diff options
Diffstat (limited to '36101.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 36101.txt | 8441 |
1 files changed, 8441 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/36101.txt b/36101.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a74ec9d --- /dev/null +++ b/36101.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8441 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, On Guard, by Upton Sinclair + + +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: On Guard + Mark Mallory's Celebration + + +Author: Upton Sinclair + + + +Release Date: May 13, 2011 [eBook #36101] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON GUARD*** + + +E-text prepared by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustration. + See 36101-h.htm or 36101-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36101/36101-h/36101-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36101/36101-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + "Lieut. Frederick Garrison" is a pseudonym used by Upton + Sinclair. + + + + + +[Illustration: "Cadet Mallory received a letter from a friend." (See +page 7)] + + +ON GUARD + +Or + +Mark Mallory's Celebration + +by + +LIEUT. FREDERICK GARRISON, U. S. A. + +Author of "Off for West Point," "A West Point Treasure," +"A Cadet's Honor," etc. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Boy's Own Library] + +Philadelphia +David Mckay, Publisher +610 South Washington Square + +Copyright, 1903 +By Street & Smith + +On Guard + + + + +CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I.--A Letter from a "Furlough Man" 7 + II.--Mark's Idea 15 + III.--A New Ally 22 + IV.--A Surprise for the Seven 31 + V.--The Scheme Succeeds 36 + VI.--What Mark Overheard 46 + VII.--Mark's Counterplot 57 + VIII.--The Attack on Mark 65 + IX.--Three Discomfited Yearlings 74 + X.--Texas Runs Amuck 80 + XI.--Texas Raids West Point 91 + XII.--The Cause of a Friend 103 + XIII.--The Reformation of Texas 110 + XIV.--A Plot of the Yearlings 118 + XV.--The Plebes Plot, Too 128 + XVI.--Setting the Trap 133 + XVII.--The Result at the Hop 141 + XVIII.--A Strange Announcement 149 + XIX.--Texas Turns Highwayman 160 + XX.--Two Midnight Prowlers 167 + XXI.--Benny is Exposed 178 + XXII.--Mark Receives a Committee 183 + XXIII.--A Fight, and Other Things 199 + XXIV.--Six to the Rescue 208 + XXV.--Mark in the Hospital 216 + XXVI.--Texas Has an Interview 224 + XXVII.--A Plot to Beat "the General" 232 + XXVIII.--"Bull" Finds an Ally 241 + XXIX.--Strange Conduct 250 + XXX.--A Surprise for Murray 256 + XXXI.--The Plot Succeeds 265 + XXXII.--Triumph--Conclusion 277 + + + + +ON GUARD. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +A LETTER FROM A "FURLOUGH MAN." + + +"A letter for me, did you say?" + +The speaker was a tall, handsome lad, a plebe at the West Point Military +Academy. At the moment he was gazing inquiringly out of the tent door at +a small orderly. + +The boy handed him an envelope, and the other glanced at it. + +"Cadet Mark Mallory, West Point, N. Y.," was the address. + +"I guess that's for me," he said. "Thank you. Hello in there, Texas! +Here's a letter from Wicks Merritt." + +This last remark was addressed to another cadet in the tent. "Texas," +officially known as Jeremiah Powers, a tall, rather stoop-shouldered +youth, with a bronzed skin and a pair of shining gray eyes, appeared in +the doorway and watched his friend with interest while he read. + +"What does he say, Mark?" he inquired, when the latter finished. + +"Lots," responded Mark. "Lots that'll interest our crowd. They ought to +be through sprucing up by this time, so bring 'em over here and I'll +read it." + +"Sprucing up" is West Point for the morning house-cleaning in the summer +camp. A half hour is allowed to it immediately after breakfast, and it +is followed by "the A. M. inspection." + +In response to Mark's suggestion, Texas slipped over to the tent in back +of theirs in "B Company" Street, and called its three occupants. They +came over and joined those in Mark's tent; and then Mark took out the +letter he had just received. + +"I've got something here," said he, "that I think ought to interest all +of us. I guess I'll have time to read it before inspection. We are a +secret society, aren't we?" + +"That's what we are," assented the other six. + +"But what's that got to do with it?" added Texas. + +"And we've banded ourselves together for the purpose of preventing the +yearlings from hazing us?" continued Mark, without noticing his friend's +inquiry. "Well, it seems that they've been doing about the same thing +down at Annapolis, too. This is from Wicks Merritt, a second class cadet +up here, who's home on furlough this summer. He took a trip to +Annapolis, and this is what he says. Listen very dutifully now, and +don't get impatient: + + "DEAR MALLORY: I have heard a lot about you since the + last time I wrote. Several of the fellows have written + to me, and they haven't been able to mention anything + but you. They tell me you are kicking up a fine old + fuss in West Point during my absence. They say that + you won't let anybody haze you. They say that you've + gotten a lot of plebes around you to back you up, and + that the yearlings are half wild in consequence. + + "I don't know what to make of you. You always were an + extraordinary genius, and I suppose you have to do + things in your own sweet way, whether it's rescuing + ferryboats or sailboats or express trains, or else + locking us yearlings in ice houses. I cannot imagine + what will be the end of the matter. I am sure the + yearlings will never give in. + + "I'm told that when they tried to lick you into + submission you did up Billy Williams, the best fighter + in the class. Also that Bull Harris, whom I warned you + against as being a sneaky fellow, tried to get you + dismissed by skinning you on demerits, but that you + circumvented that. Also that you and your friends have + made it hot for him ever since, upon which fact I + congratulate you. + + "I don't know what the yearlings will do next, but I + imagine that they're 'stalled.' Since you've started, + I suppose the best thing for you to do is to keep up + the good work and not let them rest. But for Heaven's + sake, don't let any of them see this! They'd cut me + for aiding and abetting a plebe rebellion. You are + certainly the boldest plebe that every struck West + Point; nobody in our class ever dared to do what + you've done. + + "It seems, though, that you have imitators, or else + that you are imitating somebody. Down here at + Annapolis this year pretty much the same state of + affairs is going on just now. There's a plebe down + here by the name of Clif Faraday (I've met him, and I + told him about you), and he's raising the very old boy + with the third class fellows. It seems that he + outwitted them in all their hazing schemes, and has + got them guessing at what he'll do next, which is + about as B. J. as anything you ever did, I imagine. It + looks as if plebes both at West Point and here would + get off with almost no hazing this year. And it's all + on account of you, too. + + "Genius knows no precedent, they say. Farewell. + + "Your friend, + + "WICKS MERRITT. + + "P. S.