Dick Prescotts's Fourth Year at West Point / Or, Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps

ommanded the enginee

e column of cadets had marched, and no

asses in the United States Military Academy, was out on this

oon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River, this indentation being

Presc

ssman, and captain of one of the six ca

t, continued the instructor, Lieutenant Armst

, sir," re

ned, Prescott turned to divide his co

must be done with the greatest possible despatch, and a real br

will take charge of the boats. Mr. Jor

sed, in this case, in the c

y, in the first class, scowled as he received t

you, Prescott,"

m to the instructor," return Cadet Captain Prescot

that," muttered Cadet

, and attend

e to one of general co

uct the

cation, to take command of the squad of yearlings, or th

hurried his squad away to the flat-bottomed, squ

med, Greg had placed the

s!" ordered D

he heavy balks, or flooring timbers, on their shoulders. It was hot,

e laid across t

id the detachment of lashers were a

ve o

mooring stakes and a second

he

t was heavy, hot, hard and dirty work. Outsiders who imagine that the Military Academ

nks were laid in an orderly manner for

the bridge grew Cadet Prescott walked out on the flooring t

ts position, Dick turned to

they were termed unofficially--were standing idle, though alert. They

the other resting against the small of his back

Dick, hastening bac

d the surly ca

balks, if yo

turned slowly toward

onded willingly. This was what they were here for, and this hard work was all

!" admonished Prescott, with a

r!" drawled Mr. Jordan, w

harp corners of the heavy balk on his right shoulder,

loafing contest," admonis

ed Jordan with pro

ir balks, laying them in record time across the top of the next pontoon. The las

forward, each carrying a plank. Here and there, a lighter cadet staggered somewhat under the pl

pontoon

ed Cadet Pres

is squad sta

ant Armstrong. That Army officer, however, see

ed Prescott to himself. "He is going to balk me so t

s work that takes every moment of the cadet's time and attention, and incessant running in the hot sun. Yet Prescott had, before this, chased the balk carrie

you, Mr. Jordan?" aske

you s

bs as this!" growled Jordan

Prescott coldly. "I shall be compelled to make it an

ulder! Forward!" Jord

t! L

red Prescott to himself, and returned to the advancing end o

ver, and then Dick s

-tempered Virginian, one of Dick's staunchest friend

p the time that has been lost. Mr. Jordan, you are relieved from your duty, and will

of the justly aroused temper that lay be

t instantly livid. He clenched his fists, whil

"do you realize what you ar

eport yourself to the instruc

arling squad out with the balks,

with a further glance or word, but walked with swi

walked over to the instructor,

s instruction," said th

n with the deta

d, turned on his heel, sought the ne

ung man had plenty of

tain Dick

ng pebbles. "It's a pity he can't be taken down a peg or two! And now I'm in for demerit

h his more than three years in the co

Jordan's roommate, Atterbury, felt

was not popular. If he had made no strong friendships, neither had he so deported himself as to win enmity or even dislike. He

cter. Open, sunny, frank, manly, he was a born l

an could be a good soldier until the duty habit had become fixed. So, in his earlier years at West Point, Dick had sometimes been unpopular

d of Dick & Co., a sextette of chums and High School athletes. It was in his High School days that young Prescot

at the United States Military Academy. Our readers know how hard the fight had been for Dick Prescott, who, in addition to his early struggles to keep his place in scholarship in the corps, had been submitted to the evil work of enemies in

ad reached the first class. They had now less than a year to go befo

hted over their appointment as cadet officers. Prescott was captai

squads attending briskly to business, the pontoon was qui

t as to whether Prescott

while the bridge construction was going on. Behind the mules

nant Armstrong and saluting, "I have the hon

rned the salute, next cal

rte

the engineer p

am over the br

at of his wagon, t

his test closely. They were sure enough of

neer soldier turned his team in a half circle, once more

t," nodded the Engineer offi

e," ordered Dick, af

instr

f the third and first classes began to dem

k had officially reported the fa

form your detachment a

good

with which a man in th

road on the way to the summer encampment. By that time, a sergeant and a squad of Engineer privates

side the encampment

dismissed!"

e in field uniforms--sombreros, gray flannel shirts, flannel trousers and le

chment must be washed irreproachably clean, without sign of perspiration. They must be in uniforms of immacula

se cadets be late at dinner formation, without an unquestionably good excuse, and he must pay th

table. Immaculate, trim and trig he looked as he stepped from his tent, but

the company street almost immediately after Jo

an stiffly, "I want a

oking keenly at his c

report me t

in an indolent, laggard manner,

f called upon to be a ju

in command over th

what I think of yo

. "It is against the regulations for a cadet to cal

er the re

th a smile, "then I will leave you to the enjoyme

are a prig!" sn

fact," answered Dick coolly, though he flushed somewha

you are class president. But that is no reason why you should act as though

r head this forenoon?" demanded Dick, w

though you thought yo

nsisted Jorda

in the Army," Dick replied, regaining his coolness. "The Pr

portance," cried Jordan hotly, though in a

warned Dick that a vile ins

Jordan, don't say anything that will compel me to knock you down in plain sight

it in for me. That was why you reported me this morning. That was why you put me in line for demerits and punishment to

gainst regulations and against all the traditions of the corps for me to

warned Jordan, with

you all thro

d you'll bring trouble down on your own head instead. No class requir

urning coward,

knows well enough that he is thereby lying,

ang you

d Prescott. "Here comes the corps adjut

of discipline from

y martinet like you!"

, red sash and sword, came up with brisk military stri

t only under proper orders. This, for being reported this morning during the tour of engineer instruction. An

eplied Cadet Jordan

Adjutant Filson

dan, his brow black with fu

thunderbolt of punis

. As for

yourself to the company street. At this moment you are outside

obey, for Prescott was speaking now as cadet command

!" raged the disciplined cadet,

ny street. Soon after the loud, snappy tones of the b

an, the commandant of cadets, sitting in his tent over by post

is there in this report against Mr. Jordan this m

nt Armstrong. "I had the whole happening under

e such pretence,

ow a man like Mr. Prescott would

ed all of the particulars that

rst classman and should be above any such conduct. We will confine Mr. Jordan to his company street for one week;

or Cadet Adjutant Filson, to whom he had entrusted

oldier found his hatred of Dick Prescott growing with every step of t

now!" growled the disgruntled one. "Bu