kentfield. Fall +merged into winter, and overcoats were the order of the day at all +out-door exercises. Much of the drilling and parading was omitted, and +more study and recitation was indulged in. What maneuvers on horseback +and afoot were held, took place mainly in the big riding hall or drill +room, and they were not as attractive as when held out of doors. + +"Well, are you going home for Christmas?" asked Paul, about a week +before the holiday vacation. + +"Guess not," replied Dick, somewhat gloomily. "Our house is shut up, and +I don't care about spending Christmas at a hotel in Hamilton Corners." + +"Come home with me." + +"No, thank you. I was thinking of visiting some of my chums at home. I +believe I'll do that. I'll be glad to see them again." + +Dick knew he would be welcomed at the homes of any of his friends, and +he planned to go to Hamilton Corners and surprise them. + +But alas for his hopes! When the last day of school came, and the other +cadets made hurried preparations to leave for home, poor Dick was taken +with a heavy cold. The surgeon forbade him leaving his room, as the +weather was cold and stormy, and our hero was forced to remain at +Kentfield, in charge of the housekeeper and the doctor, while the other +cadets joyfully departed to happy firesides. + +"Sorry to leave you, old chap," said Paul, sympathetically, "but my +folks wouldn't know what to do if I didn't come home over the holidays." + +"That's all right," said Dick, hoarsely, but as cheerfully as he could. +"I'll see you after New Year's. Have a good time." + +"I will. Hope you get better." + +It was a gloomy Christmas for the young millionaire, and, as a fever set +in with his cold, he couldn't even enjoy the good things which the kind +housekeeper, under orders from Colonel Masterly, provided for the +patient. + +The academy was a very lonely place indeed, Christmas day, for all the +officers and cadets had gone, leaving only the housekeeper, and some of +the janitors, including Toots, in charge. + +Dick received some tokens from abroad, sent by his father, and a cheery +letter, which he answered in the same strain. + +"But it isn't much like Christmas," thought Dick, as he sat up in bed. +Then a bright thought came to him. + +"Can't Toots have dinner up here with me?" he asked Mrs. Fitzpatrick. + +"Of course he can," she said. "Maybe it will cheer you up," and she sent +for the jolly janitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE MARKSMAN MEDAL + + +Toots' advance along the corridor leading to Dick's room was announced +by his rendering of the tune "The Star Spangled Banner," which he ended +with a spirited bugle call. + +"Did you send for me, Mr. Hamilton?" he asked as he came in. + +"I did, Toots," said Dick. "I thought maybe you would like to have +dinner with me here. I'm lonesome, and I suppose you are, too." + +"Bless your heart, not exactly lonesome, Mr. Hamilton, but I'm glad to +come just the same. You see I'm too busy to be lonesome. I've got lots +to do, cleaning up all the rooms against the cadets coming back in a +couple of weeks." + +"Then maybe you haven't time to spend an hour or so here." + +"Oh, I reckon I have. But it's agin the regulations for me to eat here. +I'm supposed to eat with the other servants." + +"We'll make our own regulations for the time being," said Dick. "Here +comes Mrs. Fitzpatrick with the grub. I hope you're hungry, for I'm not +particularly." + +"Well, I can eat a bit," admitted Toots. "I say, though, that is a +spread!" he exclaimed, as he saw the good things the housekeeper was +bringing into Dick's room, where she set them on a table. + +"Well, it's Christmas," observed Dick, "though I can't eat much myself. +However, it'll do me good to see you put it away." + +"And I can do that same," admitted Toots cheerfully. + +Dick, under the doctor's orders was allowed only a bit of the white meat +of the turkey, and none of the "stuffing," so he could not make a very +substantial meal, but Toots ate enough for three. + +"I don't suppose you got this sort of thing in the army," ventured Dick, +wishing to have his odd friend talk somewhat of his experiences, for he +had learned that Toots had once been janitor at a military post. + +"No, indeed," replied Toots. "We did get a little extra at holiday +times, but nothing like this." + +"How did you come to be at the military post?" asked Dick. + +"Blessed if I know. I was always a sort of a rover, and I suppose I +wandered out west. I'm going to join the army some time. I'm a good +shot, you know. Did you ever see me shoot?" + +"Yes," replied Dick, trying not to smile, as he thought of how far +Toots had come from hitting the target. + +"Yes, I'm a good shot," went on the janitor. "But I'm going to improve. +I'll practice on the range this winter at odd times. You're a pretty +good shot yourself, ain't you?" + +"Fair," admitted Dick, as he watched Toots put away the roast turkey and +the "fixings." + +"A-ker-choo!" suddenly sneezed Toots, pulling out his handkerchief. +"Aker-choo-choo! Guess I put too much pepper on my potatoes," he said. + +Something fell to the floor, as Toots pulled out his handkerchief. It +lay in sight of Dick, who was propped up in bed. + +"What's that?" he asked. "You dropped something." + +The man picked it up, and Dick saw that it was a marksman's bronze +medal. + +"Let me see that," he said, quickly, and the janitor passed it over. + +"Why this was given to some soldier, for good shooting," went on our +hero, as he tried to decipher the name on it. "Where did you get it, +Toots?" + +"Blessed if I know, Mr. Hamilton. I've had it a long time. It was given +to me by some friend, I expect. I found it the other day in my trunk. +I'd forgotten I had it. But if it's a marksman's badge, I'm going to +wear it. I'm a good shot." + +Dick looked more closely at it. Besides the name of some soldier the +badge contained the name of the command to which he had belonged, but +everything save the letters "mie, Wyo." were obliterated by dents and +scratches. + +A sudden thought came to Dick. It was in connection with Toot's +half-recognition of the picture of missing Bill Handlee. It was evident +that Toots knew something of the captain's son, but he could not +straighten out the kink in his memory, and possibly this marksman's +badge might be a clue. Dick hoped so, and he decided to try to learn +from what fort or command the medal had been given. + +"I wish you'd let me take this for a few days, Toots," he said. "I'll +take good care of it." + +"All right, Mr. Hamilton, but don't lose it. If it's what you say it is, +I'm going to wear it, to show I'm a good shot. Then I won't have to be +telling people all the while. They can see it for themselves." + +"Can't you recollect where you got it?" asked Dick again. + +Toots shook his head. + +"It's like--like the time you asked me about his picture," he said, +pointing to the photo on the mantle. "I get all sort of confused in my +head. Maybe I always had it. Maybe someone gave it to me when I was +janitor at the fort out west." + +"What fort was that?" + +"I've forgotten. It's a good while ago. But don't lose that medal, Mr. +Hamilton. I'm going to wear it." + +"Poor Toots," thought Dick. "All the medals in the world will never make +you a good shot." + +He put the badge carefully away, resolving to ask Major Webster, at the +first opportunity, from what military post it was likely to have come. + +Thanks to the jolly companionship of Toots, Christmas was not as gloomy +as Dick had feared it would be. The dinner over the janitor left Dick to +himself, and our hero fell into a refreshing sleep. When he awoke he +felt much better, and the doctor said he could be out in a couple of +days, if the weather moderated. + +The first of the year dawned; a fine bracing day, and, as there was no +biting wind, Dick was allowed to stroll about the campus a short time. +This brought the color to his cheeks, and completed the cure begun by +the surgeon's medicine. + +"Well, things will be lively a week from to-night," said Toots one day, +as he came in to make up Dick's room. + +"Why?" + +"The boys will be back then. Vacation will be over." + +"I'm glad of it," commented Dick, and then, with pain in his heart, he +wondered if the coming term would bring him more fellowship than had the +preceding one. + +Major Webster was among the first of the instructors to arrive, in +anticipation of the return of the students, and to him Dick showed the +medal. + +"Why, yes; that's one given out years ago, at Fort Laramie, Wyoming," he +said. "I can send it to a friend of mine for you, if you like. Possibly +they may be able to trace the illegible name from the fort records." + +"I wish you would," said Dick. "Maybe I can get a trace of Captain +Handlee's son for him." + +"I doubt it," replied the major, shaking his head. "I tried all the +sources of information I knew, and it was useless. Still you may have +better luck." + +The medal was sent off, but, fearing nothing would come of it, Dick did +not say anything to Captain Handlee about it, though he wrote to the +veteran in answer to a letter the old soldier sent him. + +The holiday vacation came to a close, and, one morning Dick awoke to a +realization that, on that day, the cadets would come pouring back. + +It was nearly noon when the first of them arrived. Among them was Paul +Drew. + +"Well, how are you, old chap?" he cried, rushing into Dick's room. + +"Pretty good. How about you?" + +"Oh, I had a dandy time, home. I almost hated to come back, but I wanted +to see you, and then I know we'll have some sport this winter. Say, +there are a lot of new fellows. We're not so fresh as we were. There +are others. There's going to be hazing to-night, I understand. Thank +fortune they won't bother me. I don't fancy cold water down my back on a +winter night." + +"Hazing, eh?" remarked Dick. And he wondered if his turn would come. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +DICK DOESN'T TELL + + +All the rest of that day cadets continued to arrive at Kentfield +Academy, and there were lively scenes on the snow-covered campus, in the +assembly auditoriums, students' rooms, and in the mess hall. + +Several new cadets stood about, looking rather miserable, Dick thought, +and he spoke to some of them, telling them where to report, and what to +do, for he appreciated what it meant to be a stranger among a lot of +lads who ignored new-comers, not because they were heartless so much as +that they were thoughtless. + +Dick rather hoped Dutton would not return, but that cadet was among the +first he encountered as he strolled over the white campus. + +Dutton nodded coolly, and Dick as coolly acknowledged the bow. Then +Dutton saw a freshman standing near the saluting cannon. It was one of +the unwritten rules of the school that none below the grade of +sophomores might stand near the cannon. + +"Here, fresh!" cried Dutton roughly, "stand away from that gun!" + +The lad, a small chap, did not seem to comprehend. + +Dick put in a word. + +"You can't stand near there until you're a second year," he told the +lad. "It's a school rule, that's all." + +"I say, Hamilton, I guess I can manage my own affairs," said Dutton, +angrily. "You mind your own business; will you?" + +"I guess I've got as much right to speak as you have," said Dick hotly. +"I was only telling him what to do." + +The freshman looked from one to the other. Quite a group had gathered by +this time, attracted by Dutton's loud voice. The new lad moved a short +distance away from the gun. + +"Don't you know enough to mind when you're spoken to?" demanded Dutton, +advancing toward him. "I'll teach you manners, you young cub! Why don't +you salute when an officer speaks to you? Now get back," and, with that +he gave the lad such a shove that he went over backward into a snow +bank, made by shoveling the white crystals away from the gun. + +"That's not right, Dutton!" exclaimed Dick. + +"You mind your own affairs, or I'll do the same to you, Hamilton," +retorted the bully. + +"You'd better try it," said Dick quietly. "If you want to fight with me, +you know what to do. Just lay a finger on me." + +He took a step toward his enemy, and stood waiting for him. But Dutton +knew better than to attack Dick. He had felt the weight of his fists +once, and he knew he had no chance in a fair fight. + +So he strode away, muttering to the lad whom he had knocked down: + +"You keep away from this gun, after this, fresh." + +Dick did not think it wise to say anything further on the side of the +mistreated one. Already he saw some unpleasant looks directed toward him +by Dutton's friends, and he realized that by interfering in what was +considered one of the rights of upper classmen, to assume a bullying +attitude toward those in the lower grades, he was not adding to his +popularity. I am glad to say that such characters as Dutton were in the +small majority at Kentfield, and that though some of his cronies +applauded his action in knocking the newcomer down, most of the lads +were not in sympathy with the bully. + +But there were so many things occurring, so many cadets arriving, some +of whom wanted to change their apartments, to get new roommates, or be +quartered in other sections of the barracks, that all was in seeming +confusion. + +Colonel Masterly and his aides, however, had matters well in hand, and +by night, when the cadets lined up for the march to mess, affairs were +in some sort of order. + +"Do you want to make a shift, Paul?" asked Dick, as they went to their +room early that evening. + +"A shift? What do you mean?" + +"Why some of your friends have changed over to the east barrack, I hear. +I thought maybe you'd want to go too?" + +"Do you want me to go?" + +"Indeed I don't!" and Dick spoke very earnestly. + +"All right. When I want to leave you I'll let you know," and Paul +slapped Dick on the back in a fashion that told what his feelings were +in the matter. + +A little later mysterious steps in the corridor, and subdued knockings +on nearby doors told Paul and Dick that something unusual was going on. + +"Hazing," said Paul. "We're immune. Let's take it in." + +"I don't like to haze fellows," said Dick. "It's all right when they're +your size, but all the chaps who came in lately are smaller than I am." + +"That won't make any difference to Dutton and his crowd. They'll haze +'em anyhow, and we might as well see the fun. A fellow who can't stand a +little hazing is no good." + +"That's so. Guess I'll go. I don't mind it if it isn't too rough. I +wouldn't mind being hazed myself. It would give me a chance to make a +rough house for Dutton and his cronies." + +"Come on then. Let's go to the gym. I heard that they're going to haze +a bunch of 'em there." + +"What about Major Rockford?" + +"Well, I guess he and the colonel know about it, but they won't +interfere unless it gets too strenuous." + +Dick and Paul found a large crowd of the older cadets already gathered +in the gymnasium. In one corner was huddled a rather frightened group of +freshmen, who were waiting their turn to be grilled. They had been +rounded up from their rooms by a committee appointed for that purpose. + +"Now, fellows," said Dutton, who, as usual, assumed the leadership, +"we'll work 'em off in bunches. Put two or three of 'em in a blanket and +toss 'em up for a starter." + +"Some of 'em may get hurt," objected Stiver. "We'd better take 'em one +at a time." + +"Aw, you're afraid! Besides, we haven't time. Here, Beeby, grab a couple +of 'em and pass 'em over." + +Captain Beeby of Company B grasped a cadet in either hand, and shoved +them toward Dutton The latter already had one, and the three lads were +pushed down into a large blanket which had been spread for that purpose. + +"Grab the corners and up with 'em!" called Dutton. "Toss 'em as high as +you can." + +"Suppose they fall out?" objected Lieutenant Jim Watkins. + +"It won't matter. There's a gym. mat under 'em." + +Up into the air went the unfortunate lads, clinging together in a sort +of bunch, and struggling to see which one was to be underneath in the +fall. Down they came into the blanket, but the impact was so heavy that +it was torn from the grasp of the cadets holding it, and the freshmen +landed on the mat with a thump and many squeals. + +"That's the way!" cried Dutton with a laugh. "Now, once more." + +"Let's take some others," proposed Beeby. + +"No, they haven't had enough." + +So, in spite of their struggles and protests, the lads were tossed +again. Then three more took their places. They, too, had a hard time, +one falling over the edge of the blanket and partly off the mat. But he +was game and never made a sound. + +"Now for the slide of death!" cried Dutton. + +"What's that?" asked several of his cronies. + +"I'll show you," he said. + +From the top of the gymnasium there hung a long rope, running over a +pulley. Dutton made a loop in one end, and then took hold of the other. + +"Tie a couple of 'em up in blankets," he ordered, and two of the +struggling cadets were made up into a rough bundle. Dutton then passed +several coils of the long rope about them. + +"Pull 'em up!" he ordered next, and willing hands aided him in hoisting +the lads toward the roof of the gymnasium. + +"You are now about to take the slide of death!" called Dutton, when the +freshmen were close against the pulley, and fully forty feet above the +floor. "We're going to let you come down on the run----" + +A scream from one of the lads in the blanket high up in the air +interrupted him. + +"You'll frighten him!" called Dick. + +"What's that to you? Mind your own affairs, and we'll run this," said +Dutton. "Or maybe you'll get your hazing, which we omitted last time." + +"Go ahead," said Dick. "But that's too risky." + +"Aw, cut it out, Hamilton," said Stiver. "We ain't going to hurt 'em." + +But this assurance could not be heard by the lads in the blanket, who +could not see. + +"Let her slide!" cried Dutton, and he and his chums released their grasp +on the rope, which was wound about a post. + +Down, on the run, came the unfortunate cadets, and from the cries they +uttered they must have imagined that they were about to be dashed to the +floor. Then Dick saw that several mats were right under them, in case of +accident. + +But it was not the intention of Dutton to run any risks. At first the +rope was paid out swiftly, and then it was gradually tightened against +the post, until the speed of the falling cadets was slackened, and they +came to a stop a few inches above the mats. + +"The next batch won't get off so lucky!" announced Dutton, as he +commanded that some more be wrapped up in the blanket. "We'll bump +them." + +This news was sufficient to cause a panic among the candidates still +remaining, but their protests were of no avail, and they came down with +considerable force on the mats, but no one was hurt. + +Then the water cure was administered to a number, the streams being +poured down their trouser legs, amid the laughter of the unfortunate +ones who were exempt. As the gymnasium was kept quite warm this ordeal +was not so bad as might be supposed. Still, it was not pleasant, but it +was part of the game. + +A particularly tall freshman was stretched out, or, rather suspended on +the flying rings, until he looked like some soaring eagle. He struggled, +but to no effect, and had to take his medicine. Others were blindfolded, +and made to fight with blown-up bladders, some were tied in pairs on +trapezes, and a number were made to do ridiculous stunts, to the more or +less enjoyment of the older cadets. + +"Well, I guess that's all," announced Dutton, a little before it was +time for taps to sound. "Unless we take Hamilton." + +"I'm willing," said Dick, with a grim smile. + +"He's too willing. He'd knock a lot of us around," whispered Stiver to +Dutton. + +"We'll postpone your initiation," remarked the Captain of Company A. +"Come on, fellows, there goes tattoo. Half an hour to lights out." + +Matters more quickly adjusted themselves following the opening of the +winter term, than they did at the beginning of the fall one, as there +were fewer new cadets. Lessons were quickly under way, together with a +few drills, out of doors when the weather permitted it, otherwise in the +big hall. + +The lake froze over, and Dick and the other lads had their fill of +skating, races being held every afternoon. In a number of these, +particularly the long distance ones, Dick came in a winner. + +Then there were snowball fights between the different companies, both on +foot and mounted on horses, with wooden shields. These were lively +affairs, and were enjoyed by all. + +Dick took his part in the winter sports, but, though he had increased +his friends by the addition of several freshmen, particularly Payson +Emery, the lad whose knocking down by Dutton he had resented, he made no +progress toward getting intimate with the upperclassmen. + +"But I've got half a term yet," thought Dick. + +With the advent of winter, affairs in the town of Kentfield, which was +about two miles from where the academy was located, became more lively. +There were theatrical and other entertainments, and the cadets, when +they could not get permission to attend these, used to run the guard. + +Usually there was little risk in this, as the cadet officers would not +report their friends, unless some member of the academy faculty happened +to hear a late-staying party come sneaking in, and then the young +officer on guard knew he had to make some sort of a report or be +punished himself. + +One night there was a large and rather fashionable dance given in town, +by some friends of Dutton's family. He was invited, together with some +of his cronies, but he was refused permission to go, as he had broken +several rules of late. + +"Well, I'm going anyhow," he announced to Stiver. "I guess I can run the +guard all right, and get back. There are some girls I want to meet." + +So Dutton and Stiver, and one or two others, went. + +Dick was on guard, as it happened, at the barracks where Dutton and the +others had their rooms. He was patrolling his post long after midnight, +expecting soon to be relieved, when he saw some shadowy forms stealing +along the hedge. + +"Halt!" he cried, bringing his rifle up. + +"Gee! It's Hamilton!" he heard some one say, and he recognized Stiver's +voice. + +"Then I guess it's all up with us," announced Dutton, straightening up, +and, with his chums, approaching Dick. + +The young millionaire said nothing. + +"Are you going to let us in? We haven't the countersign," said Dutton, +with an uneasy laugh. + +"You can go in," replied Dick, producing the key to the front door. + +"And I suppose you'll squeal in the morning," went on Dutton, as he and +his cronies entered. + +Dick didn't answer. + +"You should have known better than to risk going, Dutton," said Stiver. +"Of course he'll tell. He owes you too much not to." + +But Dick didn't tell, and Dutton's breach of discipline was not +discovered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FANCY DRESS BALL + + +"Well, Dick," remarked Paul Drew, one afternoon, as he and his roommate +came in from drill, "I see you're on the ball committee." + +"What ball, and what committee?" + +"The fancy dress ball, if I have to go into all the details. You know +the academy has one every year, and it's a swell affair, let me tell +you. Lights, gay music, pretty girls----" + +"Especially pretty girls," said Dick with a smile. "But what committee +am I on?" + +"Arrangements. Didn't you see the list posted in the mess hall? I don't +envy you. There will be lots to do." + +"Suppose you take pity on my ignorance, and go a little more into +details." + +Whereupon Paul did, describing the affair at length. It was to take +place, as usual, in February, and this time would be held on +Washington's birthday. + +"Maybe we won't have fun!" exclaimed Paul. "There'll be all sorts of +costumes, and the decorations will be immense. You'll have to help with +them." + +"Then I'd better get busy," declared Dick. "I must see who's chairman of +my committee, and report for work. What character are you going to +portray, Paul?" + +"I think I shall go as a Colonial officer. I always did like a powdered +wig." + +"Talcum powder, instead of gun powder," retorted Dick. "That's the +calibre of such tin soldiers as you." + +"Halt!" called Paul, as Dick prepared to run away. "As punishment I'll +not introduce you to a certain pretty girl I know, who is coming to the +dance." + +"Then I'll surrender and beg your pardon!" cried Dick. + +"What part will you play?" asked Paul. "You'd look swell dressed as an +Indian." + +"I think I'll take the part of a cannon swab, and then I'll not have to +bother about a suit. But more of that later. I'm going to see what I +have to do." + +Dick found out from the chairman of his committee that there was plenty +of work to prepare for the fête, and he did his share. One day he had to +go to a nearby town to purchase some of the decorations. + +It was two days before the fancy dress ball was to take place, and, +having made his purchases, Dick prepared to return to the Academy. As +he was about to board a trolley car, which ran near Kentfield, he heard +a voice calling: + +"How are you, Dick Hamilton?" + +He turned, to see a tall, well-built lad, of about his own age, who was +smiling at him in a friendly fashion. At first he did not recognize the +youth. + +"You don't know me, I see," went on the other. "I once had the pleasure +of interviewing you about a gold brick game----" + +"Why, Larry Dexter! How are you?" cried Dick, turning aside from the +car, and holding out his hand to the other. "I did not get a good look +at you, or I would have known you at once. What good wind blows you +here? Can't you stay and come over to our Academy? Where have you been? +How is the newspaper business?" + +"My, you'd do for a reporter yourself!" exclaimed Larry Dexter, with a +smile. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me though. Have you been swindled +lately? I'd like a good story. The one I came down here after didn't pan +out." + +Those of you who have read my books in the "Newspaper Series" will at +once recognize the lad who greeted Dick. He was Lawrence Dexter, a +reporter on the New York _Leader_, and, as related in the volume called +"Dick Hamilton's Fortune," he had met our hero when the latter had +narrowly escaped being swindled by a sharper in the metropolis. Larry, +as all his friends called him, had managed to get a good "story" from +the experience of Dick, who was on a visit to New York, with a number +of boy friends. The incident is mentioned in the third volume of the +Newspaper Series, "Larry Dexter's Great Search," where the young +reporter does some detective work. + +After Dick had given Larry the story of the attempted swindle, the young +reporter took the millionaire's son to the newspaper office, and showed +him something of how a great daily is published. The two lads had struck +up quite a friendship, and they had pleasant memories of each other. + +"What are you doing here?" asked Dick, as they walked up the street with +his newspaper acquaintance. + +"Oh, I came here on a peculiar robbery yarn, but it turned out to be an +ordinary affair, and not worth much of a story. I sent in the account by +wire, and, as a reward for my past valuable services to the paper, I +have been given a couple of days' leave of absence. You see, the +managing editor thinks quite highly of me," and Larry made a mock bow. + +"Then you're just in time," said Dick. + +"How so?" + +"Why, you can spend a few days with me. There's going to be a big masked +ball at the military academy where I attend, and perhaps you'd like to +see it." + +"I think I would, if the military authorities will admit a mere +civilian." + +"I'm sure they will. Come along back with me. I'll introduce you to +Colonel Masterly, and you can bunk in with Drew and me. Paul Drew is my +roommate--a fine fellow." + +"Oh, I'm afraid I'll put you out." + +"You couldn't do that, Larry. Come on. We'll have some fun." + +So Larry Dexter accompanied Dick back to the Academy, where he was +speedily made welcome by Colonel Masterly and members of the latter's +staff. + +"We would be very glad to have you remain and witness some evolutions of +the cadets, a day or so after the ball," invited the colonel. "They will +possibly interest you." + +"I should be glad to," replied Larry, "but I can't stay long enough. It +is very kind of you to invite me to the ball." + +Possibly Colonel Masterly had a purpose in seconding Dick's invitation +to this affair. The head of the military school was not averse to a +little free advertising for the Academy, and he thought perhaps Larry +might "write up" an account of the ball. Which, as a matter of fact, +Larry did, and a fine account it was. + +The reporter, though Dick invited him to don a costume, thought it +better not to, and, when the night of the gay affair came, Larry was in +sober black, forming a strange contrast to the lads in gay uniforms. The +dresses of the young ladies and the uniforms or costumes of the cadets, +with the hundreds of electric lights, the gay streamers and flags +festooned about the gymnasium, made the apartment a brilliant picture. +The Academy cadet band struck up a lively march, and the dancers paraded +around the room, two by two. Dick was not in this, as he had not yet +made the acquaintance of any of the girls, and after ascertaining that +Larry Dexter was in a position where he could see well, our hero retired +rather disconsolately to a secluded corner. He saw Paul Drew dancing +with a very pretty girl, and was just beginning to envy him, when his +roommate walked up, and introduced her to Dick. + +"Allow me to present my friend, Dick Hamilton," said Paul with a low +bow. "Mr. Hamilton--Miss Fordice. Dick is a better dancer than I am," +added Paul. + +It was plainly a hint to Dick, who at once took advantage of it, and +asked: + +"May I have the honor?" + +"If it pleases you, sir," replied the girl, with a mischievous smile, +and an old-fashioned courtesy. + +Dick led her into a two-step, and they were soon whirling about. But +Dick was not selfish, and he knew better than to keep Paul's partner +away from him for long, so, making some excuse, he led Miss Fordice back +to his roommate. + +"I'll introduce you to some other girls, after this dance, Hamilton," +Paul called back to him. + +Dick noticed that a tall, dark girl, who was standing near one of the +pillars, started at the sound of his name. A moment later she advanced +toward him, appeared to hesitate, and then came forward. + +"Excuse me," she said, "but are you Dick Hamilton?" + +"I am," said our hero, secretly delighted at the chance of talking to +the girl. + +"I thought I heard Mr. Drew call you that. You must think it dreadfully +forward of me to speak to you without an introduction----" + +"Nothing of the sort," said Dick promptly. + +"But I know friends of yours," went on the girl. "I am Miss Mabel +Hanford, and I know Birdy Lee, who lives in your town--I mean in the +place where you come from. She and I used to be great chums. We went to +school together." + +"Indeed," said Dick. "Birdy Lee and I are well acquainted." + +"So she said when I wrote to her, telling her I was coming to this ball. +She suggested that I might meet you, and when I heard your name +mentioned, I couldn't help speaking." + +"I am glad you did," said Dick, smiling. + +"Won't you come over and let me introduce you to my mother?" went on +Miss Hanford. "I feel as if I had known you a long time, for Birdy often +spoke of you in her letters to me." + +"I am glad she did," said Dick, gallantly. + +Mrs. Hanford greeted him kindly, evidently approving of her daughter's +action. + +"May I have the next dance?" asked Dick of the daughter. + +"Yes," said Miss Hanford, blushing a little. "But I hope you don't think +I spoke to you just to have you dance with me----" + +"Not at all," Dick hastened to say. + +"Because my card is nearly filled now," she went on. + +"I hope I may find room to put my name down in several places." + +"You may look. I think the next waltz is open." + +"It seems to be the only one," said Dick, ruefully. + +A little later he and the girl were sailing about the room to the +strains of a dreamy waltz. Dick was a fine dancer, Miss Hanford was his +equal, and the two made a pleasing appearance on the big ballroom floor. + +"Where were you?" asked Paul, as Dick came walking up to him after the +young millionaire had taken his partner back to her mother. "I was +looking for you to introduce a girl to you." + +"I managed to meet one myself." + +"Who?" + +"Miss Mabel Hanford." + +Paul whistled. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dick. "Isn't she all right?" + +"I should say so! Every fellow here is anxious to dance with her, but +Dutton seems to monopolize her. He seems to think he's engaged to her." + +"I don't believe he has any right to think that," spoke Dick warmly. +"She's a very nice girl. I wish I had met her earlier in the evening." +The band was playing another waltz. + +"So do lots of other fellows, I guess. But you're doing pretty well. +There goes Dutton with her now," continued Paul. + +Dick looked on, with envious eyes. Though Dutton and Miss Hanford were +waltzing about, she did not seem at ease. Her face was flushed, and +Dutton looked angry. When the dance came to an end he left her abruptly. + +Dick strolled over, casually, though his heart was beating faster than +usual. + +"You look warm," he said to the girl. + +"Yes, the room is very close," she replied, and she fanned her face with +a filmy lace handkerchief. + +"Perhaps you would like an ice." + +"Indeed I should." + +"I'll get you one," promised Dick. Then, waxing bold, he looked at her +program. + +"What are you looking for?" she asked with a laugh. "To see what sort of +ice I prefer? It's not there, but I'll take orange, if you can get one." + +"I was looking to see, if by any good fortune you had another vacant +place on your card." + +"I'll make one for you," she said with a smile, as she crossed out a +name. "Tantrell can look for another partner," she added. + +"Who may Tantrell be?" asked Dick, as he put his name in place of the +erased one. + +"My cousin. He brought me here, but he doesn't care much for dancing. I +know he'll be glad to have you relieve him." + +"Not half so glad as I am," retorted Dick quickly. "Now I'll get you the +ice." + +As he walked away he saw Dutton eyeing him angrily. + +"Probably he doesn't like me to be talking to her," thought Dick. + +There was quite a crush in the refreshment room, and, in spite of the +fact that he was a member of the arrangement committee, Dick had some +difficulty in getting an ice for Miss Hanford. As he struggled through +the crush of gay dancers with it he tripped, and, to save himself, +involuntarily threw his hands forward. The ice slipped from the plate, +and went splashing full against the back of a cadet dressed in an +elaborate Colonial uniform, with a white satin coat. The highly-colored +ice made a big, blotchy stain on the garment. + +The cadet whirled like a flash. It was Dutton. + +"Who did that?" he cried, as he saw a little puddle forming at his feet, +where the fast melting ice lay. + +"I did," answered Dick promptly. "It was an accident, Captain Dutton." + +"An accident?" There was a sneer in the other's tone. + +"An accident," retorted Dick, as he turned away. + +"Here! Where are you going?" cried Dutton. Several turned to stare at +him, for his manner toward Dick was most insulting. + +"I am going after another ice for Miss Hanford," said the young +millionaire quickly. + +"Wait a minute!" ordered Dutton, in the voice he used on parade. + +"Not now," drawled Dick. "Wait until I get another ice." + +"You wait, I say!" spluttered Dutton. + +"It's too hot," replied Dick, for he could not help but notice the +insulting tones. "I'll see you later. I'm sorry about the accident." + +"That was no accident," declared Dutton. "You did that on purpose, and +I--I want----" + +But Dick passed on. He saw Miss Hanford looking at him from among the +fringe of spectators, and, as he walked back to the refreshment room, he +noticed that Dutton had one of the mess-hall attendants wiping off as +much as possible of the stain from the white satin coat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE CHALLENGE + + +When Dick secured another ice, and took it to Miss Hanford, he found her +sitting in a quiet corner. She was rather pale, and did not seem to care +much for the ice which he had had such trouble in securing. + +"I'm not quite so warm now," she said, in explanation. "It was very kind +of you to get this for me. Do you--do you think Captain Dutton will be +very angry at you?" She seemed anxious. + +"I don't see why he should be," replied Dick. "It was an accident. I +could not help tripping." + +"After you went back the second time, he talked loudly about you having +done it on purpose, and he said he was going to demand satisfaction," +went on the girl. "Will he?" + +"Well, he can demand it, I suppose," said Dick slowly, "but I don't know +what I can do, except to say I'm sorry, and offer to pay for his coat." + +"Do you--do you think he will do anything--anything desperate?" asked +Miss Hanford, and she looked at Dick sharply. + +"Of course not," he replied. "But if we are going to dance, would you +mind if we began now? I think this is my two-step." + +She arose, and they went whirling about the room. But she was strangely +quiet. Dick's enjoyment of the dance was not a bit lessened by seeing +Dutton once more scowling at him from behind a draped pillar. The cadet +captain had doffed his gay coat, and wore one belonging to his uniform. +It formed a strange contrast to his otherwise Colonial costume. When the +dance was over Dick saw him beckoning, and, excusing himself from his +fair partner, he walked to where Dutton stood. + +"You wished to speak to me?" asked Dick. + +"Yes. Come outside." + +"What for?" + +"I wish to speak to you." + +"Won't it do in here?" + +"No!" snapped Dutton. + +Dick hesitated a moment, and, not wishing to quarrel with the captain in +the ballroom, he followed him out on a verandah. + +"What do you mean by insulting me, and making me ridiculous?" demanded +Dutton fiercely. + +"Insulting you?" repeated Dick. + +"That's what I said. You refused to come back when I called you. I'm +your superior officer." + +"Not on an occasion like this!" exclaimed Dick, and he drew himself up, +and looked Dutton straight in the eyes. "We are all equal here +to-night, Captain Dutton. I take no orders from you!" + +"We'll see about that. Why did you deliberately spill that ice over me? +You wanted to make me the laughing stock of everyone in the room!" + +"I did not. You have no right to say that. It was an accident, pure and +simple, and I have already apologized to you for it." + +"That is not enough. No one can insult me with impunity. I demand +satisfaction!" + +"I don't see what satisfaction I can give you--unless I buy you a new +coat. If that is what you what you want I will be happy to send you a +check for whatever amount----" + +"Hold on, Hamilton!" cried Dutton hoarsely. "This is going too far! +You're getting mighty fresh. I suppose because you are a millionaire you +think your money will do anything. But I tell you it won't. You can't +buy a gentleman with money, nor make one either. You come here with a +lot of millions behind you, and you think all you need to do is to +insult a gentleman, and then offer to pay for it. I tell you I'll not +stand it. You did that on purpose and----" + +"I have already told you that I did not." + +"And I say you did." + +There was no mistaking Dutton's meaning. Dick took a step forward. His +face was slightly pale. + +"That will do!" he said sternly. "Are you aware that you have +practically accused me of telling an untruth?" + +"That's what I meant to do," answered Dutton fiercely. "You're a cad--a +sneak--you threw that ice at me on purpose!" + +"If you say that again," exclaimed Dick, "I'll----" + +"Well, what will you do?" sneered Dutton. + +"I think I shall have to buy you two coats," spoke Dick calmly, for he +saw that Dutton was losing control of his temper, and the young +millionaire wanted to end the affair. + +"Don't you give me any of your fresh talk!" cried the captain. + +"I shall say what I please on an occasion like this," responded Dick. "I +have that privilege." + +"You have, eh? Then look out for yourself!" + +Dutton fairly leaped forward, and endeavored to strike Dick, but the +young millionaire was too quick for him, and stepped to one side, at the +same time involuntarily shooting out his fist, which caught the bully in +the side. Dutton stopped short. + +"I suppose you know what striking a gentleman means," he said slowly. + +"I do when I hit one. I haven't struck any gentleman to-night," said +Dick coolly. + +"You're adding insult to it. You've got to give me satisfaction for +this!" + +"I suppose so. You recall how it turned out last time." + +"This time will be different. You won't get off so easily." + +"Have your own way about it. I guess Paul Drew will be my second again, +but I should think you'd had enough of fighting." + +"Not with you! I'll never be satisfied until I've beaten you!" + +"Then you'll wait a long time." + +The two had talked in rather low but tense tones, and they were not +aware that they were directly beneath a window that had been opened to +let in the fresh air. Nor did they see the frightened face of a girl at +the casement. + +"Will after the ball suit you?" asked Dutton, as he turned aside. + +"Any time." + +Dick remained in the cool winter air a little longer, filling his lungs +with the oxygen, and when he returned to the ballroom he saw no sign of +Dutton. Nor did he see Miss Hanford, though he looked for her, as he had +another dance coming. + +Supper was served soon after this, and Dick had no sooner risen from the +table than Paul Drew signalled him to step one side. + +"Dutton has sent a challenge to you by Stiver," he said. + +"I expected it." + +"Yes, but what do you think he wants?" + +"What?" + +"To fight with swords." + +"Swords?" + +"Yes. Like the students do in German schools. Heads and body protected +so you can't either be more than scratched. I think it's silly, but of +course I said I'd tell you." + +"That's right. Swords, eh? Well, with football helmets on, and a +baseball chest protector, and heavy gloves, I guess it won't be +dangerous. But what's the use of fighting if some one doesn't get hurt? +I prefer my fists." + +"Dutton's idea seems to be for you both to be rigged out as we are when +we practice with broadswords on horses," said Paul, referring to one of +the drills taught at the school. + +"Well, I don't like to object," said Dick, "but it strikes me that as +the challenged party, I have the choice of weapons." + +"So you have. I forgot that. Then you don't want swords?" + +"I'll tell you later. You can inform Dutton I'll fight him when and +where he pleases, and that, as it's my right, I'll name the weapons when +we meet." + +"All right. Give him a good lesson, Dick." + +Paul went off to carry the message, and Dick, seeing Miss Hanford, went +up to her for the waltz. She gave him a place made vacant by the +inability of her partner to claim her, as he was on the supper +committee. Dick thought the girl seemed nervous and alarmed, but he did +not speak of it. + +The dance lasted until two o'clock in the morning, and then the guests +began leaving. Dick was somewhat surprised to see Miss Hanford in +apparently earnest conversation with grizzled Major Webster, but he +concluded that she was only telling him what a good time she had had. + +"Won't you call and see me sometime?" she asked Dick, as she bade him +good-night. + +"I will be pleased to," he said. + +"And don't--don't have any quarrel with Captain Dutton," she said, with +a little smile. + +"Er--oh, no, I--I--er--I won't," was all Dick could stammer. He resolved +that he would have no more quarrels, but it was too late to stop this +one. + +As the last of the guests were leaving, Paul sought out his roommate. + +"The clump of trees, down by the lagoon," he whispered. "In an hour. +What about weapons? Dutton wants to know." + +"He'll have to wait. I'll bring them with me. It's my privilege." + +A little later Dick went to his room, where he was busy for some time. +When he emerged he was accompanied by Paul. He wore his long cape +overcoat, and something bulged beneath it. + +"I guess he'll be surprised," commented Paul. + +The clump of trees, which Dutton had selected as the place for the duel, +was located on a little point of land that jutted out into the lake, +and near a small lagoon. It was some distance from the academy +buildings, and out of sight. The trees had kept most of the snow from +the ground, and it was a sheltered place. As there was a full moon there +was no need of other light. + +As Dick and Paul approached the place they saw several dark figures +moving about. + +"They're on time," whispered Paul. + +"Yes. I hope the Colonel doesn't hear of it." + +As they drew nearer, Stiver stepped forward and said: + +"Is your man ready, Drew?" + +"All ready." + +"Then we demand to know the weapons. My principal will object to +pistols, as they make too much noise." + +"My principal has the choice of weapons, as you know, and unless he is +allowed to exercise it we must decline to fight." + +Paul spoke as though it was very serious. + +"I know, but, hang it all, man, we can't fight with pistols. We'd have +the whole crowd down on us," objected Stiver, in some alarm. + +"I'll not fight with pistols," put in Dutton, which was a wrong thing +for a brave duelist to do. + +"Don't be worried," replied Dick coolly "I have not selected pistols. +But we are delaying too long. I am ready." + +"So are we," said Stiver, but it was observed that his voice was not +very steady. He was beginning to wish he had had nothing to do with +this. It seemed to be getting serious, and he, as well as Dutton, +wondered what Dick could be carrying under his overcoat. + +"Take your places," said Paul. + +"But the weapons," insisted Stiver. + +"My principal will hand one to your principal as soon as he takes his +place," went on Paul. "We seconds must retire to a safe distance." + +"They--they aren't rifles, are they?" asked Stiver, and this time his +voice was very shaky. + +"They are not rifles," said Dick, somewhat solemnly. "Come, I can't stay +here all night. I want to write an account of this to Miss Hanford." + +"Don't you dare!" cried Dutton. + +"Hush! Take your place," said his second. + +Dutton approached Dick, and held out his hand to receive his weapon. +Dick unfolded his coat and extended--not a sword or gun, but a big +bladder, fully blown up, and tied to a short stick. He kept a similar +one for himself. + +"These are my weapons," he said. + +"I won't fight with those! It's an insult! I demand satisfaction!" +fairly shouted Dutton. + +"Hush!" cried Stiver. "Someone is coming!" + +But it was too late. Several figures could be seen running over the snow +toward the duelists. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A WINTER MARCH + + +"Quick! Here comes Major Webster!" cried Stiver. There was no mistaking +the soldierly figure who was approaching. + +"And Colonel Masterly is with him!" added Paul. + +"Some one has squealed!" added Dutton, but he seemed rather glad than +otherwise that the duel had been interrupted. + +"Cut for it!" said Dick. "Across the ice, and into the grove! We can get +in the back way, and they won't know who it was out here." + +"Say, if they were tipped off that something like this was going to take +place, they know who was in it," said Paul, as he and Dick headed across +the ice which covered the inlet at one side of the wooded point. + +Dick thought of the conversation he had seen taking place between Miss +Hanford and the major, and a light came to him. + +"She must have overheard the talk about swords, and she got frightened," +he said to himself. "That's how the major knew." + +On came the dark figures over the snow, but the cadets had a good start. +Across the ice they went, and were soon lost in the depths of a little +grove of trees. From there they managed to gain the barracks. + +"Queer they didn't call after us," said Dick, as he and Paul were safe +in their room. + +"That is sort of funny. Say, where's the other bladder?" + +"Dutton must have it." + +But Dutton didn't have it. He had dropped it as he ran, and Major +Webster picked it up a little later on the dueling ground. The major +held it out to Colonel Masterly. + +"What's this?" asked the colonel. + +"One of their weapons, I fancy." + +"Then it was all a joke. What Miss Hanford told you about the duel, she +must have dreamed." + +"No, she says she overheard Dutton challenge Hamilton, and later on, +some talk between Hamilton and Drew. She was very much frightened, and +came and told me. Of course I know the cadets will fight once in a +while. They wouldn't be any good if they didn't, and, though you and I +know that it's against the rules, it's no more than you and I used to +do. But when she spoke of swords I thought it time to take a hand." + +"But they didn't have swords." + +"Evidently not. Hamilton reserved to himself the choice of weapons, as +the challenged party, she said, and it seems that he selected +bladders." + +"But why?" + +"I fancy he wanted to teach Dutton a lesson. There is bad blood between +them, I have heard in roundabout ways, and once Hamilton administered a +good drubbing to Dutton." + +"Hum! Well, I don't see that there is anything for us to do." + +"No, only go to bed. I'm sleepy. The time was when I could stay up at a +ball all night, and attend a duel at sunrise, but those days are past. I +think we'd better say nothing about this." + +"Just as you like, major. You are in charge of the cadets. But perhaps +we had better let Miss Hanford know that there was no bloody conflict." + +"I will. Poor little girl! She was quite worried." + +So that was how the duel between Dick and Dutton turned out. It did not +add to the good feeling between the two cadets. Dick would have been +glad to be on friendly terms, but Dutton considered that he had been +made the butt of a joke, and he hated Dick more than ever. He threatened +to get even until Dick sent word to him that if he liked he would meet +him with bare fists as weapons, and have the matter out. Dutton knew +better than to agree to this. + +Of course Larry Dexter heard about the duel, but at Dick's request the +young reporter sent no account of it to his paper, which described the +fancy dress ball at some length. Larry remained Dick's guest three +days, and greatly enjoyed his visit to the academy. + +In order to give the cadets a taste of as many varieties of military +life as possible, and to show them that they could not always expect +summer weather and sunny skies, Major Webster decided to have a winter +practice march. + +This was announced for a date late in January, and some novel features +were to be incorporated. The cadets were to be divided into several +small squads, and were to set off at different times from the academy, +to reach a certain point ten miles distant, report there for dinner, and +march back. Various routes were selected, with officers stationed at +checking points, and the squad which made the best time was to receive a +trophy. + +As the ground was quite thickly covered with snow, and as certain +landmarks, plainly visible in summer, were now obliterated, the march +would prove no easy one. It was to be made on horses, and only the best +riders were allowed to participate. + +"That's the kind of a stunt I like," said Dick, the morning of the +proposed winter march. "We'll have some fun to-day, Paul, old boy." + +"Yes, if we don't get caught in a blizzard. It looks like snow." + +"So much the better. That will make it all the harder. I wish I was +going to lead a squad." + +"I don't. Who is in charge of ours?" + +"Allen Rutledge. He's a good rider. Well, it's almost time to start. +Whew! But it's cold!" + +Dick's squad, in charge of Captain Rutledge of the football team, was +the third to start off. They set their horses into a gentle canter, as +they knew they would need all the strength of the animals ere the day +was over. + +At first it was pleasant enough, moving along over the snow, but, as it +grew colder, it was not quite so much fun. Still the lads did not +complain, as they knew the training was good for them. + +When they had gone about five miles some flakes of snow sifted lazily +down from the gray, leaden clouds overhead. + +"I guess we're going to be in for it before we get back," observed +Captain Rutledge. "Close up the ranks, behind there. Don't straggle." + +They kept to their route, were checked at the proper point by an +officer, and then started for the turning station. This was a hotel in a +small town ten miles from the academy, and glad enough the cadets were +to reach it, and find a hot dinner waiting for them. + +An hour was allowed for luncheon, and the feeding of the horses, and +then the start back was made. This was the most difficult part of the +march, as the way led through an uninhabited part of the country, at the +edge of the mountain range, and the roads were seldom traveled, and not +of the best. + +About three miles from where they had dinner was another checking +station. Dick's squad reached this in the midst of quite a snowstorm. + +"I guess it will only be a squall," observed Rutledge, as he went in the +house, where the checking officer was stationed, to report. + +"A squall?" observed Dick. "If this doesn't keep up until we get back, +and for some time after, I'm a Dutchman." + +Rutledge came out of the house, followed by the checking officer, +Captain Nelton. Both looked worried. + +"We'll keep watch for them," said Rutledge as he prepared to vault into +the saddle. + +"Yes, I wish you would," said Captain Nelton. "They may have straggled +behind, and lost the road. Have them join your squad if you see them." + +"What's up?" asked Dick, for an air of familiar fellowship was permitted +on the practice marches. + +"Dutton and Stiver didn't report in with their squad, which is just +ahead of ours," replied Rutledge. "We're to look out for them." + +"Most likely they sneaked off to have a good time somewhere," said Dick +in a low voice to Paul. + +The pace was slower now, for the snow was deeper, and the horses were +beginning to feel the strain of the long march. The flakes were falling +thicker and faster, and from the rear the leader of the squad could not +be seen. + +"Come, boys, close ranks!" called Rutledge several times. "If you stray +off now you'll be in danger. Keep together." + +They tried to, but some horses went better than others, and it was +impossible for the stragglers to keep up with the leaders at all times. +Rutledge saw this and called to Dick: + +"Here, Hamilton, you and Drew are good riders. You take the rear, and +keep it as close to me as you can. This storm is getting fierce." + +It was almost a blizzard now, with the wind sobbing and moaning in the +trees, and the white flakes cutting into one's face with stinging force. + +"Take the next turn to the right," called Rutledge to Dick and Paul, as +they wheeled their horses and started for the rear. + +They heard faintly through the noise of the storm, and answered back. +They succeeded for a time in keeping the end riders up toward the front, +urging their somewhat jaded horses to a trot. Then, all at once, they +found themselves out of sight of the tails of the end animals. + +"Hit is up a little," suggested Dick to Paul. "They're leaving us." + +They spurred their horses ahead, but they never noticed as they bent +their heads to avoid the blast that they kept straight on, instead of +taking the turn to the right, where the road divided. So fast was the +snow falling, drifting as it did so, that the tracks of the horses just +ahead of them were almost blotted out. + +"They must be galloping," said Dick. "Come on, Paul." + +They urged their wearied horses to a gallop, expecting soon to come +within sight of the rear of the squad. But, as they went on and on, the +road became more impassable. The snow was at least two feet deep now, +and more was falling every minute. + +"I can't see anything of them," said Paul, peering ahead into the white +mist. + +"Me either. Let's give a yell." + +They called, but the echo was their only reply. + +"Can you see any tracks?" asked Dick, leaning over in the saddle, and +scanning the ground. + +"No. Can you?" + +"Not a one." + +The lads straightened up, and looked at each other. Their steeds +whinnied helplessly, complaining thus of the cold. + +"Dick," said Paul, "I believe we've taken the wrong turn." + +"I didn't see any turn to take. We've come a straight road." + +"I don't believe so. Rutledge said something about turning to the +right." + +"I know he did, but I didn't see any turn." + +"Neither did I, but we're certainly on the wrong road now. This hasn't +been traveled this winter." + +"Looks that way. Say, we've come up the side of the mountain. I wondered +what made the horses so blown." + +It needed but a glance to show that this was so. Unconsciously they had +taken a path leading up the mountain, and they were now on what was +evidently a wood-road, in the midst of a forest. + +As they stood there, vainly starting about, there came a fiercer burst +of the storm, and on the wings of a stinging, cold wind there came such +a cloud of snow flakes that they could not see ten feet ahead of them. + +"We're caught in a blizzard!" shouted Dick. "We must keep close +together, Paul." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE RESCUE OF DUTTON + + +Through the blinding snow the two cadets tried to peer, in order to see +which way they should take to get back to the academy. Neither of them +was very familiar with the country, though they had been over part of it +in drills and practice marches in the fall. But things wore a different +aspect now. + +"Which way had we better go?" asked Paul, after a pause. He had to shout +to be heard above the noise of the gale. + +"I guess the best plan is to keep down the mountain," replied Dick. +"We'll strike a road sooner or later leading to Kentfield." + +The horses did not like to face the blast, but the young cadets forced +them about, and the unwilling steeds started down the slope. + +Protected though they were by their heavy winter clothing and overcoats, +the two lads felt the cold bitterly. But they were too plucky to give +up. The horses could not be urged to more than a walk, and, indeed, +faster pace was not safe, as they did not know what the snow might +conceal. + +As they went down the mountain side they kept a watch for the sight of +any objects that would indicate a road, or tell them their whereabouts. +But all they could see was an expanse of snow, a whirling, white cloud +of flakes, with here and there the black trunks of trees standing up +like grim sentinels. + +"We might as well be a thousand miles from nowhere," called Dick. + +"That's right," answered his companion. "I wonder if we're going +straight?" + +"Isn't much choice. We'll be on level ground in a little while, anyhow. +Then the going will be better." + +They emerged from the thickly wooded side of the big hill, and came upon +a plain, which did not look familiar. It was open country, however, and +this was better than being in the woods, though the cold wind had more +of a sweep over it. + +"Now, which way?" asked Paul. "I've lost all sense of direction." + +"And I'm not much better. Suppose we let the horses go as they please? +Maybe they'll have sense enough to head toward their stables." + +"Good idea, we'll do it." + +They let the reins hang loose on the necks of the animals. The steeds +hesitated for a moment, sniffed the air, and then started off to the +left. + +"I hope that's right, but it doesn't seem so," said Dick ruefully. +"However, anything's better than standing still in this storm." + +There was no let-up to the blizzard, which fairly enveloped the lads in +its icy grasp. + +They had traveled for perhaps a mile when Dick, who was a little in the +lead, suddenly cried out: + +"Hi, Paul! Here's a house, anyhow!" + +"A house?" + +"Yes. Straight ahead." + +Paul looked through the whirling clouds of snow, and saw something dark +looming up about thirty yards away. + +"Maybe it's a barn," he said. + +"Even that's all right; but where there's a barn there's most likely to +be a house. I guess we're all right now." + +Their horses stumbled on, over the uneven ground, and soon another big +object loomed up through the snow. + +"There's the house!" cried Dick. "Come on." + +They managed to urge their horses to a trot, and, a few moments later, +were knocking at the door of a large, white farmhouse. A pretty girl who +opened it exclaimed: + +"Come right in. I expect you're most frozen, aren't you?" + +"Pretty nearly," replied Dick, as he entered with Paul. + +They were soon near a warm fire, partaking of hot tea, though they +declined the offer of some hard cider, an invitation slyly given by the +farmer, who introduced himself as Enos Weatherby. His place was about +eight miles from Kentfield, and, in the course of his talk, Dick and +Paul learned that Captain Dutton and Lieutenant Stiver had been at the +house a little while before, and had not refused the cider. + +This was news to Dick, but he at once saw how matters stood. Dutton and +his companion, he learned, knew the two daughters of the farmer, and had +called on them during the practice march. It was on this account that +they had not reported at the checking point. Probably they thought they +could make a circuit, visit their friends, and join their squad in time +to report at the academy, trusting to luck to explain their temporary +absence. + +They had been gone about an hour, Mr. Weatherby said, and he showed Dick +and Paul the road they had taken, a short cut to the school. + +"Ride down this road," explained the farmer, "cut across my big meadow, +and you will come to the main highway. Keep along that until you come to +the first cross road, turn to the left and you'll get to the road that +leads around the lake. Then it's only a mile to the school. But you're +welcome to stay all night. The storm is getting worse." + +"Thank you, very much," replied Dick, "but we couldn't stay. Colonel +Masterly would be worried about us. We'll take the short cut home. I +guess they'll call the march a dead heat as far as picking a winner is +concerned." + +The girls added their entreaties to those of their father and Mrs. +Weatherby, who had been busy at household duties, entered the dining +room, to urge the cadets to remain, as she had plenty of room. But Dick +and Paul would not. + +There was obvious disappointment in the good-byes of the two girls, but +Dick and Paul cared little for that, though the two Miss Weatherbys were +rather pretty, even if they were a bit silly. + +The two wayfarers thanked their hosts, and, feeling much refreshed and +warmed, while the horses, too, had improved by the halt, they set off +again. + +The snow was not coming down so fast, but it was much colder, and they +hastened on, anxious to get to the academy. + +"Queer about Dutton, wasn't it?" asked Dick. + +"It sure was," agreed Paul. "He'll get into trouble if he doesn't look +out." + +"Somehow he always seems to escape, but I s'pose he'll do it once too +often. This must be where we turn." + +"I guess so. Go ahead." + +They turned into the big meadow, crossed it, and came out into a road +that showed some signs of travel. It was deserted now, however, as the +winter night was settling down. + +"A few more miles, and then for a good, hot supper," commented Dick +"Don't talk about it," said Paul. "It makes me hungry." + +Suddenly his horse shied, and the cadet, looking to see what caused it, +beheld a dark object, half buried in the snow, at the side of the road. + +"What's that?" called Dick, who had dropped a little to the rear. + +"I don't know. Better take a look." + +Dick forced his rather unwilling steed up to the object. The next moment +he uttered a cry. + +"It's a man!" he exclaimed. + +He leaped off his horse, and bent closely to the black, huddled mass. +Then he reached over and took hold of it. + +"Here, Paul!" cried Dick. "Help me!" + +"What is it?" + +"It's Dutton, and he's unconscious and half frozen. Must have fallen +from his horse and struck on his head! We must get him to shelter in a +hurry." + +Paul was quickly at his companion's side. He helped Dick lift the +unconscious youth from the pile of snow. Dutton seemed to be trying to +say something, but though his lips moved no sound came from them. + +"What's the matter? Are you hurt?" asked Dick. "How did it happen?" + +Dutton murmured something, but the words "horse" and "Stiver" were all +they could distinguish. + +"Maybe he's only fainted," suggested Paul. "Rub some snow on his face." + +Dick tried this, but it was evident that Dutton was semi-conscious from +the effects of some injury. + +"What shall we do?" asked Paul, who was not used to acting in +emergencies. + +"We've got to get him to the academy as soon as possible." + +"Maybe we had better take him back to the Weatherbys. That's nearer." + +"Yes, but they wouldn't know how to take care of him. He needs a doctor. +No, what we've got to do is to get him on my horse. He's stronger than +yours, and can carry double. Then you ride on ahead and tell them to +send a carriage." + +Paul realized that this was the best thing to do, and the two, after +some difficulty, hoisted Dutton to the back of Dick's steed. Then Dick +mounted behind him, and, supporting in his arms the unconscious cadet, +he set off through the snow. Paul galloped on ahead, urging his horse to +a sharp gait, and made good time in reaching the academy. + +There he found considerable confusion, and no little alarm, not only +over the absence of Dutton, but over that of Dick and himself. + +Paul quickly explained how he and his chum had become lost, and told how +they had found Dutton. A carriage was at once sent out, and soon the +injured lad was in the hospital, where an examination showed that he +was not badly hurt, having merely received a severe blow on the head. + +"We feared something had happened when Dutton's horse came in without +him," said Colonel Masterly. "Lieutenant Stiver said that he and Dutton +became separated, after losing their way, and that he could not find +him. So he came here to get help, and arrived just as Dutton's horse +galloped in." + +Dick told the colonel how he had found the young captain, but did not +think it necessary to mention about the farmhouse and the two girls. + +"I should have stopped the march when I saw that the weather was likely +to be bad," the colonel said. "However, I am glad it is no worse." + +Because of the incidents of the march it was called off, as far as a +contest was concerned, and so no inquiry was made as to why Dutton and +Stiver had failed to report at the checking point. + +"I tell you what I think happened," said Paul, when he and Dick were +discussing it in their room that night. + +"Well, what?" + +"I think Dutton and Stiver had more hard cider than was good for them. +They must have quarreled, and Stiver left Dutton, who later fell from +his horse. There was no excuse for them losing each other after they +left Weatherby's house, and Dutton is too good a horseman to fall off, +unless he couldn't take care of himself." + +"Maybe you're right. I'm glad we found him, though." + +"So am I, though I don't believe he'll treat you any better for saving +his life." + +"Oh, I don't know as I did that. Some one would have found him before he +froze to death," said Dick. + +Paul's idea of what had taken place between Dutton and Stiver seemed +borne out by the coldness that sprang up between the two former cronies, +as soon as Dutton could leave the hospital. He hardly spoke to the +lieutenant of his company. + +Nor was he specially cordial to our hero. In a stiff sort of fashion he +thanked him for what he had done, but there was no semblance of real +friendship, and Dutton's crowd did not take up with Dick, as they might, +reasonably, have been expected to. + +With the approach of spring the baseball fever began to stir in the +veins of the cadets, and several nines were formed. Dick managed to get +on a freshman team, much to his delight, for he was an excellent +pitcher. Nor did the members of the nine regret their choice, for Dick +pulled them out of several close games by his excellent twirling, which +offset the errors made by his companions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OFF TO CAMP + + +"Hurray!" yelled Paul Drew one afternoon, as he fairly jumped into the +room which he and Dick shared. + +"What's the matter?" asked his chum. + +"Matter? Why, lots. You've passed, and so have I. We're going to be +corporals from now on. That's for making good records in the spring +examinations. Dutton and Hale are to be majors, I heard. I'm glad for +Hale's sake, but it's going to be bad for us to have Dutton given so +much authority." + +"Why?" + +"Because he'll lord it over us worse than ever. Well, it can't be +helped. And there's more good news. Get up and have a war dance, you old +buzzard!" + +"Hold on!" cried Dick protestingly, as Paul yanked him from the easy +chair. "What's up?" + +"Lots. We're going to camp!" + +"Camp?" + +"Yes; it's just been announced. We're to go and spend one week under +canvas; with no lessons to worry about, and lots of chance to skylark +and have fun." + +"I guess there'll be instructions in tactics, and recitations, won't +there?" asked Dick. "It won't be all pie." + +"Oh, of course we'll have to do some studying, I think." + +"Of course. We'll have to tell what we'd do if, leading a small force of +men, we happened to meet with an overwhelming army in a mountain pass, +hemmed in on every side." + +"I'd surrender," said Paul, with a laugh. + +"I wouldn't; I'd fight," said Dick grimly, and he squared his jaw after +the manner of Grit, his bulldog. + +"Oh, well, we'll have lots of sport," went on Paul. "Of course it's for +military instruction we're going, but I think we can manage to slip in a +good time now and again." + +"Sure," replied Dick, his eyes brightening. "When do we go?" + +"Day after to-morrow. Orders are to get our kits in shape. We're to go +in light marching order. The tents and grub will be carried in a wagon." + +"That's good. I hate to pack my house, and all I want to eat, on my +back." + +The two chums fell to discussing the pleasant prospects ahead of them, +some of the freshman cadets in neighboring rooms dropping in +occasionally to get points on what to do and how to do it. + +They were interrupted by a knock on Dick's door, and for a moment the +buzz of voices ceased, as if the owners had been caught in some breach +of the rules. Then, as the whistled strains of "In the Prison Cell I +Sit," came to them, Dick exclaimed: + +"It's Toots. Come on in, you old Horse Marine." + +Toots entered, whistling a reveille with great precision. + +"Major Webster wants to see you, Mr. Hamilton," he said, saluting. + +"Me?" repeated Dick. + +"Yes. In his office." + +"You're in for a wigging," consoled Paul. + +"Court martial for yours," added 'Gene Graham. + +"No, I'm going to be promoted to take entire command of the camp," said +Dick with a laugh as he went out. He had come nearer the truth than he +thought in his jesting words. He saluted the major, who returned it, and +bade him be seated. + +"Ah, Hamilton, by the way, before I forget it, let me say that I haven't +heard anything about that marksman's medal yet," said Major Webster, +referring to the one that had fallen from the pocket of Toots. "When I +hear anything I'll let you know. But that wasn't why I sent for you." + +Dick thought it couldn't be anything serious, or the major wouldn't +have begun in this fashion, so he waited. + +"I have been looking up your record, Hamilton," went on the old soldier, +"and I am very much pleased with it. So much so, in fact, that I am +going to promote you, temporarily, and give you a command." + +Dick's heart began to beat rapidly. + +"During this encampment," went on the major, "we wish the new cadets to +get a good idea of the value of military training, and what this academy +stands for. I think that by this plan of mine they will gain more +knowledge in a week than they otherwise would in two months. Now I am +going to take all the cadets who recently arrived and form them into two +companies. One you will have entire charge of, as captain. The other I +will select a captain for. Yours will be known as Number One Company, to +distinguish it from the regular lettered commands I want you to give the +freshmen as good an idea as you can of what a military life here means." + +"What am I to do?" asked Dick. + +"Take entire charge of them. See that they are shown everything, from +how to load a gun, vault upon a horse, put up a tent, build a camp fire, +mount guard and so on. At the end of the week's camp we are going to +have a sham battle." + +"A sham battle?" + +"Yes, off in the woods. The cadets will be divided into two armies, and +we will play the war game just as the regulars and volunteers do. In a +sense the lads in your care will be volunteers, and perhaps they will do +better than the regular cadets. That part is up to you." + +Dick resolved that if he could bring it about his company would gain +some honors. + +"Your command will be part of the fighting force in the sham battle," +went on the major, "and it will depend on yourself how they behave. The +rules of the sham battle will be announced later, but I want you to get +ready for your shoulder straps," and he smiled at our hero. + +"Well," thought Dick, as he left the major a little later, "I got to a +captain's stripes before I knew it--but it won't last very long," he +added, somewhat regretfully. + +Dick thought ruefully that, even with this temporary promotion, he was +hardly fulfilling the conditions of his mother's will. He was certainly +not popular with the great body of students, and he began worrying lest +he be sent to his Uncle Ezra. As he walked back to his room, he recalled +a letter he had received from his father that day, stating that Mr. +Hamilton would remain abroad longer than he had originally planned. + +"It doesn't look as if I was going to make good," thought Dick, +gloomily, as he entered his apartment. + +"What was it?" asked his chums eagerly, as he came back. + +Dick told them. + +"A sham battle!" cried Paul. "That's the stuff! Hold me down, somebody, +or I'll stand on my head, and if I do I'll split my new uniform. Hold +me, somebody, do." + +"I will," volunteered 'Gene Graham, and he obligingly tilted Paul up, so +that he turned a neat summersault over his bed. + +"I guess that'll hold you for a few moments," observed Stanley Booker. +"Now tell us more about it, Dick." + +Which the young millionaire proceeded to do. + +Never was there such excitement in Kentfield academy as when it became +known that, in addition to the camp there was to be a sham battle. On +every side was heard talk of ambuscades, skirmishing parties, rear +attacks, retrograde movements, waiting for reinforcements, deploys and +bases of supplies. + +Dutton sneered openly when he heard of Dick's promotion. + +"I suppose he thinks he'll do wonders with those freshies," he said. +"Maybe he hopes he'll win the battle by coming up with them as +reinforcements." + +"Well a small force has turned the tide more than once, Dutton," Allen +Rutledge reminded him. + +"I don't think Hamilton can do it, though," was the reply of the bully. + +The start for camp was made on a bright, sunny morning, and the line of +cadets, in field uniforms, with their guns over their shoulders, the sun +glinting from the polished barrels, made an inspiring picture. + +"Isn't this glorious?" said Dick to Paul, near whom he was marching. + +"Silence in the ranks!" snapped Major Dutton, though there was no need +for the command. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE SHAM BATTLE + + +Forward marched the cadets, keeping step to the lively air of the fifes, +and the accompanying rattle and boom of the drums. But regular formation +and step were not maintained for long, only until the young soldiers +were on the main road, when they were allowed to break step, and proceed +as they pleased, the companies, however, keeping together. + +It was an all day's tramp to camp, and they stopped midway on the road +for lunch, the baggage wagons having been halted while the regular cooks +of the academy, who had been taken along, prepared the meal. + +"Wait until we get the tents up," said Dick, "then we'll have some fun. +Nothing like life under canvas in the summer." + +"Right, Captain Dick," replied Paul, trying to talk with part of a +chicken sandwich in his mouth. Dick had not yet assumed his new command, +but would as soon as camp was pitched. + +They got to the place about five o'clock, and found that the tents had +been unloaded from the wagons, and that the cooks had their white +shelter already set up, and were preparing supper. + +"Now, boys," said Major Webster, "I want to see how soldierly you can do +things. You have had considerable practice in putting up tents, at least +you older cadets have; now let's see how you have profited by your +instruction." + +In a short time the scene was one of great activity. Cadets were +straightening out folds of canvas, laying out ropes, driving in tent +pegs and, in less than half an hour, where there had been a green field, +it was now dotted with spotless white peaked-roof houses of canvas. + +"Very well done," complimented Colonel Masterly, who came out of the +headquarters tent to look at the sight. "Very fine, indeed, major." + +"Yes, I think they did well." + +The next work was to dig a trench about each tent so that rain water +could not settle about it, and this was quickly accomplished. This done +the camp had a fine appearance, the tents being arranged in rows or +company "streets." + +By this time supper was announced, and the way the cadets put away the +good things which the cooks had provided made those servants open their +eyes. They were used to hungry boys eating, but they almost forgot to +allow for the extra appetites created by work in the open air. It was +some time since a general camp had been held at the academy. + +After guard mount, sentinels were posted and orders given that no cadet +would be allowed to leave camp. In spite of this some of Dutton's crowd, +including himself, ran the guard that night and were nearly caught. +However, this was to be expected, and it was considered no great crime. + +The next day Dick was given charge of forty freshmen, and he took great +delight in starting their instruction. There were drills to attend, +lessons in tactics to learn, the best method to observe on a march, and +illustrations given in artillery firing, for several field pieces had +been brought along to use in the sham battle. + +Cavalry exercises occupied a part of every day, and though the cadets +had plenty of leisure they found that their time was pretty fully +occupied, for Colonel Masterly and his staff wanted practical benefit to +be derived from the camp life. Target practice in the open proved to +many a cadet who had done well on the ranges that he had plenty yet to +learn. + +"I wish they'd hurry up and have that sham battle," remarked Paul to +Dick one night. "Heard anything about it?" + +"It takes place to-morrow," replied our hero. "Blank ammunition will be +served out the first thing in the morning, and final instructions given. +My company is to form part of the attacking party." + +"That's good. I wonder where my bunch will be stationed? I wish I was an +officer." + +"It will come in time. You're to be on the defense, I believe. So is the +company of freshmen that Foraker has charge of." + +"Well, it won't make much difference. I'll not fire on you, if I can +help it." + +"That's good." + +The plan for the sham battle was announced the next morning, after each +cadet had been supplied with many rounds of blank cartridges. The young +soldiers were divided into two equal commands. Somewhat to Dick's +disgust Major Dutton was given charge of the attacking party, of which +the millionaire's son and his young lads formed a part. Harry Hale, the +football coach, who had also been elected a major, was to be on the +defensive. The latter army was to occupy a wooded hill, back of the +camp. At the foot of it ran a small stream, and to get at the defenders +of the mound the attacking party would have to build a temporary bridge, +which work was included in the instruction imparted at the academy. + +To cover this operation, the artillery of the attacking party would be +brought up, but, at the same time, the field pieces of the defenders +might pour a devastating fire on the bridge builders from above. + +The holders of the hill were to be stationed at the rear limits of it, +while the attackers were to start their march about two miles from the +foot of the slope. It was figured out that if the defenders could bring +up their artillery, and other forces, and attack the enemy before a +bridge could be built across the stream, the holders of the hill would +win the battle. On the other hand, if the attackers could succeed in +getting a body of cadets across the stream before a heavy artillery or +rifle fire could be poured into them, they would win. The promptness of +firing, the number of shots and general quickness were to count. + +At the appointed time, Major Hale and his force took possession of the +hill, and Major Dutton led his army two miles back, on the plain in +front of it. + +Dutton issued his orders. + +"We'll try to surprise them," he said to his young officers. "We'll +swing around in a half circle, and instead of building the bridge at the +easiest place to cross the stream we'll try it farther down. They won't +suspect that we'll come there, and we'll gain some time." + +"But they'll have their pickets out," observed Russell Glen. "They'll +see us." + +"I'll send some of you to another point to pretend to build a bridge," +decided Dutton. "That'll draw their fire, and they'll start their +artillery toward that place. Before they find out that it's only a bluff +we'll have the real bridge half done." + +As the cadets had a record of building a thirty-foot bridge of the "A" +style inside of four minutes, it seemed that Dutton's plan might be a +good one. + +"How are you going to carry the planks and spars for the bridge?" asked +Glen. "On the field piece carriages?" + +"No, we'll carry them ourselves. We can close up ranks so they won't see +the boards." + +This looked like a good plan, and the cadets made ready to carry it out. + +"Hamilton," said Dutton sharply to our hero, "you'll take the rear +guard, and stay there until you get orders to come up." + +This was rather hard on Dick. It practically put him and his freshmen +out of the battle, unless Dutton should order them to the front, and he +was not very likely to do this. Still Dick could not object, and he made +the best of it. + +"Won't we see any of the fighting?" asked one of his command. + +"Maybe so," replied the young millionaire. "They may need us for +reinforcements." + +Dick could not help but give Dutton credit for making his plans well. +The young major led his men to the designated point, taking advantage of +such inequalities of the ground as there were to conceal his movements. +The ropes, beams and planks for the bridge were distributed among the +cadets, several of them being required to carry the heavier pieces. The +strongest lads were used for this work, and their rifles were taken in +charge by their less-burdened comrades. + +Then, when all was in readiness, Dutton gave the command to advance. He +led the way, at the head of a company of infantry, while back of that +came his cavalry force, and to the rear of that was massed his +artillery, while Dick led the rear guard of freshmen. + +Straight at the hill advanced the attacking army, while from convenient +points Colonel Masterly and his staff of officers watched to decide who +won. + +"Skirmishers, advance!" ordered Dutton, and several cadets detached +themselves from the cavalry and rode forward. As they approached there +were puffs of white smoke from the slope of the hill, and the sharp +crack of rifles announced that the pickets of Major Hale's force were on +the alert. The skirmishers returned the fire, and then galloped back to +report. + +"They're waiting for us," Dutton was informed. + +"So I see," he replied. "Now, then, we'll halt here a moment. You +fellows that are to pretend to build the bridge, get ready to rush when +I give the word. I'll send one field piece as if to cover your +movements. Are you all ready there, Stiver?" for Lieutenant Stiver, with +whom Dutton had again gotten on friendly terms, was to lead the fake +movement. + +"All ready," was the answer. + +"Then go!" + +Out from the attacking force rushed a squad of cadets, bearing light +planks. Of course, from the hill, it looked as if they were the advance +guard of bridge builders. Particularly when there dashed out a field +piece, drawn by galloping horses. + +As the cadets approached the bank of the stream, and began to arrange +their planks, the lads in charge of the cannon quickly wheeled it, +unlimbered and fired the first shot. There was a white puff of smoke, a +burst of flame, and a great bang went rattling and echoing among the +hills. The battle had opened. + +As Dutton had expected, his ruse deceived Hale. The latter quickly +ordered up his entire artillery to shell the intrepid bridge builders. +Dutton, watching through a field glass, saw the approach of the cannon. + +"Forward march!" he cried to his main command. "Double quick!" + +Quickness was everything now. Off they started, the real bridge builders +and nearly his entire force, including Dick and his youngsters in the +rear. + +They circled around a turn in the stream, and, for a time, were out of +sight of the small force left to bear the attack. + +"Build the bridge here!" ordered Dutton. "Lively now, boys. See if you +can't break the record." + +The cadets needed no urging. Two of them quickly plunged into the +stream, and, partly swimming, partly wading, carried over some ropes. By +means of these they pulled over spars and planks, which, when several of +their companions hurriedly joined them, they proceeded to lash +together. The same operation was going on among the cadets on the other +side of the brook. + +Two long spars were laid down on the ground, at right angles to the +stream. At the further extremity of these spars a cross piece was +lashed, projecting on either side. Ropes were attached to the +projections, and the unconnected ends of the long spars, being held down +to the ground by several lads, the others quickly raised the connected +ends, just as a painter hoists a long ladder. The same thing took place +on the farther side of the brook, and, when both squads were ready, the +two parts of the bridge that were to form the two slanting sides of a +double letter "A" were allowed to incline toward each other, from either +side of the water, cadets having hold of the ropes, regulating and +guiding the long spars. The big sticks met in mid air, over the centre +of the stream, and, being well braced at the bottom, held. Then cadets +climbed up on either side, and united them more firmly by lashing them. + +Something like a double letter "A," but without the cross piece, now +spanned the brook. Or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say that it +was a double inverted "V." It was necessary to put on cross spars, and +lay planks on these, or the artillery and cavalry could not get over. +And, as there were no spars long enough to reach all the way across the +stream, two sections had to be used on either side of the bridge. They +were to be tied together, and supported at the centre, or place of +joining, by long ropes, attached to the apex of the letter "A." + +Though up to this time the main attacking party had not been fired on, +they could not hope to escape much longer. Already puffs of white smoke +from the hillside indicated that they had been seen by pickets. A minute +later Dutton's trick was discovered, and Hale ordered his artillery to +cease firing on the fake bridge builders, and to turn their attack on +the others. + +But Dutton was ready for this. He had his field pieces in position, and, +as soon as he saw that his soldiers had the bridge well under way, he +began shelling the defenders, who were rushing down the hill to the +attack. The infantry also began to pour in a withering fire. + +The ropes, by which the long spars had been lowered and inclined across +the stream, now served as guys to hold them steady and in place, while +the floor beams were being put in position. + +"Lively!" cried Dutton. "They're making it too hot for us! We must cross +soon, or we'll lose! They came at us quicker than I expected!" + +Meanwhile the little force that had started to build the fake bridge had +(theoretically) been killed. + +Now the long floor timbers were in place, being supported at the centre +by long ropes, hanging from the point of the "A," and the cadets were +beginning to lay cross planks on them. + +"Tell the cavalry to get ready to advance, to protect our crossing," +ordered Dutton, to one of his captains, and the troop of lads on their +restless steeds prepared to rush across the bridge at the first possible +moment. It had only been a little over three minutes since the building +of the structure was started, but a heavy artillery fire was being +concentrated on the attackers, and, in accordance with instructions +previously given, cadets began dropping out, being supposed to be +killed. + +Dutton's field pieces were pounding away, and there was a thick cloud of +smoke, which partly concealed the movements of his cadets. + +"Bridge is ready, major!" reported a smoke-begrimed lad, running up, and +saluting. Then he hastened back to continue firing on Hale's soldiers. + +"Advance, cavalry!" shouted Dutton. "Lively now! Charge!" + +The horses, urged on by their shouting riders, thundered over the frail +bridge. It trembled and swayed, but it supported them. + +"Forward, the infantry!" cried the young major. "On the double quick! +Here they come down the hill at you! Fire at will! Charge!" + +Down the slope of the hill came rushing the defenders. Behind them +thundered and rumbled their artillery, which was supporting their brave +advance in the face of the enemy. + +"Artillery, forward!" shouted Dutton, waving his sword, and hoping, by +throwing his entire force suddenly upon Hale's army, to overpower it, +and get in more shots than could his opponent. That meant he would win +the battle. + +"Shall I stay here?" cried Dick, for he had received no orders what to +do with his force, and was still on the farther side of the bridge. + +"Yes! Until I send for you, or you see that you are needed," called back +Dutton. "I guess I can get along without you." + +Louder roared the cannon; and the cracks of the rifles of the infantry, +and the carbines of the cavalry, was like the explosion of pack after +pack of giant firecrackers. + +Then something happened. As the three field pieces rumbled across the +bridge, there was an ominous cracking and splintering sound. Dutton +heard it and turned back from his rush, which he had started on to be in +readiness to lead the charge of his artillery. He saw the bridge +swaying. + +"Come on! Come on!" he cried, waving his sword. "Come on!" + +But it was too late. The middle supporting ropes had slipped, and the +bridge collapsed at the centre, letting horses, cannon and cadets down +into the stream, which, fortunately, was not deep. + +Dutton had, at one blow, lost all his artillery, while Hale's was +advancing to annihilate him and his force. The boom of the defenders' +field pieces sounded nearer and nearer, while their rifle fire became +hotter than ever. + +Dutton saw himself defeated by the inopportune collapse of the bridge, +which had been insecurely lashed together. But he would not give up. + +"Forward! Forward!" he cried. "Split up and attack 'em on both sides." + +His cavalry and infantry rushed forward, firing as they ran. Dick +Hamilton, left with his little body of troops on the other side of the +stream, saw his opportunity. + +"Quick!" he cried to his lads. "We'll go back and get the guns at the +fake bridge. Then we'll pull it across and we'll see if we can execute a +flank movement." + +"That's the stuff!" cried some of the lads, who had begun to fear they +would never get a chance to fire their rifles. + +Dick led his men on the double quick to where the field piece, from +which only a few shots had been fired, had been left. He saw a chance to +turn defeat into victory. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +DICK WINS THE CONTEST + + +Dutton was desperate when he saw the most efficient arm of his little +force thus wiped out. He did not turn back to help the cadets in charge +of the horses and guns, however, as he knew they could look after +themselves. + +And this they did, though they had to cut the traces to get the horses +loose from the guns, and then haul the field pieces out by hand. This +took some time, and when the cannon were safe on the other shore they +could not be used because the harness was cut and the horses could not +pull them. Besides the guns had turned over and the working parts were +all wet. + +But Major Dutton had not yet given up. He divided his cavalry and +infantry into two divisions, giving Captain Beeby charge of one, and +taking the other himself. + +Dutton took advantage of a little hollow which, for a few moments +hindered the advance of the defenders, to execute this move, and he +hoped to be able to turn the flank of Hale. + +"Make as wide a swing as you can," he advised Beeby, "and maybe you can +get to him before we have to give up," for according to the rules of the +sham battle about half of Dutton's force was now wiped out. It showed +his spirit when he was unwilling to send for Dick's reinforcements, but +he decided he would not owe victory to the lad he hated, if he could +help it. + +Beeby got well away with his cadets before Hale and his forces appeared +around a little mound on the big hill. Then, though it was hard work to +handle his artillery there, the major of the defenders made a stand and +gave pitched battle to the contingent led by Dutton. + +For a time the fight waged furiously, but it was unequal, as Dutton had +no cannon with which to reply to the bombardment he was suffering. Nor +could his cavalry advance to good advantage up the slope, while Hale's +had no difficulty in coming down. + +"Now, if Beeby would only get there," thought Dutton, "we might win +yet!" + +Alas for his hopes! Hale had suspected some such movement, and had held +back a reserve force. Skirmishers saw Beeby advancing through the woods, +and gave the alarm. Then Hale brought up a field piece he had not yet +used, and opened fire on Beeby's contingent, which Dutton hoped would +have saved him. There was no help for it. He was on the point of +ordering a retreat, as the only way of saving a part of his force. +Still he had a considerable number of cadets left, and they had plenty +of ammunition. + +Meanwhile Dick and his freshmen cadets had not been idle. Under his +directions they unhitched the six horses from the cannon, and, by +attaching ropes to the piece they pulled it across the stream on a raft +they improvised from the boards used to construct the fake bridge. Thus +the piece was saved from getting wet. The fake bridge builders, who had +(theoretically) been killed, offered no objection. They could take no +further part in the battle. + +"Who are the best riders?" asked Dick, and several lads modestly offered +themselves. + +"You'll be the cavalry," said the young commander. "You are only six, +but you'll do for what I want, which is mostly bluff." + +He gave the artillery horses to six lads, and bade them ride across the +stream, which they easily did. + +"Wade and swim for the rest of us," said Dick grimly. "Hold your rifles +above your heads, for, though the cartridges are water-proof, it doesn't +do the mechanism of a gun any good to get it wet. Lively now. We'll be +too late if we don't hurry. They're keeping up quite a heavy artillery +fire." + +The eager cadets needed no urging. They crossed the stream in good +order, not being observed by either Dutton's force, or by the defenders +of the hill. On the other side Dick looked for the easiest and best way +of climbing the hill, and going to Dutton's aid. + +He saw a sort of trail leading up, and, from the direction of the +firing, he knew that he could, if undiscovered, take Hale on his left +flank, Beeby having tried to turn the right unsuccessfully, though Dick +did not know this then. + +It was hard work urging the horses up the steep hill, and harder still +for the cadets to drag up the field piece, and the limber filled with +ammunition, little of which had been used. But they did it, and on they +went. + +Dick, coming out on a little projection, could see the battle in +progress between Dutton and Hale. The latter had all but won, and the +attackers were fast being driven back. They were a mere handful of +cadets now, many having been "killed" by the merciless fire. Being +"killed" in theory meant that a certain number had to drop out every +minute, and could take no further part in the battle. Of course Hale had +a number of soldiers "killed" also. + +"Hurry!" cried Dick to his lads. "We're only just in time. A little +farther and we'll plant the field piece and open fire. Then we'll charge +down." + +The lads dragged the cannon a few hundred feet farther up the hill. +Then, screening it behind some bushes, Dick told off a number of cadets +to work the gun, they having had previous practice. + +"Ready!" he called, and to the surprise of Hale, no less than that of +Dutton, the woods echoed to the report of artillery where none was +supposed to be. A white puff of smoke on Hale's left flank told him that +some movement was in progress over there. He was about to order one of +his guns to reply to the unexpected bombardment, when there came a +ringing shout from the same quarter, and, above the cheer, Dick Hamilton +yelled: + +"Charge!" + +Down upon the all but victorious defenders of the hill rushed the little +force of six cavalrymen. Behind them, leading about thirty cadets, who +were as fresh as daisies, came Dick. + +"Charge! Charge!" he yelled, and then he ordered the lads to open fire. + +They did it with a will, for they had not had a chance to use their guns +yet, and they were wild to do so. + +What a fire they poured into the ranks of the defenders. How the one +lone field piece, well screened by bushes, sent shell after shell +(theoretically) screaming into the midst of the enemy. + +Hale was all but demoralized. He had seen victory just within his grasp, +and now he was attacked by fresh reinforcements. Dutton had been too +much for him, after all, he thought. + +As for Dutton, he hardly knew what to make of it. He could not +understand how Dick had been able to lead up his forces, to execute a +successful flank movement, and, above all, to bring a field piece to +bear. + +Hale was now in desperate straits. Encouraged by seeing reinforcements +Dutton's men turned with cries of gladness to renew the attack. Hale +tried to reply to them, but his ammunition was getting low. Closer in +came Dick and his lads, pressing on Hale's flank. On the other side +Beeby, with the few cadets he had left, returned to the attack. In front +Dutton and a handful of soldiers poured in a fire. But Dick's was the +fiercest, aided as it was by the cannon. + +There was nothing for Hale to do but to retreat, and he had his bugler +sound this mournful call. Up the hill he and his men went--what was left +of them--while after them rushed Dick, now leading the attack. + +"Surrender! Surrender!" cried Dutton. "We've got you!" + +"I guess you have," admitted Hale. "But if Hamilton hadn't come when he +did there'd been a different story." + +Dutton did not reply, nor did he glance at Dick, who, seeing that the +battle was over, had ordered his command to cease firing. But, though +Major Dutton did not acknowledge that Dick had saved the day, he knew +it, and so did his men. + +Major Webster, however, did not withhold his praise. + +"Hamilton, you did splendidly!" he cried enthusiastically. "That was a +master stroke to ford the stream, take the gun over, and use the horses +for cavalry. Major Dutton, thanks to Captain Hamilton, your forces have +the honor of having won the sham battle. I congratulate you. I am proud +of my cadets, even the losers." + +"Three cheers for Major Hale!" called Dutton, who was politic, if a +bully. + +The camp rang with the shouts. + +"Now three cheers for Major Dutton!" called Hale, and the huzzahs were +louder than before, for Dutton had a magnetic attractiveness in spite of +his mean ways with those whom he did not like. + +"Three cheers for Captain Hamilton!" called Paul Drew, but, though +Dick's freshmen nearly yelled the tops of their heads off, the cheer for +our hero was noticeably weaker than either of the two preceding ones. + +Dick smiled grimly, but he knew he had done good work that day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +UNCLE EZRA AT KENTFIELD + + +The rest of that day, and far into the night, ignoring the warning of +tattoo and taps, the cadets discussed the sham battle. It had been a +glorious affair, and they fought it all over again in their tents, the +defeated ones explaining that if "this" had happened, "that" wouldn't +have taken place. + +"But for all that, you can't deny but that Dick saved the day for +Dutton," argued Paul. + +"He certainly did," was the general reply. + +The battle practically ended the military instruction at camp. The next +day was devoted to resting and light drills. Several lads had received +severe sprains or bruises, due to their haste or enthusiasm, and one +horse had a cut leg caused by the accident to the bridge. + +There was some disposition to criticize Dutton for not seeing that the +structure was secure before sending his artillery over, but Major +Webster declared that as no serious accident had resulted no fault could +be found. As for the young major it was bitter for him to have to admit, +as he grudgingly did, that he would have failed but for Dick Hamilton. + +Another day spent in camp, when all discipline was relaxed, and the +cadets were allowed to do about as they pleased, brought the outing to a +close. Then all sorts of tricks were played, and more than one crowd of +freshmen found their tent coming down unexpectedly about their heads +that night, as the mischief makers loosened the pegs. + +Bright and early the next morning the tents were struck, the baggage was +loaded into the wagons, and the "hike" to the academy was begun. The +cadets fell into line, and with swinging step, to the tune of "The Girl +I Left Behind Me," paraded off the camping ground. + +It was rather hard to settle down again to the grind of lessons, but +Colonel Masterly and his colleague knew how to handle boys, and in +between study and recitation periods were drills and cavalry and +infantry exercises so that gradually the routine was resumed again, and +every one felt better for the outing. + +One day, as Dick and Paul came in from the campus, they saw a notice on +the bulletin board. It was to the effect that candidates for the +'Varsity baseball team would report in the gymnasium that night. + +"That's the stuff!" cried Dick enthusiastically. + +"Are you going to play?" asked Paul. + +"Sure. Why not?" + +"Well, you didn't get much show at football last year." + +"Can't help it. I may this time." + +"Dutton is just as much against you as ever." + +"I know it, but I may get a chance just the same. I'm going to begin +training, and I'll keep at it until the last game." + +Dick was as good as his word. He rather hoped he might make the regular +nine, but he learned that Dutton and his set were against him, and the +best he could do was to be named as a substitute shortstop. + +The season opened rather badly for Kentfield, for they lost the first +game, and that against a small college team. It was because Captain +Rutledge was so confident that he did not play his men with any vim, and +several bad fumbles cost them the game. + +They won the first of the championship contests with Mooretown academy, +and lost the second, making it a tie, and so the third game, which would +be played at Kentfield that spring, would be an important and the +deciding one. + +Dick got an opportunity to play on the regular team once during the last +few innings, but as the game, which was with a small college, was won by +the cadets before he went into it, his performance did not receive much +credit. + +"If I only get a chance to play against Mooretown," he said to Paul, +"I'll be satisfied. Anyhow, I'm one of the subs." + +It was the day of the great and deciding game with Mooretown. Dick was +struggling into his trousers and blouse in his room, when Toots brought +him word that there was a visitor for him in the reception room. + +"Who is it, Toots?" he asked. "I haven't much time. Most of the fellows +are already on the diamond." + +"He says his name is Honeybee, as near as I can make out." + +"Honeybee," repeated Dick, much puzzled. "Oh, it must be Larabee. It's +my Uncle Ezra!" + +Then a look of annoyance came over his face. + +"If I go down to see him he'll keep me from the game," he thought. "I +haven't any time to spare. He'll lecture me about the waste of time in +playing baseball, or the danger of it, or something like that. Or he may +want me to show him around the academy. No, he's not likely to do that, +for fear he'd wear out his shoes. I wonder what in the world he can +want, anyhow? But if I see him now I'll never get a chance to play. I'll +not see him." + +"Toots," he said, "tell my uncle that I have an important engagement, +and ask him to wait until I come back." + +"All right, Mr. Hamilton," replied the janitor. "Shall I tell him what +it is? Maybe he'd like to see the game," and Toots softly whistled "Just +Before the Battle, Mother." + +"No! No! Don't tell him!" exclaimed Dick. "He thinks baseball is +wicked. Just say--say anything you like except that. I'll come back as +soon as the game's over--if I'm alive. He won't mind waiting. It will +give him a chance to think." + +Which perhaps was not exactly polite on Dick's part. He hurried off, +leaving Uncle Ezra in the reception room, wondering what important +business his nephew had that kept him so long. And, by not seeing his +Uncle Ezra, Dick missed hearing a bit of news that was destined to make +a great change in his affairs. But he heard it later, as you will see. + +While our hero was on his way to the field, hoping that he would get a +chance to play, Uncle Ezra sat in the reception room. He was not very +impatient at the delay. As Dick had said, it gave him a chance to think. + +Presently the door opened, and Russell Glen looked in the apartment. He +was in search of Dutton, having been told the young major was there. Not +seeing his friend, he was about to withdraw, with an apology for having +disturbed Mr. Larabee. + +"Are you one of the students here?" asked Dick's uncle, who was getting +rather tired waiting. + +"Yes. I'm in my second year." + +"Ah, then you must know my nephew, Richard Hamilton?" + +"Oh, yes, I know Dick." + +"Richard is his proper name," corrected Mr. Larabee stiffly. + +Glen nodded, and was about to go out. + +"If you see him, I wish you would tell him to hurry," went on Mr. +Larabee. "I have been waiting for some time for him, but he sent word +that he had an important engagement, and would see me later." + +Glen guessed what the "engagement" was, so he merely nodded. + +"I want to see him very particularly," continued the aged man, "as I +have some important news for him. It may make a great difference in his +life. In fact, I'm sure it will." + +Glen opened his eyes at this, and decided not to go just yet. + +"Has some one left him some more millions?" he asked in a joking tone. + +"Far from it," said Mr. Larabee in solemn accents. + +"Eh?" asked Glen, wondering what was coming. + +"I always said it was foolish for my sister to leave Richard so much +money," went on Mr. Larabee severely, "and I told Mortimer Hamilton that +he was risking his money to go to Europe. Now, what I said would happen +has happened." + +"Is Mr. Hamilton in trouble?" asked Glen, not a little rejoiced to find +that difficulties were in store for Dick. + +"Well, I'd call it trouble to lose nearly all my fortune. But it serves +Mortimer right, and Richard also." + +"Has Mr. Hamilton lost his money?" inquired Glen, coming closer to Mr. +Larabee. + +"Practically so." + +"And Dick?" + +"A large part of his is gone also. It was invested with Mr. Hamilton's. +I received word of it yesterday, and I hurried to come here and tell +him. A New York bank, in which Mr. Hamilton was largely interested, and +in which were most of Dick's funds, as well his father's, has failed." + +"Then Mr. Hamilton isn't a millionaire any longer?" + +"I fear not." + +"And Dick?" asked Glen eagerly. + +"He has very little left." + +"Whew!" whistled the cadet. This would be news indeed to the students. +He must hasten and tell them. + +"That's what I came to see my nephew about," went on Mr. Larabee. "I +want him to come away from this expensive school, and live with me until +his father returns. Oh, the money that young man has wasted! It is +awful! Terrible!" and Uncle Ezra seemed about to faint with the horror +of it. + +"Shall I find Dick for you?" asked Glen. + +"I wish you would, young man. I want to tell him this news, and take him +back with me. I have a return ticket on the railroad, and if I stay +over night it will be no good. Besides I am afraid my hired man will use +kerosene oil in starting the fire if I am not home by morning, and he +might burn down the house. One can not be too careful of money. Mortimer +and my nephew are a terrible example. Find him for me, if you will, +please." + +"I will," promised Glen, hurrying away. "My word!" he exclaimed as he +ran out on the campus. "Hamilton's money all gone! Then he's no better +than the rest of us now. He'll come down a peg or two." + +Considering that Dick had never tried to hang himself on a "peg," this +seemed a useless as well as cruel remark. + +"I wish I had borrowed a hundred from him yesterday, instead of fifty," +mused Glen, as he hurried on toward the baseball field. As he neared it +he heard shouts and cheers. + +"The game's started," he exclaimed, as he broke into a run. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +DICK'S GREAT RUN + + +Dick Hamilton hurried across to the players' bench, tightening his belt +as he ran. + +"If I only get a chance to play," he kept thinking. "I don't care what +happens after that, nor what Uncle Ezra may want." + +The game soon started, and it began to look bad for Kentfield, for the +outfielders made several costly errors, and at the ending of the sixth +inning the score was eight to three, in favor of Mooretown. + +"Looks rather bad," said Captain Rutledge to the coach. + +"Nonsense," replied Hale. "You can win yet. Take a brace, that's all." + +Kentfield had elected to be last at the bat, and, in the beginning of +the seventh inning, when Mooretown was up, Perkins, the regular short +stop, split his hand in stopping a "hot" ball. The other players +gathered about him. + +"I guess it's all up with us now," remarked Dutton, from his seat in the +grandstand. "We haven't got anyone who can play like Perkins. Hamilton +is green. Our goose is cooked." + +"Say, I've got some news about Hamilton," spoke Russell Glen, worming +his way to Dutton's side, during the lull in the contest following the +injury of Perkins. + +"I don't care. I want to see how this game is coming out." + +Perkins walked to the bench, blood dripping from his hand. + +"Hamilton!" cried Captain Rutledge, and Dick sprang from the bench, +pulling off his sweater. His chance had come. + +"Hamilton's going to play," said Dutton. "Oh, what a score they'll roll +up against us! They'll knock all their balls at him, and he'll miss +them. What were you saying about Hamilton?" he went on, turning to Glen. +"This is tough luck, though!" + +"Hamilton has lost all his money!" cried Glen, and his tone seemed to +show that he relished the news. + +"No!" + +"Fact. His uncle told me," and Glen related the story he had received +from Mr. Larabee. + +Dutton was greatly surprised, and so were several other cadets who +overheard what Glen had said. But there was little time to speculate on +it, as the game was under way again. + +Whether it was Dick's presence at shortstop, or because the other +players on his team braced up, was not evident. At any rate, Mooretown +was held down to a goose egg in that inning, and when it came the turn +of Kentfield to show what the nine could do in the ending of the seventh +inning, there were three runs to the credit of the cadets, Dick having +made one. + +"The score is six to eight!" murmured Glen to Dutton. "Hamilton isn't +doing so bad." + +"No, but he would if he knew all his money was gone, I guess." + +"Maybe we ought to tell him," suggested the sporty student. + +"I wish I could," murmured Dutton. + +The game went on fiercely. It was nip and tuck all the while now, for +Kentfield's chances had improved wonderfully, and they were fighting +hard to win. + +In the eighth inning neither side scored. There was an anxious look on +the faces of all the players as the ninth opened. Mooretown could afford +to smile, however, as she was still two runs ahead. At first it looked +as if she would pile up several more tallies on this score, for the +Kentfield pitcher gave two men their bases on balls, and the next man +got to first on an easy fly. + +A heavy hitter was up next, and at the first crack he sent a "hot liner" +straight at Dick. Our hero did not flinch, though the impact was +terrific. He caught the ball squarely, and the batter was out. Then, by +a neat double play, Dick and the third baseman put out another man who +was trying to steal home. + +The next batter struck out, retiring Mooretown without a run, but still +leaving them two ahead. + +"Now, fellows, we must show them what we're made of!" cried the captain. +"We want three runs this inning!" + +Captain Rutledge did his share by getting one, and another was brought +in by a narrow margin, tying the score. + +"One to win!" cried the coach. + +"Hamilton up!" announced the score keeper. + +"And two out!" added Dutton to Glen. "He can never do it. We're dumped +already." + +Dick took his place at the plate. It was a trying ordeal for a +substitute player, and the eyes of all the spectators were upon him. The +result of the game, in a great measure, depended on him. If he did not +get the winning run, it meant that the game would go another inning, and +the chances of Kentfield would not be improved. For their pitcher's arm +was going "back on him," and Mooretown's man was still good for much +twirling. + +Amid a silence that was almost painful, Dick waited for the first ball. +It came, but he did not move his bat. + +"One strike!" called the umpire, and there was something like a groan +among the Kentfield players. + +The next was a ball, and the following one looked as if it was going +fairly over the plate. But Dick did not attempt to hit it. + +"Two strikes!" + +It was like a death knell. + +"He's cutting it pretty fine," murmured the captain nervously. + +"Hamilton's all right," said Coach Hale confidently. + +A moment later there came a resounding crack, as Dick's bat met the ball +fairly. The horsehide went up in a graceful curve, and then sailed far +out toward right field. + +"Go on! Go on! Go on!" yelled Captain Rutledge, but his voice was lost +in the roar that greeted Dick's hit. The young millionaire was leaping +toward first base, while the right fielder was sprinting after the ball. + +"A home run! A home run!" begged the coach, and it looked as if Dick +would do it. + +He got to third, and started for home. The fielder had the ball by this +time, and relayed it to second. The man there threw it to third just as +Dick left. Possibly it was an error of judgment, but Dick kept on. He +could distinguish no coaching instructions now above the yells, though +Hale was calling to him to remain on the bag. But Dick kept on. + +Then, by some curious chance, the third baseman, instead of sending the +ball home, held it in his hand, and raced after Dick. It was a contest +of legs now. The baseman ignored the demands of the catcher to throw the +ball, and leaped after Dick, who ran as he had never run before. He saw +a vision of the game won, and, though his breath was coming in labored +gasps, he did not stop. There was a mist before his eyes. His legs were +tottering. + +"Jove! But he can run!" whispered Dutton. "I never saw anything like +it!" + +"You bet!" agreed Glen fervidly. + +On and on ran Dick. One quick glance over his shoulder showed him the +baseman at his heels. He expected every moment to see the catcher get +the ball, and put him out. But the horsehide did not come, and, the next +instant, when Dick felt as if he could not go another inch, or draw +another breath, he dropped, and slid home in a cloud of dust. + +"Safe!" cried the umpire, and, as he spoke, the baseman, realizing the +proper play, threw the ball. But it was too late. Dick had brought in +the winning run. + +"Wow! Wow! Wow! Hamilton! Hamilton! Hamilton! Whoop!" yelled the +frenzied players. Above their shouts could be heard the shrill cries of +many girls. + +From the stands burst forth mighty cheers. A crowd of the cadet players +surrounded Dick and would have carried him on their shoulders had he +allowed them. They patted him on the back, and even punched him in their +uncontrollable joy. + +"Hamilton, you're entitled to the thanks of the entire school!" cried +Coach Hale, rushing up, and wringing Dick's hand. + +"We never could have won but for you!" admitted the captain. "Wow! but +it was a fierce game!" and he sat down on the grass to recover his wind, +after his lusty cheers. + +They escorted Dick back to the dressing room in a sort of triumphal +procession, scores of cadets pouring from the stands to join it. Never +did a hero takes his honors more modestly. It was enough for Dick that +he had helped win the victory, and he saw coming to him now what he had +waited nearly a year for--fellowship. + +Through the throng came Dutton and Glen. + +"I say, Hamilton," called Glen, "your uncle's waiting for you." + +"I know it," answered Dick. "But I couldn't talk to him until after the +game." + +"He's got news for you--bad news," went on Glen, with the relish some +persons seem to take in telling of calamities. + +"What is it?" inquired Dick, alarmed by the cadet's words and manner. + +"Your father's fortune is wiped out, and so's yours! The New York bank +has failed!" + +For an instant Dick stared at the speaker. Then a changed look came over +his face. He stepped forward, his suit covered with dirt, his face +bleeding from a scratch, and still panting from his great run. + +"My fortune lost?" he said. "I don't care a hang! We've won the game!" + +There was a moment of silence so surprised were the cadets at the +manner in which Dick took the news. Then Glen cried out: + +"My word, but you're plucky! Three cheers for Hamilton--who used to be a +millionaire--but isn't any longer," he added, and Dick's ears rang with +the joyous shouts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A BROADSWORD COMBAT + + +"Well, Nephew Richard, I've been waiting some time for you," said Uncle +Ezra Larabee a little later, when Dick, having gotten out of his suit +and donned his cadet uniform, went into the reception room. "I've been +here for some time, and very likely I've lost my train, but I couldn't +go back without seeing you." + +"I'm sorry I kept you so long, Uncle Ezra," replied Dick, "but you see I +was in a baseball game, and I couldn't leave until we won. It was very +important to win." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed the old man. "Baseball is a dangerous +and wicked game. It leads to all sorts of trouble. When I was a boy we +played such sensible games as tag and blind-man's buff. Baseball! The +idea!" + +"The cadets of Kentfield would look pretty playing tag," thought Dick, +but he did not say anything. + +"I have some bad news for you, Nephew Richard," went on Uncle Ezra. "I +suppose you wonder what it is." + +"I know." + +"You know?" + +"Yes, Glen told me." + +"Oh, he must be the young man whom I was talking to. Well, I regret very +much to be the bearer of such ill tidings," went on Mr. Larabee, "but, +if you are hoping that it is not true, you are much mistaken. I received +word from New York yesterday that the bank in which was most of your +father's wealth, as well as your own, which your mother, my sister, so +foolishly left you----" + +"Sir!" cried Dick, for he could not bear to hear his mother spoken of in +that way. + +"Well, I think it foolish to leave a youth so much money," said Mr. +Larabee, "and now my judgment is confirmed. You are no longer a +millionaire." + +"I don't know as I care much," said Dick coolly. "My money didn't do as +much as I expected it would." + +"Foolish, perverse youth," murmured his uncle. "But you must make a +change in your plans. You can no longer stay at this expensive school. +You had better pack up your things and come home with me to Dankville. I +will look after you until your father comes home from Europe. Doubtless +I may be able to get you a position in a woolen mill in which I am +interested. If you hurry we can take the late train, and I will be able +to use the excursion ticket I bought." + +Dick considered matters a moment. Then he said: + +"I don't think I'll go with you, Uncle Ezra." + +"Not go with me? Why, what will you do?" + +"Stay here and finish out the spring term. I'm just beginning to enjoy +himself. There are only a few weeks left." + +"But how can you? You have very little, if any, money." + +"My tuition and board are paid up to the end of this term," said Dick +calmly. "I have considerable money on deposit in the Kentfield bank, +that I drew out from my funds at Hamilton Corners, when I came here. +That will last me for some time. I think I prefer staying here to going +back to--to Dankville." + +"Well, of all the foolish, idiotic, senseless, rash proceedings I ever +heard of!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "The idea! You will stay here and use +up what little money is saved from the wreck of your fortune! Why, maybe +you could get a rebate on what has been paid for board and tuition." + +"I shouldn't think of asking for it," said Dick. "No, I think I'll stick +it out here." + +There was a movement at the door, and something came into the room, +something that slid up to Dick, and began wiggling at his feet. + +"Quiet, Grit, old boy," he said. + +"Is that your bulldog?" asked Uncle Ezra. + +"Yes; he was too lonesome at home without me, so I sent for him. He +stays in the stable." + +"Another foolish and useless expense," murmured the old man. "Oh, what +is the world coming to!" + +Dick didn't know, so he didn't answer. + +"Think well," went on Mr. Larabee. "You had better come home with me. I +can get you work in the woolen mill." + +"I'll stay here," replied Dick firmly. + +"Then I wash my hands of you!" exclaimed the aged man. "Never appeal to +me for help! I am done with you! Of all the foolish, thoughtless, rash +youths I ever met, you are the worst; and your father----" + +What Mr. Larabee would have said about Mr. Hamilton he never finished, +for Grit, hearing the voice of a man he considered his enemy, made a +rush from under the table where he was lying, and growled as though he +was going to sample Uncle Ezra's legs. + +"Take that brute away!" exclaimed Dick's crabbed relative, but before +the order could be executed Mr. Larabee turned and fled from the room, +Grit pursuing him as far as the hall. + +"I guess we've seen the last of him for a while," mused Dick. "Eh, Grit, +old boy?" + +The bulldog nearly shook off his stump of a tail. + +"Well, I guess I had better write to dad, and find out how bad things +really are," he went on. "Still, there's no use worrying. I got along +all right before I knew I was a millionaire, and I guess I can now when +I'm not." + +Someone looked in the reception room. It was Glen. + +"I say, Hamilton," he remarked, "the boys are looking all over for you. +They want you to lead a procession. We're going to have a grand +celebration, burn the uniforms, and break training to celebrate the +victory. Hurry up!" + +"This is worth losing one's money for," thought Dick, as he took his +place at the head of the procession of merry, shouting, laughing cadets. +"I'm getting to be popular, I guess." + +Indeed, whether it was his victory on the diamond or the loss of his +money, it would be hard to say, but, at any rate, more cadets made +friends with Dick that night than had done so in his whole previous time +at Kentfield. + +But though Dick had won the hearts of the baseball nine and their +friends, he was still far from being one of the really popular lads in +the school. Dutton and his cronies held aloof from him, and many +followed their example. + +But, unexpectedly, there came a great change in Dick's life, and Dutton +was partly responsible for it. Dick and some of his companions were at +broadsword exercise on horseback one day, while, on the farther side of +the cavalry plain, there was a class drilling in artillery, under the +direction of Dutton. Dick was fencing with Lyndon Butler, when suddenly +Dutton's steed, frightened by the discharge of a cannon near it, reared, +throwing the young major off. + +Dutton's foot caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged along, unable to +release himself, while six artillery horses, drawing a heavy gun, dashed +down the field and seemed about to collide with the youthful major's +animal. + +Dick saw a chance to save his enemy, and turned his horse quickly, to +make a dash. So rapid was his movement that Butler's sword gave him a +gash in the face, Dick forgetting, in the excitement of the moment, to +guard himself. With the blood streaming from a cut on his cheek Dick +urged his horse at a gallop until he had caught Dutton's runaway mount. +He did it only just in time, for, as he pulled the beast, still dragging +the young major, to one side, the artillery steeds dashed over the spot. +Dutton would have been killed but for Dick's prompt act. + +Major Webster rode up quickly, and was glad to find that neither Dick +nor Dutton was seriously hurt. + +"Who caught my horse?" asked Dutton, as he struggled to his feet. "The +last I remember was seeing him running toward the artillery animals, and +I made up my mind there'd be quite a smash when they met." + +"They didn't meet, thanks to Dick Hamilton," said the elderly major. "He +stopped your horse just in time." + +"And got a nasty cut into the bargain," added another cadet. + +Dick was beginning to feel a trifle dizzy. He turned aside. Dutton took +a step forward, in spite of his strained ankle. + +"Hamilton," he said, and there was a husky note in his voice. + +Dick turned back. + +"Hamilton--I--er--I--I--will you shake hands?" asked Dutton suddenly, +and he seemed much affected. + +Dick grasped the outstretched hand, and the two, one of whom had been an +unrelenting enemy of the other, looked into each other's eyes. + +"Hamilton," went on Dutton, still holding Dick's hand, "I don't know how +to thank you. Will you--will you forgive me?" + +"Oh--there's nothing to forgive," said Dick. + +"Yes, there is," said Dutton huskily. "I've treated you--I've been a +cad, that's what I have! I didn't like you at first--I thought you were +proud of your millions. I didn't like the idea of you being here--I was +jealous, I guess. I wanted to make you quit. It was I who tied your dog +to the saluting gun, and tried to throw the blame on you. I've done +other mean things. I--I----" + +"Forget it!" said Dick so heartily that the other cadets laughed, and +thus broke what was becoming quite a strain. + +Major Webster, when he heard the beginning of Dutton's confession, +walked away. He was a wise old soldier, and he knew that the lads could +best settle those things among themselves. + +"And you don't bear me any grudge?" asked Dutton, after a pause. + +"Not a bit. But you'd better get back to the hospital and have your +ankle looked after," for Dutton was limping. + +"Oh, that isn't anything. It might just as well have been my head. But, +say, you got a nasty dig." + +"Only a scratch," replied Dick with a happy laugh. He would have +welcomed another one if it could have insured him such an outcome as had +followed this. + +"I guess we'd better take you both to the hospital," said Butler, who +had ridden up, fearful lest he had seriously injured Dick. + +And thither the two wounded cadets were taken, though their stay there +was brief. + +It was a week after the sensational rescue of Dutton that a meeting of +the exclusive society of the Sacred Pig was held in the cosy little +club-house which had been built by contributions and donations of the +cadets themselves or their fathers. Dutton arose and proposed Dick for +membership, the election being unanimous. + +The next day being Saturday, was an occasion for the cadets enjoying +considerable freedom. It was after the evening parade, when Dick and +some of his new chums had received permission to go to town to a +theatrical performance, that Major Webster sent for our hero. + +"I'll not keep you a moment, Hamilton," he said, "as I know your +friends are waiting for you. But you remember that battered marksman's +medal that Toots had, and which you requested me to investigate for +you?" + +"Yes; have you any information about it?" + +"I have. I sent it to a friend of mine, an officer at Fort Laramie, +Wyoming, and he has just returned it. With it he sends some surprising +news." + +"What is it?" + +"That medal was issued to Corporal William Handlee, a number of years +ago." + +"Corporal Handlee--the missing soldier--Captain Handlee's son?" + +"The very same." + +"Why, how--where did Toots get it, I wonder? Is it possible that he----" + +"We must ask him. I will question him to-night, and let you know the +result. Hark, there he comes now." + +Someone was coming down the corridor, whistling the lively strains of +"Yankee Doodle." + +"That's Toots," said Dick with a smile. "I wonder how he came to have +Handlee's medal. Can he possibly be----" + +But at that instant there came a series of excited shouts from outside. + +"Fire! Fire! Fire!" + +Dick and the major rushed to the window. + +"Fire! Fire!" shouted Toots, as he ran back along the corridor. + +Dick saw a black pall of smoke, through which shot red tongues of flame. + +"It's the society house of the Sacred Pig," he cried. + +And it was from the windows of the meeting place of the cadets' society +that the flames were shooting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +DICK WRITES A CHECK--CONCLUSION + + +As Dick, followed by the major, rushed from the barracks to go to the +fire, the housekeeper thrust an envelope into the young millionaire's +hand. + +"It is a telegram that just came for you," she explained. + +Dick shoved it into his pocket without opening it. Then he joined the +throng of excited and alarmed students that had gathered about the +burning society headquarters. + +A small fire department was maintained at the academy, but as the +buildings of the school were all fireproof, the brigade was not a very +large one, and was only equipped with chemical apparatus. + +"We must telephone for the town fire department," cried Dutton. + +"They won't get here in time to do much," said Major Webster. "Better +save what you can inside, boys." + +They saw that what he said was true. There was a stiff wind blowing, +fanning the flames to furnace heat. The blaze had started on the upper +floor, and had already eaten its way through the roof. No one knew what +had caused the fire, as there was no one in the place when it started, +and it had burned for some time before breaking out. + +Fortunately, the structure was well away from any of the academy +buildings, and there was little danger to them. + +"Let's save what we can!" cried Dick, and the boys began running in, +carrying out such of the trophies as they could find on the lower floor. +But it soon became too hot for them, and Major Webster, fearing someone +would get hurt, ordered the work of salvage to cease. + +"Too bad!" observed Russell Glen, as he and others watched the handsome +brick and stone building crumbling into ruins. "And we counted on having +such sport there next term." + +"Well, it's insured, isn't it?" asked Dick. "We can collect the money, +and build a better one." + +"Insured!" suddenly cried Dutton. "There, I meant to attend to that, but +it slipped my mind!" + +"What did?" asked Allen Rutledge. + +"The insurance. It expired the day before yesterday." + +"And do you mean to say you forgot to get it renewed?" + +"I forgot all about it." + +"And haven't we a cent of insurance on it?" asked Paul Drew. + +"Not a penny. It's all my fault. I meant to get new policies, but I put +it off and now----" + +"Now it's too late," said Rutledge. "You're a fine treasurer, you are." + +Amazement and chagrin made Dutton incapable of replying. The cadets +looked on sorrowfully, as they saw their society house being destroyed, +knowing that it would be no easy matter to get the money for a new one. + +Suddenly there was an explosion from within, and a shower of stones from +one of the walls flew into the air. + +"Look out!" cried Dick. + +He and the others leaped back in time, but Toots, who was in the front +rank of spectators, having helped to carry out many valued relics, did +not seem to hear. A moment later a fragment of stone struck him on the +head, and he fell down. + +"Toots is hurt!" cried Dick, running up to the odd janitor, whom all the +cadets liked because of his pleasant ways. + +"Carry him to the hospital, boys," said the major. "I'll have the +surgeon attend to him. Maybe he isn't hurt much." + +But from the blood on the head of poor Toots, it would seem that the +wound was not a small one. + +Sorrowfully Dick and his chums carried the unconscious man. There was +little use remaining at the fire now, for it was almost out, having +consumed everything save the walls. + +"He isn't badly hurt," announced the surgeon cheerfully, when he had +examined Toots. "Only a cut on the head. He'll be all right in a few +days." + +Suddenly the injured man, who had been placed on a couch in the +hospital, sat up. He felt of the bandage on his head. Then he looked +around wildly. + +"Did we beat the red imps off?" he asked. "Why is it I don't hear the +firing? Have they retreated? Am I badly hurt? Let me get at 'em again! +I'm a good shot! I can pick 'em off!" + +He started from his couch, but the surgeon gently pressed him back. + +"What's the matter, Toots?" he asked. "Where do you think you are?" + +"Toots? Who's Toots? I'm Corporal Bill Handlee, and I must get back to +my post. I'm a sharpshooter, and the Indians are attacking us." + +The surgeon looked at the injured man in amazement. He thought Toots was +delirious. But to Dick the thrilling words meant much. He pressed +forward. In his hand he held the battered marksman's medal which Major +Webster had returned to him. + +"Is this yours, Corporal Handlee?" he asked. + +"Yes; where did you get it?" asked Toots. "But why don't some of you +speak? Have we beaten off the red imps?" + +"Yes," said Dick gently, understanding the whole story now. "They were +beaten back some years ago, Toots. Oh, I've found you at last! Won't +your father be glad!" + +"My father?" and Toots, or, as we must call him now, Corporal Handlee, +looked dazed. "My father knows where I am." + +"He doesn't, but he soon will," said Dick joyfully, and by degrees, he +told the story of how he had agreed to help Captain Handlee locate his +missing son, and how, by a strange trick of fate, he had been found. + +And that Toots was this missing son there was no doubt. His memory, a +blank for many years, because of a bullet wound on the head, received in +a fight with the Indians out west, had been restored to him. The surgeon +explained it by saying that the blow from the stone, which exploded from +the heat, had undone the injury caused by the bullet, by relieving the +pressure of a certain bone on the brain. Such cases are rare, but not +altogether unknown, he added, and persons who had forgotten for many +years who they were suddenly recalled the past. + +Of course Toots, or, Corporal Handlee, as we must now call him, could +not tell where he had been all the years that he was missing. The last +he remembered was taking part in an Indian fight, and being wounded. +When he recovered consciousness from the blow of the hot stone, he +thought he was still at Fort Lamarie. He had forgotten all the +intervening time, including several years spent at Kentfield. + +It was surmised that he must have wandered away after the Indian fight, +recovered, though with his memory gone, taken another name, and then +drifted about, until he secured a place at the military academy. That, +the officers recalled, was five years ago. + +The corporal had not recognized his own photograph, though something in +his hazy memory made him think he knew the man the picture represented. +His own medal as a marksman he had supposed belong to another. + +"I must send Captain Handlee a telegram at once," said Dick, when the +excitement had calmed down. "It will be great news for him." + +Leaving Corporal Handlee in charge of the surgeon, the old soldier being +quite weak, and hardly able to understand all that had happened, Dick +started for the telegraph office, which was not far from the school. He +sent the message to the old captain, and, in getting out his money to +pay for it, he put his hand in the pocket into which he had thrust the +telegram the housekeeper had given him. + +"Guess I'd better read it," he murmured. "The fire and finding Corporal +Handlee made me forget all about it." + +It was from his father, and was very short, but the news it contained +made Dick throw his cap up into the air, and yell out in pure delight. + +"Wow!" he cried. "Wow! Wow! Wow!" + +The operator came running from his little office. + +"Got bad news?" he asked. + +"Bad?" repeated Dick "No, it's the best in the world! My dad's coming +home!" + +"Seems to me you're making quite a fuss about it." + +"So would you if you knew what else he said," spoke Dick, as he rushed +from the building. + +He found most of his chums grouped around the ruins of the society +house. They were talking about the fire. + +"It's all my fault," Dutton was saying. "I guess I'll resign as +treasurer." + +"I guess we won't have any society, if we can't have a meeting place," +observed Hale, sorrowfully. + +"Say, Dutton, have you a fountain pen?" asked Dick, as he came up beside +his former enemy. + +"I guess so. What do you want it for?" + +"I'll show you." + +Dick sat down on a pile of debris. From his pocket he took a thin, red +book, and commenced writing in it by the light of the embers of the +ruined society house. Presently he tore out a slip of paper and handed +it to Dutton. + +"What--what's this?" stammered the treasurer of the Sacred Pig. +"Why--why--Hamilton!" + +"What is it?" demanded a score of voices, as the cadets crowded up. + +"It's a check--a check," stammered Dutton, as he saw the figures which +Dick had written in, and noted that they occupied four places. "It's a +check!" + +"To rebuild the society house of the Sacred Pig," said our hero simply. + +"But I--I thought you lost all your money, Hamilton," said Dutton. + +"I thought so, too," replied Dick. "So did Uncle Ezra, but I cabled to +dad, and it's all a mistake. He took all our funds from the bank that +failed before he went abroad. We didn't lose a cent." + +"Then you're a millionaire yet, aren't you?" asked Dutton. + +"I'm--I'm afraid so," answered Dick. + +There was silence for a moment, and then the cadets seemed to understand +what Dick had done. They looked at the piece of paper fluttering in +Dutton's hand. It meant that they could have a new and better +headquarters for their society. + +"Three cheers for Dick Hamilton!" called several, and Dick's ears rang +to the sweetest music he had ever heard. + +They all wanted to shake hands with him at once, and they made so much +noise that Colonel Masterly sent one of the teachers out to see if the +fire had started afresh. + +"It's only the cadets cheering Mr. Hamilton, sir," replied the +instructor, when he returned. + +"Hum! He's getting to be quite popular," said the colonel, with a smile, +for he understood about Dick's handicap. + +And there was abundant evidence of his popularity a little later on, for +they insisted on carrying Dick on their shoulders to the saluting +cannon, where all important events were celebrated, and there they did a +sort of war dance about him. Dick would have been glad to escape, but +they would not let him. + +"We don't want your money, honey, we want you!" they sang. And Dick knew +that they spoke the truth. He had fulfilled another condition of his +mother's will, and become popular in spite of his wealth, though for a +time he feared this would never happen. He had thought of a plan to +pretend that he had suddenly grown poor, but Uncle Ezra's mistake made +this unnecessary. + +"I don't know whether it's more fun to be rich or poor," thought Dick, +as he went to bed that night. But he had other adventures, in which his +great wealth played a part, and those of you who care to follow Dick +Hamilton's fortunes further may read of them in the next volume of this +series, to be called: "Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht; or, A Young +Millionaire and the Kidnappers." + +"Well, how are you feeling this morning, Toots--I mean Corporal?" asked +Dick, about a week later, when the janitor was able to leave the +hospital. + +"Fine. I'd never know I'd been sick. That was a lucky thing to get hit +with a stone, so I could know who I really was. But I'm anxious to get +home and see my father, since you say he's not well." + +"Oh, he's not seriously ill," said Dick. "I had a letter from Henry +Darby about him. He's so pleased that you have been located, that a +sight of you is about all the medicine he needs." + +"I can go home to him in a few days, Colonel Masterly says." + +"You want to give us an exhibition of shooting before you go," suggested +Dick. + +"I'm afraid I'm all out of practice," objected the former corporal. + +But he was not, as he very quickly proved, when he and some chums of +Dick went to the rifle range. There the soldier made bullseye after +bullseye with an ease that made the cadets fairly gasp, and he did all +sorts of fancy shooting, including driving a tack in a board from even a +greater distance than even Captain Handlee had boasted that his son +could do it. + +"I guess it must have been that my eyes were affected by that Indian +bullet," said the corporal. "They got all right again when the stone +from the fire hit me." + +Later, the surgeon admitted that this was probably true. + +A short time after this Corporal Bill Handlee joined his aged father in +Hamilton Corners, and the two enjoyed many happy years together, thanks +to Mr. Hamilton's generosity, and what Dick had done to solve the +mystery. + +"Well, Grit, old boy," said our hero one day near the close of the term, +as he was strolling over the campus, followed by his ugly pet, and with +Paul Drew, William the Silent and some other cadets at his side, "well, +Grit, I think you and I will go home soon. Dad will be home next week, +and say, maybe we won't have some good times; eh, Grit?" + +The bulldog nearly turned a summersault to show how glad, he was. A few +days later Dick and his dog were at Hamilton Corners, ready for the +summer vacation. + + +THE END + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + Punctuation and hyphenation have been standardised. Changes to the + original publication have been made as follows: + + Page 2 + + I'll swin out farther than _changed to_ + I'll swim out farther than + + Page 11 + + crawled alone _changed to_ + crawled along + + Page 15 + + as well stay. Hanniabal _changed to_ + as well stay. Hannibal + + Page 18 + + exicting adventures _changed to_ + exciting adventures + + Page 29 + Catpain Handlee called _changed to_ + Captain Handlee called + + Page 33 + + but accidently stepped _changed to_ + but accidentally stepped + + Page 41 + + amid a chorous of _changed to_ + amid a chorus of + + Page 49 + + for reasons similiar _changed to_ + for reasons similar + + Page 58 + + rather akward feelings _changed to_ + rather awkward feelings + + Page 75 + + transfered to Dick's company _changed to_ + transferred to Dick's company + + Page 79 + + annouced Dutton _changed to_ + announced Dutton + + Page 83 + + suddently exclaimed _changed to_ + suddenly exclaimed + + Page 88 + + asked the odd man _changed to_ + asked the old man + + Page 95 + + have more acquaintences _changed to_ + have more acquaintances + + Page 105 + + having disloged the enemy _changed to_ + having dislodged the enemy + + Page 106 + + Very well, then, You _changed to_ + Very well, then, you + + Page 110 + + He got us out of bad scrape _changed to_ + He got us out of a bad scrape + + Page 113 + + stiffled the cry of pain _changed to_ + stifled the cry of pain + + Page 115 + + was never know, but _changed to_ + was never known, but + + Page 120 + + enjoyed by the cadtes _changed to_ + enjoyed by the cadets + + Page 120 + + they offered changes _changed to_ + they offered chances + + Page 125 + + All the candiates _changed to_ + All the candidates + + Page 128 + + asked Dutton colly _changed to_ + asked Dutton coolly + + Page 131 + + slippen into his _changed to_ + slipped into his + + Page 146 + + in view of your god conduct _changed to_ + in view of your good conduct + + Page 147 + + and there was an omnious _changed to_ + and there was an ominous + + Page 149 + + discouraged letter to his gather _changed to_ + discouraged letter to his father + + Page 150 + + were not as atractive _changed to_ + were not as attractive + + Page 151 + + even enjoy the good thinks _changed to_ + even enjoy the good things + + Page 156 + + the suregon's medicine _changed to_ + the surgeon's medicine + + Page 156 + + preceeding one _changed to_ + preceding one + + Page 162 + + Dick that something unusal _changed to_ + Dick that something unusual + + Page 163 + + them toward Duton _changed to_ + them toward Dutton + + Page 163 + + Suppose the fall out _changed to_ + Suppose they fall out + + Page 166 + + comanded that some more _changed to_ + commanded that some more + + Page 166 + + trapeezes, and a number _changed to_ + trapezes, and a number + + Page 167 + + few drils, out of doors _changed to_ + few drills, out of doors + + Page 168 + + patroling his post _changed to_ + patrolling his post + + Page 183 + + I that is what you what you _changed to_ + If that is what you what you + + Page 188 + + "Don't be worried," replied Dick cooly _changed to_ + "Don't be worried," replied Dick coolly + + Page 204 + + Dutton seeemd to be _changed to_ + Dutton seemed to be + + Page 205 + + what we've got to is to get him _changed to_ + what we've got to do is to get him + + Page 208 + + asked hi chum _changed to_ + asked his chum + + Page 208 + + as Paul yanked his from _changed to_ + as Paul yanked him from + + Page 211 + + and I am very much pleased with _changed to_ + and I am very much pleased with it + + Page 211 + + regular lettered comands _changed to_ + regular lettered commands + + Page 217 + + to use in the shame battle _changed to_ + to use in the sham battle + + Page 222 + + he cried to his main comand _changed to_ + he cried to his main command + + Page 227 + + advancing to annihiliate _changed to_ + advancing to annihilate + + Page 230 + + defeners of the hill _changed to_ + defenders of the hill + + Page 240 + + said Mr. Larabee in solmen accents _changed to_ + said Mr. Larabee in solemn accents + + Page 257 + + throw the blame on yuo _changed to_ + throw the blame on you + + Page 264 + + but the suregon gently _changed to_ + but the surgeon gently + + Page 267 + + Why--why--Hamitlon _changed to_ + Why--why--Hamilton + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days, by Howard R. 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Garis + +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 Hamilton's Cadet Days + The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son + +Author: Howard R. Garis + +Release Date: October 14, 2010 [EBook #33926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<hr /> + +<h1>DICK HAMILTON'S<br /> +CADET DAYS</h1> + +<hr class="hr3" /> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="400" height="647" alt="Frontispiece" title="Page 175" /> +<span class="caption smcap">"Allow me to present my friend, Dick Hamilton."</span><br /> +<div class="right4"><a href="#allow"><i>Page</i> 175</a>.</div> +<span class="caption"><i>Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days.</i></span> +</div> + + +<hr /> + +<p class="center"><span class="title">DICK HAMILTON'S<br /> +CADET DAYS</span><br /> +<br /> +OR<br /> +<br /> +<span class="sub">THE HANDICAP OF A<br /> +MILLIONAIRE'S SON</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +BY<br /> +<span class="author">HOWARD R. GARIS</span><br /> +<br /> +<small>AUTHOR OF "DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE," "FROM OFFICE BOY TO<br /> +REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER," "LARRY<br /> +DEXTER'S GREAT SEARCH," ETC.</small><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br /> +<br /><br /><br /> +<span class="pub1">THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO.</span><br /> +<span class="pub2">CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y.</span></p> + +<hr class="hr3" /> + + +<p class="center">Copyright, 1910, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">Grosset & Dunlap</span></p> + +<hr class="white" /> + +<p class="center"><i>Printed in the United States of America</i><br /> +by<br /> +<small>THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO.<br /> +CLEVELAND, O.</small></p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span> +PREFACE.</h2> + + +<p class="noi"><span class="smcap">My Dear Boys</span>:</p> + +<p>When I had finished the first volume of this series, telling of the +doings of Dick Hamilton, the young millionaire, I was in some doubt as +to just how you would like it. I hoped that you would be pleased with +it, and interested in Dick and his chums, and what they did, but I could +not be sure of it.</p> + +<p>That you did care for it, I am now assured, and I am glad to be able to +give you the second volume, relating some of Dick's experiences while at +a leading military school.</p> + +<p>You will recall that, after he had come into possession of his great +fortune, by fulfilling certain conditions of his mother's will, there +were still other things for him to do; matters that his mother had +planned before her death. One of these was to make sure that her son +would get a good military training.</p> + +<p>Dick went to Kentfield Academy, but, to his surprise, he met with a very +cold reception from the other cadets. Ray Dutton, not understanding +that, in spite of our hero's wealth, he was a fine chap, influenced the +other students against Dick,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span> and, for a time, the young millionaire was +very lonely in the big school. But he resolved to fight his own battles, +and become popular in spite of his wealth.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ezra brought him bad news, but it was the means of great good luck +for Dick, though Grit, the bulldog, seemed to regard the crabbed old man +as his master's enemy, and chased him from the school.</p> + +<p>All this you will find set down in the present volume, and also an +account of how Dick was instrumental in locating a long missing soldier, +and how, when the society house of the Sacred Pig burned down, without +any insurance being in force, Dick, with his wealth, came to the aid of +the surprised cadets.</p> + +<p class="nb right2">Yours sincerely,</p> +<p class="nt right"><span class="smcap">Howard R. Garis</span>.</p> + + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span> +<a name="contents" id="contents"></a>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<table summary="Contents" class="width30"> +<tr> +<th class="thr1">CHAPTER</th> +<th class="thr2" colspan="2">PAGE</th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Gets a Telegram</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#i">1</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">II.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Change in Plans</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ii">14</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">III.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Grit Routs Uncle Ezra</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iii">25</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">In Which Dick Starts Off</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iv"> 35</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">V.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">An Odd Character</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#v">42</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Hazing</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vi">51</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Thinks He Has a Clue</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vii">62</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Gets a Fall</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#viii">72</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">IX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Who Fired the Gun</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ix">78</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">X.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Has a Fight</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#x">85</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Gives a Spread</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xi">92</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">An Angry Farmer</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xii">100</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Narrow Escape</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiii">108</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Captain Handlee's Visit</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiv">117</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">On the Gridiron</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xv">121</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">For the Prize Troop</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xvi">128</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick in Trouble</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xvii">135</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XVIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Dismal Christmas</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xviii">144</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XIX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Marksman's Medal</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xix">152</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Doesn't Tell</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xx">159</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fancy Dress Ball</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxi">170</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Challenge</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxii">181</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Winter March</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxiii">190</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span>XXIV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Rescue of Dutton</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxiv">199</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Off to Camp</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxv">208</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Sham Battle</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxvi">215</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Wins the Contest</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxvii">228</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXVIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Uncle Ezra at Kentfield</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxviii">235</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick's Great Run</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxix">243</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Broadsword Combat</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxx">251</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXXI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Dick Writes a Check—Conclusion</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxxi">261</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span> +<a name="i" id="i"></a>DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS</h2> + + +<h2>CHAPTER I<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK GETS A TELEGRAM</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hi</span> boys! Here goes for a double summersault!"</p> + +<p>"Bet you don't do it, Frank."</p> + +<p>"You watch."</p> + +<p>"Every time you try it you come down on your back," added another lad of +the group of those who were watching one of their companions poised on +the end of a spring-board.</p> + +<p>"Well, this time I'm going to do it just like that circus chap did," and +Frank Bender, who had an ambition to become an acrobat, raised his hands +above his head and crouched for a spring.</p> + +<p>"If you do it I'll follow," said another boy, clad in a bright red +bathing suit.</p> + +<p>"Good for you, Dick!" exclaimed Walter Mead. "Don't let Frank stump +you."</p> + +<p>"Here I go!" cried Frank, and, a moment later, he sprang from the +spring-board, leaped high into the air, and, turning over twice, came +down in true diver style, his hands cleaving the water beneath which he +disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +"Good!" cried the boys on the shore.</p> + +<p>"I didn't think he'd do it," remarked "Bricktop" Norton, so called from +his shock of red hair.</p> + +<p>"Me either," added Fred Murdock. "Now it's up to you, Dick."</p> + +<p>"That's right."</p> + +<p>Dick Hamilton rose from a log on which he was sitting. He was a tall, +clean-cut chap, straight as an arrow, with an easy grace about him, and +it needed but a glance to show that he was of athletic build. His red +bathing suit, from which protruded bronzed arms and legs, was +particularly becoming to him.</p> + +<p>"There—let's—see—you—do—that!" spluttered Frank, as he came up, +some distance from where he had gone down. He shook his head to rid his +eyes and ears of water, and struck out for shore.</p> + +<p>"Stay there!" called Dick. "I'll +<a name="swim" id="swim"></a><ins title="Original has swin">swim</ins> out farther than you did."</p> + +<p>"Dick's cutting out some work for himself," remarked Bricktop, in a low +tone to Bill Johnson. "Frank's a dandy swimmer."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Dick Hamilton usually does what he sets out to do," replied +Bill. "There he goes."</p> + +<p>Dick walked to the end of the spring-board. He teetered up and down on +it two or three times, testing the balance of the long plank. Then he +took a few steps backward, poised for an instant, and ran forward.</p> + +<p>"There he goes!" called Walter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +Like a rubber ball Dick Hamilton arose in the air. He curled himself up +into a lump as he leaped, and then, to the surprise of his companions, +he turned over not twice, but three times ere he struck the water, which +closed up over his feet as they disappeared.</p> + +<p>"Well—wouldn't that sizzle your side combs!" cried Bricktop. "Three +times!"</p> + +<p>"A triple!" added Walter Mead. "Whoever would think Dick could do it!"</p> + +<p>"Aw, he's been practicing," called Frank, as he circled about in the +water, watching for Dick to come up. "He's been doing it on the sly, and +he's kept quiet about it."</p> + +<p>"Just like Dick," added Bill. "He isn't satisfied to do ordinary +stunts."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's done a good one this time," said Fred Murdock. "Say, isn't +he staying under a long time?"</p> + +<p>There was no sight of the millionaire youth.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he hit his head on a rock," suggested Bricktop, in some alarm.</p> + +<p>"That's so," went on Fred. "This place isn't any too deep, and he came +down hard."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we'd better go in after him," remarked Walter.</p> + +<p>"Dive down!" called Bill to Frank.</p> + +<p>The boys were becoming frightened. Not a ripple, save the little waves +made by Frank, as he stood upright, treading water, disturbed the +expanse of the swimming hole. There was no sign<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> of Dick Hamilton. Frank +prepared for a dive, when, suddenly, at some distance from shore +something shot up through the water. It was the hand and arm of a boy. +An instant later his head and shoulders popped into view.</p> + +<p>"There he is!" cried Walter.</p> + +<p>"It's about time he came up," said Bill, somewhat sharply, for Dick's +long under-water swim had frightened the boys.</p> + +<p>"How's that, fellows?" asked Dick, as he shook the water from his face, +and struck out for shore.</p> + +<p>"You win!" cried Frank, "but please don't give us heart disease again."</p> + +<p>"Why; what's the matter?"</p> + +<p>"We'd thought you'd struck on a stone and weren't going to come up +again."</p> + +<p>"No danger of that," answered Dick, with a laugh. "I'm having too much +fun at camp here, to stay down there. Did I make a good dive?"</p> + +<p>"Did you? Say, you've got us all beat to a pig's whisper on Fourth of +July," admitted Bricktop. "How'd you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wish you'd show me," added Frank. "You must have been practicing +it."</p> + +<p>"I have," admitted Dick. "It's easy when you know how. After you do a +double summersault, all you have to do—is to make another one, making +three in all, and you can see that I had nothing concealed up my sleeve, +and——"</p> + +<p>"And you did it without the aid of a net,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> added Fred, after the +fashion of the ringmaster in a circus announcing some marvelous feat.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try it," said Frank, as he clambered out on the bank.</p> + +<p>"No, I think we've been in the water long enough this morning," said +Dick. "Besides it's most grub time. I don't know how you feel about it, +but I think I could nibble at a bit of roast chicken, which I happen to +know that our esteemed cook, Hannibal Cæsar Erastus Jones, has in the +oven."</p> + +<p>"Ah! Um!" murmured Bill Johnson.</p> + +<p>"That's it! Make a noise like a lunch-grabber!" objected Fred. "I should +think you'd be ashamed of yourself."</p> + +<p>"Oh, listen to the professor at the breakfast table!" cried Bill with a +laugh. "I don't s'pose you're going to nibble at any; art thou, +Reginald?"</p> + +<p>"Well, you just watch him," advised Fred. "He's got me beat, all right."</p> + +<p>"Come on!" cried Dick suddenly. "First fellow at the dining tent gets +most of the white meat!"</p> + +<p>He started off at a fast clip, the others sprinting after him, and he +would have won, but that he stubbed his bare toe on a stone, and had to +finish the rest of the distance on one leg, holding the injured member +in his hands, making, the while, wry faces at the pain. Bill Johnson won +the impromptu race.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +"Hurt much?" asked Walter, as Dick limped up.</p> + +<p>"Like sin. Say, Hannibal Cæsar Erastus Jones, will you do me a favor?" +he asked, as the colored cook, who did the camp cooking, came from his +tent.</p> + +<p>"Ob co'se, Massa Dick. What am it?"</p> + +<p>"Just go back there in the woods and bring me the pieces of that stone I +broke with my toe. I want 'em for souveniers."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Massa Dick, doan yo' go to playin' no tricks on me! Not +jest at de present auspicious moment," and the colored man grinned +broadly, showing a big expanse of white teeth, in an area of blackness.</p> + +<p>"Why not, Rastus?"</p> + +<p>"'Case as how de chicken am all done, an' if it ain't partook of +immejeet——"</p> + +<p>"Never mind those souveniers," said Dick. "We'll be with you in the +twinkling of a flea's left hand eyelash," and he hopped into his tent, +and began to dress, an example followed by the other boys.</p> + +<p>"Humph!" murmured Hannibal Cæsar Erastus Jones, as he stood in the midst +of the camp, rapidly blinking his eyes. "Fust I eber knowed a flea had a +eyelash. But Massa Dick, he must know, 'case he's po'ful smart. But I +'spects I'd better git ready to serb up de grub, as dey calls it, 'case +dey's allers pow'ful hungry when dey's been in swimmin'. Come t' t'ink +ob it, dough,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> dey's most allers ready t' eat." And, chuckling to +himself, Hannibal started toward the cook tent.</p> + +<p>It did not take the boys long to dress, and as they emerged from the +tents, their faces glowing with health, and bronzed from their life in +the open, they were as fine a group of lads as you would meet in a day's +travel, or, maybe a day and a half. They were all guests of Dick +Hamilton, who, as had been his custom for several years past, had taken +a crowd of his chums off to camp on the shores of Lake Dunkirk, a large +body of water near Hamilton Corners, where Dick lived.</p> + +<p>"Ah! Um! Smell that chicken!" murmured Bill Johnson, as he lifted his +nose high in the air.</p> + +<p>"There you go again! Displaying your lack of manners!" objected Fred. +"Why don't you wait in patience and dignity, as I do."</p> + +<p>"Well, wouldn't that melt your collar button!" remarked Bricktop. +"Where's the glass case they took you out of, Fred?"</p> + +<p>"Manners?" asked Dick, as he approached Fred from the side. "Excuse me, +but there's something sticking out there."</p> + +<p>As he spoke he slyly extended his foot, and, a moment later Fred +measured his length on the carpet of soft, pine needles of the woods.</p> + +<p>"Goodness me! Did you fall?" asked Dick, as he looked down, in apparent +surprise at his chum. "How careless of you."</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Bill. "Come here, Fred, and I'll pick you up."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +Fred arose, smiling rather sheepishly, but not at all angry. He brushed +off his clothes, and joined in the laugh that followed.</p> + +<p>"It's your turn next," observed the young millionaire. "I'll have to +keep my weather eye open, Fred."</p> + +<p>"All right," said the lad who had been tripped.</p> + +<p>"Well, Hannibal—Alphabet—Jones; art ready for the gathering of the +clans who hunger after the flesh-pots of Egypt?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"All ready, Massa Dick," replied the colored cook. "Come on."</p> + +<p>"First down! One wish-bone to gain!" called Walter Mead, as he took his +place at the table set under the tent fly.</p> + +<p>For the next five minutes the boys were so busy eating the roast chicken, +corn bread and other good things that Hannibal-and-the-rest-of-it-Jones, +with his knowledge of Southern cookery had provided, that they said not +a word. Then, with a long-drawn sigh of satisfaction, Bill observed:</p> + +<p>"There certainly is nothing like a good meal."</p> + +<p>"Unless it's two," added Bricktop. "I didn't much fancy Dick's plan of +taking a professional cook along when we came to camp this year, because +it used to be fun to do it ourselves, but our cooking was never like +this."</p> + +<p>"Never, never, never!" exclaimed Fred. "I'll have a little more chicken, +if you don't mind, Dick."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +"Certainly not. There's plenty."</p> + +<p>"Yes, this is better than having to do it ourselves," said Frank Bender, +as he finished polishing off a juicy leg. "No dishes to wash, nothing to +bother with after you're through, only have a good time. Dick, you're a +brick!"</p> + +<p>"As long as I'm not a gold one, it's all right," said the millionaire's +son. "But I thought you'd agree with me that it was best to take a cook +along."</p> + +<p>"It sure is all to the pancake batter," observed Bricktop. "Well, I +don't mind if I do have a little more of the white meat, if you insist," +he added, though no one had asked him to pass his plate.</p> + +<p>Dick laughed as he helped his chum to some choice bits. Matters were +moving more slowly, now that the first edge of hunger was dulled, and +the boys were taking occasional stops to make remarks.</p> + +<p>"What's the program for this afternoon?" asked Walter, as he drained his +coffee cup. "Are we going fishing?"</p> + +<p>"Whatever you say," replied Dick, who, like a true host, always +consulted the wishes of his guests. "We can fish, take a walk, or go out +in the motor boat."</p> + +<p>"The motor boat for mine," said Bill. "I want to get on a pile of +cushions and take a snooze."</p> + +<p>"Well, wouldn't that give you the nightmare!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> came from Bricktop. +"You're getting lazier every day, Bill."</p> + +<p>"Help yourself," spoke the sleepy youth, as he slumped from the table +and stretched out under a tree.</p> + +<p>"I guess a trip in the motor boat would suit us all best," observed +Dick. "Hannibal 'Rastus, just fill up the gasolene tank, will you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, why wasn't I born rich instead of handsome," murmured Bricktop, who +never would have taken a prize in a beauty show. "But my fatal gift +of——"</p> + +<p>"Cut it out!" cried Walter, throwing a pine cone with such good aim, +that it went right into Bricktop's open mouth.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Ah! Ug! Blug! Chug! Hum!" spluttered the discomfitted one. "Who +threw that?" he demanded, when he could speak.</p> + +<p>Nobody answered, and, feeling in no mood to get up and chastise Walter, +whose sly grin proclaimed him the culprit, Bricktop stretched out again.</p> + +<p>"Hark! That sounds like a wagon coming," observed Fred, as he sat up, +after a few minutes of silence.</p> + +<p>"Guess it's the ice man," said Dick, for he had arranged to have a +supply left at the camp. He believed in having all the comforts possible +when he went into the woods.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't rumble like an ice wagon," commented Bill.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +"Sounds more like a load of steel girders," added Walter.</p> + +<p>At this, Dick arose. He peered through the trees toward a seldom-used +wagon road, which ran near the camp. He caught sight of something +moving.</p> + +<p>"It's a wagon, all right," he said, "but it isn't the ice man."</p> + +<p>A few moments later a remarkable rig hove into sight. It consisted of a +rattle-trap of a wagon, loaded with all sorts of scrap iron, and drawn +by a horse that looked as if it had escaped from the bone yard. It just +crawled +<a name="along" id="along"></a><ins title="Original has alone">along</ins>. On the seat was a bright-faced youth, who was +doing his best to excite the animal into a speed a little better than +that of a snail. He jerked on the reins, called at the horse, and +cracked his whip, but all to no purpose.</p> + +<p>"It's no use!" he exclaimed, as he looked through the trees and caught +sight of Dick and his chums. "He's got the pip, or something like that."</p> + +<p>"Why, hello, Henry," called Dick. "What brings you away off here? +There's no scrap around here."</p> + +<p>"I thought maybe you boys might have had one or two that you'd sell +cheap," said the young dealer in old iron, and there was a twinkle in +his eyes.</p> + +<p>"They're all too lazy to fight, except me," observed Bricktop, "and I'm +too good."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +"Stow that!" commanded Fred, making a pass at his chum, who jumped back +out of reach.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you quite a way from home?" asked Dick, as he went up and shook +hands with Henry Darby.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am. But you see I'm driving around the country, collecting old +iron. This is my dull season, and I took my oldest rig, and started off +day before yesterday. I'm taking it easy—have to you know, on account +of my horse's health. His delicate constitution makes it necessary. +There doesn't seem to be much old iron about, and I've got this far, +without picking up a full load."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you give some to your horse. Iron is good for the +constitution," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"I thought of it, but you see all the iron I have is in long pieces and +sticks out all sorts of ways. If my horse swallowed any of it he'd have +more fine points than he's got now. So I guess I'll keep him on grain."</p> + +<p>"But you haven't told me why you're away off here in the woods," went on +Dick. "Is there any iron about here?"</p> + +<p>"No, not that I know of. I came to find you."</p> + +<p>"To find me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I have a telegram for you. I happened to stop in the village back +there, and while I was making some inquiries in the post-office, which +is also the telegraph station, a message came for you. The operator had +no one he could send with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> it, and, as I happened to know where you were +camping, I said I'd take it. He gave me a quarter for bringing it out, +and so I've made some profit to-day."</p> + +<p>"A telegram!" cried Dick. "Why didn't you say so at first? Give it +here," and he held out his hand.</p> + +<p>"I didn't want to scare you," said Henry. "I was breaking the news +gently."</p> + +<p>He handed over the yellow envelope. Dick tore it open, and, as he read +the short message, he gave a start.</p> + +<p>"No bad news I hope," remarked Walter.</p> + +<p>"No, I guess not," replied Dick slowly. "But I've got to leave for home +at once."</p> + +<p>"Leave for home!" cried his chums.</p> + +<p>"Yes. This is from dad. It says: 'Dear Dick. Come home as soon as you +get this. Important.'"</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +<a name="ii" id="ii"></a>CHAPTER II<br /> +<br /> +<small>A CHANGE IN PLANS</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Following</span> Dick's reading of the telegram there was silence among the +campers. They all imagined something had happened to Mr. Hamilton, +Dick's father, and they hesitated to give voice to their thoughts.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd offer to take you home in my chariot," said Henry Darby, with +a suggestion of a smile, "only I know you'd be two days on the road. +Though it might be a good thing," he added "for your father would hear +us coming long before he could see us, with the way this old iron +rattles. I wish some one would invent noiseless scrap iron."</p> + +<p>"Do you—do you s'pose your father is—is hurt?" asked Walter, finally +putting into words what all the others thought.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it," replied Dick, stoutly. "Dad knows me well enough to +say right out what he means. He wants me home, for some reason or other, +but I don't know what it can be," and he looked at the telegram in a +puzzled sort of way, as if the slip of paper would solve the mystery for +him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +"Maybe—maybe he's lost all his money," suggested Frank "and you've got +to give up the camp."</p> + +<p>"No, I guess there's no danger of dad losing all his money so quickly," +relied the young millionaire. "He had plenty when I came away, two weeks +ago, and he's got so many investments that he couldn't lose it all at +once, even if he tried. No, it's something else. I wonder what it is?"</p> + +<p>"I s'pose the best way to find out, is to go and ask him, about it," +suggested Henry.</p> + +<p>"That's it," assented Dick. "I could telegraph, but he might be away +from home, and wouldn't get it. I guess I'll have to leave camp, +fellows."</p> + +<p>"Then we'll go, too," said Bricktop.</p> + +<p>"No, there's no need of that. I invited you out for three weeks, and +that time isn't up yet. You might as well stay. +<a name="Hannibal" id="Hannibal"></a><ins title="Original has Hanniabal">Hannibal</ins> +will cook for you, and if I can come back I will. Otherwise you stay +here and enjoy yourselves."</p> + +<p>"We won't enjoy ourselves very much if you leave," said Walter +regretfully, and the others echoed his sentiment.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's a compliment to me," declared Dick, with a smile, "but I +guess you'll manage to exist. Now I wonder how I'd better go? Henry, I +s'pose I could ride with you to the village, and take a train."</p> + +<p>"I should advise you to," remarked the young iron merchant. "This nag +went to sleep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> four times coming out, and he's snoring now. No telling +what he'll do on the way back. He seems to like life in the woods. I +guess he must have been a wild horse once, and he's going back to +nature."</p> + +<p>"He's not very wild now," observed Bricktop, tickling the animal with a +switch. "He won't even move."</p> + +<p>"No, it takes quite a while to get him started," said Henry. "Usually I +have to begin the day before, to get him into action. No, Dick, I +shouldn't advise you to ride with me."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with the motor boat?" asked Frank. "You can go to the +village in that."</p> + +<p>"That's so," agreed Dick. "You fellows can take me over, and bring her +back. We'll do it."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Henry, as he began to take in the slack of the reins, +preparatory to starting the horse, "I guess I'll be going. I hope you +find everything all right at home, Dick."</p> + +<p>"I guess I will. Probably this has something to do with business +matters. But, say, don't you want a bite to eat? We just finished grub, +and there's a little that these cannibals didn't stow away."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do begin to feel the need of something," said the young dealer +in old iron. "The crackers and cheese I got in the village weren't very +filling."</p> + +<p>"Tie your horse, and sit down to the table.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +Hannibal-and-half-a-dozen-other-names will get you something. Ho! +Rastus!" called Dick.</p> + +<p>"No need to tie this horse," said Henry with grim smile. "If I did he'd +imagine he was home in the stable, and go so sound to sleep that it +would take two days to wake him. I'll just put some oats down in front +of him, and, maybe he'll rouse up enough to eat them. That will keep him +from taking naps."</p> + +<p>The youthful iron merchant did this, and, while he was making a +bountiful meal from what the colored cook set before him, Dick was +preparing to start for home, wondering, meanwhile, why his father had +sent for him so suddenly.</p> + +<p>Those of you who have read the first book of this series entitled "Dick +Hamilton's Fortune," will need no introduction to the millionaire youth +and his chums. But you boys and girls who have not previously met him, +may desire a little introduction.</p> + +<p>Dick Hamilton was the only son of Mortimer Hamilton, of Hamilton +Corners, not far from New York. The town was named after Mr. Hamilton +because he was financially interested in many of the industries of the +place. He was president of the national bank, owned large woolen mills, +a brass foundry, a lumber concern, and was head of a railroad and a +trolley line that added much of importance to the place. Mr. Hamilton +counted his fortune by the millions, and his son, who had inherited a +large sum from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> his mother, was also the possessor of substantial bank +accounts.</p> + +<p>In the first volume there was told how, on a certain birthday Dick came +into control of a large part of his wealth, subject to a peculiar +condition of his mother's will. That is, he was to make, inside of a +year, a wise and paying investment of some of his funds, under penalty +of losing control of his fortune for a time, and having to live with a +miserly uncle.</p> + +<p>This uncle, Ezra Larabee by name, of the town of Dankville, was Mrs. +Hamilton's brother. One of the conditions of her will was that Dick +should spend a week with his uncle before entering into possession of +the money, that he might see what sort of a life he was likely to lead, +in case he did not comply with the provisions.</p> + +<p>Dick had a miserable time at Mr. Larabee's. He was not allowed to have +any fun, and his uncle even objected to him walking on the paths, for +fear he would disturb the newly-raked gravel.</p> + +<p>Dick returned home, determined to make a paying investment if only to +escape his uncle's clutches. He did make several investments, by buying +real estate, some stock in a milk company, and some shares in a gold +mine. But they all turned out badly, and, while investigating the mine +by means of which he had been swindled, he had, with his chums, some +<a name="exciting" id="exciting"></a><ins title="Original has exicting">exciting</ins> adventures.</p> + +<p>In Hamilton Corners, dwelt "Hank" Darby, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> shiftless sort of man, and +his son, Henry, who was as energetic as his father was lazy. Henry +started to make money, in a small way, by collecting scrap iron, and +selling it, but his shiftless parent nearly brought the business to +grief. Dick became interested in Henry's efforts, and, as the young +millionaire had plenty of money, he loaned Henry two hundred and fifty +dollars, to buy out the iron business of a man who wished to retire. +"Hank" Darby, with an exaggerated idea of his own importance, elected +himself president of the old iron company, made Dick treasurer, and +Henry secretary.</p> + +<p>Dick gave little thought to the money he had loaned his young friend, +but the time came when it was to prove of great benefit to him. One +after another his various investments failed, and he saw the time +approaching when he must go to live with his miserly uncle. His last +venture was to invest five hundred dollars in an airship, the inventor +of which hoped to win a government prize, which he promised to divide +with Dick. But the airship blew up, and Dick saw his next birthday dawn, +without, as he thought, having made his paying investment.</p> + +<p>Uncle Ezra, who was much opposed to his nephew having so much money, +came, according to agreement, to get Dick to take him to Dankville with +him. But, at the last moment, something quite unexpected happened and it +was found that Dick had, after all, complied with the terms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> of his +mother's will, and he was, therefore, allowed to keep control of his +fortune. But, as told in the first volume, there were still other +stipulations with which he must comply.</p> + +<p>Following the events told of in "Dick Hamilton's Fortune," our +millionaire hero had completed his course at a local academy. When +summer came he took some of his chums off to camp in the woods, and it +was there that Henry, who was still in the old iron business, found him.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I'm ready," remarked Dick, as he came from his tent, one +of several that formed the camp. "I'll not take any of my things, for I +may be able to come back and finish out the vacation."</p> + +<p>"I certainly hope so," said Bricktop fervently.</p> + +<p>"Same here," added Walter and the others.</p> + +<p>By this time Henry had made a good meal, and, as his horse showed some +signs of life, he remarked that he thought he would start, before the +beast got to sleep again.</p> + +<p>"Did you gasolene the motor boat, Rastus?" asked Dick of the colored +cook.</p> + +<p>"Yais sah, Massa Dick."</p> + +<p>"All right. Now see that these poor kids don't get hungry while I'm +gone. Let 'em take pieces of pie to bed with 'em, to keep 'em quiet."</p> + +<p>"Ho! Ho! Massa Dick. Deed an' I will. Pie to bed wif 'em! Ha! Ha! Ho! +Ho!"</p> + +<p>The boys entered the motor boat, leaving Hannibal in charge of camp, and +they soon reached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> the village, whence Dick could take a train for home.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, enjoy yourselves," he called to them, as they watched him +board the train at the depot. "I'll come back if I can. Better practice +that triple summersault, Frank."</p> + +<p>"I will. I'll stump you, when you come back."</p> + +<p>"I wish I didn't have to leave them," thought Dick, as he settled +himself in his seat. "I wonder what dad wants of me? But there's no use +worrying. I'll be home in about two hours."</p> + +<p>He exhibited his pass, on which he was traveling, as his father was +president of the railroad, and then sat looking at the scenery, vainly +wondering, in spite of his efforts not to dwell on it, why he had been +summoned home.</p> + +<p>"Well, Dick," greeted his father, when the young millionaire entered the +house. "You got back sooner than I expected."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dad. I started as soon as I got your message. I hope nothing is +the matter."</p> + +<p>"Nothing serious. The fact is I have to leave for Europe next week——"</p> + +<p>"For Europe! And are you going to take me?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm sorry to say I can't. But I have other plans for you, which I +hope you will like. I unexpectedly received a call to England, to settle +some large financial matters in which I am interested, and, as I shall +have to be gone six months or more I decided to close the house up and +let<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> the servants go. As that would make no place for you to stay, +unless you boarded, which you might not like, I decided to send for you, +and tell you what I propose. The reason I telegraphed for you is that I +will be so busy after to-day that I will have no time to attend to +anything."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do with me?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"You remember," went on Mr. Hamilton, "that in her will, your mother +specified, in addition to making a good investment, that you must attend +a military academy——"</p> + +<p>"That's so!" cried Dick. "I'd forgotten about that. Say, when can I go? +This beats camp!"</p> + +<p>"Not so fast," cautioned his father. "There are certain conditions to be +fulfilled. Your mother had peculiar ideas regarding money. She wished +her son to become a success in spite of it. So she provided, under +certain penalties, which you will learn of later, that you were to go to +a good military academy to complete your education.</p> + +<p>"There, as I told you once before, though you may have forgotten it, you +are to become popular with the students in spite of your wealth. You are +to make your own way without the aid of your millions. And this is no +easy matter. While many persons have a false notion of wealth, by far +the larger class attach to it only the importance it deserves. A rich +lad can, to a certain extent,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> become popular, but he will never have +the real, solid friends that some youth not so well off would win. So +you've got to make friends in spite of your money."</p> + +<p>"That ought to be easy," said Dick, but he was to find it a harder task +than he had supposed it would be.</p> + +<p>"So, as I have to go away, and close up the house," went on Mr. +Hamilton, "I have arranged that you are to go to the academy a little +ahead of time, about two weeks before the term opens. That will give you +a chance to find your way around the place."</p> + +<p>"Where is it?"</p> + +<p>"It is the Kentfield Military Academy, located in one of the middle +western states, and is near Lake Wagatook. Colonel James Masterly, a +friend of mine, is the superintendent, and I have written to him +concerning you. He gave me permission to send you on ahead of time, and +that is what I propose to do. You will have to get ready to go at the +end of this week. I hope you do not object."</p> + +<p>"Not in the least, dad. We were having lots of fun at camp, but I'll +have more fun at Kentfield. Shoulder arms! present arms! Halt! parade +rest! Wow! Say, dad, this is the best yet!"</p> + +<p>"Wait until you've spent a term there," advised his father.</p> + +<p>"If I don't have to start until the end of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> week, I might as well go +back to camp," said Dick, when he had calmed down a bit.</p> + +<p>"Just as you like. From now on I shall be too busy to see much of you, +but I will make all arrangements."</p> + +<p>"All right, dad. I'll go back to camp then. I can get a late train," and +Dick went to see what time it left, meanwhile whistling a succession of +military airs, from "The Girl I left Behind Me," to "Yankee Doodle."</p> + +<p>He reached camp late that night, somewhat to the surprise of his chums, +and they spent the next few days in crowding in as much pleasure as +possible. When it became time for Dick to leave, the others decided to +go back home with him, as the three weeks were nearly up.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +<a name="iii" id="iii"></a>CHAPTER III<br /> +<br /> +<small>GRIT ROUTS UNCLE EZRA</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">There's</span> a man out in the vestibule who wants to see you, Master Dick," +said Gibbs, the butler, one evening, a few days before the time of +departure to the academy.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?"</p> + +<p>"Captain Handlee."</p> + +<p>"Tell him to come in." Dick knew Captain Handlee as an old soldier, who +lived in a tumble-down house on the outskirts of the village. The +veteran, escorted by the butler, entered shyly. Dick greeted him kindly, +and the old man began almost abruptly:</p> + +<p>"Did you ever hear that I had a son?"</p> + +<p>"No, I never knew that. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"That is what I want you to help me to find out."</p> + +<p>"You want me to help you? Why, how can I?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that you can. I only hope so. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"I will do all I can for you, but perhaps you want to see my father," +for Dick had an idea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> that the old man wanted some money for some +purpose.</p> + +<p>"No, I want to see you, Mr. Dick. You see you are going to a military +academy, and that is why I think you can help me."</p> + +<p>"But I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Listen, and I will tell you. As you know, I am an old soldier, but few +persons around here know that my only son was a soldier, too."</p> + +<p>"I certainly did not. I never knew that you had a son."</p> + +<p>"Well, I did, and he was a fine chap, too. He enlisted in the regular +army, where I served my time, but for many years I have heard nothing +about him."</p> + +<p>"What happened?"</p> + +<p>"He was among the missing after his company was sent to quell an +uprising among the Indians, out west, many years ago. No word was ever +received from him, and I don't know whether he was killed, or taken +captive. I never heard anything about him, and now I think you can aid +me in locating him."</p> + +<p>"But how can I?"</p> + +<p>"By making inquiries at the military academy."</p> + +<p>"But it is not likely that any one at Kentfield would know of your son."</p> + +<p>"They might. When your father told me you were going there, he mentioned +that Major Franklin Webster, a retired army officer, was in charge of +military tactics at the school. Now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> Major Webster is an old Indian +fighter, and I thought that if you asked him, he might be able to get +some news of my son. Will you do this for me?"</p> + +<p>"I will, gladly, but I have not much hope of the result."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it will amount to nothing," said the old soldier with a sigh, +"but it is the first chance I have had in many years. All my inquiries +of the war department resulted in nothing. Perhaps you may have better +luck."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," replied Dick gently. "I will make some inquiries. What is +your son's name?"</p> + +<p>"He was christened William, but his friends in the army called him +Corporal Bill."</p> + +<p>"How would Major Webster know him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, easily enough. I have his picture."</p> + +<p>The veteran drew a faded photograph from his pocket, and held the card +so that Dick could see it. "That's him," said the old man proudly.</p> + +<p>The young millionaire saw the photograph of a youthful soldier in +uniform.</p> + +<p>"Your son would be much older than that now; wouldn't he, Captain +Handlee?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so. I think he must have been injured in some way, and +forgotten his name. Otherwise he would have written to me. But I know +another way in which you could recognize him."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"He was the best shot in his company. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> was a sharpshooter, and one of +the finest. So if you can get track of a soldier, who is a good shot, +that may be my son, Corporal Bill. Will you try?"</p> + +<p>"I will, Captain, I'll do my best."</p> + +<p>"God bless you," said the veteran fervently. "And now I'll leave you. +I'd let you take this photograph, only it's—it's all I have to +remember—my son by," and his voice choked.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I'll need that," answered Dick. "I'll speak to Major +Webster, and see what I can do."</p> + +<p>The old soldier, murmuring his thanks, left the house.</p> + +<p>"Well," mused Dick, as he went to his room, "I'll soon be at Kentfield. +It'll be lonesome, at first, I expect, but the cadets will soon arrive. +And I'll try to find the captain's son.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how I'll make out with the cadets? I don't see why I should +have any trouble making friends, or becoming popular, no matter if I am +a millionaire, and the son of one. Money ought not to make such a +difference. Still, as dad says, I may find it a handicap."</p> + +<p>He looked around the room where he had spent so many pleasant hours. It +was an ideal boy's apartment, with everything the most exacting youth +could desire.</p> + +<p>"I think I'll make out all right," Dick mused on. "But if worst comes to +worst, I have a plan up my sleeve which I think will work." His eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +sparkled, and it was evident that he had just thought of some scheme. +"That ought to do it," he said, speaking half aloud. "If I can't win any +other way, I'll try that."</p> + +<p>"Well, Dick," remarked his father, the next morning, "I suppose you are +all ready to go to Kentfield?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I've got everything packed. What will be your address on the other +side?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I must leave you that. Here it is. You can forward me letters +in care of my London bankers, and they will see that I get them. I may +have to put in some time on the continent. By the way, Dick, I hear that +<a name="captain" id="captain"></a><ins title="Original has Catpain">Captain</ins> Handlee called to see you last night."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he wants me to help him locate his missing son," and Dick told his +father of the interview with the old soldier.</p> + +<p>"Poor man," remarked Mr. Hamilton, shaking his head, "I fear there is +little hope for him. I once aided him in making some inquiries, but they +came to nothing."</p> + +<p>"Do you know him?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I have often aided him, and I would do more for him, but he is +too proud to accept charity. He is rather odd at times, and does not +remain at any employment long, or I could give him a good place. His +whole mind is set on finding his son. If the missing corporal could be +located it would be the making of Captain Handlee, for he would settle +down then."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +"I don't suppose I can help him."</p> + +<p>"No, I'm afraid not. Still, do all you can. It is barely possible that +Major Webster, or some of the officers who are stationed at Kentfield, +may be able to put you on the track, but I doubt it. Well, I think I'll +have to go down to the bank now. I'll see you to-night, and say good-bye +in the morning."</p> + +<p>Not long after Mr. Hamilton had left, and while Dick was in his room, +packing some of his belongings, a maid who was new in the house came to +inform him that a visitor was in the library.</p> + +<p>"Who is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but it's someone, Master Dick, who your dog doesn't like, +for he's growling something fierce."</p> + +<p>"I'll come down," said the young millionaire, and he hurried to the +library. As he entered a tall, thin man, with a curious little bunch of +whiskers on his chin, arose.</p> + +<p>"Well, I must say, Nephew Richard," he began, in a rasping voice, "that +this is a nice reception for me. Your horrible beast nearly bit me. The +house is no place for dogs."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry that Grit annoyed you, Uncle Ezra," said Dick as he +recognized the miserly man whom he had once visited.</p> + +<p>"Hum!" grunted the old man. "If I hadn't stood on a chair he would have +bit me, and then<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> I'd get hydrophobia, and die. Your father would have +had to pay damages, too."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad no such thing as that happened, Uncle Ezra."</p> + +<p>"Hum! Where's your father?"</p> + +<p>"Down to the bank. I can telephone, and let him know that you are here."</p> + +<p>"It isn't necessary. No need of wearing out the wires that way. I can +wait. I hear he has some foolish notion of sending you to a military +school."</p> + +<p>"I am going to a military academy, Uncle Ezra, in accordance with my +mother's wishes."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense! A wicked waste of money! The ordinary schools were +good enough for me, and they ought to be good enough for you. It's a +sinful waste of money. Mortimer Hamilton ought to be ashamed of himself. +The money ought to go to the heathen. It's foolish."</p> + +<p>"My father doesn't think so," replied Dick as quietly as he could, +though he was fast becoming angry at the dictatorial tone of his crabbed +uncle.</p> + +<p>"Hum! Much he knows about it! The idea of putting such ideas into boys' +heads as fighting and killing. Hu!"</p> + +<p>"But it might be useful in case of war."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense! It's positively wicked, I tell you. I've come to +remonstrate with Mortimer about it. If he has to go to Europe, which is +another waste of money, he could leave you with me. I'd bring you up in +the way you should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> go. There's no nonsense about me, nor my wife, +either. If your father consents to having you come to my place, you'll +learn more than you would at any military academy. Stuff and nonsense! +Don't talk to me! I know!"</p> + +<p>Dick could not repress a shudder as he thought of his uncle's gloomy +home in Dankville, a house amid a clump of fir trees, so dark, so quiet +and so lonesome that it reminded him of a vault in the cemetery.</p> + +<p>"I think my father has made up his mind to send me to the military +academy," said the boy.</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps I can make him change his mind. He doesn't know what's +good for boys."</p> + +<p>How Uncle Ezra Larabee could understand what lads needed, never having +had any sons of his own, was more than Dick could fathom, but he said +nothing.</p> + +<p>"I'll wait and see your father," went on the crabbed man.</p> + +<p>"I can get my automobile and take you to the bank," suggested Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, you might burst a tire, and that would cost something to fix."</p> + +<p>Dick could hardly repress a smile at the idea of a possible injured tire +standing in the way of an auto ride.</p> + +<p>"What's that girl walking back and forth so much for in the next room?" +asked Uncle Ezra suddenly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +"That's the maid, clearing away the breakfast things."</p> + +<p>"Hum! She'll wear the carpet out," commented the old man. "I must speak +to Mortimer about it. I think I'll caution her now."</p> + +<p>He rose, to do this, but +<a name="accidentally" id="accidentally"></a><ins title="Original has accidently">accidentally</ins> stepped on one of +Grit's legs, as the animal was reposing under a chair, where Dick had +sent him to get him out of the way. The dog let out a howl, and then a +savage growl, and made for the man he felt had purposely injured him.</p> + +<p>"Hold him! Catch him!" cried Uncle Ezra, as he sprang away. "Hold him, +Nephew Richard!"</p> + +<p>"Grit!" called Dick. "Come here!"</p> + +<p>But the dog refused to mind. Growling and snarling, he ran after Uncle +Ezra. The latter did not stop to speak to the maid about wearing out the +carpet. Instead he kept on to the front hall, and to the entrance door, +which was, fortunately, open. Down the steps, three at a time, jumped +Mr. Larabee, the dog close behind him.</p> + +<p>But, by this time Dick had caught up to his pet, and grasped him by the +collar.</p> + +<p>"Grit! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" he asked, but he could hardly +keep from smiling, while, as for Grit, he nearly wagged off his stump of +a tail, so glad was he at having routed Uncle Ezra.</p> + +<p>"I'll go down and see your father at the bank!" cried the excited man, +turning when he was safely on the sidewalk. "The idea of having a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +savage beast like that in the house. I'll see Mortimer and make him +change his plans. And I tell you one thing, Nephew Richard, if you come +to live with me you'll have to get rid of that bulldog," and, angrily +shaking his head, Uncle Ezra tramped down the street, walking slowly to +save shoe leather, though he was a very rich man.</p> + +<p>"I hope dad doesn't allow himself to be influenced by Uncle Ezra," +thought Dick, as he went back into the house with the dog. "We never +could stand it at Dankville; could we, Grit?" And the animal whined as +if he understood.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +<a name="iv" id="iv"></a>CHAPTER IV<br /> +<br /> +<small>IN WHICH DICK STARTS OFF</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. Hamilton</span> came home early that afternoon, bringing Mr. Larabee, his +brother-in-law, with him. Dick was anxiously awaiting their arrival.</p> + +<p>"Is that fierce beast in the house?" demanded the boy's uncle, as he +stood on the front steps. "If he is I'll not come in."</p> + +<p>"I've sent him to the stable, uncle," replied the young millionaire.</p> + +<p>"That's the proper place for him. Dogs are no good. They eat as much as +a man, and what you spend on keeping them would provide for a heathen +child in Africa."</p> + +<p>Dick wondered if Uncle Ezra provided for any heathen children, from his +wealth, but did not think it wise to ask.</p> + +<p>"Well, Dick," said Mr. Hamilton, when they were all three in the +library, "your uncle thinks it would be a good plan for me to leave you +with him, while I'm away."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" remarked Dick, his heart beating faster than usual.</p> + +<p>"It's the only sensible plan," said Uncle Ezra<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> with a snort. "Your idea +of a military academy, where he'll learn to shoot and stab his fellow +citizens, is a foolish one, Mortimer."</p> + +<p>"It is not altogether my plan," said Mr. Hamilton softly as he thought +of his dead wife. "Dick's mother provided for his future in her will, +and I must see that her wishes are carried out. Besides, I think a +military training is good for a young man."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "Neither you nor I had it, +Mortimer, and we got along. We're both well off."</p> + +<p>"Money isn't everything," said Mr. Hamilton. "No, Ezra, I'm much obliged +for your offer, but I think Dick will go to Kentfield. He is to start in +the morning."</p> + +<p>"Hum! It's a foolish idea," again snorted Uncle Ezra. "You'll live to +see the day you'll both be sorry for it."</p> + +<p>"I hope not, Ezra."</p> + +<p>"Well, you will."</p> + +<p>"We'll not discuss that now. Will you have a cigar before dinner?"</p> + +<p>"I never smoke. It's a dangerous and expensive habit."</p> + +<p>"Slightly dangerous, perhaps, but I smoke very little. As for the +expense, I think I can afford it. This has been quite a prosperous year +for me—and Dick."</p> + +<p>"What you spend for cigars would pay the interest on a large loan," went +on Mr. Larabee.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +"Yes, but I don't need the loan," declared Mr. Hamilton with a smile, +"and I do feel that I need a cigar to rest me after my day's work. +However, I don't advocate tobacco for young men, and Dick has promised +not to smoke until he is of age, and that will not be for a few years +yet."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as he could thing of nothing +else to say.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'd like a glass of lemonade before dinner," suggested Dick.</p> + +<p>"No," replied the austere man. "I don't think I'll stop for dinner. My +visit here has resulted in no good, and the sooner I get back home the +better. Besides I've got a new hired man, and I'm almost certain he'll +set the barn afire; he's so careless."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope not, Ezra," said Mr. Hamilton.</p> + +<p>"So do I, but I'd be nervous all night and I wouldn't sleep. Then I +might get sick, and have to pay out money for a doctor, or some +medicine. No; I'll take the late train home."</p> + +<p>"But that won't get you there until after midnight."</p> + +<p>"That's all right. It'll be cooler then, and there won't be so much +danger of overheating the horse. When you overheat a horse you sometimes +have to buy medicine for him, and horse medicine is expensive."</p> + +<p>Seeing that his brother-in-law could not be prevailed upon to remain, +Mr. Hamilton bade him good-bye, and Dick offered to take his uncle to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +the depot in the auto, but Mr. Larabee would not hear of it. He would +walk, he said, and save the car fare.</p> + +<p>"He's a queer man—your uncle," said Mr. Hamilton that night. "I guess +you wouldn't fancy staying with him; eh Dick?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, dad. A military academy for mine, as Bricktop would say."</p> + +<p>Dick was up early the next morning, when both he and his father were to +go away from home, each for a considerable time. The servants had been +provided for, and the handsome Hamilton mansion would be closed for +several months. Dick accompanied his father to the bank after breakfast, +and planned to go to the depot from there, some of his chums having +arranged to meet him at the station.</p> + +<p>"Ah, good morning, gentlemen!" exclaimed a pompous voice, as Dick and +his father entered the institution, and the young millionaire saw "Hank" +Darby, ready to greet them. "I understand you are about to become a +soldier," he went on to Dick.</p> + +<p>"Well, a sort of one," replied our hero.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that's a grand and noble calling. I once thought I would be one of +the defenders of my country, but I was called into other lines of +activity," said the father of the young proprietor of the scrap iron +business. He did not specify what the other lines were. "It is indeed +noble to fight for one's flag," went on the shiftless man, "but it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> is +also noble to accumulate wealth with which to fit out armies. That is +what I am doing. I am accumulating wealth."</p> + +<p>"How is it going?" asked Mr. Hamilton, who, as well as did Dick, knew +that Henry, the son, made all the money, which "Hank" spent as fast as +he could get any of it.</p> + +<p>"Well, it might be better," said the shiftless one. "But I have a scheme +on hand."</p> + +<p>"Another scheme, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, this is a very good one. There are enormous possibilities in it, +sir, <i>enormous</i>!" and "Hank" fairly stood on his tiptoes to get this +last word out with much emphasis.</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope you succeed," said Mr. Hamilton, as he and his son went to +the millionaire's private office.</p> + +<p>The final details for the trips of father and son were arranged. Dick +had his own bank account, and would not want for money. His father gave +him some advice, and then the two said good-bye to each other, Dick +having to leave before his father did, as the latter was to take an +express to New York, where he would get a steamer for Europe. Grit, the +dog, was to be left in charge of Henry Darby.</p> + +<p>"Well, my boy," said Mr. Hamilton, as he shook hands with Dick, +"remember what you are going for. You're under a big handicap, but I +guess you will win. You did the other time, though it was a close +shave."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +"Good-bye," said Dick, unable to keep back the suspicion of a tear.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," replied Mr. Hamilton, turning hastily to his desk, and +fumbling among some papers, which seemed to rattle unnecessarily loud.</p> + +<p>On the way to the depot Dick met Captain Handlee. The veteran greeted +the lad cordially.</p> + +<p>"So you're off to learn to be a soldier?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know that the military part of it amounts to much," +admitted Dick, who had no false ideas about where he was going, "but dad +thinks the discipline will be good for me, I guess."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Nothing like discipline of the right sort for lads. We +didn't have to learn to be soldiers in my time."</p> + +<p>"No, I s'pose you just went right in and fought," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"Indeed we did. That's what my boy did. Poor Bill! I wish I could see +him, or even hear of him again. You'll not forget your promise; will +you?"</p> + +<p>"No, Captain Handlee."</p> + +<p>"Remember he was the best shot in his company. He could drive a tack in +a board at a hundred yards. You make some inquiries, and I think you'll +get on the track of him."</p> + +<p>"I will," promised Dick, but he had no idea in what a strange way fate +was to bring about the old captain's desires through him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +Dick found a crowd of his chums awaiting for him at the railroad +station.</p> + +<p>"Here he comes!" cried Frank Bender, as he caught sight of Dick.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you going to take your rifle with you?" asked Fred Murdock.</p> + +<p>"I guess they'll provide me with a gun at Kentfield," answered Dick.</p> + +<p>"But they won't give you such grub as we had at camp," remarked +Bricktop.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess they will, but maybe it won't taste so good," replied the +young millionaire. "Well, boys, I guess this is my train."</p> + +<p>All his chums tried to shake hands with Dick at once as the locomotive +pulled into the station.</p> + +<p>"Don't forget to send me a souvenier postal," called Bill Johnson.</p> + +<p>"Tell us how you like it," chimed in Walter.</p> + +<p>"Maybe my dad will send me," added Bricktop.</p> + +<p>"Tell us if you meet any girls as pretty as those here," was Fred's +contribution.</p> + +<p>"Get on the football team," advised Frank.</p> + +<p>"And the baseball nine," chimed in Bricktop.</p> + +<p>By this time a number of passengers had their heads out of the windows, +to see who was getting such a send-off. Dick's chums shook him by the +hand, clapped him on the back, and fairly carried him up the steps of +the coach.</p> + +<p>Then, amid a +<a name="chorus" id="chorus"></a><ins title="Original has chorous">chorus</ins> of good-byes, the train pulled out, and +Dick was started on his way to become a cadet.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +<a name="v" id="v"></a>CHAPTER V<br /> +<br /> +<small>AN ODD CHARACTER</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was evening when Dick arrived at Kentfield, which, from the scenes +about the station, he judged to be quite a town of little importance. +There were few signs of life, scarcely anyone being at the depot, and +only a few passengers alighting.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I can get a carriage to take me out to the academy?" mused +Dick, as he looked about. "This doesn't strike me as being much of a +place, but the catalogue dad got showed quite an academy. I wonder where +it is?"