--They tell me you've saved the life of Judge + Fuller's daughter. Just take a word of advice--make + the most of your opportunity! She's the prettiest girl + around the place, and the nicest, too, and she has + half the corps wild over her. If you can make friends + with her, I think the yearlings would stop hazing you + at her command." + +Mark finished the reading of the letter and gazed at his comrades, +smiling. + +"You see," he said, "our fame has spread even to Annapolis. Gentlemen, I +propose three cheers for our crowd!" + +"An' three fo' Clif Faraday!" cried Texas. + +"Only don't give any of them," added Mark, "for somebody might hear us." + +There was a moment's pause after that, broken by a protest from one of +the Seven, Joseph Smith, of Indianapolis, popularly known as "Indian," +a fat, gullible youth, who was the laughingstock of the post. + +"I tell you," said he, his round eyes swelling with indignation, "I +don't think what Clif Faraday did was a bit more B. J. than some of our +tricks!" (B. J. is West Point dialect for "fresh.") + +"That's what I say, too, b'gee!" chimed in another, a handsome, +merry-eyed chap with a happy faculty of putting every one in a good +humor when he laughed. "Just look at how Mark shut two of 'em up in an +ice house. Or look at how, when they took Indian off to the observatory +to haze him, b'gee, we made 'em think the place was afire and had 'em +all scared to death, and the fire battalion turning out besides. Now, +b'gee, I want to know where you can beat that!" + +And his sentiment was echoed with approval by the remainder of those +present. The seven had by this time scattered themselves about the tent +in picturesque and characteristic attitudes, listening to the discussion +carried on by the excitable Master Dewey. + +First of all and foremost was the grave and learned "Parson," the Boston +geologist. The Parson was stretched on his back in one corner with +nothing but his long, bony shanks visible. Somehow or other Parson +Stanard always managed to keep those legs of his with their covering of +pale green socks the most conspicuous thing about him. + +Sitting erect and stately on the locker, was Master Chauncey, the "dude" +of the party. A few weeks of West Point had already worked wonders with +Chauncey; his aristocratic friends on Fifth Avenue would scarcely have +known him. In the first place, he, with the rest of the plebes, were +compelled to walk, whenever they went abroad, with "head erect, chest +out, eyes to the front, little fingers on the seams of the trousers, +palms outward." Try this and you will find, as Chauncey was finding, +that it is hard to do that and at the same time keep up the correct +London "stoop." Chauncey had been obliged to leave his cane and monocle +behind him also, and a few days later, when plebe fatigue uniforms were +donned, his imported clothes and high collar went by the board, too. + +But Chauncey still clung to his accent, "bah Jove;" and was still known +to the seven as "the man with a tutor and a hyphen"--his name being +Mount-Bonsall, if you please--and to the rest of the corps as the dude +who most did up six yearlings. + +The corner opposite the Parson's contained the dozing figure of +Methusalem Zebediah Chelvers, the "farmer" from Kansas, popularly known +as "Sleepy." + +Sleepy never did anything or said anything unless he had to; the seven +had known him for weeks now, and knew no more about him than at the +start. Sleepy was still sleepy, and that was all. + +The other members of this bold and desperate secret "anti-hazing" +society were Dewey, the prize story-teller of the party, "b'gee;" +Indian, the "prize pig;" Texas, a wild and woolly cowboy just from the +plains, with a right arm that had paralyzed four cadets in as many +minutes, and, last of all, Mark Mallory, the leader. + +"Just look at the things we've done, b'gee!" continued Dewey. "Look at +the times they've tried to haze us and we've outwitted them! See how we +had the nerve to yank 'em out of bed the other night, b'gee. Or, if that +isn't enough, just think of Bull Harris." + +This last remark was greeted with a chuckle of laughter from the seven, +in which even Sleepy found sufficient energy to join. And, indeed, the +recollection was enough to make one laugh. + +As readers of the first books in this series, "Off for West Point" and +"A Cadet's Honor," know, Bull Harris was the sworn enemy of the seven, +and of Mark in particular. He never had ceased plotting in his mean, +cowardly way to get Mark into trouble, and it was the joy of the plebes' +lives to outwit him. On the day previous they had succeeded beyond their +wildest dreams. Given a bloodhound that had been sent out from a +neighboring village to trail a burglar who had stepped into a barrel of +pitch, the seven had put pitch on Bull Harris' shoe and started the dog +after him during the evening's dress parade. The dog had chewed Bull's +trousers to ribbons, had broken up the parade, had made Bull the +laughingstock of the place and earned him the deathless nickname of +"Bull, the Burglar." Naturally, Bull was wild with rage, and the seven +with hilarity. + +They were still chuckling over it and the general discomfiture of the +yearling class and their own future prospects as triumphant plebes, when +inspection put an end to the discussion and scattered the crowd. + +"But just you keep in mind," was Dewey's parting declaration, "that +we're the B. J.-est plebes that ever were, are, will be or can be. And, +b'gee, we're going to show it every day, too!" + +Which the Parson punctuated with a solemn "Yea, by Zeus!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MARK'S IDEA. + + +The yearling corporal who did the inspecting had done his criticising +and gone his way, leaving four of the seven in their tent--Mark, Texas, +the Parson and Sleepy--who, being the tallest, had been assigned to +Company A. And the four sat down to await the signal to "fall in" for +drill. + +"I reckon, Mark," said Texas, meditatively surveying his new uniform in +the looking-glass. "I reckon that we fellows kin say that hazing's most +over now." + +"Assuredly!" said the Parson, gravely, "for indeed we have completely +broken the spirit of the enemy, and he knows not which way to turn. I +think that, in words of the song of Miriam, we may say: + + "'Sing, for the sword of the tyrant is broken! + His chariots and horsemen are rent in twain.' + +"Yea, by Zeus!" + +The Parson said this with his usual classic solemnity. Mark smiled to +himself as he sat down upon the locker and gazed at his friends. + +"I've got something to tell you fellows," said he. "I think now's about +as good a time as any. I haven't said anything about it to the crowd +yet. When I do they'll have their eyes opened, and realize that if we're +going to subdue the yearlings, we've got to start right at it all over +again. We've scarcely begun yet." + +The three others looked at him in surprise; Texas rubbed his hands +gleefully, seeing that Mark's statement, if true, meant lots more fun +for the future. + +"You remember last night," Mark continued, "about midnight, how the +Parson shouted out in his sleep and woke the whole camp?" + +"Yes," added