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

eeks sli

ets of the first, third and fourth classes found ample time to enjoy themselves be

pent in short naps, to make up for that short

d to thrive in their life o

d. Perhaps half of the class in all engaged in two or more real hazings thro

of the encampment, hazed a plebe only when he believed it to be actu

dge, who admitted frankly that his thrashing had been deserved, managed to keep a few friends, but was

for about ten minutes, during a period of freedom from dr

it?" ca

d you, old ramrod,"

in and rest yourself. You won'

g down solicitously. But he saw the glow of robust health

But, while you don't really look ill, Milesy, it's very pla

" assented Furlong, with a sigh. "It's

ng you?" inquired Prescott,

nt to fill his place. Now, that little beast made a good enough get away with his studies during the three months before camp. He mastered all the work of the soldier in ranks. At bot

been doing now?" aske

leeping nights, that beast must lie awake, devising more ways of being

id work havoc with goo

s has gone b

y horsepower so he wouldn't miss reveille formation, that he stepped into two shoes full of soft soap, and had to go

t class, of that, because Jessup, on guard, challenged Haver

an plumb into Mr. Ellis when that little beast bunkie of the other beast, Mr. Briggs, was just

Mr. Ellis get hold o

sing himself

ted Furlong wrathfully. "The question is, how can we po

n't be done,"

ne!" uttered F

yearling better suited to th

. "Ramrod, you've got to appoint a class committee to take these two baboons in hand. It ou

ed with any of

oiree must be given to Mr. Ellis,

e call for

he class p

ir that involves the

, I cannot see that the

e members of the yearling clas

t his visitor int

b.j. plebes, and the class did not want to see its president shirk any dut

"You may inform all anxious inquirers tha

ock, in Dun

y go

d by others to make sure that Prescott would be on hand. There is always a go

imply because I'm afraid of risking my neck?" yawned Dick. "They

that night. Other cadets met friends from the

. A few, in fact, were obliged to stand outside. This they did in suc

eyed a hint as strong as that which had reached the class president. Furlong, Grif

up of barracks and Academic Building. Just as the strokes were pealing forth Plebe

summoned Furlong. "

ked over joyous a

ow, misters, there is some complaint that you have mistaken West Point for a theatrical training school. The suspici

. Briggs and Mr. Elli

u, misters?" deman

es remain

irs. You firs

by excess of animal spirits, sir," repli

here is repressive of animal spirits, to be sure. We who are your mentors to some extent should have tho

t, sir--t

n stern, searching gaze, the once merry little Mr

u admit that you thought. Now, no plebe is capable of thinki

mocking pretence of gentleness and leniency sou

irits by some spirited animal conduct. The animal that you

rlings outside, at the tent doorway, scen

mister, move about as nearly as possible in the manner of a crab. Stop, mister! Don't you know that a crab moves either backwards or sideways? It will not

over the floor in the very limited space allowed him by the presenc

f your body that the only thing for you is to stand on your head. Go to the rear tentpole and stand on your head. You ma

it" over the floor. Every minut

elf-respecting crab, with an abundance of animal

ing on his head Mr. Ellis fell

that it sways you like the walking beam of a steamboat. Up with you, mi

tinued to move sidewise and ba

n plebe days, knew to a dot how long a healthy plebe could keep that inverted position without

pen for the approach of trouble from tac. quarters. But, as the ordeals of both of

gh his belt-line weighed fully a ton, so hard was it to keep h

uld never again be friends, judging by the redn

outside should have

g in through the doo

tant, the step quic

the day, made f