</p> + +<p>He saw a rather dilapidated hack standing near the platform, and, +walking up to it, addressed the driver.</p> + +<p>"Can you take me out to the military academy?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied the man, "but there's nothing to see. It isn't open yet. +Term doesn't begin until next week."</p> + +<p>"I know," replied Dick. "But I'm going to attend there."</p> + +<p>"You?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +The man seemed much surprised, but there was a noticeable change in his +manner.</p> + +<p>"Going to be a student there?" he asked respectfully.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I had to come on ahead of time."</p> + +<p>"All right. Take you out there in a jiffy," went on the hack driver +briskly. "Got any baggage?"</p> + +<p>Dick handed over his checks, and the man soon returned with his trunk +and suitcase.</p> + +<p>"This doesn't appear to be a very lively place; not as much so as I +expected," remarked the young millionaire as he got into the vehicle.</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless your heart, sir, you just wait until next week," said the +man. "Then this town will sit up and take notice. This is our off +season, when the military school is closed. But when the boys +arrive—wow! Say, then's when you got to look out. My! Oh my! But it's +fierce!"</p> + +<p>"Do they—do they cut up much?" asked Dick, secretly glad that he was to +have a hand in it if the students did.</p> + +<p>"Do they? Say, young man, when I start to drive a party of them cadets +anywhere I don't never know if we're going to arrive. Never can tell +when a wheel is coming off, or when my horses will start up, and leave +the coach behind. That's why I always use quiet animals. Them cadets has +life enough and to spare. Cut up? Say, jest you wait!"</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe it won't be so bad after I get<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> started, and make the +acquaintance of some of the boys," thought Dick.</p> + +<p>But he little knew what was ahead of him.</p> + +<p>"Is the academy far out?" asked Dick, for, as the hack was an open one, +he could converse with the driver.</p> + +<p>"About a mile. We'll be there in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>A "jiffy" must be quite a period of time, or else the driver's estimate +of a mile was different from the accepted five thousand two hundred and +eighty feet, for dusk changed to darkness before the hackman turned in +between two big, stone pillars, and the man announced:</p> + +<p>"Here we are."</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything," objected Dick.</p> + +<p>"It's too dark. But the buildings are right ahead of you."</p> + +<p>Then the lad was able to make out the dim forms of a number of +structures located in a sort of park.</p> + +<p>"Where's the lake?" asked Dick. "I thought the academy was on a lake."</p> + +<p>"So it is. That's on the other side. We're sort of coming in from the +back, but that's the shortest road from the depot. I'll take you right +to Colonel Masterly's quarters. He's the one you want to see, I guess, +being as you're a new cadet, and he's the superintendent."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," answered Dick.</p> + +<p>A little later he alighted in front of a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> brick structure, and the +hackman lifted down his trunk and suitcase.</p> + +<p>"Do they expect you?" asked the driver.</p> + +<p>"I think so," replied our hero, hoping that some arrangements had been +made for him.</p> + +<p>A moment later a door opened, and a flood of light streamed out from a +broad hall. A man in semi-military uniform appeared.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" he asked, and, having spoken he began to whistle a few +bars from "Marching Through Georgia," ending up with a bugle call.</p> + +<p>"Got a cadet for you, Toots," replied the hackman.</p> + +<p>"A cadet?" and once more the man in the hall whistled a martial air.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said, Toots. Give me a hand with this trunk, will you, +and tell Colonel Masterly that he's going to have company."</p> + +<p>"My name's Hamilton," began Dick. "I believe my father arranged——"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, the colonel told me to look out for you," said the man who +looked like a soldier. "Come right in. The colonel will be here +directly. I'll take your baggage."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—er Mr.——" and Dick hesitated, for he did not just know how +to address the person in the hall, and wanted to make no mistake in +bestowing a military title.</p> + +<p>"Me? Oh I'm Sam Sander," said the man in the blue suit, apparently +surprised that his identity was not known.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +"Yes, that's Sam," went on the hack driver, with easy familiarity, "but +nobody calls him that; do they, Toots?"</p> + +<p>The other, who was helping to carry in Dick's trunk did not answer. +Instead he whistled the bugle call for "Taps," or lights out.</p> + +<p>"Do they, Toots?" repeated the hack driver.</p> + +<p>"Do they what?" inquired the soldier, who seemed to be rather absent +minded.</p> + +<p>"Do they call you anything but Toots?"</p> + +<p>"Nope. That's what they call me. I don't mind. I've almost forgotten +what my real name is. Toots is good enough I expect."</p> + +<p>"He's a queer chap," whispered the hackman to Dick, as our hero paid +him. "Queer, but all right. He's a sort of general helper around the +grounds. Well, good night. I'll see you again maybe, when some of the +other lads begin to arrive. And then won't there be lively times! Wow! +My! Oh my! But them students certainly know how to have fun!"</p> + +<p>The hackman appeared to relish the prospect, and Dick could hear him +chuckling to himself as he drove off in the darkness.</p> + +<p>"Right this way, Mr. Hamilton," said Toots, which name we shall adopt +for him. "I will find the colonel for you——"</p> + +<p>He stopped suddenly, straightened up, in spite of the suitcase which he +was carrying, and gave a stiff military salute.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hamilton has arrived, sir," he said, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> at that Dick caught sight +of a tall thin man, with an iron gray moustache and imperial, coming +down the broad, well-lighted hall.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Hamilton, glad to see you," said the soldierly-looking gentleman, +extending his hand. "I'm Colonel Masterly. You are a little early, but I +understand the case. Have you had dinner?"</p> + +<p>Dick had not, and said so.</p> + +<p>"Then you can dine with me," went on Colonel Masterly. "Sam, take Mr. +Hamilton's baggage to the room I told you to get ready for him. I'll +quarter you here for the present," he added, "until the boys arrive, and +then you will have a roommate. How is your father?"</p> + +<p>"Quite well," replied Dick, and then he followed the superintendent into +a reception room. There two other military-looking men sat reading +books. They looked up at the entrance of Dick and the colonel, who +introduced them to the new student as Major Henry Rockford, commandant +of the academy, and Major Franklin Webster, U. S. A., retired, who was +in charge of military tactics at the school.</p> + +<p>"That's the man of whom I must inquire about Captain Handlee's missing +son," thought Dick, as the two instructors shook hands with him. "But I +guess I'll wait a few days."</p> + +<p>Dinner was rather a formal affair, and our hero did not in the least +enjoy it. The three men talked of matters connected with the +prospective<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> opening of the school, occasionally addressing a question +to Dick, or making some general remark.</p> + +<p>The academy more than came up to Dick's expectations when he saw it the +next morning. The school was made up of several buildings, consisting of +a main barracks, which was where he had spent the night, and which +contained the executive offices and class rooms, two other barracks, a +gymnasium, a large mess hall, a riding hall, a small hospital and other +structures.</p> + +<p>They were grouped on a large plain, that lay at the foot of quite a +mountain range, but, what pleased Dick more than anything else, was a +large lake that came right to the edge of the academy grounds. It was a +beautiful sheet of water, and, from the appearance of a large boathouse +near at hand, Dick guessed rightly that the cadet-students spent +considerable time rowing and sailing.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, under the guidance of Toots, who was detailed by +Colonel Masterly for that purpose, Dick was taken on a tour of the +grounds. He was particularly pleased with the big stable, which +contained a fine lot of horses.</p> + +<p>"Are those for the cadets to use?" he asked Toots.</p> + +<p>"Of course. Do you know how to ride?"</p> + +<p>"A little," replied Dick, who did not believe in boasting, though, in +reality, he was a fine horseman.</p> + +<p>"I'll certainly have a swell time here," he thought, as he strolled +about. He obtained permission<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> to row out on the lake, and then was left +to his own resources.</p> + +<p>After the first novelty of seeing the buildings had worn off, Dick began +to feel a little lonesome, and he wished that the week was up, and that +the other students would begin to arrive. But he found much to interest +him, and made friends with Toots, who told him many and various stories +of student life.</p> + +<p>"Why do they call you Toots?" asked Dick one day.</p> + +<p>"Well, I s'pose it's because I've got in the habit of tooting my whistle +all the while. I'm always whistling war tunes or bugle calls, the boys +say."</p> + +<p>"That's so. What makes you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, except that I'm fond of a military life. Some day I'm +going to war."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope you don't get shot," said Dick, as Toots left him, still +whistling.</p> + +<p>It was a few days after this that Dick saw a new student arrive. The +lad, for reasons +<a name="similar" id="similar"></a><ins title="Original has similiar">similar</ins> to those affecting our hero, had +been sent to the academy in advance of the opening of the term. Dick +soon made his acquaintance, and he found the newcomer rather an odd +character. His name was William Schoop, but he was called "William the +Silent" by the other cadets, so Major Webster said, from the fact that +he did not talk much. He used only single words where others would take +a sentence, and he often made gestures answer for words.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +Dick and Will soon became friends, and the latter, who had spent a +previous term at the school, showed the young millionaire about the +buildings and grounds.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +<a name="vi" id="vi"></a>CHAPTER VI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE HAZING</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> morning, two days after the arrival of the silent lad, when Dick had +moved his baggage to his permanent room in the south barracks, the two +lads were strolling about the campus. Dick was beginning to wish his +companion was more sociable, when Will, with a sudden gesture, pointed +off toward the town, along the main road that led from the station. Dick +looked, and saw a cloud of dust approaching.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Fellows coming," was all Will replied.</p> + +<p>He started off toward the main gate, and Dick followed. The dust clouds +became larger, and approached closer. Then Dick saw that they were made +by two large stages, and, a little later, he could discern that the +vehicles were crowded with youths.</p> + +<p>Above the rumble of the wheels could be heard laughing, joyous voices. +There were shouts, yells, cheers, whoops and cries.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Kentfield!" called some one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> and the resulting yells +caused the horses of the stage to prance more madly than ever.</p> + +<p>A few moments later the vehicles had halted at the gate, and from them, +pell-mell leaped the cadets, returning to the academy after the long, +summer vacation.</p> + +<p>"There's William the Silent!" cried one lad, rushing up to Dick's odd +friend, and shaking hands with him. "Hello, Will! How are you? Are you +the only one here, so far?"</p> + +<p>William merely nodded. Then he waved his hand toward our hero.</p> + +<p>"Dick Hamilton," he said.</p> + +<p>Dick stepped forward to greet the students, expecting them to tell him +their names. From the group of cadets that had gathered around Will, a +tall, good looking chap, but with rather a hard, cruel gleam in his dark +eyes, stepped forth.</p> + +<p>"What's your name, new chap?" he asked somewhat sneeringly.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton—Dick Hamilton," replied the young millionaire.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Hamilton—Millionaire Hamilton's son, eh?" asked Dick's questioner, +with an unpleasant air.</p> + +<p>"I believe so," answered Dick, trying to smile good-naturedly in spite +of the overbearing air of the lad, who was no older than himself.</p> + +<p>"I've heard about you," went on the other. "Fellows," he said, turning +to those surrounding him, "this is the young hostage of fortune who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> has +consented to dwell a while in our midst. I saw a little paragraph in the +paper a few days ago to the effect that Millionaire Hamilton's son had +decided to take a course at Kentfield Military Academy. That is he +condescended to inflict his presence on us. I'm sure the academy is +highly honored," and the lad made a mocking bow.</p> + +<p>Dick felt the hot flush rising to his face. He had never been so +insulted before. An angry reply was on his lips.</p> + +<p>"Millions don't go here, Hamilton," said another youth. "Your money +won't count, and the sooner you find that out the better. Come on, +fellows, let's see if old Toots is still alive, and then we'll have some +fun."</p> + +<p>"Ta-ta, Hamilton, I suppose you brought a solid gold bedstead with you," +said the lad who had first spoken, as he turned on his heel, and +followed the others. "Maybe you'd like to buy the place," he fired back +over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>"You—you——" began Dick angrily.</p> + +<p>He was stopped by a touch on his shoulder. He looked around, to see +William the Silent standing near him.</p> + +<p>"Take it easy," was all Will said, but Dick understood.</p> + +<p>Choking down, as best he could, his righteous wrath at the mean +treatment accorded him, Dick strolled down to the lake. Will did not +attempt to follow, for he understood.</p> + +<p>Sorely puzzled over the conduct of those whom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> he hoped would be his +friends, Dick got into a boat, and went out for a solitary row. He +wanted to be alone and think.</p> + +<p>"It's queer they should treat me that way," he mused. "I'm sure I don't +make any fuss about my money. Maybe they are afraid I'll try to, and +they're taking no chances. But they ought to give a fellow a show +first."</p> + +<p>After rowing about for an hour Dick felt better. He resolved not to +force his friendship on the students, but to let matters take their +course. He had expected a little "stand-offishness" on the part of the +older cadets, who were always, more or less, inclined to be on their +dignity with freshmen.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll wait until some new fellows arrive," thought Dick. "I guess +I can make friends with them."</p> + +<p>When he returned to shore he found that many more students had come in, +the next day marking the opening of the term. Among the lads were a +number of new cadets, as Dick could easily tell by their bashful, +diffident manners. He felt that he had somewhat the advantage of them, +for he had been at the place more than a week.</p> + +<p>"Still, my only acquaintances, outside of the teachers are William the +Silent, Toots and the hostler," he reflected.</p> + +<p>There was a notice posted on the campus bulletin board to the effect +that all new students were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> to report at the south barrack. Thither Dick +went, finding Captain Hayden, the head master in charge, showing the +boys to their rooms.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Hamilton," called the captain, as he caught sight of Dick, "you are +to room with Paul Drew, on the second floor. Room Twenty-six is yours. I +think you can find your way there. Go up and take Drew with you."</p> + +<p>A tall quiet youth greeted Dick with a smile.</p> + +<p>"I'm Drew," he said. "I suppose you're Hamilton?"</p> + +<p>"What there is of me," answered the millionaire youth. "Is this your +first term?"</p> + +<p>He knew it was, but he wanted to say something.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I'm from Kentucky."</p> + +<p>"I'm a York Stater. Come on and I'll show you where we bunk."</p> + +<p>The two made their way through crowds of new boys and were soon in their +apartment.</p> + +<p>It was like all the others provided for the use of the students. It +contained two small iron beds, and was simply furnished.</p> + +<p>"Here's where we'll be at home," observed Dick. "Have you any choice as +to a bed?"</p> + +<p>"No, either one will suit me."</p> + +<p>"All right, we'll toss up for it. Heads is the one nearest the window. +You call."</p> + +<p>Dick spun a coin in the air.</p> + +<p>"Tails!" cried young Drew.</p> + +<p>"Tails it is," announced Dick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +"Then I'll take the bed away from the window. It's likely to be cold in +the winter."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind. I like a cool breeze now and then. But stow away your +things and come on down. There's lots to see. I hope we get into our +uniforms soon. You've got yours, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Dick's roommate. Dick had been provided with the +necessary dress uniform before leaving home, and he was anxious to don +it. The other uniforms were to be obtained at the academy.</p> + +<p>The two boys, after hastily putting away their things, went down on the +campus, which was fairly swarming with old and new students. More boys +were arriving with every stage, and the shouts and cries, as former +acquaintances greeted one another, made the green sound like an athletic +ground with a championship match in progress.</p> + +<p>As Dick and Paul stood looking about them, the young millionaire felt +some one touch him on the arm. He turned and saw William Schoop. Will +nodded his head to indicate that he wanted Dick to step aside for a +moment. Excusing himself from his roommate Dick walked a little +distance, following William the Silent.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind Dutton," said William.</p> + +<p>"Who's Dutton?" inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>"Fellow that rigged you. He's an uppish chap,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> but he's a leader with +the upper classmen. Don't let him worry you."</p> + +<p>This was a longer speech than Will usually made.</p> + +<p>"But why should he be down on me because I've got money?" asked Dick. +"It isn't my fault."</p> + +<p>"Very exclusive school, this," explained Will. "Patronized by old, +blue-blooded families, who pretend to have a horror of the newly-rich."</p> + +<p>"But my father has been wealthy many years."</p> + +<p>Will shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"They seem to have a prejudice against you," he went on. "Don't mind. +It'll wear off. Dutton—Ray Dutton's put 'em up to it. He's a cad. Don't +mind him," and with that Will turned and walked away.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I can get along without Dutton and his crowd," thought +Dick. "Queer, I never supposed money would make this sort of a +difference. It didn't at home. Well, I'll try to get along, but it's +evidently going to be up-hill work. Still, I'll do it, and, if money +stands in the way—well——"</p> + +<p>Dick shrugged his shoulders in a sort of helpless fashion, and rejoined +Paul. The two strolled about, noting the scenes taking place on every +hand. They saw many cadets, obviously freshmen, and some of the latter +introduced themselves to Dick and his companion. They were Franklin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +Boardman, Stanley Booker, Lyndon Butler and Eugene Graham.</p> + +<p>"Let's stick together for a while," proposed 'Gene, as the boys called +him. "It'll soon be grub time, I understand, and we'll sit near each +other."</p> + +<p>This suited the others, and, when the gong rang, summoning them to the +mess hall, the six lads went in a body, finding seats in a row on one +side of the long tables, which were served by colored waiters.</p> + +<p>Discipline had not yet been put into force, and no one was in uniform. +The mess hall was a lively place, for the older cadets were continually +calling jokes back and forth to their chums, or jollying the waiters +whom they knew of old.</p> + +<p>Dick and his new acquaintances conversed together, and, in spite of +their rather +<a name="awkward" id="awkward"></a><ins title="Original has akward">awkward</ins> feelings, managed to partake of a good +meal, for Kentfield Academy was noted for the excellence of its cuisine.</p> + +<p>When the meal was nearly over Toots appeared in the hall, with a hammer, +and a piece of paper. He tacked a notice up on the bulletin board.</p> + +<p>"Hey, Toots; what's that?" called Ray Dutton.</p> + +<p>"Notice about appearing in uniform, Mr. Dutton," replied the odd +soldier.</p> + +<p>"When's it to be?"</p> + +<p>"To-morrow morning."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +"Aw, tear that down, Toots, you imitation brigadier general you!" called +another youth.</p> + +<p>"Sure. We don't want to tog up until the first of the week," added +another. "Swallow that, Toots, and tell the commandant you lost it."</p> + +<p>"Orders is orders," said Toots firmly, hammering in the last tack, and +leaving the hall.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was spent in assigning the new cadets to their classes, +and arranging for the courses of study. They were told that formal +drills would not begin until Monday, this being Thursday, nor would any +recitations be heard until then.</p> + +<p>After supper, or dinner as it was called at the academy, the new boys +strolled about in little groups, Dick and his five friends keeping +together.</p> + +<p>"I wonder where all the older cadets are?" said Dick, as he looked +about, and noticed that none was in sight.</p> + +<p>"That's so, they have disappeared," added Lyndon Butler. "I wonder what +that means?"</p> + +<p>They did not have long to wait for an answer. A figure slid up to Dick, +and, almost without turning he knew it to be Will. The silent youth +spoke but one word:</p> + +<p>"Hazing!"</p> + +<p>Then he walked away as silently as he had approached, and Dick turned to +his companions.</p> + +<p>"I guess they're getting ready to haze us freshmen," he remarked.</p> + +<p>"I thought they didn't haze here," said 'Gene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> Graham quickly. He was +rather a small chap, and seemed very nervous.</p> + +<p>"I guess they do it in spite of the rules," said Dick. "Well, the best +way is to take what's coming, and bear it as well as you can. If you +don't it will be unpleasant for you. I don't believe it will be very +bad."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to let 'em haze you?" asked Paul Drew.</p> + +<p>"Sure," answered Dick.</p> + +<p>"Then I guess I will, too."</p> + +<p>"Well, I s'pose it's got to be," said little 'Gene with a sigh. "I hope +they don't toss us in a blanket, though."</p> + +<p>"If they do, just lie still, and you'll come down easy," advised Dick. +"It'll soon be over."</p> + +<p>That night, in their room, Dick and Paul heard the sound of footsteps +along the corridor. Then came smothered cries, and strange sounds in the +apartments adjoining.</p> + +<p>"They're coming," whispered Paul.</p> + +<p>Dick nodded grimly.</p> + +<p>A moment later there came a soft knock on their portal.</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Dick, though he knew who it was.</p> + +<p>"Open, in the name of the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Mystic +Pig," came the demand in a whisper.</p> + +<p>Dick opened the door, and in rushed several of the older cadets, led by +Ray Dutton.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +"Oh, we've drawn a millionaire!" Dutton cried, in sneering tones. "Well, +take the other chap first, fellows. Lively, now, we've got a heap of 'em +to initiate!"</p> + +<p>Several lads seized Paul, who submitted with as good grace as possible.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +<a name="vii" id="vii"></a>CHAPTER VII<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK THINKS HE HAS A CLUE</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">What's</span> it to be, Ray, the blanket, outside, or the ordeal of the +pitcher?" asked one of the cadets holding Paul.</p> + +<p>"The pitcher, I guess," answered Dutton. "The blanket's getting too +tame, and we have so many to look after that we can't take 'em outside. +Any water in the jug, Beeby?"</p> + +<p>"Full," replied a fat lad, taking up one of the two pitchers in the +room.</p> + +<p>"Up with him!" commanded Dutton, and several cadets seized Paul in an +instant. Before he knew what was happening they had stood him on his +head, two of them holding each of his rather long legs upright.</p> + +<p>"Hold open his trouser legs," said Dutton. "I'll do the pouring."</p> + +<p>He had the pitcher full of water, and, as his fellow hazers made a sort +of funnel of the two legs of the victim's trousers, Ray poured the +contents of the water pitcher down them. The fluid spurted out at the +unlucky new student's waist<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> and collar, and ran in a little stream over +the floor. Paul struggled but could not escape.</p> + +<p>"Sop that up, fellows!" cried Dutton. "We don't want it to ruin the +ceilings below. Use the bed clothes."</p> + +<p>The other cadets, who were not holding Paul, grabbed the sheets and +spreads from the neatly made beds, and piled them in the little pond of +water on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Hand me the other pitcher, Naylor," commanded the leader.</p> + +<p>"Better save it for——" and Naylor glanced at Dick, who was standing +quietly in a corner, under guard of several cadets, awaiting his turn.</p> + +<p>"We'll not need it for him," replied Dutton. "Give it here."</p> + +<p>Some one handed him the other pitcher full of water, and the fluid in +that, a moment later, went gurgling down the inside of Paul's clothes, +spurting out as had the other.</p> + +<p>"You're initiated into the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Mystic +Pig," announced Dutton, making a sign to his comrades to let Paul regain +his feet. "Do you solemnly promise to be most respectful to your +superiors, and not to partake of ham and eggs or any form of pork until +after Christmas?"</p> + +<p>"You'd better promise," said one of the cadets to Paul, who hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I promise all right," he said, with a rueful smile as he looked +down at his soaked garments,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> and surveyed the confusion in the room. +There was not a dry article of bed clothing left.</p> + +<p>"Now for the other one!" cried Beeby, making a grab for Dick.</p> + +<p>The young millionaire was ready to submit to any form of hazing that +might be inflicted, but, to his surprise Dutton said:</p> + +<p>"Never mind him. We'll let him go."</p> + +<p>"Why he's a freshman," objected several of the cadets, evidently +thinking Dutton imagined Dick to be immune.</p> + +<p>"I know it, but he's in a different class," went on the leader with a +covert sneer. "He might buy up the police authorities and have us +arrested for having a little fun. We'll let him alone. We're only after +common mortals."</p> + +<p>Dick flushed.</p> + +<p>"You're mistaken," he said as calmly as he could. "If hazing is in order +I'm ready to take my share. I assure you I won't squeal. I'm not that +kind."</p> + +<p>It hurt him, to think that he should be taken for a "squealer." He, Dick +Hamilton, who had done his own share of hazing in the academy at home.</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. It's too risky monkeying with millionaires," said +Dutton. "Come on, fellows."</p> + +<p>The band of hazing cadets filed out of Dick's room, bent on subjecting +other students to their harmless pranks. As they left, Dick heard one of +them say:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +"Aw, Dutton, why didn't we try the rope and window game on him? It would +have been sport. He looks like an all-right sort."</p> + +<p>"He isn't in our class," replied the leader of the hazers. "He thinks +his money can get him anything he wants, but he'll find out he's +mistaken. It's a shame the faculty allowed him to come here, where only +the best families are represented."</p> + +<p>Dick heard it all plainly. He realized how he had been misjudged, but he +resolved to live down the wrong opinion the other students seemed to +have formed of him. Or perhaps they merely followed Dutton's leadership.</p> + +<p>And so Dick was not hazed, though he was the only freshman in all the +academy who escaped the ordeal, and, though many lads would gladly have +dispensed with the ceremony, Dick Hamilton felt as if he would have +parted with some of his fortune to have been included in the unfortunate +class. For, had he been, it would have meant that he was considered as a +future chum and comrade of the upperclassmen. But he had been left +severely alone.</p> + +<p>"Well, you got off lucky," commented Paul, as he began to remove his wet +garments.</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" asked Dick, somewhat bitterly. "I rather wish they +had given me what you got."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked his roommate.</p> + +<p>Dick told his reasons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +"I don't see why they hold my money against me," he added.</p> + +<p>"I heard some talk about it," admitted Paul. "Some of the older cadets +have read the things printed in the papers about you; when you went out +west to investigate that gold mine, and when you hired the circus to +come to Hamilton Corners. They evidently think you depend on your money +to win popularity, and I heard some of them say you were to be taught a +lesson."</p> + +<p>"They're beginning already," said Dick. "Perhaps you would rather not +room with such an unpopular chap as I seem to be. I guess I could get an +apartment alone, by paying double rates," he added, sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" exclaimed Paul. "I'm not that sort, and I don't believe +you'll find many cadets who are. I don't care for money, one way or the +other. I wish my dad had a little more. Don't let Dutton and his cronies +worry you. You'll have friends among the freshmen, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Not if Dutton has his say."</p> + +<p>"Well, perhaps he won't have it. He comes of a very old family, I'm +told, who have not much money, but who are very proud. I don't care for +him myself, but he's considered a leader here."</p> + +<p>"My, you certainly got a soaking," commented Dick, as Paul stripped. He +was glad to change the unpleasant subject.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +"I sure did," admitted the other "and what's more we've got to sleep in +a damp bed, unless we ask the housekeeper for other covers."</p> + +<p>"No, don't do that. I would give the hazing away, and I might become +more unpopular than I am," and Dick laughed a little uneasily.</p> + +<p>"I don't fancy sleeping between damp sheets, though."</p> + +<p>"I've got an extra suit of pajamas in my case," said Dick. "You can put +them on, and we'll stretch out on the beds without covers.</p> + +<p>"It's not cold. We'll take our medicine. Or, rather, I'll share part of +yours."</p> + +<p>They passed a rather uncomfortable night, but did not think of +complaining. In the morning they compared notes with the other freshmen, +many of whom had had the same experience.</p> + +<p>That day was spent in forming the new cadets into companies, and, to +Dick's disgust he found that he was in the company of which Ray Dutton +was the cadet captain, and John Stiver, a crony of the captain, was +lieutenant. Paul Drew was in Company B, Dick's being designated as +Company A. But our hero took some consolation from the fact that his odd +friend William the Silent was a sergeant in his company.</p> + +<p>The new cadets were given their rifles, made to don uniforms, put +through a preliminary drill that afternoon, and told something of the +routine that would be in order when matters had settled down into their +usual grooves. Dick picked out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> his line of studies, received his text +books and took them to his room, where he found Paul.</p> + +<p>The next day being Saturday the cadets had the afternoon free and they +strolled about the grounds, went off on horseback or rowing, as they +desired. Somewhat to his regret Dick noticed that a rule was posted +forbidding freshmen to go out rowing or riding alone after Saturday. +They must be accompanied by a teacher or cadet officer.</p> + +<p>"They must think we're babies," he murmured.</p> + +<p>"Well, when we get to know the ropes a little better," said Paul, "we'll +go out together."</p> + +<p>That evening, when the mail was distributed, Dick received a letter from +his father, posted just as the ship was sailing. There were also several +missives from his chums at home, and quite a bulky letter, which when +the young millionaire opened it, he saw was from aged Captain Handlee, +and contained a photograph.</p> + +<p>With many words, and a somewhat lengthy explanation, the old soldier +stated that he had had copies made of the photograph of his son, and was +sending one to Dick, to aid him in tracing the missing man.</p> + +<p>"There, I nearly forgot about my promise," said Dick, recalling it as he +saw the picture. "I must make some inquiries of Major Webster as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>He took the photograph to his room, and placed it on a shelf, where he +would be sure to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> it, to remind him of his quest, though he had +little hopes that it would amount to anything.</p> + +<p>It was Sunday morning when Dick, who had awakened rather early, heard +steps coming along the corridor, and then came the whistled strains of +"Just Before the Battle, Mother," followed by the reveille, cheerily +warbled.</p> + +<p>"That's Toots," said Dick to Paul, who awakened just then.</p> + +<p>Toots stopped outside Dick's door and knocked.</p> + +<p>"Come," cried the young millionaire, and Toots, the odd character, +entered, carrying a pail of hot water.</p> + +<p>"One of the janitors is sick," he explained, "and I'm helping out. You +can use this for shaving or drink it, just as you like," he added with a +smile.</p> + +<p>He filled the boys' hot water pitchers, and was about to leave the room, +when he caught sight of the photograph of Corporal Bill Handlee on the +shelf.</p> + +<p>"Where—where did you get that?" he asked, turning quickly to the two +lads.</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Dick, much impressed by the manner of Toots.</p> + +<p>"Because I—I think I know him—or did once," and the man set down his +pail of water, and drew his hand across his forehead, as if trying to +brush away some cobwebs. Dick noticed that there was a scar on the man's +brow.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +"Where did you see him? When was it? Where was it?" asked Dick rapidly, +thinking he had stumbled on a clue.</p> + +<p>"I don't know—I can't recollect, but the face—that face seems +familiar," and Toots, taking up the photo, gazed earnestly at it.</p> + +<p>"That is the picture of the missing son of an old soldier who lives in +Hamilton Corners," said Dick. "Captain Handlee asked me to make some +inquiries about him. It's queer you should think you recognized it, +Toots. Were you ever in the army?"</p> + +<p>The man shook his head slowly.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he said. "I'm a fine shot though. I ought to be in the +army."</p> + +<p>Dick felt a new hope. The missing man said he was an expert marksman. +But then Dick recalled what he had heard about Toots; that the man had a +delusion that he was a sharpshooter, but that he could scarcely hit the +outer edge of a big target.</p> + +<p>"Can't you recall where you have seen this man?" asked Dick earnestly.</p> + +<p>Toots slowly shook his head.</p> + +<p>"What was his name?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Corporal Bill Handlee."</p> + +<p>"No, that name doesn't sound familiar. But I'm sure I've seen him +somewhere. I can't think—something seems to stop me here," and the man +again passed his hand across his forehead.</p> + +<p>"Try," urged Dick.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +Toots made a strong effort to recall the past, but it was of no avail.</p> + +<p>He shook his head once more, picked up his pail, and started out.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm mistaken," he said. "But some day you boys must come and +see me shoot. I'm a dandy at it."</p> + +<p>Then he went down the corridor whistling "The Star Spangled Banner," and +ending up with a spirited rendition of the bugle call to charge.</p> + +<p>"That's queer," murmured Dick. "I thought I was going to get some news +for Captain Handlee. Well, I must inquire of Major Webster."</p> + +<p>"Hark," exclaimed Paul, as a bugle sounded clear and crisp on the +morning air.</p> + +<p>"Reveille—first call! Ten minutes to dress and turn out," said Dick, +who had been studying the rules, and he began to get into his uniform.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +<a name="viii" id="viii"></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK GETS A FALL</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">At</span> the chapel service, which the cadets were required to attend, Dick +saw, for the first time, all his fellow students gathered together under +one roof. They were a fine body of young men, and he felt proud that he +was one of them. Every one was in full dress uniform, and a spick and +span appearance the lads made, as they marched to and from chapel, to +the music of the cadet band.</p> + +<p>Sunday seemed quite long to Dick, but he managed to spend some pleasant +hours, strolling about with Paul Drew, and some other new cadets. He was +glad, however, when Monday came, bringing with it many duties.</p> + +<p>For the next two weeks Dick was kept so busy, being initiated into the +mysteries of the drill, guard mounting, parade, marching in different +formations, learning the meaning of the military commands, his studies +and preparing for inspection, that he had little time to think of other +matters.</p> + +<p>He found opportunity to ask Major Webster<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> concerning missing Bill +Handlee, and the tactical officer made some inquiries of the war office, +but all to no effect. All trace of the veteran's son seemed to have +vanished.</p> + +<p>"But what do you suppose made Toots—I mean Sam Sander—think he +recognized the photo?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Well, you know poor Sam isn't quite right in his head," replied the +major kindly. "He received an injury some years ago, I understand. You +can see the scar on his forehead now. That made him rather simple +minded, though he is a good worker, and very useful."</p> + +<p>"Then I'm afraid I can't send Captain Handlee any good news."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not, Hamilton."</p> + +<p>Dick had to write the sorrowful tidings to the old soldier, much to his +regret. The young millionaire also sent a missive to his father, telling +something of the life at the academy, but saying nothing of the manner +in which he had been treated. Dick bravely resolved to fight his own +battles.</p> + +<p>He found the studies anything but easy, but as he applied himself to his +books, he stood well in his class.</p> + +<p>In the meantime matters were beginning to move with military regularity, +and the cadets in their natty uniforms, presented at drill, or +inspection, inspiring pictures.</p> + +<p>At first Dick, and all the new cadets, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> rather awkward at drill, +but this was to be expected, and little was thought of it. On several +occasions though, Captain Dutton, who was in command over Dick, made +sneering remarks evidently intended for our hero, who, however, did not +reply.</p> + +<p>With the exception of Sunday and Monday, the same general routine was +followed. Reveille was sounded at six o'clock, with a second call ten +minutes later. Then came "police" inspection, and woe betide the youth +who was not spick and span. Sick call followed, but usually it was a +mere form, for the cadets were as healthy as Spartans.</p> + +<p>On Monday there was always general inspection, when it behooved Dick and +his fellows to have their quarters in good order. Plenty of time was +allowed for study and recitation, and there was much attention given to +military life. There were lectures on tactics, and they were followed by +practical illustrations.</p> + +<p>"I wish they'd let us have a chance at the horses," remarked Dick, to +Paul, when they were studying in their room one evening. "The older +cadets have plenty of cavalry drill, but we have to march around, +carrying heavy guns, and doing all sorts of stunts like that."</p> + +<p>"I understand we're to have our innings next week."</p> + +<p>"Is that so? Good!"</p> + +<p>Dick, and many other of the new cadets who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> loved horses were pleased to +see a notice posted, a few days after this, stating that instructions in +riding, and cavalry exercises, were to be given in the big shed and +would begin the following Monday.</p> + +<p>"Now we'll have some fun," said Dick. "Aren't you glad, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care much about horses. I feel safer on my feet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll get used to a horse soon enough, and then you'll never want +to walk."</p> + +<p>There were good horses in the academy stables, and, to his delight, a +fine mount was assigned to Dick. He made friends with the animal at +once, and when the "awkward squad" was put through their paces, Dick +earned commendation from the drill master for the excellent seat he +maintained.</p> + +<p>For a week or more Dick and his fellow freshmen practiced every day in +the riding hall. The cadets who at first sat insecurely in the saddle +were beginning to learn how to maintain themselves, and one afternoon +the drill master announced that the next day they would be allowed to go +out on the cavalry plain.</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff!" cried Dick. "I've been wanting a good gallop for a +long time."</p> + +<p>"Guess we won't have much chance to gallop," replied Paul, who had been +<a name="transferred" id="transferred"></a><ins title="Original has transfered">transferred</ins> to Dick's company. "Dutton's so mean he'll +probably keep us at an easy walk. He thinks no one knows how to ride but +him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +"I'll show him, if I get a chance," murmured Dick.</p> + +<p>The cadets were formed into four companies the next day, and sent out on +the cavalry plain for practice.</p> + +<p>"Now I don't want any exhibitions of fancy riding," announced Ray +Dutton, as he led the cadets over whom he had charge out from the drill +hall. "You've got to creep before you walk, you know. Just take it easy, +and we'll make a few circuits of the grounds."</p> + +<p>"Pity he wouldn't let us gallop," said Dick, in a low voice to Paul, +beside whom he was riding.</p> + +<p>"Silence in the ranks!" exclaimed the cadet captain sharply. "Hamilton, +if you speak again I'll report you."</p> + +<p>Dick felt the hot blood mount to his face, but he kept his temper.</p> + +<p>They went around at a slow pace, many of the lads chaffing under the +restraint. Then Dutton gave the command to trot, and they let their +horses out a trifle.</p> + +<p>Whether something frightened Dick's horse, or whether the animal wanted +to take a good run and show the others what he could do, it was +impossible to say. At any rate our hero's steed gave a sudden spring, +and, rushing through the opened ranks of the cadet horsemen ahead of +him, sailed past Captain Dutton at a fast gait.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" cried the leading cadet. "Where are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> you going, Hamilton? Come +back here at once! I'll report you! Come back!"</p> + +<p>Dick tried to rein his horse in, but the animal had the bit in his +teeth, and it was useless to pull on the leather. Still the young +millionaire was not frightened. He knew he could manage the animal.</p> + +<p>But Dutton, with a muttered exclamation, spurred after Dick.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" he cried again. "Halt, or I'll place you under arrest for +disobeying orders!"</p> + +<p>"I can't stop him!" Dick flung back, over his shoulder.</p> + +<p>Dutton's horse was a fast one, and he soon caught up to the young cadet. +He crossed in front of him, wheeled about and, a moment later the two +horses collided violently. Dick was flung up in the air, and, the next +instant, came heavily to the ground, where he lay quiet, while his horse +bolted.</p> + +<p>Dutton, who had retained his seat, looked down on the prostrate figure.</p> + +<p>"Come. Get up," he said. "No shamming."</p> + +<p>Dick did not move.</p> + +<p>"Here, Drew, Butler, Graham!" called Captain Dutton. "Here's a chance to +practice first aid to the injured. See what's the matter with him."</p> + +<p>The three cadets he had named galloped forward, while the remainder of +the company came to a halt.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +<a name="ix" id="ix"></a>CHAPTER IX<br /> +<br /> +<small>WHO FIRED THE GUN?</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Pick</span> him up, and see if he's hurt," ordered Dutton though he did not +take the trouble to get off his horse to ascertain. "Very likely he's +only shamming."</p> + +<p>But is needed only a look at Dick's pale face to show that he had had a +hard fall. The breath was knocked out of him.</p> + +<p>The three cadets bent over him, and, while one raised him to a sitting +position, the others chaffed his hands. Dick opened his eyes, and stared +wonderingly about him.</p> + +<p>"What—what—where am I?" he asked, and then he saw the mounted +students, he added, "I fell."</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" asked Graham.</p> + +<p>"No—no, I guess not."</p> + +<p>But when Dick tried to stand he found he was so dizzy that his fellow +cadets had to support him.</p> + +<p>"Take him back to the hospital," ordered Dutton, "and then you three +rejoin your company."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +At that moment Major Webster, who had been drilling some of the older +cadets, in advanced tactics on a distant part of the field, came +galloping up.</p> + +<p>"What has happened?" he asked. "Ah, Hamilton, eh? Are you hurt?"</p> + +<p>"I fell off my horse. He bolted with me," replied Dick.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you're not hurt?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; only a trifle dizzy."</p> + +<p>"I'm sending him back to the hospital," +<a name="announced" id="announced"></a><ins title="Original has annouced">announced</ins> Dutton.</p> + +<p>"That's proper. Are you sure you'll be all right, Hamilton?" asked the +major kindly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. I believe I can ride now."</p> + +<p>"No, I can't allow it. You must take a rest."</p> + +<p>On the way back with the cadets, Dick insisted that he could go alone, +and did not need help.</p> + +<p>"Orders are orders," replied Graham with a smile. "Dutton might make a +fuss if we didn't do as he said."</p> + +<p>"It was all his fault," added Paul Drew. "He deliberately collided with +you, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no; I hardly think he would do that!"</p> + +<p>"But he did," insisted Butler. "He didn't need to gallop in front of you +that way. I looked just as if he wanted to unseat you, didn't it, +fellows?"</p> + +<p>"That's right," added Paul. "I'd report him if I were you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," answered Dick quickly. "There's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> no use making trouble. Even +if he did do it on purpose, I wouldn't gain anything by reporting him. +I'm no squealer."</p> + +<p>"But you might have been badly hurt," said Butler.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't though, and a miss is as good as a mile."</p> + +<p>"That's a good way of looking at it," commented Paul. "I'd feel like +fighting him, if he did that to me."</p> + +<p>"Say, I'm all right. There's no need for you fellows to come back with +me," went on Dick.</p> + +<p>"If we don't Dutton may make a row," objected Butler. "We'd better do +it."</p> + +<p>Not wanting to get his fellow cadets into trouble, Dick allowed them to +accompany him to the hospital, which was maintained by the academy. +There the surgeon in charge, a grizzled war veteran, felt of our hero's +bones, and announced, gruffly, that he was all right, but that he had +better rest a while.</p> + +<p>Which Dick was glad enough to do, as his head was beginning to ache.</p> + +<p>"Dutton must want to get rid of me," he thought, as he stretched out on +the bed in his room. "If he keeps on I shall certainly have a clash with +him, and then I s'pose there'll be trouble. I don't want to fight, but +I'm not going to submit to his meanness. I certainly am under a handicap +here. I wish I could ask dad to send<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> me to some other school. No, I +don't either. I'll fight it out here, and I'll win, too, or I'll know +the reason why!"</p> + +<p>Major Webster, when he returned from the drill, inquired how Dick felt, +and received the assurance that the lad was all right.</p> + +<p>"We must give you a quieter horse," he said with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I can manage him all right," said Dick. "Captain Dutton—er—he +and I happened to collide, or it never would have happened."</p> + +<p>"Strange, Dutton is an excellent rider," commented the major as he +walked away.</p> + +<p>A slight headache the next day was all the ill effect that Dick +experienced from his tumble. He appeared at chapel, and took part in all +the day's duties. For a week or more life went on rather uneventfully at +the academy. Dick had a letter from his father, stating that business +was likely to keep him abroad longer than he expected.</p> + +<p>Dick also got a letter from Henry Darby, giving some news of Hamilton +Corners, and telling how Dick's chums missed him. The letter closed with +this:</p> + +<p>"Grit misses you very much. He doesn't eat hardly anything, and he lies +in his kennel all day."</p> + +<p>"Poor Grit," said Dick to Paul, and he told of his bulldog. "I wish I +could have him here with me."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you?" suggested his roommate. "Some of the other cadets are +allowed special<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> privileges, why don't you ask if you can bring Grit +here? You could keep him in the stable."</p> + +<p>"I believe I will," said Dick, and he sought and received permission +from Colonel Masterly to do this.</p> + +<p>A few days later Grit arrived, and he was probably the happiest dog +living, as Dick took him out of the shipping crate. The animal bounded +about, and fairly leaped over his master's head in the excess of his +joy.</p> + +<p>Grit made friends with such few chums as Dick had among the freshmen, +and they were not many, for Dutton's influence seemed even to extend to +them. The advent of the bulldog appeared to further arouse the ire of +the young captain.</p> + +<p>"I expect our millionaire cadet will be having a private menagerie +next," he said with a sneer. "But I tell you one thing, Hamilton, if I +catch the brute around my quarters I'll kick him out."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't advise you to try it," said Dick coolly. "It might not be +healthy—for you."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean that you'd attack me?" asked Dutton, taking a step toward +Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, but Grit might; eh, Grit, old boy."</p> + +<p>The dog growled in a menacing manner, and Dutton, turning on his heel, +made off up the campus, but the scowl he gave Dick augured anything but +well for the young millionaire.</p> + +<p>It was about a week after this when, one evening,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> Dick, who was sitting +in his room, studying with Paul, +<a name="suddenly" id="suddenly"></a><ins title="Original has suddently">suddenly</ins> exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"There, I've left my algebra out under the three elms. I was studying +there this afternoon."</p> + +<p>The three elms were a clump of giant trees on the campus, and a +recognized stamping ground for the freshmen, who frequently studied +there, when it was too hot in their rooms.</p> + +<p>"Better go out and get it," advised Paul. "It looks like rain, and you +know it means a demerit to have soiled books."</p> + +<p>"Guess I'll slip out and get it," decided Dick. "I'll have just about +time enough before taps."</p> + +<p>He started down the long corridor, but he had not taken a dozen steps +before taps was sounded on the bugle, the plaintive call of "lights out" +vibrating clearly on the night air.</p> + +<p>"Better come back," advised Paul, from the open door of their room, as +he prepared to turn out the electric lamp.</p> + +<p>"No, I think I'll chance it," decided Dick. "No one is likely to see me, +and I might as well get a demerit for this as for having a rain-soaked +algebra. Leave the door open so I can find the place in the dark."</p> + +<p>He kept on, stealing quietly down the hall. Paul went to bed, and was +just dozing off when he was startled by the loud report of the cannon +used for firing the sunrise and sunset guns. The echoes thundered among +the academy buildings, and were re-echoed from the distant hills. Paul<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +arose. Clearly some of the cadets were up to a trick, and had fired the +gun.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Dick came running into the room.</p> + +<p>"Did you get the book? Who fired the gun?" asked Paul in a whisper.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I got the algebra, and, just as I did the gun went off. I saw some +of the fellows running, and of course I was running too, but, just as I +was coming in, Stiver, who is doing guard duty, saw me."</p> + +<p>"What did he say?"</p> + +<p>"Called to me halt, but I didn't."</p> + +<p>"He'll report you, and you may be blamed for—"</p> + +<p>An instant later the tramp of feet was heard in the corridor.</p> + +<p>"It's inspection!" gasped Paul. "Undress quick, and get into bed!"</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +<a name="x" id="x"></a>CHAPTER X<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK HAS A FIGHT</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">But</span> it was too late. The door of Dick's room was pushed open, and, in +the light of the incandescent that burned in the hall, the two cadets +could see Captain Hayden and several of the instructors looking in.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton—Drew—are you here?" asked Captain Hayden sharply.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," replied Dick, but an instant later the light revealed him +fully dressed, whereas he should have been in bed at taps.</p> + +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. "This will bear investigation. Why +aren't you in bed, Hamilton?"</p> + +<p>"I went down to get my algebra, which I left under the elms."</p> + +<p>"Did you have anything to do with firing the saluting gun?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"I will have to investigate. Report in my room in ten minutes."</p> + +<p>Captain Hayden marched on, and the two cadets could hear distant sounds +that indicated a general inspection of quarters.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +"I guess you're in for it, Dick," said Paul.</p> + +<p>"I can prove what I went out for."</p> + +<p>"Maybe. But I wonder who fired that gun?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Some of the older cadets likely. Well, I s'pose I've got +to go to Captain Hayden's room."</p> + +<p>Dick found several other students gathered in the reception apartment of +the head master. They were lads who had been found still up when their +rooms were hurriedly entered after the blowing of taps, and the firing +of the gun.</p> + +<p>"Who was captain of the guard?" asked Captain Hayden, when he came in +and faced a rather frightened lot of cadets.</p> + +<p>"I was, sir," replied John Stiver.</p> + +<p>"What did you see?"</p> + +<p>"I was on duty, sir, near the main entrance of the south barracks, and +the first I knew I saw the flash of the gun, and heard it go off."</p> + +<p>"What else did you see?"</p> + +<p>"I saw a cadet run from the campus into the barracks. He would not halt +when I called to him."</p> + +<p>"Who was it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't like to say, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very likely not, but you must."</p> + +<p>"It was—it was Hamilton, sir."</p> + +<p>"Ha!" exclaimed the head master.</p> + +<p>"I went to the three elms to get my algebra which I had forgotten," said +Dick.</p> + +<p>"After taps?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then you broke one of the rules."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, but I thought that if it rained, and my book got wet, I'd get +a demerit for that, so I decided I would take a chance on going after +taps. I started before the bugle sounded."</p> + +<p>"Ha! I will look into that afterward. You are sure you were not near the +gun?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"I might add," went on Stiver, "that, after I called to Hamilton to +halt, and he would not, I saw his dog running after him, and the animal +seemed to have something tied to its tail."</p> + +<p>"To it's tail?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"What was it?"</p> + +<p>"It seemed like a piece of string."</p> + +<p>"A piece of string. That may explain it. Hamilton, what do you know of +this?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, Captain Hayden. Grit was not with me. I left him in his +kennel, in the stable, chained up."</p> + +<p>"We must look into this. Lieutenant Stiver, tell Sander to bring the +bulldog here."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I had better go along," suggested Dick. "Grit might make a +fuss."</p> + +<p>"If he goes, you had better make sure he doesn't slip the string off the +dog's tail," put in Dutton, with a sneer.</p> + +<p>Dick started, and looked angrily at his enemy.</p> + +<p>"That will do, Dutton," said Captain Hayden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> quietly. "You may accompany +Sander, Hamilton."</p> + +<p>Toots, who was on hand, started for the stables, followed by Dick.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to get into trouble?" asked the +<a name="old" id="old"></a><ins title="Original has odd">old</ins> man, who had +taken quite a fancy to our hero.</p> + +<p>"I hope not. If Grit had anything to do with firing the gun, by means of +a string tied to his tail, some one who had a grudge against me is +responsible for it."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it, Mr. Hamilton," and Toots marched on, whistling "Dixy +Land," ending up with a series of bugle calls.</p> + +<p>They found Grit cowering in his kennel, as if much frightened. Dick and +Toots looked him over. Sure enough there was a stout piece of cord tied +to his stump of a tail.</p> + +<p>"It looks bad," commented Toots.</p> + +<p>"I'm not worried," declared Dick.</p> + +<p>Captain Hayden looked grave, when Toots handed him the bit of cord. He +sent Sander to the saluting gun, and Toots returned presently with same +cord, which matched that taken from Grit's tail.</p> + +<p>"Was this on the gun?" asked the head master.</p> + +<p>"Attached to a primer, that had been fired," replied Toots.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton," began Captain Hayden, "I don't like to accuse you on such +circumstantial evidence, but it looks—"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +"I had nothing to do with firing the gun," said Dick quickly. "If my dog +did it, some one else tied the string to his tail."</p> + +<p>"Whom do you suspect?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"If you please, sir," spoke up Graham, "I don't think Hamilton had +anything to do with firing the gun."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because my window is right opposite it. I was looking out, just before +it went off, and I saw a crowd of students near it. They had a dog, for +I could hear him growl, and I heard some one say 'look out or the brute +will put his teeth in you.' Then some one else said, 'I guess I can +manage him.' If Hamilton had been there I don't believe Grit would have +growled."</p> + +<p>"He certainly would not," said Dick, noticing that Dutton was scowling +at Graham.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Hum," mused the head master. "I believe you are right, Graham. +Hamilton, you are practically exonerated, but this matter will not be +allowed to drop. Firing the gun was a serious infraction of the rules, +and dangerous in the bargain. Whoever fired it must have stolen into the +ammunition house, which is a risky thing to do, especially in the dark."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you don't think I did it, sir," said Dick to Captain Hayden.</p> + +<p>"I am glad, also, but I shall have to mark you five off for being out +after taps. When I find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> out who fired the gun I shall punish them +severely. It seems as though it was done to throw suspicion on you."</p> + +<p>"That is what I think," said Dick quickly.</p> + +<p>"Whom do you suspect?"</p> + +<p>"I had rather not say, sir."</p> + +<p>"Of course not, no, I wouldn't want you to on mere suspicion. You young +gentlemen may retire to your rooms, now. I will look into this matter +further."</p> + +<p>The cadets filed out, all of them breathing easier. As Dutton passed +Dick in the hall, he said:</p> + +<p>"Did you refer to me when you said you suspected some one?"</p> + +<p>"Not particularly."</p> + +<p>"You looked at me," said the cadet captain angrily.</p> + +<p>"Well, a cat may look at a king, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"None of your impertinence."</p> + +<p>"I'm not impertinent, but I don't propose to have you dictate to me."</p> + +<p>"You'll have to, as long as you're a freshman. I say you intimated that +I fired that gun and tried to throw the blame on you."</p> + +<p>"I can't help what you say."</p> + +<p>"Do you believe I did it?"</p> + +<p>"I refuse to answer."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll make you! Take that!" and before Dick could step back Dutton +had hit him a blow in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> the face. "You know what that means, I suppose," +said Dutton with a sneer.</p> + +<p>"A fight?" asked Dick quietly.</p> + +<p>"Of course. I'll send a friend to you to-morrow and we'll see if you'll +back up your words."</p> + +<p>"Don't worry. I'll be on hand," replied Dick, as he went to his room.</p> + +<p>He told Paul of what had happened, and the latter consented to act as +second to him in the fight. The matter was quietly arranged, and, the +next afternoon Dick, and the few chums he had, slipped off after the +evening parade to a secluded spot, where all the fistic battles of the +academy took place. Dutton and a large throng of his supporters were on +hand, and the preliminaries were soon settled.</p> + +<p>"Time!" called Lieutenant Stiver, who acted as Dutton's second.</p> + +<p>The two youths faced each other, but dispensed with the ceremony of +shaking hands. The next moment Dutton aimed a blow at Dick's face, but +our hero cleverly dodged and sent a stiff right hander to the cadet +captain's jaw.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +<a name="xi" id="xi"></a>CHAPTER XI<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK GIVES A SPREAD</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> shock of the blow made Dutton stagger back, but he quickly regained +his balance, and rushed at Dick, raising his foot to give him a kick.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, that's not fair!" cried Paul. "Do you stand for that, Stiver?"</p> + +<p>Stiver plainly wanted to side with Dutton, but there were cries of +"Shame! That's not fair!" from several in the crowd and Dutton's second +was forced to caution his man.</p> + +<p>"Don't do that, Dutton," he said. "You can lick him with your fists."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I'll fix him, all right!" exclaimed the angry cadet captain.</p> + +<p>Dick, who had stepped back, out of reach of his opponent's foot, now +stood up to meet the rush of Dutton.</p> + +<p>"There! I guess that will teach you to make insinuations about me!" +spluttered the angry lad, as he aimed a fierce blow at Dick. Our hero +easily dodged it, however, and countered with a stiff upper cut, which +gave Dutton quite a jolt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +Dick was not quite quick enough in getting away, however, and received a +blow on the chest, which he did not mind, much. Then Dutton closed in, +and both boys exchanged several severe blows, but Dick had the best of +it, for he had taken boxing lessons from an experienced instructor at +home.</p> + +<p>"Go in and do him!" called Dutton's friends.</p> + +<p>"Stand up to him, Dick," advised Paul, in low tones at the conclusion of +the first round. "You've got him going."</p> + +<p>Dutton tried to be calm as he came up the second time, but he speedily +lost his temper, as he saw how easily Dick parried his blows.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you stand up and fight?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you hit me?" retorted Dick, as he tapped his antagonist on +the nose, making it bleed slightly.</p> + +<p>"I'll pay you for that!" cried Dutton, rushing forward.</p> + +<p>"Not so loud!" cautioned Stiver. "You'll bring some of the professors +down on us."</p> + +<p>Once more Dick dodged a straight left hander, and, in return, sent in a +terrific right, that caught Dutton on the point of the jaw. The cadet +went down like a log, and lay still.</p> + +<p>"You've knocked him out, Hamilton," remarked one of the older cadets, +who acted as referee. "I congratulate you."</p> + +<p>"Yes, he fought well," added another, but there was no heartiness in his +tones, and, to Dick,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> it seemed almost as if they were sorry he had won.</p> + +<p>For won he had, as Dutton did not arise. He had been fairly, but +harmlessly, knocked out.</p> + +<p>"Do you throw up the sponge?" asked Paul, of Stiver.</p> + +<p>"I guess so," was the rather surly response. "Your man wins."</p> + +<p>"I hope I didn't hurt him," said Dick. "I didn't mean to hit so hard, +but he rushed right into it."</p> + +<p>"You didn't hurt me!" suddenly exclaimed Dutton, as he struggled to his +feet. "I'm game yet."</p> + +<p>"You've had enough," said his second. "You can have another try later."</p> + +<p>"I can do him," mumbled Dutton, but even his friends were forced to +admit that he had been well beaten.</p> + +<p>"Will you shake hands?" asked Dick, advancing toward his antagonist.</p> + +<p>"No!" exclaimed Dutton, surlily.</p> + +<p>A hot flush came to Dick's face, and he was about to turn away when, the +older cadet, who had complimented him said:</p> + +<p>"Shake hands, Dutton. Don't be a cad."</p> + +<p>This was equivalent to a command, and Dutton grudingly complied.</p> + +<p>"Do you think he will be better friends with you after this?" asked +Paul, as he and Dick walked away together.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +"I hope so, but I doubt it."</p> + +<p>Dick was right. Though he had gained the victory he had whipped one of +the most popular cadets, which Dutton was, in spite of his caddishness.</p> + +<p>Our hero's victory took nothing away from the regard in which Dutton was +held, while, as for Dick, save a few friends whom he had made among the +younger lads, he was not admitted to the comradeship of the older +cadets, to which place, of right, he belonged. The fight had not made +him popular, as he had hoped it would, after he had won it, though the +sporting element in the academy could not but admire his fistic +abilities.</p> + +<p>"I don't seem to be making much progress," remarked Dick to his +roommate, one afternoon. "You have more friends than I have."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think so."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have. It would be different, if I was at home, but here, +everyone seems to follow Dutton's lead, and turns a cold shoulder to +me."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you'll have more +<a name="acquaintances" id="acquaintances"></a><ins title="Original has acquaintences">acquaintances</ins> next term."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it. I wish I could get in with the fellows. They'll be making +up the football eleven, soon, and I'd like a chance to play."</p> + +<p>"Do you play?"</p> + +<p>"I did at home. I was right half-back. But I don't s'pose I'll have any +show here."</p> + +<p>"I tell you what you might do," said Paul,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> after a pause. "Why don't +you give a spread?"</p> + +<p>"A spread?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, a feast, you know. You can get permission to have it in one of the +rooms, and you can invite a lot of the fellows. Several of the new +fellows have done that, and some of them got proposed for membership in +the Sacred Pig society."</p> + +<p>This was one of the exclusive secret organizations of the academy, and +Dick, as well as many others, wished to join. But one had to be invited +to apply for membership, and only those students on whom the seal of +approval was set by the older cadets had this honor.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that would do any good?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"It might."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll try. Here's a chance where I can use some of my money. If +this plan doesn't work, I have another that I'll spring."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't want to say yet. I may want to get you to help me at it, +though."</p> + +<p>"I'll do anything I can."</p> + +<p>"I know you will, Paul. I wish there were more like you."</p> + +<p>Dick obtained permission from Colonel Masterly to give a spread in one +of the barrack rooms, and he made elaborate preparations for it. A town +caterer was given orders to supply a fine supper, and then Dick sent out +his invitations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> He included all the lads in his class, and every +member of the so-called "sporting crowd."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to invite Dutton?" asked Paul.</p> + +<p>"Of course. I want him more than all the others. If he would drop his +hard feelings we could be friends."</p> + +<p>"After he tried to get you into trouble about your dog, and the firing +of the cannon?"</p> + +<p>"Do you think he did?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sure of it, and so are lots of others."</p> + +<p>"Captain Hayden can't seem to find out anything about it."</p> + +<p>"No, because all of Dutton's cronies are keeping mum. But I'm sure he +did it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll forgive him, if he'll be friends. I got even by whipping +him, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, though I don't believe he thinks so."</p> + +<p>Dick received acceptances from nearly all the lads in his class, but +regarding the others he heard nothing, and did not know whether they +would come or not. He hoped they would—particularly Dutton and his +chums.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the evening on which Dick's spread was to come off, +he met Dutton and Stiver on the campus.</p> + +<p>"Let's see, isn't your spread to-morrow night?" asked Stiver, with +studied carelessness.</p> + +<p>"It's to-night," said Dick, pleasantly. "I hope you are both coming."</p> + +<p>"I'll see," answered Stiver.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +"Is there going to be anything to drink?" asked Dutton with a covert +sneer.</p> + +<p>"Lemonade," replied Dick promptly.</p> + +<p>"Is that all? I should think a millionaire cadet like you would provide +champagne; or at least beer."</p> + +<p>"It's against the rules," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"Then you'll have some cigars."</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Cigarettes then?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you'll give us malted milk and crackers," sneered Dutton, as +he turned aside. "I don't think that will suit us. Eh, Stiver?"</p> + +<p>"No indeed. I thought you wanted to be a sport, Hamilton?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care about breaking rules," replied Dick. "Besides, I don't use +tobacco or liquor."</p> + +<p>"Ah, he's a regular Sunday school brand of millionaire," remarked +Dutton, with a mean laugh. "He gives his money to the heathen, instead +of buying cigars. Come on, Stiver."</p> + +<p>At Dick's spread, that night, only a few freshmen came, and, though they +tried to be jolly, the affair was a dismal failure, after the elaborate +preparations that had been made. None of Dutton's friends came, and not +a member of the sporting element.</p> + +<p>"Dutton told 'em to stay away," said Paul, as he and Dick went to their +room, after it was all over.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +"I suppose so," answered Dick gloomily, and there was a heavy feeling in +his heart, that the thought of all his wealth could not lighten.</p> + +<p>He was beginning to realize what it meant to fulfill the conditions of +his mother's will.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +<a name="xii" id="xii"></a>CHAPTER XII<br /> +<br /> +<small>AN ANGRY FARMER</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Say</span>, Dick," remarked Paul, the next morning, as they leaped out of bed +at the sound of the bugle giving the first call, "that spread must have +cost you a pretty penny."</p> + +<p>"I don't mind that a bit," replied the young millionaire, as he +struggled into his uniform. "I'd be willing to spend a lot more if only +the fellows would have come. But there's no use crying over spilled +milk, as my dad says. Hurry up, Paul. Get this room in shape, or we'll +be in for some bad marks at inspection."</p> + +<p>The cadets quickly had their apartment in good order, and then got ready +for breakfast.</p> + +<p>They were a fine lot of cadets who filed into the mess hall a little +later, well set-up young fellows, each with his uniform spick and span, +marching with regular step that nearly approached the perfection of the +trained soldier. For, such was the discipline at Kentfield, that even +green lads quickly fell into the routine, and by this time Dick and the +other freshmen carried<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> themselves almost as well as did the senior +students.</p> + +<p>"Ah, that'll be some fun," remarked Paul, as they were leaving the +mess-hall after the meal.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Target practice. There's a notice on the bulletin board that we're to +have it right after the first study period. Are you a good shot?"</p> + +<p>"I used to be, but the guns here are heavier than I'm accustomed to. I +don't believe I can do as well."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess you can. I hear that some of the third year lads can't do +very extra."</p> + +<p>There were two target ranges at Kentfield, one for long distance +shooting, in the open, and the other in a rifle pit, indoors. It was +there that a number of the cadets and their officers assembled a little +later. Toots, who was a sort of janitor about the pits, was on hand.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Toots, going to show us how to shoot to-day?" asked a student.</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Sam. "I'll give you a few lessons. Lend me your gun."</p> + +<p>"Here you go, Tootsy old chap," added another cadet, passing over his +rifle.</p> + +<p>As all the cadets had not yet arrived discipline was rather lax, and the +officers made no objection.</p> + +<p>"Here's where I crack the bullseye first shot!" exclaimed Toots. He +handled the gun as though he had long been used to it, and took quick +aim. A sharp report followed, but there was no corresponding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> "ping" of +the target to indicate a shot.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Ha! Toots, you missed it altogether," cried Russell Glen, a +first-year and somewhat sporty student in Dick's class.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't neither!" objected Sam. "It went clean through the target, +that's why you didn't hear it. I'm a crack shot I am."</p> + +<p>He really appeared to believe it, and was much disappointed when the +marker called back that the bullet had gone about a foot over the +target.</p> + +<p>"Try again, Toots," said Glen.</p> + +<p>"I will. This time I'll go right in the center."</p> + +<p>Once more he fired, and the resulting laugh told that he had again +missed.</p> + +<p>"I guess this is your off day," observed Captain Dutton.</p> + +<p>"Looks like it," remarked Toots ruefully, as he walked off, whistling +"In a Prison Cell I Sit," and ending with the bugle call to charge.</p> + +<p>The target practice soon began, and Dick, to his own surprise, made a +good score, getting forty-nine out of a possible fifty.</p> + +<p>"We have decided to have a practice march, around the lake, to-morrow," +Major Webster announced to the cadets after target practice was over. +"Fatigue uniforms of khaki will be worn, and the affair will last all +day. Lunch will be taken in the field. You know the regulations, Captain +Dutton, so inform your command of them, and be ready after reveille +to-morrow."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +The major paused, Captain Dutton saluted, and his superior officer +turned away, his sword clanking at his heels.</p> + +<p>"A practice march!" exclaimed Paul to Dick. "That will be sport."</p> + +<p>"It sure will," added Dick.</p> + +<p>"Silence in the ranks;" cried Dutton, in a dictatorial manner. +"Lieutenant Stiver, watch Hamilton, I think he talks altogether too +much."</p> + +<p>It was an unjust accusation, but Dick knew better than to answer back.</p> + +<p>That afternoon further instructions were issued regarding the practice +march. The cadets would take one ration with them, and a wagon +containing utensils for making coffee, etc., would accompany the amateur +soldiers. They would have their rifles with them, and, during the day +would have practice in skirmish firing, in throwing up trenches, and +advancing on an imaginary enemy.</p> + +<p>They started off soon after breakfast, led by Colonel Masterly, Major +Rockford and Major Webster, while the cadet officers were in charge of +the four companies, A, B, C and D.</p> + +<p>It was a fine day in October, just right for a march, and the cadets +presented a neat appearance, as, headed by the superior officers on +horseback, they marched along the shores of the lake, off towards a +wooded plain. The boys were attired in blue flannel shirts, khaki +trousers and leggings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +"I hope they have more of these hikes before winter," remarked Paul to +Dick.</p> + +<p>"'Hike?' is that what you call 'em?"</p> + +<p>"That's what the regulars do. It's a good name, I think."</p> + +<p>"It sure is. Say, you get a fine view of the lake here."</p> + +<p>The boys talked on, for there were no rules against it, and the +experience of the march was a new one for many of them, including Dick.</p> + +<p>They reached some suitable ground about ten o'clock and on orders from +Major Webster the companies were formed into one command, under his +direction. Then, an imaginary enemy having been located in a clump of +woodland, the cadets were sent forward on the run, in skirmish parties, +firing at will, and in volleys.</p> + +<p>"Advance, and form trenches!" suddenly ordered the major.</p> + +<p>The lads, using their bayonets as spades, and scooping the dirt up with +their hands, soon formed shallow ditches, with an embankment of earth in +front, and, lying prone behind this, ruthlessly mowed down the ranks of +the enemy who still refused to show himself.</p> + +<p>The rattle and bang of the rifles, the clouds of smoke, the flashes of +fire, mingled with the hoarse commands of the major who was a war +veteran; the rushing forward of the cadets, and their activity in +digging trenches, made the scene one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> of excitement. It was glorious +sport, Dick thought.</p> + +<p>Tired, dusty and warm, though willing to keep at this war game +indefinitely, the young soldiers finally reached the edge of the woods, +where, having +<a name="dislodged" id="dislodged"></a><ins title="Original has disloged">dislodged</ins> the enemy, they were conceded to +have won a victory, and the march was again taken up.</p> + +<p>A halt for dinner was made beside a little brook. Toots, who had charge +of the provision wagon brought it up, and proceeded to build fires to +make coffee.</p> + +<p>"Toots, you old scoundrel," affectionately exclaimed a senior cadet, +"did you bring the cream for my coffee?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Mr. Morton. I brought a jug full," replied Toots, who entered into +the spirit of the fun.</p> + +<p>"And I want a white table cloth," stipulated another.</p> + +<p>"I've got one up my sleeve," answered Toots, busying himself about the +wagon.</p> + +<p>Campfires were soon ablaze, and the appetizing smell of coffee and +steaks filled the air. The cadets opened their haversacks, and were +preparing to eat, having formed into little informal groups, each +company by itself.</p> + +<p>"Say, Stiver," remarked Dutton, to his lieutenant, looking at a field of +late sweet corn, which was near where they were camped, "I'd like a few +of those ears to roast. How about you?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +"Sure's you're a foot high; but you know the orders. Mustn't do any +foraging."</p> + +<p>"Ah, what's the rule between friends? Besides, Colonel Masterly and +Major Webster are away over on the other side of the woods. Send some of +the freshmen after some corn."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to. You can if you want to."</p> + +<p>"I will. Here, Boardman, you and Booker and Hamilton go and get some of +that green corn."</p> + +<p>"I'll not," replied Dick promptly, who knew that this refusal to obey +his superior officer would be upheld, if, indeed, Dutton would dare +prefer a charge against him.</p> + +<p>"Afraid, eh?" sneered the young captain. "Very well, then, +<a name="you2" id="you2"></a><ins title="Original has You">you</ins> +take Hamilton's place, Butler."</p> + +<p>The three lads designated, either being afraid to incur Dutton's +displeasure, or because they wanted some of the corn, quietly sneaked +into the field, and quickly returned with big armsful, which were soon +put to roast, the husks being concealed under the leaves in the woods.</p> + +<p>"Maybe, you'll have some?" asked Dutton, in sneering tones, of Dick, as +the captain and his cronies began eating the roast corn.</p> + +<p>"No thank you. Not that I don't like it, but I prefer to get it another +way."</p> + +<p>Dick felt that he was putting himself further than ever beyond the pale +of his comrades' liking by his conduct, but he could not help it.</p> + +<p>The lunch was almost over, and most of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> corn had disappeared, when +an elderly man, evidently a farmer, crawled through the fence near where +Dick's company was. There was an angry look on his face.</p> + +<p>"Which of you lads stole my corn?" he demanded. "And besides that you +trampled down a lot. Who done it? That's what I want to know."</p> + +<p>There was no need to answer. The evidences of the stolen corn were all +about.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to report this to Colonel Masterly," said the farmer, +striding off toward where the superintendent was talking to the two +majors.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +<a name="xiii" id="xiii"></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>A NARROW ESCAPE</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hold</span> on!" cried Dutton, springing to his feet. "Wait a minute, +Mr.—er—Mr.—"</p> + +<p>"No, you can't come any game like that over me!" cried the angry farmer. +"You stole my corn, and trampled a lot of it down. That's agin orders, +an' I know it. I'll report to your superior officers, and we'll see how +you'll like it."</p> + +<p>"But—er—but I say—" stammered Dutton, wishing he could do something +to placate the man, for he knew that all the blame would fall on him, +and that he would be severely dealt with; perhaps reduced to the ranks.</p> + +<p>"No. I'll not listen to you," replied the farmer. "I'm going to report +to Colonel Masterly."</p> + +<p>"Now look at the mess you've got us into, Dutton," said Stiver. "Why +couldn't you let the corn alone."</p> + +<p>"Shut up!" retorted the cadet captain. "I say, Mr.—Mr. Farmer," he +called after the man.</p> + +<p>"My name's not Farmer, but I know what yours will be; it'll be Mud, +soon. I'll teach you tin soldiers to spoil my corn."</p> + +<p>There were murmurs among the cadets. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> feared lest the whole company +might be punished. But a scheme had come into Dick Hamilton's mind. +Without asking permission from Dutton he hurried after the farmer.</p> + +<p>"How much will pay for the damage to your corn, and what the boys took," +he asked quietly, holding out a roll of bills, for Dick never was +without a substantial sum.</p> + +<p>"Now you're talking, sonny," said the farmer, a different look coming +into his face. "Why didn't that captain of yours say so at first?"</p> + +<p>"What's the damage?" asked Dick. From experience he had learned that +cash will make up for almost any kind of a hurt.</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, seein' as that was particularly fine corn, I'll have to charge +you ten dollars for what ye took, and what damage ye done."</p> + +<p>"Ten dollars! That's too much!" cried Paul Drew. "Don't pay it, Dick."</p> + +<p>"Wa'al, then I'll see the colonel. I guess he'll pay that, rather than +have his school sued," said the angry man.</p> + +<p>"Here are ten dollars," said Dick quietly, handing over a bill. "I guess +the boys found the corn worth it," he added with a smile.</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said the farmer, as he pocketed the money. "I +wouldn't 'a made a fuss if I'd a knowed you was goin' to pay for it. I'm +reasonable, I am."</p> + +<p>"Not at selling corn," murmured Paul, as the man went back into his +field.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +"Hurrah for Hamilton!" cried several cadets, who realized what Dick's +action meant for them. "He's all right."</p> + +<p>"He got us out of +<a name="bad" id="bad"></a><ins title="Original has bad">a bad</ins> scrape," observed Lieutenant Stiver. "My +record won't stand many more demerits."</p> + +<p>But instead of thanking Dick, Dutton turned aside. He acted as if he +disliked to be under any obligations to the cadet who he so unreasonably +hated.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton wanted to show off, and let us see that he had money," said +the captain, contemptuously. "I suppose we ought to vote him a medal—a +gold one, studded with diamonds, seeing that he's a millionaire."</p> + +<p>"That's not right, Ray," murmured Stiver in a low tone. "He's got us out +of a hole."</p> + +<p>"I don't care! I wish he'd take himself out of this academy. We don't +want millionaires here."</p> + +<p>Probably most of Dutton's feeling toward Dick, was due to jealousy, for +Ray's father, though wealthy, was far from being as rich as Mr. +Hamilton.</p> + +<p>Dick bit his lip, to keep back a sharp reply at the unjust construction +put upon his act.</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't do anything for him again," whispered Paul.</p> + +<p>"Well, I did it for the whole company, as much as for him," replied the +young millionaire. "In another minute Colonel Masterly would have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> heard +the row, and there'd been the mischief to pay."</p> + +<p>The march was resumed after dinner and academy was reached in time for +supper. The cadets were much pleased with their practice "hike," while +the officers were complimented on the order they had maintained.</p> + +<p>"I guess the colonel would preach a different sort of a sermon if he +knew about the corn," remarked Paul, as he and Dick started for their +quarters.</p> + +<p>"Well, as long as he doesn't know, there's no harm done."</p> + +<p>"My, but I'm tired," announced Paul, as he undressed. "I'm glad we don't +have any lessons to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"What do we have?"</p> + +<p>"Artillery drill. Have you forgotten?"</p> + +<p>"That's so. I had. I've got to ride one of the leading horses too. Guess +there'll be plenty of excitement."</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't wonder. I'm on the gun-carriage, where I reckon I'll be +shaken so my liver pin will fall out."</p> + +<p>"I'll try not to let it. There go taps. Douse the glim."</p> + +<p>The two cadets crawled into bed and were soon asleep.</p> + +<p>Artillery drill at the Kentfield academy was as near like the real +article as possible. The guns were four-inch field pieces, each drawn by +six<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> horses, the two leaders being ridden by cadets, while seven men +were on the gun itself, an arrangement somewhat different from that in +the regular army. Real ammunition was used in practice, the pieces being +directed at target placed against a hill of soft dirt, in which the +balls buried themselves.</p> + +<p>The artillery practice began soon after morning inspection. The cadets +had all been instructed in how to load, aim and fire the field pieces, +and had also had practice in driving the artillery into place. For the +first time, however, they were now to indulge in this under the critical +eye of an officer from the regular army, who was visiting the academy.</p> + +<p>The first part of the drill consisted in firing at targets, before +horses were hitched to the guns. The cadets did well at this, the +different squads making good scores. Dick, who was detailed at the +breech, had a chance to aim. He thought he sighted perfectly, but when +it was fired the ball did not hit the target cleanly. It was the last +shot in that particular part of the tactics, and it left Dick's squad +with the lowest record.</p> + +<p>"That's all your fault, Hamilton!" cried Captain Dutton angrily. "Why +didn't you aim that right? Then we'd have had a chance to make a good +score."</p> + +<p>"I did aim it right, but the gun must have shifted. Maybe one of the +wheels was on a small stone."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +"Nonsense. It's your stupidity. You've lost us a good mark."</p> + +<p>Dutton angrily slammed the breech-block shut. Dick gave a start, but +<a name="stifled" id="stifled"></a><ins title="Original has stiffled">stifled</ins> the cry of pain that he was ready to give utterance +to, for one of his fingers was caught in the breech, and the blood +spurted from it, as the angry captain closed the gun.</p> + +<p>"Open the breech! Quick!" cried Paul, who had seen what had happened.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked Dutton, who had turned aside.</p> + +<p>Dick's roommate did not answer. Instead he took hold of the block with +both hands, and wrenched it open, releasing our hero, whose white face +showed the pain he suffered.</p> + +<p>"Sorry I hurt you," said Dutton, calmly. "You shouldn't have had your +finger there. I suppose you can't drive now, in the next test."</p> + +<p>"I'll drive," said Dick, grimly, as he bound his handkerchief tightly +around his finger, to stop the bleeding. The nail was smashed, and it +was very painful.</p> + +<p>"Then hurry up, and get the horses. They're ready to begin."</p> + +<p>This test was a difficult one. In turn the different gun squads were to +approach a certain spot on the gallop. They were to go through a narrow +passage, indicated by stakes stuck into the ground, and, at the end were +to suddenly wheel the gun, fire three shots, and continue on at a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +gallop to the end of the course. If any of the stakes were touched it +counted against the squad, and other points were won or lost by the +speed and accuracy of firing.</p> + +<p>In spite of his pain Dick mounted his horse, and was soon ready, with +'Gene Graham, who was to ride the other steed, to start off with the +field piece.</p> + +<p>A squad from Company B went first. They cleared the stakes nicely, and +did good work in wheeling and firing.</p> + +<p>"I hope we beat them," murmured Captain Dutton, who was on the gun +carriage.</p> + +<p>Dick grimly resolved that if he had anything to do with it they would.</p> + +<p>Company C's team came next, and did well, but the off horse struck a +stake.</p> + +<p>"Don't let that happen, Hamilton," cautioned Captain Dutton, as it came +their turn.</p> + +<p>Dick and Graham urged their animals to a gallop, and with a deep rumble +the gun followed after them. On and on they went, toward the narrow lane +formed by the upright stakes. Dick's heart was beating hard as he neared +them. Would he clear them?</p> + +<p>With unerring eye the young millionaire guided his animal, and so did +Graham. With folded arms, and almost as stiff as ramrods, the cadets sat +on the gun carriage. The leading horses were at the first stakes now, +but the real test would come when the wide gun carriage reached them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +"Go on!" yelled Dick to his horse, a swift pace being most essential in +order to keep on a straight course.</p> + +<p>Dick gave a glance back. One wheel seemed about to hit a stake, but he +quickly swerved his horse and the danger was averted. They got through +without touching, and at a swifter pace than had any of their +competitors. A burst of cheers from the watching cadets, and some +visitors, rewarded them.</p> + +<p>"Careful now!" cautioned Captain Dutton, as Dick wheeled his horse +about.</p> + +<p>Whether the animal was frightened at the cheering, or whether Dick, +because of his injured finger, did not have a proper hold of the reins, +was never +<a name="known" id="known"></a><ins title="Original has know,">known</ins> but, at that instant, the horse suddenly +swerved, turning almost at right angles, and pulling off the course. So +quickly was it done that it seemed as if the gun and carriage would +upset, injuring several of the lads.</p> + +<p>But Dick was equal to the occasion. Though the strain, which he had to +put on the reins hurt his wounded hand very much, he never flinched. +With a steady pull, and a sharp word of command, he swung his horse's +head around, and just in time to avoid sending the gun over sideways.</p> + +<p>Then, with a smart blow of his hand on the animal's flank Dick set him +to a sharp gallop. Graham's steed, which had been pulled from his +stride, regained it, and the horses behind, straightening out of the +confusion into which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> had been thrown, leaped forward, pulling the +rumbling gun after them. Through it all, and in spite of their narrow +escape, the cadets on the carriage had not so much as unfolded their +arms.</p> + +<p>On toward the place where they were to fire Dick and Graham rushed their +horses. A moment later they wheeled them, the cadets leaped down, the +gun was unlimbered, a shot rammed home, and the men stood at attention.</p> + +<p>"Fire!" cried Captain Dutton.</p> + +<p>A puff of white smoke, a sliver of flame and then a deep boom, while a +black ball was hurled toward the distant target.</p> + +<p>Twice more this was repeated, and then the gun was limbered, or attached +to the limber, the forward part of the carriage, and the horses galloped +off with it. Dick's squad had made a perfect score, in spite of the +actions of his horse, and the cadets that came after them failed, so +Captain Dutton's men won in the test.</p> + +<p>But Dick felt sick and faint from the pain in his finger which had +started to bleeding again, because of the strain caused by the reins.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +<a name="xiv" id="xiv"></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /> +<br /> +<small>CAPTAIN HANDLEE'S VISIT</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Very</span> well done, young gentlemen—very well done indeed," complimented +Colonel Masterly, as Dick and his fellow cadets came driving slowly past +where the head of the academy sat with some visitors, and the army +officer.</p> + +<p>"Indeed, the regulars will have to look to their laurels when such lads +as these are doing as well as that," observed the officer. "I thought +they were going to have a spill there, at one time. But the lad on the +off horse saved the day. Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"Millionaire Hamilton's son," said the superintendent in a low voice, +yet not so low but that Dick heard him.</p> + +<p>"I wish they wouldn't refer to me that way," he thought. "I'd like to be +myself once in a while—just Dick Hamilton. Money isn't what it's +cracked up to be."</p> + +<p>"Why, Hamilton, are you hurt?" asked Major Webster, as Dick guided his +horse to the place where the animals would be unhitched. He looked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> at +the red-stained handkerchief around the young millionaire's hand.</p> + +<p>"Just a scratch," replied Dick bravely, though the pain of his crushed +finger made him wince. "I caught it in the gun. It doesn't amount to +anything."</p> + +<p>He saw Dutton looking at him, and he fancied he detected a sneer on the +cadet captain's face.</p> + +<p>"Well, go to the surgeon, and have it dressed," said the major. "We +don't want you to get blood poison. Is yours the only injury of the +day?"</p> + +<p>"I guess so," replied Dick, with an attempted laugh.</p> + +<p>"A scratch!" exclaimed the surgeon, when Dick had so characterized the +wound, as he came to have it dressed. "Well, I wouldn't want many +scratches like that. Why the top of the finger is crushed. You shouldn't +have kept on after you got this."</p> + +<p>"I'd have to if we were fighting in earnest," was all Dick said, and he +gritted his teeth hard to keep from screaming out when the surgeon +dressed the wound.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the remainder of the week was devoted to the more quieter +forms of military life, the cadets spending considerable time in +studying, drilling and reciting.</p> + +<p>One afternoon word was sent to Dick, who was studying in his room, that +a visitor desired to see him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +"Who is it?" he asked the housekeeper, who brought the message.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. It's a gentleman from Hamilton Corners."</p> + +<p>"I hope it's some of the boys," murmured Dick. "Or even a sight of +'Hank' Darby would be welcome," for, in spite of the activities at +Kentfield, Dick was a bit homesick.</p> + +<p>He found waiting for him Captain Handlee.</p> + +<p>"I come to see if you had any news of my son," said the veteran +pitifully. "I'm about to go out west on a clue I have, but I thought I'd +stop off here."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Dick, "I'm sorry, but I haven't any news for you. I wrote +you about my inquiries."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, but I hoped something might have happened since then."</p> + +<p>"No, I regret to say, there hasn't. But how does it come that you're +going out west?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I have an idea I can get some clues there. I'm going to look up +some old soldiers who were in my son's company. Your father gave me the +money to go."</p> + +<p>"My father? Is he home?" asked Dick quickly, hoping his parent had +unexpectedly returned from abroad.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no. He gave it to me before he left. I mentioned that I'd like to +go out west, and he gave me a good sum. I don't know what I'd do but for +him."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +"When are you going west?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Right away. I guess I'd better be leaving here now."</p> + +<p>"If you have any time to spare, captain, perhaps you'd like to stay and +see the cadets go through some drills."</p> + +<p>"I think I would, if the commander will let me."</p> + +<p>"Of course he will. Old soldiers are always welcome here. We're going to +have some wall-scaling drills just before parade this evening. I'd like +to have you stay and see them."</p> + +<p>"I will, thanks."</p> + +<p>Dick spoke to Colonel Masterly about Captain Handlee, and the veteran +not only received a cordial invitation to remain, but was taken in +charge by Major Webster, who asked him to occupy his quarters, and take +his meals there.</p> + +<p>The wall-scaling drills were always enjoyed by the +<a name="cadets" id="cadets"></a><ins title="Original has cadtes,">cadets</ins> as +they offered +<a name="chances" id="chances"></a><ins title="Original has changes">chances</ins> for rough and ready fun. The walls were +structures of boards, between ten and fifteen feet high, placed on the +open field, and the object was for the lads, by means of a pyramid +formation, to get all their comrades over the top, while the men left +behind, who had assisted their fellows over, would either scramble up by +means of a rope, anchored by lads on the other side, or would be pulled +up by their comrades who leaned over the high fence.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +<a name="xv" id="xv"></a>CHAPTER XV<br /> +<br /> +<small>ON THE GRIDIRON</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the exercises for the day were over, Dick sought out Captain +Handlee, and inquired how he liked the wall-scaling.</p> + +<p>"Fine! Fine!" exclaimed the veteran. "We never had such practice when I +was in the army, but we did pretty near the same in real life. I +remember one occasion at Chancellorsville—"</p> + +<p>"Now Captain Handlee," interrupted Major Webster, who had constituted +himself host to the veteran, "you keep all such stories for me. If you +get telling them to the cadets, first thing I know I'll have to be +providing big brick walls for them to scale."</p> + +<p>He led the veteran away, the aged captain bidding good-bye to Dick.</p> + +<p>"I hope you'll be successful on your trip," said the young millionaire.</p> + +<p>"I hope so, too, Dick, for I miss my son more and more as I grow older."</p> + +<p>In spite of the good record he made in the drills, at artillery practice +and in his class, Dick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> found as the weeks went by, that he was making +no progress in becoming popular with the main body of students at +Kentfield. He had a few chums among the freshmen, and of course was on +speaking terms with all the others, but aside from Paul Drew, his +roommate, he had no close friends. This state of affairs made him feel +sad, for at home he had been the most popular lad in town.</p> + +<p>"I'm not succeeding as I thought I would," he said to himself, one day. +"I guess I'll have to put my plan into operation. But perhaps I'd better +wait a while yet. I'll give this way a fair show."</p> + +<p>As fall advanced there began to be talk about forming the football +eleven. A number of new players were needed, because some of the best +had graduated the previous year.</p> + +<p>"I hope I can make the team," said Dick to Paul one evening during their +study period. "I used to be considered a good player at home."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why you can't get on. Fortunately Dutton has nothing to say +about who shall play, though he's considered one of the team's +supporters and backers."</p> + +<p>"Still he may influence Captain Rutledge. I hear they are going to pick +candidates this week."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard Harry Hale, the coach, talking about it. I hope you make +the eleven, Dick."</p> + +<p>It was the following day, when Dick was out in the field, with some +other cadets of his class,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> getting instruction in survey work, that he +overheard something which made him feel more than ever like giving up +the fight against his handicap. He was standing near a thick hedge, +holding the scale rod, while another cadet was reading it through the +instrument, when he heard voices behind the shrubbery.</p> + +<p>"Looks to me like Hamilton would make a good player," he caught, and he +knew that Coach Hale was speaking.