Texas, "and scared me to death. I thought I was down home +and the ole place was being run in by rustlers or somethin'." + +"You met me at the door of the tent," Mark went on. "I didn't tell you +where I'd been; I'll tell you now. Last night a dozen or two of the +yearlings took me out of camp--they surprised me, and held me so that I +couldn't move. They tied me to a tree, and were just on the point of +beating me." + +"What!" + +The three were staring at Mark in unutterable amazement. + +"Yes," said Mark. "They told me I'd either have to promise to be a +milk-and-water plebe after this or else be licked until I would. And +Bull Harris took a big rope and----" + +"Did he hit ye?" cried Texas, springing to his feet excitedly. "Wow! +I'll go out an' I'll----" + +"Sit down!" said Mark. "He didn't hit me, for the Parson yelled just +then and scared 'em all back to camp. And you needn't tackle Bull +anyhow, for I'm going to do that myself pretty soon. The point just now +is that the yearlings haven't given up. They're still fighting." + +"I didn't know there were so many cowards in the place!" muttered Texas. + +"They're desperate," said Mark. "They've got to do something. Now we'll +watch out for such surprises the next time, and meanwhile we'll show +them that we're determined not to stop." + +And Mark saw by the faces of the other three that that was just what +they wanted. Texas especially was twitching his fingers nervously and +looking as if he were wishing for some yearling to tackle right then and +there. + +"I tell you what we'll do, Mark," he broke out, suddenly. "We'll tie +ourselves together an' sleep that way, an' then if they take one they'll +have to take all." + +"That's quite an idea," said the other, laughing. "But the main point +now is just this: We're to set out with only one idea in our heads to +think of; perhaps it might be well to offer a prize to the fellow who +thinks of the best scheme. We want to keep those cadets fairly on the +jump from the start." + +"Bully!" cried Texas. + +"And it seems to me, moreover," continued the leader, "that we make a +big mistake if we let this day pass without doing something." + +"Yea, by Zeus!" vowed the Parson, his solemn face glowing with interest. +"For this day is the day of all days in the calendar of Freedom. This +day is the day when our immortal colonies did vow and declare that the +dragon of tyranny they would trample beneath their feet. This day is the +day when first the eagle screamed, when humanity cast off its fetters +and stood in the light of God's truth. This day is the glorious Fourth +of July!" + +The Parson had arisen to his feet, the better to illustrate the casting +off of the fetters, and his long black hair was waving wildly and his +long white arms yet more so. Boston and Boston "liberty" were dangerous +topics with him; he got more excited over them than he did when he found +his immortal cyathophylloid coral "in a sandstone of Tertiary origin." + +"Yea, by Zeus!" he continued. "Such are the auspices, the hallowed +recollections of this immortal moment that I verily believe no +revolution can fail on it. I say that if ever we strike boldly, we do it +to-day. And I, as a citizen of Boston, pledge my aid to any plan." + +"Yaas. An' we got a half holiday to-day, tew." + +This rather prosaic peroration to the Parson's speech came from one +corner, where Sleepy sat lazily regarding the scene. That was the first +hint that the "farmer" had offered, and it had corresponding weight. The +four shook hands on it then and there, that by the time dinner was over +they would have a brand new and startling plan to work for the +yearlings' edification. The signal to fall in for drill found them still +pledging themselves to that. + +Mark said nothing more to any one upon the subject; he left his friends +to think for themselves, and he, when he got a chance, started out +likewise on his "own hook." In the first place, it was necessary to find +out just how the yearlings meant to spend that half-holiday afternoon; +having found that, it would then be time to think up a plan for spoiling +the fun. + +There was a member of the plebe class who had been a plebe the year +before, that is, who had failed on examinations and had not been +advanced. Naturally, he knew all the yearlings, and, having been through +camp once, knew also what would be apt to happen on the Fourth of July. +Mark himself knew nothing about it, for no one thought it necessary to +tell plebes about such things; and so to this "hold-over" Mark went to +learn. + +That gentleman, in response to some diplomatic interrogation, emitted +the information that there was nothing "on." That a ball game had been +intended, but prevented at the last moment. That probably most of the +cadets would go walking, or amuse themselves any way--some of them do a +little hazing. That it was a pleasant custom to make the plebes dress up +in masquerade and give a parade or something. And that finally there was +to be an entertainment in the evening. + +What sort? Well, it was dignified and patriotic. There were programmes +issued--not given to plebes, of course. Would Mallory like to see one? +Perhaps he could get one, would see after drill, etc., etc. "Much +obliged. Good-morning." + +The affable young gentleman did manage to get Mallory a programme. He +gave it to him just before dinner. "Thank you." "Oh, not at all, only +too glad to oblige you," etc. And Mark rushed into the tent and eagerly +read the handsomely printed pasteboard: + + United States Military Academy. + July 4th, 8.30 P. M. + PROGRAMME. + Overture. + Prayer. + Music. + Reading of The Declaration of Independence. + Cadet George T. Fischer, Pennsylvania. + Music. + Oration. + Cadet Edmund S. Harris---- + +Mark read not another word; he stared at the paper in amazement and +incredulity, rapidly changing to glee. Harris! Bull Harris delivering an +oration! Mark turned and faced his companions, feeling about ready to +burst with hilarity. + +"Listen here, fellows!" he cried. "Here's a chance, a chance of a +lifetime! Oh, say! Bull's going to make a speech! Gee whiz! We'll----" + +"Didn't you fellows know about that?" put in a voice in the doorway, as +Dewey's face appeared there. "I heard the yearlings talking about it. +They say Bull's a fine orator, that he's been working at an elegant +speech for months. And, b'gee, he means to bring down the house." + +Mark's face was simply a picture of merriment at that. + +"Fellows," he said, as soon as he could manage to get breath to say +anything at all. "Fellows, I'll go you just one bargain more." + +"What is it?" cried the others. + +"It's very simple. It's just that we spoil that beautiful speech of Bull +Harris', if we have to bust to do it." + +And the seven cried "Done!" in one breath. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A NEW ALLY. + + +The more they thought over that scheme the better they liked it; the +more they imagined Bull Harris, pompous and self-conscious, spouting his +magnificent periods and then brought to an ignominious and ridiculous +conclusion, the more they chuckled with glee. They felt no prickings of +conscience in the matter, for Bull was not a personage to inspire such. +His devices had been cowardly and desperate; only last night he had been +on the point of lashing Mark with a rope when the latter was helplessly +tied to a tree. With such a man ordinary standards of fairness did not +hold good. + +The only trouble with the "scheme" was its general indefiniteness. And +that the seven recognized. It was all very well to say you were going to +"bust up" Bull Harris' speech. But how? It would not do to guy him, or +to use any device of which the authors might be found out. It was quite +a problem. + +Texas suggested an alarm of fire, which was outvoted as dangerous, +likely to produce a panic. Some one else wondered how about kidnaping +Bull and tying him up. This suggestion was put on file as being +possible, to be consulted in case no better appeared, which bid fair +just then to be the case. + +Mark and his friends marched down to dinner without any further ideas +appearing. The plebes still marched separate from the rest of the corps, +though they were allowed to share the privilege of the spirited band +which enlivened the proceedings. They still sat at separate tables, too, +which made most of them feel very much outcast indeed. + +The command "Break ranks," after the march from mess hall again, marked +the beginning of that holiday during which the seven had vowed to do so +much. And still nobody had seemed to hit upon any suitable plan for the +discomfiture of Bull Harris. + +"We've got to hurry up about it, too," Mark declared. "For, if there's +any fixing up to be done, we ought to be doing it now." + +"Where's the thing to be, anyway?" inquired Dewey. + +"In the big gymnasium building, they say," was the answer. "They'll +probably cover the floor with seats. But I don't think we can do +anything inside the place. I think we ought to kick up some sort of +rumpus outside." + +And with this advice the seven heads got to work again. + +Ideas come slowly when you want them badly. It would seem that with +those seven minds busy on the same subject something should have +resulted. But it didn't. The seven strolled away from camp and wandered +about the grounds cudgeling their brains and calling themselves names +for their stupidity. And still no plan came forward. + +They strolled down to the gymnasium building in hopes that proximity to +the scene itself would prove efficacious. They stared at the vestibule +and the windows blankly, wondering what the place might be like inside, +wondering if there would be much of a crowd, wondering if Bull would +have much of a speech--wondering about everything except the matter in +hand. + +"Plague take it all!" they muttered. "Let's walk out Professor's Row and +find some quiet place to sit down. Perhaps we can think better sitting." + +Professor's Row is a street that bounds the parade ground on the west. +It is cool and shady, with benches and camp chairs on the lawn. But +there were plenty of people to occupy the seats, and so the seven found +no place there to cogitate. + +They had not gotten much farther before all ideas of plots and orations +were driven from Mark's head a-flying. They were passing a group of +people standing on the opposite side of the street, and suddenly one of +them, a girl, hurried away from the others, and cried out: + +"Mr. Mallory! Oh, Mr. Mallory!" + +Mark turned the moment he heard the voice, and, when he saw who it was, +he promptly excused himself from his friends and crossed the street. The +six strolled on, smiling and winking knowingly at one another. + +"Hope he'll remember what Wicks Merritt said, b'gee!" laughed Dewey. + +Mark had no time to remember anything much. He was too busy, watching +the vision that was hurrying to meet him. + +Grace Fuller certainly was a beautiful girl, beyond a doubt. She was a +blonde of the fairest type; her complexion was matchless, and set off by +a wealth of wavy golden hair. She was dressed in white, and made a +picture that left no room to wonder why "half the cadets in the place +were wild over her." + +"I'm glad I swam out to save her," was the thought in Mark's mind. + +A moment later he took the small white hand that was held out to him. + +"Mr. Mallory," said the girl, gazing at him earnestly, "I shall not wait +for any one to introduce you to me. I must tell you that I appreciate +your bravery." + +Mark bowed and thanked her; he could think of nothing more to say. + +"They just let me out of the hospital to-day," she continued, "and I +made up my mind that the very first thing I was going to do was to tell +you what I thought of your courageous action on my behalf. I want to +know you better, Mr. Mallory." + +She said it in a plain and simple way that Mark liked, and he told her +that nothing would please him more. + +"I would ask you to take a walk with me now," said Grace, "but for all +those cadets who are with me. I don't think they'd relish that, you +being a fourth class man." + +"I don't think they would," responded Mark, with a queer smile which the +girl did not fail to notice. + +"I don't care!" she exclaimed, suddenly. "They can get mad if they want +to. I think a great deal more of some plebes than I do of yearlings. +Excuse me just a moment." + +And then, to Mark's infinite glee, this beautiful creature hurried over +and said something to the group of cadets, at which they all bowed and +walked off rather stiffly, sheepishly, Mark thought. The girl rejoined +him, with a smile. + +"I told them they'd have to excuse me," she said, as she took Mark's +arm. "I told them I owed you a debt of gratitude, and I hoped they +wouldn't mind." + +"Probably they won't," observed Mark, smiling again. + +"I don't care if they do," vowed Grace, pouting prettily. "They'll get +over it. And they're awfully stupid, anyway. I hope you're not stupid." + +With which Mark quite naturally agreed. + +"I don't think the cadets like you much," she went on, laughing. "I had +such fun teasing them by talking about your heroism. They didn't like it +a bit, and they'd try all sorts of ways to change the subject, but I +wouldn't let them. They say you are terribly B. J. Are you?" + +"I suppose they think so," answered Mark. "I'm nothing like as B. J. as +I shall be before I get through." + +"That's right!" vowed the girl, shaking her head. "I like B. J. plebes. +I think I should be B. J. if I were a plebe. I don't like these mild, +obedient fellows, and I think the plebes stand entirely too much." + +"I wish you were one to help me," laughed Mark, noticing the contrast +between the girl's frail figure and her energetic look. + +"I'm stronger than you think," said she. "I could do a lot." And then +suddenly she broke into one of her merry, animated laughs, during which +Mark thought her more charming than ever. "If I can't fight," she said, +"you must let me be a Daughter of the Revolution. You must let me make +clothes and bake bread the way the colonists' daughters did. It's just +appropriate for to-day, too." + +"I don't want any bread----" began Mark, looking at her thoughtfully. + +"Perhaps not," she put in, with a peal of laughter. "If you saw the +bread I make, you'd be still more emphatic. It's like the fruit of the +tree of knowledge--'Whoso