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

escott felt as though his

g a shell into the reveille gun, if it were not already loaded, and t

ietly looking on, would h

edly Greg would soon be journeying

ot call out

would recoil surely upon Mr. Prescott's he

y into the "tac.'s" hands in this f

all manner thoughts pla

yalty would not allow him to stand by a

at he himself had not

off

escott stepped briskly along the path, brin

ve I your permissi

ot unduly loud, carried like a

ing else that would betray alarm. Yet, ere Captain Bates's voice could be

escott," replied Captain Bates

ugh and through, for Bates thoroughly suspected Dick of

respectfully. "I found myself ignorant, as were some of the others, as to the correct answer to the que

ng directly to militar

Captain Bates, speaki

ly, sir,

he question,

h, halted at attention sever

on had been discussed, "is whether there is any regulation, or any tacit rule that requires a c

nce made an engagement to attend a hop, would be bound by his word to attend, unless he had received proper release from that enga

Again Dick saluted

uestions, Mr

, s

aptain Bates returned the

tical officer's vision, raised his hand to his cap in very correct salute.

carelessly and in a low voice, though he felt ver

d Dick turned and walked in t

signal gun, eh, Gre

ite-faced Holmes, a

Better leave it to the fellows who are tired

we you, old ramrod!"

Greg. You'd have done jus

o think of it. But I probably wouldn't ha

k retorted grimly, "f

g out the front of

confessed, with

fishline is rope enough to hang a cadet when he

ossed away the co

bang

bang

within a hundred yards

start, or jump, for the soldier habit was too

e explosions ripped out on the ni

o, close down near the ground, as though an infantry

ng! The fusill

adets sounded ru

tter duck?" d

had no hand in this, and

two cadets near Battle Monument heard indistinct

s, on a dead run, and, as Bates was not much past thirt

lackening speed, took Dick and

As young soldiers, they knew better. Their presence over by Battle Monument had not been offici

ing swiftly forward to reinforce the O.

en of the Army, armed on with revolvers in holsters--ran ov

of the guard, moving at double quic

off firecrackers," whi

non crackers,"

the quartermaster's police detail, and scan the ground clos

may as well be going back to camp, Greg. But we'll los

demanded Hol

e O.C. and the K.C. (commandant of cadets) will hold their own kind of

we didn't see anyone around the monume

e to say it in all the different styles

and passed inside the limits, just bef

quiet over at the ten

te

he bunkies that they had just three minutes in which to g

tone. "We won't be any more than on the blanke

," whispered Greg,

ntmate, hastening to be und

row?" asked

e Monument," replied Dick. "We

ietly, but shooting at them

r three bunkies did not notice that one footstep ce

ridley High School boy and a bitter enemy of Dick's. The origin

Prescott in serious trouble with the Military Academy authorities, but had failed. Dodge, however, had

e year, was firmly resolved that he would not be roommate

in this tent, but Dick Prescott he ha

But we didn't set off the crackers, or have anything to do with the mat

believe Prescott, it was with an evil smile th

to go by until morning. Greg was asleep, and Dick was just dozing off, when there came a sharp step in the company stre

Corporal Haynes. "Mr. Prescott and Mr. Holmes will turn out with

ged Prescott, and nud

r

," replie

en he gave a slight kick that was enoug

gs dressed themselves, then stepped out into the night,