</p> + +<p>"You're right," said Captain Rutledge. "He's got the right build, and I +hear he played at home."</p> + +<p>"Aw, you don't want him on the team," expostulated a voice which Dick +knew at once belonged to Captain Dutton.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked the coach, in some surprise.</p> + +<p>"Well, none of the other fellows like him. You wouldn't get good team +work if he played."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" asked Captain Rutledge.</p> + +<p>"Sure. He's not popular."</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with him?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he's got too much money, and he's always trying to make it known. +He gives himself as many airs as if he came of an old family."</p> + +<p>This was an unjust accusation, but the coach and captain did not know +it, as they were upper-class cadets, and did not mingle much with the +freshmen.</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't want to get an unpopular fellow on the eleven," said the +coach, dubiously.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," agreed the captain. "Still, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> need good players. Suppose +we give him a trial?"</p> + +<p>"You'll be sorry if you do," Dutton assured them.</p> + +<p>Dick longed to drop the rod, leap over the hedge and give a +well-deserved threshing to Dutton, but he knew he would lose more than +he would gain. He was brought quickly out of his fit of righteous anger +by the sharp command of the officer in charge of the surveying party.</p> + +<p>"Plumb east there! Hamilton!" was the cry, and Dick saw that he had +allowed the rod to slant too much. He straightened it, and, glancing at +the hedge saw the three cadets who had been talking, moving away. But, +before they got out of earshot Dick heard Dutton say:</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't put him on the team, if I were you, for I don't think he'll +be here long."</p> + +<p>"Why not? Doesn't he like it?" asked Captain Rutledge.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess he likes it all right, but we don't like him. I shouldn't +wonder but what something would happen to make him leave," and Dutton +laughed sarcastically.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'd better be on my guard," thought Dick as he moved the rod to +another place, in obedience to the instructions from the cadet at the +instrument.</p> + +<p>A few days after this, a notice was posted on the bulletin board in the +gymnasium, telling all candidates for the football team to report on +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> gridiron that afternoon, as selections for the regular and scrub +teams would be made. Members of the scrub would act as substitutes on +the regular.</p> + +<p>"Here's where I get my chance," said Dick to Paul.</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope you make the regular team," replied his roommate, as the +young millionaire went to submit himself for examination.</p> + +<p>Coach Hale, Captain Rutledge, and a number of the former players were on +hand, as was Dutton, and some of his cronies. All the +<a name="candidates" id="candidates"></a><ins title="Original had candiates">candidates</ins> +were looked over, sized up physically, and put through a course of +"sprouts" in running, leaping, and tackling. Then their football history +was inquired into.</p> + +<p>"I guess you'll do, Hamilton," said the coach, and Dick was delighted.</p> + +<p>A moment later, however, he saw his hopes dashed to the ground. Dutton +called Harry Hale over to him, whispered a bit, and then Captain +Rutledge joined them.</p> + +<p>"You'll be on the scrub, Hamilton," said Hale, a little later. "You'll +probably have a chance to play in several games, however, for I like +your form. You've got to be regular at practice however."</p> + +<p>Though much disappointed, Dick vowed to do his best at practice. This +was started a few days later, and, when the regular team lined up +against the substitutes, Dick resolved that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> would make no gains +through him, for he was playing at left guard, though he preferred being +back of the line.</p> + +<p>"Well, how are we making out," Dick overheard Captain Rutledge asking +the coach, one afternoon, following some hard scrimmages.</p> + +<p>"Pretty good. That Hamilton is like a brick wall, though. We can't gain +a foot through him. I wish we had him on the regular."</p> + +<p>"Well, you know what Dutton said."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know, but I don't believe all Dutton says. He's got queer +notions. I think Hamilton is every bit as good as he is. Besides, Dutton +doesn't play football."</p> + +<p>"I know it, but he has lots of influence."</p> + +<p>Dick fully subscribed to this, for he knew it was due to Dutton that he +was on the scrub instead of on the regular team. But he resolved to have +patience.</p> + +<p>As Dick walked off the gridiron, following the practice, he was met, +before he reached his barracks, by Grit, who had been let out of his +kennel in the stables.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Grit old fellow!" exclaimed Dick, and the dog nearly dislocated +his stump of a tail, so excited was he. Since rejoining his master he +had picked up wonderfully. "I've got you for a friend, even if I haven't +many others," said Dick, as he bent over to fondle the dog. As he did so +he saw some marks on the animal's smooth, satin-like coat, that made him +start.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +"Grit, you've been fighting!" he exclaimed. "How did that happen?" He +knew there were no other dogs near the academy with whom his pet would +quarrel. He asked the stableman about it.</p> + +<p>"Sure Grit's been in a fight," replied one of the hostlers. "I thought +you matched him in a scrap wid a dorg in town. Grit won, anyhow. It was +a couple a' nights ago."</p> + +<p>"Matched him in a fight? Why, did some one—some of the cadets take Grit +to town, and let him fight?"</p> + +<p>"Thot's what they done, Muster Hamilton, an' they won a pot of money on +him too, I understand."</p> + +<p>"Who took him?" asked Dick, trying to speak calmly.</p> + +<p>"Why, uts no secret. Muster Dutton an' Muster Stiver tuck him one night. +Ut was a foin foight, I heard 'em say."</p> + +<p>Dick started away, after chaining Grit up, a set look on his face.</p> + +<p>"I'll have it out with Dutton," he said.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +<a name="xvi" id="xvi"></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /> +<br /> +<small>FOR THE PRIZE TROOP</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">After</span> a bath and rub down in the gymnasium Dick dressed for evening +parade. When this was over he sought out Dutton, who was strolling off +the campus with some chums.</p> + +<p>"Captain Dutton, I wish to speak to you," said Dick, formally saluting.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know that I wish to speak to you. What is it?" asked the +young snob, barely acknowledging Dick's courtesy.</p> + +<p>"Did you take my bulldog to town, and match him to fight another?"</p> + +<p>Dutton started, then looked insolently at Dick.</p> + +<p>"What of it?" he asked sneeringly.</p> + +<p>"This much. That you haven't any right to do that, even if you are my +superior officer. Grit is my personal property, and I won't have him +fighting."</p> + +<p>"Aw, what's the harm, Hamilton. He put up a dandy fight and licked a +bigger dog than he is," put in one of the cadets.</p> + +<p>"I don't care, I don't want him to fight."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you don't?" asked Dutton <a name="coolly" id="coolly"></a><ins title="Original has colly">coolly</ins>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +"No; and if you take him again——"</p> + +<p>"Well, what will you do? Report me, I suppose?" said the captain.</p> + +<p>"No, but I'll thrash you worse than I did the other time, Captain +Dutton, that's what I'll do!" exclaimed Dick, hotly. "You leave Grit +alone! If you take him again you know what to expect!"</p> + +<p>Dutton turned pale. He strode toward Dick, but at that moment Captain +Grantly, one of the instructors, strolled past. Dutton turned aside.</p> + +<p>"You haven't heard the last of this—my fresh millionaire," he said in a +whisper to Dick, as he and his cronies walked off. "You'll wish you +hadn't insulted me."</p> + +<p>Dick saluted, as the rules required, and marched back to quarters. He +felt that he would have enjoyed a good stiff fight with his mean enemy.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose this will add to my popularity, among the sporting +element," he said to himself. "But I don't care; they shan't fight +Grit!"</p> + +<p>Football practice went on every afternoon, and Dick and the other scrubs +were faithful at it. The regular eleven was being whipped into shape, +and the first game was close at hand. When it was played Dick found +himself wishing he could have a chance, but no such thing happened. The +opponents of Kentfield were light-weight players, and the cadets had no +difficulty in piling up a big score.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +"But it will be different next week," Captain Rutledge warned them. "We +tackle Mooretown then, and you'll find your work cut out for you."</p> + +<p>This game was indeed a stiff one, and several players were hurt. The +cadets were slightly ahead in the second half, when the right half-back +was knocked out, and, as there had been one substitute already put in at +that position, there was a call for another one.</p> + +<p>"Try Hamilton," suggested the coach, after a hurried consultation with +the captain.</p> + +<p>Dick's heart gave a wild throb, as he was called, and, stripping off his +sweater, he bounded in from the side line. He was given the ball for a +play around the left end, and, getting clear of the opposing players +started down the field on a run. But, alas for his hopes of making a +touchdown! The referee's whistle blew when he was on the thirty-five +yard line, ending the game, in favor of Kentfield.</p> + +<p>There was rejoicing among the cadets, for Mooretown was an ancient +rival, and they played three games with the students of that +non-military academy every year, for the local championship.</p> + +<p>"You didn't get much of a show, Hamilton," said Coach Hale, as the team +was in the dressing room. "But you started off well. I guess you'll get +into a game yet."</p> + +<p>Dick was grateful for this praise. He knew he could do good work if he +had half a chance.</p> + +<p>"This is Saturday," observed Paul Drew, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> crawled out of bed the +next morning. "Not so many lessons to-day, and lots of fun for you, I +suppose on the horses. It's rough-riding to-day."</p> + +<p>"So it is," agreed Dick. "I like that best of all, except, maybe, hiking +on a practice march, and firing from the trenches. I hope I get the +horse I had last time."</p> + +<p>"To-day's the last of the tests," went on Paul, as he +<a name="slipped" id="slipped"></a><ins title="Original has slippen">slipped</ins> into his uniform.</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean the officers are going to choose from those who ride to-day, the +cadets who can take part in the tests for joining the prize troop."</p> + +<p>"Right you are. Say, I'm going to make that troop or bust a leg."</p> + +<p>"Well, I hope you don't break any bones. But I guess there's no danger. +You seem right at home on a horse."</p> + +<p>"I ought to. I've been riding ever since I was a kid. I'm going to do my +best to-day."</p> + +<p>As Paul had said, this was the final weeding out of candidates among the +cadets, who had no chance in the tests that would be held later, to +determine who should be members of the prize troop. This troop consisted +of the best riders at the academy, and took part in several state +evolutions and parades, having won a number of trophies.</p> + +<p>Scores of cadets, in their service uniforms, reported on the cavalry +plain for practice. They were required to vault into the saddle while +their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> horse was standing still, and at varying speeds, up to a smart +gallop. Many failed in this, but Dick did not.</p> + +<p>Then came mounting and dismounting at hurdles, which was more difficult, +and weeded out a number, and then, the last of the semifinals, was the +feat of standing astride on two horses, driving a steed on either side, +and, while doing this, to take a difficult hurdle.</p> + +<p>More than a score did not succeed at this, and Dick was not a little +nervous when it came his turn, as, though he was an expert, he had not +practiced this evolution much.</p> + +<p>On his steeds thundered over the ground, one being a skittish horse, and +hard to manage.</p> + +<p>"If they don't jump together," thought Dick, "I'm done for. If one of +them knocks down the hurdle bar it's all up with my chances."</p> + +<p>He called encouragingly to the animals, and took a tighter hold on the +reins, while he shifted his weight on the backs of the horses.</p> + +<p>"Over you go now, boys!" he exclaimed at the take-off, and he fairly +lifted the four animals as one, over the bar, clearing it cleanly.</p> + +<p>"Good, Hamilton!" was the quiet praise of Major Webster, who acted as +judge. "That was finely done."</p> + +<p>So Dick qualified for the finals.</p> + +<p>But there was more hard work ahead of him. Thus far not many of the +freshmen had kept up to Dick, and there were envious eyes cast at him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +But those who envied him his good fortune realized that he had earned +it.</p> + +<p>"Now, gentlemen, ready for the finals," ordered Major Webster. "I want +you all to be careful, and take no unnecessary risks, at the same time, +don't be afraid, for no one ever became a good horseman who was afraid."</p> + +<p>The final tests consisted in riding bareback, in different postures, +such as might become necessary during a battle, in riding at different +speeds, in removing the saddle from the horse while at full gallop, in +leaping hurdles, and taking water jumps.</p> + +<p>Other tests were in leaping hurdles four feet high, and as the cadets +vaulted, taking a suspending ring on a lance, in leaping clean over a +running horse and in forming pyramids, with ten cadets on four horses.</p> + +<p>The last test was, perhaps, the most difficult of all. It consisted in +one cadet lying on the ground, and another riding toward him at full +speed. The one on the horse had to pick up his comrade from the earth, +by leaning over and grasping his up-stretched hand, and then assisting +him up behind him on his horse, continuing to gallop away.</p> + +<p>When it came Dick's turn he noticed, with some uneasiness, that the +cadet he was to pick up, was one of the heaviest in the school, but he +resolved to succeed, and he braced himself for the ordeal, as his horse +galloped toward the prostrate youth.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +As he neared the recumbent figure Dick leaned over, holding on as +tightly as he could with his legs. His hand grasped the belt and part of +the clothing of the cadet, and then Dick's arm felt as if it would be +torn from the socket. He feared he would be dragged from his horse.</p> + +<p>But, with a sudden pull, he lifted the lad from the ground and swung him +upon his horse. There was some applause at Dick's feat, as his steed +galloped on over the course.</p> + +<p>"Guess I'm something of a load, old chap," said the cadet to Dick.</p> + +<p>"You're no feather," was Dick's comment, as he halted his horse.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +<a name="xvii" id="xvii"></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK IN TROUBLE</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, Hamilton, I think we shall admit you to membership in the prize +troop," said Major Webster. "It was a severe test, and you did well."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad you think so, sir," replied Dick, saluting.</p> + +<p>There were some further trials, in some of them Dick acting the part of +the reclining cadet. 'Gene Graham could not succeed in the test, and was +rejected, much to his disappointment.</p> + +<p>Dick was delighted to be a member of the prize troop for it brought with +it many privileges; and there was a chance to take part in parades and +similar affairs to which the other cadets were not admitted.</p> + +<p>Very few freshmen had won the coveted honor, but it can not be said that +Dick was received with open arms into the troop. Dutton and many of his +friends belonged, and they had lost none of their unreasonable feeling +against Dick. Still they did nothing more than turn a cold shoulder +toward him, though this was enough to make the young millionaire +miserable.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +However, he managed to forget some of his bad feeling in anticipation of +another football game, which was to take place two days later. He hoped +to get a chance to play, as, following a rather tame affair with a team +which the Kentfield eleven "walked all over," there was to be the second +of the championship contests with Mooretown.</p> + +<p>This was a lively and strenuous game. Mooretown put in some new players, +and, though they did not score in the first half, when Kentfield made +one touchdown, the opponents of the cadet warriors of the gridiron took +such a brace in the second that the score was ten to four, in favor of +Mooretown, when the referee's whistle blew.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with your men?" asked Coach Hale of Captain Rutledge, +after the game. "They couldn't hold those fellows for a cent."</p> + +<p>"Too much beef for us," replied the captain.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and they tore holes in your line that you could drive an ice wagon +through," went on the coach. "Both your guards were weak. Hamilton +should have been put in."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't very well do it, when no men were hurt."</p> + +<p>"No, I suppose not. But if the next game doesn't go better than this one +did, I'll make a change. We can't afford to lose it."</p> + +<p>"We shan't lose it," promised the captain, and Dick, who overheard what +was said, hoped he would get a chance to play.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +Meanwhile he reported regularly for practice, and was a tower of +strength to the scrub eleven, many of the players on which, regardless +of Dutton's influence, made of Dick a better friend than heretofore.</p> + +<p>Several unimportant games followed, one of which resulted in a tie, +Kentfield winning the others, and then came the occasion of the final +struggle with Mooretown. It was the greatest game of the season, as it +meant much to both academies.</p> + +<p>The day before the contest Dick was surprised to receive a visit from +Russell Glen, one of the freshmen cadets, who, hitherto, had scarcely +taken the trouble to nod to him. Glen wanted to be considered a "sport," +and Dick had heard that he had had a hand in taking Grit off to the dog +fight.</p> + +<p>"I had a letter from a friend of mine to-day," said Glen, by way of +introduction, as he lolled in one of Dick's easy chairs. "It contained +some surprising news."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" asked Dick politely.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was from Guy Fletcher, of Hamilton Corners. He spoke of you, +and asked me if I knew you."</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Dick, wondering what was coming.</p> + +<p>"I was quite surprised to know that you and Guy were friends," went on +Glen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I've known Guy for some time,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> said Dick, not caring to go +into particulars, and tell what a mean trick Guy, in company with Simon +Scardale, had once played on him.</p> + +<p>"So he says. He speaks very highly of you. I've known him for some time. +He and I used to be quite chummy. But I had no idea you and he lived in +the same town, until he spoke of it in his letter. He mentioned that you +attended this academy, and asked if I was acquainted with you. I wrote +back and said that I was."</p> + +<p>Dick looked rather surprised at this, as well he might, for, beyond a +mere nod, Glen had never shown that he knew him.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose I am as well acquainted with you as I might be," went +on the young "sport," calmly, "and that's my fault. I've been so busy +attending to my studies, that I haven't had much time for social calls."</p> + +<p>Neither had many of the other cadets, Dick thought bitterly.</p> + +<p>"But I'll make amends now," went on Glen. "I want to get to know you +better, because we both have the same friend in Guy Fletcher."</p> + +<p>Dick didn't think it worth while to state that Guy was no particular +friend of his, since certain happenings told of in the first volume of +this series. But Glen continued:</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd come to a little spread I'm giving to-night. Just a small +affair for some of the freshmen."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +"I'll come," promised our hero, glad of the chance to meet some of his +classmates informally.</p> + +<p>"It won't be as elaborate as the one I hear you gave," went on Glen, +"for I'm not a millionaire," and he laughed. "But I'll do the best I +can."</p> + +<p>At first Dick thought he was going to have a good time at the affair, +for the guests, most of whom were of the "sporting" element, greeted him +cordially enough. But when Glen produced several bottles of beer, and +some cigars, Dick felt uneasy.</p> + +<p>It was an offense, calling for severe punishment, to have intoxicants or +tobacco in the academy, and Dick realized that discovery might come any +moment. Still, he did not want to bring upon himself ridicule, and +perhaps anger, by leaving.</p> + +<p>"Have some beer, Hamilton," urged Glen.</p> + +<p>"It's the right sort of stuff. I had it smuggled in from town. And these +are prime cigars. I snibbled some from dad's stock before I came away."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you," replied Dick. "I don't care for any."</p> + +<p>"What, don't you drink?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Aw, you don't know what life is. Have a cigar then."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't smoke, either."</p> + +<p>"Humph! You're a regular molly-coddle, you are," said Glen, with a +brutal laugh.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +Dick flushed.</p> + +<p>"Maybe," he admitted, as pleasantly as he could, "but I have an idea I +shouldn't drink or smoke while in training, if for no other reason."</p> + +<p>"Your training doesn't seem to be doing you much good," said another +cadet. "You haven't had a show in any of the games yet. Better quit +training and have some beer."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. Maybe I'll get a chance to play to-morrow."</p> + +<p>But Dick's refusal had no effect on Glen's other guests. They drank more +than was good for them, and smoked considerable. They were becoming +rather noisy and silly, and Dick was in momentary terror lest some guard +or instructor should come along and discover the violation of the rules. +The spread was held in an unused room, in the basement of the east +barrack, and, though permission for it had been given, the officer in +charge of the building was supposed to keep a sort of lookout over such +affairs.</p> + +<p>If one of the cadet officers discovered the beer and cigars he would +hardly "squeal" on his comrades, but one of the academy staff would not +be so lenient.</p> + +<p>The fun became more and more noisy, and Dick was thinking of +withdrawing, no matter if he did offend his host, when he was saved the +trouble by something that happened.</p> + +<p>A cadet officer, who was on night guard knocked on the door, and when +there came a sudden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> hush to the merry-making, he whispered that Major +Webster was approaching, and would almost certainly discover the breach +of rules.</p> + +<p>"Quick fellows, get this stuff out of the way, and then skip!" cried +Glen, and the boys quickly hid the beer bottles, and threw away their +cigars. Then, by opening the windows, the smoke was gotten rid of, and +the cadets prepared to disperse.</p> + +<p>"I say, Hamilton," began Glen, a bit thickly, as he walked alongside +Dick, to his room, "you couldn't lend me twenty-five dollars; could you? +I spent more on this racket than I intended, and I'm a bit short until I +get my next allowance. I want to bet a little on the game to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"I guess I can let you have it," said Dick good naturedly. "Come to my +room, and I'll get it."</p> + +<p>It was after ten o'clock, but as Dick had received permission to attend +the spread, he had a permit to be out after taps. Paul, who had not been +invited, was asleep when Dick and Glen entered.</p> + +<p>"I say, Hamilton, you keep your room looking nice," said the "sport" as +he looked around the neat apartment. "I'm always getting a mark at +police inspection, for having something out of kilter. You and Drew are +as neat as girls."</p> + +<p>"Hush! Not so loud," cautioned Dick. "You'll wake, Paul."</p> + +<p>"Aw, what's the odds. He'll go to sleep again. It's early yet. Be a +sport!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +Glen was noisy from the beer which he had taken.</p> + +<p>"Here is the money," said Dick, handing over some bills.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, old chap. I'll see that you get it back all right."</p> + +<p>"There's no hurry."</p> + +<p>"All right; if I win, though, I'll pay you to-morrow. Do you think we'll +lick Mooretown?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so. But you'd better go to bed now."</p> + +<p>"Me? Go to bed? Wha' for?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's getting late, and some one might come along. You'd better +go."</p> + +<p>"That's a' right. I'm goin'. You're a' right, Ham'ton. You're a' right. +You're sport!"</p> + +<p>And, rather unsteady on his legs, poor, foolish Glen went away, much to +Dick's relief.</p> + +<p>"I don't much care for friends, such as he is," thought Dick, as he got +into bed.</p> + +<p>In his generousness it never occurred to him that Glen had cultivated +his acquaintance merely that he might borrow money from him.</p> + +<p>Dick was awakened by the clear, sweet notes of the bugle sounding +reveille. He and Paul jumped out of bed, and were soon in their +uniforms. Then they got their room in order for police inspection, +which, on some days, was made while they were at breakfast. This was one +of those occasions.</p> + +<p>"There, I guess they can't find any fault with that," observed Dick, as +he and his roommate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> putting the finishing touches to their apartment, +descended to form in line to march to the mess hall.</p> + +<p>Dick was leaving the table, to attend chapel, when Cadet Captain Naylor, +who was in charge of the police inspection, tapped him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton, report to Major Rockford," he said curtly.</p> + +<p>"To Major Rockford? What for?"</p> + +<p>"Room out of order."</p> + +<p>"Room out of order?"</p> + +<p>Dick knew that he and Paul had left their apartment in perfect trim.</p> + +<p>But Captain Naylor did not answer, and Dick, with a heavy heart, started +for the commandant's office. It was the first time he had been made to +report for a breach of discipline of this sort.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +<a name="xviii" id="xviii"></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>A DISMAL CHRISTMAS</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">You</span> are reported as not having your room in order, Hamilton," began +Major Rockford, as Dick entered.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how that can be, sir," replied Dick, saluting. "When Paul +Drew and I left it for breakfast it was in order."</p> + +<p>"Drew's side is yet, but your bureau is stated by Captain Naylor to be +in great disorder."</p> + +<p>"I—I left it in order, sir."</p> + +<p>"Very well, we will go and take a look at it."</p> + +<p>Accompanied by the commandant, Dick went to his apartment. To his +surprise his neat bureau was in great disorder, the objects on it being +scattered all about.</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Major Rockford.</p> + +<p>"Some one—some one must have been in here, sir," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"Ha! Do you wish to accuse any one?"</p> + +<p>Dick went closer to his bureau. Something on it caught his eye. It was a +note written in pencil. It read:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="nb">"<span class="smcap">Dear Hamilton</span>: I am awfully sick this morning. I lost that +twenty-five you loaned me. Can you let me have some more? I +called but you were out, so I wrote this note here. Please let +me have the money.</p> + +<p class="right nt">"<span class="smcap">Russell Glen.</span>"</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Then Dick understood. Glen, suffering from the effects of his +dissipation the night before, had called at the room after our hero and +Paul had left to go to breakfast. In writing the note Glen had, probably +unthinkingly, disarranged the things on Dick's bureau, where he wrote +and left the missive. Then he had gone away, and, Captain Naylor, on +police inspection, had seen the disorder, and reported Dick.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to accuse any one?" went on Major Rockford.</p> + +<p>Dick thought rapidly. To tell the true circumstances, and show Glen's +note, would mean that the facts of the spread would come out. Glen and +his chums would be punished, and Dick might be censured. It would be +better to accept the blame for having his room in disorder, rather than +incur the displeasure of his comrades by being the means of informing on +Glen.</p> + +<p>So Dick answered:</p> + +<p>"I—I guess I was mistaken, sir. I am sorry my room was out of order."</p> + +<p>"So am I, Hamilton, for you have a good record. Still there have been +several violations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> of late, among the cadets, and I must make an +example. But, in view of your +<a name="good" id="good"></a><ins title="Original has god">good</ins> conduct, and record I will +not give you any demerits."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>"Still, I must inflict some punishment You will not be allowed to attend +the football game this afternoon, but must remain in your room."</p> + +<p>That was punishment indeed, for Dick felt that he would have a chance to +play. Still, like a good soldier, he did not murmur. He concealed Glen's +note in his hand, saluted the major and then, as chapel was over, he +marched to his classroom, with a heavy heart.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if that was part of a plot to get me into trouble," thought +Dick, as he recalled what he had overheard Dutton say. "They're trying +to force me to leave the academy. But I'll not go! I'll fight it out!"</p> + +<p>He felt very lonesome as he had to retire to his room that afternoon, +and heard the merry shouts of the football eleven, the substitutes, and +the other cadets leaving for the final battle on the gridiron with +Mooretown.</p> + +<p>"How I wish I could go!" thought Dick. "I'm punished for something I +didn't do. It isn't right. Still, perhaps Glen was so sick he didn't +know what he was doing."</p> + +<p>He had already sent Glen some more money, for he did not want to refuse +one of the few favors that had been asked of him since coming to the +academy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +As he was moping in his room, Toots came along, whistling "Three Cheers +for the Red, White and Blue," and giving a succession of bugle calls.</p> + +<p>"What? Not at the game, Mister Hamilton?" asked the jolly janitor.</p> + +<p>"No; I'm a prisoner."</p> + +<p>"That's nothing. Many a time I got out of the guard house. There's no +one around now, and I won't look, nor squeal. You can easily slip out, +and go to the game."</p> + +<p>"No," said Dick, though the temptation was strong. "By the way, Toots, +did you ever call to mind about this picture?" and he showed him the one +of missing Bill Handlee, which was still on the mantle.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Toots, again striving hard to remember about it. "It's +clean gone from me, Mr. Hamilton. But, are you sure you don't want to +escape? I can find some work to do at the other side of the barracks, if +you want to go."</p> + +<p>"No. I'll stay."</p> + +<p>And stay Dick did, all that long afternoon. It was dusk when the players +and the other cadets came back, and there was an +<a name="ominous" id="ominous"></a><ins title="Original has omnious">ominous</ins> +silence about their return.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't sound as if they'd won," thought Dick. "If they did they're +celebrating very quietly."</p> + +<p>Paul Drew came in a little later.</p> + +<p>"How about the game?" asked Dick eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +"We lost," said Paul. "We might have won, only Henderson, who had a +chance to score a winning touchdown, couldn't run fast enough with the +ball, and he was downed on the five-yard line, too late for another try +to cross the Mooretown goal. I wish you had played. You'd have won the +game for us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I guess not."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you would. Captain Rutledge admitted as much."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe I'll get a chance next time."</p> + +<p>"There won't be any next time this year. The game is over for the +season, and Mooretown did us two contests out of three. It's too bad. +The fellows are all cut up over it. Say, have you any idea who mussed up +your bureau? Was it Dutton?"</p> + +<p>"No, it wasn't Dutton," said Dick quietly, and that was all he could be +induced to say about it.</p> + +<p>Discipline, which had been somewhat relaxed during the football season, +was now in force again, and the cadets found they were kept very busy +with their studies and drills. Dick was standing well in his classes, +but he made no more progress in gaining the friendship of the students, +other than a few freshmen.</p> + +<p>Even Glen showed no disposition to make much of Dick. He did not repay +the money borrowed, on the plea that he was in debt quite heavily, and +had lost much on the football game. Still he had the cheek to ask Dick +for more, and when the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> young millionaire properly refused Glen called +him a "tight-wad," and sneered at him, making no pretense of retaining +his friendship.</p> + +<p>One night, following several spreads, to none of which was Dick invited, +he wrote a rather discouraged letter to his +<a name="father" id="father"></a><ins title="Original has gather">father</ins>, hinting +that he wished he could attend some other school.</p> + +<p>In due time there came an answer, part of which was as follows:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>"You know the terms were that you were to remain at least a full +term. Still, if you do not wish to, you have the choice of going +to your Uncle Ezra. He will send you to a boarding school of his +own selection. Let me know what you will do. I will not be able +to get home by Christmas, as I expected, and you had better +remain at the academy over the holidays. I know it will be +lonesome for you, but it can't be helped."</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>"Go to a boarding school selected by Uncle Ezra," murmured Dick. "Never! +I'll stay here a full term, even if no one but the teachers speak to me. +I never could stand Uncle Ezra and Dankville. This is bad enough, but +there are some bright spots in it. The sun never shines where Uncle Ezra +is."</p> + +<p>Yet the time was coming when Uncle Ezra was to do Dick a great favor, +though he himself was not aware of it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +So Dick sent word to his father that he would remain at Kentfield. Fall +merged into winter, and overcoats were the order of the day at all +out-door exercises. Much of the drilling and parading was omitted, and +more study and recitation was indulged in. What maneuvers on horseback +and afoot were held, took place mainly in the big riding hall or drill +room, and they were not as +<a name="attractive" id="attractive"></a><ins title="Original has atractive">attractive</ins> as when held out of +doors.</p> + +<p>"Well, are you going home for Christmas?" asked Paul, about a week +before the holiday vacation.</p> + +<p>"Guess not," replied Dick, somewhat gloomily. "Our house is shut up, and +I don't care about spending Christmas at a hotel in Hamilton Corners."</p> + +<p>"Come home with me."</p> + +<p>"No, thank you. I was thinking of visiting some of my chums at home. I +believe I'll do that. I'll be glad to see them again."</p> + +<p>Dick knew he would be welcomed at the homes of any of his friends, and +he planned to go to Hamilton Corners and surprise them.</p> + +<p>But alas for his hopes! When the last day of school came, and the other +cadets made hurried preparations to leave for home, poor Dick was taken +with a heavy cold. The surgeon forbade him leaving his room, as the +weather was cold and stormy, and our hero was forced to remain at +Kentfield, in charge of the housekeeper and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> doctor, while the other +cadets joyfully departed to happy firesides.</p> + +<p>"Sorry to leave you, old chap," said Paul, sympathetically, "but my +folks wouldn't know what to do if I didn't come home over the holidays."</p> + +<p>"That's all right," said Dick, hoarsely, but as cheerfully as he could. +"I'll see you after New Year's. Have a good time."</p> + +<p>"I will. Hope you get better."</p> + +<p>It was a gloomy Christmas for the young millionaire, and, as a fever set +in with his cold, he couldn't even enjoy the good +<a name="things" id="things"></a><ins title="Original has thinks">things</ins> +which the kind housekeeper, under orders from Colonel Masterly, provided +for the patient.</p> + +<p>The academy was a very lonely place indeed, Christmas day, for all the +officers and cadets had gone, leaving only the housekeeper, and some of +the janitors, including Toots, in charge.</p> + +<p>Dick received some tokens from abroad, sent by his father, and a cheery +letter, which he answered in the same strain.</p> + +<p>"But it isn't much like Christmas," thought Dick, as he sat up in bed. +Then a bright thought came to him.</p> + +<p>"Can't Toots have dinner up here with me?" he asked Mrs. Fitzpatrick.</p> + +<p>"Of course he can," she said. "Maybe it will cheer you up," and she sent +for the jolly janitor.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +<a name="xix" id="xix"></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE MARKSMAN MEDAL</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Toots'</span> advance along the corridor leading to Dick's room was announced +by his rendering of the tune "The Star Spangled Banner," which he ended +with a spirited bugle call.</p> + +<p>"Did you send for me, Mr. Hamilton?" he asked as he came in.</p> + +<p>"I did, Toots," said Dick. "I thought maybe you would like to have +dinner with me here. I'm lonesome, and I suppose you are, too."</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart, not exactly lonesome, Mr. Hamilton, but I'm glad to +come just the same. You see I'm too busy to be lonesome. I've got lots +to do, cleaning up all the rooms against the cadets coming back in a +couple of weeks."</p> + +<p>"Then maybe you haven't time to spend an hour or so here."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I reckon I have. But it's agin the regulations for me to eat here. +I'm supposed to eat with the other servants."</p> + +<p>"We'll make our own regulations for the time being," said Dick. "Here +comes Mrs. Fitzpatrick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> with the grub. I hope you're hungry, for I'm not +particularly."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can eat a bit," admitted Toots. "I say, though, that is a +spread!" he exclaimed, as he saw the good things the housekeeper was +bringing into Dick's room, where she set them on a table.</p> + +<p>"Well, it's Christmas," observed Dick, "though I can't eat much myself. +However, it'll do me good to see you put it away."</p> + +<p>"And I can do that same," admitted Toots cheerfully.</p> + +<p>Dick, under the doctor's orders was allowed only a bit of the white meat +of the turkey, and none of the "stuffing," so he could not make a very +substantial meal, but Toots ate enough for three.</p> + +<p>"I don't suppose you got this sort of thing in the army," ventured Dick, +wishing to have his odd friend talk somewhat of his experiences, for he +had learned that Toots had once been janitor at a military post.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," replied Toots. "We did get a little extra at holiday +times, but nothing like this."</p> + +<p>"How did you come to be at the military post?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Blessed if I know. I was always a sort of a rover, and I suppose I +wandered out west. I'm going to join the army some time. I'm a good +shot, you know. Did you ever see me shoot?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Dick, trying not to smile, as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> thought of how far +Toots had come from hitting the target.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm a good shot," went on the janitor. "But I'm going to improve. +I'll practice on the range this winter at odd times. You're a pretty +good shot yourself, ain't you?"</p> + +<p>"Fair," admitted Dick, as he watched Toots put away the roast turkey and +the "fixings."</p> + +<p>"A-ker-choo!" suddenly sneezed Toots, pulling out his handkerchief. +"Aker-choo-choo! Guess I put too much pepper on my potatoes," he said.</p> + +<p>Something fell to the floor, as Toots pulled out his handkerchief. It +lay in sight of Dick, who was propped up in bed.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he asked. "You dropped something."</p> + +<p>The man picked it up, and Dick saw that it was a marksman's bronze +medal.</p> + +<p>"Let me see that," he said, quickly, and the janitor passed it over.</p> + +<p>"Why this was given to some soldier, for good shooting," went on our +hero, as he tried to decipher the name on it. "Where did you get it, +Toots?"</p> + +<p>"Blessed if I know, Mr. Hamilton. I've had it a long time. It was given +to me by some friend, I expect. I found it the other day in my trunk. +I'd forgotten I had it. But if it's a marksman's badge, I'm going to +wear it. I'm a good shot."</p> + +<p>Dick looked more closely at it. Besides the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> name of some soldier the +badge contained the name of the command to which he had belonged, but +everything save the letters "mie, Wyo." were obliterated by dents and +scratches.</p> + +<p>A sudden thought came to Dick. It was in connection with Toot's +half-recognition of the picture of missing Bill Handlee. It was evident +that Toots knew something of the captain's son, but he could not +straighten out the kink in his memory, and possibly this marksman's +badge might be a clue. Dick hoped so, and he decided to try to learn +from what fort or command the medal had been given.</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd let me take this for a few days, Toots," he said. "I'll +take good care of it."</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Hamilton, but don't lose it. If it's what you say it is, +I'm going to wear it, to show I'm a good shot. Then I won't have to be +telling people all the while. They can see it for themselves."</p> + +<p>"Can't you recollect where you got it?" asked Dick again.</p> + +<p>Toots shook his head.</p> + +<p>"It's like—like the time you asked me about his picture," he said, +pointing to the photo on the mantle. "I get all sort of confused in my +head. Maybe I always had it. Maybe someone gave it to me when I was +janitor at the fort out west."</p> + +<p>"What fort was that?"</p> + +<p>"I've forgotten. It's a good while ago. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> don't lose that medal, Mr. +Hamilton. I'm going to wear it."</p> + +<p>"Poor Toots," thought Dick. "All the medals in the world will never make +you a good shot."</p> + +<p>He put the badge carefully away, resolving to ask Major Webster, at the +first opportunity, from what military post it was likely to have come.</p> + +<p>Thanks to the jolly companionship of Toots, Christmas was not as gloomy +as Dick had feared it would be. The dinner over the janitor left Dick to +himself, and our hero fell into a refreshing sleep. When he awoke he +felt much better, and the doctor said he could be out in a couple of +days, if the weather moderated.</p> + +<p>The first of the year dawned; a fine bracing day, and, as there was no +biting wind, Dick was allowed to stroll about the campus a short time. +This brought the color to his cheeks, and completed the cure begun by +the +<a name="surgeons" id="surgeons"></a><ins title="Original has suregon's">surgeon's</ins> medicine.</p> + +<p>"Well, things will be lively a week from to-night," said Toots one day, +as he came in to make up Dick's room.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"The boys will be back then. Vacation will be over."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of it," commented Dick, and then, with pain in his heart, he +wondered if the coming term would bring him more fellowship than had the +<a name="preceding" id="preceding"></a><ins title="Original has preceeding">preceding</ins> one.</p> + +<p>Major Webster was among the first of the instructors to arrive, in +anticipation of the return<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> of the students, and to him Dick showed the +medal.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes; that's one given out years ago, at Fort Laramie, Wyoming," he +said. "I can send it to a friend of mine for you, if you like. Possibly +they may be able to trace the illegible name from the fort records."</p> + +<p>"I wish you would," said Dick. "Maybe I can get a trace of Captain +Handlee's son for him."</p> + +<p>"I doubt it," replied the major, shaking his head. "I tried all the +sources of information I knew, and it was useless. Still you may have +better luck."</p> + +<p>The medal was sent off, but, fearing nothing would come of it, Dick did +not say anything to Captain Handlee about it, though he wrote to the +veteran in answer to a letter the old soldier sent him.</p> + +<p>The holiday vacation came to a close, and, one morning Dick awoke to a +realization that, on that day, the cadets would come pouring back.</p> + +<p>It was nearly noon when the first of them arrived. Among them was Paul +Drew.</p> + +<p>"Well, how are you, old chap?" he cried, rushing into Dick's room.</p> + +<p>"Pretty good. How about you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I had a dandy time, home. I almost hated to come back, but I wanted +to see you, and then I know we'll have some sport this winter. Say, +there are a lot of new fellows. We're not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> so fresh as we were. There +are others. There's going to be hazing to-night, I understand. Thank +fortune they won't bother me. I don't fancy cold water down my back on a +winter night."</p> + +<p>"Hazing, eh?" remarked Dick. And he wondered if his turn would come.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +<a name="xx" id="xx"></a>CHAPTER XX<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK DOESN'T TELL</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">All</span> the rest of that day cadets continued to arrive at Kentfield +Academy, and there were lively scenes on the snow-covered campus, in the +assembly auditoriums, students' rooms, and in the mess hall.</p> + +<p>Several new cadets stood about, looking rather miserable, Dick thought, +and he spoke to some of them, telling them where to report, and what to +do, for he appreciated what it meant to be a stranger among a lot of +lads who ignored new-comers, not because they were heartless so much as +that they were thoughtless.</p> + +<p>Dick rather hoped Dutton would not return, but that cadet was among the +first he encountered as he strolled over the white campus.</p> + +<p>Dutton nodded coolly, and Dick as coolly acknowledged the bow. Then +Dutton saw a freshman standing near the saluting cannon. It was one of +the unwritten rules of the school that none below the grade of +sophomores might stand near the cannon.</p> + +<p>"Here, fresh!" cried Dutton roughly, "stand away from that gun!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +The lad, a small chap, did not seem to comprehend.</p> + +<p>Dick put in a word.</p> + +<p>"You can't stand near there until you're a second year," he told the +lad. "It's a school rule, that's all."</p> + +<p>"I say, Hamilton, I guess I can manage my own affairs," said Dutton, +angrily. "You mind your own business; will you?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I've got as much right to speak as you have," said Dick hotly. +"I was only telling him what to do."</p> + +<p>The freshman looked from one to the other. Quite a group had gathered by +this time, attracted by Dutton's loud voice. The new lad moved a short +distance away from the gun.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know enough to mind when you're spoken to?" demanded Dutton, +advancing toward him. "I'll teach you manners, you young cub! Why don't +you salute when an officer speaks to you? Now get back," and, with that +he gave the lad such a shove that he went over backward into a snow +bank, made by shoveling the white crystals away from the gun.</p> + +<p>"That's not right, Dutton!" exclaimed Dick.</p> + +<p>"You mind your own affairs, or I'll do the same to you, Hamilton," +retorted the bully.</p> + +<p>"You'd better try it," said Dick quietly. "If you want to fight with me, +you know what to do. Just lay a finger on me."</p> + +<p>He took a step toward his enemy, and stood<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> waiting for him. But Dutton +knew better than to attack Dick. He had felt the weight of his fists +once, and he knew he had no chance in a fair fight.</p> + +<p>So he strode away, muttering to the lad whom he had knocked down:</p> + +<p>"You keep away from this gun, after this, fresh."</p> + +<p>Dick did not think it wise to say anything further on the side of the +mistreated one. Already he saw some unpleasant looks directed toward him +by Dutton's friends, and he realized that by interfering in what was +considered one of the rights of upper classmen, to assume a bullying +attitude toward those in the lower grades, he was not adding to his +popularity. I am glad to say that such characters as Dutton were in the +small majority at Kentfield, and that though some of his cronies +applauded his action in knocking the newcomer down, most of the lads +were not in sympathy with the bully.</p> + +<p>But there were so many things occurring, so many cadets arriving, some +of whom wanted to change their apartments, to get new roommates, or be +quartered in other sections of the barracks, that all was in seeming +confusion.</p> + +<p>Colonel Masterly and his aides, however, had matters well in hand, and +by night, when the cadets lined up for the march to mess, affairs were +in some sort of order.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to make a shift, Paul?" asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> Dick, as they went to their +room early that evening.</p> + +<p>"A shift? What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Why some of your friends have changed over to the east barrack, I hear. +I thought maybe you'd want to go too?"</p> + +<p>"Do you want me to go?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I don't!" and Dick spoke very earnestly.</p> + +<p>"All right. When I want to leave you I'll let you know," and Paul +slapped Dick on the back in a fashion that told what his feelings were +in the matter.</p> + +<p>A little later mysterious steps in the corridor, and subdued knockings +on nearby doors told Paul and Dick that something +<a name="unusual" id="unusual"></a><ins title="Original has unusal">unusual</ins> was +going on.</p> + +<p>"Hazing," said Paul. "We're immune. Let's take it in."</p> + +<p>"I don't like to haze fellows," said Dick. "It's all right when they're +your size, but all the chaps who came in lately are smaller than I am."</p> + +<p>"That won't make any difference to Dutton and his crowd. They'll haze +'em anyhow, and we might as well see the fun. A fellow who can't stand a +little hazing is no good."</p> + +<p>"That's so. Guess I'll go. I don't mind it if it isn't too rough. I +wouldn't mind being hazed myself. It would give me a chance to make a +rough house for Dutton and his cronies."</p> + +<p>"Come on then. Let's go to the gym. I heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> that they're going to haze +a bunch of 'em there."</p> + +<p>"What about Major Rockford?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess he and the colonel know about it, but they won't +interfere unless it gets too strenuous."</p> + +<p>Dick and Paul found a large crowd of the older cadets already gathered +in the gymnasium. In one corner was huddled a rather frightened group of +freshmen, who were waiting their turn to be grilled. They had been +rounded up from their rooms by a committee appointed for that purpose.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows," said Dutton, who, as usual, assumed the leadership, +"we'll work 'em off in bunches. Put two or three of 'em in a blanket and +toss 'em up for a starter."</p> + +<p>"Some of 'em may get hurt," objected Stiver. "We'd better take 'em one +at a time."</p> + +<p>"Aw, you're afraid! Besides, we haven't time. Here, Beeby, grab a couple +of 'em and pass 'em over."</p> + +<p>Captain Beeby of Company B grasped a cadet in either hand, and shoved +them toward +<a name="Dutton" id="Dutton"></a><ins title="Original has Duton">Dutton</ins>. The latter already had one, and the three +lads were pushed down into a large blanket which had been spread for +that purpose.</p> + +<p>"Grab the corners and up with 'em!" called Dutton. "Toss 'em as high as +you can."</p> + +<p>"Suppose +<a name="they" id="they"></a><ins title="Original has the">they</ins> fall out?" objected Lieutenant Jim Watkins.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +"It won't matter. There's a gym. mat under 'em."</p> + +<p>Up into the air went the unfortunate lads, clinging together in a sort +of bunch, and struggling to see which one was to be underneath in the +fall. Down they came into the blanket, but the impact was so heavy that +it was torn from the grasp of the cadets holding it, and the freshmen +landed on the mat with a thump and many squeals.</p> + +<p>"That's the way!" cried Dutton with a laugh. "Now, once more."</p> + +<p>"Let's take some others," proposed Beeby.</p> + +<p>"No, they haven't had enough."</p> + +<p>So, in spite of their struggles and protests, the lads were tossed +again. Then three more took their places. They, too, had a hard time, +one falling over the edge of the blanket and partly off the mat. But he +was game and never made a sound.</p> + +<p>"Now for the slide of death!" cried Dutton.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" asked several of his cronies.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you," he said.</p> + +<p>From the top of the gymnasium there hung a long rope, running over a +pulley. Dutton made a loop in one end, and then took hold of the other.</p> + +<p>"Tie a couple of 'em up in blankets," he ordered, and two of the +struggling cadets were made up into a rough bundle. Dutton then passed +several coils of the long rope about them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +"Pull 'em up!" he ordered next, and willing hands aided him in hoisting +the lads toward the roof of the gymnasium.</p> + +<p>"You are now about to take the slide of death!" called Dutton, when the +freshmen were close against the pulley, and fully forty feet above the +floor. "We're going to let you come down on the run——"</p> + +<p>A scream from one of the lads in the blanket high up in the air +interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"You'll frighten him!" called Dick.</p> + +<p>"What's that to you? Mind your own affairs, and we'll run this," said +Dutton. "Or maybe you'll get your hazing, which we omitted last time."</p> + +<p>"Go ahead," said Dick. "But that's too risky."</p> + +<p>"Aw, cut it out, Hamilton," said Stiver. "We ain't going to hurt 'em."</p> + +<p>But this assurance could not be heard by the lads in the blanket, who +could not see.</p> + +<p>"Let her slide!" cried Dutton, and he and his chums released their grasp +on the rope, which was wound about a post.</p> + +<p>Down, on the run, came the unfortunate cadets, and from the cries they +uttered they must have imagined that they were about to be dashed to the +floor. Then Dick saw that several mats were right under them, in case of +accident.</p> + +<p>But it was not the intention of Dutton to run any risks. At first the +rope was paid out swiftly, and then it was gradually tightened against +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> post, until the speed of the falling cadets was slackened, and they +came to a stop a few inches above the mats.</p> + +<p>"The next batch won't get off so lucky!" announced Dutton, as he +<a name="commanded" id="commanded"></a><ins title="Original has comanded">commanded</ins> that some more be wrapped up in the blanket. +"We'll bump them."</p> + +<p>This news was sufficient to cause a panic among the candidates still +remaining, but their protests were of no avail, and they came down with +considerable force on the mats, but no one was hurt.</p> + +<p>Then the water cure was administered to a number, the streams being +poured down their trouser legs, amid the laughter of the unfortunate +ones who were exempt. As the gymnasium was kept quite warm this ordeal +was not so bad as might be supposed. Still, it was not pleasant, but it +was part of the game.</p> + +<p>A particularly tall freshman was stretched out, or, rather suspended on +the flying rings, until he looked like some soaring eagle. He struggled, +but to no effect, and had to take his medicine. Others were blindfolded, +and made to fight with blown-up bladders, some were tied in pairs on +<a name="trapezes" id="trapezes"></a><ins title="Original has trapeezes">trapezes</ins>, and a number were made to do ridiculous stunts, +to the more or less enjoyment of the older cadets.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess that's all," announced Dutton, a little before it was +time for taps to sound. "Unless we take Hamilton."</p> + +<p>"I'm willing," said Dick, with a grim smile.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +"He's too willing. He'd knock a lot of us around," whispered Stiver to +Dutton.</p> + +<p>"We'll postpone your initiation," remarked the Captain of Company A. +"Come on, fellows, there goes tattoo. Half an hour to lights out."</p> + +<p>Matters more quickly adjusted themselves following the opening of the +winter term, than they did at the beginning of the fall one, as there +were fewer new cadets. Lessons were quickly under way, together with a +few +<a name="drills" id="drills"></a><ins title="Original has drils">drills</ins>, out of doors when the weather permitted it, +otherwise in the big hall.</p> + +<p>The lake froze over, and Dick and the other lads had their fill of +skating, races being held every afternoon. In a number of these, +particularly the long distance ones, Dick came in a winner.</p> + +<p>Then there were snowball fights between the different companies, both on +foot and mounted on horses, with wooden shields. These were lively +affairs, and were enjoyed by all.</p> + +<p>Dick took his part in the winter sports, but, though he had increased +his friends by the addition of several freshmen, particularly Payson +Emery, the lad whose knocking down by Dutton he had resented, he made no +progress toward getting intimate with the upperclassmen.</p> + +<p>"But I've got half a term yet," thought Dick.</p> + +<p>With the advent of winter, affairs in the town of Kentfield, which was +about two miles from where the academy was located, became more lively. +There were theatrical and other entertainments,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> and the cadets, when +they could not get permission to attend these, used to run the guard.</p> + +<p>Usually there was little risk in this, as the cadet officers would not +report their friends, unless some member of the academy faculty happened +to hear a late-staying party come sneaking in, and then the young +officer on guard knew he had to make some sort of a report or be +punished himself.</p> + +<p>One night there was a large and rather fashionable dance given in town, +by some friends of Dutton's family. He was invited, together with some +of his cronies, but he was refused permission to go, as he had broken +several rules of late.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm going anyhow," he announced to Stiver. "I guess I can run the +guard all right, and get back. There are some girls I want to meet."</p> + +<p>So Dutton and Stiver, and one or two others, went.</p> + +<p>Dick was on guard, as it happened, at the barracks where Dutton and the +others had their rooms. He was +<a name="patrolling" id="patrolling"></a><ins title="Original has patroling">patrolling</ins> his post long +after midnight, expecting soon to be relieved, when he saw some shadowy +forms stealing along the hedge.</p> + +<p>"Halt!" he cried, bringing his rifle up.</p> + +<p>"Gee! It's Hamilton!" he heard some one say, and he recognized Stiver's +voice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +"Then I guess it's all up with us," announced Dutton, straightening up, +and, with his chums, approaching Dick.</p> + +<p>The young millionaire said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to let us in? We haven't the countersign," said Dutton, +with an uneasy laugh.</p> + +<p>"You can go in," replied Dick, producing the key to the front door.</p> + +<p>"And I suppose you'll squeal in the morning," went on Dutton, as he and +his cronies entered.</p> + +<p>Dick didn't answer.</p> + +<p>"You should have known better than to risk going, Dutton," said Stiver. +"Of course he'll tell. He owes you too much not to."</p> + +<p>But Dick didn't tell, and Dutton's breach of discipline was not +discovered.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +<a name="xxi" id="xxi"></a>CHAPTER XXI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE FANCY DRESS BALL</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, Dick," remarked Paul Drew, one afternoon, as he and his roommate +came in from drill, "I see you're on the ball committee."</p> + +<p>"What ball, and what committee?"</p> + +<p>"The fancy dress ball, if I have to go into all the details. You know +the academy has one every year, and it's a swell affair, let me tell +you. Lights, gay music, pretty girls——"</p> + +<p>"Especially pretty girls," said Dick with a smile. "But what committee +am I on?"</p> + +<p>"Arrangements. Didn't you see the list posted in the mess hall? I don't +envy you. There will be lots to do."</p> + +<p>"Suppose you take pity on my ignorance, and go a little more into +details."</p> + +<p>Whereupon Paul did, describing the affair at length. It was to take +place, as usual, in February, and this time would be held on +Washington's birthday.</p> + +<p>"Maybe we won't have fun!" exclaimed Paul. "There'll be all sorts of +costumes, and the decorations<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> will be immense. You'll have to help with +them."</p> + +<p>"Then I'd better get busy," declared Dick. "I must see who's chairman of +my committee, and report for work. What character are you going to +portray, Paul?"</p> + +<p>"I think I shall go as a Colonial officer. I always did like a powdered +wig."</p> + +<p>"Talcum powder, instead of gun powder," retorted Dick. "That's the +calibre of such tin soldiers as you."</p> + +<p>"Halt!" called Paul, as Dick prepared to run away. "As punishment I'll +not introduce you to a certain pretty girl I know, who is coming to the +dance."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll surrender and beg your pardon!" cried Dick.</p> + +<p>"What part will you play?" asked Paul. "You'd look swell dressed as an +Indian."</p> + +<p>"I think I'll take the part of a cannon swab, and then I'll not have to +bother about a suit. But more of that later. I'm going to see what I +have to do."</p> + +<p>Dick found out from the chairman of his committee that there was plenty +of work to prepare for the fête, and he did his share. One day he had to +go to a nearby town to purchase some of the decorations.</p> + +<p>It was two days before the fancy dress ball was to take place, and, +having made his purchases, Dick prepared to return to the Academy. As +he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> was about to board a trolley car, which ran near Kentfield, he heard +a voice calling:</p> + +<p>"How are you, Dick Hamilton?"</p> + +<p>He turned, to see a tall, well-built lad, of about his own age, who was +smiling at him in a friendly fashion. At first he did not recognize the +youth.</p> + +<p>"You don't know me, I see," went on the other. "I once had the pleasure +of interviewing you about a gold brick game——"</p> + +<p>"Why, Larry Dexter! How are you?" cried Dick, turning aside from the +car, and holding out his hand to the other. "I did not get a good look +at you, or I would have known you at once. What good wind blows you +here? Can't you stay and come over to our Academy? Where have you been? +How is the newspaper business?"</p> + +<p>"My, you'd do for a reporter yourself!" exclaimed Larry Dexter, with a +smile. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me though. Have you been swindled +lately? I'd like a good story. The one I came down here after didn't pan +out."</p> + +<p>Those of you who have read my books in the "Newspaper Series" will at +once recognize the lad who greeted Dick. He was Lawrence Dexter, a +reporter on the New York <i>Leader</i>, and, as related in the volume called +"Dick Hamilton's Fortune," he had met our hero when the latter had +narrowly escaped being swindled by a sharper in the metropolis. Larry, +as all his friends called him, had managed to get a good "story" from +the experience of Dick, who was on a visit to New<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> York, with a number +of boy friends. The incident is mentioned in the third volume of the +Newspaper Series, "Larry Dexter's Great Search," where the young +reporter does some detective work.</p> + +<p>After Dick had given Larry the story of the attempted swindle, the young +reporter took the millionaire's son to the newspaper office, and showed +him something of how a great daily is published. The two lads had struck +up quite a friendship, and they had pleasant memories of each other.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" asked Dick, as they walked up the street with +his newspaper acquaintance.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I came here on a peculiar robbery yarn, but it turned out to be an +ordinary affair, and not worth much of a story. I sent in the account by +wire, and, as a reward for my past valuable services to the paper, I +have been given a couple of days' leave of absence. You see, the +managing editor thinks quite highly of me," and Larry made a mock bow.</p> + +<p>"Then you're just in time," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"How so?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you can spend a few days with me. There's going to be a big masked +ball at the military academy where I attend, and perhaps you'd like to +see it."</p> + +<p>"I think I would, if the military authorities will admit a mere +civilian."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +"I'm sure they will. Come along back with me. I'll introduce you to +Colonel Masterly, and you can bunk in with Drew and me. Paul Drew is my +roommate—a fine fellow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm afraid I'll put you out."</p> + +<p>"You couldn't do that, Larry. Come on. We'll have some fun."</p> + +<p>So Larry Dexter accompanied Dick back to the Academy, where he was +speedily made welcome by Colonel Masterly and members of the latter's +staff.</p> + +<p>"We would be very glad to have you remain and witness some evolutions of +the cadets, a day or so after the ball," invited the colonel. "They will +possibly interest you."</p> + +<p>"I should be glad to," replied Larry, "but I can't stay long enough. It +is very kind of you to invite me to the ball."</p> + +<p>Possibly Colonel Masterly had a purpose in seconding Dick's invitation +to this affair. The head of the military school was not averse to a +little free advertising for the Academy, and he thought perhaps Larry +might "write up" an account of the ball. Which, as a matter of fact, +Larry did, and a fine account it was.</p> + +<p>The reporter, though Dick invited him to don a costume, thought it +better not to, and, when the night of the gay affair came, Larry was in +sober black, forming a strange contrast to the lads in gay uniforms. The +dresses of the young ladies and the uniforms or costumes of the cadets, +with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> the hundreds of electric lights, the gay streamers and flags +festooned about the gymnasium, made the apartment a brilliant picture. +The Academy cadet band struck up a lively march, and the dancers paraded +around the room, two by two. Dick was not in this, as he had not yet +made the acquaintance of any of the girls, and after ascertaining that +Larry Dexter was in a position where he could see well, our hero retired +rather disconsolately to a secluded corner. He saw Paul Drew dancing +with a very pretty girl, and was just beginning to envy him, when his +roommate walked up, and introduced her to Dick.</p> + +<p><a name="allow" id="allow"></a>"Allow me to present my friend, Dick Hamilton," said Paul with a low +bow. "Mr. Hamilton—Miss Fordice. Dick is a better dancer than I am," +added Paul.</p> + +<p>It was plainly a hint to Dick, who at once took advantage of it, and +asked:</p> + +<p>"May I have the honor?"</p> + +<p>"If it pleases you, sir," replied the girl, with a mischievous smile, +and an old-fashioned courtesy.</p> + +<p>Dick led her into a two-step, and they were soon whirling about. But +Dick was not selfish, and he knew better than to keep Paul's partner +away from him for long, so, making some excuse, he led Miss Fordice back +to his roommate.</p> + +<p>"I'll introduce you to some other girls, after this dance, Hamilton," +Paul called back to him.</p> + +<p>Dick noticed that a tall, dark girl, who was standing near one of the +pillars, started at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> sound of his name. A moment later she advanced +toward him, appeared to hesitate, and then came forward.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," she said, "but are you Dick Hamilton?"</p> + +<p>"I am," said our hero, secretly delighted at the chance of talking to +the girl.</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard Mr. Drew call you that. You must think it dreadfully +forward of me to speak to you without an introduction——"</p> + +<p>"Nothing of the sort," said Dick promptly.</p> + +<p>"But I know friends of yours," went on the girl. "I am Miss Mabel +Hanford, and I know Birdy Lee, who lives in your town—I mean in the +place where you come from. She and I used to be great chums. We went to +school together."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Dick. "Birdy Lee and I are well acquainted."</p> + +<p>"So she said when I wrote to her, telling her I was coming to this ball. +She suggested that I might meet you, and when I heard your name +mentioned, I couldn't help speaking."</p> + +<p>"I am glad you did," said Dick, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Won't you come over and let me introduce you to my mother?" went on +Miss Hanford. "I feel as if I had known you a long time, for Birdy often +spoke of you in her letters to me."</p> + +<p>"I am glad she did," said Dick, gallantly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hanford greeted him kindly, evidently approving of her daughter's +action.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +"May I have the next dance?" asked Dick of the daughter.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Miss Hanford, blushing a little. "But I hope you don't think +I spoke to you just to have you dance with me——"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," Dick hastened to say.</p> + +<p>"Because my card is nearly filled now," she went on.</p> + +<p>"I hope I may find room to put my name down in several places."</p> + +<p>"You may look. I think the next waltz is open."</p> + +<p>"It seems to be the only one," said Dick, ruefully.</p> + +<p>A little later he and the girl were sailing about the room to the +strains of a dreamy waltz. Dick was a fine dancer, Miss Hanford was his +equal, and the two made a pleasing appearance on the big ballroom floor.</p> + +<p>"Where were you?" asked Paul, as Dick came walking up to him after the +young millionaire had taken his partner back to her mother. "I was +looking for you to introduce a girl to you."</p> + +<p>"I managed to meet one myself."</p> + +<p>"Who?"</p> + +<p>"Miss Mabel Hanford."</p> + +<p>Paul whistled.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Dick. "Isn't she all right?"</p> + +<p>"I should say so! Every fellow here is anxious to dance with her, but +Dutton seems to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> monopolize her. He seems to think he's engaged to her."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he has any right to think that," spoke Dick warmly. +"She's a very nice girl. I wish I had met her earlier in the evening." +The band was playing another waltz.</p> + +<p>"So do lots of other fellows, I guess. But you're doing pretty well. +There goes Dutton with her now," continued Paul.</p> + +<p>Dick looked on, with envious eyes. Though Dutton and Miss Hanford were +waltzing about, she did not seem at ease. Her face was flushed, and +Dutton looked angry. When the dance came to an end he left her abruptly.</p> + +<p>Dick strolled over, casually, though his heart was beating faster than +usual.</p> + +<p>"You look warm," he said to the girl.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the room is very close," she replied, and she fanned her face with +a filmy lace handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you would like an ice."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I should."</p> + +<p>"I'll get you one," promised Dick. Then, waxing bold, he looked at her +program.</p> + +<p>"What are you looking for?" she asked with a laugh. "To see what sort of +ice I prefer? It's not there, but I'll take orange, if you can get one."</p> + +<p>"I was looking to see, if by any good fortune you had another vacant +place on your card."</p> + +<p>"I'll make one for you," she said with a smile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>, as she crossed out a +name. "Tantrell can look for another partner," she added.</p> + +<p>"Who may Tantrell be?" asked Dick, as he put his name in place of the +erased one.</p> + +<p>"My cousin. He brought me here, but he doesn't care much for dancing. I +know he'll be glad to have you relieve him."</p> + +<p>"Not half so glad as I am," retorted Dick quickly. "Now I'll get you the +ice."</p> + +<p>As he walked away he saw Dutton eyeing him angrily.</p> + +<p>"Probably he doesn't like me to be talking to her," thought Dick.</p> + +<p>There was quite a crush in the refreshment room, and, in spite of the +fact that he was a member of the arrangement committee, Dick had some +difficulty in getting an ice for Miss Hanford. As he struggled through +the crush of gay dancers with it he tripped, and, to save himself, +involuntarily threw his hands forward. The ice slipped from the plate, +and went splashing full against the back of a cadet dressed in an +elaborate Colonial uniform, with a white satin coat. The highly-colored +ice made a big, blotchy stain on the garment.</p> + +<p>The cadet whirled like a flash. It was Dutton.</p> + +<p>"Who did that?" he cried, as he saw a little puddle forming at his feet, +where the fast melting ice lay.</p> + +<p>"I did," answered Dick promptly. "It was an accident, Captain Dutton."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +"An accident?" There was a sneer in the other's tone.</p> + +<p>"An accident," retorted Dick, as he turned away.</p> + +<p>"Here! Where are you going?" cried Dutton. Several turned to stare at +him, for his manner toward Dick was most insulting.</p> + +<p>"I am going after another ice for Miss Hanford," said the young +millionaire quickly.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" ordered Dutton, in the voice he used on parade.</p> + +<p>"Not now," drawled Dick. "Wait until I get another ice."</p> + +<p>"You wait, I say!" spluttered Dutton.</p> + +<p>"It's too hot," replied Dick, for he could not help but notice the +insulting tones. "I'll see you later. I'm sorry about the accident."</p> + +<p>"That was no accident," declared Dutton. "You did that on purpose, and +I—I want——"</p> + +<p>But Dick passed on. He saw Miss Hanford looking at him from among the +fringe of spectators, and, as he walked back to the refreshment room, he +noticed that Dutton had one of the mess-hall attendants wiping off as +much as possible of the stain from the white satin coat.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +<a name="xxii" id="xxii"></a>CHAPTER XXII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE CHALLENGE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Dick secured another ice, and took it to Miss Hanford, he found her +sitting in a quiet corner. She was rather pale, and did not seem to care +much for the ice which he had had such trouble in securing.</p> + +<p>"I'm not quite so warm now," she said, in explanation. "It was very kind +of you to get this for me. Do you—do you think Captain Dutton will be +very angry at you?" She seemed anxious.</p> + +<p>"I don't see why he should be," replied Dick. "It was an accident. I +could not help tripping."</p> + +<p>"After you went back the second time, he talked loudly about you having +done it on purpose, and he said he was going to demand satisfaction," +went on the girl. "Will he?"</p> + +<p>"Well, he can demand it, I suppose," said Dick slowly, "but I don't know +what I can do, except to say I'm sorry, and offer to pay for his coat."</p> + +<p>"Do you—do you think he will do anything—anything desperate?" asked +Miss Hanford, and she looked at Dick sharply.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +"Of course not," he replied. "But if we are going to dance, would you +mind if we began now? I think this is my two-step."</p> + +<p>She arose, and they went whirling about the room. But she was strangely +quiet. Dick's enjoyment of the dance was not a bit lessened by seeing +Dutton once more scowling at him from behind a draped pillar. The cadet +captain had doffed his gay coat, and wore one belonging to his uniform. +It formed a strange contrast to his otherwise Colonial costume. When the +dance was over Dick saw him beckoning, and, excusing himself from his +fair partner, he walked to where Dutton stood.</p> + +<p>"You wished to speak to me?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Come outside."</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"I wish to speak to you."</p> + +<p>"Won't it do in here?"</p> + +<p>"No!" snapped Dutton.</p> + +<p>Dick hesitated a moment, and, not wishing to quarrel with the captain in +the ballroom, he followed him out on a verandah.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by insulting me, and making me ridiculous?" demanded +Dutton fiercely.</p> + +<p>"Insulting you?" repeated Dick.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said. You refused to come back when I called you. I'm +your superior officer."</p> + +<p>"Not on an occasion like this!" exclaimed Dick, and he drew himself up, +and looked Dutton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> straight in the eyes. "We are all equal here +to-night, Captain Dutton. I take no orders from you!"</p> + +<p>"We'll see about that. Why did you deliberately spill that ice over me? +You wanted to make me the laughing stock of everyone in the room!"</p> + +<p>"I did not. You have no right to say that. It was an accident, pure and +simple, and I have already apologized to you for it."</p> + +<p>"That is not enough. No one can insult me with impunity. I demand +satisfaction!"</p> + +<p>"I don't see what satisfaction I can give you—unless I buy you a new +coat. +<a name="if" id="if"></a><ins title="Original has I">If</ins> that is what you what you want I will be happy to send +you a check for whatever amount——"</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Hamilton!" cried Dutton hoarsely. "This is going too far! +You're getting mighty fresh. I suppose because you are a millionaire you +think your money will do anything. But I tell you it won't. You can't +buy a gentleman with money, nor make one either. You come here with a +lot of millions behind you, and you think all you need to do is to +insult a gentleman, and then offer to pay for it. I tell you I'll not +stand it. You did that on purpose and——"</p> + +<p>"I have already told you that I did not."</p> + +<p>"And I say you did."</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking Dutton's meaning. Dick took a step forward. His +face was slightly pale.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +"That will do!" he said sternly. "Are you aware that you have +practically accused me of telling an untruth?"</p> + +<p>"That's what I meant to do," answered Dutton fiercely. "You're a cad—a +sneak—you threw that ice at me on purpose!"</p> + +<p>"If you say that again," exclaimed Dick, "I'll——"</p> + +<p>"Well, what will you do?" sneered Dutton.</p> + +<p>"I think I shall have to buy you two coats," spoke Dick calmly, for he +saw that Dutton was losing control of his temper, and the young +millionaire wanted to end the affair.</p> + +<p>"Don't you give me any of your fresh talk!" cried the captain.</p> + +<p>"I shall say what I please on an occasion like this," responded Dick. "I +have that privilege."</p> + +<p>"You have, eh? Then look out for yourself!"</p> + +<p>Dutton fairly leaped forward, and endeavored to strike Dick, but the +young millionaire was too quick for him, and stepped to one side, at the +same time involuntarily shooting out his fist, which caught the bully in +the side. Dutton stopped short.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you know what striking a gentleman means," he said slowly.</p> + +<p>"I do when I hit one. I haven't struck any gentleman to-night," said +Dick coolly.</p> + +<p>"You're adding insult to it. You've got to give me satisfaction for +this!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +"I suppose so. You recall how it turned out last time."</p> + +<p>"This time will be different. You won't get off so easily."</p> + +<p>"Have your own way about it. I guess Paul Drew will be my second again, +but I should think you'd had enough of fighting."</p> + +<p>"Not with you! I'll never be satisfied until I've beaten you!"</p> + +<p>"Then you'll wait a long time."</p> + +<p>The two had talked in rather low but tense tones, and they were not +aware that they were directly beneath a window that had been opened to +let in the fresh air. Nor did they see the frightened face of a girl at +the casement.</p> + +<p>"Will after the ball suit you?" asked Dutton, as he turned aside.</p> + +<p>"Any time."</p> + +<p>Dick remained in the cool winter air a little longer, filling his lungs +with the oxygen, and when he returned to the ballroom he saw no sign of +Dutton. Nor did he see Miss Hanford, though he looked for her, as he had +another dance coming.</p> + +<p>Supper was served soon after this, and Dick had no sooner risen from the +table than Paul Drew signalled him to step one side.</p> + +<p>"Dutton has sent a challenge to you by Stiver," he said.</p> + +<p>"I expected it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but what do you think he wants?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +"What?"</p> + +<p>"To fight with swords."</p> + +<p>"Swords?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Like the students do in German schools. Heads and body protected +so you can't either be more than scratched. I think it's silly, but of +course I said I'd tell you."</p> + +<p>"That's right. Swords, eh? Well, with football helmets on, and a +baseball chest protector, and heavy gloves, I guess it won't be +dangerous. But what's the use of fighting if some one doesn't get hurt? +I prefer my fists."</p> + +<p>"Dutton's idea seems to be for you both to be rigged out as we are when +we practice with broadswords on horses," said Paul, referring to one of +the drills taught at the school.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't like to object," said Dick, "but it strikes me that as +the challenged party, I have the choice of weapons."</p> + +<p>"So you have. I forgot that. Then you don't want swords?"</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you later. You can inform Dutton I'll fight him when and +where he pleases, and that, as it's my right, I'll name the weapons when +we meet."</p> + +<p>"All right. Give him a good lesson, Dick."</p> + +<p>Paul went off to carry the message, and Dick, seeing Miss Hanford, went +up to her for the waltz. She gave him a place made vacant by the +inability of her partner to claim her, as he was on the supper +committee. Dick thought the girl<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> seemed nervous and alarmed, but he did +not speak of it.</p> + +<p>The dance lasted until two o'clock in the morning, and then the guests +began leaving. Dick was somewhat surprised to see Miss Hanford in +apparently earnest conversation with grizzled Major Webster, but he +concluded that she was only telling him what a good time she had had.</p> + +<p>"Won't you call and see me sometime?" she asked Dick, as she bade him +good-night.</p> + +<p>"I will be pleased to," he said.</p> + +<p>"And don't—don't have any quarrel with Captain Dutton," she said, with +a little smile.</p> + +<p>"Er—oh, no, I—I—er—I won't," was all Dick could stammer. He resolved +that he would have no more quarrels, but it was too late to stop this +one.</p> + +<p>As the last of the guests were leaving, Paul sought out his roommate.</p> + +<p>"The clump of trees, down by the lagoon," he whispered. "In an hour. +What about weapons? Dutton wants to know."</p> + +<p>"He'll have to wait. I'll bring them with me. It's my privilege."</p> + +<p>A little later Dick went to his room, where he was busy for some time. +When he emerged he was accompanied by Paul. He wore his long cape +overcoat, and something bulged beneath it.</p> + +<p>"I guess he'll be surprised," commented Paul.</p> + +<p>The clump of trees, which Dutton had selected as the place for the duel, +was located on a little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> point of land that jutted out into the lake, +and near a small lagoon. It was some distance from the academy +buildings, and out of sight. The trees had kept most of the snow from +the ground, and it was a sheltered place. As there was a full moon there +was no need of other light.</p> + +<p>As Dick and Paul approached the place they saw several dark figures +moving about.</p> + +<p>"They're on time," whispered Paul.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I hope the Colonel doesn't hear of it."</p> + +<p>As they drew nearer, Stiver stepped forward and said:</p> + +<p>"Is your man ready, Drew?"</p> + +<p>"All ready."</p> + +<p>"Then we demand to know the weapons. My principal will object to +pistols, as they make too much noise."</p> + +<p>"My principal has the choice of weapons, as you know, and unless he is +allowed to exercise it we must decline to fight."</p> + +<p>Paul spoke as though it was very serious.</p> + +<p>"I know, but, hang it all, man, we can't fight with pistols. We'd have +the whole crowd down on us," objected Stiver, in some alarm.</p> + +<p>"I'll not fight with pistols," put in Dutton, which was a wrong thing +for a brave duelist to do.</p> + +<p>"Don't be worried," replied Dick +<a name="coolly2" id="coolly2"></a><ins title="Original has cooly">coolly</ins>. "I have not selected +pistols. But we are delaying too long. I am ready."</p> + +<p>"So are we," said Stiver, but it was observed that his voice was not +very steady. He was beginning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> to wish he had had nothing to do with +this. It seemed to be getting serious, and he, as well as Dutton, +wondered what Dick could be carrying under his overcoat.</p> + +<p>"Take your places," said Paul.</p> + +<p>"But the weapons," insisted Stiver.</p> + +<p>"My principal will hand one to your principal as soon as he takes his +place," went on Paul. "We seconds must retire to a safe distance."</p> + +<p>"They—they aren't rifles, are they?" asked Stiver, and this time his +voice was very shaky.</p> + +<p>"They are not rifles," said Dick, somewhat solemnly. "Come, I can't stay +here all night. I want to write an account of this to Miss Hanford."</p> + +<p>"Don't you dare!" cried Dutton.</p> + +<p>"Hush! Take your place," said his second.</p> + +<p>Dutton approached Dick, and held out his hand to receive his weapon. +Dick unfolded his coat and extended—not a sword or gun, but a big +bladder, fully blown up, and tied to a short stick. He kept a similar +one for himself.</p> + +<p>"These are my weapons," he said.</p> + +<p>"I won't fight with those! It's an insult! I demand satisfaction!" +fairly shouted Dutton.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" cried Stiver. "Someone is coming!"</p> + +<p>But it was too late. Several figures could be seen running over the snow +toward the duelists.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> +<a name="xxiii" id="xxiii"></a>CHAPTER XXIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>A WINTER MARCH</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Quick!</span> Here comes Major Webster!" cried Stiver. There was no mistaking +the soldierly figure who was approaching.</p> + +<p>"And Colonel Masterly is with him!" added Paul.</p> + +<p>"Some one has squealed!" added Dutton, but he seemed rather glad than +otherwise that the duel had been interrupted.</p> + +<p>"Cut for it!" said Dick. "Across the ice, and into the grove! We can get +in the back way, and they won't know who it was out here."</p> + +<p>"Say, if they were tipped off that something like this was going to take +place, they know who was in it," said Paul, as he and Dick headed across +the ice which covered the inlet at one side of the wooded point.</p> + +<p>Dick thought of the conversation he had seen taking place between Miss +Hanford and the major, and a light came to him.</p> + +<p>"She must have overheard the talk about swords, and she got frightened," +he said to himself. "That's how the major knew."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +On came the dark figures over the snow, but the cadets had a good start. +Across the ice they went, and were soon lost in the depths of a little +grove of trees. From there they managed to gain the barracks.</p> + +<p>"Queer they didn't call after us," said Dick, as he and Paul were safe +in their room.</p> + +<p>"That is sort of funny. Say, where's the other bladder?"</p> + +<p>"Dutton must have it."</p> + +<p>But Dutton didn't have it. He had dropped it as he ran, and Major +Webster picked it up a little later on the dueling ground. The major +held it out to Colonel Masterly.</p> + +<p>"What's this?" asked the colonel.</p> + +<p>"One of their weapons, I fancy."</p> + +<p>"Then it was all a joke. What Miss Hanford told you about the duel, she +must have dreamed."</p> + +<p>"No, she says she overheard Dutton challenge Hamilton, and later on, +some talk between Hamilton and Drew. She was very much frightened, and +came and told me. Of course I know the cadets will fight once in a +while. They wouldn't be any good if they didn't, and, though you and I +know that it's against the rules, it's no more than you and I used to +do. But when she spoke of swords I thought it time to take a hand."</p> + +<p>"But they didn't have swords."</p> + +<p>"Evidently not. Hamilton reserved to himself the choice of weapons, as +the challenged party, she said, and it seems that he selected +bladders."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +"But why?"</p> + +<p>"I fancy he wanted to teach Dutton a lesson. There is bad blood between +them, I have heard in roundabout ways, and once Hamilton administered a +good drubbing to Dutton."</p> + +<p>"Hum! Well, I don't see that there is anything for us to do."</p> + +<p>"No, only go to bed. I'm sleepy. The time was when I could stay up at a +ball all night, and attend a duel at sunrise, but those days are past. I +think we'd better say nothing about this."</p> + +<p>"Just as you like, major. You are in charge of the cadets. But perhaps +we had better let Miss Hanford know that there was no bloody conflict."</p> + +<p>"I will. Poor little girl! She was quite worried."</p> + +<p>So that was how the duel between Dick and Dutton turned out. It did not +add to the good feeling between the two cadets. Dick would have been +glad to be on friendly terms, but Dutton considered that he had been +made the butt of a joke, and he hated Dick more than ever. He threatened +to get even until Dick sent word to him that if he liked he would meet +him with bare fists as weapons, and have the matter out. Dutton knew +better than to agree to this.</p> + +<p>Of course Larry Dexter heard about the duel, but at Dick's request the +young reporter sent no account of it to his paper, which described the +fancy dress ball at some length. Larry remained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> Dick's guest three +days, and greatly enjoyed his visit to the academy.</p> + +<p>In order to give the cadets a taste of as many varieties of military +life as possible, and to show them that they could not always expect +summer weather and sunny skies, Major Webster decided to have a winter +practice march.</p> + +<p>This was announced for a date late in January, and some novel features +were to be incorporated. The cadets were to be divided into several +small squads, and were to set off at different times from the academy, +to reach a certain point ten miles distant, report there for dinner, and +march back. Various routes were selected, with officers stationed at +checking points, and the squad which made the best time was to receive a +trophy.</p> + +<p>As the ground was quite thickly covered with snow, and as certain +landmarks, plainly visible in summer, were now obliterated, the march +would prove no easy one. It was to be made on horses, and only the best +riders were allowed to participate.</p> + +<p>"That's the kind of a stunt I like," said Dick, the morning of the +proposed winter march. "We'll have some fun to-day, Paul, old boy."</p> + +<p>"Yes, if we don't get caught in a blizzard. It looks like snow."</p> + +<p>"So much the better. That will make it all the harder. I wish I was +going to lead a squad."</p> + +<p>"I don't. Who is in charge of ours?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> +"Allen Rutledge. He's a good rider. Well, it's almost time to start. +Whew! But it's cold!"</p> + +<p>Dick's squad, in charge of Captain Rutledge of the football team, was +the third to start off. They set their horses into a gentle canter, as +they knew they would need all the strength of the animals ere the day +was over.</p> + +<p>At first it was pleasant enough, moving along over the snow, but, as it +grew colder, it was not quite so much fun. Still the lads did not +complain, as they knew the training was good for them.</p> + +<p>When they had gone about five miles some flakes of snow sifted lazily +down from the gray, leaden clouds overhead.</p> + +<p>"I guess we're going to be in for it before we get back," observed +Captain Rutledge. "Close up the ranks, behind there. Don't straggle."</p> + +<p>They kept to their route, were checked at the proper point by an +officer, and then started for the turning station. This was a hotel in a +small town ten miles from the academy, and glad enough the cadets were +to reach it, and find a hot dinner waiting for them.</p> + +<p>An hour was allowed for luncheon, and the feeding of the horses, and +then the start back was made. This was the most difficult part of the +march, as the way led through an uninhabited part of the country, at the +edge of the mountain range, and the roads were seldom traveled, and not +of the best.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +About three miles from where they had dinner was another checking +station. Dick's squad reached this in the midst of quite a snowstorm.</p> + +<p>"I guess it will only be a squall," observed Rutledge, as he went in the +house, where the checking officer was stationed, to report.</p> + +<p>"A squall?" observed Dick. "If this doesn't keep up until we get back, +and for some time after, I'm a Dutchman."</p> + +<p>Rutledge came out of the house, followed by the checking officer, +Captain Nelton. Both looked worried.</p> + +<p>"We'll keep watch for them," said Rutledge as he prepared to vault into +the saddle.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wish you would," said Captain Nelton. "They may have straggled +behind, and lost the road. Have them join your squad if you see them."</p> + +<p>"What's up?" asked Dick, for an air of familiar fellowship was permitted +on the practice marches.</p> + +<p>"Dutton and Stiver didn't report in with their squad, which is just +ahead of ours," replied Rutledge. "We're to look out for them."</p> + +<p>"Most likely they sneaked off to have a good time somewhere," said Dick +in a low voice to Paul.</p> + +<p>The pace was slower now, for the snow was deeper, and the horses were +beginning to feel the strain of the long march. The flakes were falling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +thicker and faster, and from the rear the leader of the squad could not +be seen.</p> + +<p>"Come, boys, close ranks!" called Rutledge several times. "If you stray +off now you'll be in danger. Keep together."</p> + +<p>They tried to, but some horses went better than others, and it was +impossible for the stragglers to keep up with the leaders at all times. +Rutledge saw this and called to Dick:</p> + +<p>"Here, Hamilton, you and Drew are good riders. You take the rear, and +keep it as close to me as you can. This storm is getting fierce."</p> + +<p>It was almost a blizzard now, with the wind sobbing and moaning in the +trees, and the white flakes cutting into one's face with stinging force.</p> + +<p>"Take the next turn to the right," called Rutledge to Dick and Paul, as +they wheeled their horses and started for the rear.</p> + +<p>They heard faintly through the noise of the storm, and answered back. +They succeeded for a time in keeping the end riders up toward the front, +urging their somewhat jaded horses to a trot. Then, all at once, they +found themselves out of sight of the tails of the end animals.</p> + +<p>"Hit is up a little," suggested Dick to Paul. "They're leaving us."</p> + +<p>They spurred their horses ahead, but they never noticed as they bent +their heads to avoid the blast that they kept straight on, instead of +taking the turn to the right, where the road divided. So fast was the +snow falling, drifting as it did so,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> that the tracks of the horses just +ahead of them were almost blotted out.</p> + +<p>"They must be galloping," said Dick. "Come on, Paul."</p> + +<p>They urged their wearied horses to a gallop, expecting soon to come +within sight of the rear of the squad. But, as they went on and on, the +road became more impassable. The snow was at least two feet deep now, +and more was falling every minute.</p> + +<p>"I can't see anything of them," said Paul, peering ahead into the white +mist.</p> + +<p>"Me either. Let's give a yell."</p> + +<p>They called, but the echo was their only reply.</p> + +<p>"Can you see any tracks?" asked Dick, leaning over in the saddle, and +scanning the ground.</p> + +<p>"No. Can you?"</p> + +<p>"Not a one."</p> + +<p>The lads straightened up, and looked at each other. Their steeds +whinnied helplessly, complaining thus of the cold.</p> + +<p>"Dick," said Paul, "I believe we've taken the wrong turn."</p> + +<p>"I didn't see any turn to take. We've come a straight road."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe so. Rutledge said something about turning to the +right."</p> + +<p>"I know he did, but I didn't see any turn."</p> + +<p>"Neither did I, but we're certainly on the wrong road now. This hasn't +been traveled this winter."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +"Looks that way. Say, we've come up the side of the mountain. I wondered +what made the horses so blown."</p> + +<p>It needed but a glance to show that this was so. Unconsciously they had +taken a path leading up the mountain, and they were now on what was +evidently a wood-road, in the midst of a forest.</p> + +<p>As they stood there, vainly starting about, there came a fiercer burst +of the storm, and on the wings of a stinging, cold wind there came such +a cloud of snow flakes that they could not see ten feet ahead of them.</p> + +<p>"We're caught in a blizzard!" shouted Dick. "We must keep close +together, Paul."</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +<a name="xxiv" id="xxiv"></a>CHAPTER XXIV<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE RESCUE OF DUTTON</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Through</span> the blinding snow the two cadets tried to peer, in order to see +which way they should take to get back to the academy. Neither of them +was very familiar with the country, though they had been over part of it +in drills and practice marches in the fall. But things wore a different +aspect now.</p> + +<p>"Which way had we better go?" asked Paul, after a pause. He had to shout +to be heard above the noise of the gale.</p> + +<p>"I guess the best plan is to keep down the mountain," replied Dick. +"We'll strike a road sooner or later leading to Kentfield."</p> + +<p>The horses did not like to face the blast, but the young cadets forced +them about, and the unwilling steeds started down the slope.</p> + +<p>Protected though they were by their heavy winter clothing and overcoats, +the two lads felt the cold bitterly. But they were too plucky to give +up. The horses could not be urged to more than a walk, and, indeed, +faster pace was not safe, as they did not know what the snow might +conceal.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +As they went down the mountain side they kept a watch for the sight of +any objects that would indicate a road, or tell them their whereabouts. +But all they could see was an expanse of snow, a whirling, white cloud +of flakes, with here and there the black trunks of trees standing up +like grim sentinels.</p> + +<p>"We might as well be a thousand miles from nowhere," called Dick.</p> + +<p>"That's right," answered his companion. "I wonder if we're going +straight?"</p> + +<p>"Isn't much choice. We'll be on level ground in a little while, anyhow. +Then the going will be better."</p> + +<p>They emerged from the thickly wooded side of the big hill, and came upon +a plain, which did not look familiar. It was open country, however, and +this was better than being in the woods, though the cold wind had more +of a sweep over it.</p> + +<p>"Now, which way?" asked Paul. "I've lost all sense of direction."</p> + +<p>"And I'm not much better. Suppose we let the horses go as they please? +Maybe they'll have sense enough to head toward their stables."</p> + +<p>"Good idea, we'll do it."</p> + +<p>They let the reins hang loose on the necks of the animals. The steeds +hesitated for a moment, sniffed the air, and then started off to the +left.</p> + +<p>"I hope that's right, but it doesn't seem so,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> said Dick ruefully. +"However, anything's better than standing still in this storm."</p> + +<p>There was no let-up to the blizzard, which fairly enveloped the lads in +its icy grasp.</p> + +<p>They had traveled for perhaps a mile when Dick, who was a little in the +lead, suddenly cried out:</p> + +<p>"Hi, Paul! Here's a house, anyhow!"</p> + +<p>"A house?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Straight ahead."</p> + +<p>Paul looked through the whirling clouds of snow, and saw something dark +looming up about thirty yards away.</p> + +<p>"Maybe it's a barn," he said.</p> + +<p>"Even that's all right; but where there's a barn there's most likely to +be a house. I guess we're all right now."</p> + +<p>Their horses stumbled on, over the uneven ground, and soon another big +object loomed up through the snow.</p> + +<p>"There's the house!" cried Dick. "Come on."</p> + +<p>They managed to urge their horses to a trot, and, a few moments later, +were knocking at the door of a large, white farmhouse. A pretty girl who +opened it exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Come right in. I expect you're most frozen, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Pretty nearly," replied Dick, as he entered with Paul.</p> + +<p>They were soon near a warm fire, partaking of hot tea, though they +declined the offer of some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> hard cider, an invitation slyly given by the +farmer, who introduced himself as Enos Weatherby. His place was about +eight miles from Kentfield, and, in the course of his talk, Dick and +Paul learned that Captain Dutton and Lieutenant Stiver had been at the +house a little while before, and had not refused the cider.