eateth thereof shall surely die.'" + +"I see you read the Bible," said Mark, laughing. "But to get back where +I was. I'll let the tailor make my clothes, also. What I need most just +now are tricks to play on the yearlings." + +"Do you?" inquired Grace. "I can tell you of lots of tricks the cadets +have played. But that's the first time I ever heard of a plebe playing +tricks on yearlings. It's usually the other way." + +"Variety is the spice of life," said Mark. "The yearlings have tried +rather contemptible tricks on me once or twice, very contemptible! I +could tell you what several of those cadets who were with you did to me +last night, and I think you'd be angry. Anyway, I'm going to make them +miserable in return." + +"I helped the yearlings get up a beautiful joke last year," said Grace, +looking at Mark in ill-concealed admiration. "Wicks Merritt was the +ringleader. He wrote to me, by the way, and told me to be very nice to +you now that you'd saved my life--just as if he thought I wouldn't! +Anyway, I got them some powder to use for the scheme." + +"Powder!" echoed Mark. "How did you get powder?" + +"They couldn't manage to run off with any around here, so I got George +to buy some. George is our butler. You'll see George when you come over +to visit me, which I hope you will." + +"I thought you lived across the river, beyond cadet limits," put in +Mark. + +"So I do, but the cadets come, all the same, lots of them." + +"So will I, then!" laughed the other. "But you haven't told me what you +did with the powder." + +"Do you see that big gun over there?" she answered, indicating Trophy +Point. "Well, they stood that upon end and fired it off late one night. +Wasn't that a fine joke?" + +"Ye-es," said Mark, very slowly. "Ye-es, it was." + +He was staring at the girl, a look as of an inspiration on his face. + +"They stood that gun up on end and fired it off late one night," he +repeated, scarcely heeding what he was saying, so rapt was he in his +thought. + +"Yes," said Grace, gazing at him curiously, and meeting his eyes. "Yes. +Why?" + +Mark studied her look for a moment; he saw mischief and fun dancing in +it, and, in a moment more, he had made up his mind. + +"Tell me, Miss Fuller," he said, speaking very low. "Would you--would +you like to have 'George' buy some more powder?" + +"More powder!" she echoed. "What do you----" + +And then she caught the gleam in her escort's eye. + +"Are you--do you mean you want to do it?" she cried. + +"Yes," said Mark, simply. "Will you help?" + +"Yes, yes!" + +"Do you mean it?" + +"I'll give you my hand on it," responded Grace. + +Mark took it. + +"When?" asked she. + +And Mark answered, with a laugh, almost a shout of triumph. + +"To-night!" he said. "To-night! Ye gods!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A SURPRISE FOR THE SEVEN. + + +Six disconsolate plebes sat on a bench at the extreme northern end of +Professor's Row late that afternoon, gazing unappreciatively at the +magnificent view of the upper Hudson. Those plebes had been cudgeling +their stupid heads ever since dinner time to no purpose. + +"Durnation!" growled one of them. "I dunno what we air goin' to do. Mark +won't let us blow up the durnation ole building. He won't let me hold up +the crowd, cuz they'd expel me. He don't want to kidnap Bull, cuz Bull +would tell. I dunno what!" + +"B'gee!" added another. "I wish he'd come help us think instead of +chasing around town with girls. He's been with her all afternoon----" + +"Here they come now!" interrupted Texas, pointing down the street. + +"Yea, by Zeus!" assented the Parson. "And our friend is much smitten +already." + +"Who wouldn't be?" laughed Dewey. "Isn't she a beauty, though? B'gee, I +wish he'd bring her over and introduce her." + +"Reckon she ain't a-hankerin' after plebes," drawled Sleepy, who, as +usual, had half the bench for his tired form to cover. + +This observation put a damper on Dewey's enthusiasm. It was true, and, +besides that, it came from the silent member of the firm. + +"She's beautiful, all the same," he vowed, as the two drew nearer still. +"And, b'gee, she seems to be lively, too." + +"If I mistake not," put in the Parson, gravely, "our friend is vastly +excited over something." + +This last observation seemed to be correct. The two were laughing; in +fact, their faces seemed to express about as much glee as they could +very well express, and once Mark was seen to slap his knee excitedly. +The six were carried away by curiosity, which curiosity changed suddenly +to the wildest alarm. For when the two were just opposite, what must +Mark do but turn and lead the girl over to his friends? + +The effect upon the latter was amusing. Chauncey made a wild grab for +his collar to see if it were straight; Sleepy sat up and rubbed his +eyes; the Parson cleared his throat--"ahem!" Indian gave vent to a +startled "Bless my soul!" Dewey exclaimed "b'gee!" and poor Texas turned +pale and trembled in his bold cowboy legs. + +A moment later the vision in white was upon them. + +"Miss Fuller," said Mark, "allow me to present my friends," etc., etc. + +The Parson inclined his head gravely, with dignity becoming the immortal +discoverer of a cyathophylloid coral in a sandstone of Tertiary origin; +Chauncey put on his best Fifth Avenue salute; Indian gasped and hunted +in vain for his hat; the "farmer" swept the ground with his; Dewey +looked all broke up and Texas hid behind everybody. + +There was vague uncertainty after that, changing to horror at the next +speech. + +"Miss Fuller," said Mark, smiling, "has proclaimed herself an ardent +sympathizer and admirer of the purposes and principles of the Banded +Seven. Miss Fuller desires to be known as a 'Daughter of the +Revolution.' Miss Fuller knows about Bull Harris, and doesn't like him, +and suggests a first-rate method of busting--if you will pardon my +slang, Miss Fuller--to-night's celebration. Miss Fuller likes to hear +cannon go off at night. She offers to procure the powder if we will do +the loading; she even offers to fire it, if we'll allow her. Also, +gentlemen, allow me to propose member number eight of the seven, and +incidentally to suggest that the name Banded Seven be changed and that +in future we go down to posterity as----" + +Mark paused one solemn moment, and cleared his throat---- + +"The Banded Seven and One Angel!" + +And after that there was a deep, long, wide, and altogether +comprehensive silence, while the six stared at Mark and his thoroughly +amused friend in incredulity, amazement, alarm, horror--who can say +what? + +It was fully a minute before any of them found breath. And then a +perfect torrent of Bah Joves! Durnations! B'gees! Bless my souls! and By +Zeuses! burst out upon the air, to be followed by another silence even +longer and larger than the last. + +What on earth had happened! The six couldn't seem to get it through +their heads. Could it be possible that this girl, the belle of West +Point, the beauty over whom half the cadets were wild, the daughter of a +famous judge, was sympathizing with a few, poor, miserable plebes in an +effort to upset West Point? And that she had actually offered to help +them in a trick, the boldness of which