Dick Prescott's Second Year at West Point / Or, Finding the Glory of the Soldier's Life

escott softly acros

manded the Virginian, showi

. "Come over as qu

elf, for the Virginian's sense of dignity would not permit him t

d Anstey, as he finally entered th

ther gentlemen don't even know what

rade in the corps. Any cadet who utters a lie, and is detected in it, is ostracized as being unfit for

be, Mace," co

life, then!" cried th

blubber out. We'll just summon him here, and make the little imp so ashamed of himself that the lesson ought to last him through the

reed Anst

class president, lately so stately on the subject of hazing, now actually

nued Dick, "have you h

in hand a

demanded Anstey angrily,

ken Mr. Briggs in

last evening, I had Mr. Briggs in our tent for grinnin

through some

made him brace for five minutes, and then go th

asn't much!" g

to get square," mused Dick aloud. "But a plebe i

d as if to go out,

ry, for the next half

the treatment of th

ll you be the one to

ence in this tent is

isit in another tent. Mr. Briggs was still grinning broadly as he r

s grin faded like the mist,

nce is desired at once

the result of the new soldierly habit. Mr. Briggs threw on his campaign hat and a raincoat, but, by

as he strode up the street. "Confound it, can a yearli

Furlong's tent, r

riggs,

n, Mr.

tent, drawing himself up

arlings spoke. In fact, only Di

d Prescott at last, "

tent,

and report back her

good

he plebe, as he possessed himself of his

an reported hack at the tent, his bucket

n, Mr. Briggs, at t

then stood once

nt of the yearling class, "it was y

o answer that, sir,

your rights there, mi

this tent just in t

y wish to d

, s

ment is so small that it would roll around inside the eye of a needle. This is a serious condition, and we judge that your health will be sadly affected if the condition i

posture, mister, unless you are released from it. Now, thrust your head down into the water, as far as you can without interfering with your breathing. Remain in t

ance. It seemed impossible to keep this position, without occasional steadying by the hands, but it had to be done. If the reader does no

lings all turned away from him, conversing

he water, or to seek support from his hands, he would quickly h

remained "in soak." To him it

ebe gave an expected lurch sideways, falling flat, upsetting the bucket and ca

on your knees, as dir

sco

ng over," replied crestfallen Mr. Briggs, stan

ly suggestive of the water that was tri

wet, mister

s,

in

s,

n a tone that hinted at a great deal of sympathy. "You must

pau

Briggs stood mu

have the use of your p

d Cadet Furlong in a t

go through the silent manual of arms," or

, trying to look very grave in order to hide the extreme sheepishnes

"And keep going until we decide that you have done i

ms. As soon as he had gone once through, with West Point pre

d Dick gravely, as though prescribing something for the

ch he was stationed. Left, right! left, right! left, right! his feet moved, in t

igher and more smart

i

his feet as high as he could, and yet obliged to bring them down noisele

n minutes Mr. Briggs continued this grotesque work. He knew better than to stop

d Prescott so

ntion after he had allowed the butt of

urn Mr. Furl

in store for him. Prescott noted that Mr

class sergeant. "But you will hold yourself in readine

" assented

may

class president very carefully as he passed out with his

t indulge in any grimaces or chuckles. Instead, he made haste to get off h

first rate, with nobody bothering me. Then I had to get that b.