</p> + +<p>This was news to Dick, but he at once saw how matters stood. Dutton and +his companion, he learned, knew the two daughters of the farmer, and had +called on them during the practice march. It was on this account that +they had not reported at the checking point. Probably they thought they +could make a circuit, visit their friends, and join their squad in time +to report at the academy, trusting to luck to explain their temporary +absence.</p> + +<p>They had been gone about an hour, Mr. Weatherby said, and he showed Dick +and Paul the road they had taken, a short cut to the school.</p> + +<p>"Ride down this road," explained the farmer, "cut across my big meadow, +and you will come to the main highway. Keep along that until you come to +the first cross road, turn to the left and you'll get to the road that +leads around the lake. Then it's only a mile to the school. But you're +welcome to stay all night. The storm is getting worse."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, very much," replied Dick, "but we couldn't stay. Colonel +Masterly would be worried about us. We'll take the short cut home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> I +guess they'll call the march a dead heat as far as picking a winner is +concerned."</p> + +<p>The girls added their entreaties to those of their father and Mrs. +Weatherby, who had been busy at household duties, entered the dining +room, to urge the cadets to remain, as she had plenty of room. But Dick +and Paul would not.</p> + +<p>There was obvious disappointment in the good-byes of the two girls, but +Dick and Paul cared little for that, though the two Miss Weatherbys were +rather pretty, even if they were a bit silly.</p> + +<p>The two wayfarers thanked their hosts, and, feeling much refreshed and +warmed, while the horses, too, had improved by the halt, they set off +again.</p> + +<p>The snow was not coming down so fast, but it was much colder, and they +hastened on, anxious to get to the academy.</p> + +<p>"Queer about Dutton, wasn't it?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"It sure was," agreed Paul. "He'll get into trouble if he doesn't look +out."</p> + +<p>"Somehow he always seems to escape, but I s'pose he'll do it once too +often. This must be where we turn."</p> + +<p>"I guess so. Go ahead."</p> + +<p>They turned into the big meadow, crossed it, and came out into a road +that showed some signs of travel. It was deserted now, however, as the +winter night was settling down.</p> + +<p>"A few more miles, and then for a good, hot supper," commented Dick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +"Don't talk about it," said Paul. "It makes me hungry."</p> + +<p>Suddenly his horse shied, and the cadet, looking to see what caused it, +beheld a dark object, half buried in the snow, at the side of the road.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" called Dick, who had dropped a little to the rear.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Better take a look."</p> + +<p>Dick forced his rather unwilling steed up to the object. The next moment +he uttered a cry.</p> + +<p>"It's a man!" he exclaimed.</p> + +<p>He leaped off his horse, and bent closely to the black, huddled mass. +Then he reached over and took hold of it.</p> + +<p>"Here, Paul!" cried Dick. "Help me!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"It's Dutton, and he's unconscious and half frozen. Must have fallen +from his horse and struck on his head! We must get him to shelter in a +hurry."</p> + +<p>Paul was quickly at his companion's side. He helped Dick lift the +unconscious youth from the pile of snow. Dutton +<a name="seemed" id="seemed"></a><ins title="Original has seeemd">seemed</ins> to be +trying to say something, but though his lips moved no sound came from +them.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? Are you hurt?" asked Dick. "How did it happen?"</p> + +<p>Dutton murmured something, but the words "horse" and "Stiver" were all +they could distinguish.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +"Maybe he's only fainted," suggested Paul. "Rub some snow on his face."</p> + +<p>Dick tried this, but it was evident that Dutton was semi-conscious from +the effects of some injury.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" asked Paul, who was not used to acting in +emergencies.</p> + +<p>"We've got to get him to the academy as soon as possible."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we had better take him back to the Weatherbys. That's nearer."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but they wouldn't know how to take care of him. He needs a doctor. +No, what we've got +<a name="to" id="to"></a><ins title="Original has to">to do</ins> is to get him on my horse. He's stronger +than yours, and can carry double. Then you ride on ahead and tell them +to send a carriage."</p> + +<p>Paul realized that this was the best thing to do, and the two, after +some difficulty, hoisted Dutton to the back of Dick's steed. Then Dick +mounted behind him, and, supporting in his arms the unconscious cadet, +he set off through the snow. Paul galloped on ahead, urging his horse to +a sharp gait, and made good time in reaching the academy.</p> + +<p>There he found considerable confusion, and no little alarm, not only +over the absence of Dutton, but over that of Dick and himself.</p> + +<p>Paul quickly explained how he and his chum had become lost, and told how +they had found Dutton. A carriage was at once sent out, and soon the +injured lad was in the hospital, where an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> examination showed that he +was not badly hurt, having merely received a severe blow on the head.</p> + +<p>"We feared something had happened when Dutton's horse came in without +him," said Colonel Masterly. "Lieutenant Stiver said that he and Dutton +became separated, after losing their way, and that he could not find +him. So he came here to get help, and arrived just as Dutton's horse +galloped in."</p> + +<p>Dick told the colonel how he had found the young captain, but did not +think it necessary to mention about the farmhouse and the two girls.</p> + +<p>"I should have stopped the march when I saw that the weather was likely +to be bad," the colonel said. "However, I am glad it is no worse."</p> + +<p>Because of the incidents of the march it was called off, as far as a +contest was concerned, and so no inquiry was made as to why Dutton and +Stiver had failed to report at the checking point.</p> + +<p>"I tell you what I think happened," said Paul, when he and Dick were +discussing it in their room that night.</p> + +<p>"Well, what?"</p> + +<p>"I think Dutton and Stiver had more hard cider than was good for them. +They must have quarreled, and Stiver left Dutton, who later fell from +his horse. There was no excuse for them losing each other after they +left Weatherby's house, and Dutton is too good a horseman to fall off, +unless he couldn't take care of himself."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +"Maybe you're right. I'm glad we found him, though."</p> + +<p>"So am I, though I don't believe he'll treat you any better for saving +his life."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know as I did that. Some one would have found him before he +froze to death," said Dick.</p> + +<p>Paul's idea of what had taken place between Dutton and Stiver seemed +borne out by the coldness that sprang up between the two former cronies, +as soon as Dutton could leave the hospital. He hardly spoke to the +lieutenant of his company.</p> + +<p>Nor was he specially cordial to our hero. In a stiff sort of fashion he +thanked him for what he had done, but there was no semblance of real +friendship, and Dutton's crowd did not take up with Dick, as they might, +reasonably, have been expected to.</p> + +<p>With the approach of spring the baseball fever began to stir in the +veins of the cadets, and several nines were formed. Dick managed to get +on a freshman team, much to his delight, for he was an excellent +pitcher. Nor did the members of the nine regret their choice, for Dick +pulled them out of several close games by his excellent twirling, which +offset the errors made by his companions.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +<a name="xxv" id="xxv"></a>CHAPTER XXV<br /> +<br /> +<small>OFF TO CAMP</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Hurray!</span>" yelled Paul Drew one afternoon, as he fairly jumped into the +room which he and Dick shared.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked +<a name="his" id="his"></a><ins title="Original has hi">his</ins> chum.</p> + +<p>"Matter? Why, lots. You've passed, and so have I. We're going to be +corporals from now on. That's for making good records in the spring +examinations. Dutton and Hale are to be majors, I heard. I'm glad for +Hale's sake, but it's going to be bad for us to have Dutton given so +much authority."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because he'll lord it over us worse than ever. Well, it can't be +helped. And there's more good news. Get up and have a war dance, you old +buzzard!"</p> + +<p>"Hold on!" cried Dick protestingly, as Paul yanked +<a name="him" id="him"></a><ins title="Original has his">him</ins> from the +easy chair. "What's up?"</p> + +<p>"Lots. We're going to camp!"</p> + +<p>"Camp?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; it's just been announced. We're to go<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> and spend one week under +canvas; with no lessons to worry about, and lots of chance to skylark +and have fun."</p> + +<p>"I guess there'll be instructions in tactics, and recitations, won't +there?" asked Dick. "It won't be all pie."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course we'll have to do some studying, I think."</p> + +<p>"Of course. We'll have to tell what we'd do if, leading a small force of +men, we happened to meet with an overwhelming army in a mountain pass, +hemmed in on every side."</p> + +<p>"I'd surrender," said Paul, with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't; I'd fight," said Dick grimly, and he squared his jaw after +the manner of Grit, his bulldog.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, we'll have lots of sport," went on Paul. "Of course it's for +military instruction we're going, but I think we can manage to slip in a +good time now and again."</p> + +<p>"Sure," replied Dick, his eyes brightening. "When do we go?"</p> + +<p>"Day after to-morrow. Orders are to get our kits in shape. We're to go +in light marching order. The tents and grub will be carried in a wagon."</p> + +<p>"That's good. I hate to pack my house, and all I want to eat, on my +back."</p> + +<p>The two chums fell to discussing the pleasant prospects ahead of them, +some of the freshman cadets in neighboring rooms dropping in +occasionally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> to get points on what to do and how to do it.</p> + +<p>They were interrupted by a knock on Dick's door, and for a moment the +buzz of voices ceased, as if the owners had been caught in some breach +of the rules. Then, as the whistled strains of "In the Prison Cell I +Sit," came to them, Dick exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"It's Toots. Come on in, you old Horse Marine."</p> + +<p>Toots entered, whistling a reveille with great precision.</p> + +<p>"Major Webster wants to see you, Mr. Hamilton," he said, saluting.</p> + +<p>"Me?" repeated Dick.</p> + +<p>"Yes. In his office."</p> + +<p>"You're in for a wigging," consoled Paul.</p> + +<p>"Court martial for yours," added 'Gene Graham.</p> + +<p>"No, I'm going to be promoted to take entire command of the camp," said +Dick with a laugh as he went out. He had come nearer the truth than he +thought in his jesting words. He saluted the major, who returned it, and +bade him be seated.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Hamilton, by the way, before I forget it, let me say that I haven't +heard anything about that marksman's medal yet," said Major Webster, +referring to the one that had fallen from the pocket of Toots. "When I +hear anything I'll let you know. But that wasn't why I sent for you."</p> + +<p>Dick thought it couldn't be anything serious, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> the major wouldn't +have begun in this fashion, so he waited.</p> + +<p>"I have been looking up your record, Hamilton," went on the old soldier, +"and I am very much pleased +<a name="with" id="with"></a><ins title="Original has with">with it</ins>. So much so, in fact, that +I am going to promote you, temporarily, and give you a command."</p> + +<p>Dick's heart began to beat rapidly.</p> + +<p>"During this encampment," went on the major, "we wish the new cadets to +get a good idea of the value of military training, and what this academy +stands for. I think that by this plan of mine they will gain more +knowledge in a week than they otherwise would in two months. Now I am +going to take all the cadets who recently arrived and form them into two +companies. One you will have entire charge of, as captain. The other I +will select a captain for. Yours will be known as Number One Company, to +distinguish it from the regular lettered +<a name="commands" id="commands"></a><ins title="Original has comands.">commands</ins> I want +you to give the freshmen as good an idea as you can of what a military +life here means."</p> + +<p>"What am I to do?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Take entire charge of them. See that they are shown everything, from +how to load a gun, vault upon a horse, put up a tent, build a camp fire, +mount guard and so on. At the end of the week's camp we are going to +have a sham battle."</p> + +<p>"A sham battle?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, off in the woods. The cadets will be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> divided into two armies, and +we will play the war game just as the regulars and volunteers do. In a +sense the lads in your care will be volunteers, and perhaps they will do +better than the regular cadets. That part is up to you."</p> + +<p>Dick resolved that if he could bring it about his company would gain +some honors.</p> + +<p>"Your command will be part of the fighting force in the sham battle," +went on the major, "and it will depend on yourself how they behave. The +rules of the sham battle will be announced later, but I want you to get +ready for your shoulder straps," and he smiled at our hero.</p> + +<p>"Well," thought Dick, as he left the major a little later, "I got to a +captain's stripes before I knew it—but it won't last very long," he +added, somewhat regretfully.</p> + +<p>Dick thought ruefully that, even with this temporary promotion, he was +hardly fulfilling the conditions of his mother's will. He was certainly +not popular with the great body of students, and he began worrying lest +he be sent to his Uncle Ezra. As he walked back to his room, he recalled +a letter he had received from his father that day, stating that Mr. +Hamilton would remain abroad longer than he had originally planned.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't look as if I was going to make good," thought Dick, +gloomily, as he entered his apartment.</p> + +<p>"What was it?" asked his chums eagerly, as he came back.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +Dick told them.</p> + +<p>"A sham battle!" cried Paul. "That's the stuff! Hold me down, somebody, +or I'll stand on my head, and if I do I'll split my new uniform. Hold +me, somebody, do."</p> + +<p>"I will," volunteered 'Gene Graham, and he obligingly tilted Paul up, so +that he turned a neat summersault over his bed.</p> + +<p>"I guess that'll hold you for a few moments," observed Stanley Booker. +"Now tell us more about it, Dick."</p> + +<p>Which the young millionaire proceeded to do.</p> + +<p>Never was there such excitement in Kentfield academy as when it became +known that, in addition to the camp there was to be a sham battle. On +every side was heard talk of ambuscades, skirmishing parties, rear +attacks, retrograde movements, waiting for reinforcements, deploys and +bases of supplies.</p> + +<p>Dutton sneered openly when he heard of Dick's promotion.</p> + +<p>"I suppose he thinks he'll do wonders with those freshies," he said. +"Maybe he hopes he'll win the battle by coming up with them as +reinforcements."</p> + +<p>"Well a small force has turned the tide more than once, Dutton," Allen +Rutledge reminded him.</p> + +<p>"I don't think Hamilton can do it, though," was the reply of the bully.</p> + +<p>The start for camp was made on a bright,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> sunny morning, and the line of +cadets, in field uniforms, with their guns over their shoulders, the sun +glinting from the polished barrels, made an inspiring picture.</p> + +<p>"Isn't this glorious?" said Dick to Paul, near whom he was marching.</p> + +<p>"Silence in the ranks!" snapped Major Dutton, though there was no need +for the command.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +<a name="xxvi" id="xxvi"></a>CHAPTER XXVI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE SHAM BATTLE</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Forward</span> marched the cadets, keeping step to the lively air of the fifes, +and the accompanying rattle and boom of the drums. But regular formation +and step were not maintained for long, only until the young soldiers +were on the main road, when they were allowed to break step, and proceed +as they pleased, the companies, however, keeping together.</p> + +<p>It was an all day's tramp to camp, and they stopped midway on the road +for lunch, the baggage wagons having been halted while the regular cooks +of the academy, who had been taken along, prepared the meal.</p> + +<p>"Wait until we get the tents up," said Dick, "then we'll have some fun. +Nothing like life under canvas in the summer."</p> + +<p>"Right, Captain Dick," replied Paul, trying to talk with part of a +chicken sandwich in his mouth. Dick had not yet assumed his new command, +but would as soon as camp was pitched.</p> + +<p>They got to the place about five o'clock, and found that the tents had +been unloaded from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> wagons, and that the cooks had their white +shelter already set up, and were preparing supper.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys," said Major Webster, "I want to see how soldierly you can do +things. You have had considerable practice in putting up tents, at least +you older cadets have; now let's see how you have profited by your +instruction."</p> + +<p>In a short time the scene was one of great activity. Cadets were +straightening out folds of canvas, laying out ropes, driving in tent +pegs and, in less than half an hour, where there had been a green field, +it was now dotted with spotless white peaked-roof houses of canvas.</p> + +<p>"Very well done," complimented Colonel Masterly, who came out of the +headquarters tent to look at the sight. "Very fine, indeed, major."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think they did well."</p> + +<p>The next work was to dig a trench about each tent so that rain water +could not settle about it, and this was quickly accomplished. This +done the camp had a fine appearance, the tents being arranged +in rows or company "streets."</p> + +<p>By this time supper was announced, and the way the cadets put away the +good things which the cooks had provided made those servants open their +eyes. They were used to hungry boys eating, but they almost forgot to +allow for the extra appetites created by work in the open air. It was +some time since a general camp had been held at the academy.</p> + +<p>After guard mount, sentinels were posted and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> orders given that no cadet +would be allowed to leave camp. In spite of this some of Dutton's crowd, +including himself, ran the guard that night and were nearly caught. +However, this was to be expected, and it was considered no great crime.</p> + +<p>The next day Dick was given charge of forty freshmen, and he took great +delight in starting their instruction. There were drills to attend, +lessons in tactics to learn, the best method to observe on a march, and +illustrations given in artillery firing, for several field pieces had +been brought along to use in the +<a name="sham" id="sham"></a><ins title="Original has shame">sham</ins> battle.</p> + +<p>Cavalry exercises occupied a part of every day, and though the cadets +had plenty of leisure they found that their time was pretty fully +occupied, for Colonel Masterly and his staff wanted practical benefit to +be derived from the camp life. Target practice in the open proved to +many a cadet who had done well on the ranges that he had plenty yet to +learn.</p> + +<p>"I wish they'd hurry up and have that sham battle," remarked Paul to +Dick one night. "Heard anything about it?"</p> + +<p>"It takes place to-morrow," replied our hero. "Blank ammunition will be +served out the first thing in the morning, and final instructions given. +My company is to form part of the attacking party."</p> + +<p>"That's good. I wonder where my bunch will be stationed? I wish I was an +officer."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +"It will come in time. You're to be on the defense, I believe. So is the +company of freshmen that Foraker has charge of."</p> + +<p>"Well, it won't make much difference. I'll not fire on you, if I can +help it."</p> + +<p>"That's good."</p> + +<p>The plan for the sham battle was announced the next morning, after each +cadet had been supplied with many rounds of blank cartridges. The young +soldiers were divided into two equal commands. Somewhat to Dick's +disgust Major Dutton was given charge of the attacking party, of which +the millionaire's son and his young lads formed a part. Harry Hale, the +football coach, who had also been elected a major, was to be on the +defensive. The latter army was to occupy a wooded hill, back of the +camp. At the foot of it ran a small stream, and to get at the defenders +of the mound the attacking party would have to build a temporary bridge, +which work was included in the instruction imparted at the academy.</p> + +<p>To cover this operation, the artillery of the attacking party would be +brought up, but, at the same time, the field pieces of the defenders +might pour a devastating fire on the bridge builders from above.</p> + +<p>The holders of the hill were to be stationed at the rear limits of it, +while the attackers were to start their march about two miles from the +foot of the slope. It was figured out that if the defenders could bring +up their artillery, and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> forces, and attack the enemy before a +bridge could be built across the stream, the holders of the hill would +win the battle. On the other hand, if the attackers could succeed in +getting a body of cadets across the stream before a heavy artillery or +rifle fire could be poured into them, they would win. The promptness of +firing, the number of shots and general quickness were to count.</p> + +<p>At the appointed time, Major Hale and his force took possession of the +hill, and Major Dutton led his army two miles back, on the plain in +front of it.</p> + +<p>Dutton issued his orders.</p> + +<p>"We'll try to surprise them," he said to his young officers. "We'll +swing around in a half circle, and instead of building the bridge at the +easiest place to cross the stream we'll try it farther down. They won't +suspect that we'll come there, and we'll gain some time."</p> + +<p>"But they'll have their pickets out," observed Russell Glen. "They'll +see us."</p> + +<p>"I'll send some of you to another point to pretend to build a bridge," +decided Dutton. "That'll draw their fire, and they'll start their +artillery toward that place. Before they find out that it's only a bluff +we'll have the real bridge half done."</p> + +<p>As the cadets had a record of building a thirty-foot bridge of the "A" +style inside of four minutes, it seemed that Dutton's plan might be a +good one.</p> + +<p>"How are you going to carry the planks and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> spars for the bridge?" asked +Glen. "On the field piece carriages?"</p> + +<p>"No, we'll carry them ourselves. We can close up ranks so they won't see +the boards."</p> + +<p>This looked like a good plan, and the cadets made ready to carry it out.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton," said Dutton sharply to our hero, "you'll take the rear +guard, and stay there until you get orders to come up."</p> + +<p>This was rather hard on Dick. It practically put him and his freshmen +out of the battle, unless Dutton should order them to the front, and he +was not very likely to do this. Still Dick could not object, and he made +the best of it.</p> + +<p>"Won't we see any of the fighting?" asked one of his command.</p> + +<p>"Maybe so," replied the young millionaire. "They may need us for +reinforcements."</p> + +<p>Dick could not help but give Dutton credit for making his plans well. +The young major led his men to the designated point, taking advantage of +such inequalities of the ground as there were to conceal his movements. +The ropes, beams and planks for the bridge were distributed among the +cadets, several of them being required to carry the heavier pieces. The +strongest lads were used for this work, and their rifles were taken in +charge by their less-burdened comrades.</p> + +<p>Then, when all was in readiness, Dutton gave the command to advance. He +led the way, at the head of a company of infantry, while back of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> that +came his cavalry force, and to the rear of that was massed his +artillery, while Dick led the rear guard of freshmen.</p> + +<p>Straight at the hill advanced the attacking army, while from convenient +points Colonel Masterly and his staff of officers watched to decide who +won.</p> + +<p>"Skirmishers, advance!" ordered Dutton, and several cadets detached +themselves from the cavalry and rode forward. As they approached there +were puffs of white smoke from the slope of the hill, and the sharp +crack of rifles announced that the pickets of Major Hale's force were on +the alert. The skirmishers returned the fire, and then galloped back to +report.</p> + +<p>"They're waiting for us," Dutton was informed.</p> + +<p>"So I see," he replied. "Now, then, we'll halt here a moment. You +fellows that are to pretend to build the bridge, get ready to rush when +I give the word. I'll send one field piece as if to cover your +movements. Are you all ready there, Stiver?" for Lieutenant Stiver, with +whom Dutton had again gotten on friendly terms, was to lead the fake +movement.</p> + +<p>"All ready," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Then go!"</p> + +<p>Out from the attacking force rushed a squad of cadets, bearing light +planks. Of course, from the hill, it looked as if they were the advance +guard of bridge builders. Particularly when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> there dashed out a field +piece, drawn by galloping horses.</p> + +<p>As the cadets approached the bank of the stream, and began to arrange +their planks, the lads in charge of the cannon quickly wheeled it, +unlimbered and fired the first shot. There was a white puff of smoke, a +burst of flame, and a great bang went rattling and echoing among the +hills. The battle had opened.</p> + +<p>As Dutton had expected, his ruse deceived Hale. The latter quickly +ordered up his entire artillery to shell the intrepid bridge builders. +Dutton, watching through a field glass, saw the approach of the cannon.</p> + +<p>"Forward march!" he cried to his main +<a name="command2" id="command2"></a><ins title="Original has comand">command</ins>. "Double +quick!"</p> + +<p>Quickness was everything now. Off they started, the real bridge builders +and nearly his entire force, including Dick and his youngsters in the +rear.</p> + +<p>They circled around a turn in the stream, and, for a time, were out of +sight of the small force left to bear the attack.</p> + +<p>"Build the bridge here!" ordered Dutton. "Lively now, boys. See if you +can't break the record."</p> + +<p>The cadets needed no urging. Two of them quickly plunged into the +stream, and, partly swimming, partly wading, carried over some ropes. By +means of these they pulled over spars and planks, which, when several of +their companions<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> hurriedly joined them, they proceeded to lash +together. The same operation was going on among the cadets on the other +side of the brook.</p> + +<p>Two long spars were laid down on the ground, at right angles to the +stream. At the further extremity of these spars a cross piece was +lashed, projecting on either side. Ropes were attached to the +projections, and the unconnected ends of the long spars, being held down +to the ground by several lads, the others quickly raised the connected +ends, just as a painter hoists a long ladder. The same thing took place +on the farther side of the brook, and, when both squads were ready, the +two parts of the bridge that were to form the two slanting sides of a +double letter "A" were allowed to incline toward each other, from either +side of the water, cadets having hold of the ropes, regulating and +guiding the long spars. The big sticks met in mid air, over the centre +of the stream, and, being well braced at the bottom, held. Then cadets +climbed up on either side, and united them more firmly by lashing them.</p> + +<p>Something like a double letter "A," but without the cross piece, now +spanned the brook. Or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say that it +was a double inverted "V." It was necessary to put on cross spars, and +lay planks on these, or the artillery and cavalry could not get over. +And, as there were no spars long enough to reach all the way across the +stream, two sections had to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> be used on either side of the bridge. They +were to be tied together, and supported at the centre, or place of +joining, by long ropes, attached to the apex of the letter "A."</p> + +<p>Though up to this time the main attacking party had not been fired on, +they could not hope to escape much longer. Already puffs of white smoke +from the hillside indicated that they had been seen by pickets. A minute +later Dutton's trick was discovered, and Hale ordered his artillery to +cease firing on the fake bridge builders, and to turn their attack on +the others.</p> + +<p>But Dutton was ready for this. He had his field pieces in position, and, +as soon as he saw that his soldiers had the bridge well under way, he +began shelling the defenders, who were rushing down the hill to the +attack. The infantry also began to pour in a withering fire.</p> + +<p>The ropes, by which the long spars had been lowered and inclined across +the stream, now served as guys to hold them steady and in place, while +the floor beams were being put in position.</p> + +<p>"Lively!" cried Dutton. "They're making it too hot for us! We must cross +soon, or we'll lose! They came at us quicker than I expected!"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the little force that had started to build the fake bridge had +(theoretically) been killed.</p> + +<p>Now the long floor timbers were in place, being supported at the centre +by long ropes, hanging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> from the point of the "A," and the cadets were +beginning to lay cross planks on them.</p> + +<p>"Tell the cavalry to get ready to advance, to protect our crossing," +ordered Dutton, to one of his captains, and the troop of lads on their +restless steeds prepared to rush across the bridge at the first possible +moment. It had only been a little over three minutes since the building +of the structure was started, but a heavy artillery fire was being +concentrated on the attackers, and, in accordance with instructions +previously given, cadets began dropping out, being supposed to be +killed.</p> + +<p>Dutton's field pieces were pounding away, and there was a thick cloud of +smoke, which partly concealed the movements of his cadets.</p> + +<p>"Bridge is ready, major!" reported a smoke-begrimed lad, running up, and +saluting. Then he hastened back to continue firing on Hale's soldiers.</p> + +<p>"Advance, cavalry!" shouted Dutton. "Lively now! Charge!"</p> + +<p>The horses, urged on by their shouting riders, thundered over the frail +bridge. It trembled and swayed, but it supported them.</p> + +<p>"Forward, the infantry!" cried the young major. "On the double quick! +Here they come down the hill at you! Fire at will! Charge!"</p> + +<p>Down the slope of the hill came rushing the defenders. Behind them +thundered and rumbled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> their artillery, which was supporting their brave +advance in the face of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"Artillery, forward!" shouted Dutton, waving his sword, and hoping, by +throwing his entire force suddenly upon Hale's army, to overpower it, +and get in more shots than could his opponent. That meant he would win +the battle.</p> + +<p>"Shall I stay here?" cried Dick, for he had received no orders what to +do with his force, and was still on the farther side of the bridge.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Until I send for you, or you see that you are needed," called back +Dutton. "I guess I can get along without you."</p> + +<p>Louder roared the cannon; and the cracks of the rifles of the infantry, +and the carbines of the cavalry, was like the explosion of pack after +pack of giant firecrackers.</p> + +<p>Then something happened. As the three field pieces rumbled across the +bridge, there was an ominous cracking and splintering sound. Dutton +heard it and turned back from his rush, which he had started on to be in +readiness to lead the charge of his artillery. He saw the bridge +swaying.</p> + +<p>"Come on! Come on!" he cried, waving his sword. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>But it was too late. The middle supporting ropes had slipped, and the +bridge collapsed at the centre, letting horses, cannon and cadets down +into the stream, which, fortunately, was not deep.</p> + +<p>Dutton had, at one blow, lost all his artillery,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> while Hale's was +advancing to +<a name="annihilate" id="annihilate"></a><ins title="Original has annihiliate">annihilate</ins> him and his force. The boom of +the defenders' field pieces sounded nearer and nearer, while their rifle +fire became hotter than ever.</p> + +<p>Dutton saw himself defeated by the inopportune collapse of the bridge, +which had been insecurely lashed together. But he would not give up.</p> + +<p>"Forward! Forward!" he cried. "Split up and attack 'em on both sides."</p> + +<p>His cavalry and infantry rushed forward, firing as they ran. Dick +Hamilton, left with his little body of troops on the other side of the +stream, saw his opportunity.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" he cried to his lads. "We'll go back and get the guns at the +fake bridge. Then we'll pull it across and we'll see if we can execute a +flank movement."</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff!" cried some of the lads, who had begun to fear they +would never get a chance to fire their rifles.</p> + +<p>Dick led his men on the double quick to where the field piece, from +which only a few shots had been fired, had been left. He saw a chance to +turn defeat into victory.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +<a name="xxvii" id="xxvii"></a>CHAPTER XXVII<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK WINS THE CONTEST</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dutton</span> was desperate when he saw the most efficient arm of his little +force thus wiped out. He did not turn back to help the cadets in charge +of the horses and guns, however, as he knew they could look after +themselves.</p> + +<p>And this they did, though they had to cut the traces to get the horses +loose from the guns, and then haul the field pieces out by hand. This +took some time, and when the cannon were safe on the other shore they +could not be used because the harness was cut and the horses could not +pull them. Besides the guns had turned over and the working parts were +all wet.</p> + +<p>But Major Dutton had not yet given up. He divided his cavalry and +infantry into two divisions, giving Captain Beeby charge of one, and +taking the other himself.</p> + +<p>Dutton took advantage of a little hollow which, for a few moments +hindered the advance of the defenders, to execute this move, and he +hoped to be able to turn the flank of Hale.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +"Make as wide a swing as you can," he advised Beeby, "and maybe you can +get to him before we have to give up," for according to the rules of the +sham battle about half of Dutton's force was now wiped out. It showed +his spirit when he was unwilling to send for Dick's reinforcements, but +he decided he would not owe victory to the lad he hated, if he could +help it.</p> + +<p>Beeby got well away with his cadets before Hale and his forces appeared +around a little mound on the big hill. Then, though it was hard work to +handle his artillery there, the major of the defenders made a stand and +gave pitched battle to the contingent led by Dutton.</p> + +<p>For a time the fight waged furiously, but it was unequal, as Dutton had +no cannon with which to reply to the bombardment he was suffering. Nor +could his cavalry advance to good advantage up the slope, while Hale's +had no difficulty in coming down.</p> + +<p>"Now, if Beeby would only get there," thought Dutton, "we might win +yet!"</p> + +<p>Alas for his hopes! Hale had suspected some such movement, and had held +back a reserve force. Skirmishers saw Beeby advancing through the woods, +and gave the alarm. Then Hale brought up a field piece he had not yet +used, and opened fire on Beeby's contingent, which Dutton hoped would +have saved him. There was no help for it. He was on the point of +ordering a retreat, as the only way of saving a part of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> force. +Still he had a considerable number of cadets left, and they had plenty +of ammunition.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Dick and his freshmen cadets had not been idle. Under his +directions they unhitched the six horses from the cannon, and, by +attaching ropes to the piece they pulled it across the stream on a raft +they improvised from the boards used to construct the fake bridge. Thus +the piece was saved from getting wet. The fake bridge builders, who had +(theoretically) been killed, offered no objection. They could take no +further part in the battle.</p> + +<p>"Who are the best riders?" asked Dick, and several lads modestly offered +themselves.</p> + +<p>"You'll be the cavalry," said the young commander. "You are only six, +but you'll do for what I want, which is mostly bluff."</p> + +<p>He gave the artillery horses to six lads, and bade them ride across the +stream, which they easily did.</p> + +<p>"Wade and swim for the rest of us," said Dick grimly. "Hold your rifles +above your heads, for, though the cartridges are water-proof, it doesn't +do the mechanism of a gun any good to get it wet. Lively now. We'll be +too late if we don't hurry. They're keeping up quite a heavy artillery +fire."</p> + +<p>The eager cadets needed no urging. They crossed the stream in good +order, not being observed by either Dutton's force, or by the +<a name="defenders" id="defenders"></a><ins title="Original has defeners">defenders</ins> of the hill. On the other side Dick looked for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +the easiest and best way of climbing the hill, and going to Dutton's +aid.</p> + +<p>He saw a sort of trail leading up, and, from the direction of the +firing, he knew that he could, if undiscovered, take Hale on his left +flank, Beeby having tried to turn the right unsuccessfully, though Dick +did not know this then.</p> + +<p>It was hard work urging the horses up the steep hill, and harder still +for the cadets to drag up the field piece, and the limber filled with +ammunition, little of which had been used. But they did it, and on they +went.</p> + +<p>Dick, coming out on a little projection, could see the battle in +progress between Dutton and Hale. The latter had all but won, and the +attackers were fast being driven back. They were a mere handful of +cadets now, many having been "killed" by the merciless fire. Being +"killed" in theory meant that a certain number had to drop out every +minute, and could take no further part in the battle. Of course Hale had +a number of soldiers "killed" also.</p> + +<p>"Hurry!" cried Dick to his lads. "We're only just in time. A little +farther and we'll plant the field piece and open fire. Then we'll charge +down."</p> + +<p>The lads dragged the cannon a few hundred feet farther up the hill. +Then, screening it behind some bushes, Dick told off a number of cadets +to work the gun, they having had previous practice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +"Ready!" he called, and to the surprise of Hale, no less than that of +Dutton, the woods echoed to the report of artillery where none was +supposed to be. A white puff of smoke on Hale's left flank told him that +some movement was in progress over there. He was about to order one of +his guns to reply to the unexpected bombardment, when there came a +ringing shout from the same quarter, and, above the cheer, Dick Hamilton +yelled:</p> + +<p>"Charge!"</p> + +<p>Down upon the all but victorious defenders of the hill rushed the little +force of six cavalrymen. Behind them, leading about thirty cadets, who +were as fresh as daisies, came Dick.</p> + +<p>"Charge! Charge!" he yelled, and then he ordered the lads to open fire.</p> + +<p>They did it with a will, for they had not had a chance to use their guns +yet, and they were wild to do so.</p> + +<p>What a fire they poured into the ranks of the defenders. How the one +lone field piece, well screened by bushes, sent shell after shell +(theoretically) screaming into the midst of the enemy.</p> + +<p>Hale was all but demoralized. He had seen victory just within his grasp, +and now he was attacked by fresh reinforcements. Dutton had been too +much for him, after all, he thought.</p> + +<p>As for Dutton, he hardly knew what to make of it. He could not +understand how Dick had been able to lead up his forces, to execute a +successful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> flank movement, and, above all, to bring a field piece to +bear.</p> + +<p>Hale was now in desperate straits. Encouraged by seeing reinforcements +Dutton's men turned with cries of gladness to renew the attack. Hale +tried to reply to them, but his ammunition was getting low. Closer in +came Dick and his lads, pressing on Hale's flank. On the other side +Beeby, with the few cadets he had left, returned to the attack. In front +Dutton and a handful of soldiers poured in a fire. But Dick's was the +fiercest, aided as it was by the cannon.</p> + +<p>There was nothing for Hale to do but to retreat, and he had his bugler +sound this mournful call. Up the hill he and his men went—what was left +of them—while after them rushed Dick, now leading the attack.</p> + +<p>"Surrender! Surrender!" cried Dutton. "We've got you!"</p> + +<p>"I guess you have," admitted Hale. "But if Hamilton hadn't come when he +did there'd been a different story."</p> + +<p>Dutton did not reply, nor did he glance at Dick, who, seeing that the +battle was over, had ordered his command to cease firing. But, though +Major Dutton did not acknowledge that Dick had saved the day, he knew +it, and so did his men.</p> + +<p>Major Webster, however, did not withhold his praise.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton, you did splendidly!" he cried enthusiastically. "That was a +master stroke to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> ford the stream, take the gun over, and use the horses +for cavalry. Major Dutton, thanks to Captain Hamilton, your forces have +the honor of having won the sham battle. I congratulate you. I am proud +of my cadets, even the losers."</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Major Hale!" called Dutton, who was politic, if a +bully.</p> + +<p>The camp rang with the shouts.</p> + +<p>"Now three cheers for Major Dutton!" called Hale, and the huzzahs were +louder than before, for Dutton had a magnetic attractiveness in spite of +his mean ways with those whom he did not like.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Captain Hamilton!" called Paul Drew, but, though +Dick's freshmen nearly yelled the tops of their heads off, the cheer for +our hero was noticeably weaker than either of the two preceding ones.</p> + +<p>Dick smiled grimly, but he knew he had done good work that day.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +<a name="xxviii" id="xxviii"></a>CHAPTER XXVIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>UNCLE EZRA AT KENTFIELD</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> rest of that day, and far into the night, ignoring the warning of +tattoo and taps, the cadets discussed the sham battle. It had been a +glorious affair, and they fought it all over again in their tents, the +defeated ones explaining that if "this" had happened, "that" wouldn't +have taken place.</p> + +<p>"But for all that, you can't deny but that Dick saved the day for +Dutton," argued Paul.</p> + +<p>"He certainly did," was the general reply.</p> + +<p>The battle practically ended the military instruction at camp. The next +day was devoted to resting and light drills. Several lads had received +severe sprains or bruises, due to their haste or enthusiasm, and one +horse had a cut leg caused by the accident to the bridge.</p> + +<p>There was some disposition to criticize Dutton for not seeing that the +structure was secure before sending his artillery over, but Major +Webster declared that as no serious accident had resulted no fault could +be found. As for the young major it was bitter for him to have to admit, +as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> grudgingly did, that he would have failed but for Dick Hamilton.</p> + +<p>Another day spent in camp, when all discipline was relaxed, and the +cadets were allowed to do about as they pleased, brought the outing to a +close. Then all sorts of tricks were played, and more than one crowd of +freshmen found their tent coming down unexpectedly about their heads +that night, as the mischief makers loosened the pegs.</p> + +<p>Bright and early the next morning the tents were struck, the baggage was +loaded into the wagons, and the "hike" to the academy was begun. The +cadets fell into line, and with swinging step, to the tune of "The Girl +I Left Behind Me," paraded off the camping ground.</p> + +<p>It was rather hard to settle down again to the grind of lessons, but +Colonel Masterly and his colleague knew how to handle boys, and in +between study and recitation periods were drills and cavalry and +infantry exercises so that gradually the routine was resumed again, and +every one felt better for the outing.</p> + +<p>One day, as Dick and Paul came in from the campus, they saw a notice on +the bulletin board. It was to the effect that candidates for the +'Varsity baseball team would report in the gymnasium that night.</p> + +<p>"That's the stuff!" cried Dick enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to play?" asked Paul.</p> + +<p>"Sure. Why not?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +"Well, you didn't get much show at football last year."</p> + +<p>"Can't help it. I may this time."</p> + +<p>"Dutton is just as much against you as ever."</p> + +<p>"I know it, but I may get a chance just the same. I'm going to begin +training, and I'll keep at it until the last game."</p> + +<p>Dick was as good as his word. He rather hoped he might make the regular +nine, but he learned that Dutton and his set were against him, and the +best he could do was to be named as a substitute shortstop.</p> + +<p>The season opened rather badly for Kentfield, for they lost the first +game, and that against a small college team. It was because Captain +Rutledge was so confident that he did not play his men with any vim, and +several bad fumbles cost them the game.</p> + +<p>They won the first of the championship contests with Mooretown academy, +and lost the second, making it a tie, and so the third game, which would +be played at Kentfield that spring, would be an important and the +deciding one.</p> + +<p>Dick got an opportunity to play on the regular team once during the last +few innings, but as the game, which was with a small college, was won by +the cadets before he went into it, his performance did not receive much +credit.</p> + +<p>"If I only get a chance to play against Mooretown," he said to Paul, +"I'll be satisfied. Anyhow, I'm one of the subs."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +It was the day of the great and deciding game with Mooretown. Dick was +struggling into his trousers and blouse in his room, when Toots brought +him word that there was a visitor for him in the reception room.</p> + +<p>"Who is it, Toots?" he asked. "I haven't much time. Most of the fellows +are already on the diamond."</p> + +<p>"He says his name is Honeybee, as near as I can make out."</p> + +<p>"Honeybee," repeated Dick, much puzzled. "Oh, it must be Larabee. It's +my Uncle Ezra!"</p> + +<p>Then a look of annoyance came over his face.</p> + +<p>"If I go down to see him he'll keep me from the game," he thought. "I +haven't any time to spare. He'll lecture me about the waste of time in +playing baseball, or the danger of it, or something like that. Or he may +want me to show him around the academy. No, he's not likely to do that, +for fear he'd wear out his shoes. I wonder what in the world he can +want, anyhow? But if I see him now I'll never get a chance to play. I'll +not see him."</p> + +<p>"Toots," he said, "tell my uncle that I have an important engagement, +and ask him to wait until I come back."</p> + +<p>"All right, Mr. Hamilton," replied the janitor. "Shall I tell him what +it is? Maybe he'd like to see the game," and Toots softly whistled "Just +Before the Battle, Mother."</p> + +<p>"No! No! Don't tell him!" exclaimed Dick.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> "He thinks baseball is +wicked. Just say—say anything you like except that. I'll come back as +soon as the game's over—if I'm alive. He won't mind waiting. It will +give him a chance to think."</p> + +<p>Which perhaps was not exactly polite on Dick's part. He hurried off, +leaving Uncle Ezra in the reception room, wondering what important +business his nephew had that kept him so long. And, by not seeing his +Uncle Ezra, Dick missed hearing a bit of news that was destined to make +a great change in his affairs. But he heard it later, as you will see.</p> + +<p>While our hero was on his way to the field, hoping that he would get a +chance to play, Uncle Ezra sat in the reception room. He was not very +impatient at the delay. As Dick had said, it gave him a chance to think.</p> + +<p>Presently the door opened, and Russell Glen looked in the apartment. He +was in search of Dutton, having been told the young major was there. Not +seeing his friend, he was about to withdraw, with an apology for having +disturbed Mr. Larabee.</p> + +<p>"Are you one of the students here?" asked Dick's uncle, who was getting +rather tired waiting.</p> + +<p>"Yes. I'm in my second year."</p> + +<p>"Ah, then you must know my nephew, Richard Hamilton?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know Dick."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +"Richard is his proper name," corrected Mr. Larabee stiffly.</p> + +<p>Glen nodded, and was about to go out.</p> + +<p>"If you see him, I wish you would tell him to hurry," went on Mr. +Larabee. "I have been waiting for some time for him, but he sent word +that he had an important engagement, and would see me later."</p> + +<p>Glen guessed what the "engagement" was, so he merely nodded.</p> + +<p>"I want to see him very particularly," continued the aged man, "as I +have some important news for him. It may make a great difference in his +life. In fact, I'm sure it will."</p> + +<p>Glen opened his eyes at this, and decided not to go just yet.</p> + +<p>"Has some one left him some more millions?" he asked in a joking tone.</p> + +<p>"Far from it," said Mr. Larabee in +<a name="solemn" id="solemn"></a><ins title="Original has solmen">solemn</ins> accents.</p> + +<p>"Eh?" asked Glen, wondering what was coming.</p> + +<p>"I always said it was foolish for my sister to leave Richard so much +money," went on Mr. Larabee severely, "and I told Mortimer Hamilton that +he was risking his money to go to Europe. Now, what I said would happen +has happened."</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Hamilton in trouble?" asked Glen, not a little rejoiced to find +that difficulties were in store for Dick.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd call it trouble to lose nearly all my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> fortune. But it serves +Mortimer right, and Richard also."</p> + +<p>"Has Mr. Hamilton lost his money?" inquired Glen, coming closer to Mr. +Larabee.</p> + +<p>"Practically so."</p> + +<p>"And Dick?"</p> + +<p>"A large part of his is gone also. It was invested with Mr. Hamilton's. +I received word of it yesterday, and I hurried to come here and tell +him. A New York bank, in which Mr. Hamilton was largely interested, and +in which were most of Dick's funds, as well his father's, has failed."</p> + +<p>"Then Mr. Hamilton isn't a millionaire any longer?"</p> + +<p>"I fear not."</p> + +<p>"And Dick?" asked Glen eagerly.</p> + +<p>"He has very little left."</p> + +<p>"Whew!" whistled the cadet. This would be news indeed to the students. +He must hasten and tell them.</p> + +<p>"That's what I came to see my nephew about," went on Mr. Larabee. "I +want him to come away from this expensive school, and live with me until +his father returns. Oh, the money that young man has wasted! It is +awful! Terrible!" and Uncle Ezra seemed about to faint with the horror +of it.</p> + +<p>"Shall I find Dick for you?" asked Glen.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would, young man. I want to tell him this news, and take him +back with me.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> I have a return ticket on the railroad, and if I stay +over night it will be no good. Besides I am afraid my hired man will use +kerosene oil in starting the fire if I am not home by morning, and he +might burn down the house. One can not be too careful of money. Mortimer +and my nephew are a terrible example. Find him for me, if you will, +please."</p> + +<p>"I will," promised Glen, hurrying away. "My word!" he exclaimed as he +ran out on the campus. "Hamilton's money all gone! Then he's no better +than the rest of us now. He'll come down a peg or two."</p> + +<p>Considering that Dick had never tried to hang himself on a "peg," this +seemed a useless as well as cruel remark.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had borrowed a hundred from him yesterday, instead of fifty," +mused Glen, as he hurried on toward the baseball field. As he neared it +he heard shouts and cheers.</p> + +<p>"The game's started," he exclaimed, as he broke into a run.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +<a name="xxix" id="xxix"></a>CHAPTER XXIX<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK'S GREAT RUN</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dick Hamilton</span> hurried across to the players' bench, tightening his belt +as he ran.</p> + +<p>"If I only get a chance to play," he kept thinking. "I don't care what +happens after that, nor what Uncle Ezra may want."</p> + +<p>The game soon started, and it began to look bad for Kentfield, for the +outfielders made several costly errors, and at the ending of the sixth +inning the score was eight to three, in favor of Mooretown.</p> + +<p>"Looks rather bad," said Captain Rutledge to the coach.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," replied Hale. "You can win yet. Take a brace, that's all."</p> + +<p>Kentfield had elected to be last at the bat, and, in the beginning of +the seventh inning, when Mooretown was up, Perkins, the regular short +stop, split his hand in stopping a "hot" ball. The other players +gathered about him.</p> + +<p>"I guess it's all up with us now," remarked Dutton, from his seat in the +grandstand. "We haven't got anyone who can play like Perkins. Hamilton +is green. Our goose is cooked."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +"Say, I've got some news about Hamilton," spoke Russell Glen, worming +his way to Dutton's side, during the lull in the contest following the +injury of Perkins.</p> + +<p>"I don't care. I want to see how this game is coming out."</p> + +<p>Perkins walked to the bench, blood dripping from his hand.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton!" cried Captain Rutledge, and Dick sprang from the bench, +pulling off his sweater. His chance had come.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton's going to play," said Dutton. "Oh, what a score they'll roll +up against us! They'll knock all their balls at him, and he'll miss +them. What were you saying about Hamilton?" he went on, turning to Glen. +"This is tough luck, though!"</p> + +<p>"Hamilton has lost all his money!" cried Glen, and his tone seemed to +show that he relished the news.</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Fact. His uncle told me," and Glen related the story he had received +from Mr. Larabee.</p> + +<p>Dutton was greatly surprised, and so were several other cadets who +overheard what Glen had said. But there was little time to speculate on +it, as the game was under way again.</p> + +<p>Whether it was Dick's presence at shortstop, or because the other +players on his team braced up, was not evident. At any rate, Mooretown +was held down to a goose egg in that inning, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> when it came the turn +of Kentfield to show what the nine could do in the ending of the seventh +inning, there were three runs to the credit of the cadets, Dick having +made one.</p> + +<p>"The score is six to eight!" murmured Glen to Dutton. "Hamilton isn't +doing so bad."</p> + +<p>"No, but he would if he knew all his money was gone, I guess."</p> + +<p>"Maybe we ought to tell him," suggested the sporty student.</p> + +<p>"I wish I could," murmured Dutton.</p> + +<p>The game went on fiercely. It was nip and tuck all the while now, for +Kentfield's chances had improved wonderfully, and they were fighting +hard to win.</p> + +<p>In the eighth inning neither side scored. There was an anxious look on +the faces of all the players as the ninth opened. Mooretown could afford +to smile, however, as she was still two runs ahead. At first it looked +as if she would pile up several more tallies on this score, for the +Kentfield pitcher gave two men their bases on balls, and the next man +got to first on an easy fly.</p> + +<p>A heavy hitter was up next, and at the first crack he sent a "hot liner" +straight at Dick. Our hero did not flinch, though the impact was +terrific. He caught the ball squarely, and the batter was out. Then, by +a neat double play, Dick and the third baseman put out another man who +was trying to steal home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +The next batter struck out, retiring Mooretown without a run, but still +leaving them two ahead.</p> + +<p>"Now, fellows, we must show them what we're made of!" cried the captain. +"We want three runs this inning!"</p> + +<p>Captain Rutledge did his share by getting one, and another was brought +in by a narrow margin, tying the score.</p> + +<p>"One to win!" cried the coach.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton up!" announced the score keeper.</p> + +<p>"And two out!" added Dutton to Glen. "He can never do it. We're dumped +already."</p> + +<p>Dick took his place at the plate. It was a trying ordeal for a +substitute player, and the eyes of all the spectators were upon him. The +result of the game, in a great measure, depended on him. If he did not +get the winning run, it meant that the game would go another inning, and +the chances of Kentfield would not be improved. For their pitcher's arm +was going "back on him," and Mooretown's man was still good for much +twirling.</p> + +<p>Amid a silence that was almost painful, Dick waited for the first ball. +It came, but he did not move his bat.</p> + +<p>"One strike!" called the umpire, and there was something like a groan +among the Kentfield players.</p> + +<p>The next was a ball, and the following one looked as if it was going +fairly over the plate. But Dick did not attempt to hit it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +"Two strikes!"</p> + +<p>It was like a death knell.</p> + +<p>"He's cutting it pretty fine," murmured the captain nervously.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton's all right," said Coach Hale confidently.</p> + +<p>A moment later there came a resounding crack, as Dick's bat met the ball +fairly. The horsehide went up in a graceful curve, and then sailed far +out toward right field.</p> + +<p>"Go on! Go on! Go on!" yelled Captain Rutledge, but his voice was lost +in the roar that greeted Dick's hit. The young millionaire was leaping +toward first base, while the right fielder was sprinting after the ball.</p> + +<p>"A home run! A home run!" begged the coach, and it looked as if Dick +would do it.</p> + +<p>He got to third, and started for home. The fielder had the ball by this +time, and relayed it to second. The man there threw it to third just as +Dick left. Possibly it was an error of judgment, but Dick kept on. He +could distinguish no coaching instructions now above the yells, though +Hale was calling to him to remain on the bag. But Dick kept on.</p> + +<p>Then, by some curious chance, the third baseman, instead of sending the +ball home, held it in his hand, and raced after Dick. It was a contest +of legs now. The baseman ignored the demands of the catcher to throw the +ball, and leaped after Dick, who ran as he had never run before. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> saw +a vision of the game won, and, though his breath was coming in labored +gasps, he did not stop. There was a mist before his eyes. His legs were +tottering.</p> + +<p>"Jove! But he can run!" whispered Dutton. "I never saw anything like +it!"</p> + +<p>"You bet!" agreed Glen fervidly.</p> + +<p>On and on ran Dick. One quick glance over his shoulder showed him the +baseman at his heels. He expected every moment to see the catcher get +the ball, and put him out. But the horsehide did not come, and, the next +instant, when Dick felt as if he could not go another inch, or draw +another breath, he dropped, and slid home in a cloud of dust.</p> + +<p>"Safe!" cried the umpire, and, as he spoke, the baseman, realizing the +proper play, threw the ball. But it was too late. Dick had brought in +the winning run.</p> + +<p>"Wow! Wow! Wow! Hamilton! Hamilton! Hamilton! Whoop!" yelled the +frenzied players. Above their shouts could be heard the shrill cries of +many girls.</p> + +<p>From the stands burst forth mighty cheers. A crowd of the cadet players +surrounded Dick and would have carried him on their shoulders had he +allowed them. They patted him on the back, and even punched him in their +uncontrollable joy.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton, you're entitled to the thanks of the entire school!" cried +Coach Hale, rushing up, and wringing Dick's hand.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +"We never could have won but for you!" admitted the captain. "Wow! but +it was a fierce game!" and he sat down on the grass to recover his wind, +after his lusty cheers.</p> + +<p>They escorted Dick back to the dressing room in a sort of triumphal +procession, scores of cadets pouring from the stands to join it. Never +did a hero takes his honors more modestly. It was enough for Dick that +he had helped win the victory, and he saw coming to him now what he had +waited nearly a year for—fellowship.</p> + +<p>Through the throng came Dutton and Glen.</p> + +<p>"I say, Hamilton," called Glen, "your uncle's waiting for you."</p> + +<p>"I know it," answered Dick. "But I couldn't talk to him until after the +game."</p> + +<p>"He's got news for you—bad news," went on Glen, with the relish some +persons seem to take in telling of calamities.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" inquired Dick, alarmed by the cadet's words and manner.</p> + +<p>"Your father's fortune is wiped out, and so's yours! The New York bank +has failed!"</p> + +<p>For an instant Dick stared at the speaker. Then a changed look came over +his face. He stepped forward, his suit covered with dirt, his face +bleeding from a scratch, and still panting from his great run.</p> + +<p>"My fortune lost?" he said. "I don't care a hang! We've won the game!"</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence so surprised<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> were the cadets at the +manner in which Dick took the news. Then Glen cried out:</p> + +<p>"My word, but you're plucky! Three cheers for Hamilton—who used to be a +millionaire—but isn't any longer," he added, and Dick's ears rang with +the joyous shouts.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +<a name="xxx" id="xxx"></a>CHAPTER XXX<br /> +<br /> +<small>A BROADSWORD COMBAT</small></h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Well</span>, Nephew Richard, I've been waiting some time for you," said Uncle +Ezra Larabee a little later, when Dick, having gotten out of his suit +and donned his cadet uniform, went into the reception room. "I've been +here for some time, and very likely I've lost my train, but I couldn't +go back without seeing you."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I kept you so long, Uncle Ezra," replied Dick, "but you see I +was in a baseball game, and I couldn't leave until we won. It was very +important to win."</p> + +<p>"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed the old man. "Baseball is a dangerous +and wicked game. It leads to all sorts of trouble. When I was a boy we +played such sensible games as tag and blind-man's buff. Baseball! The +idea!"</p> + +<p>"The cadets of Kentfield would look pretty playing tag," thought Dick, +but he did not say anything.</p> + +<p>"I have some bad news for you, Nephew Richard," went on Uncle Ezra. "I +suppose you wonder what it is."</p> + +<p>"I know."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +"You know?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Glen told me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, he must be the young man whom I was talking to. Well, I regret very +much to be the bearer of such ill tidings," went on Mr. Larabee, "but, +if you are hoping that it is not true, you are much mistaken. I received +word from New York yesterday that the bank in which was most of your +father's wealth, as well as your own, which your mother, my sister, so +foolishly left you——"</p> + +<p>"Sir!" cried Dick, for he could not bear to hear his mother spoken of in +that way.</p> + +<p>"Well, I think it foolish to leave a youth so much money," said Mr. +Larabee, "and now my judgment is confirmed. You are no longer a +millionaire."</p> + +<p>"I don't know as I care much," said Dick coolly. "My money didn't do as +much as I expected it would."</p> + +<p>"Foolish, perverse youth," murmured his uncle. "But you must make a +change in your plans. You can no longer stay at this expensive school. +You had better pack up your things and come home with me to Dankville. I +will look after you until your father comes home from Europe. Doubtless +I may be able to get you a position in a woolen mill in which I am +interested. If you hurry we can take the late train, and I will be able +to use the excursion ticket I bought."</p> + +<p>Dick considered matters a moment. Then he said:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +"I don't think I'll go with you, Uncle Ezra."</p> + +<p>"Not go with me? Why, what will you do?"</p> + +<p>"Stay here and finish out the spring term. I'm just beginning to enjoy +himself. There are only a few weeks left."</p> + +<p>"But how can you? You have very little, if any, money."</p> + +<p>"My tuition and board are paid up to the end of this term," said Dick +calmly. "I have considerable money on deposit in the Kentfield bank, +that I drew out from my funds at Hamilton Corners, when I came here. +That will last me for some time. I think I prefer staying here to going +back to—to Dankville."</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the foolish, idiotic, senseless, rash proceedings I ever +heard of!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "The idea! You will stay here and use +up what little money is saved from the wreck of your fortune! Why, maybe +you could get a rebate on what has been paid for board and tuition."</p> + +<p>"I shouldn't think of asking for it," said Dick. "No, I think I'll stick +it out here."</p> + +<p>There was a movement at the door, and something came into the room, +something that slid up to Dick, and began wiggling at his feet.</p> + +<p>"Quiet, Grit, old boy," he said.</p> + +<p>"Is that your bulldog?" asked Uncle Ezra.</p> + +<p>"Yes; he was too lonesome at home without me, so I sent for him. He +stays in the stable."</p> + +<p>"Another foolish and useless expense," murmured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> the old man. "Oh, what +is the world coming to!"</p> + +<p>Dick didn't know, so he didn't answer.</p> + +<p>"Think well," went on Mr. Larabee. "You had better come home with me. I +can get you work in the woolen mill."</p> + +<p>"I'll stay here," replied Dick firmly.</p> + +<p>"Then I wash my hands of you!" exclaimed the aged man. "Never appeal to +me for help! I am done with you! Of all the foolish, thoughtless, rash +youths I ever met, you are the worst; and your father——"</p> + +<p>What Mr. Larabee would have said about Mr. Hamilton he never finished, +for Grit, hearing the voice of a man he considered his enemy, made a +rush from under the table where he was lying, and growled as though he +was going to sample Uncle Ezra's legs.</p> + +<p>"Take that brute away!" exclaimed Dick's crabbed relative, but before +the order could be executed Mr. Larabee turned and fled from the room, +Grit pursuing him as far as the hall.</p> + +<p>"I guess we've seen the last of him for a while," mused Dick. "Eh, Grit, +old boy?"</p> + +<p>The bulldog nearly shook off his stump of a tail.</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess I had better write to dad, and find out how bad things +really are," he went on. "Still, there's no use worrying. I got along +all right before I knew I was a millionaire, and I guess I can now when +I'm not."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +Someone looked in the reception room. It was Glen.</p> + +<p>"I say, Hamilton," he remarked, "the boys are looking all over for you. +They want you to lead a procession. We're going to have a grand +celebration, burn the uniforms, and break training to celebrate the +victory. Hurry up!"</p> + +<p>"This is worth losing one's money for," thought Dick, as he took his +place at the head of the procession of merry, shouting, laughing cadets. +"I'm getting to be popular, I guess."</p> + +<p>Indeed, whether it was his victory on the diamond or the loss of his +money, it would be hard to say, but, at any rate, more cadets made +friends with Dick that night than had done so in his whole previous time +at Kentfield.</p> + +<p>But though Dick had won the hearts of the baseball nine and their +friends, he was still far from being one of the really popular lads in +the school. Dutton and his cronies held aloof from him, and many +followed their example.</p> + +<p>But, unexpectedly, there came a great change in Dick's life, and Dutton +was partly responsible for it. Dick and some of his companions were at +broadsword exercise on horseback one day, while, on the farther side of +the cavalry plain, there was a class drilling in artillery, under the +direction of Dutton. Dick was fencing with Lyndon Butler, when suddenly +Dutton's steed, frightened by the discharge of a cannon near it, reared, +throwing the young major off.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +Dutton's foot caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged along, unable to +release himself, while six artillery horses, drawing a heavy gun, dashed +down the field and seemed about to collide with the youthful major's +animal.</p> + +<p>Dick saw a chance to save his enemy, and turned his horse quickly, to +make a dash. So rapid was his movement that Butler's sword gave him a +gash in the face, Dick forgetting, in the excitement of the moment, to +guard himself. With the blood streaming from a cut on his cheek Dick +urged his horse at a gallop until he had caught Dutton's runaway mount. +He did it only just in time, for, as he pulled the beast, still dragging +the young major, to one side, the artillery steeds dashed over the spot. +Dutton would have been killed but for Dick's prompt act.</p> + +<p>Major Webster rode up quickly, and was glad to find that neither Dick +nor Dutton was seriously hurt.</p> + +<p>"Who caught my horse?" asked Dutton, as he struggled to his feet. "The +last I remember was seeing him running toward the artillery animals, and +I made up my mind there'd be quite a smash when they met."</p> + +<p>"They didn't meet, thanks to Dick Hamilton," said the elderly major. "He +stopped your horse just in time."</p> + +<p>"And got a nasty cut into the bargain," added another cadet.</p> + +<p>Dick was beginning to feel a trifle dizzy. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> turned aside. Dutton took +a step forward, in spite of his strained ankle.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton," he said, and there was a husky note in his voice.</p> + +<p>Dick turned back.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton—I—er—I—I—will you shake hands?" asked Dutton suddenly, +and he seemed much affected.</p> + +<p>Dick grasped the outstretched hand, and the two, one of whom had been an +unrelenting enemy of the other, looked into each other's eyes.</p> + +<p>"Hamilton," went on Dutton, still holding Dick's hand, "I don't know how +to thank you. Will you—will you forgive me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh—there's nothing to forgive," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is," said Dutton huskily. "I've treated you—I've been a +cad, that's what I have! I didn't like you at first—I thought you were +proud of your millions. I didn't like the idea of you being here—I was +jealous, I guess. I wanted to make you quit. It was I who tied your dog +to the saluting gun, and tried to throw the blame on +<a name="you" id="you"></a><ins title="Original has yuo">you</ins>. I've +done other mean things. I—I——"</p> + +<p>"Forget it!" said Dick so heartily that the other cadets laughed, and +thus broke what was becoming quite a strain.</p> + +<p>Major Webster, when he heard the beginning of Dutton's confession, +walked away. He was a wise old soldier, and he knew that the lads could +best settle those things among themselves.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +"And you don't bear me any grudge?" asked Dutton, after a pause.</p> + +<p>"Not a bit. But you'd better get back to the hospital and have your +ankle looked after," for Dutton was limping.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that isn't anything. It might just as well have been my head. But, +say, you got a nasty dig."</p> + +<p>"Only a scratch," replied Dick with a happy laugh. He would have +welcomed another one if it could have insured him such an outcome as had +followed this.</p> + +<p>"I guess we'd better take you both to the hospital," said Butler, who +had ridden up, fearful lest he had seriously injured Dick.</p> + +<p>And thither the two wounded cadets were taken, though their stay there +was brief.</p> + +<p>It was a week after the sensational rescue of Dutton that a meeting of +the exclusive society of the Sacred Pig was held in the cosy little +club-house which had been built by contributions and donations of the +cadets themselves or their fathers. Dutton arose and proposed Dick for +membership, the election being unanimous.</p> + +<p>The next day being Saturday, was an occasion for the cadets enjoying +considerable freedom. It was after the evening parade, when Dick and +some of his new chums had received permission to go to town to a +theatrical performance, that Major Webster sent for our hero.</p> + +<p>"I'll not keep you a moment, Hamilton," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> said, "as I know your +friends are waiting for you. But you remember that battered marksman's +medal that Toots had, and which you requested me to investigate for +you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; have you any information about it?"</p> + +<p>"I have. I sent it to a friend of mine, an officer at Fort Laramie, +Wyoming, and he has just returned it. With it he sends some surprising +news."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"That medal was issued to Corporal William Handlee, a number of years +ago."</p> + +<p>"Corporal Handlee—the missing soldier—Captain Handlee's son?"</p> + +<p>"The very same."</p> + +<p>"Why, how—where did Toots get it, I wonder? Is it possible that he——"</p> + +<p>"We must ask him. I will question him to-night, and let you know the +result. Hark, there he comes now."</p> + +<p>Someone was coming down the corridor, whistling the lively strains of +"Yankee Doodle."</p> + +<p>"That's Toots," said Dick with a smile. "I wonder how he came to have +Handlee's medal. Can he possibly be——"</p> + +<p>But at that instant there came a series of excited shouts from outside.</p> + +<p>"Fire! Fire! Fire!"</p> + +<p>Dick and the major rushed to the window.</p> + +<p>"Fire! Fire!" shouted Toots, as he ran back along the corridor.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +Dick saw a black pall of smoke, through which shot red tongues of flame.</p> + +<p>"It's the society house of the Sacred Pig," he cried.</p> + +<p>And it was from the windows of the meeting place of the cadets' society +that the flames were shooting.</p> + + + +<hr /> + + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +<a name="xxxi" id="xxxi"></a>CHAPTER XXXI<br /> +<br /> +<small>DICK WRITES A CHECK—CONCLUSION</small></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">As</span> Dick, followed by the major, rushed from the barracks to go to the +fire, the housekeeper thrust an envelope into the young millionaire's +hand.</p> + +<p>"It is a telegram that just came for you," she explained.</p> + +<p>Dick shoved it into his pocket without opening it. Then he joined the +throng of excited and alarmed students that had gathered about the +burning society headquarters.</p> + +<p>A small fire department was maintained at the academy, but as the +buildings of the school were all fireproof, the brigade was not a very +large one, and was only equipped with chemical apparatus.</p> + +<p>"We must telephone for the town fire department," cried Dutton.</p> + +<p>"They won't get here in time to do much," said Major Webster. "Better +save what you can inside, boys."</p> + +<p>They saw that what he said was true. There was a stiff wind blowing, +fanning the flames to furnace heat. The blaze had started on the upper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> +floor, and had already eaten its way through the roof. No one knew what +had caused the fire, as there was no one in the place when it started, +and it had burned for some time before breaking out.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the structure was well away from any of the academy +buildings, and there was little danger to them.</p> + +<p>"Let's save what we can!" cried Dick, and the boys began running in, +carrying out such of the trophies as they could find on the lower floor. +But it soon became too hot for them, and Major Webster, fearing someone +would get hurt, ordered the work of salvage to cease.</p> + +<p>"Too bad!" observed Russell Glen, as he and others watched the handsome +brick and stone building crumbling into ruins. "And we counted on having +such sport there next term."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's insured, isn't it?" asked Dick. "We can collect the money, +and build a better one."</p> + +<p>"Insured!" suddenly cried Dutton. "There, I meant to attend to that, but +it slipped my mind!"</p> + +<p>"What did?" asked Allen Rutledge.</p> + +<p>"The insurance. It expired the day before yesterday."</p> + +<p>"And do you mean to say you forgot to get it renewed?"</p> + +<p>"I forgot all about it."</p> + +<p>"And haven't we a cent of insurance on it?" asked Paul Drew.</p> + +<p>"Not a penny. It's all my fault. I meant to get new policies, but I put +it off and now——"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> +"Now it's too late," said Rutledge. "You're a fine treasurer, you are."</p> + +<p>Amazement and chagrin made Dutton incapable of replying. The cadets +looked on sorrowfully, as they saw their society house being destroyed, +knowing that it would be no easy matter to get the money for a new one.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was an explosion from within, and a shower of stones from +one of the walls flew into the air.</p> + +<p>"Look out!" cried Dick.</p> + +<p>He and the others leaped back in time, but Toots, who was in the front +rank of spectators, having helped to carry out many valued relics, did +not seem to hear. A moment later a fragment of stone struck him on the +head, and he fell down.</p> + +<p>"Toots is hurt!" cried Dick, running up to the odd janitor, whom all the +cadets liked because of his pleasant ways.</p> + +<p>"Carry him to the hospital, boys," said the major. "I'll have the +surgeon attend to him. Maybe he isn't hurt much."</p> + +<p>But from the blood on the head of poor Toots, it would seem that the +wound was not a small one.</p> + +<p>Sorrowfully Dick and his chums carried the unconscious man. There was +little use remaining at the fire now, for it was almost out, having +consumed everything save the walls.</p> + +<p>"He isn't badly hurt," announced the surgeon cheerfully, when he had +examined Toots. "Only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> a cut on the head. He'll be all right in a few +days."</p> + +<p>Suddenly the injured man, who had been placed on a couch in the +hospital, sat up. He felt of the bandage on his head. Then he looked +around wildly.</p> + +<p>"Did we beat the red imps off?" he asked. "Why is it I don't hear the +firing? Have they retreated? Am I badly hurt? Let me get at 'em again! +I'm a good shot! I can pick 'em off!"</p> + +<p>He started from his couch, but the +<a name="surgeon" id="surgeon"></a><ins title="Original has suregon">surgeon</ins> gently pressed +him back.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Toots?" he asked. "Where do you think you are?"</p> + +<p>"Toots? Who's Toots? I'm Corporal Bill Handlee, and I must get back to +my post. I'm a sharpshooter, and the Indians are attacking us."</p> + +<p>The surgeon looked at the injured man in amazement. He thought Toots was +delirious. But to Dick the thrilling words meant much. He pressed +forward. In his hand he held the battered marksman's medal which Major +Webster had returned to him.</p> + +<p>"Is this yours, Corporal Handlee?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes; where did you get it?" asked Toots. "But why don't some of you +speak? Have we beaten off the red imps?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Dick gently, understanding the whole story now. "They were +beaten back some years ago, Toots. Oh, I've found you at last! Won't +your father be glad!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span> +"My father?" and Toots, or, as we must call him now, Corporal Handlee, +looked dazed. "My father knows where I am."</p> + +<p>"He doesn't, but he soon will," said Dick joyfully, and by degrees, he +told the story of how he had agreed to help Captain Handlee locate his +missing son, and how, by a strange trick of fate, he had been found.</p> + +<p>And that Toots was this missing son there was no doubt. His memory, a +blank for many years, because of a bullet wound on the head, received in +a fight with the Indians out west, had been restored to him. The surgeon +explained it by saying that the blow from the stone, which exploded from +the heat, had undone the injury caused by the bullet, by relieving the +pressure of a certain bone on the brain. Such cases are rare, but not +altogether unknown, he added, and persons who had forgotten for many +years who they were suddenly recalled the past.</p> + +<p>Of course Toots, or, Corporal Handlee, as we must now call him, could +not tell where he had been all the years that he was missing. The last +he remembered was taking part in an Indian fight, and being wounded. +When he recovered consciousness from the blow of the hot stone, he +thought he was still at Fort Lamarie. He had forgotten all the +intervening time, including several years spent at Kentfield.</p> + +<p>It was surmised that he must have wandered away after the Indian fight, +recovered, though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> with his memory gone, taken another name, and then +drifted about, until he secured a place at the military academy. That, +the officers recalled, was five years ago.</p> + +<p>The corporal had not recognized his own photograph, though something in +his hazy memory made him think he knew the man the picture represented. +His own medal as a marksman he had supposed belong to another.</p> + +<p>"I must send Captain Handlee a telegram at once," said Dick, when the +excitement had calmed down. "It will be great news for him."</p> + +<p>Leaving Corporal Handlee in charge of the surgeon, the old soldier being +quite weak, and hardly able to understand all that had happened, Dick +started for the telegraph office, which was not far from the school. He +sent the message to the old captain, and, in getting out his money to +pay for it, he put his hand in the pocket into which he had thrust the +telegram the housekeeper had given him.</p> + +<p>"Guess I'd better read it," he murmured. "The fire and finding Corporal +Handlee made me forget all about it."</p> + +<p>It was from his father, and was very short, but the news it contained +made Dick throw his cap up into the air, and yell out in pure delight.</p> + +<p>"Wow!" he cried. "Wow! Wow! Wow!"</p> + +<p>The operator came running from his little office.</p> + +<p>"Got bad news?" he asked.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +"Bad?" repeated Dick "No, it's the best in the world! My dad's coming +home!"</p> + +<p>"Seems to me you're making quite a fuss about it."</p> + +<p>"So would you if you knew what else he said," spoke Dick, as he rushed +from the building.</p> + +<p>He found most of his chums grouped around the ruins of the society +house. They were talking about the fire.</p> + +<p>"It's all my fault," Dutton was saying. "I guess I'll resign as +treasurer."</p> + +<p>"I guess we won't have any society, if we can't have a meeting place," +observed Hale, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"Say, Dutton, have you a fountain pen?" asked Dick, as he came up beside +his former enemy.</p> + +<p>"I guess so. What do you want it for?"</p> + +<p>"I'll show you."</p> + +<p>Dick sat down on a pile of debris. From his pocket he took a thin, red +book, and commenced writing in it by the light of the embers of the +ruined society house. Presently he tore out a slip of paper and handed +it to Dutton.</p> + +<p>"What—what's this?" stammered the treasurer of the Sacred Pig. +"Why—why—<a name="Hamilton" id="Hamilton"></a><ins title="Original has Hamitlon">Hamilton</ins>!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?" demanded a score of voices, as the cadets crowded up.</p> + +<p>"It's a check—a check," stammered Dutton, as he saw the figures which +Dick had written in, and noted that they occupied four places. "It's a +check!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +"To rebuild the society house of the Sacred Pig," said our hero simply.</p> + +<p>"But I—I thought you lost all your money, Hamilton," said Dutton.</p> + +<p>"I thought so, too," replied Dick. "So did Uncle Ezra, but I cabled to +dad, and it's all a mistake. He took all our funds from the bank that +failed before he went abroad. We didn't lose a cent."</p> + +<p>"Then you're a millionaire yet, aren't you?" asked Dutton.</p> + +<p>"I'm—I'm afraid so," answered Dick.</p> + +<p>There was silence for a moment, and then the cadets seemed to understand +what Dick had done. They looked at the piece of paper fluttering in +Dutton's hand. It meant that they could have a new and better +headquarters for their society.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Dick Hamilton!" called several, and Dick's ears rang +to the sweetest music he had ever heard.</p> + +<p>They all wanted to shake hands with him at once, and they made so much +noise that Colonel Masterly sent one of the teachers out to see if the +fire had started afresh.</p> + +<p>"It's only the cadets cheering Mr. Hamilton, sir," replied the +instructor, when he returned.</p> + +<p>"Hum! He's getting to be quite popular," said the colonel, with a smile, +for he understood about Dick's handicap.</p> + +<p>And there was abundant evidence of his popularity a little later on, for +they insisted on carrying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span> Dick on their shoulders to the saluting +cannon, where all important events were celebrated, and there they did a +sort of war dance about him. Dick would have been glad to escape, but +they would not let him.</p> + +<p>"We don't want your money, honey, we want you!" they sang. And Dick knew +that they spoke the truth. He had fulfilled another condition of his +mother's will, and become popular in spite of his wealth, though for a +time he feared this would never happen. He had thought of a plan to +pretend that he had suddenly grown poor, but Uncle Ezra's mistake made +this unnecessary.</p> + +<p>"I don't know whether it's more fun to be rich or poor," thought Dick, +as he went to bed that night. But he had other adventures, in which his +great wealth played a part, and those of you who care to follow Dick +Hamilton's fortunes further may read of them in the next volume of this +series, to be called: "Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht; or, A Young +Millionaire and the Kidnappers."</p> + +<p>"Well, how are you feeling this morning, Toots—I mean Corporal?" asked +Dick, about a week later, when the janitor was able to leave the +hospital.</p> + +<p>"Fine. I'd never know I'd been sick. That was a lucky thing to get hit +with a stone, so I could know who I really was. But I'm anxious to get +home and see my father, since you say he's not well."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +"Oh, he's not seriously ill," said Dick. "I had a letter from Henry +Darby about him. He's so pleased that you have been located, that a +sight of you is about all the medicine he needs."</p> + +<p>"I can go home to him in a few days, Colonel Masterly says."</p> + +<p>"You want to give us an exhibition of shooting before you go," suggested +Dick.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid I'm all out of practice," objected the former corporal.</p> + +<p>But he was not, as he very quickly proved, when he and some chums of +Dick went to the rifle range. There the soldier made bullseye after +bullseye with an ease that made the cadets fairly gasp, and he did all +sorts of fancy shooting, including driving a tack in a board from even a +greater distance than even Captain Handlee had boasted that his son +could do it.</p> + +<p>"I guess it must have been that my eyes were affected by that Indian +bullet," said the corporal. "They got all right again when the stone +from the fire hit me."</p> + +<p>Later, the surgeon admitted that this was probably true.</p> + +<p>A short time after this Corporal Bill Handlee joined his aged father in +Hamilton Corners, and the two enjoyed many happy years together, thanks +to Mr. Hamilton's generosity, and what Dick had done to solve the +mystery.</p> + +<p>"Well, Grit, old boy," said our hero one day near the close of the term, +as he was strolling over<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span> the campus, followed by his ugly pet, and with +Paul Drew, William the Silent and some other cadets at his side, "well, +Grit, I think you and I will go home soon. Dad will be home next week, +and say, maybe we won't have some good times; eh, Grit?"</p> + +<p>The bulldog nearly turned a summersault to show how glad, he was. A few +days later Dick and his dog were at Hamilton Corners, ready for the +summer vacation.</p> + +<hr class="white" /> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + + + +<div id="box2"> +<p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p class="noi">Punctuation and hyphenation have been standardised. Changes to the +original publication have been made as follows:</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 2<br /> + +I'll swin out farther than <i>changed to</i> +I'll <a href="#swim">swim</a> out farther than</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 11<br /> + +crawled alone <i>changed to</i> +crawled <a href="#along">along</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 15<br /> + +as well stay. Hanniabal <i>changed to</i> +as well stay. <a href="#Hannibal">Hannibal</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 18<br /> + +exicting adventures <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#exciting">exciting</a> adventures</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 29<br /> +Catpain Handlee called <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#captain">Captain</a> Handlee called</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 33<br /> + +but accidently stepped <i>changed to</i> +but <a href="#accidentally">accidentally</a> stepped</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 41<br /> + +amid a chorous of <i>changed to</i> +amid a <a href="#chorus">chorus</a> of</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 49<br /> + +for reasons similiar <i>changed to</i> +for reasons <a href="#similar">similar</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 58<br /> + +rather akward feelings <i>changed to</i> +rather <a href="#awkward">awkward</a> feelings</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 75<br /> + +transfered to Dick's company <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#transferred">transferred</a> to Dick's company</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 79<br /> + +annouced Dutton <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#announced">announced</a> Dutton</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 83<br /> + +suddently exclaimed <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#suddenly">suddenly</a> exclaimed</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 88<br /> + +asked the odd man <i>changed to</i> +asked the <a href="#old">old</a> man</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 95<br /> + +have more acquaintences <i>changed to</i> +have more <a href="#acquaintances">acquaintances</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 105<br /> + +having disloged the enemy <i>changed to</i> +having <a href="#dislodged">dislodged</a> the enemy</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 106<br /> + +Very well, then, You <i>changed to</i> +Very well, then, <a href="#you2">you</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 110<br /> + +He got us out of bad scrape <i>changed to</i> +He got us out of <a href="#bad">a bad</a> scrape</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 113<br /> + +stiffled the cry of pain <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#stifled">stifled</a> the cry of pain</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 115<br /> + +was never know, but <i>changed to</i> +was never <a href="#known">known</a>, but</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 120<br /> + +enjoyed by the cadtes <i>changed to</i> +enjoyed by the <a href="#cadets">cadets</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 120<br /> + +they offered changes <i>changed to</i> +they offered <a href="#chances">chances</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 125<br /> + +All the candiates <i>changed to</i> +All the <a href="#candidates">candidates</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 128<br /> + +asked Dutton colly <i>changed to</i> +asked Dutton <a href="#coolly">coolly</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 131<br /> + +slippen into his <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#slipped">slipped</a> into his</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 146<br /> + +in view of your god conduct <i>changed to</i> +in view of your <a href="#good">good</a> conduct</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 147<br /> + +and there was an omnious <i>changed to</i> +and there was an <a href="#ominous">ominous</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 149<br /> + +discouraged letter to his gather <i>changed to</i> +discouraged letter to his <a href="#father">father</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 150<br /> + +were not as atractive <i>changed to</i> +were not as <a href="#attractive">attractive</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 151<br /> + +even enjoy the good thinks <i>changed to</i> +even enjoy the good <a href="#things">things</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 156<br /> + +the suregon's medicine <i>changed to</i> +the <a href="#surgeons">surgeon's</a> medicine</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 156<br /> + +preceeding one <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#preceding">preceding</a> one</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 162<br /> + +Dick that something unusal <i>changed to</i> +Dick that something <a href="#unusual">unusual</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 163<br /> + +them toward Duton <i>changed to</i> +them toward <a href="#Dutton">Dutton</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 163<br /> + +Suppose the fall out <i>changed to</i> +Suppose <a href="#they">they</a> fall out</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 166<br /> + +comanded that some more <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#commanded">commanded</a> that some more</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 166<br /> + +trapeezes, and a number <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#trapezes">trapezes</a>, and a number</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 167<br /> + +few drils, out of doors <i>changed to</i> +few <a href="#drills">drills</a>, out of doors</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 168<br /> + +patroling his post <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#patrolling">patrolling</a> his post</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 183<br /> + +I that is what you what you <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#if">If</a> that is what you what you</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 188<br /> + +"Don't be worried," replied Dick cooly <i>changed to</i> +"Don't be worried," replied Dick <a href="#coolly2">coolly</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 204<br /> + +Dutton seeemd to be <i>changed to</i> +Dutton <a href="#seemed">seemed</a> to be</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 205<br /> + +what we've got to is to get him <i>changed to</i> +what we've got <a href="#to">to do</a> is to get him</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 208<br /> + +asked hi chum <i>changed to</i> +asked <a href="#his">his</a> chum</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 208<br /> + +as Paul yanked his from <i>changed to</i> +as Paul yanked <a href="#him">him</a> from</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 211<br /> + +and I am very much pleased with <i>changed to</i> +and I am very much pleased <a href="#with">with it</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 211<br /> + +regular lettered comands <i>changed to</i> +regular lettered <a href="#commands">commands</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 217<br /> + +to use in the shame battle <i>changed to</i> +to use in the <a href="#sham">sham</a> battle</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 222<br /> + +he cried to his main comand <i>changed to</i> +he cried to his main <a href="#command2">command</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 227<br /> + +advancing to annihiliate <i>changed to</i> +advancing to <a href="#annihilate">annihilate</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 230<br /> + +defeners of the hill <i>changed to</i> +<a href="#defenders">defenders</a> of the hill</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 240<br /> + +said Mr. Larabee in solmen accents <i>changed to</i> +said Mr. Larabee in <a href="#solemn">solemn</a> accents</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 257<br /> + +throw the blame on yuo <i>changed to</i> +throw the blame on <a href="#you">you</a></p> + +<p class="noi">Page 264<br /> + +but the suregon gently <i>changed to</i> +but the <a href="#surgeon">surgeon</a> gently</p> + +<p class="noi">Page 267<br /> + +Why—why—Hamitlon <i>changed to</i> +Why—why—<a href="#Hamilton">Hamilton</a></p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days, by Howard R. 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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 Hamilton's Cadet Days + The Handicap of a Millionaire's Son + +Author: Howard R. Garis + +Release Date: October 14, 2010 [EBook #33926] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "ALLOW ME TO PRESENT MY FRIEND, DICK HAMILTON." + _Page_ 175. + _Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days._] + + + + + DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS + OR + THE HANDICAP OF A MILLIONAIRE'S SON + + BY + HOWARD R. GARIS + + AUTHOR OF "DICK HAMILTON'S FORTUNE," "FROM OFFICE BOY TO + REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER, REPORTER," "LARRY DEXTER'S GREAT + SEARCH," ETC. + + _ILLUSTRATED_ + + THE WORLD SYNDICATE PUBLISHING CO. + CLEVELAND, O. NEW YORK, N. Y. + + + Copyright, 1910, by + GROSSET & DUNLAP + + _Printed in the United States of America_ + by + THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. + CLEVELAND, O. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +MY DEAR BOYS: + +When I had finished the first volume of this series, telling of the +doings of Dick Hamilton, the young millionaire, I was in some doubt as +to just how you would like it. I hoped that you would be pleased with +it, and interested in Dick and his chums, and what they did, but I could +not be sure of it. + +That you did care for it, I am now assured, and I am glad to be able to +give you the second volume, relating some of Dick's experiences while at +a leading military school. + +You will recall that, after he had come into possession of his great +fortune, by fulfilling certain conditions of his mother's will, there +were still other things for him to do; matters that his mother had +planned before her death. One of these was to make sure that her son +would get a good military training. + +Dick went to Kentfield Academy, but, to his surprise, he met with a very +cold reception from the other cadets. Ray Dutton, not understanding +that, in spite of our hero's wealth, he was a fine chap, influenced the +other students against Dick, and, for a time, the young millionaire was +very lonely in the big school. But he resolved to fight his own battles, +and become popular in spite of his wealth. + +Uncle Ezra brought him bad news, but it was the means of great good luck +for Dick, though Grit, the bulldog, seemed to regard the crabbed old man +as his master's enemy, and chased him from the school. + +All this you will find set down in the present volume, and also an +account of how Dick was instrumental in locating a long missing soldier, +and how, when the society house of the Sacred Pig burned down, without +any insurance being in force, Dick, with his wealth, came to the aid of +the surprised cadets. + + Yours sincerely, + HOWARD R. GARIS. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. DICK GETS A TELEGRAM 1 + + II. A CHANGE IN PLANS 14 + + III. GRIT ROUTS UNCLE EZRA 25 + + IV. IN WHICH DICK STARTS OFF 35 + + V. AN ODD CHARACTER 42 + + VI. THE HAZING 51 + + VII. DICK THINKS HE HAS A CLUE 62 + + VIII. DICK GETS A FALL 72 + + IX. WHO FIRED THE GUN 78 + + X. DICK HAS A FIGHT 85 + + XI. DICK GIVES A SPREAD 92 + + XII. AN ANGRY FARMER 100 + + XIII. A NARROW ESCAPE 108 + + XIV. CAPTAIN HANDLEE'S VISIT 117 + + XV. ON THE GRIDIRON 121 + + XVI. FOR THE PRIZE TROOP 128 + + XVII. DICK IN TROUBLE 135 + + XVIII. A DISMAL CHRISTMAS 144 + + XIX. THE MARKSMAN'S MEDAL 152 + + XX. DICK DOESN'T TELL 159 + + XXI. THE FANCY DRESS BALL 170 + + XXII. THE CHALLENGE 181 + + XXIII. A WINTER MARCH 190 + + XXIV. THE RESCUE OF DUTTON 199 + + XXV. OFF TO CAMP 208 + + XXVI. THE SHAM BATTLE 215 + + XXVII. DICK WINS THE CONTEST 228 + + XXVIII. UNCLE EZRA AT KENTFIELD 235 + + XXIX. DICK'S GREAT RUN 243 + + XXX. A BROADSWORD COMBAT 251 + + XXXI. DICK WRITES A CHECK--CONCLUSION 261 + + + + +DICK HAMILTON'S CADET DAYS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +DICK GETS A TELEGRAM + + +"Hi boys! Here goes for a double summersault!" + +"Bet you don't do it, Frank." + +"You watch." + +"Every time you try it you come down on your back," added another lad of +the group of those who were watching one of their companions poised on +the end of a spring-board. + +"Well, this time I'm going to do it just like that circus chap did," and +Frank Bender, who had an ambition to become an acrobat, raised his hands +above his head and crouched for a spring. + +"If you do it I'll follow," said another boy, clad in a bright red +bathing suit. + +"Good for you, Dick!" exclaimed Walter Mead. "Don't let Frank stump +you." + +"Here I go!" cried Frank, and, a moment later, he sprang from the +spring-board, leaped high into the air, and, turning over twice, came +down in true diver style, his hands cleaving the water beneath which he +disappeared. + +"Good!" cried the boys on the shore. + +"I didn't think he'd do it," remarked "Bricktop" Norton, so called from +his shock of red hair. + +"Me either," added Fred Murdock. "Now it's up to you, Dick." + +"That's right." + +Dick Hamilton rose from a log on which he was sitting. He was a tall, +clean-cut chap, straight as an arrow, with an easy grace about him, and +it needed but a glance to show that he was of athletic build. His red +bathing suit, from which protruded bronzed arms and legs, was +particularly becoming to him. + +"There--let's--see--you--do--that!" spluttered Frank, as he came up, +some distance from where he had gone down. He shook his head to rid his +eyes and ears of water, and struck out for shore. + +"Stay there!" called Dick. "I'll swim out farther than you did." + +"Dick's cutting out some work for himself," remarked Bricktop, in a low +tone to Bill Johnson. "Frank's a dandy swimmer." + +"Yes, but Dick Hamilton usually does what he sets out to do," replied +Bill. "There he goes." + +Dick walked to the end of the spring-board. He teetered up and down on +it two or three times, testing the balance of the long plank. Then he +took a few steps backward, poised for an instant, and ran forward. + +"There he goes!" called Walter. + +Like a rubber ball Dick Hamilton arose in the air. He curled himself up +into a lump as he leaped, and then, to the surprise of his companions, +he turned over not twice, but three times ere he struck the water, which +closed up over his feet as they disappeared. + +"Well--wouldn't that sizzle your side combs!" cried Bricktop. "Three +times!" + +"A triple!" added Walter Mead. "Whoever would think Dick could do it!" + +"Aw, he's been practicing," called Frank, as he circled about in the +water, watching for Dick to come up. "He's been doing it on the sly, and +he's kept quiet about it." + +"Just like Dick," added Bill. "He isn't satisfied to do ordinary +stunts." + +"Well, he's done a good one this time," said Fred Murdock. "Say, isn't +he staying under a long time?" + +There was no sight of the millionaire youth. + +"Maybe he hit his head on a rock," suggested Bricktop, in some alarm. + +"That's so," went on Fred. "This place isn't any too deep, and he came +down hard." + +"Maybe we'd better go in after him," remarked Walter. + +"Dive down!" called Bill to Frank. + +The boys were becoming frightened. Not a ripple, save the little waves +made by Frank, as he stood upright, treading water, disturbed the +expanse of the swimming hole. There was no sign of Dick Hamilton. Frank +prepared for a dive, when, suddenly, at some distance from shore +something shot up through the water. It was the hand and arm of a boy. +An instant later his head and shoulders popped into view. + +"There he is!" cried Walter. + +"It's about time he came up," said Bill, somewhat sharply, for Dick's +long under-water swim had frightened the boys. + +"How's that, fellows?" asked Dick, as he shook the water from his face, +and struck out for shore. + +"You win!" cried Frank, "but please don't give us heart disease again." + +"Why; what's the matter?" + +"We'd thought you'd struck on a stone and weren't going to come up +again." + +"No danger of that," answered Dick, with a laugh. "I'm having too much +fun at camp here, to stay down there. Did I make a good dive?" + +"Did you? Say, you've got us all beat to a pig's whisper on Fourth of +July," admitted Bricktop. "How'd you do it?" + +"Yes, I wish you'd show me," added Frank. "You must have been practicing +it." + +"I have," admitted Dick. "It's easy when you know how. After you do a +double summersault, all you have to do--is to make another one, making +three in all, and you can see that I had nothing concealed up my sleeve, +and----" + +"And you did it without the aid of a net," added Fred, after the +fashion of the ringmaster in a circus announcing some marvelous feat. + +"I'm going to try it," said Frank, as he clambered out on the bank. + +"No, I think we've been in the water long enough this morning," said +Dick. "Besides it's most grub time. I don't know how you feel about it, +but I think I could nibble at a bit of roast chicken, which I happen to +know that our esteemed cook, Hannibal Caesar Erastus Jones, has in the +oven." + +"Ah! Um!" murmured Bill Johnson. + +"That's it! Make a noise like a lunch-grabber!" objected Fred. "I should +think you'd be ashamed of yourself." + +"Oh, listen to the professor at the breakfast table!" cried Bill with a +laugh. "I don't s'pose you're going to nibble at any; art thou, +Reginald?" + +"Well, you just watch him," advised Fred. "He's got me beat, all right." + +"Come on!" cried Dick suddenly. "First fellow at the dining tent gets +most of the white meat!" + +He started off at a fast clip, the others sprinting after him, and he +would have won, but that he stubbed his bare toe on a stone, and had to +finish the rest of the distance on one leg, holding the injured member +in his hands, making, the while, wry faces at the pain. Bill Johnson won +the impromptu race. + +"Hurt much?" asked Walter, as Dick limped up. + +"Like sin. Say, Hannibal Caesar Erastus Jones, will you do me a favor?" +he asked, as the colored cook, who did the camp cooking, came from his +tent. + +"Ob co'se, Massa Dick. What am it?" + +"Just go back there in the woods and bring me the pieces of that stone I +broke with my toe. I want 'em for souveniers." + +"Ha! Ha! Ho! Ho! Massa Dick, doan yo' go to playin' no tricks on me! Not +jest at de present auspicious moment," and the colored man grinned +broadly, showing a big expanse of white teeth, in an area of blackness. + +"Why not, Rastus?" + +"'Case as how de chicken am all done, an' if it ain't partook of +immejeet----" + +"Never mind those souveniers," said Dick. "We'll be with you in the +twinkling of a flea's left hand eyelash," and he hopped into his tent, +and began to dress, an example followed by the other boys. + +"Humph!" murmured Hannibal Caesar Erastus Jones, as he stood in the midst +of the camp, rapidly blinking his eyes. "Fust I eber knowed a flea had a +eyelash. But Massa Dick, he must know, 'case he's po'ful smart. But I +'spects I'd better git ready to serb up de grub, as dey calls it, 'case +dey's allers pow'ful hungry when dey's been in swimmin'. Come t' t'ink +ob it, dough, dey's most allers ready t' eat." And, chuckling to +himself, Hannibal started toward the cook tent. + +It did not take the boys long to dress, and as they emerged from the +tents, their faces glowing with health, and bronzed from their life in +the open, they were as fine a group of lads as you would meet in a day's +travel, or, maybe a day and a half. They were all guests of Dick +Hamilton, who, as had been his custom for several years past, had taken +a crowd of his chums off to camp on the shores of Lake Dunkirk, a large +body of water near Hamilton Corners, where Dick lived. + +"Ah! Um! Smell that chicken!" murmured Bill Johnson, as he lifted his +nose high in the air. + +"There you go again! Displaying your lack of manners!" objected Fred. +"Why don't you wait in patience and dignity, as I do." + +"Well, wouldn't that melt your collar button!" remarked Bricktop. +"Where's the glass case they took you out of, Fred?" + +"Manners?" asked Dick, as he approached Fred from the side. "Excuse me, +but there's something sticking out there." + +As he spoke he slyly extended his foot, and, a moment later Fred +measured his length on the carpet of soft, pine needles of the woods. + +"Goodness me! Did you fall?" asked Dick, as he looked down, in apparent +surprise at his chum. "How careless of you." + +"Ha! Ha! Ha!" laughed Bill. "Come here, Fred, and I'll pick you up." + +Fred arose, smiling rather sheepishly, but not at all angry. He brushed +off his clothes, and joined in the laugh that followed. + +"It's your turn next," observed the young millionaire. "I'll have to +keep my weather eye open, Fred." + +"All right," said the lad who had been tripped. + +"Well, Hannibal--Alphabet--Jones; art ready for the gathering of the +clans who hunger after the flesh-pots of Egypt?" asked Dick. + +"All ready, Massa Dick," replied the colored cook. "Come on." + +"First down! One wish-bone to gain!" called Walter Mead, as he took his +place at the table set under the tent fly. + +For the next five minutes the boys were so busy eating the roast chicken, +corn bread and other good things that Hannibal-and-the-rest-of-it-Jones, +with his knowledge of Southern cookery had provided, that they said not +a word. Then, with a long-drawn sigh of satisfaction, Bill observed: + +"There certainly is nothing like a good meal." + +"Unless it's two," added Bricktop. "I didn't much fancy Dick's plan of +taking a professional cook along when we came to camp this year, because +it used to be fun to do it ourselves, but our cooking was never like +this." + +"Never, never, never!" exclaimed Fred. "I'll have a little more chicken, +if you don't mind, Dick." + +"Certainly not. There's plenty." + +"Yes, this is better than having to do it ourselves," said Frank Bender, +as he finished polishing off a juicy leg. "No dishes to wash, nothing to +bother with after you're through, only have a good time. Dick, you're a +brick!" + +"As long as I'm not a gold one, it's all right," said the millionaire's +son. "But I thought you'd agree with me that it was best to take a cook +along." + +"It sure is all to the pancake batter," observed Bricktop. "Well, I +don't mind if I do have a little more of the white meat, if you insist," +he added, though no one had asked him to pass his plate. + +Dick laughed as he helped his chum to some choice bits. Matters were +moving more slowly, now that the first edge of hunger was dulled, and +the boys were taking occasional stops to make remarks. + +"What's the program for this afternoon?" asked Walter, as he drained his +coffee cup. "Are we going fishing?" + +"Whatever you say," replied Dick, who, like a true host, always +consulted the wishes of his guests. "We can fish, take a walk, or go out +in the motor boat." + +"The motor boat for mine," said Bill. "I want to get on a pile of +cushions and take a snooze." + +"Well, wouldn't that give you the nightmare!" came from Bricktop. +"You're getting lazier every day, Bill." + +"Help yourself," spoke the sleepy youth, as he slumped from the table +and stretched out under a tree. + +"I guess a trip in the motor boat would suit us all best," observed +Dick. "Hannibal 'Rastus, just fill up the gasolene tank, will you?" + +"Oh, why wasn't I born rich instead of handsome," murmured Bricktop, who +never would have taken a prize in a beauty show. "But my fatal gift +of----" + +"Cut it out!" cried Walter, throwing a pine cone with such good aim, +that it went right into Bricktop's open mouth. + +"Oh! Ah! Ug! Blug! Chug! Hum!" spluttered the discomfitted one. "Who +threw that?" he demanded, when he could speak. + +Nobody answered, and, feeling in no mood to get up and chastise Walter, +whose sly grin proclaimed him the culprit, Bricktop stretched out again. + +"Hark! That sounds like a wagon coming," observed Fred, as he sat up, +after a few minutes of silence. + +"Guess it's the ice man," said Dick, for he had arranged to have a +supply left at the camp. He believed in having all the comforts possible +when he went into the woods. + +"Doesn't rumble like an ice wagon," commented Bill. + +"Sounds more like a load of steel girders," added Walter. + +At this, Dick arose. He peered through the trees toward a seldom-used +wagon road, which ran near the camp. He caught sight of something +moving. + +"It's a wagon, all right," he said, "but it isn't the ice man." + +A few moments later a remarkable rig hove into sight. It consisted of a +rattle-trap of a wagon, loaded with all sorts of scrap iron, and drawn +by a horse that looked as if it had escaped from the bone yard. It just +crawled along. On the seat was a bright-faced youth, who was doing his +best to excite the animal into a speed a little better than that of a +snail. He jerked on the reins, called at the horse, and cracked his +whip, but all to no purpose. + +"It's no use!" he exclaimed, as he looked through the trees and caught +sight of Dick and his chums. "He's got the pip, or something like that." + +"Why, hello, Henry," called Dick. "What brings you away off here? +There's no scrap around here." + +"I thought maybe you boys might have had one or two that you'd sell +cheap," said the young dealer in old iron, and there was a twinkle in +his eyes. + +"They're all too lazy to fight, except me," observed Bricktop, "and I'm +too good." + +"Stow that!" commanded Fred, making a pass at his chum, who jumped back +out of reach. + +"Aren't you quite a way from home?" asked Dick, as he went up and shook +hands with Henry Darby. + +"Yes, I am. But you see I'm driving around the country, collecting old +iron. This is my dull season, and I took my oldest rig, and started off +day before yesterday. I'm taking it easy--have to you know, on account +of my horse's health. His delicate constitution makes it necessary. +There doesn't seem to be much old iron about, and I've got this far, +without picking up a full load." + +"Why don't you give some to your horse. Iron is good for the +constitution," said Dick. + +"I thought of it, but you see all the iron I have is in long pieces and +sticks out all sorts of ways. If my horse swallowed any of it he'd have +more fine points than he's got now. So I guess I'll keep him on grain." + +"But you haven't told me why you're away off here in the woods," went on +Dick. "Is there any iron about here?" + +"No, not that I know of. I came to find you." + +"To find me?" + +"Yes. I have a telegram for you. I happened to stop in the village back +there, and while I was making some inquiries in the post-office, which +is also the telegraph station, a message came for you. The operator had +no one he could send with it, and, as I happened to know where you were +camping, I said I'd take it. He gave me a quarter for bringing it out, +and so I've made some profit to-day." + +"A telegram!" cried Dick. "Why didn't you say so at first? Give it +here," and he held out his hand. + +"I didn't want to scare you," said Henry. "I was breaking the news +gently." + +He handed over the yellow envelope. Dick tore it open, and, as he read +the short message, he gave a start. + +"No bad news I hope," remarked Walter. + +"No, I guess not," replied Dick slowly. "But I've got to leave for home +at once." + +"Leave for home!" cried his chums. + +"Yes. This is from dad. It says: 'Dear Dick. Come home as soon as you +get this. Important.'" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A CHANGE IN PLANS + + +Following Dick's reading of the telegram there was silence among the +campers. They all imagined something had happened to Mr. Hamilton, +Dick's father, and they hesitated to give voice to their thoughts. + +"Well, I'd offer to take you home in my chariot," said Henry Darby, with +a suggestion of a smile, "only I know you'd be two days on the road. +Though it might be a good thing," he added "for your father would hear +us coming long before he could see us, with the way this old iron +rattles. I wish some one would invent noiseless scrap iron." + +"Do you--do you s'pose your father is--is hurt?" asked Walter, finally +putting into words what all the others thought. + +"Not a bit of it," replied Dick, stoutly. "Dad knows me well enough to +say right out what he means. He wants me home, for some reason or other, +but I don't know what it can be," and he looked at the telegram in a +puzzled sort of way, as if the slip of paper would solve the mystery for +him. + +"Maybe--maybe he's lost all his money," suggested Frank "and you've got +to give up the camp." + +"No, I guess there's no danger of dad losing all his money so quickly," +relied the young millionaire. "He had plenty when I came away, two weeks +ago, and he's got so many investments that he couldn't lose it all at +once, even if he tried. No, it's something else. I wonder what it is?" + +"I s'pose the best way to find out, is to go and ask him, about it," +suggested Henry. + +"That's it," assented Dick. "I could telegraph, but he might be away +from home, and wouldn't get it. I guess I'll have to leave camp, +fellows." + +"Then we'll go, too," said Bricktop. + +"No, there's no need of that. I invited you out for three weeks, and +that time isn't up yet. You might as well stay. Hannibal will cook for +you, and if I can come back I will. Otherwise you stay here and enjoy +yourselves." + +"We won't enjoy ourselves very much if you leave," said Walter +regretfully, and the others echoed his sentiment. + +"Well, that's a compliment to me," declared Dick, with a smile, "but I +guess you'll manage to exist. Now I wonder how I'd better go? Henry, I +s'pose I could ride with you to the village, and take a train." + +"I should advise you to," remarked the young iron merchant. "This nag +went to sleep four times coming out, and he's snoring now. No telling +what he'll do on the way back. He seems to like life in the woods. I +guess he must have been a wild horse once, and he's going back to +nature." + +"He's not very wild now," observed Bricktop, tickling the animal with a +switch. "He won't even move." + +"No, it takes quite a while to get him started," said Henry. "Usually I +have to begin the day before, to get him into action. No, Dick, I +shouldn't advise you to ride with me." + +"What's the matter with the motor boat?" asked Frank. "You can go to the +village in that." + +"That's so," agreed Dick. "You fellows can take me over, and bring her +back. We'll do it." + +"Well," remarked Henry, as he began to take in the slack of the reins, +preparatory to starting the horse, "I guess I'll be going. I hope you +find everything all right at home, Dick." + +"I guess I will. Probably this has something to do with business +matters. But, say, don't you want a bite to eat? We just finished grub, +and there's a little that these cannibals didn't stow away." + +"Well, I do begin to feel the need of something," said the young dealer +in old iron. "The crackers and cheese I got in the village weren't very +filling." + +"Tie your horse, and sit down to the table. +Hannibal-and-half-a-dozen-other-names will get you something. Ho! +Rastus!" called Dick. + +"No need to tie this horse," said Henry with grim smile. "If I did he'd +imagine he was home in the stable, and go so sound to sleep that it +would take two days to wake him. I'll just put some oats down in front +of him, and, maybe he'll rouse up enough to eat them. That will keep him +from taking naps." + +The youthful iron merchant did this, and, while he was making a +bountiful meal from what the colored cook set before him, Dick was +preparing to start for home, wondering, meanwhile, why his father had +sent for him so suddenly. + +Those of you who have read the first book of this series entitled "Dick +Hamilton's Fortune," will need no introduction to the millionaire youth +and his chums. But you boys and girls who have not previously met him, +may desire a little introduction. + +Dick Hamilton was the only son of Mortimer Hamilton, of Hamilton +Corners, not far from New York. The town was named after Mr. Hamilton +because he was financially interested in many of the industries of the +place. He was president of the national bank, owned large woolen mills, +a brass foundry, a lumber concern, and was head of a railroad and a +trolley line that added much of importance to the place. Mr. Hamilton +counted his fortune by the millions, and his son, who had inherited a +large sum from his mother, was also the possessor of substantial bank +accounts. + +In the first volume there was told how, on a certain birthday Dick came +into control of a large part of his wealth, subject to a peculiar +condition of his mother's will. That is, he was to make, inside of a +year, a wise and paying investment of some of his funds, under penalty +of losing control of his fortune for a time, and having to live with a +miserly uncle. + +This uncle, Ezra Larabee by name, of the town of Dankville, was Mrs. +Hamilton's brother. One of the conditions of her will was that Dick +should spend a week with his uncle before entering into possession of +the money, that he might see what sort of a life he was likely to lead, +in case he did not comply with the provisions. + +Dick had a miserable time at Mr. Larabee's. He was not allowed to have +any fun, and his uncle even objected to him walking on the paths, for +fear he would disturb the newly-raked gravel. + +Dick returned home, determined to make a paying investment if only to +escape his uncle's clutches. He did make several investments, by buying +real estate, some stock in a milk company, and some shares in a gold +mine. But they all turned out badly, and, while investigating the mine +by means of which he had been swindled, he had, with his chums, some +exciting adventures. + +In Hamilton Corners, dwelt "Hank" Darby, a shiftless sort of man, and +his son, Henry, who was as energetic as his father was lazy. Henry +started to make money, in a small way, by collecting scrap iron, and +selling it, but his shiftless parent nearly brought the business to +grief. Dick became interested in Henry's efforts, and, as the young +millionaire had plenty of money, he loaned Henry two hundred and fifty +dollars, to buy out the iron business of a man who wished to retire. +"Hank" Darby, with an exaggerated idea of his own importance, elected +himself president of the old iron company, made Dick treasurer, and +Henry secretary. + +Dick gave little thought to the money he had loaned his young friend, +but the time came when it was to prove of great benefit to him. One +after another his various investments failed, and he saw the time +approaching when he must go to live with his miserly uncle. His last +venture was to invest five hundred dollars in an airship, the inventor +of which hoped to win a government prize, which he promised to divide +with Dick. But the airship blew up, and Dick saw his next birthday dawn, +without, as he thought, having made his paying investment. + +Uncle Ezra, who was much opposed to his nephew having so much money, +came, according to agreement, to get Dick to take him to Dankville with +him. But, at the last moment, something quite unexpected happened and it +was found that Dick had, after all, complied with the terms of his +mother's will, and he was, therefore, allowed to keep control of his +fortune. But, as told in the first volume, there were still other +stipulations with which he must comply. + +Following the events told of in "Dick Hamilton's Fortune," our +millionaire hero had completed his course at a local academy. When +summer came he took some of his chums off to camp in the woods, and it +was there that Henry, who was still in the old iron business, found him. + +"Well, I guess I'm ready," remarked Dick, as he came from his tent, one +of several that formed the camp. "I'll not take any of my things, for I +may be able to come back and finish out the vacation." + +"I certainly hope so," said Bricktop fervently. + +"Same here," added Walter and the others. + +By this time Henry had made a good meal, and, as his horse showed some +signs of life, he remarked that he thought he would start, before the +beast got to sleep again. + +"Did you gasolene the motor boat, Rastus?" asked Dick of the colored +cook. + +"Yais sah, Massa Dick." + +"All right. Now see that these poor kids don't get hungry while I'm +gone. Let 'em take pieces of pie to bed with 'em, to keep 'em quiet." + +"Ho! Ho! Massa Dick. Deed an' I will. Pie to bed wif 'em! Ha! Ha! Ho! +Ho!" + +The boys entered the motor boat, leaving Hannibal in charge of camp, and +they soon reached the village, whence Dick could take a train for home. + +"Now, fellows, enjoy yourselves," he called to them, as they watched him +board the train at the depot. "I'll come back if I can. Better practice +that triple summersault, Frank." + +"I will. I'll stump you, when you come back." + +"I wish I didn't have to leave them," thought Dick, as he settled +himself in his seat. "I wonder what dad wants of me? But there's no use +worrying. I'll be home in about two hours." + +He exhibited his pass, on which he was traveling, as his father was +president of the railroad, and then sat looking at the scenery, vainly +wondering, in spite of his efforts not to dwell on it, why he had been +summoned home. + +"Well, Dick," greeted his father, when the young millionaire entered the +house. "You got back sooner than I expected." + +"Yes, dad. I started as soon as I got your message. I hope nothing is +the matter." + +"Nothing serious. The fact is I have to leave for Europe next week----" + +"For Europe! And are you going to take me?" + +"No, I'm sorry to say I can't. But I have other plans for you, which I +hope you will like. I unexpectedly received a call to England, to settle +some large financial matters in which I am interested, and, as I shall +have to be gone six months or more I decided to close the house up and +let the servants go. As that would make no place for you to stay, +unless you boarded, which you might not like, I decided to send for you, +and tell you what I propose. The reason I telegraphed for you is that I +will be so busy after to-day that I will have no time to attend to +anything." + +"What are you going to do with me?" asked Dick. + +"You remember," went on Mr. Hamilton, "that in her will, your mother +specified, in addition to making a good investment, that you must attend +a military academy----" + +"That's so!" cried Dick. "I'd forgotten about that. Say, when can I go? +This beats camp!" + +"Not so fast," cautioned his father. "There are certain conditions to be +fulfilled. Your mother had peculiar ideas regarding money. She wished +her son to become a success in spite of it. So she provided, under +certain penalties, which you will learn of later, that you were to go to +a good military academy to complete your education. + +"There, as I told you once before, though you may have forgotten it, you +are to become popular with the students in spite of your wealth. You are +to make your own way without the aid of your millions. And this is no +easy matter. While many persons have a false notion of wealth, by far +the larger class attach to it only the importance it deserves. A rich +lad can, to a certain extent, become popular, but he will never have +the real, solid friends that some youth not so well off would win. So +you've got to make friends in spite of your money." + +"That ought to be easy," said Dick, but he was to find it a harder task +than he had supposed it would be. + +"So, as I have to go away, and close up the house," went on Mr. +Hamilton, "I have arranged that you are to go to the academy a little +ahead of time, about two weeks before the term opens. That will give you +a chance to find your way around the place." + +"Where is it?" + +"It is the Kentfield Military Academy, located in one of the middle +western states, and is near Lake Wagatook. Colonel James Masterly, a +friend of mine, is the superintendent, and I have written to him +concerning you. He gave me permission to send you on ahead of time, and +that is what I propose to do. You will have to get ready to go at the +end of this week. I hope you do not object." + +"Not in the least, dad. We were having lots of fun at camp, but I'll +have more fun at Kentfield. Shoulder arms! present arms! Halt! parade +rest! Wow! Say, dad, this is the best yet!" + +"Wait until you've spent a term there," advised his father. + +"If I don't have to start until the end of the week, I might as well go +back to camp," said Dick, when he had calmed down a bit. + +"Just as you like. From now on I shall be too busy to see much of you, +but I will make all arrangements." + +"All right, dad. I'll go back to camp then. I can get a late train," and +Dick went to see what time it left, meanwhile whistling a succession of +military airs, from "The Girl I left Behind Me," to "Yankee Doodle." + +He reached camp late that night, somewhat to the surprise of his chums, +and they spent the next few days in crowding in as much pleasure as +possible. When it became time for Dick to leave, the others decided to +go back home with him, as the three weeks were nearly up. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GRIT ROUTS UNCLE EZRA + + +"There's a man out in the vestibule who wants to see you, Master Dick," +said Gibbs, the butler, one evening, a few days before the time of +departure to the academy. + +"Who is it?" + +"Captain Handlee." + +"Tell him to come in." Dick knew Captain Handlee as an old soldier, who +lived in a tumble-down house on the outskirts of the village. The +veteran, escorted by the butler, entered shyly. Dick greeted him kindly, +and the old man began almost abruptly: + +"Did you ever hear that I had a son?" + +"No, I never knew that. Where is he?" + +"That is what I want you to help me to find out." + +"You want me to help you? Why, how can I?" asked Dick. + +"I don't know that you can. I only hope so. Will you?" + +"I will do all I can for you, but perhaps you want to see my father," +for Dick had an idea that the old man wanted some money for some +purpose. + +"No, I want to see you, Mr. Dick. You see you are going to a military +academy, and that is why I think you can help me." + +"But I don't understand." + +"Listen, and I will tell you. As you know, I am an old soldier, but few +persons around here know that my only son was a soldier, too." + +"I certainly did not. I never knew that you had a son." + +"Well, I did, and he was a fine chap, too. He enlisted in the regular +army, where I served my time, but for many years I have heard nothing +about him." + +"What happened?" + +"He was among the missing after his company was sent to quell an +uprising among the Indians, out west, many years ago. No word was ever +received from him, and I don't know whether he was killed, or taken +captive. I never heard anything about him, and now I think you can aid +me in locating him." + +"But how can I?" + +"By making inquiries at the military academy." + +"But it is not likely that any one at Kentfield would know of your son." + +"They might. When your father told me you were going there, he mentioned +that Major Franklin Webster, a retired army officer, was in charge of +military tactics at the school. Now Major Webster is an old Indian +fighter, and I thought that if you asked him, he might be able to get +some news of my son. Will you do this for me?" + +"I will, gladly, but I have not much hope of the result." + +"Perhaps it will amount to nothing," said the old soldier with a sigh, +"but it is the first chance I have had in many years. All my inquiries +of the war department resulted in nothing. Perhaps you may have better +luck." + +"I hope so," replied Dick gently. "I will make some inquiries. What is +your son's name?" + +"He was christened William, but his friends in the army called him +Corporal Bill." + +"How would Major Webster know him?" + +"Oh, easily enough. I have his picture." + +The veteran drew a faded photograph from his pocket, and held the card +so that Dick could see it. "That's him," said the old man proudly. + +The young millionaire saw the photograph of a youthful soldier in +uniform. + +"Your son would be much older than that now; wouldn't he, Captain +Handlee?" + +"Yes, I suppose so. I think he must have been injured in some way, and +forgotten his name. Otherwise he would have written to me. But I know +another way in which you could recognize him." + +"How?" + +"He was the best shot in his company. He was a sharpshooter, and one of +the finest. So if you can get track of a soldier, who is a good shot, +that may be my son, Corporal Bill. Will you try?" + +"I will, Captain, I'll do my best." + +"God bless you," said the veteran fervently. "And now I'll leave you. +I'd let you take this photograph, only it's--it's all I have to +remember--my son by," and his voice choked. + +"I don't believe I'll need that," answered Dick. "I'll speak to Major +Webster, and see what I can do." + +The old soldier, murmuring his thanks, left the house. + +"Well," mused Dick, as he went to his room, "I'll soon be at Kentfield. +It'll be lonesome, at first, I expect, but the cadets will soon arrive. +And I'll try to find the captain's son. + +"I wonder how I'll make out with the cadets? I don't see why I should +have any trouble making friends, or becoming popular, no matter if I am +a millionaire, and the son of one. Money ought not to make such a +difference. Still, as dad says, I may find it a handicap." + +He looked around the room where he had spent so many pleasant hours. It +was an ideal boy's apartment, with everything the most exacting youth +could desire. + +"I think I'll make out all right," Dick mused on. "But if worst comes to +worst, I have a plan up my sleeve which I think will work." His eyes +sparkled, and it was evident that he had just thought of some scheme. +"That ought to do it," he said, speaking half aloud. "If I can't win any +other way, I'll try that." + +"Well, Dick," remarked his father, the next morning, "I suppose you are +all ready to go to Kentfield?" + +"Yes. I've got everything packed. What will be your address on the other +side?" + +"Oh, yes, I must leave you that. Here it is. You can forward me letters +in care of my London bankers, and they will see that I get them. I may +have to put in some time on the continent. By the way, Dick, I hear that +Captain Handlee called to see you last night." + +"Yes, he wants me to help him locate his missing son," and Dick told his +father of the interview with the old soldier. + +"Poor man," remarked Mr. Hamilton, shaking his head, "I fear there is +little hope for him. I once aided him in making some inquiries, but they +came to nothing." + +"Do you know him?" + +"Oh, yes, I have often aided him, and I would do more for him, but he is +too proud to accept charity. He is rather odd at times, and does not +remain at any employment long, or I could give him a good place. His +whole mind is set on finding his son. If the missing corporal could be +located it would be the making of Captain Handlee, for he would settle +down then." + +"I don't suppose I can help him." + +"No, I'm afraid not. Still, do all you can. It is barely possible that +Major Webster, or some of the officers who are stationed at Kentfield, +may be able to put you on the track, but I doubt it. Well, I think I'll +have to go down to the bank now. I'll see you to-night, and say good-bye +in the morning." + +Not long after Mr. Hamilton had left, and while Dick was in his room, +packing some of his belongings, a maid who was new in the house came to +inform him that a visitor was in the library. + +"Who is it?" he asked. + +"I don't know, but it's someone, Master Dick, who your dog doesn't like, +for he's growling something fierce." + +"I'll come down," said the young millionaire, and he hurried to the +library. As he entered a tall, thin man, with a curious little bunch of +whiskers on his chin, arose. + +"Well, I must say, Nephew Richard," he began, in a rasping voice, "that +this is a nice reception for me. Your horrible beast nearly bit me. The +house is no place for dogs." + +"I'm sorry that Grit annoyed you, Uncle Ezra," said Dick as he +recognized the miserly man whom he had once visited. + +"Hum!" grunted the old man. "If I hadn't stood on a chair he would have +bit me, and then I'd get hydrophobia, and die. Your father would have +had to pay damages, too." + +"I'm glad no such thing as that happened, Uncle Ezra." + +"Hum! Where's your father?" + +"Down to the bank. I can telephone, and let him know that you are here." + +"It isn't necessary. No need of wearing out the wires that way. I can +wait. I hear he has some foolish notion of sending you to a military +school." + +"I am going to a military academy, Uncle Ezra, in accordance with my +mother's wishes." + +"Stuff and nonsense! A wicked waste of money! The ordinary schools were +good enough for me, and they ought to be good enough for you. It's a +sinful waste of money. Mortimer Hamilton ought to be ashamed of himself. +The money ought to go to the heathen. It's foolish." + +"My father doesn't think so," replied Dick as quietly as he could, +though he was fast becoming angry at the dictatorial tone of his crabbed +uncle. + +"Hum! Much he knows about it! The idea of putting such ideas into boys' +heads as fighting and killing. Hu!" + +"But it might be useful in case of war." + +"Stuff and nonsense! It's positively wicked, I tell you. I've come to +remonstrate with Mortimer about it. If he has to go to Europe, which is +another waste of money, he could leave you with me. I'd bring you up in +the way you should go. There's no nonsense about me, nor my wife, +either. If your father consents to having you come to my place, you'll +learn more than you would at any military academy. Stuff and nonsense! +Don't talk to me! I know!" + +Dick could not repress a shudder as he thought of his uncle's gloomy +home in Dankville, a house amid a clump of fir trees, so dark, so quiet +and so lonesome that it reminded him of a vault in the cemetery. + +"I think my father has made up his mind to send me to the military +academy," said the boy. + +"Well, perhaps I can make him change his mind. He doesn't know what's +good for boys." + +How Uncle Ezra Larabee could understand what lads needed, never having +had any sons of his own, was more than Dick could fathom, but he said +nothing. + +"I'll wait and see your father," went on the crabbed man. + +"I can get my automobile and take you to the bank," suggested Dick. + +"No, you might burst a tire, and that would cost something to fix." + +Dick could hardly repress a smile at the idea of a possible injured tire +standing in the way of an auto ride. + +"What's that girl walking back and forth so much for in the next room?" +asked Uncle Ezra suddenly. + +"That's the maid, clearing away the breakfast things." + +"Hum! She'll wear the carpet out," commented the old man. "I must speak +to Mortimer about it. I think I'll caution her now." + +He rose, to do this, but accidentally stepped on one of Grit's legs, as +the animal was reposing under a chair, where Dick had sent him to get +him out of the way. The dog let out a howl, and then a savage growl, and +made for the man he felt had purposely injured him. + +"Hold him! Catch him!" cried Uncle Ezra, as he sprang away. "Hold him, +Nephew Richard!" + +"Grit!" called Dick. "Come here!" + +But the dog refused to mind. Growling and snarling, he ran after Uncle +Ezra. The latter did not stop to speak to the maid about wearing out the +carpet. Instead he kept on to the front hall, and to the entrance door, +which was, fortunately, open. Down the steps, three at a time, jumped +Mr. Larabee, the dog close behind him. + +But, by this time Dick had caught up to his pet, and grasped him by the +collar. + +"Grit! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" he asked, but he could hardly +keep from smiling, while, as for Grit, he nearly wagged off his stump of +a tail, so glad was he at having routed Uncle Ezra. + +"I'll go down and see your father at the bank!" cried the excited man, +turning when he was safely on the sidewalk. "The idea of having a +savage beast like that in the house. I'll see Mortimer and make him +change his plans. And I tell you one thing, Nephew Richard, if you come +to live with me you'll have to get rid of that bulldog," and, angrily +shaking his head, Uncle Ezra tramped down the street, walking slowly to +save shoe leather, though he was a very rich man. + +"I hope dad doesn't allow himself to be influenced by Uncle Ezra," +thought Dick, as he went back into the house with the dog. "We never +could stand it at Dankville; could we, Grit?" And the animal whined as +if he understood. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IN WHICH DICK STARTS OFF + + +Mr. Hamilton came home early that afternoon, bringing Mr. Larabee, his +brother-in-law, with him. Dick was anxiously awaiting their arrival. + +"Is that fierce beast in the house?" demanded the boy's uncle, as he +stood on the front steps. "If he is I'll not come in." + +"I've sent him to the stable, uncle," replied the young millionaire. + +"That's the proper place for him. Dogs are no good. They eat as much as +a man, and what you spend on keeping them would provide for a heathen +child in Africa." + +Dick wondered if Uncle Ezra provided for any heathen children, from his +wealth, but did not think it wise to ask. + +"Well, Dick," said Mr. Hamilton, when they were all three in the +library, "your uncle thinks it would be a good plan for me to leave you +with him, while I'm away." + +"Yes?" remarked Dick, his heart beating faster than usual. + +"It's the only sensible plan," said Uncle Ezra with a snort. "Your idea +of a military academy, where he'll learn to shoot and stab his fellow +citizens, is a foolish one, Mortimer." + +"It is not altogether my plan," said Mr. Hamilton softly as he thought +of his dead wife. "Dick's mother provided for his future in her will, +and I must see that her wishes are carried out. Besides, I think a +military training is good for a young man." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "Neither you nor I had it, +Mortimer, and we got along. We're both well off." + +"Money isn't everything," said Mr. Hamilton. "No, Ezra, I'm much obliged +for your offer, but I think Dick will go to Kentfield. He is to start in +the morning." + +"Hum! It's a foolish idea," again snorted Uncle Ezra. "You'll live to +see the day you'll both be sorry for it." + +"I hope not, Ezra." + +"Well, you will." + +"We'll not discuss that now. Will you have a cigar before dinner?" + +"I never smoke. It's a dangerous and expensive habit." + +"Slightly dangerous, perhaps, but I smoke very little. As for the +expense, I think I can afford it. This has been quite a prosperous year +for me--and Dick." + +"What you spend for cigars would pay the interest on a large loan," went +on Mr. Larabee. + +"Yes, but I don't need the loan," declared Mr. Hamilton with a smile, +"and I do feel that I need a cigar to rest me after my day's work. +However, I don't advocate tobacco for young men, and Dick has promised +not to smoke until he is of age, and that will not be for a few years +yet." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra, as he could thing of nothing +else to say. + +"Perhaps you'd like a glass of lemonade before dinner," suggested Dick. + +"No," replied the austere man. "I don't think I'll stop for dinner. My +visit here has resulted in no good, and the sooner I get back home the +better. Besides I've got a new hired man, and I'm almost certain he'll +set the barn afire; he's so careless." + +"Oh, I hope not, Ezra," said Mr. Hamilton. + +"So do I, but I'd be nervous all night and I wouldn't sleep. Then I +might get sick, and have to pay out money for a doctor, or some +medicine. No; I'll take the late train home." + +"But that won't get you there until after midnight." + +"That's all right. It'll be cooler then, and there won't be so much +danger of overheating the horse. When you overheat a horse you sometimes +have to buy medicine for him, and horse medicine is expensive." + +Seeing that his brother-in-law could not be prevailed upon to remain, +Mr. Hamilton bade him good-bye, and Dick offered to take his uncle to +the depot in the auto, but Mr. Larabee would not hear of it. He would +walk, he said, and save the car fare. + +"He's a queer man--your uncle," said Mr. Hamilton that night. "I guess +you wouldn't fancy staying with him; eh Dick?" + +"No, indeed, dad. A military academy for mine, as Bricktop would say." + +Dick was up early the next morning, when both he and his father were to +go away from home, each for a considerable time. The servants had been +provided for, and the handsome Hamilton mansion would be closed for +several months. Dick accompanied his father to the bank after breakfast, +and planned to go to the depot from there, some of his chums having +arranged to meet him at the station. + +"Ah, good morning, gentlemen!" exclaimed a pompous voice, as Dick and +his father entered the institution, and the young millionaire saw "Hank" +Darby, ready to greet them. "I understand you are about to become a +soldier," he went on to Dick. + +"Well, a sort of one," replied our hero. + +"Ah, that's a grand and noble calling. I once thought I would be one of +the defenders of my country, but I was called into other lines of +activity," said the father of the young proprietor of the scrap iron +business. He did not specify what the other lines were. "It is indeed +noble to fight for one's flag," went on the shiftless man, "but it is +also noble to accumulate wealth with which to fit out armies. That is +what I am doing. I am accumulating wealth." + +"How is it going?" asked Mr. Hamilton, who, as well as did Dick, knew +that Henry, the son, made all the money, which "Hank" spent as fast as +he could get any of it. + +"Well, it might be better," said the shiftless one. "But I have a scheme +on hand." + +"Another scheme, eh?" + +"Yes, this is a very good one. There are enormous possibilities in it, +sir, _enormous_!" and "Hank" fairly stood on his tiptoes to get this +last word out with much emphasis. + +"Well, I hope you succeed," said Mr. Hamilton, as he and his son went to +the millionaire's private office. + +The final details for the trips of father and son were arranged. Dick +had his own bank account, and would not want for money. His father gave +him some advice, and then the two said good-bye to each other, Dick +having to leave before his father did, as the latter was to take an +express to New York, where he would get a steamer for Europe. Grit, the +dog, was to be left in charge of Henry Darby. + +"Well, my boy," said Mr. Hamilton, as he shook hands with Dick, +"remember what you are going for. You're under a big handicap, but I +guess you will win. You did the other time, though it was a close +shave." + +"Good-bye," said Dick, unable to keep back the suspicion of a tear. + +"Good-bye," replied Mr. Hamilton, turning hastily to his desk, and +fumbling among some papers, which seemed to rattle unnecessarily loud. + +On the way to the depot Dick met Captain Handlee. The veteran greeted +the lad cordially. + +"So you're off to learn to be a soldier?" he asked. + +"Well, I don't know that the military part of it amounts to much," +admitted Dick, who had no false ideas about where he was going, "but dad +thinks the discipline will be good for me, I guess." + +"That's right. Nothing like discipline of the right sort for lads. We +didn't have to learn to be soldiers in my time." + +"No, I s'pose you just went right in and fought," said Dick. + +"Indeed we did. That's what my boy did. Poor Bill! I wish I could see +him, or even hear of him again. You'll not forget your promise; will +you?" + +"No, Captain Handlee." + +"Remember he was the best shot in his company. He could drive a tack in +a board at a hundred yards. You make some inquiries, and I think you'll +get on the track of him." + +"I will," promised Dick, but he had no idea in what a strange way fate +was to bring about the old captain's desires through him. + +Dick found a crowd of his chums awaiting for him at the railroad +station. + +"Here he comes!" cried Frank Bender, as he caught sight of Dick. + +"Aren't you going to take your rifle with you?" asked Fred Murdock. + +"I guess they'll provide me with a gun at Kentfield," answered Dick. + +"But they won't give you such grub as we had at camp," remarked +Bricktop. + +"Oh, I guess they will, but maybe it won't taste so good," replied the +young millionaire. "Well, boys, I guess this is my train." + +All his chums tried to shake hands with Dick at once as the locomotive +pulled into the station. + +"Don't forget to send me a souvenier postal," called Bill Johnson. + +"Tell us how you like it," chimed in Walter. + +"Maybe my dad will send me," added Bricktop. + +"Tell us if you meet any girls as pretty as those here," was Fred's +contribution. + +"Get on the football team," advised Frank. + +"And the baseball nine," chimed in Bricktop. + +By this time a number of passengers had their heads out of the windows, +to see who was getting such a send-off. Dick's chums shook him by the +hand, clapped him on the back, and fairly carried him up the steps of +the coach. + +Then, amid a chorus of good-byes, the train pulled out, and Dick was +started on his way to become a cadet. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN ODD CHARACTER + + +It was evening when Dick arrived at Kentfield, which, from the scenes +about the station, he judged to be quite a town of little importance. +There were few signs of life, scarcely anyone being at the depot, and +only a few passengers alighting. + +"I wonder if I can get a carriage to take me out to the academy?" mused +Dick, as he looked about. "This doesn't strike me as being much of a +place, but the catalogue dad got showed quite an academy. I wonder where +it is?" + +He saw a rather dilapidated hack standing near the platform, and, +walking up to it, addressed the driver. + +"Can you take me out to the military academy?" he asked. + +"Sure," replied the man, "but there's nothing to see. It isn't open yet. +Term doesn't begin until next week." + +"I know," replied Dick. "But I'm going to attend there." + +"You?" + +The man seemed much surprised, but there was a noticeable change in his +manner. + +"Going to be a student there?" he asked respectfully. + +"Yes. I had to come on ahead of time." + +"All right. Take you out there in a jiffy," went on the hack driver +briskly. "Got any baggage?" + +Dick handed over his checks, and the man soon returned with his trunk +and suitcase. + +"This doesn't appear to be a very lively place; not as much so as I +expected," remarked the young millionaire as he got into the vehicle. + +"Oh, bless your heart, sir, you just wait until next week," said the +man. "Then this town will sit up and take notice. This is our off +season, when the military school is closed. But when the boys +arrive--wow! Say, then's when you got to look out. My! Oh my! But it's +fierce!" + +"Do they--do they cut up much?" asked Dick, secretly glad that he was to +have a hand in it if the students did. + +"Do they? Say, young man, when I start to drive a party of them cadets +anywhere I don't never know if we're going to arrive. Never can tell +when a wheel is coming off, or when my horses will start up, and leave +the coach behind. That's why I always use quiet animals. Them cadets has +life enough and to spare. Cut up? Say, jest you wait!" + +"Well, maybe it won't be so bad after I get started, and make the +acquaintance of some of the boys," thought Dick. + +But he little knew what was ahead of him. + +"Is the academy far out?" asked Dick, for, as the hack was an open one, +he could converse with the driver. + +"About a mile. We'll be there in a jiffy." + +A "jiffy" must be quite a period of time, or else the driver's estimate +of a mile was different from the accepted five thousand two hundred and +eighty feet, for dusk changed to darkness before the hackman turned in +between two big, stone pillars, and the man announced: + +"Here we are." + +"I don't see anything," objected Dick. + +"It's too dark. But the buildings are right ahead of you." + +Then the lad was able to make out the dim forms of a number of +structures located in a sort of park. + +"Where's the lake?" asked Dick. "I thought the academy was on a lake." + +"So it is. That's on the other side. We're sort of coming in from the +back, but that's the shortest road from the depot. I'll take you right +to Colonel Masterly's quarters. He's the one you want to see, I guess, +being as you're a new cadet, and he's the superintendent." + +"I suppose so," answered Dick. + +A little later he alighted in front of a large brick structure, and the +hackman lifted down his trunk and suitcase. + +"Do they expect you?" asked the driver. + +"I think so," replied our hero, hoping that some arrangements had been +made for him. + +A moment later a door opened, and a flood of light streamed out from a +broad hall. A man in semi-military uniform appeared. + +"Who's there?" he asked, and, having spoken he began to whistle a few +bars from "Marching Through Georgia," ending up with a bugle call. + +"Got a cadet for you, Toots," replied the hackman. + +"A cadet?" and once more the man in the hall whistled a martial air. + +"That's what I said, Toots. Give me a hand with this trunk, will you, +and tell Colonel Masterly that he's going to have company." + +"My name's Hamilton," began Dick. "I believe my father arranged----" + +"Oh yes, the colonel told me to look out for you," said the man who +looked like a soldier. "Come right in. The colonel will be here +directly. I'll take your baggage." + +"Thank you--er Mr.----" and Dick hesitated, for he did not just know how +to address the person in the hall, and wanted to make no mistake in +bestowing a military title. + +"Me? Oh I'm Sam Sander," said the man in the blue suit, apparently +surprised that his identity was not known. + +"Yes, that's Sam," went on the hack driver, with easy familiarity, "but +nobody calls him that; do they, Toots?" + +The other, who was helping to carry in Dick's trunk did not answer. +Instead he whistled the bugle call for "Taps," or lights out. + +"Do they, Toots?" repeated the hack driver. + +"Do they what?" inquired the soldier, who seemed to be rather absent +minded. + +"Do they call you anything but Toots?" + +"Nope. That's what they call me. I don't mind. I've almost forgotten +what my real name is. Toots is good enough I expect." + +"He's a queer chap," whispered the hackman to Dick, as our hero paid +him. "Queer, but all right. He's a sort of general helper around the +grounds. Well, good night. I'll see you again maybe, when some of the +other lads begin to arrive. And then won't there be lively times! Wow! +My! Oh my! But them students certainly know how to have fun!" + +The hackman appeared to relish the prospect, and Dick could hear him +chuckling to himself as he drove off in the darkness. + +"Right this way, Mr. Hamilton," said Toots, which name we shall adopt +for him. "I will find the colonel for you----" + +He stopped suddenly, straightened up, in spite of the suitcase which he +was carrying, and gave a stiff military salute. + +"Mr. Hamilton has arrived, sir," he said, and at that Dick caught sight +of a tall thin man, with an iron gray moustache and imperial, coming +down the broad, well-lighted hall. + +"Ah, Hamilton, glad to see you," said the soldierly-looking gentleman, +extending his hand. "I'm Colonel Masterly. You are a little early, but I +understand the case. Have you had dinner?" + +Dick had not, and said so. + +"Then you can dine with me," went on Colonel Masterly. "Sam, take Mr. +Hamilton's baggage to the room I told you to get ready for him. I'll +quarter you here for the present," he added, "until the boys arrive, and +then you will have a roommate. How is your father?" + +"Quite well," replied Dick, and then he followed the superintendent into +a reception room. There two other military-looking men sat reading +books. They looked up at the entrance of Dick and the colonel, who +introduced them to the new student as Major Henry Rockford, commandant +of the academy, and Major Franklin Webster, U. S. A., retired, who was +in charge of military tactics at the school. + +"That's the man of whom I must inquire about Captain Handlee's missing +son," thought Dick, as the two instructors shook hands with him. "But I +guess I'll wait a few days." + +Dinner was rather a formal affair, and our hero did not in the least +enjoy it. The three men talked of matters connected with the prospective +opening of the school, occasionally addressing a question to Dick, or +making some general remark. + +The academy more than came up to Dick's expectations when he saw it the +next morning. The school was made up of several buildings, consisting of +a main barracks, which was where he had spent the night, and which +contained the executive offices and class rooms, two other barracks, a +gymnasium, a large mess hall, a riding hall, a small hospital and other +structures. + +They were grouped on a large plain, that lay at the foot of quite a +mountain range, but, what pleased Dick more than anything else, was a +large lake that came right to the edge of the academy grounds. It was a +beautiful sheet of water, and, from the appearance of a large boathouse +near at hand, Dick guessed rightly that the cadet-students spent +considerable time rowing and sailing. + +After breakfast, under the guidance of Toots, who was detailed by +Colonel Masterly for that purpose, Dick was taken on a tour of the +grounds. He was particularly pleased with the big stable, which +contained a fine lot of horses. + +"Are those for the cadets to use?" he asked Toots. + +"Of course. Do you know how to ride?" + +"A little," replied Dick, who did not believe in boasting, though, in +reality, he was a fine horseman. + +"I'll certainly have a swell time here," he thought, as he strolled +about. He obtained permission to row out on the lake, and then was left +to his own resources. + +After the first novelty of seeing the buildings had worn off, Dick began +to feel a little lonesome, and he wished that the week was up, and that +the other students would begin to arrive. But he found much to interest +him, and made friends with Toots, who told him many and various stories +of student life. + +"Why do they call you Toots?" asked Dick one day. + +"Well, I s'pose it's because I've got in the habit of tooting my whistle +all the while. I'm always whistling war tunes or bugle calls, the boys +say." + +"That's so. What makes you?" + +"I don't know, except that I'm fond of a military life. Some day I'm +going to war." + +"Well, I hope you don't get shot," said Dick, as Toots left him, still +whistling. + +It was a few days after this that Dick saw a new student arrive. The +lad, for reasons similar to those affecting our hero, had been sent to +the academy in advance of the opening of the term. Dick soon made his +acquaintance, and he found the newcomer rather an odd character. His +name was William Schoop, but he was called "William the Silent" by the +other cadets, so Major Webster said, from the fact that he did not talk +much. He used only single words where others would take a sentence, and +he often made gestures answer for words. + +Dick and Will soon became friends, and the latter, who had spent a +previous term at the school, showed the young millionaire about the +buildings and grounds. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE HAZING + + +One morning, two days after the arrival of the silent lad, when Dick had +moved his baggage to his permanent room in the south barracks, the two +lads were strolling about the campus. Dick was beginning to wish his +companion was more sociable, when Will, with a sudden gesture, pointed +off toward the town, along the main road that led from the station. Dick +looked, and saw a cloud of dust approaching. + +"What's that?" he inquired. + +"Fellows coming," was all Will replied. + +He started off toward the main gate, and Dick followed. The dust clouds +became larger, and approached closer. Then Dick saw that they were made +by two large stages, and, a little later, he could discern that the +vehicles were crowded with youths. + +Above the rumble of the wheels could be heard laughing, joyous voices. +There were shouts, yells, cheers, whoops and cries. + +"Three cheers for Kentfield!" called some one, and the resulting yells +caused the horses of the stage to prance more madly than ever. + +A few moments later the vehicles had halted at the gate, and from them, +pell-mell leaped the cadets, returning to the academy after the long, +summer vacation. + +"There's William the Silent!" cried one lad, rushing up to Dick's odd +friend, and shaking hands with him. "Hello, Will! How are you? Are you +the only one here, so far?" + +William merely nodded. Then he waved his hand toward our hero. + +"Dick Hamilton," he said. + +Dick stepped forward to greet the students, expecting them to tell him +their names. From the group of cadets that had gathered around Will, a +tall, good looking chap, but with rather a hard, cruel gleam in his dark +eyes, stepped forth. + +"What's your name, new chap?" he asked somewhat sneeringly. + +"Hamilton--Dick Hamilton," replied the young millionaire. + +"Oh, Hamilton--Millionaire Hamilton's son, eh?" asked Dick's questioner, +with an unpleasant air. + +"I believe so," answered Dick, trying to smile good-naturedly in spite +of the overbearing air of the lad, who was no older than himself. + +"I've heard about you," went on the other. "Fellows," he said, turning +to those surrounding him, "this is the young hostage of fortune who has +consented to dwell a while in our midst. I saw a little paragraph in the +paper a few days ago to the effect that Millionaire Hamilton's son had +decided to take a course at Kentfield Military Academy. That is he +condescended to inflict his presence on us. I'm sure the academy is +highly honored," and the lad made a mocking bow. + +Dick felt the hot flush rising to his face. He had never been so +insulted before. An angry reply was on his lips. + +"Millions don't go here, Hamilton," said another youth. "Your money +won't count, and the sooner you find that out the better. Come on, +fellows, let's see if old Toots is still alive, and then we'll have some +fun." + +"Ta-ta, Hamilton, I suppose you brought a solid gold bedstead with you," +said the lad who had first spoken, as he turned on his heel, and +followed the others. "Maybe you'd like to buy the place," he fired back +over his shoulder. + +"You--you----" began Dick angrily. + +He was stopped by a touch on his shoulder. He looked around, to see +William the Silent standing near him. + +"Take it easy," was all Will said, but Dick understood. + +Choking down, as best he could, his righteous wrath at the mean +treatment accorded him, Dick strolled down to the lake. Will did not +attempt to follow, for he understood. + +Sorely puzzled over the conduct of those whom he hoped would be his +friends, Dick got into a boat, and went out for a solitary row. He +wanted to be alone and think. + +"It's queer they should treat me that way," he mused. "I'm sure I don't +make any fuss about my money. Maybe they are afraid I'll try to, and +they're taking no chances. But they ought to give a fellow a show +first." + +After rowing about for an hour Dick felt better. He resolved not to +force his friendship on the students, but to let matters take their +course. He had expected a little "stand-offishness" on the part of the +older cadets, who were always, more or less, inclined to be on their +dignity with freshmen. + +"Well, I'll wait until some new fellows arrive," thought Dick. "I guess +I can make friends with them." + +When he returned to shore he found that many more students had come in, +the next day marking the opening of the term. Among the lads were a +number of new cadets, as Dick could easily tell by their bashful, +diffident manners. He felt that he had somewhat the advantage of them, +for he had been at the place more than a week. + +"Still, my only acquaintances, outside of the teachers are William the +Silent, Toots and the hostler," he reflected. + +There was a notice posted on the campus bulletin board to the effect +that all new students were to report at the south barrack. Thither Dick +went, finding Captain Hayden, the head master in charge, showing the +boys to their rooms. + +"Ah, Hamilton," called the captain, as he caught sight of Dick, "you are +to room with Paul Drew, on the second floor. Room Twenty-six is yours. I +think you can find your way there. Go up and take Drew with you." + +A tall quiet youth greeted Dick with a smile. + +"I'm Drew," he said. "I suppose you're Hamilton?" + +"What there is of me," answered the millionaire youth. "Is this your +first term?" + +He knew it was, but he wanted to say something. + +"Yes. I'm from Kentucky." + +"I'm a York Stater. Come on and I'll show you where we bunk." + +The two made their way through crowds of new boys and were soon in their +apartment. + +It was like all the others provided for the use of the students. It +contained two small iron beds, and was simply furnished. + +"Here's where we'll be at home," observed Dick. "Have you any choice as +to a bed?" + +"No, either one will suit me." + +"All right, we'll toss up for it. Heads is the one nearest the window. +You call." + +Dick spun a coin in the air. + +"Tails!" cried young Drew. + +"Tails it is," announced Dick. + +"Then I'll take the bed away from the window. It's likely to be cold in +the winter." + +"I don't mind. I like a cool breeze now and then. But stow away your +things and come on down. There's lots to see. I hope we get into our +uniforms soon. You've got yours, haven't you?" + +"Yes," replied Dick's roommate. Dick had been provided with the +necessary dress uniform before leaving home, and he was anxious to don +it. The other uniforms were to be obtained at the academy. + +The two boys, after hastily putting away their things, went down on the +campus, which was fairly swarming with old and new students. More boys +were arriving with every stage, and the shouts and cries, as former +acquaintances greeted one another, made the green sound like an athletic +ground with a championship match in progress. + +As Dick and Paul stood looking about them, the young millionaire felt +some one touch him on the arm. He turned and saw William Schoop. Will +nodded his head to indicate that he wanted Dick to step aside for a +moment. Excusing himself from his roommate Dick walked a little +distance, following William the Silent. + +"Don't mind Dutton," said William. + +"Who's Dutton?" inquired Dick. + +"Fellow that rigged you. He's an uppish chap, but he's a leader with +the upper classmen. Don't let him worry you." + +This was a longer speech than Will usually made. + +"But why should he be down on me because I've got money?" asked Dick. +"It isn't my fault." + +"Very exclusive school, this," explained Will. "Patronized by old, +blue-blooded families, who pretend to have a horror of the newly-rich." + +"But my father has been wealthy many years." + +Will shrugged his shoulders. + +"They seem to have a prejudice against you," he went on. "Don't mind. +It'll wear off. Dutton--Ray Dutton's put 'em up to it. He's a cad. Don't +mind him," and with that Will turned and walked away. + +"Well, I guess I can get along without Dutton and his crowd," thought +Dick. "Queer, I never supposed money would make this sort of a +difference. It didn't at home. Well, I'll try to get along, but it's +evidently going to be up-hill work. Still, I'll do it, and, if money +stands in the way--well----" + +Dick shrugged his shoulders in a sort of helpless fashion, and rejoined +Paul. The two strolled about, noting the scenes taking place on every +hand. They saw many cadets, obviously freshmen, and some of the latter +introduced themselves to Dick and his companion. They were Franklin +Boardman, Stanley Booker, Lyndon Butler and Eugene Graham. + +"Let's stick together for a while," proposed 'Gene, as the boys called +him. "It'll soon be grub time, I understand, and we'll sit near each +other." + +This suited the others, and, when the gong rang, summoning them to the +mess hall, the six lads went in a body, finding seats in a row on one +side of the long tables, which were served by colored waiters. + +Discipline had not yet been put into force, and no one was in uniform. +The mess hall was a lively place, for the older cadets were continually +calling jokes back and forth to their chums, or jollying the waiters +whom they knew of old. + +Dick and his new acquaintances conversed together, and, in spite of +their rather awkward feelings, managed to partake of a good meal, for +Kentfield Academy was noted for the excellence of its cuisine. + +When the meal was nearly over Toots appeared in the hall, with a hammer, +and a piece of paper. He tacked a notice up on the bulletin board. + +"Hey, Toots; what's that?" called Ray Dutton. + +"Notice about appearing in uniform, Mr. Dutton," replied the odd +soldier. + +"When's it to be?" + +"To-morrow morning." + +"Aw, tear that down, Toots, you imitation brigadier general you!" called +another youth. + +"Sure. We don't want to tog up until the first of the week," added +another. "Swallow that, Toots, and tell the commandant you lost it." + +"Orders is orders," said Toots firmly, hammering in the last tack, and +leaving the hall. + +The afternoon was spent in assigning the new cadets to their classes, +and arranging for the courses of study. They were told that formal +drills would not begin until Monday, this being Thursday, nor would any +recitations be heard until then. + +After supper, or dinner as it was called at the academy, the new boys +strolled about in little groups, Dick and his five friends keeping +together. + +"I wonder where all the older cadets are?" said Dick, as he looked +about, and noticed that none was in sight. + +"That's so, they have disappeared," added Lyndon Butler. "I wonder what +that means?" + +They did not have long to wait for an answer. A figure slid up to Dick, +and, almost without turning he knew it to be Will. The silent youth +spoke but one word: + +"Hazing!" + +Then he walked away as silently as he had approached, and Dick turned to +his companions. + +"I guess they're getting ready to haze us freshmen," he remarked. + +"I thought they didn't haze here," said 'Gene Graham quickly. He was +rather a small chap, and seemed very nervous. + +"I guess they do it in spite of the rules," said Dick. "Well, the best +way is to take what's coming, and bear it as well as you can. If you +don't it will be unpleasant for you. I don't believe it will be very +bad." + +"Are you going to let 'em haze you?" asked Paul Drew. + +"Sure," answered Dick. + +"Then I guess I will, too." + +"Well, I s'pose it's got to be," said little 'Gene with a sigh. "I hope +they don't toss us in a blanket, though." + +"If they do, just lie still, and you'll come down easy," advised Dick. +"It'll soon be over." + +That night, in their room, Dick and Paul heard the sound of footsteps +along the corridor. Then came smothered cries, and strange sounds in the +apartments adjoining. + +"They're coming," whispered Paul. + +Dick nodded grimly. + +A moment later there came a soft knock on their portal. + +"Well?" asked Dick, though he knew who it was. + +"Open, in the name of the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Mystic +Pig," came the demand in a whisper. + +Dick opened the door, and in rushed several of the older cadets, led by +Ray Dutton. + +"Oh, we've drawn a millionaire!" Dutton cried, in sneering tones. "Well, +take the other chap first, fellows. Lively, now, we've got a heap of 'em +to initiate!" + +Several lads seized Paul, who submitted with as good grace as possible. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DICK THINKS HE HAS A CLUE + + +"What's it to be, Ray, the blanket, outside, or the ordeal of the +pitcher?" asked one of the cadets holding Paul. + +"The pitcher, I guess," answered Dutton. "The blanket's getting too +tame, and we have so many to look after that we can't take 'em outside. +Any water in the jug, Beeby?" + +"Full," replied a fat lad, taking up one of the two pitchers in the +room. + +"Up with him!" commanded Dutton, and several cadets seized Paul in an +instant. Before he knew what was happening they had stood him on his +head, two of them holding each of his rather long legs upright. + +"Hold open his trouser legs," said Dutton. "I'll do the pouring." + +He had the pitcher full of water, and, as his fellow hazers made a sort +of funnel of the two legs of the victim's trousers, Ray poured the +contents of the water pitcher down them. The fluid spurted out at the +unlucky new student's waist and collar, and ran in a little stream over +the floor. Paul struggled but could not escape. + +"Sop that up, fellows!" cried Dutton. "We don't want it to ruin the +ceilings below. Use the bed clothes." + +The other cadets, who were not holding Paul, grabbed the sheets and +spreads from the neatly made beds, and piled them in the little pond of +water on the floor. + +"Hand me the other pitcher, Naylor," commanded the leader. + +"Better save it for----" and Naylor glanced at Dick, who was standing +quietly in a corner, under guard of several cadets, awaiting his turn. + +"We'll not need it for him," replied Dutton. "Give it here." + +Some one handed him the other pitcher full of water, and the fluid in +that, a moment later, went gurgling down the inside of Paul's clothes, +spurting out as had the other. + +"You're initiated into the Ancient and Honorable Order of the Mystic +Pig," announced Dutton, making a sign to his comrades to let Paul regain +his feet. "Do you solemnly promise to be most respectful to your +superiors, and not to partake of ham and eggs or any form of pork until +after Christmas?" + +"You'd better promise," said one of the cadets to Paul, who hesitated. + +"Oh, I promise all right," he said, with a rueful smile as he looked +down at his soaked garments, and surveyed the confusion in the room. +There was not a dry article of bed clothing left. + +"Now for the other one!" cried Beeby, making a grab for Dick. + +The young millionaire was ready to submit to any form of hazing that +might be inflicted, but, to his surprise Dutton said: + +"Never mind him. We'll let him go." + +"Why he's a freshman," objected several of the cadets, evidently +thinking Dutton imagined Dick to be immune. + +"I know it, but he's in a different class," went on the leader with a +covert sneer. "He might buy up the police authorities and have us +arrested for having a little fun. We'll let him alone. We're only after +common mortals." + +Dick flushed. + +"You're mistaken," he said as calmly as he could. "If hazing is in order +I'm ready to take my share. I assure you I won't squeal. I'm not that +kind." + +It hurt him, to think that he should be taken for a "squealer." He, Dick +Hamilton, who had done his own share of hazing in the academy at home. + +"No, thank you. It's too risky monkeying with millionaires," said +Dutton. "Come on, fellows." + +The band of hazing cadets filed out of Dick's room, bent on subjecting +other students to their harmless pranks. As they left, Dick heard one of +them say: + +"Aw, Dutton, why didn't we try the rope and window game on him? It would +have been sport. He looks like an all-right sort." + +"He isn't in our class," replied the leader of the hazers. "He thinks +his money can get him anything he wants, but he'll find out he's +mistaken. It's a shame the faculty allowed him to come here, where only +the best families are represented." + +Dick heard it all plainly. He realized how he had been misjudged, but he +resolved to live down the wrong opinion the other students seemed to +have formed of him. Or perhaps they merely followed Dutton's leadership. + +And so Dick was not hazed, though he was the only freshman in all the +academy who escaped the ordeal, and, though many lads would gladly have +dispensed with the ceremony, Dick Hamilton felt as if he would have +parted with some of his fortune to have been included in the unfortunate +class. For, had he been, it would have meant that he was considered as a +future chum and comrade of the upperclassmen. But he had been left +severely alone. + +"Well, you got off lucky," commented Paul, as he began to remove his wet +garments. + +"Do you think so?" asked Dick, somewhat bitterly. "I rather wish they +had given me what you got." + +"Why?" asked his roommate. + +Dick told his reasons. + +"I don't see why they hold my money against me," he added. + +"I heard some talk about it," admitted Paul. "Some of the older cadets +have read the things printed in the papers about you; when you went out +west to investigate that gold mine, and when you hired the circus to +come to Hamilton Corners. They evidently think you depend on your money +to win popularity, and I heard some of them say you were to be taught a +lesson." + +"They're beginning already," said Dick. "Perhaps you would rather not +room with such an unpopular chap as I seem to be. I guess I could get an +apartment alone, by paying double rates," he added, sarcastically. + +"Nonsense!" exclaimed Paul. "I'm not that sort, and I don't believe +you'll find many cadets who are. I don't care for money, one way or the +other. I wish my dad had a little more. Don't let Dutton and his cronies +worry you. You'll have friends among the freshmen, anyway." + +"Not if Dutton has his say." + +"Well, perhaps he won't have it. He comes of a very old family, I'm +told, who have not much money, but who are very proud. I don't care for +him myself, but he's considered a leader here." + +"My, you certainly got a soaking," commented Dick, as Paul stripped. He +was glad to change the unpleasant subject. + +"I sure did," admitted the other "and what's more we've got to sleep in +a damp bed, unless we ask the housekeeper for other covers." + +"No, don't do that. I would give the hazing away, and I might become +more unpopular than I am," and Dick laughed a little uneasily. + +"I don't fancy sleeping between damp sheets, though." + +"I've got an extra suit of pajamas in my case," said Dick. "You can put +them on, and we'll stretch out on the beds without covers. + +"It's not cold. We'll take our medicine. Or, rather, I'll share part of +yours." + +They passed a rather uncomfortable night, but did not think of +complaining. In the morning they compared notes with the other freshmen, +many of whom had had the same experience. + +That day was spent in forming the new cadets into companies, and, to +Dick's disgust he found that he was in the company of which Ray Dutton +was the cadet captain, and John Stiver, a crony of the captain, was +lieutenant. Paul Drew was in Company B, Dick's being designated as +Company A. But our hero took some consolation from the fact that his odd +friend William the Silent was a sergeant in his company. + +The new cadets were given their rifles, made to don uniforms, put +through a preliminary drill that afternoon, and told something of the +routine that would be in order when matters had settled down into their +usual grooves. Dick picked out his line of studies, received his text +books and took them to his room, where he found Paul. + +The next day being Saturday the cadets had the afternoon free and they +strolled about the grounds, went off on horseback or rowing, as they +desired. Somewhat to his regret Dick noticed that a rule was posted +forbidding freshmen to go out rowing or riding alone after Saturday. +They must be accompanied by a teacher or cadet officer. + +"They must think we're babies," he murmured. + +"Well, when we get to know the ropes a little better," said Paul, "we'll +go out together." + +That evening, when the mail was distributed, Dick received a letter from +his father, posted just as the ship was sailing. There were also several +missives from his chums at home, and quite a bulky letter, which when +the young millionaire opened it, he saw was from aged Captain Handlee, +and contained a photograph. + +With many words, and a somewhat lengthy explanation, the old soldier +stated that he had had copies made of the photograph of his son, and was +sending one to Dick, to aid him in tracing the missing man. + +"There, I nearly forgot about my promise," said Dick, recalling it as he +saw the picture. "I must make some inquiries of Major Webster as soon as +possible." + +He took the photograph to his room, and placed it on a shelf, where he +would be sure to see it, to remind him of his quest, though he had +little hopes that it would amount to anything. + +It was Sunday morning when Dick, who had awakened rather early, heard +steps coming along the corridor, and then came the whistled strains of +"Just Before the Battle, Mother," followed by the reveille, cheerily +warbled. + +"That's Toots," said Dick to Paul, who awakened just then. + +Toots stopped outside Dick's door and knocked. + +"Come," cried the young millionaire, and Toots, the odd character, +entered, carrying a pail of hot water. + +"One of the janitors is sick," he explained, "and I'm helping out. You +can use this for shaving or drink it, just as you like," he added with a +smile. + +He filled the boys' hot water pitchers, and was about to leave the room, +when he caught sight of the photograph of Corporal Bill Handlee on the +shelf. + +"Where--where did you get that?" he asked, turning quickly to the two +lads. + +"Why?" asked Dick, much impressed by the manner of Toots. + +"Because I--I think I know him--or did once," and the man set down his +pail of water, and drew his hand across his forehead, as if trying to +brush away some cobwebs. Dick noticed that there was a scar on the man's +brow. + +"Where did you see him? When was it? Where was it?" asked Dick rapidly, +thinking he had stumbled on a clue. + +"I don't know--I can't recollect, but the face--that face seems +familiar," and Toots, taking up the photo, gazed earnestly at it. + +"That is the picture of the missing son of an old soldier who lives in +Hamilton Corners," said Dick. "Captain Handlee asked me to make some +inquiries about him. It's queer you should think you recognized it, +Toots. Were you ever in the army?" + +The man shook his head slowly. + +"I don't know," he said. "I'm a fine shot though. I ought to be in the +army." + +Dick felt a new hope. The missing man said he was an expert marksman. +But then Dick recalled what he had heard about Toots; that the man had a +delusion that he was a sharpshooter, but that he could scarcely hit the +outer edge of a big target. + +"Can't you recall where you have seen this man?" asked Dick earnestly. + +Toots slowly shook his head. + +"What was his name?" he asked. + +"Corporal Bill Handlee." + +"No, that name doesn't sound familiar. But I'm sure I've seen him +somewhere. I can't think--something seems to stop me here," and the man +again passed his hand across his forehead. + +"Try," urged Dick. + +Toots made a strong effort to recall the past, but it was of no avail. + +He shook his head once more, picked up his pail, and started out. + +"I guess I'm mistaken," he said. "But some day you boys must come and +see me shoot. I'm a dandy at it." + +Then he went down the corridor whistling "The Star Spangled Banner," and +ending up with a spirited rendition of the bugle call to charge. + +"That's queer," murmured Dick. "I thought I was going to get some news +for Captain Handlee. Well, I must inquire of Major Webster." + +"Hark," exclaimed Paul, as a bugle sounded clear and crisp on the +morning air. + +"Reveille--first call! Ten minutes to dress and turn out," said Dick, +who had been studying the rules, and he began to get into his uniform. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +DICK GETS A FALL + + +At the chapel service, which the cadets were required to attend, Dick +saw, for the first time, all his fellow students gathered together under +one roof. They were a fine body of young men, and he felt proud that he +was one of them. Every one was in full dress uniform, and a spick and +span appearance the lads made, as they marched to and from chapel, to +the music of the cadet band. + +Sunday seemed quite long to Dick, but he managed to spend some pleasant +hours, strolling about with Paul Drew, and some other new cadets. He was +glad, however, when Monday came, bringing with it many duties. + +For the next two weeks Dick was kept so busy, being initiated into the +mysteries of the drill, guard mounting, parade, marching in different +formations, learning the meaning of the military commands, his studies +and preparing for inspection, that he had little time to think of other +matters. + +He found opportunity to ask Major Webster concerning missing Bill +Handlee, and the tactical officer made some inquiries of the war office, +but all to no effect. All trace of the veteran's son seemed to have +vanished. + +"But what do you suppose made Toots--I mean Sam Sander--think he +recognized the photo?" asked Dick. + +"Well, you know poor Sam isn't quite right in his head," replied the +major kindly. "He received an injury some years ago, I understand. You +can see the scar on his forehead now. That made him rather simple +minded, though he is a good worker, and very useful." + +"Then I'm afraid I can't send Captain Handlee any good news." + +"I'm afraid not, Hamilton." + +Dick had to write the sorrowful tidings to the old soldier, much to his +regret. The young millionaire also sent a missive to his father, telling +something of the life at the academy, but saying nothing of the manner +in which he had been treated. Dick bravely resolved to fight his own +battles. + +He found the studies anything but easy, but as he applied himself to his +books, he stood well in his class. + +In the meantime matters were beginning to move with military regularity, +and the cadets in their natty uniforms, presented at drill, or +inspection, inspiring pictures. + +At first Dick, and all the new cadets, were rather awkward at drill, +but this was to be expected, and little was thought of it. On several +occasions though, Captain Dutton, who was in command over Dick, made +sneering remarks evidently intended for our hero, who, however, did not +reply. + +With the exception of Sunday and Monday, the same general routine was +followed. Reveille was sounded at six o'clock, with a second call ten +minutes later. Then came "police" inspection, and woe betide the youth +who was not spick and span. Sick call followed, but usually it was a +mere form, for the cadets were as healthy as Spartans. + +On Monday there was always general inspection, when it behooved Dick and +his fellows to have their quarters in good order. Plenty of time was +allowed for study and recitation, and there was much attention given to +military life. There were lectures on tactics, and they were followed by +practical illustrations. + +"I wish they'd let us have a chance at the horses," remarked Dick, to +Paul, when they were studying in their room one evening. "The older +cadets have plenty of cavalry drill, but we have to march around, +carrying heavy guns, and doing all sorts of stunts like that." + +"I understand we're to have our innings next week." + +"Is that so? Good!" + +Dick, and many other of the new cadets who loved horses were pleased to +see a notice posted, a few days after this, stating that instructions in +riding, and cavalry exercises, were to be given in the big shed and +would begin the following Monday. + +"Now we'll have some fun," said Dick. "Aren't you glad, Paul?" + +"Well, I don't care much about horses. I feel safer on my feet." + +"Oh, you'll get used to a horse soon enough, and then you'll never want +to walk." + +There were good horses in the academy stables, and, to his delight, a +fine mount was assigned to Dick. He made friends with the animal at +once, and when the "awkward squad" was put through their paces, Dick +earned commendation from the drill master for the excellent seat he +maintained. + +For a week or more Dick and his fellow freshmen practiced every day in +the riding hall. The cadets who at first sat insecurely in the saddle +were beginning to learn how to maintain themselves, and one afternoon +the drill master announced that the next day they would be allowed to go +out on the cavalry plain. + +"That's the stuff!" cried Dick. "I've been wanting a good gallop for a +long time." + +"Guess we won't have much chance to gallop," replied Paul, who had been +transferred to Dick's company. "Dutton's so mean he'll probably keep us +at an easy walk. He thinks no one knows how to ride but him." + +"I'll show him, if I get a chance," murmured Dick. + +The cadets were formed into four companies the next day, and sent out on +the cavalry plain for practice. + +"Now I don't want any exhibitions of fancy riding," announced Ray +Dutton, as he led the cadets over whom he had charge out from the drill +hall. "You've got to creep before you walk, you know. Just take it easy, +and we'll make a few circuits of the grounds." + +"Pity he wouldn't let us gallop," said Dick, in a low voice to Paul, +beside whom he was riding. + +"Silence in the ranks!" exclaimed the cadet captain sharply. "Hamilton, +if you speak again I'll report you." + +Dick felt the hot blood mount to his face, but he kept his temper. + +They went around at a slow pace, many of the lads chaffing under the +restraint. Then Dutton gave the command to trot, and they let their +horses out a trifle. + +Whether something frightened Dick's horse, or whether the animal wanted +to take a good run and show the others what he could do, it was +impossible to say. At any rate our hero's steed gave a sudden spring, +and, rushing through the opened ranks of the cadet horsemen ahead of +him, sailed past Captain Dutton at a fast gait. + +"Halt!" cried the leading cadet. "Where are you going, Hamilton? Come +back here at once! I'll report you! Come back!" + +Dick tried to rein his horse in, but the animal had the bit in his +teeth, and it was useless to pull on the leather. Still the young +millionaire was not frightened. He knew he could manage the animal. + +But Dutton, with a muttered exclamation, spurred after Dick. + +"Halt!" he cried again. "Halt, or I'll place you under arrest for +disobeying orders!" + +"I can't stop him!" Dick flung back, over his shoulder. + +Dutton's horse was a fast one, and he soon caught up to the young cadet. +He crossed in front of him, wheeled about and, a moment later the two +horses collided violently. Dick was flung up in the air, and, the next +instant, came heavily to the ground, where he lay quiet, while his horse +bolted. + +Dutton, who had retained his seat, looked down on the prostrate figure. + +"Come. Get up," he said. "No shamming." + +Dick did not move. + +"Here, Drew, Butler, Graham!" called Captain Dutton. "Here's a chance to +practice first aid to the injured. See what's the matter with him." + +The three cadets he had named galloped forward, while the remainder of +the company came to a halt. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +WHO FIRED THE GUN? + + +"Pick him up, and see if he's hurt," ordered Dutton though he did not +take the trouble to get off his horse to ascertain. "Very likely he's +only shamming." + +But is needed only a look at Dick's pale face to show that he had had a +hard fall. The breath was knocked out of him. + +The three cadets bent over him, and, while one raised him to a sitting +position, the others chaffed his hands. Dick opened his eyes, and stared +wonderingly about him. + +"What--what--where am I?" he asked, and then he saw the mounted +students, he added, "I fell." + +"Are you hurt?" asked Graham. + +"No--no, I guess not." + +But when Dick tried to stand he found he was so dizzy that his fellow +cadets had to support him. + +"Take him back to the hospital," ordered Dutton, "and then you three +rejoin your company." + +At that moment Major Webster, who had been drilling some of the older +cadets, in advanced tactics on a distant part of the field, came +galloping up. + +"What has happened?" he asked. "Ah, Hamilton, eh? Are you hurt?" + +"I fell off my horse. He bolted with me," replied Dick. + +"Are you sure you're not hurt?" + +"Yes; only a trifle dizzy." + +"I'm sending him back to the hospital," announced Dutton. + +"That's proper. Are you sure you'll be all right, Hamilton?" asked the +major kindly. + +"Oh, yes. I believe I can ride now." + +"No, I can't allow it. You must take a rest." + +On the way back with the cadets, Dick insisted that he could go alone, +and did not need help. + +"Orders are orders," replied Graham with a smile. "Dutton might make a +fuss if we didn't do as he said." + +"It was all his fault," added Paul Drew. "He deliberately collided with +you, Dick." + +"Oh, no; I hardly think he would do that!" + +"But he did," insisted Butler. "He didn't need to gallop in front of you +that way. I looked just as if he wanted to unseat you, didn't it, +fellows?" + +"That's right," added Paul. "I'd report him if I were you." + +"Oh, no," answered Dick quickly. "There's no use making trouble. Even +if he did do it on purpose, I wouldn't gain anything by reporting him. +I'm no squealer." + +"But you might have been badly hurt," said Butler. + +"I wasn't though, and a miss is as good as a mile." + +"That's a good way of looking at it," commented Paul. "I'd feel like +fighting him, if he did that to me." + +"Say, I'm all right. There's no need for you fellows to come back with +me," went on Dick. + +"If we don't Dutton may make a row," objected Butler. "We'd better do +it." + +Not wanting to get his fellow cadets into trouble, Dick allowed them to +accompany him to the hospital, which was maintained by the academy. +There the surgeon in charge, a grizzled war veteran, felt of our hero's +bones, and announced, gruffly, that he was all right, but that he had +better rest a while. + +Which Dick was glad enough to do, as his head was beginning to ache. + +"Dutton must want to get rid of me," he thought, as he stretched out on +the bed in his room. "If he keeps on I shall certainly have a clash with +him, and then I s'pose there'll be trouble. I don't want to fight, but +I'm not going to submit to his meanness. I certainly am under a handicap +here. I wish I could ask dad to send me to some other school. No, I +don't either. I'll fight it out here, and I'll win, too, or I'll know +the reason why!" + +Major Webster, when he returned from the drill, inquired how Dick felt, +and received the assurance that the lad was all right. + +"We must give you a quieter horse," he said with a smile. + +"Oh, no, I can manage him all right," said Dick. "Captain Dutton--er--he +and I happened to collide, or it never would have happened." + +"Strange, Dutton is an excellent rider," commented the major as he +walked away. + +A slight headache the next day was all the ill effect that Dick +experienced from his tumble. He appeared at chapel, and took part in all +the day's duties. For a week or more life went on rather uneventfully at +the academy. Dick had a letter from his father, stating that business +was likely to keep him abroad longer than he expected. + +Dick also got a letter from Henry Darby, giving some news of Hamilton +Corners, and telling how Dick's chums missed him. The letter closed with +this: + +"Grit misses you very much. He doesn't eat hardly anything, and he lies +in his kennel all day." + +"Poor Grit," said Dick to Paul, and he told of his bulldog. "I wish I +could have him here with me." + +"Why don't you?" suggested his roommate. "Some of the other cadets are +allowed special privileges, why don't you ask if you can bring Grit +here? You could keep him in the stable." + +"I believe I will," said Dick, and he sought and received permission +from Colonel Masterly to do this. + +A few days later Grit arrived, and he was probably the happiest dog +living, as Dick took him out of the shipping crate. The animal bounded +about, and fairly leaped over his master's head in the excess of his +joy. + +Grit made friends with such few chums as Dick had among the freshmen, +and they were not many, for Dutton's influence seemed even to extend to +them. The advent of the bulldog appeared to further arouse the ire of +the young captain. + +"I expect our millionaire cadet will be having a private menagerie +next," he said with a sneer. "But I tell you one thing, Hamilton, if I +catch the brute around my quarters I'll kick him out." + +"I shouldn't advise you to try it," said Dick coolly. "It might not be +healthy--for you." + +"Do you mean that you'd attack me?" asked Dutton, taking a step toward +Dick. + +"No, but Grit might; eh, Grit, old boy." + +The dog growled in a menacing manner, and Dutton, turning on his heel, +made off up the campus, but the scowl he gave Dick augured anything but +well for the young millionaire. + +It was about a week after this when, one evening, Dick, who was sitting +in his room, studying with Paul, suddenly exclaimed: + +"There, I've left my algebra out under the three elms. I was studying +there this afternoon." + +The three elms were a clump of giant trees on the campus, and a +recognized stamping ground for the freshmen, who frequently studied +there, when it was too hot in their rooms. + +"Better go out and get it," advised Paul. "It looks like rain, and you +know it means a demerit to have soiled books." + +"Guess I'll slip out and get it," decided Dick. "I'll have just about +time enough before taps." + +He started down the long corridor, but he had not taken a dozen steps +before taps was sounded on the bugle, the plaintive call of "lights out" +vibrating clearly on the night air. + +"Better come back," advised Paul, from the open door of their room, as +he prepared to turn out the electric lamp. + +"No, I think I'll chance it," decided Dick. "No one is likely to see me, +and I might as well get a demerit for this as for having a rain-soaked +algebra. Leave the door open so I can find the place in the dark." + +He kept on, stealing quietly down the hall. Paul went to bed, and was +just dozing off when he was startled by the loud report of the cannon +used for firing the sunrise and sunset guns. The echoes thundered among +the academy buildings, and were re-echoed from the distant hills. Paul +arose. Clearly some of the cadets were up to a trick, and had fired the +gun. + +A few minutes later Dick came running into the room. + +"Did you get the book? Who fired the gun?" asked Paul in a whisper. + +"Yes, I got the algebra, and, just as I did the gun went off. I saw some +of the fellows running, and of course I was running too, but, just as I +was coming in, Stiver, who is doing guard duty, saw me." + +"What did he say?" + +"Called to me halt, but I didn't." + +"He'll report you, and you may be blamed for--" + +An instant later the tramp of feet was heard in the corridor. + +"It's inspection!" gasped Paul. "Undress quick, and get into bed!" + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DICK HAS A FIGHT + + +But it was too late. The door of Dick's room was pushed open, and, in +the light of the incandescent that burned in the hall, the two cadets +could see Captain Hayden and several of the instructors looking in. + +"Hamilton--Drew--are you here?" asked Captain Hayden sharply. + +"Yes, sir," replied Dick, but an instant later the light revealed him +fully dressed, whereas he should have been in bed at taps. + +"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. "This will bear investigation. Why +aren't you in bed, Hamilton?" + +"I went down to get my algebra, which I left under the elms." + +"Did you have anything to do with firing the saluting gun?" + +"No, sir." + +"I will have to investigate. Report in my room in ten minutes." + +Captain Hayden marched on, and the two cadets could hear distant sounds +that indicated a general inspection of quarters. + +"I guess you're in for it, Dick," said Paul. + +"I can prove what I went out for." + +"Maybe. But I wonder who fired that gun?" + +"I don't know. Some of the older cadets likely. Well, I s'pose I've got +to go to Captain Hayden's room." + +Dick found several other students gathered in the reception apartment of +the head master. They were lads who had been found still up when their +rooms were hurriedly entered after the blowing of taps, and the firing +of the gun. + +"Who was captain of the guard?" asked Captain Hayden, when he came in +and faced a rather frightened lot of cadets. + +"I was, sir," replied John Stiver. + +"What did you see?" + +"I was on duty, sir, near the main entrance of the south barracks, and +the first I knew I saw the flash of the gun, and heard it go off." + +"What else did you see?" + +"I saw a cadet run from the campus into the barracks. He would not halt +when I called to him." + +"Who was it?" + +"I don't like to say, sir." + +"Very likely not, but you must." + +"It was--it was Hamilton, sir." + +"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. + +"I went to the three elms to get my algebra which I had forgotten," said +Dick. + +"After taps?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then you broke one of the rules." + +"Yes, sir, but I thought that if it rained, and my book got wet, I'd get +a demerit for that, so I decided I would take a chance on going after +taps. I started before the bugle sounded." + +"Ha! I will look into that afterward. You are sure you were not near the +gun?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"I might add," went on Stiver, "that, after I called to Hamilton to +halt, and he would not, I saw his dog running after him, and the animal +seemed to have something tied to its tail." + +"To it's tail?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What was it?" + +"It seemed like a piece of string." + +"A piece of string. That may explain it. Hamilton, what do you know of +this?" + +"Nothing, Captain Hayden. Grit was not with me. I left him in his +kennel, in the stable, chained up." + +"We must look into this. Lieutenant Stiver, tell Sander to bring the +bulldog here." + +"Perhaps I had better go along," suggested Dick. "Grit might make a +fuss." + +"If he goes, you had better make sure he doesn't slip the string off the +dog's tail," put in Dutton, with a sneer. + +Dick started, and looked angrily at his enemy. + +"That will do, Dutton," said Captain Hayden quietly. "You may accompany +Sander, Hamilton." + +Toots, who was on hand, started for the stables, followed by Dick. + +"Are you going to get into trouble?" asked the old man, who had taken +quite a fancy to our hero. + +"I hope not. If Grit had anything to do with firing the gun, by means of +a string tied to his tail, some one who had a grudge against me is +responsible for it." + +"I'm sure of it, Mr. Hamilton," and Toots marched on, whistling "Dixy +Land," ending up with a series of bugle calls. + +They found Grit cowering in his kennel, as if much frightened. Dick and +Toots looked him over. Sure enough there was a stout piece of cord tied +to his stump of a tail. + +"It looks bad," commented Toots. + +"I'm not worried," declared Dick. + +Captain Hayden looked grave, when Toots handed him the bit of cord. He +sent Sander to the saluting gun, and Toots returned presently with same +cord, which matched that taken from Grit's tail. + +"Was this on the gun?" asked the head master. + +"Attached to a primer, that had been fired," replied Toots. + +"Hamilton," began Captain Hayden, "I don't like to accuse you on such +circumstantial evidence, but it looks--" + +"I had nothing to do with firing the gun," said Dick quickly. "If my dog +did it, some one else tied the string to his tail." + +"Whom do you suspect?" + +"I don't know." + +"If you please, sir," spoke up Graham, "I don't think Hamilton had +anything to do with firing the gun." + +"Why not?" + +"Because my window is right opposite it. I was looking out, just before +it went off, and I saw a crowd of students near it. They had a dog, for +I could hear him growl, and I heard some one say 'look out or the brute +will put his teeth in you.' Then some one else said, 'I guess I can +manage him.' If Hamilton had been there I don't believe Grit would have +growled." + +"He certainly would not," said Dick, noticing that Dutton was scowling +at Graham. + +"Ha! Hum," mused the head master. "I believe you are right, Graham. +Hamilton, you are practically exonerated, but this matter will not be +allowed to drop. Firing the gun was a serious infraction of the rules, +and dangerous in the bargain. Whoever fired it must have stolen into the +ammunition house, which is a risky thing to do, especially in the dark." + +"I am glad you don't think I did it, sir," said Dick to Captain Hayden. + +"I am glad, also, but I shall have to mark you five off for being out +after taps. When I find out who fired the gun I shall punish them +severely. It seems as though it was done to throw suspicion on you." + +"That is what I think," said Dick quickly. + +"Whom do you suspect?" + +"I had rather not say, sir." + +"Of course not, no, I wouldn't want you to on mere suspicion. You young +gentlemen may retire to your rooms, now. I will look into this matter +further." + +The cadets filed out, all of them breathing easier. As Dutton passed +Dick in the hall, he said: + +"Did you refer to me when you said you suspected some one?" + +"Not particularly." + +"You looked at me," said the cadet captain angrily. + +"Well, a cat may look at a king, I suppose." + +"None of your impertinence." + +"I'm not impertinent, but I don't propose to have you dictate to me." + +"You'll have to, as long as you're a freshman. I say you intimated that +I fired that gun and tried to throw the blame on you." + +"I can't help what you say." + +"Do you believe I did it?" + +"I refuse to answer." + +"Then I'll make you! Take that!" and before Dick could step back Dutton +had hit him a blow in the face. "You know what that means, I suppose," +said Dutton with a sneer. + +"A fight?" asked Dick quietly. + +"Of course. I'll send a friend to you to-morrow and we'll see if you'll +back up your words." + +"Don't worry. I'll be on hand," replied Dick, as he went to his room. + +He told Paul of what had happened, and the latter consented to act as +second to him in the fight. The matter was quietly arranged, and, the +next afternoon Dick, and the few chums he had, slipped off after the +evening parade to a secluded spot, where all the fistic battles of the +academy took place. Dutton and a large throng of his supporters were on +hand, and the preliminaries were soon settled. + +"Time!" called Lieutenant Stiver, who acted as Dutton's second. + +The two youths faced each other, but dispensed with the ceremony of +shaking hands. The next moment Dutton aimed a blow at Dick's face, but +our hero cleverly dodged and sent a stiff right hander to the cadet +captain's jaw. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +DICK GIVES A SPREAD + + +The shock of the blow made Dutton stagger back, but he quickly regained +his balance, and rushed at Dick, raising his foot to give him a kick. + +"Hold on, that's not fair!" cried Paul. "Do you stand for that, Stiver?" + +Stiver plainly wanted to side with Dutton, but there were cries of +"Shame! That's not fair!" from several in the crowd and Dutton's second +was forced to caution his man. + +"Don't do that, Dutton," he said. "You can lick him with your fists." + +"Yes, and I'll fix him, all right!" exclaimed the angry cadet captain. + +Dick, who had stepped back, out of reach of his opponent's foot, now +stood up to meet the rush of Dutton. + +"There! I guess that will teach you to make insinuations about me!" +spluttered the angry lad, as he aimed a fierce blow at Dick. Our hero +easily dodged it, however, and countered with a stiff upper cut, which +gave Dutton quite a jolt. + +Dick was not quite quick enough in getting away, however, and received a +blow on the chest, which he did not mind, much. Then Dutton closed in, +and both boys exchanged several severe blows, but Dick had the best of +it, for he had taken boxing lessons from an experienced instructor at +home. + +"Go in and do him!" called Dutton's friends. + +"Stand up to him, Dick," advised Paul, in low tones at the conclusion of +the first round. "You've got him going." + +Dutton tried to be calm as he came up the second time, but he speedily +lost his temper, as he saw how easily Dick parried his blows. + +"Why don't you stand up and fight?" he asked. + +"Why don't you hit me?" retorted Dick, as he tapped his antagonist on +the nose, making it bleed slightly. + +"I'll pay you for that!" cried Dutton, rushing forward. + +"Not so loud!" cautioned Stiver. "You'll bring some of the professors +down on us." + +Once more Dick dodged a straight left hander, and, in return, sent in a +terrific right, that caught Dutton on the point of the jaw. The cadet +went down like a log, and lay still. + +"You've knocked him out, Hamilton," remarked one of the older cadets, +who acted as referee. "I congratulate you." + +"Yes, he fought well," added another, but there was no heartiness in his +tones, and, to Dick, it seemed almost as if they were sorry he had won. + +For won he had, as Dutton did not arise. He had been fairly, but +harmlessly, knocked out. + +"Do you throw up the sponge?" asked Paul, of Stiver. + +"I guess so," was the rather surly response. "Your man wins." + +"I hope I didn't hurt him," said Dick. "I didn't mean to hit so hard, +but he rushed right into it." + +"You didn't hurt me!" suddenly exclaimed Dutton, as he struggled to his +feet. "I'm game yet." + +"You've had enough," said his second. "You can have another try later." + +"I can do him," mumbled Dutton, but even his friends were forced to +admit that he had been well beaten. + +"Will you shake hands?" asked Dick, advancing toward his antagonist. + +"No!" exclaimed Dutton, surlily. + +A hot flush came to Dick's face, and he was about to turn away when, the +older cadet, who had complimented him said: + +"Shake hands, Dutton. Don't be a cad." + +This was equivalent to a command, and Dutton grudingly complied. + +"Do you think he will be better friends with you after this?" asked +Paul, as he and Dick walked away together. + +"I hope so, but I doubt it." + +Dick was right. Though he had gained the victory he had whipped one of +the most popular cadets, which Dutton was, in spite of his caddishness. + +Our hero's victory took nothing away from the regard in which Dutton was +held, while, as for Dick, save a few friends whom he had made among the +younger lads, he was not admitted to the comradeship of the older +cadets, to which place, of right, he belonged. The fight had not made +him popular, as he had hoped it would, after he had won it, though the +sporting element in the academy could not but admire his fistic +abilities. + +"I don't seem to be making much progress," remarked Dick to his +roommate, one afternoon. "You have more friends than I have." + +"Oh, I don't think so." + +"Yes, you have. It would be different, if I was at home, but here, +everyone seems to follow Dutton's lead, and turns a cold shoulder to +me." + +"Maybe you'll have more acquaintances next term." + +"I doubt it. I wish I could get in with the fellows. They'll be making +up the football eleven, soon, and I'd like a chance to play." + +"Do you play?" + +"I did at home. I was right half-back. But I don't s'pose I'll have any +show here." + +"I tell you what you might do," said Paul, after a pause. "Why don't +you give a spread?" + +"A spread?" + +"Yes, a feast, you know. You can get permission to have it in one of the +rooms, and you can invite a lot of the fellows. Several of the new +fellows have done that, and some of them got proposed for membership in +the Sacred Pig society." + +This was one of the exclusive secret organizations of the academy, and +Dick, as well as many others, wished to join. But one had to be invited +to apply for membership, and only those students on whom the seal of +approval was set by the older cadets had this honor. + +"Do you think that would do any good?" asked Dick. + +"It might." + +"Then I'll try. Here's a chance where I can use some of my money. If +this plan doesn't work, I have another that I'll spring." + +"What is it?" + +"Well, I don't want to say yet. I may want to get you to help me at it, +though." + +"I'll do anything I can." + +"I know you will, Paul. I wish there were more like you." + +Dick obtained permission from Colonel Masterly to give a spread in one +of the barrack rooms, and he made elaborate preparations for it. A town +caterer was given orders to supply a fine supper, and then Dick sent out +his invitations. He included all the lads in his class, and every +member of the so-called "sporting crowd." + +"Are you going to invite Dutton?" asked Paul. + +"Of course. I want him more than all the others. If he would drop his +hard feelings we could be friends." + +"After he tried to get you into trouble about your dog, and the firing +of the cannon?" + +"Do you think he did?" + +"I'm sure of it, and so are lots of others." + +"Captain Hayden can't seem to find out anything about it." + +"No, because all of Dutton's cronies are keeping mum. But I'm sure he +did it." + +"Well, I'll forgive him, if he'll be friends. I got even by whipping +him, I guess." + +"Perhaps, though I don't believe he thinks so." + +Dick received acceptances from nearly all the lads in his class, but +regarding the others he heard nothing, and did not know whether they +would come or not. He hoped they would--particularly Dutton and his +chums. + +On the afternoon of the evening on which Dick's spread was to come off, +he met Dutton and Stiver on the campus. + +"Let's see, isn't your spread to-morrow night?" asked Stiver, with +studied carelessness. + +"It's to-night," said Dick, pleasantly. "I hope you are both coming." + +"I'll see," answered Stiver. + +"Is there going to be anything to drink?" asked Dutton with a covert +sneer. + +"Lemonade," replied Dick promptly. + +"Is that all? I should think a millionaire cadet like you would provide +champagne; or at least beer." + +"It's against the rules," said Dick. + +"Then you'll have some cigars." + +"No." + +"Cigarettes then?" + +"No." + +"I suppose you'll give us malted milk and crackers," sneered Dutton, as +he turned aside. "I don't think that will suit us. Eh, Stiver?" + +"No indeed. I thought you wanted to be a sport, Hamilton?" + +"I don't care about breaking rules," replied Dick. "Besides, I don't use +tobacco or liquor." + +"Ah, he's a regular Sunday school brand of millionaire," remarked +Dutton, with a mean laugh. "He gives his money to the heathen, instead +of buying cigars. Come on, Stiver." + +At Dick's spread, that night, only a few freshmen came, and, though they +tried to be jolly, the affair was a dismal failure, after the elaborate +preparations that had been made. None of Dutton's friends came, and not +a member of the sporting element. + +"Dutton told 'em to stay away," said Paul, as he and Dick went to their +room, after it was all over. + +"I suppose so," answered Dick gloomily, and there was a heavy feeling in +his heart, that the thought of all his wealth could not lighten. + +He was beginning to realize what it meant to fulfill the conditions of +his mother's will. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AN ANGRY FARMER + + +"Say, Dick," remarked Paul, the next morning, as they leaped out of bed +at the sound of the bugle giving the first call, "that spread must have +cost you a pretty penny." + +"I don't mind that a bit," replied the young millionaire, as he +struggled into his uniform. "I'd be willing to spend a lot more if only +the fellows would have come. But there's no use crying over spilled +milk, as my dad says. Hurry up, Paul. Get this room in shape, or we'll +be in for some bad marks at inspection." + +The cadets quickly had their apartment in good order, and then got ready +for breakfast. + +They were a fine lot of cadets who filed into the mess hall a little +later, well set-up young fellows, each with his uniform spick and span, +marching with regular step that nearly approached the perfection of the +trained soldier. For, such was the discipline at Kentfield, that even +green lads quickly fell into the routine, and by this time Dick and the +other freshmen carried themselves almost as well as did the senior +students. + +"Ah, that'll be some fun," remarked Paul, as they were leaving the +mess-hall after the meal. + +"What?" asked Dick. + +"Target practice. There's a notice on the bulletin board that we're to +have it right after the first study period. Are you a good shot?" + +"I used to be, but the guns here are heavier than I'm accustomed to. I +don't believe I can do as well." + +"Oh, I guess you can. I hear that some of the third year lads can't do +very extra." + +There were two target ranges at Kentfield, one for long distance +shooting, in the open, and the other in a rifle pit, indoors. It was +there that a number of the cadets and their officers assembled a little +later. Toots, who was a sort of janitor about the pits, was on hand. + +"Ah, Toots, going to show us how to shoot to-day?" asked a student. + +"Sure," replied Sam. "I'll give you a few lessons. Lend me your gun." + +"Here you go, Tootsy old chap," added another cadet, passing over his +rifle. + +As all the cadets had not yet arrived discipline was rather lax, and the +officers made no objection. + +"Here's where I crack the bullseye first shot!" exclaimed Toots. He +handled the gun as though he had long been used to it, and took quick +aim. A sharp report followed, but there was no corresponding "ping" of +the target to indicate a shot. + +"Ha! Ha! Toots, you missed it altogether," cried Russell Glen, a +first-year and somewhat sporty student in Dick's class. + +"No, I didn't neither!" objected Sam. "It went clean through the target, +that's why you didn't hear it. I'm a crack shot I am." + +He really appeared to believe it, and was much disappointed when the +marker called back that the bullet had gone about a foot over the +target. + +"Try again, Toots," said Glen. + +"I will. This time I'll go right in the center." + +Once more he fired, and the resulting laugh told that he had again +missed. + +"I guess this is your off day," observed Captain Dutton. + +"Looks like it," remarked Toots ruefully, as he walked off, whistling +"In a Prison Cell I Sit," and ending with the bugle call to charge. + +The target practice soon began, and Dick, to his own surprise, made a +good score, getting forty-nine out of a possible fifty. + +"We have decided to have a practice march, around the lake, to-morrow," +Major Webster announced to the cadets after target practice was over. +"Fatigue uniforms of khaki will be worn, and the affair will last all +day. Lunch will be taken in the field. You know the regulations, Captain +Dutton, so inform your command of them, and be ready after reveille +to-morrow." + +The major paused, Captain Dutton saluted, and his superior officer +turned away, his sword clanking at his heels. + +"A practice march!" exclaimed Paul to Dick. "That will be sport." + +"It sure will," added Dick. + +"Silence in the ranks;" cried Dutton, in a dictatorial manner. +"Lieutenant Stiver, watch Hamilton, I think he talks altogether too +much." + +It was an unjust accusation, but Dick knew better than to answer back. + +That afternoon further instructions were issued regarding the practice +march. The cadets would take one ration with them, and a wagon +containing utensils for making coffee, etc., would accompany the amateur +soldiers. They would have their rifles with them, and, during the day +would have practice in skirmish firing, in throwing up trenches, and +advancing on an imaginary enemy. + +They started off soon after breakfast, led by Colonel Masterly, Major +Rockford and Major Webster, while the cadet officers were in charge of +the four companies, A, B, C and D. + +It was a fine day in October, just right for a march, and the cadets +presented a neat appearance, as, headed by the superior officers on +horseback, they marched along the shores of the lake, off towards a +wooded plain. The boys were attired in blue flannel shirts, khaki +trousers and leggings. + +"I hope they have more of these hikes before winter," remarked Paul to +Dick. + +"'Hike?' is that what you call 'em?" + +"That's what the regulars do. It's a good name, I think." + +"It sure is. Say, you get a fine view of the lake here." + +The boys talked on, for there were no rules against it, and the +experience of the march was a new one for many of them, including Dick. + +They reached some suitable ground about ten o'clock and on orders from +Major Webster the companies were formed into one command, under his +direction. Then, an imaginary enemy having been located in a clump of +woodland, the cadets were sent forward on the run, in skirmish parties, +firing at will, and in volleys. + +"Advance, and form trenches!" suddenly ordered the major. + +The lads, using their bayonets as spades, and scooping the dirt up with +their hands, soon formed shallow ditches, with an embankment of earth in +front, and, lying prone behind this, ruthlessly mowed down the ranks of +the enemy who still refused to show himself. + +The rattle and bang of the rifles, the clouds of smoke, the flashes of +fire, mingled with the hoarse commands of the major who was a war +veteran; the rushing forward of the cadets, and their activity in +digging trenches, made the scene one of excitement. It was glorious +sport, Dick thought. + +Tired, dusty and warm, though willing to keep at this war game +indefinitely, the young soldiers finally reached the edge of the woods, +where, having dislodged the enemy, they were conceded to have won a +victory, and the march was again taken up. + +A halt for dinner was made beside a little brook. Toots, who had charge +of the provision wagon brought it up, and proceeded to build fires to +make coffee. + +"Toots, you old scoundrel," affectionately exclaimed a senior cadet, +"did you bring the cream for my coffee?" + +"Yes, Mr. Morton. I brought a jug full," replied Toots, who entered into +the spirit of the fun. + +"And I want a white table cloth," stipulated another. + +"I've got one up my sleeve," answered Toots, busying himself about the +wagon. + +Campfires were soon ablaze, and the appetizing smell of coffee and +steaks filled the air. The cadets opened their haversacks, and were +preparing to eat, having formed into little informal groups, each +company by itself. + +"Say, Stiver," remarked Dutton, to his lieutenant, looking at a field of +late sweet corn, which was near where they were camped, "I'd like a few +of those ears to roast. How about you?" + +"Sure's you're a foot high; but you know the orders. Mustn't do any +foraging." + +"Ah, what's the rule between friends? Besides, Colonel Masterly and +Major Webster are away over on the other side of the woods. Send some of +the freshmen after some corn." + +"I'm not going to. You can if you want to." + +"I will. Here, Boardman, you and Booker and Hamilton go and get some of +that green corn." + +"I'll not," replied Dick promptly, who knew that this refusal to obey +his superior officer would be upheld, if, indeed, Dutton would dare +prefer a charge against him. + +"Afraid, eh?" sneered the young captain. "Very well, then, you take +Hamilton's place, Butler." + +The three lads designated, either being afraid to incur Dutton's +displeasure, or because they wanted some of the corn, quietly sneaked +into the field, and quickly returned with big armsful, which were soon +put to roast, the husks being concealed under the leaves in the woods. + +"Maybe, you'll have some?" asked Dutton, in sneering tones, of Dick, as +the captain and his cronies began eating the roast corn. + +"No thank you. Not that I don't like it, but I prefer to get it another +way." + +Dick felt that he was putting himself further than ever beyond the pale +of his comrades' liking by his conduct, but he could not help it. + +The lunch was almost over, and most of the corn had disappeared, when +an elderly man, evidently a farmer, crawled through the fence near where +Dick's company was. There was an angry look on his face. + +"Which of you lads stole my corn?" he demanded. "And besides that you +trampled down a lot. Who done it? That's what I want to know." + +There was no need to answer. The evidences of the stolen corn were all +about. + +"I'm going to report this to Colonel Masterly," said the farmer, +striding off toward where the superintendent was talking to the two +majors. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +A NARROW ESCAPE + + +"Hold on!" cried Dutton, springing to his feet. "Wait a minute, +Mr.--er--Mr.--" + +"No, you can't come any game like that over me!" cried the angry farmer. +"You stole my corn, and trampled a lot of it down. That's agin orders, +an' I know it. I'll report to your superior officers, and we'll see how +you'll like it." + +"But--er--but I say--" stammered Dutton, wishing he could do something +to placate the man, for he knew that all the blame would fall on him, +and that he would be severely dealt with; perhaps reduced to the ranks. + +"No. I'll not listen to you," replied the farmer. "I'm going to report +to Colonel Masterly." + +"Now look at the mess you've got us into, Dutton," said Stiver. "Why +couldn't you let the corn alone." + +"Shut up!" retorted the cadet captain. "I say, Mr.--Mr. Farmer," he +called after the man. + +"My name's not Farmer, but I know what yours will be; it'll be Mud, +soon. I'll teach you tin soldiers to spoil my corn." + +There were murmurs among the cadets. They feared lest the whole company +might be punished. But a scheme had come into Dick Hamilton's mind. +Without asking permission from Dutton he hurried after the farmer. + +"How much will pay for the damage to your corn, and what the boys took," +he asked quietly, holding out a roll of bills, for Dick never was +without a substantial sum. + +"Now you're talking, sonny," said the farmer, a different look coming +into his face. "Why didn't that captain of yours say so at first?" + +"What's the damage?" asked Dick. From experience he had learned that +cash will make up for almost any kind of a hurt. + +"Wa'al, seein' as that was particularly fine corn, I'll have to charge +you ten dollars for what ye took, and what damage ye done." + +"Ten dollars! That's too much!" cried Paul Drew. "Don't pay it, Dick." + +"Wa'al, then I'll see the colonel. I guess he'll pay that, rather than +have his school sued," said the angry man. + +"Here are ten dollars," said Dick quietly, handing over a bill. "I guess +the boys found the corn worth it," he added with a smile. + +"That's all right," said the farmer, as he pocketed the money. "I +wouldn't 'a made a fuss if I'd a knowed you was goin' to pay for it. I'm +reasonable, I am." + +"Not at selling corn," murmured Paul, as the man went back into his +field. + +"Hurrah for Hamilton!" cried several cadets, who realized what Dick's +action meant for them. "He's all right." + +"He got us out of a bad scrape," observed Lieutenant Stiver. "My record +won't stand many more demerits." + +But instead of thanking Dick, Dutton turned aside. He acted as if he +disliked to be under any obligations to the cadet who he so unreasonably +hated. + +"Hamilton wanted to show off, and let us see that he had money," said +the captain, contemptuously. "I suppose we ought to vote him a medal--a +gold one, studded with diamonds, seeing that he's a millionaire." + +"That's not right, Ray," murmured Stiver in a low tone. "He's got us out +of a hole." + +"I don't care! I wish he'd take himself out of this academy. We don't +want millionaires here." + +Probably most of Dutton's feeling toward Dick, was due to jealousy, for +Ray's father, though wealthy, was far from being as rich as Mr. +Hamilton. + +Dick bit his lip, to keep back a sharp reply at the unjust construction +put upon his act. + +"I shouldn't do anything for him again," whispered Paul. + +"Well, I did it for the whole company, as much as for him," replied the +young millionaire. "In another minute Colonel Masterly would have heard +the row, and there'd been the mischief to pay." + +The march was resumed after dinner and academy was reached in time for +supper. The cadets were much pleased with their practice "hike," while +the officers were complimented on the order they had maintained. + +"I guess the colonel would preach a different sort of a sermon if he +knew about the corn," remarked Paul, as he and Dick started for their +quarters. + +"Well, as long as he doesn't know, there's no harm done." + +"My, but I'm tired," announced Paul, as he undressed. "I'm glad we don't +have any lessons to-morrow." + +"What do we have?" + +"Artillery drill. Have you forgotten?" + +"That's so. I had. I've got to ride one of the leading horses too. Guess +there'll be plenty of excitement." + +"Shouldn't wonder. I'm on the gun-carriage, where I reckon I'll be +shaken so my liver pin will fall out." + +"I'll try not to let it. There go taps. Douse the glim." + +The two cadets crawled into bed and were soon asleep. + +Artillery drill at the Kentfield academy was as near like the real +article as possible. The guns were four-inch field pieces, each drawn by +six horses, the two leaders being ridden by cadets, while seven men +were on the gun itself, an arrangement somewhat different from that in +the regular army. Real ammunition was used in practice, the pieces being +directed at target placed against a hill of soft dirt, in which the +balls buried themselves. + +The artillery practice began soon after morning inspection. The cadets +had all been instructed in how to load, aim and fire the field pieces, +and had also had practice in driving the artillery into place. For the +first time, however, they were now to indulge in this under the critical +eye of an officer from the regular army, who was visiting the academy. + +The first part of the drill consisted in firing at targets, before +horses were hitched to the guns. The cadets did well at this, the +different squads making good scores. Dick, who was detailed at the +breech, had a chance to aim. He thought he sighted perfectly, but when +it was fired the ball did not hit the target cleanly. It was the last +shot in that particular part of the tactics, and it left Dick's squad +with the lowest record. + +"That's all your fault, Hamilton!" cried Captain Dutton angrily. "Why +didn't you aim that right? Then we'd have had a chance to make a good +score." + +"I did aim it right, but the gun must have shifted. Maybe one of the +wheels was on a small stone." + +"Nonsense. It's your stupidity. You've lost us a good mark." + +Dutton angrily slammed the breech-block shut. Dick gave a start, but +stifled the cry of pain that he was ready to give utterance to, for one +of his fingers was caught in the breech, and the blood spurted from it, +as the angry captain closed the gun. + +"Open the breech! Quick!" cried Paul, who had seen what had happened. + +"What's that?" asked Dutton, who had turned aside. + +Dick's roommate did not answer. Instead he took hold of the block with +both hands, and wrenched it open, releasing our hero, whose white face +showed the pain he suffered. + +"Sorry I hurt you," said Dutton, calmly. "You shouldn't have had your +finger there. I suppose you can't drive now, in the next test." + +"I'll drive," said Dick, grimly, as he bound his handkerchief tightly +around his finger, to stop the bleeding. The nail was smashed, and it +was very painful. + +"Then hurry up, and get the horses. They're ready to begin." + +This test was a difficult one. In turn the different gun squads were to +approach a certain spot on the gallop. They were to go through a narrow +passage, indicated by stakes stuck into the ground, and, at the end were +to suddenly wheel the gun, fire three shots, and continue on at a +gallop to the end of the course. If any of the stakes were touched it +counted against the squad, and other points were won or lost by the +speed and accuracy of firing. + +In spite of his pain Dick mounted his horse, and was soon ready, with +'Gene Graham, who was to ride the other steed, to start off with the +field piece. + +A squad from Company B went first. They cleared the stakes nicely, and +did good work in wheeling and firing. + +"I hope we beat them," murmured Captain Dutton, who was on the gun +carriage. + +Dick grimly resolved that if he had anything to do with it they would. + +Company C's team came next, and did well, but the off horse struck a +stake. + +"Don't let that happen, Hamilton," cautioned Captain Dutton, as it came +their turn. + +Dick and Graham urged their animals to a gallop, and with a deep rumble +the gun followed after them. On and on they went, toward the narrow lane +formed by the upright stakes. Dick's heart was beating hard as he neared +them. Would he clear them? + +With unerring eye the young millionaire guided his animal, and so did +Graham. With folded arms, and almost as stiff as ramrods, the cadets sat +on the gun carriage. The leading horses were at the first stakes now, +but the real test would come when the wide gun carriage reached them. + +"Go on!" yelled Dick to his horse, a swift pace being most essential in +order to keep on a straight course. + +Dick gave a glance back. One wheel seemed about to hit a stake, but he +quickly swerved his horse and the danger was averted. They got through +without touching, and at a swifter pace than had any of their +competitors. A burst of cheers from the watching cadets, and some +visitors, rewarded them. + +"Careful now!" cautioned Captain Dutton, as Dick wheeled his horse +about. + +Whether the animal was frightened at the cheering, or whether Dick, +because of his injured finger, did not have a proper hold of the reins, +was never known but, at that instant, the horse suddenly swerved, +turning almost at right angles, and pulling off the course. So quickly +was it done that it seemed as if the gun and carriage would upset, +injuring several of the lads. + +But Dick was equal to the occasion. Though the strain, which he had to +put on the reins hurt his wounded hand very much, he never flinched. +With a steady pull, and a sharp word of command, he swung his horse's +head around, and just in time to avoid sending the gun over sideways. + +Then, with a smart blow of his hand on the animal's flank Dick set him +to a sharp gallop. Graham's steed, which had been pulled from his +stride, regained it, and the horses behind, straightening out of the +confusion into which they had been thrown, leaped forward, pulling the +rumbling gun after them. Through it all, and in spite of their narrow +escape, the cadets on the carriage had not so much as unfolded their +arms. + +On toward the place where they were to fire Dick and Graham rushed their +horses. A moment later they wheeled them, the cadets leaped down, the +gun was unlimbered, a shot rammed home, and the men stood at attention. + +"Fire!" cried Captain Dutton. + +A puff of white smoke, a sliver of flame and then a deep boom, while a +black ball was hurled toward the distant target. + +Twice more this was repeated, and then the gun was limbered, or attached +to the limber, the forward part of the carriage, and the horses galloped +off with it. Dick's squad had made a perfect score, in spite of the +actions of his horse, and the cadets that came after them failed, so +Captain Dutton's men won in the test. + +But Dick felt sick and faint from the pain in his finger which had +started to bleeding again, because of the strain caused by the reins. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CAPTAIN HANDLEE'S VISIT + + +"Very well done, young gentlemen--very well done indeed," complimented +Colonel Masterly, as Dick and his fellow cadets came driving slowly past +where the head of the academy sat with some visitors, and the army +officer. + +"Indeed, the regulars will have to look to their laurels when such lads +as these are doing as well as that," observed the officer. "I thought +they were going to have a spill there, at one time. But the lad on the +off horse saved the day. Who is he?" + +"Millionaire Hamilton's son," said the superintendent in a low voice, +yet not so low but that Dick heard him. + +"I wish they wouldn't refer to me that way," he thought. "I'd like to be +myself once in a while--just Dick Hamilton. Money isn't what it's +cracked up to be." + +"Why, Hamilton, are you hurt?" asked Major Webster, as Dick guided his +horse to the place where the animals would be unhitched. He looked at +the red-stained handkerchief around the young millionaire's hand. + +"Just a scratch," replied Dick bravely, though the pain of his crushed +finger made him wince. "I caught it in the gun. It doesn't amount to +anything." + +He saw Dutton looking at him, and he fancied he detected a sneer on the +cadet captain's face. + +"Well, go to the surgeon, and have it dressed," said the major. "We +don't want you to get blood poison. Is yours the only injury of the +day?" + +"I guess so," replied Dick, with an attempted laugh. + +"A scratch!" exclaimed the surgeon, when Dick had so characterized the +wound, as he came to have it dressed. "Well, I wouldn't want many +scratches like that. Why the top of the finger is crushed. You shouldn't +have kept on after you got this." + +"I'd have to if we were fighting in earnest," was all Dick said, and he +gritted his teeth hard to keep from screaming out when the surgeon +dressed the wound. + +Fortunately the remainder of the week was devoted to the more quieter +forms of military life, the cadets spending considerable time in +studying, drilling and reciting. + +One afternoon word was sent to Dick, who was studying in his room, that +a visitor desired to see him. + +"Who is it?" he asked the housekeeper, who brought the message. + +"I don't know. It's a gentleman from Hamilton Corners." + +"I hope it's some of the boys," murmured Dick. "Or even a sight of +'Hank' Darby would be welcome," for, in spite of the activities at +Kentfield, Dick was a bit homesick. + +He found waiting for him Captain Handlee. + +"I come to see if you had any news of my son," said the veteran +pitifully. "I'm about to go out west on a clue I have, but I thought I'd +stop off here." + +"No," replied Dick, "I'm sorry, but I haven't any news for you. I wrote +you about my inquiries." + +"Yes, I know, but I hoped something might have happened since then." + +"No, I regret to say, there hasn't. But how does it come that you're +going out west?" + +"Well, I have an idea I can get some clues there. I'm going to look up +some old soldiers who were in my son's company. Your father gave me the +money to go." + +"My father? Is he home?" asked Dick quickly, hoping his parent had +unexpectedly returned from abroad. + +"Oh, no. He gave it to me before he left. I mentioned that I'd like to +go out west, and he gave me a good sum. I don't know what I'd do but for +him." + +"When are you going west?" asked Dick. + +"Right away. I guess I'd better be leaving here now." + +"If you have any time to spare, captain, perhaps you'd like to stay and +see the cadets go through some drills." + +"I think I would, if the commander will let me." + +"Of course he will. Old soldiers are always welcome here. We're going to +have some wall-scaling drills just before parade this evening. I'd like +to have you stay and see them." + +"I will, thanks." + +Dick spoke to Colonel Masterly about Captain Handlee, and the veteran +not only received a cordial invitation to remain, but was taken in +charge by Major Webster, who asked him to occupy his quarters, and take +his meals there. + +The wall-scaling drills were always enjoyed by the cadets as they +offered chances for rough and ready fun. The walls were structures of +boards, between ten and fifteen feet high, placed on the open field, and +the object was for the lads, by means of a pyramid formation, to get all +their comrades over the top, while the men left behind, who had assisted +their fellows over, would either scramble up by means of a rope, +anchored by lads on the other side, or would be pulled up by their +comrades who leaned over the high fence. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +ON THE GRIDIRON + + +When the exercises for the day were over, Dick sought out Captain +Handlee, and inquired how he liked the wall-scaling. + +"Fine! Fine!" exclaimed the veteran. "We never had such practice when I +was in the army, but we did pretty near the same in real life. I +remember one occasion at Chancellorsville--" + +"Now Captain Handlee," interrupted Major Webster, who had constituted +himself host to the veteran, "you keep all such stories for me. If you +get telling them to the cadets, first thing I know I'll have to be +providing big brick walls for them to scale." + +He led the veteran away, the aged captain bidding good-bye to Dick. + +"I hope you'll be successful on your trip," said the young millionaire. + +"I hope so, too, Dick, for I miss my son more and more as I grow older." + +In spite of the good record he made in the drills, at artillery practice +and in his class, Dick found as the weeks went by, that he was making +no progress in becoming popular with the main body of students at +Kentfield. He had a few chums among the freshmen, and of course was on +speaking terms with all the others, but aside from Paul Drew, his +roommate, he had no close friends. This state of affairs made him feel +sad, for at home he had been the most popular lad in town. + +"I'm not succeeding as I thought I would," he said to himself, one day. +"I guess I'll have to put my plan into operation. But perhaps I'd better +wait a while yet. I'll give this way a fair show." + +As fall advanced there began to be talk about forming the football +eleven. A number of new players were needed, because some of the best +had graduated the previous year. + +"I hope I can make the team," said Dick to Paul one evening during their +study period. "I used to be considered a good player at home." + +"I don't see why you can't get on. Fortunately Dutton has nothing to say +about who shall play, though he's considered one of the team's +supporters and backers." + +"Still he may influence Captain Rutledge. I hear they are going to pick +candidates this week." + +"Yes, I heard Harry Hale, the coach, talking about it. I hope you make +the eleven, Dick." + +It was the following day, when Dick was out in the field, with some +other cadets of his class, getting instruction in survey work, that he +overheard something which made him feel more than ever like giving up +the fight against his handicap. He was standing near a thick hedge, +holding the scale rod, while another cadet was reading it through the +instrument, when he heard voices behind the shrubbery. + +"Looks to me like Hamilton would make a good player," he caught, and he +knew that Coach Hale was speaking. + +"You're right," said Captain Rutledge. "He's got the right build, and I +hear he played at home." + +"Aw, you don't want him on the team," expostulated a voice which Dick +knew at once belonged to Captain Dutton. + +"Why not?" asked the coach, in some surprise. + +"Well, none of the other fellows like him. You wouldn't get good team +work if he played." + +"Are you sure?" asked Captain Rutledge. + +"Sure. He's not popular." + +"What's the matter with him?" + +"Well, he's got too much money, and he's always trying to make it known. +He gives himself as many airs as if he came of an old family." + +This was an unjust accusation, but the coach and captain did not know +it, as they were upper-class cadets, and did not mingle much with the +freshmen. + +"Well, we won't want to get an unpopular fellow on the eleven," said the +coach, dubiously. + +"No, indeed," agreed the captain. "Still, we need good players. Suppose +we give him a trial?" + +"You'll be sorry if you do," Dutton assured them. + +Dick longed to drop the rod, leap over the hedge and give a +well-deserved threshing to Dutton, but he knew he would lose more than +he would gain. He was brought quickly out of his fit of righteous anger +by the sharp command of the officer in charge of the surveying party. + +"Plumb east there! Hamilton!" was the cry, and Dick saw that he had +allowed the rod to slant too much. He straightened it, and, glancing at +the hedge saw the three cadets who had been talking, moving away. But, +before they got out of earshot Dick heard Dutton say: + +"I wouldn't put him on the team, if I were you, for I don't think he'll +be here long." + +"Why not? Doesn't he like it?" asked Captain Rutledge. + +"Oh, I guess he likes it all right, but we don't like him. I shouldn't +wonder but what something would happen to make him leave," and Dutton +laughed sarcastically. + +"I guess I'd better be on my guard," thought Dick as he moved the rod to +another place, in obedience to the instructions from the cadet at the +instrument. + +A few days after this, a notice was posted on the bulletin board in the +gymnasium, telling all candidates for the football team to report on +the gridiron that afternoon, as selections for the regular and scrub +teams would be made. Members of the scrub would act as substitutes on +the regular. + +"Here's where I get my chance," said Dick to Paul. + +"Well, I hope you make the regular team," replied his roommate, as the +young millionaire went to submit himself for examination. + +Coach Hale, Captain Rutledge, and a number of the former players were on +hand, as was Dutton, and some of his cronies. All the candidates were +looked over, sized up physically, and put through a course of "sprouts" +in running, leaping, and tackling. Then their football history was +inquired into. + +"I guess you'll do, Hamilton," said the coach, and Dick was delighted. + +A moment later, however, he saw his hopes dashed to the ground. Dutton +called Harry Hale over to him, whispered a bit, and then Captain +Rutledge joined them. + +"You'll be on the scrub, Hamilton," said Hale, a little later. "You'll +probably have a chance to play in several games, however, for I like +your form. You've got to be regular at practice however." + +Though much disappointed, Dick vowed to do his best at practice. This +was started a few days later, and, when the regular team lined up +against the substitutes, Dick resolved that they would make no gains +through him, for he was playing at left guard, though he preferred being +back of the line. + +"Well, how are we making out," Dick overheard Captain Rutledge asking +the coach, one afternoon, following some hard scrimmages. + +"Pretty good. That Hamilton is like a brick wall, though. We can't gain +a foot through him. I wish we had him on the regular." + +"Well, you know what Dutton said." + +"Yes, I know, but I don't believe all Dutton says. He's got queer +notions. I think Hamilton is every bit as good as he is. Besides, Dutton +doesn't play football." + +"I know it, but he has lots of influence." + +Dick fully subscribed to this, for he knew it was due to Dutton that he +was on the scrub instead of on the regular team. But he resolved to have +patience. + +As Dick walked off the gridiron, following the practice, he was met, +before he reached his barracks, by Grit, who had been let out of his +kennel in the stables. + +"Hello, Grit old fellow!" exclaimed Dick, and the dog nearly dislocated +his stump of a tail, so excited was he. Since rejoining his master he +had picked up wonderfully. "I've got you for a friend, even if I haven't +many others," said Dick, as he bent over to fondle the dog. As he did so +he saw some marks on the animal's smooth, satin-like coat, that made him +start. + +"Grit, you've been fighting!" he exclaimed. "How did that happen?" He +knew there were no other dogs near the academy with whom his pet would +quarrel. He asked the stableman about it. + +"Sure Grit's been in a fight," replied one of the hostlers. "I thought +you matched him in a scrap wid a dorg in town. Grit won, anyhow. It was +a couple a' nights ago." + +"Matched him in a fight? Why, did some one--some of the cadets take Grit +to town, and let him fight?" + +"Thot's what they done, Muster Hamilton, an' they won a pot of money on +him too, I understand." + +"Who took him?" asked Dick, trying to speak calmly. + +"Why, uts no secret. Muster Dutton an' Muster Stiver tuck him one night. +Ut was a foin foight, I heard 'em say." + +Dick started away, after chaining Grit up, a set look on his face. + +"I'll have it out with Dutton," he said. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +FOR THE PRIZE TROOP + + +After a bath and rub down in the gymnasium Dick dressed for evening +parade. When this was over he sought out Dutton, who was strolling off +the campus with some chums. + +"Captain Dutton, I wish to speak to you," said Dick, formally saluting. + +"Well, I don't know that I wish to speak to you. What is it?" asked the +young snob, barely acknowledging Dick's courtesy. + +"Did you take my bulldog to town, and match him to fight another?" + +Dutton started, then looked insolently at Dick. + +"What of it?" he asked sneeringly. + +"This much. That you haven't any right to do that, even if you are my +superior officer. Grit is my personal property, and I won't have him +fighting." + +"Aw, what's the harm, Hamilton. He put up a dandy fight and licked a +bigger dog than he is," put in one of the cadets. + +"I don't care, I don't want him to fight." + +"Oh, you don't?" asked Dutton coolly. + +"No; and if you take him again----" + +"Well, what will you do? Report me, I suppose?" said the captain. + +"No, but I'll thrash you worse than I did the other time, Captain +Dutton, that's what I'll do!" exclaimed Dick, hotly. "You leave Grit +alone! If you take him again you know what to expect!" + +Dutton turned pale. He strode toward Dick, but at that moment Captain +Grantly, one of the instructors, strolled past. Dutton turned aside. + +"You haven't heard the last of this--my fresh millionaire," he said in a +whisper to Dick, as he and his cronies walked off. "You'll wish you +hadn't insulted me." + +Dick saluted, as the rules required, and marched back to quarters. He +felt that he would have enjoyed a good stiff fight with his mean enemy. + +"I don't suppose this will add to my popularity, among the sporting +element," he said to himself. "But I don't care; they shan't fight +Grit!" + +Football practice went on every afternoon, and Dick and the other scrubs +were faithful at it. The regular eleven was being whipped into shape, +and the first game was close at hand. When it was played Dick found +himself wishing he could have a chance, but no such thing happened. The +opponents of Kentfield were light-weight players, and the cadets had no +difficulty in piling up a big score. + +"But it will be different next week," Captain Rutledge warned them. "We +tackle Mooretown then, and you'll find your work cut out for you." + +This game was indeed a stiff one, and several players were hurt. The +cadets were slightly ahead in the second half, when the right half-back +was knocked out, and, as there had been one substitute already put in at +that position, there was a call for another one. + +"Try Hamilton," suggested the coach, after a hurried consultation with +the captain. + +Dick's heart gave a wild throb, as he was called, and, stripping off his +sweater, he bounded in from the side line. He was given the ball for a +play around the left end, and, getting clear of the opposing players +started down the field on a run. But, alas for his hopes of making a +touchdown! The referee's whistle blew when he was on the thirty-five +yard line, ending the game, in favor of Kentfield. + +There was rejoicing among the cadets, for Mooretown was an ancient +rival, and they played three games with the students of that +non-military academy every year, for the local championship. + +"You didn't get much of a show, Hamilton," said Coach Hale, as the team +was in the dressing room. "But you started off well. I guess you'll get +into a game yet." + +Dick was grateful for this praise. He knew he could do good work if he +had half a chance. + +"This is Saturday," observed Paul Drew, as he crawled out of bed the +next morning. "Not so many lessons to-day, and lots of fun for you, I +suppose on the horses. It's rough-riding to-day." + +"So it is," agreed Dick. "I like that best of all, except, maybe, hiking +on a practice march, and firing from the trenches. I hope I get the +horse I had last time." + +"To-day's the last of the tests," went on Paul, as he slipped into his +uniform. + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean the officers are going to choose from those who ride to-day, the +cadets who can take part in the tests for joining the prize troop." + +"Right you are. Say, I'm going to make that troop or bust a leg." + +"Well, I hope you don't break any bones. But I guess there's no danger. +You seem right at home on a horse." + +"I ought to. I've been riding ever since I was a kid. I'm going to do my +best to-day." + +As Paul had said, this was the final weeding out of candidates among the +cadets, who had no chance in the tests that would be held later, to +determine who should be members of the prize troop. This troop consisted +of the best riders at the academy, and took part in several state +evolutions and parades, having won a number of trophies. + +Scores of cadets, in their service uniforms, reported on the cavalry +plain for practice. They were required to vault into the saddle while +their horse was standing still, and at varying speeds, up to a smart +gallop. Many failed in this, but Dick did not. + +Then came mounting and dismounting at hurdles, which was more difficult, +and weeded out a number, and then, the last of the semifinals, was the +feat of standing astride on two horses, driving a steed on either side, +and, while doing this, to take a difficult hurdle. + +More than a score did not succeed at this, and Dick was not a little +nervous when it came his turn, as, though he was an expert, he had not +practiced this evolution much. + +On his steeds thundered over the ground, one being a skittish horse, and +hard to manage. + +"If they don't jump together," thought Dick, "I'm done for. If one of +them knocks down the hurdle bar it's all up with my chances." + +He called encouragingly to the animals, and took a tighter hold on the +reins, while he shifted his weight on the backs of the horses. + +"Over you go now, boys!" he exclaimed at the take-off, and he fairly +lifted the four animals as one, over the bar, clearing it cleanly. + +"Good, Hamilton!" was the quiet praise of Major Webster, who acted as +judge. "That was finely done." + +So Dick qualified for the finals. + +But there was more hard work ahead of him. Thus far not many of the +freshmen had kept up to Dick, and there were envious eyes cast at him. +But those who envied him his good fortune realized that he had earned +it. + +"Now, gentlemen, ready for the finals," ordered Major Webster. "I want +you all to be careful, and take no unnecessary risks, at the same time, +don't be afraid, for no one ever became a good horseman who was afraid." + +The final tests consisted in riding bareback, in different postures, +such as might become necessary during a battle, in riding at different +speeds, in removing the saddle from the horse while at full gallop, in +leaping hurdles, and taking water jumps. + +Other tests were in leaping hurdles four feet high, and as the cadets +vaulted, taking a suspending ring on a lance, in leaping clean over a +running horse and in forming pyramids, with ten cadets on four horses. + +The last test was, perhaps, the most difficult of all. It consisted in +one cadet lying on the ground, and another riding toward him at full +speed. The one on the horse had to pick up his comrade from the earth, +by leaning over and grasping his up-stretched hand, and then assisting +him up behind him on his horse, continuing to gallop away. + +When it came Dick's turn he noticed, with some uneasiness, that the +cadet he was to pick up, was one of the heaviest in the school, but he +resolved to succeed, and he braced himself for the ordeal, as his horse +galloped toward the prostrate youth. + +As he neared the recumbent figure Dick leaned over, holding on as +tightly as he could with his legs. His hand grasped the belt and part of +the clothing of the cadet, and then Dick's arm felt as if it would be +torn from the socket. He feared he would be dragged from his horse. + +But, with a sudden pull, he lifted the lad from the ground and swung him +upon his horse. There was some applause at Dick's feat, as his steed +galloped on over the course. + +"Guess I'm something of a load, old chap," said the cadet to Dick. + +"You're no feather," was Dick's comment, as he halted his horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +DICK IN TROUBLE + + +"Well, Hamilton, I think we shall admit you to membership in the prize +troop," said Major Webster. "It was a severe test, and you did well." + +"I'm glad you think so, sir," replied Dick, saluting. + +There were some further trials, in some of them Dick acting the part of +the reclining cadet. 'Gene Graham could not succeed in the test, and was +rejected, much to his disappointment. + +Dick was delighted to be a member of the prize troop for it brought with +it many privileges; and there was a chance to take part in parades and +similar affairs to which the other cadets were not admitted. + +Very few freshmen had won the coveted honor, but it can not be said that +Dick was received with open arms into the troop. Dutton and many of his +friends belonged, and they had lost none of their unreasonable feeling +against Dick. Still they did nothing more than turn a cold shoulder +toward him, though this was enough to make the young millionaire +miserable. + +However, he managed to forget some of his bad feeling in anticipation of +another football game, which was to take place two days later. He hoped +to get a chance to play, as, following a rather tame affair with a team +which the Kentfield eleven "walked all over," there was to be the second +of the championship contests with Mooretown. + +This was a lively and strenuous game. Mooretown put in some new players, +and, though they did not score in the first half, when Kentfield made +one touchdown, the opponents of the cadet warriors of the gridiron took +such a brace in the second that the score was ten to four, in favor of +Mooretown, when the referee's whistle blew. + +"What's the matter with your men?" asked Coach Hale of Captain Rutledge, +after the game. "They couldn't hold those fellows for a cent." + +"Too much beef for us," replied the captain. + +"Yes, and they tore holes in your line that you could drive an ice wagon +through," went on the coach. "Both your guards were weak. Hamilton +should have been put in." + +"I couldn't very well do it, when no men were hurt." + +"No, I suppose not. But if the next game doesn't go better than this one +did, I'll make a change. We can't afford to lose it." + +"We shan't lose it," promised the captain, and Dick, who overheard what +was said, hoped he would get a chance to play. + +Meanwhile he reported regularly for practice, and was a tower of +strength to the scrub eleven, many of the players on which, regardless +of Dutton's influence, made of Dick a better friend than heretofore. + +Several unimportant games followed, one of which resulted in a tie, +Kentfield winning the others, and then came the occasion of the final +struggle with Mooretown. It was the greatest game of the season, as it +meant much to both academies. + +The day before the contest Dick was surprised to receive a visit from +Russell Glen, one of the freshmen cadets, who, hitherto, had scarcely +taken the trouble to nod to him. Glen wanted to be considered a "sport," +and Dick had heard that he had had a hand in taking Grit off to the dog +fight. + +"I had a letter from a friend of mine to-day," said Glen, by way of +introduction, as he lolled in one of Dick's easy chairs. "It contained +some surprising news." + +"Yes?" asked Dick politely. + +"Yes, it was from Guy Fletcher, of Hamilton Corners. He spoke of you, +and asked me if I knew you." + +"Well?" asked Dick, wondering what was coming. + +"I was quite surprised to know that you and Guy were friends," went on +Glen. + +"Oh, yes, I've known Guy for some time," said Dick, not caring to go +into particulars, and tell what a mean trick Guy, in company with Simon +Scardale, had once played on him. + +"So he says. He speaks very highly of you. I've known him for some time. +He and I used to be quite chummy. But I had no idea you and he lived in +the same town, until he spoke of it in his letter. He mentioned that you +attended this academy, and asked if I was acquainted with you. I wrote +back and said that I was." + +Dick looked rather surprised at this, as well he might, for, beyond a +mere nod, Glen had never shown that he knew him. + +"I don't suppose I am as well acquainted with you as I might be," went +on the young "sport," calmly, "and that's my fault. I've been so busy +attending to my studies, that I haven't had much time for social calls." + +Neither had many of the other cadets, Dick thought bitterly. + +"But I'll make amends now," went on Glen. "I want to get to know you +better, because we both have the same friend in Guy Fletcher." + +Dick didn't think it worth while to state that Guy was no particular +friend of his, since certain happenings told of in the first volume of +this series. But Glen continued: + +"I wish you'd come to a little spread I'm giving to-night. Just a small +affair for some of the freshmen." + +"I'll come," promised our hero, glad of the chance to meet some of his +classmates informally. + +"It won't be as elaborate as the one I hear you gave," went on Glen, +"for I'm not a millionaire," and he laughed. "But I'll do the best I +can." + +At first Dick thought he was going to have a good time at the affair, +for the guests, most of whom were of the "sporting" element, greeted him +cordially enough. But when Glen produced several bottles of beer, and +some cigars, Dick felt uneasy. + +It was an offense, calling for severe punishment, to have intoxicants or +tobacco in the academy, and Dick realized that discovery might come any +moment. Still, he did not want to bring upon himself ridicule, and +perhaps anger, by leaving. + +"Have some beer, Hamilton," urged Glen. + +"It's the right sort of stuff. I had it smuggled in from town. And these +are prime cigars. I snibbled some from dad's stock before I came away." + +"No, thank you," replied Dick. "I don't care for any." + +"What, don't you drink?" + +"No." + +"Aw, you don't know what life is. Have a cigar then." + +"No, I don't smoke, either." + +"Humph! You're a regular molly-coddle, you are," said Glen, with a +brutal laugh. + +Dick flushed. + +"Maybe," he admitted, as pleasantly as he could, "but I have an idea I +shouldn't drink or smoke while in training, if for no other reason." + +"Your training doesn't seem to be doing you much good," said another +cadet. "You haven't had a show in any of the games yet. Better quit +training and have some beer." + +"No, thank you. Maybe I'll get a chance to play to-morrow." + +But Dick's refusal had no effect on Glen's other guests. They drank more +than was good for them, and smoked considerable. They were becoming +rather noisy and silly, and Dick was in momentary terror lest some guard +or instructor should come along and discover the violation of the rules. +The spread was held in an unused room, in the basement of the east +barrack, and, though permission for it had been given, the officer in +charge of the building was supposed to keep a sort of lookout over such +affairs. + +If one of the cadet officers discovered the beer and cigars he would +hardly "squeal" on his comrades, but one of the academy staff would not +be so lenient. + +The fun became more and more noisy, and Dick was thinking of +withdrawing, no matter if he did offend his host, when he was saved the +trouble by something that happened. + +A cadet officer, who was on night guard knocked on the door, and when +there came a sudden hush to the merry-making, he whispered that Major +Webster was approaching, and would almost certainly discover the breach +of rules. + +"Quick fellows, get this stuff out of the way, and then skip!" cried +Glen, and the boys quickly hid the beer bottles, and threw away their +cigars. Then, by opening the windows, the smoke was gotten rid of, and +the cadets prepared to disperse. + +"I say, Hamilton," began Glen, a bit thickly, as he walked alongside +Dick, to his room, "you couldn't lend me twenty-five dollars; could you? +I spent more on this racket than I intended, and I'm a bit short until I +get my next allowance. I want to bet a little on the game to-morrow." + +"I guess I can let you have it," said Dick good naturedly. "Come to my +room, and I'll get it." + +It was after ten o'clock, but as Dick had received permission to attend +the spread, he had a permit to be out after taps. Paul, who had not been +invited, was asleep when Dick and Glen entered. + +"I say, Hamilton, you keep your room looking nice," said the "sport" as +he looked around the neat apartment. "I'm always getting a mark at +police inspection, for having something out of kilter. You and Drew are +as neat as girls." + +"Hush! Not so loud," cautioned Dick. "You'll wake, Paul." + +"Aw, what's the odds. He'll go to sleep again. It's early yet. Be a +sport!" + +Glen was noisy from the beer which he had taken. + +"Here is the money," said Dick, handing over some bills. + +"Thanks, old chap. I'll see that you get it back all right." + +"There's no hurry." + +"All right; if I win, though, I'll pay you to-morrow. Do you think we'll +lick Mooretown?" + +"I hope so. But you'd better go to bed now." + +"Me? Go to bed? Wha' for?" + +"Well, it's getting late, and some one might come along. You'd better +go." + +"That's a' right. I'm goin'. You're a' right, Ham'ton. You're a' right. +You're sport!" + +And, rather unsteady on his legs, poor, foolish Glen went away, much to +Dick's relief. + +"I don't much care for friends, such as he is," thought Dick, as he got +into bed. + +In his generousness it never occurred to him that Glen had cultivated +his acquaintance merely that he might borrow money from him. + +Dick was awakened by the clear, sweet notes of the bugle sounding +reveille. He and Paul jumped out of bed, and were soon in their +uniforms. Then they got their room in order for police inspection, +which, on some days, was made while they were at breakfast. This was one +of those occasions. + +"There, I guess they can't find any fault with that," observed Dick, as +he and his roommate, putting the finishing touches to their apartment, +descended to form in line to march to the mess hall. + +Dick was leaving the table, to attend chapel, when Cadet Captain Naylor, +who was in charge of the police inspection, tapped him on the shoulder. + +"Hamilton, report to Major Rockford," he said curtly. + +"To Major Rockford? What for?" + +"Room out of order." + +"Room out of order?" + +Dick knew that he and Paul had left their apartment in perfect trim. + +But Captain Naylor did not answer, and Dick, with a heavy heart, started +for the commandant's office. It was the first time he had been made to +report for a breach of discipline of this sort. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +A DISMAL CHRISTMAS + + +"You are reported as not having your room in order, Hamilton," began +Major Rockford, as Dick entered. + +"I don't see how that can be, sir," replied Dick, saluting. "When Paul +Drew and I left it for breakfast it was in order." + +"Drew's side is yet, but your bureau is stated by Captain Naylor to be +in great disorder." + +"I--I left it in order, sir." + +"Very well, we will go and take a look at it." + +Accompanied by the commandant, Dick went to his apartment. To his +surprise his neat bureau was in great disorder, the objects on it being +scattered all about. + +"Well?" asked Major Rockford. + +"Some one--some one must have been in here, sir," said Dick. + +"Ha! Do you wish to accuse any one?" + +Dick went closer to his bureau. Something on it caught his eye. It was a +note written in pencil. It read: + + "DEAR HAMILTON: I am awfully sick this morning. I lost that + twenty-five you loaned me. Can you let me have some more? I + called but you were out, so I wrote this note here. Please let + me have the money. + "RUSSELL GLEN." + +Then Dick understood. Glen, suffering from the effects of his +dissipation the night before, had called at the room after our hero and +Paul had left to go to breakfast. In writing the note Glen had, probably +unthinkingly, disarranged the things on Dick's bureau, where he wrote +and left the missive. Then he had gone away, and, Captain Naylor, on +police inspection, had seen the disorder, and reported Dick. + +"Do you wish to accuse any one?" went on Major Rockford. + +Dick thought rapidly. To tell the true circumstances, and show Glen's +note, would mean that the facts of the spread would come out. Glen and +his chums would be punished, and Dick might be censured. It would be +better to accept the blame for having his room in disorder, rather than +incur the displeasure of his comrades by being the means of informing on +Glen. + +So Dick answered: + +"I--I guess I was mistaken, sir. I am sorry my room was out of order." + +"So am I, Hamilton, for you have a good record. Still there have been +several violations of late, among the cadets, and I must make an +example. But, in view of your good conduct, and record I will not give +you any demerits." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Still, I must inflict some punishment You will not be allowed to attend +the football game this afternoon, but must remain in your room." + +That was punishment indeed, for Dick felt that he would have a chance to +play. Still, like a good soldier, he did not murmur. He concealed Glen's +note in his hand, saluted the major and then, as chapel was over, he +marched to his classroom, with a heavy heart. + +"I wonder if that was part of a plot to get me into trouble," thought +Dick, as he recalled what he had overheard Dutton say. "They're trying +to force me to leave the academy. But I'll not go! I'll fight it out!" + +He felt very lonesome as he had to retire to his room that afternoon, +and heard the merry shouts of the football eleven, the substitutes, and +the other cadets leaving for the final battle on the gridiron with +Mooretown. + +"How I wish I could go!" thought Dick. "I'm punished for something I +didn't do. It isn't right. Still, perhaps Glen was so sick he didn't +know what he was doing." + +He had already sent Glen some more money, for he did not want to refuse +one of the few favors that had been asked of him since coming to the +academy. + +As he was moping in his room, Toots came along, whistling "Three Cheers +for the Red, White and Blue," and giving a succession of bugle calls. + +"What? Not at the game, Mister Hamilton?" asked the jolly janitor. + +"No; I'm a prisoner." + +"That's nothing. Many a time I got out of the guard house. There's no +one around now, and I won't look, nor squeal. You can easily slip out, +and go to the game." + +"No," said Dick, though the temptation was strong. "By the way, Toots, +did you ever call to mind about this picture?" and he showed him the one +of missing Bill Handlee, which was still on the mantle. + +"No," replied Toots, again striving hard to remember about it. "It's +clean gone from me, Mr. Hamilton. But, are you sure you don't want to +escape? I can find some work to do at the other side of the barracks, if +you want to go." + +"No. I'll stay." + +And stay Dick did, all that long afternoon. It was dusk when the players +and the other cadets came back, and there was an ominous silence about +their return. + +"It doesn't sound as if they'd won," thought Dick. "If they did they're +celebrating very quietly." + +Paul Drew came in a little later. + +"How about the game?" asked Dick eagerly. + +"We lost," said Paul. "We might have won, only Henderson, who had a +chance to score a winning touchdown, couldn't run fast enough with the +ball, and he was downed on the five-yard line, too late for another try +to cross the Mooretown goal. I wish you had played. You'd have won the +game for us." + +"Oh, I guess not." + +"Yes, you would. Captain Rutledge admitted as much." + +"Well, maybe I'll get a chance next time." + +"There won't be any next time this year. The game is over for the +season, and Mooretown did us two contests out of three. It's too bad. +The fellows are all cut up over it. Say, have you any idea who mussed up +your bureau? Was it Dutton?" + +"No, it wasn't Dutton," said Dick quietly, and that was all he could be +induced to say about it. + +Discipline, which had been somewhat relaxed during the football season, +was now in force again, and the cadets found they were kept very busy +with their studies and drills. Dick was standing well in his classes, +but he made no more progress in gaining the friendship of the students, +other than a few freshmen. + +Even Glen showed no disposition to make much of Dick. He did not repay +the money borrowed, on the plea that he was in debt quite heavily, and +had lost much on the football game. Still he had the cheek to ask Dick +for more, and when the young millionaire properly refused Glen called +him a "tight-wad," and sneered at him, making no pretense of retaining +his friendship. + +One night, following several spreads, to none of which was Dick invited, +he wrote a rather discouraged letter to his father, hinting that he +wished he could attend some other school. + +In due time there came an answer, part of which was as follows: + + "You know the terms were that you were to remain at least a full + term. Still, if you do not wish to, you have the choice of going + to your Uncle Ezra. He will send you to a boarding school of his + own selection. Let me know what you will do. I will not be able + to get home by Christmas, as I expected, and you had better + remain at the academy over the holidays. I know it will be + lonesome for you, but it can't be helped." + +"Go to a boarding school selected by Uncle Ezra," murmured Dick. "Never! +I'll stay here a full term, even if no one but the teachers speak to me. +I never could stand Uncle Ezra and Dankville. This is bad enough, but +there are some bright spots in it. The sun never shines where Uncle Ezra +is." + +Yet the time was coming when Uncle Ezra was to do Dick a great favor, +though he himself was not aware of it. + +So Dick sent word to his father that he would remain at Kentfield. Fall +merged into winter, and overcoats were the order of the day at all +out-door exercises. Much of the drilling and parading was omitted, and +more study and recitation was indulged in. What maneuvers on horseback +and afoot were held, took place mainly in the big riding hall or drill +room, and they were not as attractive as when held out of doors. + +"Well, are you going home for Christmas?" asked Paul, about a week +before the holiday vacation. + +"Guess not," replied Dick, somewhat gloomily. "Our house is shut up, and +I don't care about spending Christmas at a hotel in Hamilton Corners." + +"Come home with me." + +"No, thank you. I was thinking of visiting some of my chums at home. I +believe I'll do that. I'll be glad to see them again." + +Dick knew he would be welcomed at the homes of any of his friends, and +he planned to go to Hamilton Corners and surprise them. + +But alas for his hopes! When the last day of school came, and the other +cadets made hurried preparations to leave for home, poor Dick was taken +with a heavy cold. The surgeon forbade him leaving his room, as the +weather was cold and stormy, and our hero was forced to remain at +Kentfield, in charge of the housekeeper and the doctor, while the other +cadets joyfully departed to happy firesides. + +"Sorry to leave you, old chap," said Paul, sympathetically, "but my +folks wouldn't know what to do if I didn't come home over the holidays." + +"That's all right," said Dick, hoarsely, but as cheerfully as he could. +"I'll see you after New Year's. Have a good time." + +"I will. Hope you get better." + +It was a gloomy Christmas for the young millionaire, and, as a fever set +in with his cold, he couldn't even enjoy the good things which the kind +housekeeper, under orders from Colonel Masterly, provided for the +patient. + +The academy was a very lonely place indeed, Christmas day, for all the +officers and cadets had gone, leaving only the housekeeper, and some of +the janitors, including Toots, in charge. + +Dick received some tokens from abroad, sent by his father, and a cheery +letter, which he answered in the same strain. + +"But it isn't much like Christmas," thought Dick, as he sat up in bed. +Then a bright thought came to him. + +"Can't Toots have dinner up here with me?" he asked Mrs. Fitzpatrick. + +"Of course he can," she said. "Maybe it will cheer you up," and she sent +for the jolly janitor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE MARKSMAN MEDAL + + +Toots' advance along the corridor leading to Dick's room was announced +by his rendering of the tune "The Star Spangled Banner," which he ended +with a spirited bugle call. + +"Did you send for me, Mr. Hamilton?" he asked as he came in. + +"I did, Toots," said Dick. "I thought maybe you would like to have +dinner with me here. I'm lonesome, and I suppose you are, too." + +"Bless your heart, not exactly lonesome, Mr. Hamilton, but I'm glad to +come just the same. You see I'm too busy to be lonesome. I've got lots +to do, cleaning up all the rooms against the cadets coming back in a +couple of weeks." + +"Then maybe you haven't time to spend an hour or so here." + +"Oh, I reckon I have. But it's agin the regulations for me to eat here. +I'm supposed to eat with the other servants." + +"We'll make our own regulations for the time being," said Dick. "Here +comes Mrs. Fitzpatrick with the grub. I hope you're hungry, for I'm not +particularly." + +"Well, I can eat a bit," admitted Toots. "I say, though, that is a +spread!" he exclaimed, as he saw the good things the housekeeper was +bringing into Dick's room, where she set them on a table. + +"Well, it's Christmas," observed Dick, "though I can't eat much myself. +However, it'll do me good to see you put it away." + +"And I can do that same," admitted Toots cheerfully. + +Dick, under the doctor's orders was allowed only a bit of the white meat +of the turkey, and none of the "stuffing," so he could not make a very +substantial meal, but Toots ate enough for three. + +"I don't suppose you got this sort of thing in the army," ventured Dick, +wishing to have his odd friend talk somewhat of his experiences, for he +had learned that Toots had once been janitor at a military post. + +"No, indeed," replied Toots. "We did get a little extra at holiday +times, but nothing like this." + +"How did you come to be at the military post?" asked Dick. + +"Blessed if I know. I was always a sort of a rover, and I suppose I +wandered out west. I'm going to join the army some time. I'm a good +shot, you know. Did you ever see me shoot?" + +"Yes," replied Dick, trying not to smile, as he thought of how far +Toots had come from hitting the target. + +"Yes, I'm a good shot," went on the janitor. "But I'm going to improve. +I'll practice on the range this winter at odd times. You're a pretty +good shot yourself, ain't you?" + +"Fair," admitted Dick, as he watched Toots put away the roast turkey and +the "fixings." + +"A-ker-choo!" suddenly sneezed Toots, pulling out his handkerchief. +"Aker-choo-choo! Guess I put too much pepper on my potatoes," he said. + +Something fell to the floor, as Toots pulled out his handkerchief. It +lay in sight of Dick, who was propped up in bed. + +"What's that?" he asked. "You dropped something." + +The man picked it up, and Dick saw that it was a marksman's bronze +medal. + +"Let me see that," he said, quickly, and the janitor passed it over. + +"Why this was given to some soldier, for good shooting," went on our +hero, as he tried to decipher the name on it. "Where did you get it, +Toots?" + +"Blessed if I know, Mr. Hamilton. I've had it a long time. It was given +to me by some friend, I expect. I found it the other day in my trunk. +I'd forgotten I had it. But if it's a marksman's badge, I'm going to +wear it. I'm a good shot." + +Dick looked more closely at it. Besides the name of some soldier the +badge contained the name of the command to which he had belonged, but +everything save the letters "mie, Wyo." were obliterated by dents and +scratches. + +A sudden thought came to Dick. It was in connection with Toot's +half-recognition of the picture of missing Bill Handlee. It was evident +that Toots knew something of the captain's son, but he could not +straighten out the kink in his memory, and possibly this marksman's +badge might be a clue. Dick hoped so, and he decided to try to learn +from what fort or command the medal had been given. + +"I wish you'd let me take this for a few days, Toots," he said. "I'll +take good care of it." + +"All right, Mr. Hamilton, but don't lose it. If it's what you say it is, +I'm going to wear it, to show I'm a good shot. Then I won't have to be +telling people all the while. They can see it for themselves." + +"Can't you recollect where you got it?" asked Dick again. + +Toots shook his head. + +"It's like--like the time you asked me about his picture," he said, +pointing to the photo on the mantle. "I get all sort of confused in my +head. Maybe I always had it. Maybe someone gave it to me when I was +janitor at the fort out west." + +"What fort was that?" + +"I've forgotten. It's a good while ago. But don't lose that medal, Mr. +Hamilton. I'm going to wear it." + +"Poor Toots," thought Dick. "All the medals in the world will never make +you a good shot." + +He put the badge carefully away, resolving to ask Major Webster, at the +first opportunity, from what military post it was likely to have come. + +Thanks to the jolly companionship of Toots, Christmas was not as gloomy +as Dick had feared it would be. The dinner over the janitor left Dick to +himself, and our hero fell into a refreshing sleep. When he awoke he +felt much better, and the doctor said he could be out in a couple of +days, if the weather moderated. + +The first of the year dawned; a fine bracing day, and, as there was no +biting wind, Dick was allowed to stroll about the campus a short time. +This brought the color to his cheeks, and completed the cure begun by +the surgeon's medicine. + +"Well, things will be lively a week from to-night," said Toots one day, +as he came in to make up Dick's room. + +"Why?" + +"The boys will be back then. Vacation will be over." + +"I'm glad of it," commented Dick, and then, with pain in his heart, he +wondered if the coming term would bring him more fellowship than had the +preceding one. + +Major Webster was among the first of the instructors to arrive, in +anticipation of the return of the students, and to him Dick showed the +medal. + +"Why, yes; that's one given out years ago, at Fort Laramie, Wyoming," he +said. "I can send it to a friend of mine for you, if you like. Possibly +they may be able to trace the illegible name from the fort records." + +"I wish you would," said Dick. "Maybe I can get a trace of Captain +Handlee's son for him." + +"I doubt it," replied the major, shaking his head. "I tried all the +sources of information I knew, and it was useless. Still you may have +better luck." + +The medal was sent off, but, fearing nothing would come of it, Dick did +not say anything to Captain Handlee about it, though he wrote to the +veteran in answer to a letter the old soldier sent him. + +The holiday vacation came to a close, and, one morning Dick awoke to a +realization that, on that day, the cadets would come pouring back. + +It was nearly noon when the first of them arrived. Among them was Paul +Drew. + +"Well, how are you, old chap?" he cried, rushing into Dick's room. + +"Pretty good. How about you?" + +"Oh, I had a dandy time, home. I almost hated to come back, but I wanted +to see you, and then I know we'll have some sport this winter. Say, +there are a lot of new fellows. We're not so fresh as we were. There +are others. There's going to be hazing to-night, I understand. Thank +fortune they won't bother me. I don't fancy cold water down my back on a +winter night." + +"Hazing, eh?" remarked Dick. And he wondered if his turn would come. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +DICK DOESN'T TELL + + +All the rest of that day cadets continued to arrive at Kentfield +Academy, and there were lively scenes on the snow-covered campus, in the +assembly auditoriums, students' rooms, and in the mess hall. + +Several new cadets stood about, looking rather miserable, Dick thought, +and he spoke to some of them, telling them where to report, and what to +do, for he appreciated what it meant to be a stranger among a lot of +lads who ignored new-comers, not because they were heartless so much as +that they were thoughtless. + +Dick rather hoped Dutton would not return, but that cadet was among the +first he encountered as he strolled over the white campus. + +Dutton nodded coolly, and Dick as coolly acknowledged the bow. Then +Dutton saw a freshman standing near the saluting cannon. It was one of +the unwritten rules of the school that none below the grade of +sophomores might stand near the cannon. + +"Here, fresh!" cried Dutton roughly, "stand away from that gun!" + +The lad, a small chap, did not seem to comprehend. + +Dick put in a word. + +"You can't stand near there until you're a second year," he told the +lad. "It's a school rule, that's all." + +"I say, Hamilton, I guess I can manage my own affairs," said Dutton, +angrily. "You mind your own business; will you?" + +"I guess I've got as much right to speak as you have," said Dick hotly. +"I was only telling him what to do." + +The freshman looked from one to the other. Quite a group had gathered by +this time, attracted by Dutton's loud voice. The new lad moved a short +distance away from the gun. + +"Don't you know enough to mind when you're spoken to?" demanded Dutton, +advancing toward him. "I'll teach you manners, you young cub! Why don't +you salute when an officer speaks to you? Now get back," and, with that +he gave the lad such a shove that he went over backward into a snow +bank, made by shoveling the white crystals away from the gun. + +"That's not right, Dutton!" exclaimed Dick. + +"You mind your own affairs, or I'll do the same to you, Hamilton," +retorted the bully. + +"You'd better try it," said Dick quietly. "If you want to fight with me, +you know what to do. Just lay a finger on me." + +He took a step toward his enemy, and stood waiting for him. But Dutton +knew better than to attack Dick. He had felt the weight of his fists +once, and he knew he had no chance in a fair fight. + +So he strode away, muttering to the lad whom he had knocked down: + +"You keep away from this gun, after this, fresh." + +Dick did not think it wise to say anything further on the side of the +mistreated one. Already he saw some unpleasant looks directed toward him +by Dutton's friends, and he realized that by interfering in what was +considered one of the rights of upper classmen, to assume a bullying +attitude toward those in the lower grades, he was not adding to his +popularity. I am glad to say that such characters as Dutton were in the +small majority at Kentfield, and that though some of his cronies +applauded his action in knocking the newcomer down, most of the lads +were not in sympathy with the bully. + +But there were so many things occurring, so many cadets arriving, some +of whom wanted to change their apartments, to get new roommates, or be +quartered in other sections of the barracks, that all was in seeming +confusion. + +Colonel Masterly and his aides, however, had matters well in hand, and +by night, when the cadets lined up for the march to mess, affairs were +in some sort of order. + +"Do you want to make a shift, Paul?" asked Dick, as they went to their +room early that evening. + +"A shift? What do you mean?" + +"Why some of your friends have changed over to the east barrack, I hear. +I thought maybe you'd want to go too?" + +"Do you want me to go?" + +"Indeed I don't!" and Dick spoke very earnestly. + +"All right. When I want to leave you I'll let you know," and Paul +slapped Dick on the back in a fashion that told what his feelings were +in the matter. + +A little later mysterious steps in the corridor, and subdued knockings +on nearby doors told Paul and Dick that something unusual was going on. + +"Hazing," said Paul. "We're immune. Let's take it in." + +"I don't like to haze fellows," said Dick. "It's all right when they're +your size, but all the chaps who came in lately are smaller than I am." + +"That won't make any difference to Dutton and his crowd. They'll haze +'em anyhow, and we might as well see the fun. A fellow who can't stand a +little hazing is no good." + +"That's so. Guess I'll go. I don't mind it if it isn't too rough. I +wouldn't mind being hazed myself. It would give me a chance to make a +rough house for Dutton and his cronies." + +"Come on then. Let's go to the gym. I heard that they're going to haze +a bunch of 'em there." + +"What about Major Rockford?" + +"Well, I guess he and the colonel know about it, but they won't +interfere unless it gets too strenuous." + +Dick and Paul found a large crowd of the older cadets already gathered +in the gymnasium. In one corner was huddled a rather frightened group of +freshmen, who were waiting their turn to be grilled. They had been +rounded up from their rooms by a committee appointed for that purpose. + +"Now, fellows," said Dutton, who, as usual, assumed the leadership, +"we'll work 'em off in bunches. Put two or three of 'em in a blanket and +toss 'em up for a starter." + +"Some of 'em may get hurt," objected Stiver. "We'd better take 'em one +at a time." + +"Aw, you're afraid! Besides, we haven't time. Here, Beeby, grab a couple +of 'em and pass 'em over." + +Captain Beeby of Company B grasped a cadet in either hand, and shoved +them toward Dutton The latter already had one, and the three lads were +pushed down into a large blanket which had been spread for that purpose. + +"Grab the corners and up with 'em!" called Dutton. "Toss 'em as high as +you can." + +"Suppose they fall out?" objected Lieutenant Jim Watkins. + +"It won't matter. There's a gym. mat under 'em." + +Up into the air went the unfortunate lads, clinging together in a sort +of bunch, and struggling to see which one was to be underneath in the +fall. Down they came into the blanket, but the impact was so heavy that +it was torn from the grasp of the cadets holding it, and the freshmen +landed on the mat with a thump and many squeals. + +"That's the way!" cried Dutton with a laugh. "Now, once more." + +"Let's take some others," proposed Beeby. + +"No, they haven't had enough." + +So, in spite of their struggles and protests, the lads were tossed +again. Then three more took their places. They, too, had a hard time, +one falling over the edge of the blanket and partly off the mat. But he +was game and never made a sound. + +"Now for the slide of death!" cried Dutton. + +"What's that?" asked several of his cronies. + +"I'll show you," he said. + +From the top of the gymnasium there hung a long rope, running over a +pulley. Dutton made a loop in one end, and then took hold of the other. + +"Tie a couple of 'em up in blankets," he ordered, and two of the +struggling cadets were made up into a rough bundle. Dutton then passed +several coils of the long rope about them. + +"Pull 'em up!" he ordered next, and willing hands aided him in hoisting +the lads toward the roof of the gymnasium. + +"You are now about to take the slide of death!" called Dutton, when the +freshmen were close against the pulley, and fully forty feet above the +floor. "We're going to let you come down on the run----" + +A scream from one of the lads in the blanket high up in the air +interrupted him. + +"You'll frighten him!" called Dick. + +"What's that to you? Mind your own affairs, and we'll run this," said +Dutton. "Or maybe you'll get your hazing, which we omitted last time." + +"Go ahead," said Dick. "But that's too risky." + +"Aw, cut it out, Hamilton," said Stiver. "We ain't going to hurt 'em." + +But this assurance could not be heard by the lads in the blanket, who +could not see. + +"Let her slide!" cried Dutton, and he and his chums released their grasp +on the rope, which was wound about a post. + +Down, on the run, came the unfortunate cadets, and from the cries they +uttered they must have imagined that they were about to be dashed to the +floor. Then Dick saw that several mats were right under them, in case of +accident. + +But it was not the intention of Dutton to run any risks. At first the +rope was paid out swiftly, and then it was gradually tightened against +the post, until the speed of the falling cadets was slackened, and they +came to a stop a few inches above the mats. + +"The next batch won't get off so lucky!" announced Dutton, as he +commanded that some more be wrapped up in the blanket. "We'll bump +them." + +This news was sufficient to cause a panic among the candidates still +remaining, but their protests were of no avail, and they came down with +considerable force on the mats, but no one was hurt. + +Then the water cure was administered to a number, the streams being +poured down their trouser legs, amid the laughter of the unfortunate +ones who were exempt. As the gymnasium was kept quite warm this ordeal +was not so bad as might be supposed. Still, it was not pleasant, but it +was part of the game. + +A particularly tall freshman was stretched out, or, rather suspended on +the flying rings, until he looked like some soaring eagle. He struggled, +but to no effect, and had to take his medicine. Others were blindfolded, +and made to fight with blown-up bladders, some were tied in pairs on +trapezes, and a number were made to do ridiculous stunts, to the more or +less enjoyment of the older cadets. + +"Well, I guess that's all," announced Dutton, a little before it was +time for taps to sound. "Unless we take Hamilton." + +"I'm willing," said Dick, with a grim smile. + +"He's too willing. He'd knock a lot of us around," whispered Stiver to +Dutton. + +"We'll postpone your initiation," remarked the Captain of Company A. +"Come on, fellows, there goes tattoo. Half an hour to lights out." + +Matters more quickly adjusted themselves following the opening of the +winter term, than they did at the beginning of the fall one, as there +were fewer new cadets. Lessons were quickly under way, together with a +few drills, out of doors when the weather permitted it, otherwise in the +big hall. + +The lake froze over, and Dick and the other lads had their fill of +skating, races being held every afternoon. In a number of these, +particularly the long distance ones, Dick came in a winner. + +Then there were snowball fights between the different companies, both on +foot and mounted on horses, with wooden shields. These were lively +affairs, and were enjoyed by all. + +Dick took his part in the winter sports, but, though he had increased +his friends by the addition of several freshmen, particularly Payson +Emery, the lad whose knocking down by Dutton he had resented, he made no +progress toward getting intimate with the upperclassmen. + +"But I've got half a term yet," thought Dick. + +With the advent of winter, affairs in the town of Kentfield, which was +about two miles from where the academy was located, became more lively. +There were theatrical and other entertainments, and the cadets, when +they could not get permission to attend these, used to run the guard. + +Usually there was little risk in this, as the cadet officers would not +report their friends, unless some member of the academy faculty happened +to hear a late-staying party come sneaking in, and then the young +officer on guard knew he had to make some sort of a report or be +punished himself. + +One night there was a large and rather fashionable dance given in town, +by some friends of Dutton's family. He was invited, together with some +of his cronies, but he was refused permission to go, as he had broken +several rules of late. + +"Well, I'm going anyhow," he announced to Stiver. "I guess I can run the +guard all right, and get back. There are some girls I want to meet." + +So Dutton and Stiver, and one or two others, went. + +Dick was on guard, as it happened, at the barracks where Dutton and the +others had their rooms. He was patrolling his post long after midnight, +expecting soon to be relieved, when he saw some shadowy forms stealing +along the hedge. + +"Halt!" he cried, bringing his rifle up. + +"Gee! It's Hamilton!" he heard some one say, and he recognized Stiver's +voice. + +"Then I guess it's all up with us," announced Dutton, straightening up, +and, with his chums, approaching Dick. + +The young millionaire said nothing. + +"Are you going to let us in? We haven't the countersign," said Dutton, +with an uneasy laugh. + +"You can go in," replied Dick, producing the key to the front door. + +"And I suppose you'll squeal in the morning," went on Dutton, as he and +his cronies entered. + +Dick didn't answer. + +"You should have known better than to risk going, Dutton," said Stiver. +"Of course he'll tell. He owes you too much not to." + +But Dick didn't tell, and Dutton's breach of discipline was not +discovered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE FANCY DRESS BALL + + +"Well, Dick," remarked Paul Drew, one afternoon, as he and his roommate +came in from drill, "I see you're on the ball committee." + +"What ball, and what committee?" + +"The fancy dress ball, if I have to go into all the details. You know +the academy has one every year, and it's a swell affair, let me tell +you. Lights, gay music, pretty girls----" + +"Especially pretty girls," said Dick with a smile. "But what committee +am I on?" + +"Arrangements. Didn't you see the list posted in the mess hall? I don't +envy you. There will be lots to do." + +"Suppose you take pity on my ignorance, and go a little more into +details." + +Whereupon Paul did, describing the affair at length. It was to take +place, as usual, in February, and this time would be held on +Washington's birthday. + +"Maybe we won't have fun!" exclaimed Paul. "There'll be all sorts of +costumes, and the decorations will be immense. You'll have to help with +them." + +"Then I'd better get busy," declared Dick. "I must see who's chairman of +my committee, and report for work. What character are you going to +portray, Paul?" + +"I think I shall go as a Colonial officer. I always did like a powdered +wig." + +"Talcum powder, instead of gun powder," retorted Dick. "That's the +calibre of such tin soldiers as you." + +"Halt!" called Paul, as Dick prepared to run away. "As punishment I'll +not introduce you to a certain pretty girl I know, who is coming to the +dance." + +"Then I'll surrender and beg your pardon!" cried Dick. + +"What part will you play?" asked Paul. "You'd look swell dressed as an +Indian." + +"I think I'll take the part of a cannon swab, and then I'll not have to +bother about a suit. But more of that later. I'm going to see what I +have to do." + +Dick found out from the chairman of his committee that there was plenty +of work to prepare for the fete, and he did his share. One day he had to +go to a nearby town to purchase some of the decorations. + +It was two days before the fancy dress ball was to take place, and, +having made his purchases, Dick prepared to return to the Academy. As +he was about to board a trolley car, which ran near Kentfield, he heard +a voice calling: + +"How are you, Dick Hamilton?" + +He turned, to see a tall, well-built lad, of about his own age, who was +smiling at him in a friendly fashion. At first he did not recognize the +youth. + +"You don't know me, I see," went on the other. "I once had the pleasure +of interviewing you about a gold brick game----" + +"Why, Larry Dexter! How are you?" cried Dick, turning aside from the +car, and holding out his hand to the other. "I did not get a good look +at you, or I would have known you at once. What good wind blows you +here? Can't you stay and come over to our Academy? Where have you been? +How is the newspaper business?" + +"My, you'd do for a reporter yourself!" exclaimed Larry Dexter, with a +smile. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me though. Have you been swindled +lately? I'd like a good story. The one I came down here after didn't pan +out." + +Those of you who have read my books in the "Newspaper Series" will at +once recognize the lad who greeted Dick. He was Lawrence Dexter, a +reporter on the New York _Leader_, and, as related in the volume called +"Dick Hamilton's Fortune," he had met our hero when the latter had +narrowly escaped being swindled by a sharper in the metropolis. Larry, +as all his friends called him, had managed to get a good "story" from +the experience of Dick, who was on a visit to New York, with a number +of boy friends. The incident is mentioned in the third volume of the +Newspaper Series, "Larry Dexter's Great Search," where the young +reporter does some detective work. + +After Dick had given Larry the story of the attempted swindle, the young +reporter took the millionaire's son to the newspaper office, and showed +him something of how a great daily is published. The two lads had struck +up quite a friendship, and they had pleasant memories of each other. + +"What are you doing here?" asked Dick, as they walked up the street with +his newspaper acquaintance. + +"Oh, I came here on a peculiar robbery yarn, but it turned out to be an +ordinary affair, and not worth much of a story. I sent in the account by +wire, and, as a reward for my past valuable services to the paper, I +have been given a couple of days' leave of absence. You see, the +managing editor thinks quite highly of me," and Larry made a mock bow. + +"Then you're just in time," said Dick. + +"How so?" + +"Why, you can spend a few days with me. There's going to be a big masked +ball at the military academy where I attend, and perhaps you'd like to +see it." + +"I think I would, if the military authorities will admit a mere +civilian." + +"I'm sure they will. Come along back with me. I'll introduce you to +Colonel Masterly, and you can bunk in with Drew and me. Paul Drew is my +roommate--a fine fellow." + +"Oh, I'm afraid I'll put you out." + +"You couldn't do that, Larry. Come on. We'll have some fun." + +So Larry Dexter accompanied Dick back to the Academy, where he was +speedily made welcome by Colonel Masterly and members of the latter's +staff. + +"We would be very glad to have you remain and witness some evolutions of +the cadets, a day or so after the ball," invited the colonel. "They will +possibly interest you." + +"I should be glad to," replied Larry, "but I can't stay long enough. It +is very kind of you to invite me to the ball." + +Possibly Colonel Masterly had a purpose in seconding Dick's invitation +to this affair. The head of the military school was not averse to a +little free advertising for the Academy, and he thought perhaps Larry +might "write up" an account of the ball. Which, as a matter of fact, +Larry did, and a fine account it was. + +The reporter, though Dick invited him to don a costume, thought it +better not to, and, when the night of the gay affair came, Larry was in +sober black, forming a strange contrast to the lads in gay uniforms. The +dresses of the young ladies and the uniforms or costumes of the cadets, +with the hundreds of electric lights, the gay streamers and flags +festooned about the gymnasium, made the apartment a brilliant picture. +The Academy cadet band struck up a lively march, and the dancers paraded +around the room, two by two. Dick was not in this, as he had not yet +made the acquaintance of any of the girls, and after ascertaining that +Larry Dexter was in a position where he could see well, our hero retired +rather disconsolately to a secluded corner. He saw Paul Drew dancing +with a very pretty girl, and was just beginning to envy him, when his +roommate walked up, and introduced her to Dick. + +"Allow me to present my friend, Dick Hamilton," said Paul with a low +bow. "Mr. Hamilton--Miss Fordice. Dick is a better dancer than I am," +added Paul. + +It was plainly a hint to Dick, who at once took advantage of it, and +asked: + +"May I have the honor?" + +"If it pleases you, sir," replied the girl, with a mischievous smile, +and an old-fashioned courtesy. + +Dick led her into a two-step, and they were soon whirling about. But +Dick was not selfish, and he knew better than to keep Paul's partner +away from him for long, so, making some excuse, he led Miss Fordice back +to his roommate. + +"I'll introduce you to some other girls, after this dance, Hamilton," +Paul called back to him. + +Dick noticed that a tall, dark girl, who was standing near one of the +pillars, started at the sound of his name. A moment later she advanced +toward him, appeared to hesitate, and then came forward. + +"Excuse me," she said, "but are you Dick Hamilton?" + +"I am," said our hero, secretly delighted at the chance of talking to +the girl. + +"I thought I heard Mr. Drew call you that. You must think it dreadfully +forward of me to speak to you without an introduction----" + +"Nothing of the sort," said Dick promptly. + +"But I know friends of yours," went on the girl. "I am Miss Mabel +Hanford, and I know Birdy Lee, who lives in your town--I mean in the +place where you come from. She and I used to be great chums. We went to +school together." + +"Indeed," said Dick. "Birdy Lee and I are well acquainted." + +"So she said when I wrote to her, telling her I was coming to this ball. +She suggested that I might meet you, and when I heard your name +mentioned, I couldn't help speaking." + +"I am glad you did," said Dick, smiling. + +"Won't you come over and let me introduce you to my mother?" went on +Miss Hanford. "I feel as if I had known you a long time, for Birdy often +spoke of you in her letters to me." + +"I am glad she did," said Dick, gallantly. + +Mrs. Hanford greeted him kindly, evidently approving of her daughter's +action. + +"May I have the next dance?" asked Dick of the daughter. + +"Yes," said Miss Hanford, blushing a little. "But I hope you don't think +I spoke to you just to have you dance with me----" + +"Not at all," Dick hastened to say. + +"Because my card is nearly filled now," she went on. + +"I hope I may find room to put my name down in several places." + +"You may look. I think the next waltz is open." + +"It seems to be the only one," said Dick, ruefully. + +A little later he and the girl were sailing about the room to the +strains of a dreamy waltz. Dick was a fine dancer, Miss Hanford was his +equal, and the two made a pleasing appearance on the big ballroom floor. + +"Where were you?" asked Paul, as Dick came walking up to him after the +young millionaire had taken his partner back to her mother. "I was +looking for you to introduce a girl to you." + +"I managed to meet one myself." + +"Who?" + +"Miss Mabel Hanford." + +Paul whistled. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dick. "Isn't she all right?" + +"I should say so! Every fellow here is anxious to dance with her, but +Dutton seems to monopolize her. He seems to think he's engaged to her." + +"I don't believe he has any right to think that," spoke Dick warmly. +"She's a very nice girl. I wish I had met her earlier in the evening." +The band was playing another waltz. + +"So do lots of other fellows, I guess. But you're doing pretty well. +There goes Dutton with her now," continued Paul. + +Dick looked on, with envious eyes. Though Dutton and Miss Hanford were +waltzing about, she did not seem at ease. Her face was flushed, and +Dutton looked angry. When the dance came to an end he left her abruptly. + +Dick strolled over, casually, though his heart was beating faster than +usual. + +"You look warm," he said to the girl. + +"Yes, the room is very close," she replied, and she fanned her face with +a filmy lace handkerchief. + +"Perhaps you would like an ice." + +"Indeed I should." + +"I'll get you one," promised Dick. Then, waxing bold, he looked at her +program. + +"What are you looking for?" she asked with a laugh. "To see what sort of +ice I prefer? It's not there, but I'll take orange, if you can get one." + +"I was looking to see, if by any good fortune you had another vacant +place on your card." + +"I'll make one for you," she said with a smile, as she crossed out a +name. "Tantrell can look for another partner," she added. + +"Who may Tantrell be?" asked Dick, as he put his name in place of the +erased one. + +"My cousin. He brought me here, but he doesn't care much for dancing. I +know he'll be glad to have you relieve him." + +"Not half so glad as I am," retorted Dick quickly. "Now I'll get you the +ice." + +As he walked away he saw Dutton eyeing him angrily. + +"Probably he doesn't like me to be talking to her," thought Dick. + +There was quite a crush in the refreshment room, and, in spite of the +fact that he was a member of the arrangement committee, Dick had some +difficulty in getting an ice for Miss Hanford. As he struggled through +the crush of gay dancers with it he tripped, and, to save himself, +involuntarily threw his hands forward. The ice slipped from the plate, +and went splashing full against the back of a cadet dressed in an +elaborate Colonial uniform, with a white satin coat. The highly-colored +ice made a big, blotchy stain on the garment. + +The cadet whirled like a flash. It was Dutton. + +"Who did that?" he cried, as he saw a little puddle forming at his feet, +where the fast melting ice lay. + +"I did," answered Dick promptly. "It was an accident, Captain Dutton." + +"An accident?" There was a sneer in the other's tone. + +"An accident," retorted Dick, as he turned away. + +"Here! Where are you going?" cried Dutton. Several turned to stare at +him, for his manner toward Dick was most insulting. + +"I am going after another ice for Miss Hanford," said the young +millionaire quickly. + +"Wait a minute!" ordered Dutton, in the voice he used on parade. + +"Not now," drawled Dick. "Wait until I get another ice." + +"You wait, I say!" spluttered Dutton. + +"It's too hot," replied Dick, for he could not help but notice the +insulting tones. "I'll see you later. I'm sorry about the accident." + +"That was no accident," declared Dutton. "You did that on purpose, and +I--I want----" + +But Dick passed on. He saw Miss Hanford looking at him from among the +fringe of spectators, and, as he walked back to the refreshment room, he +noticed that Dutton had one of the mess-hall attendants wiping off as +much as possible of the stain from the white satin coat. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE CHALLENGE + + +When Dick secured another ice, and took it to Miss Hanford, he found her +sitting in a quiet corner. She was rather pale, and did not seem to care +much for the ice which he had had such trouble in securing. + +"I'm not quite so warm now," she said, in explanation. "It was very kind +of you to get this for me. Do you--do you think Captain Dutton will be +very angry at you?" She seemed anxious. + +"I don't see why he should be," replied Dick. "It was an accident. I +could not help tripping." + +"After you went back the second time, he talked loudly about you having +done it on purpose, and he said he was going to demand satisfaction," +went on the girl. "Will he?" + +"Well, he can demand it, I suppose," said Dick slowly, "but I don't know +what I can do, except to say I'm sorry, and offer to pay for his coat." + +"Do you--do you think he will do anything--anything desperate?" asked +Miss Hanford, and she looked at Dick sharply. + +"Of course not," he replied. "But if we are going to dance, would you +mind if we began now? I think this is my two-step." + +She arose, and they went whirling about the room. But she was strangely +quiet. Dick's enjoyment of the dance was not a bit lessened by seeing +Dutton once more scowling at him from behind a draped pillar. The cadet +captain had doffed his gay coat, and wore one belonging to his uniform. +It formed a strange contrast to his otherwise Colonial costume. When the +dance was over Dick saw him beckoning, and, excusing himself from his +fair partner, he walked to where Dutton stood. + +"You wished to speak to me?" asked Dick. + +"Yes. Come outside." + +"What for?" + +"I wish to speak to you." + +"Won't it do in here?" + +"No!" snapped Dutton. + +Dick hesitated a moment, and, not wishing to quarrel with the captain in +the ballroom, he followed him out on a verandah. + +"What do you mean by insulting me, and making me ridiculous?" demanded +Dutton fiercely. + +"Insulting you?" repeated Dick. + +"That's what I said. You refused to come back when I called you. I'm +your superior officer." + +"Not on an occasion like this!" exclaimed Dick, and he drew himself up, +and looked Dutton straight in the eyes. "We are all equal here +to-night, Captain Dutton. I take no orders from you!" + +"We'll see about that. Why did you deliberately spill that ice over me? +You wanted to make me the laughing stock of everyone in the room!" + +"I did not. You have no right to say that. It was an accident, pure and +simple, and I have already apologized to you for it." + +"That is not enough. No one can insult me with impunity. I demand +satisfaction!" + +"I don't see what satisfaction I can give you--unless I buy you a new +coat. If that is what you what you want I will be happy to send you a +check for whatever amount----" + +"Hold on, Hamilton!" cried Dutton hoarsely. "This is going too far! +You're getting mighty fresh. I suppose because you are a millionaire you +think your money will do anything. But I tell you it won't. You can't +buy a gentleman with money, nor make one either. You come here with a +lot of millions behind you, and you think all you need to do is to +insult a gentleman, and then offer to pay for it. I tell you I'll not +stand it. You did that on purpose and----" + +"I have already told you that I did not." + +"And I say you did." + +There was no mistaking Dutton's meaning. Dick took a step forward. His +face was slightly pale. + +"That will do!" he said sternly. "Are you aware that you have +practically accused me of telling an untruth?" + +"That's what I meant to do," answered Dutton fiercely. "You're a cad--a +sneak--you threw that ice at me on purpose!" + +"If you say that again," exclaimed Dick, "I'll----" + +"Well, what will you do?" sneered Dutton. + +"I think I shall have to buy you two coats," spoke Dick calmly, for he +saw that Dutton was losing control of his temper, and the young +millionaire wanted to end the affair. + +"Don't you give me any of your fresh talk!" cried the captain. + +"I shall say what I please on an occasion like this," responded Dick. "I +have that privilege." + +"You have, eh? Then look out for yourself!" + +Dutton fairly leaped forward, and endeavored to strike Dick, but the +young millionaire was too quick for him, and stepped to one side, at the +same time involuntarily shooting out his fist, which caught the bully in +the side. Dutton stopped short. + +"I suppose you know what striking a gentleman means," he said slowly. + +"I do when I hit one. I haven't struck any gentleman to-night," said +Dick coolly. + +"You're adding insult to it. You've got to give me satisfaction for +this!" + +"I suppose so. You recall how it turned out last time." + +"This time will be different. You won't get off so easily." + +"Have your own way about it. I guess Paul Drew will be my second again, +but I should think you'd had enough of fighting." + +"Not with you! I'll never be satisfied until I've beaten you!" + +"Then you'll wait a long time." + +The two had talked in rather low but tense tones, and they were not +aware that they were directly beneath a window that had been opened to +let in the fresh air. Nor did they see the frightened face of a girl at +the casement. + +"Will after the ball suit you?" asked Dutton, as he turned aside. + +"Any time." + +Dick remained in the cool winter air a little longer, filling his lungs +with the oxygen, and when he returned to the ballroom he saw no sign of +Dutton. Nor did he see Miss Hanford, though he looked for her, as he had +another dance coming. + +Supper was served soon after this, and Dick had no sooner risen from the +table than Paul Drew signalled him to step one side. + +"Dutton has sent a challenge to you by Stiver," he said. + +"I expected it." + +"Yes, but what do you think he wants?" + +"What?" + +"To fight with swords." + +"Swords?" + +"Yes. Like the students do in German schools. Heads and body protected +so you can't either be more than scratched. I think it's silly, but of +course I said I'd tell you." + +"That's right. Swords, eh? Well, with football helmets on, and a +baseball chest protector, and heavy gloves, I guess it won't be +dangerous. But what's the use of fighting if some one doesn't get hurt? +I prefer my fists." + +"Dutton's idea seems to be for you both to be rigged out as we are when +we practice with broadswords on horses," said Paul, referring to one of +the drills taught at the school. + +"Well, I don't like to object," said Dick, "but it strikes me that as +the challenged party, I have the choice of weapons." + +"So you have. I forgot that. Then you don't want swords?" + +"I'll tell you later. You can inform Dutton I'll fight him when and +where he pleases, and that, as it's my right, I'll name the weapons when +we meet." + +"All right. Give him a good lesson, Dick." + +Paul went off to carry the message, and Dick, seeing Miss Hanford, went +up to her for the waltz. She gave him a place made vacant by the +inability of her partner to claim her, as he was on the supper +committee. Dick thought the girl seemed nervous and alarmed, but he did +not speak of it. + +The dance lasted until two o'clock in the morning, and then the guests +began leaving. Dick was somewhat surprised to see Miss Hanford in +apparently earnest conversation with grizzled Major Webster, but he +concluded that she was only telling him what a good time she had had. + +"Won't you call and see me sometime?" she asked Dick, as she bade him +good-night. + +"I will be pleased to," he said. + +"And don't--don't have any quarrel with Captain Dutton," she said, with +a little smile. + +"Er--oh, no, I--I--er--I won't," was all Dick could stammer. He resolved +that he would have no more quarrels, but it was too late to stop this +one. + +As the last of the guests were leaving, Paul sought out his roommate. + +"The clump of trees, down by the lagoon," he whispered. "In an hour. +What about weapons? Dutton wants to know." + +"He'll have to wait. I'll bring them with me. It's my privilege." + +A little later Dick went to his room, where he was busy for some time. +When he emerged he was accompanied by Paul. He wore his long cape +overcoat, and something bulged beneath it. + +"I guess he'll be surprised," commented Paul. + +The clump of trees, which Dutton had selected as the place for the duel, +was located on a little point of land that jutted out into the lake, +and near a small lagoon. It was some distance from the academy +buildings, and out of sight. The trees had kept most of the snow from +the ground, and it was a sheltered place. As there was a full moon there +was no need of other light. + +As Dick and Paul approached the place they saw several dark figures +moving about. + +"They're on time," whispered Paul. + +"Yes. I hope the Colonel doesn't hear of it." + +As they drew nearer, Stiver stepped forward and said: + +"Is your man ready, Drew?" + +"All ready." + +"Then we demand to know the weapons. My principal will object to +pistols, as they make too much noise." + +"My principal has the choice of weapons, as you know, and unless he is +allowed to exercise it we must decline to fight." + +Paul spoke as though it was very serious. + +"I know, but, hang it all, man, we can't fight with pistols. We'd have +the whole crowd down on us," objected Stiver, in some alarm. + +"I'll not fight with pistols," put in Dutton, which was a wrong thing +for a brave duelist to do. + +"Don't be worried," replied Dick coolly "I have not selected pistols. +But we are delaying too long. I am ready." + +"So are we," said Stiver, but it was observed that his voice was not +very steady. He was beginning to wish he had had nothing to do with +this. It seemed to be getting serious, and he, as well as Dutton, +wondered what Dick could be carrying under his overcoat. + +"Take your places," said Paul. + +"But the weapons," insisted Stiver. + +"My principal will hand one to your principal as soon as he takes his +place," went on Paul. "We seconds must retire to a safe distance." + +"They--they aren't rifles, are they?" asked Stiver, and this time his +voice was very shaky. + +"They are not rifles," said Dick, somewhat solemnly. "Come, I can't stay +here all night. I want to write an account of this to Miss Hanford." + +"Don't you dare!" cried Dutton. + +"Hush! Take your place," said his second. + +Dutton approached Dick, and held out his hand to receive his weapon. +Dick unfolded his coat and extended--not a sword or gun, but a big +bladder, fully blown up, and tied to a short stick. He kept a similar +one for himself. + +"These are my weapons," he said. + +"I won't fight with those! It's an insult! I demand satisfaction!" +fairly shouted Dutton. + +"Hush!" cried Stiver. "Someone is coming!" + +But it was too late. Several figures could be seen running over the snow +toward the duelists. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A WINTER MARCH + + +"Quick! Here comes Major Webster!" cried Stiver. There was no mistaking +the soldierly figure who was approaching. + +"And Colonel Masterly is with him!" added Paul. + +"Some one has squealed!" added Dutton, but he seemed rather glad than +otherwise that the duel had been interrupted. + +"Cut for it!" said Dick. "Across the ice, and into the grove! We can get +in the back way, and they won't know who it was out here." + +"Say, if they were tipped off that something like this was going to take +place, they know who was in it," said Paul, as he and Dick headed across +the ice which covered the inlet at one side of the wooded point. + +Dick thought of the conversation he had seen taking place between Miss +Hanford and the major, and a light came to him. + +"She must have overheard the talk about swords, and she got frightened," +he said to himself. "That's how the major knew." + +On came the dark figures over the snow, but the cadets had a good start. +Across the ice they went, and were soon lost in the depths of a little +grove of trees. From there they managed to gain the barracks. + +"Queer they didn't call after us," said Dick, as he and Paul were safe +in their room. + +"That is sort of funny. Say, where's the other bladder?" + +"Dutton must have it." + +But Dutton didn't have it. He had dropped it as he ran, and Major +Webster picked it up a little later on the dueling ground. The major +held it out to Colonel Masterly. + +"What's this?" asked the colonel. + +"One of their weapons, I fancy." + +"Then it was all a joke. What Miss Hanford told you about the duel, she +must have dreamed." + +"No, she says she overheard Dutton challenge Hamilton, and later on, +some talk between Hamilton and Drew. She was very much frightened, and +came and told me. Of course I know the cadets will fight once in a +while. They wouldn't be any good if they didn't, and, though you and I +know that it's against the rules, it's no more than you and I used to +do. But when she spoke of swords I thought it time to take a hand." + +"But they didn't have swords." + +"Evidently not. Hamilton reserved to himself the choice of weapons, as +the challenged party, she said, and it seems that he selected +bladders." + +"But why?" + +"I fancy he wanted to teach Dutton a lesson. There is bad blood between +them, I have heard in roundabout ways, and once Hamilton administered a +good drubbing to Dutton." + +"Hum! Well, I don't see that there is anything for us to do." + +"No, only go to bed. I'm sleepy. The time was when I could stay up at a +ball all night, and attend a duel at sunrise, but those days are past. I +think we'd better say nothing about this." + +"Just as you like, major. You are in charge of the cadets. But perhaps +we had better let Miss Hanford know that there was no bloody conflict." + +"I will. Poor little girl! She was quite worried." + +So that was how the duel between Dick and Dutton turned out. It did not +add to the good feeling between the two cadets. Dick would have been +glad to be on friendly terms, but Dutton considered that he had been +made the butt of a joke, and he hated Dick more than ever. He threatened +to get even until Dick sent word to him that if he liked he would meet +him with bare fists as weapons, and have the matter out. Dutton knew +better than to agree to this. + +Of course Larry Dexter heard about the duel, but at Dick's request the +young reporter sent no account of it to his paper, which described the +fancy dress ball at some length. Larry remained Dick's guest three +days, and greatly enjoyed his visit to the academy. + +In order to give the cadets a taste of as many varieties of military +life as possible, and to show them that they could not always expect +summer weather and sunny skies, Major Webster decided to have a winter +practice march. + +This was announced for a date late in January, and some novel features +were to be incorporated. The cadets were to be divided into several +small squads, and were to set off at different times from the academy, +to reach a certain point ten miles distant, report there for dinner, and +march back. Various routes were selected, with officers stationed at +checking points, and the squad which made the best time was to receive a +trophy. + +As the ground was quite thickly covered with snow, and as certain +landmarks, plainly visible in summer, were now obliterated, the march +would prove no easy one. It was to be made on horses, and only the best +riders were allowed to participate. + +"That's the kind of a stunt I like," said Dick, the morning of the +proposed winter march. "We'll have some fun to-day, Paul, old boy." + +"Yes, if we don't get caught in a blizzard. It looks like snow." + +"So much the better. That will make it all the harder. I wish I was +going to lead a squad." + +"I don't. Who is in charge of ours?" + +"Allen Rutledge. He's a good rider. Well, it's almost time to start. +Whew! But it's cold!" + +Dick's squad, in charge of Captain Rutledge of the football team, was +the third to start off. They set their horses into a gentle canter, as +they knew they would need all the strength of the animals ere the day +was over. + +At first it was pleasant enough, moving along over the snow, but, as it +grew colder, it was not quite so much fun. Still the lads did not +complain, as they knew the training was good for them. + +When they had gone about five miles some flakes of snow sifted lazily +down from the gray, leaden clouds overhead. + +"I guess we're going to be in for it before we get back," observed +Captain Rutledge. "Close up the ranks, behind there. Don't straggle." + +They kept to their route, were checked at the proper point by an +officer, and then started for the turning station. This was a hotel in a +small town ten miles from the academy, and glad enough the cadets were +to reach it, and find a hot dinner waiting for them. + +An hour was allowed for luncheon, and the feeding of the horses, and +then the start back was made. This was the most difficult part of the +march, as the way led through an uninhabited part of the country, at the +edge of the mountain range, and the roads were seldom traveled, and not +of the best. + +About three miles from where they had dinner was another checking +station. Dick's squad reached this in the midst of quite a snowstorm. + +"I guess it will only be a squall," observed Rutledge, as he went in the +house, where the checking officer was stationed, to report. + +"A squall?" observed Dick. "If this doesn't keep up until we get back, +and for some time after, I'm a Dutchman." + +Rutledge came out of the house, followed by the checking officer, +Captain Nelton. Both looked worried. + +"We'll keep watch for them," said Rutledge as he prepared to vault into +the saddle. + +"Yes, I wish you would," said Captain Nelton. "They may have straggled +behind, and lost the road. Have them join your squad if you see them." + +"What's up?" asked Dick, for an air of familiar fellowship was permitted +on the practice marches. + +"Dutton and Stiver didn't report in with their squad, which is just +ahead of ours," replied Rutledge. "We're to look out for them." + +"Most likely they sneaked off to have a good time somewhere," said Dick +in a low voice to Paul. + +The pace was slower now, for the snow was deeper, and the horses were +beginning to feel the strain of the long march. The flakes were falling +thicker and faster, and from the rear the leader of the squad could not +be seen. + +"Come, boys, close ranks!" called Rutledge several times. "If you stray +off now you'll be in danger. Keep together." + +They tried to, but some horses went better than others, and it was +impossible for the stragglers to keep up with the leaders at all times. +Rutledge saw this and called to Dick: + +"Here, Hamilton, you and Drew are good riders. You take the rear, and +keep it as close to me as you can. This storm is getting fierce." + +It was almost a blizzard now, with the wind sobbing and moaning in the +trees, and the white flakes cutting into one's face with stinging force. + +"Take the next turn to the right," called Rutledge to Dick and Paul, as +they wheeled their horses and started for the rear. + +They heard faintly through the noise of the storm, and answered back. +They succeeded for a time in keeping the end riders up toward the front, +urging their somewhat jaded horses to a trot. Then, all at once, they +found themselves out of sight of the tails of the end animals. + +"Hit is up a little," suggested Dick to Paul. "They're leaving us." + +They spurred their horses ahead, but they never noticed as they bent +their heads to avoid the blast that they kept straight on, instead of +taking the turn to the right, where the road divided. So fast was the +snow falling, drifting as it did so, that the tracks of the horses just +ahead of them were almost blotted out. + +"They must be galloping," said Dick. "Come on, Paul." + +They urged their wearied horses to a gallop, expecting soon to come +within sight of the rear of the squad. But, as they went on and on, the +road became more impassable. The snow was at least two feet deep now, +and more was falling every minute. + +"I can't see anything of them," said Paul, peering ahead into the white +mist. + +"Me either. Let's give a yell." + +They called, but the echo was their only reply. + +"Can you see any tracks?" asked Dick, leaning over in the saddle, and +scanning the ground. + +"No. Can you?" + +"Not a one." + +The lads straightened up, and looked at each other. Their steeds +whinnied helplessly, complaining thus of the cold. + +"Dick," said Paul, "I believe we've taken the wrong turn." + +"I didn't see any turn to take. We've come a straight road." + +"I don't believe so. Rutledge said something about turning to the +right." + +"I know he did, but I didn't see any turn." + +"Neither did I, but we're certainly on the wrong road now. This hasn't +been traveled this winter." + +"Looks that way. Say, we've come up the side of the mountain. I wondered +what made the horses so blown." + +It needed but a glance to show that this was so. Unconsciously they had +taken a path leading up the mountain, and they were now on what was +evidently a wood-road, in the midst of a forest. + +As they stood there, vainly starting about, there came a fiercer burst +of the storm, and on the wings of a stinging, cold wind there came such +a cloud of snow flakes that they could not see ten feet ahead of them. + +"We're caught in a blizzard!" shouted Dick. "We must keep close +together, Paul." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE RESCUE OF DUTTON + + +Through the blinding snow the two cadets tried to peer, in order to see +which way they should take to get back to the academy. Neither of them +was very familiar with the country, though they had been over part of it +in drills and practice marches in the fall. But things wore a different +aspect now. + +"Which way had we better go?" asked Paul, after a pause. He had to shout +to be heard above the noise of the gale. + +"I guess the best plan is to keep down the mountain," replied Dick. +"We'll strike a road sooner or later leading to Kentfield." + +The horses did not like to face the blast, but the young cadets forced +them about, and the unwilling steeds started down the slope. + +Protected though they were by their heavy winter clothing and overcoats, +the two lads felt the cold bitterly. But they were too plucky to give +up. The horses could not be urged to more than a walk, and, indeed, +faster pace was not safe, as they did not know what the snow might +conceal. + +As they went down the mountain side they kept a watch for the sight of +any objects that would indicate a road, or tell them their whereabouts. +But all they could see was an expanse of snow, a whirling, white cloud +of flakes, with here and there the black trunks of trees standing up +like grim sentinels. + +"We might as well be a thousand miles from nowhere," called Dick. + +"That's right," answered his companion. "I wonder if we're going +straight?" + +"Isn't much choice. We'll be on level ground in a little while, anyhow. +Then the going will be better." + +They emerged from the thickly wooded side of the big hill, and came upon +a plain, which did not look familiar. It was open country, however, and +this was better than being in the woods, though the cold wind had more +of a sweep over it. + +"Now, which way?" asked Paul. "I've lost all sense of direction." + +"And I'm not much better. Suppose we let the horses go as they please? +Maybe they'll have sense enough to head toward their stables." + +"Good idea, we'll do it." + +They let the reins hang loose on the necks of the animals. The steeds +hesitated for a moment, sniffed the air, and then started off to the +left. + +"I hope that's right, but it doesn't seem so," said Dick ruefully. +"However, anything's better than standing still in this storm." + +There was no let-up to the blizzard, which fairly enveloped the lads in +its icy grasp. + +They had traveled for perhaps a mile when Dick, who was a little in the +lead, suddenly cried out: + +"Hi, Paul! Here's a house, anyhow!" + +"A house?" + +"Yes. Straight ahead." + +Paul looked through the whirling clouds of snow, and saw something dark +looming up about thirty yards away. + +"Maybe it's a barn," he said. + +"Even that's all right; but where there's a barn there's most likely to +be a house. I guess we're all right now." + +Their horses stumbled on, over the uneven ground, and soon another big +object loomed up through the snow. + +"There's the house!" cried Dick. "Come on." + +They managed to urge their horses to a trot, and, a few moments later, +were knocking at the door of a large, white farmhouse. A pretty girl who +opened it exclaimed: + +"Come right in. I expect you're most frozen, aren't you?" + +"Pretty nearly," replied Dick, as he entered with Paul. + +They were soon near a warm fire, partaking of hot tea, though they +declined the offer of some hard cider, an invitation slyly given by the +farmer, who introduced himself as Enos Weatherby. His place was about +eight miles from Kentfield, and, in the course of his talk, Dick and +Paul learned that Captain Dutton and Lieutenant Stiver had been at the +house a little while before, and had not refused the cider. + +This was news to Dick, but he at once saw how matters stood. Dutton and +his companion, he learned, knew the two daughters of the farmer, and had +called on them during the practice march. It was on this account that +they had not reported at the checking point. Probably they thought they +could make a circuit, visit their friends, and join their squad in time +to report at the academy, trusting to luck to explain their temporary +absence. + +They had been gone about an hour, Mr. Weatherby said, and he showed Dick +and Paul the road they had taken, a short cut to the school. + +"Ride down this road," explained the farmer, "cut across my big meadow, +and you will come to the main highway. Keep along that until you come to +the first cross road, turn to the left and you'll get to the road that +leads around the lake. Then it's only a mile to the school. But you're +welcome to stay all night. The storm is getting worse." + +"Thank you, very much," replied Dick, "but we couldn't stay. Colonel +Masterly would be worried about us. We'll take the short cut home. I +guess they'll call the march a dead heat as far as picking a winner is +concerned." + +The girls added their entreaties to those of their father and Mrs. +Weatherby, who had been busy at household duties, entered the dining +room, to urge the cadets to remain, as she had plenty of room. But Dick +and Paul would not. + +There was obvious disappointment in the good-byes of the two girls, but +Dick and Paul cared little for that, though the two Miss Weatherbys were +rather pretty, even if they were a bit silly. + +The two wayfarers thanked their hosts, and, feeling much refreshed and +warmed, while the horses, too, had improved by the halt, they set off +again. + +The snow was not coming down so fast, but it was much colder, and they +hastened on, anxious to get to the academy. + +"Queer about Dutton, wasn't it?" asked Dick. + +"It sure was," agreed Paul. "He'll get into trouble if he doesn't look +out." + +"Somehow he always seems to escape, but I s'pose he'll do it once too +often. This must be where we turn." + +"I guess so. Go ahead." + +They turned into the big meadow, crossed it, and came out into a road +that showed some signs of travel. It was deserted now, however, as the +winter night was settling down. + +"A few more miles, and then for a good, hot supper," commented Dick +"Don't talk about it," said Paul. "It makes me hungry." + +Suddenly his horse shied, and the cadet, looking to see what caused it, +beheld a dark object, half buried in the snow, at the side of the road. + +"What's that?" called Dick, who had dropped a little to the rear. + +"I don't know. Better take a look." + +Dick forced his rather unwilling steed up to the object. The next moment +he uttered a cry. + +"It's a man!" he exclaimed. + +He leaped off his horse, and bent closely to the black, huddled mass. +Then he reached over and took hold of it. + +"Here, Paul!" cried Dick. "Help me!" + +"What is it?" + +"It's Dutton, and he's unconscious and half frozen. Must have fallen +from his horse and struck on his head! We must get him to shelter in a +hurry." + +Paul was quickly at his companion's side. He helped Dick lift the +unconscious youth from the pile of snow. Dutton seemed to be trying to +say something, but though his lips moved no sound came from them. + +"What's the matter? Are you hurt?" asked Dick. "How did it happen?" + +Dutton murmured something, but the words "horse" and "Stiver" were all +they could distinguish. + +"Maybe he's only fainted," suggested Paul. "Rub some snow on his face." + +Dick tried this, but it was evident that Dutton was semi-conscious from +the effects of some injury. + +"What shall we do?" asked Paul, who was not used to acting in +emergencies. + +"We've got to get him to the academy as soon as possible." + +"Maybe we had better take him back to the Weatherbys. That's nearer." + +"Yes, but they wouldn't know how to take care of him. He needs a doctor. +No, what we've got to do is to get him on my horse. He's stronger than +yours, and can carry double. Then you ride on ahead and tell them to +send a carriage." + +Paul realized that this was the best thing to do, and the two, after +some difficulty, hoisted Dutton to the back of Dick's steed. Then Dick +mounted behind him, and, supporting in his arms the unconscious cadet, +he set off through the snow. Paul galloped on ahead, urging his horse to +a sharp gait, and made good time in reaching the academy. + +There he found considerable confusion, and no little alarm, not only +over the absence of Dutton, but over that of Dick and himself. + +Paul quickly explained how he and his chum had become lost, and told how +they had found Dutton. A carriage was at once sent out, and soon the +injured lad was in the hospital, where an examination showed that he +was not badly hurt, having merely received a severe blow on the head. + +"We feared something had happened when Dutton's horse came in without +him," said Colonel Masterly. "Lieutenant Stiver said that he and Dutton +became separated, after losing their way, and that he could not find +him. So he came here to get help, and arrived just as Dutton's horse +galloped in." + +Dick told the colonel how he had found the young captain, but did not +think it necessary to mention about the farmhouse and the two girls. + +"I should have stopped the march when I saw that the weather was likely +to be bad," the colonel said. "However, I am glad it is no worse." + +Because of the incidents of the march it was called off, as far as a +contest was concerned, and so no inquiry was made as to why Dutton and +Stiver had failed to report at the checking point. + +"I tell you what I think happened," said Paul, when he and Dick were +discussing it in their room that night. + +"Well, what?" + +"I think Dutton and Stiver had more hard cider than was good for them. +They must have quarreled, and Stiver left Dutton, who later fell from +his horse. There was no excuse for them losing each other after they +left Weatherby's house, and Dutton is too good a horseman to fall off, +unless he couldn't take care of himself." + +"Maybe you're right. I'm glad we found him, though." + +"So am I, though I don't believe he'll treat you any better for saving +his life." + +"Oh, I don't know as I did that. Some one would have found him before he +froze to death," said Dick. + +Paul's idea of what had taken place between Dutton and Stiver seemed +borne out by the coldness that sprang up between the two former cronies, +as soon as Dutton could leave the hospital. He hardly spoke to the +lieutenant of his company. + +Nor was he specially cordial to our hero. In a stiff sort of fashion he +thanked him for what he had done, but there was no semblance of real +friendship, and Dutton's crowd did not take up with Dick, as they might, +reasonably, have been expected to. + +With the approach of spring the baseball fever began to stir in the +veins of the cadets, and several nines were formed. Dick managed to get +on a freshman team, much to his delight, for he was an excellent +pitcher. Nor did the members of the nine regret their choice, for Dick +pulled them out of several close games by his excellent twirling, which +offset the errors made by his companions. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +OFF TO CAMP + + +"Hurray!" yelled Paul Drew one afternoon, as he fairly jumped into the +room which he and Dick shared. + +"What's the matter?" asked his chum. + +"Matter? Why, lots. You've passed, and so have I. We're going to be +corporals from now on. That's for making good records in the spring +examinations. Dutton and Hale are to be majors, I heard. I'm glad for +Hale's sake, but it's going to be bad for us to have Dutton given so +much authority." + +"Why?" + +"Because he'll lord it over us worse than ever. Well, it can't be +helped. And there's more good news. Get up and have a war dance, you old +buzzard!" + +"Hold on!" cried Dick protestingly, as Paul yanked him from the easy +chair. "What's up?" + +"Lots. We're going to camp!" + +"Camp?" + +"Yes; it's just been announced. We're to go and spend one week under +canvas; with no lessons to worry about, and lots of chance to skylark +and have fun." + +"I guess there'll be instructions in tactics, and recitations, won't +there?" asked Dick. "It won't be all pie." + +"Oh, of course we'll have to do some studying, I think." + +"Of course. We'll have to tell what we'd do if, leading a small force of +men, we happened to meet with an overwhelming army in a mountain pass, +hemmed in on every side." + +"I'd surrender," said Paul, with a laugh. + +"I wouldn't; I'd fight," said Dick grimly, and he squared his jaw after +the manner of Grit, his bulldog. + +"Oh, well, we'll have lots of sport," went on Paul. "Of course it's for +military instruction we're going, but I think we can manage to slip in a +good time now and again." + +"Sure," replied Dick, his eyes brightening. "When do we go?" + +"Day after to-morrow. Orders are to get our kits in shape. We're to go +in light marching order. The tents and grub will be carried in a wagon." + +"That's good. I hate to pack my house, and all I want to eat, on my +back." + +The two chums fell to discussing the pleasant prospects ahead of them, +some of the freshman cadets in neighboring rooms dropping in +occasionally to get points on what to do and how to do it. + +They were interrupted by a knock on Dick's door, and for a moment the +buzz of voices ceased, as if the owners had been caught in some breach +of the rules. Then, as the whistled strains of "In the Prison Cell I +Sit," came to them, Dick exclaimed: + +"It's Toots. Come on in, you old Horse Marine." + +Toots entered, whistling a reveille with great precision. + +"Major Webster wants to see you, Mr. Hamilton," he said, saluting. + +"Me?" repeated Dick. + +"Yes. In his office." + +"You're in for a wigging," consoled Paul. + +"Court martial for yours," added 'Gene Graham. + +"No, I'm going to be promoted to take entire command of the camp," said +Dick with a laugh as he went out. He had come nearer the truth than he +thought in his jesting words. He saluted the major, who returned it, and +bade him be seated. + +"Ah, Hamilton, by the way, before I forget it, let me say that I haven't +heard anything about that marksman's medal yet," said Major Webster, +referring to the one that had fallen from the pocket of Toots. "When I +hear anything I'll let you know. But that wasn't why I sent for you." + +Dick thought it couldn't be anything serious, or the major wouldn't +have begun in this fashion, so he waited. + +"I have been looking up your record, Hamilton," went on the old soldier, +"and I am very much pleased with it. So much so, in fact, that I am +going to promote you, temporarily, and give you a command." + +Dick's heart began to beat rapidly. + +"During this encampment," went on the major, "we wish the new cadets to +get a good idea of the value of military training, and what this academy +stands for. I think that by this plan of mine they will gain more +knowledge in a week than they otherwise would in two months. Now I am +going to take all the cadets who recently arrived and form them into two +companies. One you will have entire charge of, as captain. The other I +will select a captain for. Yours will be known as Number One Company, to +distinguish it from the regular lettered commands I want you to give the +freshmen as good an idea as you can of what a military life here means." + +"What am I to do?" asked Dick. + +"Take entire charge of them. See that they are shown everything, from +how to load a gun, vault upon a horse, put up a tent, build a camp fire, +mount guard and so on. At the end of the week's camp we are going to +have a sham battle." + +"A sham battle?" + +"Yes, off in the woods. The cadets will be divided into two armies, and +we will play the war game just as the regulars and volunteers do. In a +sense the lads in your care will be volunteers, and perhaps they will do +better than the regular cadets. That part is up to you." + +Dick resolved that if he could bring it about his company would gain +some honors. + +"Your command will be part of the fighting force in the sham battle," +went on the major, "and it will depend on yourself how they behave. The +rules of the sham battle will be announced later, but I want you to get +ready for your shoulder straps," and he smiled at our hero. + +"Well," thought Dick, as he left the major a little later, "I got to a +captain's stripes before I knew it--but it won't last very long," he +added, somewhat regretfully. + +Dick thought ruefully that, even with this temporary promotion, he was +hardly fulfilling the conditions of his mother's will. He was certainly +not popular with the great body of students, and he began worrying lest +he be sent to his Uncle Ezra. As he walked back to his room, he recalled +a letter he had received from his father that day, stating that Mr. +Hamilton would remain abroad longer than he had originally planned. + +"It doesn't look as if I was going to make good," thought Dick, +gloomily, as he entered his apartment. + +"What was it?" asked his chums eagerly, as he came back. + +Dick told them. + +"A sham battle!" cried Paul. "That's the stuff! Hold me down, somebody, +or I'll stand on my head, and if I do I'll split my new uniform. Hold +me, somebody, do." + +"I will," volunteered 'Gene Graham, and he obligingly tilted Paul up, so +that he turned a neat summersault over his bed. + +"I guess that'll hold you for a few moments," observed Stanley Booker. +"Now tell us more about it, Dick." + +Which the young millionaire proceeded to do. + +Never was there such excitement in Kentfield academy as when it became +known that, in addition to the camp there was to be a sham battle. On +every side was heard talk of ambuscades, skirmishing parties, rear +attacks, retrograde movements, waiting for reinforcements, deploys and +bases of supplies. + +Dutton sneered openly when he heard of Dick's promotion. + +"I suppose he thinks he'll do wonders with those freshies," he said. +"Maybe he hopes he'll win the battle by coming up with them as +reinforcements." + +"Well a small force has turned the tide more than once, Dutton," Allen +Rutledge reminded him. + +"I don't think Hamilton can do it, though," was the reply of the bully. + +The start for camp was made on a bright, sunny morning, and the line of +cadets, in field uniforms, with their guns over their shoulders, the sun +glinting from the polished barrels, made an inspiring picture. + +"Isn't this glorious?" said Dick to Paul, near whom he was marching. + +"Silence in the ranks!" snapped Major Dutton, though there was no need +for the command. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE SHAM BATTLE + + +Forward marched the cadets, keeping step to the lively air of the fifes, +and the accompanying rattle and boom of the drums. But regular formation +and step were not maintained for long, only until the young soldiers +were on the main road, when they were allowed to break step, and proceed +as they pleased, the companies, however, keeping together. + +It was an all day's tramp to camp, and they stopped midway on the road +for lunch, the baggage wagons having been halted while the regular cooks +of the academy, who had been taken along, prepared the meal. + +"Wait until we get the tents up," said Dick, "then we'll have some fun. +Nothing like life under canvas in the summer." + +"Right, Captain Dick," replied Paul, trying to talk with part of a +chicken sandwich in his mouth. Dick had not yet assumed his new command, +but would as soon as camp was pitched. + +They got to the place about five o'clock, and found that the tents had +been unloaded from the wagons, and that the cooks had their white +shelter already set up, and were preparing supper. + +"Now, boys," said Major Webster, "I want to see how soldierly you can do +things. You have had considerable practice in putting up tents, at least +you older cadets have; now let's see how you have profited by your +instruction." + +In a short time the scene was one of great activity. Cadets were +straightening out folds of canvas, laying out ropes, driving in tent +pegs and, in less than half an hour, where there had been a green field, +it was now dotted with spotless white peaked-roof houses of canvas. + +"Very well done," complimented Colonel Masterly, who came out of the +headquarters tent to look at the sight. "Very fine, indeed, major." + +"Yes, I think they did well." + +The next work was to dig a trench about each tent so that rain water +could not settle about it, and this was quickly accomplished. This done +the camp had a fine appearance, the tents being arranged in rows or +company "streets." + +By this time supper was announced, and the way the cadets put away the +good things which the cooks had provided made those servants open their +eyes. They were used to hungry boys eating, but they almost forgot to +allow for the extra appetites created by work in the open air. It was +some time since a general camp had been held at the academy. + +After guard mount, sentinels were posted and orders given that no cadet +would be allowed to leave camp. In spite of this some of Dutton's crowd, +including himself, ran the guard that night and were nearly caught. +However, this was to be expected, and it was considered no great crime. + +The next day Dick was given charge of forty freshmen, and he took great +delight in starting their instruction. There were drills to attend, +lessons in tactics to learn, the best method to observe on a march, and +illustrations given in artillery firing, for several field pieces had +been brought along to use in the sham battle. + +Cavalry exercises occupied a part of every day, and though the cadets +had plenty of leisure they found that their time was pretty fully +occupied, for Colonel Masterly and his staff wanted practical benefit to +be derived from the camp life. Target practice in the open proved to +many a cadet who had done well on the ranges that he had plenty yet to +learn. + +"I wish they'd hurry up and have that sham battle," remarked Paul to +Dick one night. "Heard anything about it?" + +"It takes place to-morrow," replied our hero. "Blank ammunition will be +served out the first thing in the morning, and final instructions given. +My company is to form part of the attacking party." + +"That's good. I wonder where my bunch will be stationed? I wish I was an +officer." + +"It will come in time. You're to be on the defense, I believe. So is the +company of freshmen that Foraker has charge of." + +"Well, it won't make much difference. I'll not fire on you, if I can +help it." + +"That's good." + +The plan for the sham battle was announced the next morning, after each +cadet had been supplied with many rounds of blank cartridges. The young +soldiers were divided into two equal commands. Somewhat to Dick's +disgust Major Dutton was given charge of the attacking party, of which +the millionaire's son and his young lads formed a part. Harry Hale, the +football coach, who had also been elected a major, was to be on the +defensive. The latter army was to occupy a wooded hill, back of the +camp. At the foot of it ran a small stream, and to get at the defenders +of the mound the attacking party would have to build a temporary bridge, +which work was included in the instruction imparted at the academy. + +To cover this operation, the artillery of the attacking party would be +brought up, but, at the same time, the field pieces of the defenders +might pour a devastating fire on the bridge builders from above. + +The holders of the hill were to be stationed at the rear limits of it, +while the attackers were to start their march about two miles from the +foot of the slope. It was figured out that if the defenders could bring +up their artillery, and other forces, and attack the enemy before a +bridge could be built across the stream, the holders of the hill would +win the battle. On the other hand, if the attackers could succeed in +getting a body of cadets across the stream before a heavy artillery or +rifle fire could be poured into them, they would win. The promptness of +firing, the number of shots and general quickness were to count. + +At the appointed time, Major Hale and his force took possession of the +hill, and Major Dutton led his army two miles back, on the plain in +front of it. + +Dutton issued his orders. + +"We'll try to surprise them," he said to his young officers. "We'll +swing around in a half circle, and instead of building the bridge at the +easiest place to cross the stream we'll try it farther down. They won't +suspect that we'll come there, and we'll gain some time." + +"But they'll have their pickets out," observed Russell Glen. "They'll +see us." + +"I'll send some of you to another point to pretend to build a bridge," +decided Dutton. "That'll draw their fire, and they'll start their +artillery toward that place. Before they find out that it's only a bluff +we'll have the real bridge half done." + +As the cadets had a record of building a thirty-foot bridge of the "A" +style inside of four minutes, it seemed that Dutton's plan might be a +good one. + +"How are you going to carry the planks and spars for the bridge?" asked +Glen. "On the field piece carriages?" + +"No, we'll carry them ourselves. We can close up ranks so they won't see +the boards." + +This looked like a good plan, and the cadets made ready to carry it out. + +"Hamilton," said Dutton sharply to our hero, "you'll take the rear +guard, and stay there until you get orders to come up." + +This was rather hard on Dick. It practically put him and his freshmen +out of the battle, unless Dutton should order them to the front, and he +was not very likely to do this. Still Dick could not object, and he made +the best of it. + +"Won't we see any of the fighting?" asked one of his command. + +"Maybe so," replied the young millionaire. "They may need us for +reinforcements." + +Dick could not help but give Dutton credit for making his plans well. +The young major led his men to the designated point, taking advantage of +such inequalities of the ground as there were to conceal his movements. +The ropes, beams and planks for the bridge were distributed among the +cadets, several of them being required to carry the heavier pieces. The +strongest lads were used for this work, and their rifles were taken in +charge by their less-burdened comrades. + +Then, when all was in readiness, Dutton gave the command to advance. He +led the way, at the head of a company of infantry, while back of that +came his cavalry force, and to the rear of that was massed his +artillery, while Dick led the rear guard of freshmen. + +Straight at the hill advanced the attacking army, while from convenient +points Colonel Masterly and his staff of officers watched to decide who +won. + +"Skirmishers, advance!" ordered Dutton, and several cadets detached +themselves from the cavalry and rode forward. As they approached there +were puffs of white smoke from the slope of the hill, and the sharp +crack of rifles announced that the pickets of Major Hale's force were on +the alert. The skirmishers returned the fire, and then galloped back to +report. + +"They're waiting for us," Dutton was informed. + +"So I see," he replied. "Now, then, we'll halt here a moment. You +fellows that are to pretend to build the bridge, get ready to rush when +I give the word. I'll send one field piece as if to cover your +movements. Are you all ready there, Stiver?" for Lieutenant Stiver, with +whom Dutton had again gotten on friendly terms, was to lead the fake +movement. + +"All ready," was the answer. + +"Then go!" + +Out from the attacking force rushed a squad of cadets, bearing light +planks. Of course, from the hill, it looked as if they were the advance +guard of bridge builders. Particularly when there dashed out a field +piece, drawn by galloping horses. + +As the cadets approached the bank of the stream, and began to arrange +their planks, the lads in charge of the cannon quickly wheeled it, +unlimbered and fired the first shot. There was a white puff of smoke, a +burst of flame, and a great bang went rattling and echoing among the +hills. The battle had opened. + +As Dutton had expected, his ruse deceived Hale. The latter quickly +ordered up his entire artillery to shell the intrepid bridge builders. +Dutton, watching through a field glass, saw the approach of the cannon. + +"Forward march!" he cried to his main command. "Double quick!" + +Quickness was everything now. Off they started, the real bridge builders +and nearly his entire force, including Dick and his youngsters in the +rear. + +They circled around a turn in the stream, and, for a time, were out of +sight of the small force left to bear the attack. + +"Build the bridge here!" ordered Dutton. "Lively now, boys. See if you +can't break the record." + +The cadets needed no urging. Two of them quickly plunged into the +stream, and, partly swimming, partly wading, carried over some ropes. By +means of these they pulled over spars and planks, which, when several of +their companions hurriedly joined them, they proceeded to lash +together. The same operation was going on among the cadets on the other +side of the brook. + +Two long spars were laid down on the ground, at right angles to the +stream. At the further extremity of these spars a cross piece was +lashed, projecting on either side. Ropes were attached to the +projections, and the unconnected ends of the long spars, being held down +to the ground by several lads, the others quickly raised the connected +ends, just as a painter hoists a long ladder. The same thing took place +on the farther side of the brook, and, when both squads were ready, the +two parts of the bridge that were to form the two slanting sides of a +double letter "A" were allowed to incline toward each other, from either +side of the water, cadets having hold of the ropes, regulating and +guiding the long spars. The big sticks met in mid air, over the centre +of the stream, and, being well braced at the bottom, held. Then cadets +climbed up on either side, and united them more firmly by lashing them. + +Something like a double letter "A," but without the cross piece, now +spanned the brook. Or, perhaps, it would be more correct to say that it +was a double inverted "V." It was necessary to put on cross spars, and +lay planks on these, or the artillery and cavalry could not get over. +And, as there were no spars long enough to reach all the way across the +stream, two sections had to be used on either side of the bridge. They +were to be tied together, and supported at the centre, or place of +joining, by long ropes, attached to the apex of the letter "A." + +Though up to this time the main attacking party had not been fired on, +they could not hope to escape much longer. Already puffs of white smoke +from the hillside indicated that they had been seen by pickets. A minute +later Dutton's trick was discovered, and Hale ordered his artillery to +cease firing on the fake bridge builders, and to turn their attack on +the others. + +But Dutton was ready for this. He had his field pieces in position, and, +as soon as he saw that his soldiers had the bridge well under way, he +began shelling the defenders, who were rushing down the hill to the +attack. The infantry also began to pour in a withering fire. + +The ropes, by which the long spars had been lowered and inclined across +the stream, now served as guys to hold them steady and in place, while +the floor beams were being put in position. + +"Lively!" cried Dutton. "They're making it too hot for us! We must cross +soon, or we'll lose! They came at us quicker than I expected!" + +Meanwhile the little force that had started to build the fake bridge had +(theoretically) been killed. + +Now the long floor timbers were in place, being supported at the centre +by long ropes, hanging from the point of the "A," and the cadets were +beginning to lay cross planks on them. + +"Tell the cavalry to get ready to advance, to protect our crossing," +ordered Dutton, to one of his captains, and the troop of lads on their +restless steeds prepared to rush across the bridge at the first possible +moment. It had only been a little over three minutes since the building +of the structure was started, but a heavy artillery fire was being +concentrated on the attackers, and, in accordance with instructions +previously given, cadets began dropping out, being supposed to be +killed. + +Dutton's field pieces were pounding away, and there was a thick cloud of +smoke, which partly concealed the movements of his cadets. + +"Bridge is ready, major!" reported a smoke-begrimed lad, running up, and +saluting. Then he hastened back to continue firing on Hale's soldiers. + +"Advance, cavalry!" shouted Dutton. "Lively now! Charge!" + +The horses, urged on by their shouting riders, thundered over the frail +bridge. It trembled and swayed, but it supported them. + +"Forward, the infantry!" cried the young major. "On the double quick! +Here they come down the hill at you! Fire at will! Charge!" + +Down the slope of the hill came rushing the defenders. Behind them +thundered and rumbled their artillery, which was supporting their brave +advance in the face of the enemy. + +"Artillery, forward!" shouted Dutton, waving his sword, and hoping, by +throwing his entire force suddenly upon Hale's army, to overpower it, +and get in more shots than could his opponent. That meant he would win +the battle. + +"Shall I stay here?" cried Dick, for he had received no orders what to +do with his force, and was still on the farther side of the bridge. + +"Yes! Until I send for you, or you see that you are needed," called back +Dutton. "I guess I can get along without you." + +Louder roared the cannon; and the cracks of the rifles of the infantry, +and the carbines of the cavalry, was like the explosion of pack after +pack of giant firecrackers. + +Then something happened. As the three field pieces rumbled across the +bridge, there was an ominous cracking and splintering sound. Dutton +heard it and turned back from his rush, which he had started on to be in +readiness to lead the charge of his artillery. He saw the bridge +swaying. + +"Come on! Come on!" he cried, waving his sword. "Come on!" + +But it was too late. The middle supporting ropes had slipped, and the +bridge collapsed at the centre, letting horses, cannon and cadets down +into the stream, which, fortunately, was not deep. + +Dutton had, at one blow, lost all his artillery, while Hale's was +advancing to annihilate him and his force. The boom of the defenders' +field pieces sounded nearer and nearer, while their rifle fire became +hotter than ever. + +Dutton saw himself defeated by the inopportune collapse of the bridge, +which had been insecurely lashed together. But he would not give up. + +"Forward! Forward!" he cried. "Split up and attack 'em on both sides." + +His cavalry and infantry rushed forward, firing as they ran. Dick +Hamilton, left with his little body of troops on the other side of the +stream, saw his opportunity. + +"Quick!" he cried to his lads. "We'll go back and get the guns at the +fake bridge. Then we'll pull it across and we'll see if we can execute a +flank movement." + +"That's the stuff!" cried some of the lads, who had begun to fear they +would never get a chance to fire their rifles. + +Dick led his men on the double quick to where the field piece, from +which only a few shots had been fired, had been left. He saw a chance to +turn defeat into victory. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +DICK WINS THE CONTEST + + +Dutton was desperate when he saw the most efficient arm of his little +force thus wiped out. He did not turn back to help the cadets in charge +of the horses and guns, however, as he knew they could look after +themselves. + +And this they did, though they had to cut the traces to get the horses +loose from the guns, and then haul the field pieces out by hand. This +took some time, and when the cannon were safe on the other shore they +could not be used because the harness was cut and the horses could not +pull them. Besides the guns had turned over and the working parts were +all wet. + +But Major Dutton had not yet given up. He divided his cavalry and +infantry into two divisions, giving Captain Beeby charge of one, and +taking the other himself. + +Dutton took advantage of a little hollow which, for a few moments +hindered the advance of the defenders, to execute this move, and he +hoped to be able to turn the flank of Hale. + +"Make as wide a swing as you can," he advised Beeby, "and maybe you can +get to him before we have to give up," for according to the rules of the +sham battle about half of Dutton's force was now wiped out. It showed +his spirit when he was unwilling to send for Dick's reinforcements, but +he decided he would not owe victory to the lad he hated, if he could +help it. + +Beeby got well away with his cadets before Hale and his forces appeared +around a little mound on the big hill. Then, though it was hard work to +handle his artillery there, the major of the defenders made a stand and +gave pitched battle to the contingent led by Dutton. + +For a time the fight waged furiously, but it was unequal, as Dutton had +no cannon with which to reply to the bombardment he was suffering. Nor +could his cavalry advance to good advantage up the slope, while Hale's +had no difficulty in coming down. + +"Now, if Beeby would only get there," thought Dutton, "we might win +yet!" + +Alas for his hopes! Hale had suspected some such movement, and had held +back a reserve force. Skirmishers saw Beeby advancing through the woods, +and gave the alarm. Then Hale brought up a field piece he had not yet +used, and opened fire on Beeby's contingent, which Dutton hoped would +have saved him. There was no help for it. He was on the point of +ordering a retreat, as the only way of saving a part of his force. +Still he had a considerable number of cadets left, and they had plenty +of ammunition. + +Meanwhile Dick and his freshmen cadets had not been idle. Under his +directions they unhitched the six horses from the cannon, and, by +attaching ropes to the piece they pulled it across the stream on a raft +they improvised from the boards used to construct the fake bridge. Thus +the piece was saved from getting wet. The fake bridge builders, who had +(theoretically) been killed, offered no objection. They could take no +further part in the battle. + +"Who are the best riders?" asked Dick, and several lads modestly offered +themselves. + +"You'll be the cavalry," said the young commander. "You are only six, +but you'll do for what I want, which is mostly bluff." + +He gave the artillery horses to six lads, and bade them ride across the +stream, which they easily did. + +"Wade and swim for the rest of us," said Dick grimly. "Hold your rifles +above your heads, for, though the cartridges are water-proof, it doesn't +do the mechanism of a gun any good to get it wet. Lively now. We'll be +too late if we don't hurry. They're keeping up quite a heavy artillery +fire." + +The eager cadets needed no urging. They crossed the stream in good +order, not being observed by either Dutton's force, or by the defenders +of the hill. On the other side Dick looked for the easiest and best way +of climbing the hill, and going to Dutton's aid. + +He saw a sort of trail leading up, and, from the direction of the +firing, he knew that he could, if undiscovered, take Hale on his left +flank, Beeby having tried to turn the right unsuccessfully, though Dick +did not know this then. + +It was hard work urging the horses up the steep hill, and harder still +for the cadets to drag up the field piece, and the limber filled with +ammunition, little of which had been used. But they did it, and on they +went. + +Dick, coming out on a little projection, could see the battle in +progress between Dutton and Hale. The latter had all but won, and the +attackers were fast being driven back. They were a mere handful of +cadets now, many having been "killed" by the merciless fire. Being +"killed" in theory meant that a certain number had to drop out every +minute, and could take no further part in the battle. Of course Hale had +a number of soldiers "killed" also. + +"Hurry!" cried Dick to his lads. "We're only just in time. A little +farther and we'll plant the field piece and open fire. Then we'll charge +down." + +The lads dragged the cannon a few hundred feet farther up the hill. +Then, screening it behind some bushes, Dick told off a number of cadets +to work the gun, they having had previous practice. + +"Ready!" he called, and to the surprise of Hale, no less than that of +Dutton, the woods echoed to the report of artillery where none was +supposed to be. A white puff of smoke on Hale's left flank told him that +some movement was in progress over there. He was about to order one of +his guns to reply to the unexpected bombardment, when there came a +ringing shout from the same quarter, and, above the cheer, Dick Hamilton +yelled: + +"Charge!" + +Down upon the all but victorious defenders of the hill rushed the little +force of six cavalrymen. Behind them, leading about thirty cadets, who +were as fresh as daisies, came Dick. + +"Charge! Charge!" he yelled, and then he ordered the lads to open fire. + +They did it with a will, for they had not had a chance to use their guns +yet, and they were wild to do so. + +What a fire they poured into the ranks of the defenders. How the one +lone field piece, well screened by bushes, sent shell after shell +(theoretically) screaming into the midst of the enemy. + +Hale was all but demoralized. He had seen victory just within his grasp, +and now he was attacked by fresh reinforcements. Dutton had been too +much for him, after all, he thought. + +As for Dutton, he hardly knew what to make of it. He could not +understand how Dick had been able to lead up his forces, to execute a +successful flank movement, and, above all, to bring a field piece to +bear. + +Hale was now in desperate straits. Encouraged by seeing reinforcements +Dutton's men turned with cries of gladness to renew the attack. Hale +tried to reply to them, but his ammunition was getting low. Closer in +came Dick and his lads, pressing on Hale's flank. On the other side +Beeby, with the few cadets he had left, returned to the attack. In front +Dutton and a handful of soldiers poured in a fire. But Dick's was the +fiercest, aided as it was by the cannon. + +There was nothing for Hale to do but to retreat, and he had his bugler +sound this mournful call. Up the hill he and his men went--what was left +of them--while after them rushed Dick, now leading the attack. + +"Surrender! Surrender!" cried Dutton. "We've got you!" + +"I guess you have," admitted Hale. "But if Hamilton hadn't come when he +did there'd been a different story." + +Dutton did not reply, nor did he glance at Dick, who, seeing that the +battle was over, had ordered his command to cease firing. But, though +Major Dutton did not acknowledge that Dick had saved the day, he knew +it, and so did his men. + +Major Webster, however, did not withhold his praise. + +"Hamilton, you did splendidly!" he cried enthusiastically. "That was a +master stroke to ford the stream, take the gun over, and use the horses +for cavalry. Major Dutton, thanks to Captain Hamilton, your forces have +the honor of having won the sham battle. I congratulate you. I am proud +of my cadets, even the losers." + +"Three cheers for Major Hale!" called Dutton, who was politic, if a +bully. + +The camp rang with the shouts. + +"Now three cheers for Major Dutton!" called Hale, and the huzzahs were +louder than before, for Dutton had a magnetic attractiveness in spite of +his mean ways with those whom he did not like. + +"Three cheers for Captain Hamilton!" called Paul Drew, but, though +Dick's freshmen nearly yelled the tops of their heads off, the cheer for +our hero was noticeably weaker than either of the two preceding ones. + +Dick smiled grimly, but he knew he had done good work that day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +UNCLE EZRA AT KENTFIELD + + +The rest of that day, and far into the night, ignoring the warning of +tattoo and taps, the cadets discussed the sham battle. It had been a +glorious affair, and they fought it all over again in their tents, the +defeated ones explaining that if "this" had happened, "that" wouldn't +have taken place. + +"But for all that, you can't deny but that Dick saved the day for +Dutton," argued Paul. + +"He certainly did," was the general reply. + +The battle practically ended the military instruction at camp. The next +day was devoted to resting and light drills. Several lads had received +severe sprains or bruises, due to their haste or enthusiasm, and one +horse had a cut leg caused by the accident to the bridge. + +There was some disposition to criticize Dutton for not seeing that the +structure was secure before sending his artillery over, but Major +Webster declared that as no serious accident had resulted no fault could +be found. As for the young major it was bitter for him to have to admit, +as he grudgingly did, that he would have failed but for Dick Hamilton. + +Another day spent in camp, when all discipline was relaxed, and the +cadets were allowed to do about as they pleased, brought the outing to a +close. Then all sorts of tricks were played, and more than one crowd of +freshmen found their tent coming down unexpectedly about their heads +that night, as the mischief makers loosened the pegs. + +Bright and early the next morning the tents were struck, the baggage was +loaded into the wagons, and the "hike" to the academy was begun. The +cadets fell into line, and with swinging step, to the tune of "The Girl +I Left Behind Me," paraded off the camping ground. + +It was rather hard to settle down again to the grind of lessons, but +Colonel Masterly and his colleague knew how to handle boys, and in +between study and recitation periods were drills and cavalry and +infantry exercises so that gradually the routine was resumed again, and +every one felt better for the outing. + +One day, as Dick and Paul came in from the campus, they saw a notice on +the bulletin board. It was to the effect that candidates for the +'Varsity baseball team would report in the gymnasium that night. + +"That's the stuff!" cried Dick enthusiastically. + +"Are you going to play?" asked Paul. + +"Sure. Why not?" + +"Well, you didn't get much show at football last year." + +"Can't help it. I may this time." + +"Dutton is just as much against you as ever." + +"I know it, but I may get a chance just the same. I'm going to begin +training, and I'll keep at it until the last game." + +Dick was as good as his word. He rather hoped he might make the regular +nine, but he learned that Dutton and his set were against him, and the +best he could do was to be named as a substitute shortstop. + +The season opened rather badly for Kentfield, for they lost the first +game, and that against a small college team. It was because Captain +Rutledge was so confident that he did not play his men with any vim, and +several bad fumbles cost them the game. + +They won the first of the championship contests with Mooretown academy, +and lost the second, making it a tie, and so the third game, which would +be played at Kentfield that spring, would be an important and the +deciding one. + +Dick got an opportunity to play on the regular team once during the last +few innings, but as the game, which was with a small college, was won by +the cadets before he went into it, his performance did not receive much +credit. + +"If I only get a chance to play against Mooretown," he said to Paul, +"I'll be satisfied. Anyhow, I'm one of the subs." + +It was the day of the great and deciding game with Mooretown. Dick was +struggling into his trousers and blouse in his room, when Toots brought +him word that there was a visitor for him in the reception room. + +"Who is it, Toots?" he asked. "I haven't much time. Most of the fellows +are already on the diamond." + +"He says his name is Honeybee, as near as I can make out." + +"Honeybee," repeated Dick, much puzzled. "Oh, it must be Larabee. It's +my Uncle Ezra!" + +Then a look of annoyance came over his face. + +"If I go down to see him he'll keep me from the game," he thought. "I +haven't any time to spare. He'll lecture me about the waste of time in +playing baseball, or the danger of it, or something like that. Or he may +want me to show him around the academy. No, he's not likely to do that, +for fear he'd wear out his shoes. I wonder what in the world he can +want, anyhow? But if I see him now I'll never get a chance to play. I'll +not see him." + +"Toots," he said, "tell my uncle that I have an important engagement, +and ask him to wait until I come back." + +"All right, Mr. Hamilton," replied the janitor. "Shall I tell him what +it is? Maybe he'd like to see the game," and Toots softly whistled "Just +Before the Battle, Mother." + +"No! No! Don't tell him!" exclaimed Dick. "He thinks baseball is +wicked. Just say--say anything you like except that. I'll come back as +soon as the game's over--if I'm alive. He won't mind waiting. It will +give him a chance to think." + +Which perhaps was not exactly polite on Dick's part. He hurried off, +leaving Uncle Ezra in the reception room, wondering what important +business his nephew had that kept him so long. And, by not seeing his +Uncle Ezra, Dick missed hearing a bit of news that was destined to make +a great change in his affairs. But he heard it later, as you will see. + +While our hero was on his way to the field, hoping that he would get a +chance to play, Uncle Ezra sat in the reception room. He was not very +impatient at the delay. As Dick had said, it gave him a chance to think. + +Presently the door opened, and Russell Glen looked in the apartment. He +was in search of Dutton, having been told the young major was there. Not +seeing his friend, he was about to withdraw, with an apology for having +disturbed Mr. Larabee. + +"Are you one of the students here?" asked Dick's uncle, who was getting +rather tired waiting. + +"Yes. I'm in my second year." + +"Ah, then you must know my nephew, Richard Hamilton?" + +"Oh, yes, I know Dick." + +"Richard is his proper name," corrected Mr. Larabee stiffly. + +Glen nodded, and was about to go out. + +"If you see him, I wish you would tell him to hurry," went on Mr. +Larabee. "I have been waiting for some time for him, but he sent word +that he had an important engagement, and would see me later." + +Glen guessed what the "engagement" was, so he merely nodded. + +"I want to see him very particularly," continued the aged man, "as I +have some important news for him. It may make a great difference in his +life. In fact, I'm sure it will." + +Glen opened his eyes at this, and decided not to go just yet. + +"Has some one left him some more millions?" he asked in a joking tone. + +"Far from it," said Mr. Larabee in solemn accents. + +"Eh?" asked Glen, wondering what was coming. + +"I always said it was foolish for my sister to leave Richard so much +money," went on Mr. Larabee severely, "and I told Mortimer Hamilton that +he was risking his money to go to Europe. Now, what I said would happen +has happened." + +"Is Mr. Hamilton in trouble?" asked Glen, not a little rejoiced to find +that difficulties were in store for Dick. + +"Well, I'd call it trouble to lose nearly all my fortune. But it serves +Mortimer right, and Richard also." + +"Has Mr. Hamilton lost his money?" inquired Glen, coming closer to Mr. +Larabee. + +"Practically so." + +"And Dick?" + +"A large part of his is gone also. It was invested with Mr. Hamilton's. +I received word of it yesterday, and I hurried to come here and tell +him. A New York bank, in which Mr. Hamilton was largely interested, and +in which were most of Dick's funds, as well his father's, has failed." + +"Then Mr. Hamilton isn't a millionaire any longer?" + +"I fear not." + +"And Dick?" asked Glen eagerly. + +"He has very little left." + +"Whew!" whistled the cadet. This would be news indeed to the students. +He must hasten and tell them. + +"That's what I came to see my nephew about," went on Mr. Larabee. "I +want him to come away from this expensive school, and live with me until +his father returns. Oh, the money that young man has wasted! It is +awful! Terrible!" and Uncle Ezra seemed about to faint with the horror +of it. + +"Shall I find Dick for you?" asked Glen. + +"I wish you would, young man. I want to tell him this news, and take him +back with me. I have a return ticket on the railroad, and if I stay +over night it will be no good. Besides I am afraid my hired man will use +kerosene oil in starting the fire if I am not home by morning, and he +might burn down the house. One can not be too careful of money. Mortimer +and my nephew are a terrible example. Find him for me, if you will, +please." + +"I will," promised Glen, hurrying away. "My word!" he exclaimed as he +ran out on the campus. "Hamilton's money all gone! Then he's no better +than the rest of us now. He'll come down a peg or two." + +Considering that Dick had never tried to hang himself on a "peg," this +seemed a useless as well as cruel remark. + +"I wish I had borrowed a hundred from him yesterday, instead of fifty," +mused Glen, as he hurried on toward the baseball field. As he neared it +he heard shouts and cheers. + +"The game's started," he exclaimed, as he broke into a run. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +DICK'S GREAT RUN + + +Dick Hamilton hurried across to the players' bench, tightening his belt +as he ran. + +"If I only get a chance to play," he kept thinking. "I don't care what +happens after that, nor what Uncle Ezra may want." + +The game soon started, and it began to look bad for Kentfield, for the +outfielders made several costly errors, and at the ending of the sixth +inning the score was eight to three, in favor of Mooretown. + +"Looks rather bad," said Captain Rutledge to the coach. + +"Nonsense," replied Hale. "You can win yet. Take a brace, that's all." + +Kentfield had elected to be last at the bat, and, in the beginning of +the seventh inning, when Mooretown was up, Perkins, the regular short +stop, split his hand in stopping a "hot" ball. The other players +gathered about him. + +"I guess it's all up with us now," remarked Dutton, from his seat in the +grandstand. "We haven't got anyone who can play like Perkins. Hamilton +is green. Our goose is cooked." + +"Say, I've got some news about Hamilton," spoke Russell Glen, worming +his way to Dutton's side, during the lull in the contest following the +injury of Perkins. + +"I don't care. I want to see how this game is coming out." + +Perkins walked to the bench, blood dripping from his hand. + +"Hamilton!" cried Captain Rutledge, and Dick sprang from the bench, +pulling off his sweater. His chance had come. + +"Hamilton's going to play," said Dutton. "Oh, what a score they'll roll +up against us! They'll knock all their balls at him, and he'll miss +them. What were you saying about Hamilton?" he went on, turning to Glen. +"This is tough luck, though!" + +"Hamilton has lost all his money!" cried Glen, and his tone seemed to +show that he relished the news. + +"No!" + +"Fact. His uncle told me," and Glen related the story he had received +from Mr. Larabee. + +Dutton was greatly surprised, and so were several other cadets who +overheard what Glen had said. But there was little time to speculate on +it, as the game was under way again. + +Whether it was Dick's presence at shortstop, or because the other +players on his team braced up, was not evident. At any rate, Mooretown +was held down to a goose egg in that inning, and when it came the turn +of Kentfield to show what the nine could do in the ending of the seventh +inning, there were three runs to the credit of the cadets, Dick having +made one. + +"The score is six to eight!" murmured Glen to Dutton. "Hamilton isn't +doing so bad." + +"No, but he would if he knew all his money was gone, I guess." + +"Maybe we ought to tell him," suggested the sporty student. + +"I wish I could," murmured Dutton. + +The game went on fiercely. It was nip and tuck all the while now, for +Kentfield's chances had improved wonderfully, and they were fighting +hard to win. + +In the eighth inning neither side scored. There was an anxious look on +the faces of all the players as the ninth opened. Mooretown could afford +to smile, however, as she was still two runs ahead. At first it looked +as if she would pile up several more tallies on this score, for the +Kentfield pitcher gave two men their bases on balls, and the next man +got to first on an easy fly. + +A heavy hitter was up next, and at the first crack he sent a "hot liner" +straight at Dick. Our hero did not flinch, though the impact was +terrific. He caught the ball squarely, and the batter was out. Then, by +a neat double play, Dick and the third baseman put out another man who +was trying to steal home. + +The next batter struck out, retiring Mooretown without a run, but still +leaving them two ahead. + +"Now, fellows, we must show them what we're made of!" cried the captain. +"We want three runs this inning!" + +Captain Rutledge did his share by getting one, and another was brought +in by a narrow margin, tying the score. + +"One to win!" cried the coach. + +"Hamilton up!" announced the score keeper. + +"And two out!" added Dutton to Glen. "He can never do it. We're dumped +already." + +Dick took his place at the plate. It was a trying ordeal for a +substitute player, and the eyes of all the spectators were upon him. The +result of the game, in a great measure, depended on him. If he did not +get the winning run, it meant that the game would go another inning, and +the chances of Kentfield would not be improved. For their pitcher's arm +was going "back on him," and Mooretown's man was still good for much +twirling. + +Amid a silence that was almost painful, Dick waited for the first ball. +It came, but he did not move his bat. + +"One strike!" called the umpire, and there was something like a groan +among the Kentfield players. + +The next was a ball, and the following one looked as if it was going +fairly over the plate. But Dick did not attempt to hit it. + +"Two strikes!" + +It was like a death knell. + +"He's cutting it pretty fine," murmured the captain nervously. + +"Hamilton's all right," said Coach Hale confidently. + +A moment later there came a resounding crack, as Dick's bat met the ball +fairly. The horsehide went up in a graceful curve, and then sailed far +out toward right field. + +"Go on! Go on! Go on!" yelled Captain Rutledge, but his voice was lost +in the roar that greeted Dick's hit. The young millionaire was leaping +toward first base, while the right fielder was sprinting after the ball. + +"A home run! A home run!" begged the coach, and it looked as if Dick +would do it. + +He got to third, and started for home. The fielder had the ball by this +time, and relayed it to second. The man there threw it to third just as +Dick left. Possibly it was an error of judgment, but Dick kept on. He +could distinguish no coaching instructions now above the yells, though +Hale was calling to him to remain on the bag. But Dick kept on. + +Then, by some curious chance, the third baseman, instead of sending the +ball home, held it in his hand, and raced after Dick. It was a contest +of legs now. The baseman ignored the demands of the catcher to throw the +ball, and leaped after Dick, who ran as he had never run before. He saw +a vision of the game won, and, though his breath was coming in labored +gasps, he did not stop. There was a mist before his eyes. His legs were +tottering. + +"Jove! But he can run!" whispered Dutton. "I never saw anything like +it!" + +"You bet!" agreed Glen fervidly. + +On and on ran Dick. One quick glance over his shoulder showed him the +baseman at his heels. He expected every moment to see the catcher get +the ball, and put him out. But the horsehide did not come, and, the next +instant, when Dick felt as if he could not go another inch, or draw +another breath, he dropped, and slid home in a cloud of dust. + +"Safe!" cried the umpire, and, as he spoke, the baseman, realizing the +proper play, threw the ball. But it was too late. Dick had brought in +the winning run. + +"Wow! Wow! Wow! Hamilton! Hamilton! Hamilton! Whoop!" yelled the +frenzied players. Above their shouts could be heard the shrill cries of +many girls. + +From the stands burst forth mighty cheers. A crowd of the cadet players +surrounded Dick and would have carried him on their shoulders had he +allowed them. They patted him on the back, and even punched him in their +uncontrollable joy. + +"Hamilton, you're entitled to the thanks of the entire school!" cried +Coach Hale, rushing up, and wringing Dick's hand. + +"We never could have won but for you!" admitted the captain. "Wow! but +it was a fierce game!" and he sat down on the grass to recover his wind, +after his lusty cheers. + +They escorted Dick back to the dressing room in a sort of triumphal +procession, scores of cadets pouring from the stands to join it. Never +did a hero takes his honors more modestly. It was enough for Dick that +he had helped win the victory, and he saw coming to him now what he had +waited nearly a year for--fellowship. + +Through the throng came Dutton and Glen. + +"I say, Hamilton," called Glen, "your uncle's waiting for you." + +"I know it," answered Dick. "But I couldn't talk to him until after the +game." + +"He's got news for you--bad news," went on Glen, with the relish some +persons seem to take in telling of calamities. + +"What is it?" inquired Dick, alarmed by the cadet's words and manner. + +"Your father's fortune is wiped out, and so's yours! The New York bank +has failed!" + +For an instant Dick stared at the speaker. Then a changed look came over +his face. He stepped forward, his suit covered with dirt, his face +bleeding from a scratch, and still panting from his great run. + +"My fortune lost?" he said. "I don't care a hang! We've won the game!" + +There was a moment of silence so surprised were the cadets at the +manner in which Dick took the news. Then Glen cried out: + +"My word, but you're plucky! Three cheers for Hamilton--who used to be a +millionaire--but isn't any longer," he added, and Dick's ears rang with +the joyous shouts. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A BROADSWORD COMBAT + + +"Well, Nephew Richard, I've been waiting some time for you," said Uncle +Ezra Larabee a little later, when Dick, having gotten out of his suit +and donned his cadet uniform, went into the reception room. "I've been +here for some time, and very likely I've lost my train, but I couldn't +go back without seeing you." + +"I'm sorry I kept you so long, Uncle Ezra," replied Dick, "but you see I +was in a baseball game, and I couldn't leave until we won. It was very +important to win." + +"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed the old man. "Baseball is a dangerous +and wicked game. It leads to all sorts of trouble. When I was a boy we +played such sensible games as tag and blind-man's buff. Baseball! The +idea!" + +"The cadets of Kentfield would look pretty playing tag," thought Dick, +but he did not say anything. + +"I have some bad news for you, Nephew Richard," went on Uncle Ezra. "I +suppose you wonder what it is." + +"I know." + +"You know?" + +"Yes, Glen told me." + +"Oh, he must be the young man whom I was talking to. Well, I regret very +much to be the bearer of such ill tidings," went on Mr. Larabee, "but, +if you are hoping that it is not true, you are much mistaken. I received +word from New York yesterday that the bank in which was most of your +father's wealth, as well as your own, which your mother, my sister, so +foolishly left you----" + +"Sir!" cried Dick, for he could not bear to hear his mother spoken of in +that way. + +"Well, I think it foolish to leave a youth so much money," said Mr. +Larabee, "and now my judgment is confirmed. You are no longer a +millionaire." + +"I don't know as I care much," said Dick coolly. "My money didn't do as +much as I expected it would." + +"Foolish, perverse youth," murmured his uncle. "But you must make a +change in your plans. You can no longer stay at this expensive school. +You had better pack up your things and come home with me to Dankville. I +will look after you until your father comes home from Europe. Doubtless +I may be able to get you a position in a woolen mill in which I am +interested. If you hurry we can take the late train, and I will be able +to use the excursion ticket I bought." + +Dick considered matters a moment. Then he said: + +"I don't think I'll go with you, Uncle Ezra." + +"Not go with me? Why, what will you do?" + +"Stay here and finish out the spring term. I'm just beginning to enjoy +himself. There are only a few weeks left." + +"But how can you? You have very little, if any, money." + +"My tuition and board are paid up to the end of this term," said Dick +calmly. "I have considerable money on deposit in the Kentfield bank, +that I drew out from my funds at Hamilton Corners, when I came here. +That will last me for some time. I think I prefer staying here to going +back to--to Dankville." + +"Well, of all the foolish, idiotic, senseless, rash proceedings I ever +heard of!" exclaimed Uncle Ezra. "The idea! You will stay here and use +up what little money is saved from the wreck of your fortune! Why, maybe +you could get a rebate on what has been paid for board and tuition." + +"I shouldn't think of asking for it," said Dick. "No, I think I'll stick +it out here." + +There was a movement at the door, and something came into the room, +something that slid up to Dick, and began wiggling at his feet. + +"Quiet, Grit, old boy," he said. + +"Is that your bulldog?" asked Uncle Ezra. + +"Yes; he was too lonesome at home without me, so I sent for him. He +stays in the stable." + +"Another foolish and useless expense," murmured the old man. "Oh, what +is the world coming to!" + +Dick didn't know, so he didn't answer. + +"Think well," went on Mr. Larabee. "You had better come home with me. I +can get you work in the woolen mill." + +"I'll stay here," replied Dick firmly. + +"Then I wash my hands of you!" exclaimed the aged man. "Never appeal to +me for help! I am done with you! Of all the foolish, thoughtless, rash +youths I ever met, you are the worst; and your father----" + +What Mr. Larabee would have said about Mr. Hamilton he never finished, +for Grit, hearing the voice of a man he considered his enemy, made a +rush from under the table where he was lying, and growled as though he +was going to sample Uncle Ezra's legs. + +"Take that brute away!" exclaimed Dick's crabbed relative, but before +the order could be executed Mr. Larabee turned and fled from the room, +Grit pursuing him as far as the hall. + +"I guess we've seen the last of him for a while," mused Dick. "Eh, Grit, +old boy?" + +The bulldog nearly shook off his stump of a tail. + +"Well, I guess I had better write to dad, and find out how bad things +really are," he went on. "Still, there's no use worrying. I got along +all right before I knew I was a millionaire, and I guess I can now when +I'm not." + +Someone looked in the reception room. It was Glen. + +"I say, Hamilton," he remarked, "the boys are looking all over for you. +They want you to lead a procession. We're going to have a grand +celebration, burn the uniforms, and break training to celebrate the +victory. Hurry up!" + +"This is worth losing one's money for," thought Dick, as he took his +place at the head of the procession of merry, shouting, laughing cadets. +"I'm getting to be popular, I guess." + +Indeed, whether it was his victory on the diamond or the loss of his +money, it would be hard to say, but, at any rate, more cadets made +friends with Dick that night than had done so in his whole previous time +at Kentfield. + +But though Dick had won the hearts of the baseball nine and their +friends, he was still far from being one of the really popular lads in +the school. Dutton and his cronies held aloof from him, and many +followed their example. + +But, unexpectedly, there came a great change in Dick's life, and Dutton +was partly responsible for it. Dick and some of his companions were at +broadsword exercise on horseback one day, while, on the farther side of +the cavalry plain, there was a class drilling in artillery, under the +direction of Dutton. Dick was fencing with Lyndon Butler, when suddenly +Dutton's steed, frightened by the discharge of a cannon near it, reared, +throwing the young major off. + +Dutton's foot caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged along, unable to +release himself, while six artillery horses, drawing a heavy gun, dashed +down the field and seemed about to collide with the youthful major's +animal. + +Dick saw a chance to save his enemy, and turned his horse quickly, to +make a dash. So rapid was his movement that Butler's sword gave him a +gash in the face, Dick forgetting, in the excitement of the moment, to +guard himself. With the blood streaming from a cut on his cheek Dick +urged his horse at a gallop until he had caught Dutton's runaway mount. +He did it only just in time, for, as he pulled the beast, still dragging +the young major, to one side, the artillery steeds dashed over the spot. +Dutton would have been killed but for Dick's prompt act. + +Major Webster rode up quickly, and was glad to find that neither Dick +nor Dutton was seriously hurt. + +"Who caught my horse?" asked Dutton, as he struggled to his feet. "The +last I remember was seeing him running toward the artillery animals, and +I made up my mind there'd be quite a smash when they met." + +"They didn't meet, thanks to Dick Hamilton," said the elderly major. "He +stopped your horse just in time." + +"And got a nasty cut into the bargain," added another cadet. + +Dick was beginning to feel a trifle dizzy. He turned aside. Dutton took +a step forward, in spite of his strained ankle. + +"Hamilton," he said, and there was a husky note in his voice. + +Dick turned back. + +"Hamilton--I--er--I--I--will you shake hands?" asked Dutton suddenly, +and he seemed much affected. + +Dick grasped the outstretched hand, and the two, one of whom had been an +unrelenting enemy of the other, looked into each other's eyes. + +"Hamilton," went on Dutton, still holding Dick's hand, "I don't know how +to thank you. Will you--will you forgive me?" + +"Oh--there's nothing to forgive," said Dick. + +"Yes, there is," said Dutton huskily. "I've treated you--I've been a +cad, that's what I have! I didn't like you at first--I thought you were +proud of your millions. I didn't like the idea of you being here--I was +jealous, I guess. I wanted to make you quit. It was I who tied your dog +to the saluting gun, and tried to throw the blame on you. I've done +other mean things. I--I----" + +"Forget it!" said Dick so heartily that the other cadets laughed, and +thus broke what was becoming quite a strain. + +Major Webster, when he heard the beginning of Dutton's confession, +walked away. He was a wise old soldier, and he knew that the lads could +best settle those things among themselves. + +"And you don't bear me any grudge?" asked Dutton, after a pause. + +"Not a bit. But you'd better get back to the hospital and have your +ankle looked after," for Dutton was limping. + +"Oh, that isn't anything. It might just as well have been my head. But, +say, you got a nasty dig." + +"Only a scratch," replied Dick with a happy laugh. He would have +welcomed another one if it could have insured him such an outcome as had +followed this. + +"I guess we'd better take you both to the hospital," said Butler, who +had ridden up, fearful lest he had seriously injured Dick. + +And thither the two wounded cadets were taken, though their stay there +was brief. + +It was a week after the sensational rescue of Dutton that a meeting of +the exclusive society of the Sacred Pig was held in the cosy little +club-house which had been built by contributions and donations of the +cadets themselves or their fathers. Dutton arose and proposed Dick for +membership, the election being unanimous. + +The next day being Saturday, was an occasion for the cadets enjoying +considerable freedom. It was after the evening parade, when Dick and +some of his new chums had received permission to go to town to a +theatrical performance, that Major Webster sent for our hero. + +"I'll not keep you a moment, Hamilton," he said, "as I know your +friends are waiting for you. But you remember that battered marksman's +medal that Toots had, and which you requested me to investigate for +you?" + +"Yes; have you any information about it?" + +"I have. I sent it to a friend of mine, an officer at Fort Laramie, +Wyoming, and he has just returned it. With it he sends some surprising +news." + +"What is it?" + +"That medal was issued to Corporal William Handlee, a number of years +ago." + +"Corporal Handlee--the missing soldier--Captain Handlee's son?" + +"The very same." + +"Why, how--where did Toots get it, I wonder? Is it possible that he----" + +"We must ask him. I will question him to-night, and let you know the +result. Hark, there he comes now." + +Someone was coming down the corridor, whistling the lively strains of +"Yankee Doodle." + +"That's Toots," said Dick with a smile. "I wonder how he came to have +Handlee's medal. Can he possibly be----" + +But at that instant there came a series of excited shouts from outside. + +"Fire! Fire! Fire!" + +Dick and the major rushed to the window. + +"Fire! Fire!" shouted Toots, as he ran back along the corridor. + +Dick saw a black pall of smoke, through which shot red tongues of flame. + +"It's the society house of the Sacred Pig," he cried. + +And it was from the windows of the meeting place of the cadets' society +that the flames were shooting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +DICK WRITES A CHECK--CONCLUSION + + +As Dick, followed by the major, rushed from the barracks to go to the +fire, the housekeeper thrust an envelope into the young millionaire's +hand. + +"It is a telegram that just came for you," she explained. + +Dick shoved it into his pocket without opening it. Then he joined the +throng of excited and alarmed students that had gathered about the +burning society headquarters. + +A small fire department was maintained at the academy, but as the +buildings of the school were all fireproof, the brigade was not a very +large one, and was only equipped with chemical apparatus. + +"We must telephone for the town fire department," cried Dutton. + +"They won't get here in time to do much," said Major Webster. "Better +save what you can inside, boys." + +They saw that what he said was true. There was a stiff wind blowing, +fanning the flames to furnace heat. The blaze had started on the upper +floor, and had already eaten its way through the roof. No one knew what +had caused the fire, as there was no one in the place when it started, +and it had burned for some time before breaking out. + +Fortunately, the structure was well away from any of the academy +buildings, and there was little danger to them. + +"Let's save what we can!" cried Dick, and the boys began running in, +carrying out such of the trophies as they could find on the lower floor. +But it soon became too hot for them, and Major Webster, fearing someone +would get hurt, ordered the work of salvage to cease. + +"Too bad!" observed Russell Glen, as he and others watched the handsome +brick and stone building crumbling into ruins. "And we counted on having +such sport there next term." + +"Well, it's insured, isn't it?" asked Dick. "We can collect the money, +and build a better one." + +"Insured!" suddenly cried Dutton. "There, I meant to attend to that, but +it slipped my mind!" + +"What did?" asked Allen Rutledge. + +"The insurance. It expired the day before yesterday." + +"And do you mean to say you forgot to get it renewed?" + +"I forgot all about it." + +"And haven't we a cent of insurance on it?" asked Paul Drew. + +"Not a penny. It's all my fault. I meant to get new policies, but I put +it off and now----" + +"Now it's too late," said Rutledge. "You're a fine treasurer, you are." + +Amazement and chagrin made Dutton incapable of replying. The cadets +looked on sorrowfully, as they saw their society house being destroyed, +knowing that it would be no easy matter to get the money for a new one. + +Suddenly there was an explosion from within, and a shower of stones from +one of the walls flew into the air. + +"Look out!" cried Dick. + +He and the others leaped back in time, but Toots, who was in the front +rank of spectators, having helped to carry out many valued relics, did +not seem to hear. A moment later a fragment of stone struck him on the +head, and he fell down. + +"Toots is hurt!" cried Dick, running up to the odd janitor, whom all the +cadets liked because of his pleasant ways. + +"Carry him to the hospital, boys," said the major. "I'll have the +surgeon attend to him. Maybe he isn't hurt much." + +But from the blood on the head of poor Toots, it would seem that the +wound was not a small one. + +Sorrowfully Dick and his chums carried the unconscious man. There was +little use remaining at the fire now, for it was almost out, having +consumed everything save the walls. + +"He isn't badly hurt," announced the surgeon cheerfully, when he had +examined Toots. "Only a cut on the head. He'll be all right in a few +days." + +Suddenly the injured man, who had been placed on a couch in the +hospital, sat up. He felt of the bandage on his head. Then he looked +around wildly. + +"Did we beat the red imps off?" he asked. "Why is it I don't hear the +firing? Have they retreated? Am I badly hurt? Let me get at 'em again! +I'm a good shot! I can pick 'em off!" + +He started from his couch, but the surgeon gently pressed him back. + +"What's the matter, Toots?" he asked. "Where do you think you are?" + +"Toots? Who's Toots? I'm Corporal Bill Handlee, and I must get back to +my post. I'm a sharpshooter, and the Indians are attacking us." + +The surgeon looked at the injured man in amazement. He thought Toots was +delirious. But to Dick the thrilling words meant much. He pressed +forward. In his hand he held the battered marksman's medal which Major +Webster had returned to him. + +"Is this yours, Corporal Handlee?" he asked. + +"Yes; where did you get it?" asked Toots. "But why don't some of you +speak? Have we beaten off the red imps?" + +"Yes," said Dick gently, understanding the whole story now. "They were +beaten back some years ago, Toots. Oh, I've found you at last! Won't +your father be glad!" + +"My father?" and Toots, or, as we must call him now, Corporal Handlee, +looked dazed. "My father knows where I am." + +"He doesn't, but he soon will," said Dick joyfully, and by degrees, he +told the story of how he had agreed to help Captain Handlee locate his +missing son, and how, by a strange trick of fate, he had been found. + +And that Toots was this missing son there was no doubt. His memory, a +blank for many years, because of a bullet wound on the head, received in +a fight with the Indians out west, had been restored to him. The surgeon +explained it by saying that the blow from the stone, which exploded from +the heat, had undone the injury caused by the bullet, by relieving the +pressure of a certain bone on the brain. Such cases are rare, but not +altogether unknown, he added, and persons who had forgotten for many +years who they were suddenly recalled the past. + +Of course Toots, or, Corporal Handlee, as we must now call him, could +not tell where he had been all the years that he was missing. The last +he remembered was taking part in an Indian fight, and being wounded. +When he recovered consciousness from the blow of the hot stone, he +thought he was still at Fort Lamarie. He had forgotten all the +intervening time, including several years spent at Kentfield. + +It was surmised that he must have wandered away after the Indian fight, +recovered, though with his memory gone, taken another name, and then +drifted about, until he secured a place at the military academy. That, +the officers recalled, was five years ago. + +The corporal had not recognized his own photograph, though something in +his hazy memory made him think he knew the man the picture represented. +His own medal as a marksman he had supposed belong to another. + +"I must send Captain Handlee a telegram at once," said Dick, when the +excitement had calmed down. "It will be great news for him." + +Leaving Corporal Handlee in charge of the surgeon, the old soldier being +quite weak, and hardly able to understand all that had happened, Dick +started for the telegraph office, which was not far from the school. He +sent the message to the old captain, and, in getting out his money to +pay for it, he put his hand in the pocket into which he had thrust the +telegram the housekeeper had given him. + +"Guess I'd better read it," he murmured. "The fire and finding Corporal +Handlee made me forget all about it." + +It was from his father, and was very short, but the news it contained +made Dick throw his cap up into the air, and yell out in pure delight. + +"Wow!" he cried. "Wow! Wow! Wow!" + +The operator came running from his little office. + +"Got bad news?" he asked. + +"Bad?" repeated Dick "No, it's the best in the world! My dad's coming +home!" + +"Seems to me you're making quite a fuss about it." + +"So would you if you knew what else he said," spoke Dick, as he rushed +from the building. + +He found most of his chums grouped around the ruins of the society +house. They were talking about the fire. + +"It's all my fault," Dutton was saying. "I guess I'll resign as +treasurer." + +"I guess we won't have any society, if we can't have a meeting place," +observed Hale, sorrowfully. + +"Say, Dutton, have you a fountain pen?" asked Dick, as he came up beside +his former enemy. + +"I guess so. What do you want it for?" + +"I'll show you." + +Dick sat down on a pile of debris. From his pocket he took a thin, red +book, and commenced writing in it by the light of the embers of the +ruined society house. Presently he tore out a slip of paper and handed +it to Dutton. + +"What--what's this?" stammered the treasurer of the Sacred Pig. +"Why--why--Hamilton!" + +"What is it?" demanded a score of voices, as the cadets crowded up. + +"It's a check--a check," stammered Dutton, as he saw the figures which +Dick had written in, and noted that they occupied four places. "It's a +check!" + +"To rebuild the society house of the Sacred Pig," said our hero simply. + +"But I--I thought you lost all your money, Hamilton," said Dutton. + +"I thought so, too," replied Dick. "So did Uncle Ezra, but I cabled to +dad, and it's all a mistake. He took all our funds from the bank that +failed before he went abroad. We didn't lose a cent." + +"Then you're a millionaire yet, aren't you?" asked Dutton. + +"I'm--I'm afraid so," answered Dick. + +There was silence for a moment, and then the cadets seemed to understand +what Dick had done. They looked at the piece of paper fluttering in +Dutton's hand. It meant that they could have a new and better +headquarters for their society. + +"Three cheers for Dick Hamilton!" called several, and Dick's ears rang +to the sweetest music he had ever heard. + +They all wanted to shake hands with him at once, and they made so much +noise that Colonel Masterly sent one of the teachers out to see if the +fire had started afresh. + +"It's only the cadets cheering Mr. Hamilton, sir," replied the +instructor, when he returned. + +"Hum! He's getting to be quite popular," said the colonel, with a smile, +for he understood about Dick's handicap. + +And there was abundant evidence of his popularity a little later on, for +they insisted on carrying Dick on their shoulders to the saluting +cannon, where all important events were celebrated, and there they did a +sort of war dance about him. Dick would have been glad to escape, but +they would not let him. + +"We don't want your money, honey, we want you!" they sang. And Dick knew +that they spoke the truth. He had fulfilled another condition of his +mother's will, and become popular in spite of his wealth, though for a +time he feared this would never happen. He had thought of a plan to +pretend that he had suddenly grown poor, but Uncle Ezra's mistake made +this unnecessary. + +"I don't know whether it's more fun to be rich or poor," thought Dick, +as he went to bed that night. But he had other adventures, in which his +great wealth played a part, and those of you who care to follow Dick +Hamilton's fortunes further may read of them in the next volume of this +series, to be called: "Dick Hamilton's Steam Yacht; or, A Young +Millionaire and the Kidnappers." + +"Well, how are you feeling this morning, Toots--I mean Corporal?" asked +Dick, about a week later, when the janitor was able to leave the +hospital. + +"Fine. I'd never know I'd been sick. That was a lucky thing to get hit +with a stone, so I could know who I really was. But I'm anxious to get +home and see my father, since you say he's not well." + +"Oh, he's not seriously ill," said Dick. "I had a letter from Henry +Darby about him. He's so pleased that you have been located, that a +sight of you is about all the medicine he needs." + +"I can go home to him in a few days, Colonel Masterly says." + +"You want to give us an exhibition of shooting before you go," suggested +Dick. + +"I'm afraid I'm all out of practice," objected the former corporal. + +But he was not, as he very quickly proved, when he and some chums of +Dick went to the rifle range. There the soldier made bullseye after +bullseye with an ease that made the cadets fairly gasp, and he did all +sorts of fancy shooting, including driving a tack in a board from even a +greater distance than even Captain Handlee had boasted that his son +could do it. + +"I guess it must have been that my eyes were affected by that Indian +bullet," said the corporal. "They got all right again when the stone +from the fire hit me." + +Later, the surgeon admitted that this was probably true. + +A short time after this Corporal Bill Handlee joined his aged father in +Hamilton Corners, and the two enjoyed many happy years together, thanks +to Mr. Hamilton's generosity, and what Dick had done to solve the +mystery. + +"Well, Grit, old boy," said our hero one day near the close of the term, +as he was strolling over the campus, followed by his ugly pet, and with +Paul Drew, William the Silent and some other cadets at his side, "well, +Grit, I think you and I will go home soon. Dad will be home next week, +and say, maybe we won't have some good times; eh, Grit?" + +The bulldog nearly turned a summersault to show how glad, he was. A few +days later Dick and his dog were at Hamilton Corners, ready for the +summer vacation. + + +THE END + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + Punctuation and hyphenation have been standardised. Changes to the + original publication have been made as follows: + + Page 2 + + I'll swin out farther than _changed to_ + I'll swim out farther than + + Page 11 + + crawled alone _changed to_ + crawled along + + Page 15 + + as well stay. Hanniabal _changed to_ + as well stay. Hannibal + + Page 18 + + exicting adventures _changed to_ + exciting adventures + + Page 29 + Catpain Handlee called _changed to_ + Captain Handlee called + + Page 33 + + but accidently stepped _changed to_ + but accidentally stepped + + Page 41 + + amid a chorous of _changed to_ + amid a chorus of + + Page 49 + + for reasons similiar _changed to_ + for reasons similar + + Page 58 + + rather akward feelings _changed to_ + rather awkward feelings + + Page 75 + + transfered to Dick's company _changed to_ + transferred to Dick's company + + Page 79 + + annouced Dutton _changed to_ + announced Dutton + + Page 83 + + suddently exclaimed _changed to_ + suddenly exclaimed + + Page 88 + + asked the odd man _changed to_ + asked the old man + + Page 95 + + have more acquaintences _changed to_ + have more acquaintances + + Page 105 + + having disloged the enemy _changed to_ + having dislodged the enemy + + Page 106 + + Very well, then, You _changed to_ + Very well, then, you + + Page 110 + + He got us out of bad scrape _changed to_ + He got us out of a bad scrape + + Page 113 + + stiffled the cry of pain _changed to_ + stifled the cry of pain + + Page 115 + + was never know, but _changed to_ + was never known, but + + Page 120 + + enjoyed by the cadtes _changed to_ + enjoyed by the cadets + + Page 120 + + they offered changes _changed to_ + they offered chances + + Page 125 + + All the candiates _changed to_ + All the candidates + + Page 128 + + asked Dutton colly _changed to_ + asked Dutton coolly + + Page 131 + + slippen into his _changed to_ + slipped into his + + Page 146 + + in view of your god conduct _changed to_ + in view of your good conduct + + Page 147 + + and there was an omnious _changed to_ + and there was an ominous + + Page 149 + + discouraged letter to his gather _changed to_ + discouraged letter to his father + + Page 150 + + were not as atractive _changed to_ + were not as attractive + + Page 151 + + even enjoy the good thinks _changed to_ + even enjoy the good things + + Page 156 + + the suregon's medicine _changed to_ + the surgeon's medicine + + Page 156 + + preceeding one _changed to_ + preceding one + + Page 162 + + Dick that something unusal _changed to_ + Dick that something unusual + + Page 163 + + them toward Duton _changed to_ + them toward Dutton + + Page 163 + + Suppose the fall out _changed to_ + Suppose they fall out + + Page 166 + + comanded that some more _changed to_ + commanded that some more + + Page 166 + + trapeezes, and a number _changed to_ + trapezes, and a number + + Page 167 + + few drils, out of doors _changed to_ + few drills, out of doors + + Page 168 + + patroling his post _changed to_ + patrolling his post + + Page 183 + + I that is what you what you _changed to_ + If that is what you what you + + Page 188 + + "Don't be worried," replied Dick cooly _changed to_ + "Don't be worried," replied Dick coolly + + Page 204 + + Dutton seeemd to be _changed to_ + Dutton seemed to be + + Page 205 + + what we've got to is to get him _changed to_ + what we've got to do is to get him + + Page 208 + + asked hi chum _changed to_ + asked his chum + + Page 208 + + as Paul yanked his from _changed to_ + as Paul yanked him from + + Page 211 + + and I am very much pleased with _changed to_ + and I am very much pleased with it + + Page 211 + + regular lettered comands _changed to_ + regular lettered commands + + Page 217 + + to use in the shame battle _changed to_ + to use in the sham battle + + Page 222 + + he cried to his main comand _changed to_ + he cried to his main command + + Page 227 + + advancing to annihiliate _changed to_ + advancing to annihilate + + Page 230 + + defeners of the hill _changed to_ + defenders of the hill + + Page 240 + + said Mr. Larabee in solmen accents _changed to_ + said Mr. Larabee in solemn accents + + Page 257 + + throw the blame on yuo _changed to_ + throw the blame on you + + Page 264 + + but the suregon gently _changed to_ + but the surgeon gently + + Page 267 + + Why--why--Hamitlon _changed to_ + Why--why--Hamilton + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days, by Howard R. 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