was enough to make the boldest +hesitate? Good stars! The world must be coming to an end! No wonder the +amazed plebes gasped and stared, and then stared and gasped, unable to +believe that they stood on the same earth as half a minute previously. + +Mark and his companion, who understood their perplexity entirely, and +who seemed to have gotten amazingly in sympathy during a brief +afternoon's conversation, stood and regarded them meanwhile with +considerable amusement. + +Well, it must be true! Mark said so, and the girl heard him and seemed +to say "yes" with her laughing blue eyes. + +That was the conviction which finally forced itself upon the incredulous +and befuddled six, and with it came a dim, undefined consciousness of +the fact that possibly they were not doing the very politest thing in +the world in staring at their "angel." + +First to realize it was Texas, last of all to whom one would have looked +for any species of gallantry. + +Texas sprang forward and seized the girl's fair white hand in his own +mighty paw. + +"Hi, Miss Fuller!" he cried, "I'm glad to have you join! Whoop!" + +Which broke the ice. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE SCHEME SUCCEEDS. + + +Dress parade in all its Fourth of July holiday splendor had passed, and +the sunset gun marked the ending of that day of celebration. Through the +dusk of evening the battalion had marched back from supper, to the tune +of "Marching Through Georgia" from the band and the popping of sundry +small firecrackers from mischievous small boys on the way. And then the +cadets had scattered, still in their dress uniforms, each to join his +own party of friends and go to the evening's entertainment. + +Cadets are famous as "ladies' men," and during the gay holiday season, +which was now on, West Point was crowded with girls, so that every cadet +had his opportunities for gallantry, excepting, of course, the plebes, +who do not go into "society." + +As the hour approached, the big gymnasium hall took on a lively aspect. +It ceased to be a gymnasium for a while; rings and trapezes were hung +up, and rows of seats occupied the floor, instead of parallel bars. The +big West Point Band was seated in front, and the rest of the room was +devoted to pretty girls and their cadet escorts. The Fourth of July +celebration was a cadet affair; the "president" occupied the small +platform in solitary grandeur; the commandant and his staff were +present, but they sat among the audience. + +The plebes were there, too, on sufferance. The gallery was given up to +their use, and they filled it entirely, and gazed on the scene below. +The room with its decorations of flags and bunting, making them feel +very patriotic indeed. + +The plebes we are interested in were there with the rest. They sat off +in one corner where they could whisper and keep their secret all to +themselves. If any one had overheard them, which they took good care +should not happen, he would have learned, to his amazement, that the +night's plot was all perfected. He might have learned that "George" had +done his duty with fully as much delight as any of the Seven. + +He might have learned that having been taken into the secret "George" +had not only gotten the powder, but had volunteered to do the work +himself, to save the seven "young gintlemen" all danger of discovery. He +might have learned that down in a secluded woody hollow just east of +camp lay three big siege guns in "Battery Knox," loaded and stuffed to +the muzzle with powder and paper and rags. + +There was lots more he might have learned. He might have learned that at +the present moment the jolly, red-faced butler was lurking about the +neighborhood of the Battery, anxiously surveying his watch at intervals +of every minute or so, waiting for half-past nine, the precise minute +when he was to touch off the fuse and run. Also that Grace was down with +her father, in the audience, occasionally stealing a sly glance at Mark; +also that Mark was bearing a good deal of merry banter upon his +conquest; also that the Seven, having spent two hours or so with Grace, +were vowing her the most original, daring and altogether charming girl +that ever was anywhere, a most undoubtable and valuable ally of Mark and +his anti-hazing society. + +The seven were about as nervous and anxious as seven plebes could +possibly be. What if "George" should be found out? What if the guns +should not go off? It was such a colossal and magnificent plot that the +mere thought of its failure was enough to make one's hair turn gray. +What if the thing should begin too late, the guns go off before Bull +started? Or on the other hand, suppose his speech was short and he +shouldn't be interrupted! + +Mark had calculated the time carefully. He had allowed five minutes for +the "prelude." But suppose it should be longer, or shorter, or should +begin after eight-thirty? As the hour drew near Mark and his friends +sat and wriggled in their seats and glanced at their watches and---- + +"It's half past now," growled Texas. "Durnation, it's a minute after +that! Ain't they ever--ah!" + +The bandmaster arose from his seat, and raised his baton in the air. It +was the "Star Spangled Banner," and the sound shook the flags that +graced the walls and shook the hearts of the audience, too, and made +them rise as one man. + + "'Tis the Star Spangled Banner + And long may it wave. + O'er the land of the free + And the home of the brave!" + +The notes died out and the Seven remembered that for a moment they had +forgotten to be nervous. + +The grave young chaplain arose, and raised his hands. His prayer was +earnest, and his voice trembled as he spoke of the flag and its country. +But alas! our friends had no eye or ear for beauty. It was time--time! +Would he take more than the calculated five minutes? It was time for him +to stop! Plague take it--six!--six and a half!--ah! There he had said +"Finally," no, he was going off on another tack! Gee whiz--eight--thank +heavens! + +The sigh of relief that came at last from the Seven almost shook the +roof. + +Then came "music;" that had been problematical. Music might mean +anything from two minutes to twenty. But there is no need of torturing +the reader, even if the seven were tortured correspondingly. The piece +took some ten minutes of agony, and then Cadet Captain Fischer stepped +forward on the platform. + +Fischer was an immensely popular man with his class, and they applauded +him to the echo. He looked handsome, too, in his chevrons and sash. He +read "The Declaration of Independence," and he read it in the voice that +had made him first captain, a voice that was clear and deep and ringing, +a voice that sounded in the open above the thunder and rattle of +artillery drill, and that sounded still better in the hall, as it spoke +the words that had made a continent tremble. + +There was nothing in that to worry the Seven--they had gotten a copy of +the "Declaration" and practiced it by the watch. Fischer finished on +schedule time; but then came the tussle. And some poor plebes up in the +gallery nearly had apoplexy from waiting. + +There were fifteen minutes left. That allowed say ten minutes for the +music, and five for Bull to get warmed up to his work. + +The bandmaster arose; he played "Hail Columbia." The audience, wild with +fervor, stormed and shouted; he played it again. The minutes fled by. +The Seven gasped! The audience kept up their applause, and the music +struck up "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," while the time fled yet faster +still. + +Great heavens! and still the fools--the fools!--in that crowd clapped +and waved handkerchiefs--would they never stop, would they never let +Bull step forward? He was dying to. The Seven could see him in his seat, +half-risen, waiting doubtless as impatiently as they. And still the +people wouldn't behave themselves. + +Bull rose up. Ah, at last. There was a cessation in the infernal racket! +The amount of torture the plebes suffered during those brief moments +cannot be told. The gun might go off at any moment now! It might go off +before Bull started, might ruin the whole thing. Plague take him, what +made him walk so slowly? Would he never get up on that platform? And the +foolish audience, why didn't they stop and let him start? What did they +want to be applauding that ugly old yearling for? And why didn't he stop +that fool bowing and scraping? Some people are such chumps! + +The applause stopped at last. An expectant hush fell upon the crowd. +Bull Harris stood pompous and self-conscious, gazing upon the scene for +a moment, and then began. The Seven gasped: "We've got him." + +"Ladies and Gentlemen: We have assembled upon this memorable occasion to +celebrate (Now let that gun go, b'gee!) one of the most glorious +achievements (You bet we have!) that ever was attained by man. We have +assembled (What on earth's the matter with "George?") to applaud with +the voices of the present, words that echo from memories of the past, +(Can his watch have stopped?) words that will ring through the halls of +time (Plague take the luck!) as long as time shall be counted in the +heart throbs of living men. The deeds of our ancestors live in the----" + +At last! + +With a boom and a rattle and a crash gun No. 1 of Battery Knox thundered +out upon the still night air. Bull stopped in amazement; the audience +sprang up in alarm; the seven shrieked--silently--for joy. And then---- + +Boom! + +It was No. 2. The room rang with shouts of confusion; cadets stared and +ran hastily about; women cried out in alarm. + +Boom! + +It was No. 3, and at the same instant from a hundred throats came the +dreaded cry of "Fire!" + +Three guns is West Point's fire alarm. Quick as a flash, before the +audience had time to think of flight, of panic, the commandant of cadets +sprang to the platform. + +"Company fire battalion form on the street outside, immediately!" + +At the same moment, in response to a command from outside, a drum +orderly sounded the "long roll." The band struck up a quick march, and +tramp, tramp, tramp, the grave cadets marched out of the hall, +forgetting friends and entertainment, forgetting everything in the one +important thought--discipline--obedience to orders. + +And in half a minute more the gymnasium was empty; the street was +crowded with the anxious audience, and the battalion was tramping +steadily across the parade ground in a vain search for an imaginary +fire. + +In that battalion were seven wildly delighted plebes. They hugged +themselves for joy; they gasped, choked with repressed laughter. They +punched each other in the ribs and whispered: + +"Didn't we do it? Oh, didn't we do it? Three cheers for the Banded +Seven--B. B. J.!" + +The fire, of course was not found. Near camp the corps halted, to wait +for the person who fired the alarm guns to come out and lead the way. He +didn't do it, and gradually it began to dawn upon the commandant and the +assembled "tacs" that the whole thing was a hoax. "And then indeed the +Philistines were wroth." + +Captain Quincey, the commandant, stepped to the head of the line, +determined to investigate the matter on the spot. Roll call disclosed +the fact that no one was absent; that made him think the guns were fired +with a time fuse, and so he tried another way to find out the culprits. + +It is not good form in West Point to lie; cadets who do soon find +themselves cut by the class. So Captain Quincey, knowing that, gave this +order: + +"Parties who fired those guns will remain standing. Those who are +innocent will advance one step. March!" + +Now that any plebe had dared to do such a bold trick had never occurred +to the cadets. They were convinced that some of their number were +guilty, and they protected them in the usual way. Not a man moved. They +refused to obey the order. + +The commandant was furious, of course. He tried it the other way, +ordered the guilty ones to advance. Whereupon the whole corps stepped +forward to share the blame. To punish them he tried the dodge of keeping +them standing at attention for half an hour or so, but several dropped +from well-feigned exhaustion, which stopped that scheme. + +He ordered one of the "tacs" to march them around the parade ground. The +cadets, who were out for fun by this time and angry besides, guyed the +unpopular "tac" with a vengeance. It was too dark for him to distinguish +any one, and so every one obeyed orders wrong, producing chaos and +finally compelling him to summon the commandant to preserve order. + +With the commandant watching, those weary cadets marched for an hour +more. Then he asked some questions and again got no answers. And finally +in disgust he sent them off to their tents, most of them still puzzled +as to who did it, some of them wild with joy. + +These last were the Banded Seven--"B. B. J." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WHAT MARK OVERHEARD. + + +"Now, captain, there are no two ways about it, this business has got to +stop, and stop right where it is." + +The speaker was Colonel Harvey, superintendent of the West Point +Military Academy. He was sitting in the guardhouse tent of the camp and +talking to Captain Quincey. + +"Yes," he repeated, slapping his leg for emphasis, "it's got to stop." + +"I quite agree with you, colonel," responded the other, deprecatingly. +"Quite. But the only question is to find out the offenders." + +"If the offenders are not found out," cried the other, "I shall punish +the whole class until they confess. Discipline shall not be laughed at +while I am in command of this academy. And that is just exactly what +that matter amounts to." + +"It certainly does seem," admitted the other, "that the yearling class +has such an idea in mind." + +"Never since I have been here has a class of yearlings dared to +celebrate their release from plebehood by such a set of lawless acts. It +began the very first night that the plebes entered camp. I do not know +what had been going on before that, but the yearlings had evidently +become entirely reckless of consequences, and careless of discovery. +They woke the camp by a series of outrageous noises; one of them fired +off a gun, I believe." + +"Lieutenant Allen," put in the other, "told me that he made an +investigation on the spot and could find nothing suspicious." + +"The yearlings had probably seen to it that he wouldn't. Then night +before last Lieutenant Allen, who was again on duty, reported to me +personally that he was awakened about midnight by a shout, and going +outside of his tent found that about half the cadets had been out of bed +and over in Fort Clinton, probably hazing some one. They were all +rushing back to camp; he says that it was so dark he could recognize no +one." + +"It is perfectly outrageous!" exclaimed the commandant. + +"It has got to be stopped, too," vowed the other. "That incident of the +gun last night capped the climax. I have heard of the cadets playing +that prank before, loading one of the guns and firing it at night. But +this time they did it for the evident purpose of breaking up the +entertainment, and moreover, they fired three so as to make people think +it was an alarm of fire. I think myself that was carrying the matter a +trifle too far. And as I said, I propose to see that it is punished." + +The above was meant to be private. Neither the superintendent nor the +commandant meant that their conversation should reach any one but +themselves. There was one other auditor, however, and it was Mark. + +He was a sentry and his beat lay by the tent. As he paced up and down +every word that was said was audible to him. + +Early that same morning, after having been spruced up and polished by +his friends, he had turned out and received an elaborate set of +instructions from a yearling corporal. Now he was putting them into +effect during his two hours' turn "on guard." + +One of his instructions had been silence. Yet he was only human--and as +the angry remarks of the high and mighty Colonel Harvey reached his ears +it must be confessed that between chuckles and grins he was far from +silent indeed. And a few minutes later when he was relieved from duty +till his next turn, he rushed off with unconcealed excitement to his +tent. + +There were three seated therein; and Mark greeted them with a burst of +long-repressed merriment. + +"Hello, fellows!" he cried. "Oh, say, I've got the greatest news of the +century!" + +"What's up?" they inquired eagerly. + +"I thought I'd die laughing," responded Mark. "You know all the tricks +we've been playing on the yearlings? Well, I just overheard the +superintendent talking to the commandant of cadets and he's blamed it +all on the yearlings." + +"What?" + +"Yes, I heard it. And he may punish them. You see, it's always the +yearlings who have played pranks before. The plebes have never dared. +And so the superintendent doesn't think of blaming us. Isn't that fine? +And, oh, say! won't the yearlings be mad!" + +The Parson arose solemnly to his feet. + +"Yea, by Zeus," said he. "Gentlemen, I propose three cheers for the +Banded Seven." + +They were given with a will--and in a whisper. + +"Wow!" roared Texas. "An' to think that the ole man--Colonel Harvey, if +you please--went an' blamed the firin' o' them guns on the yearlin's! +Whoop! Say, didn't it come out great? It scared the place most blue; an' +that coward, Bull Harris, the feller that wanted to lick Mark when he +was tied to a tree, had his ole speech busted up in the middle, too. +Whoop!" + +"I think," laughed Mark, "I shall have to go around and carry this news +to Grace Fuller." + +That remark started Texas on another speech no less vehement. + +"I tell you, sah, she's a treasure!" he vowed. "Jes' think of a girl +that had sense enough to think up that air scheme fo' firin' the gun an' +nerve enough to offer to do it, too. An' she's jined with us to bust +them ole yearlings. Whoop! It's all on account o' Mark, though." + +"Yea, by Zeus," put in the Parson, gravely. "As I have said before, our +friend is much smitten, and she likewise. I do not blame her, since he +saved her life." + +A rattle of drums interrupted the conversation just then, summoning the +plebes to drill. Mark alone had an hour of leisure, he having been on +guard duty, and during that hour having secured a permit, he set out for +the hotel in search for the object of all their talk. + +Grace Fuller was sitting on the piazza as he approached. She was dressed +in white and the color just seemed to set off the brightness and beauty +of her complexion. She greeted her friend with one of her pleasant +smiles that seemed to make every one near her feel happy. + +"Come up and sit down," she said. "I've been waiting for you all +morning. I'm just dying to have some one to talk to about our adventure +last night." + +Mark ascended the steps with alacrity and took a seat. And for the next +half hour the two talked about nothing else but their glorious triumph, +and the way they had fooled everybody, and how mad the commandant was, +and how puzzled the cadets. + +"I suppose you noticed," said the girl, "that George was about two +minutes late? Well, it seems there were two people sitting on one of the +guns, and he didn't know what to do. He waited and waited, and finally +crept up and lit the fuse and ran. The gun went off while those two were +sitting on it." + +There was a hearty laugh over this rather ludicrous picture. + +And then a few moment's silence, during which the girl gazed +thoughtfully into space. + +"I've got something important to tell you, by the way," she said, +suddenly. "Last night the cadets all thought one of themselves had +played the joke. Well, it seems that they've found out since." + +"They have! How do you know?" + +"I was talking to Corporal Jasper this morning. Jasper's a mighty nice +boy, only he thinks he's a man. All the yearlings are that way, so +pompous and self-conscious! I think plebes are delicious for a change. I +told Mr. Jasper that and he didn't like it a bit. Anyhow, they must have +inquired among themselves and found out that nobody in their class had +anything to do with it. For the 'corporal'--ahem!--was pretty sure you +were the guilty one, and he said the class was mad as hops about it." + +"That's good," laughed Mark, rubbing his hands gleefully. "Perhaps we'll +have some fun now." + +"You will. That's just the point. I don't know that I ought to tell you +this, but I didn't promise Mr. Jasper I wouldn't, and I suppose my +duties as a member of the Seven are paramount to all others." + +"Yes," responded Mark, "we'll expel you if you play us false. But don't +keep me in suspense. What's all this about?" + +"I like to get you excited," laughed the girl, teasingly. "I think I'll +hold off a while so as to be sure you're interested, so as to make you +realize the importance of what I have to say. For you must know that +this is a really important plot that I've discovered, a plot that +will----" + +"I think it is going to rain," remarked the cadet, gazing off dreamily +into space. "I hope it will not, because it is liable to damage the corn +crop, the farmers say that----" + +"I'll give up," laughed the girl. "I'll tell you right away. You are to +be on sentry duty to-night, aren't you?" + +"Yes," said Mark, "I am. I wouldn't be here now if I were not." + +"And your post is No. 3, isn't it?" + +"Yes! How did you know?" + +"All this is what my small boy friend the corporal told me. You see that +my information comes right from headquarters. I suppose you know that +Post No. 3 runs along Fort Clinton ditch." + +"But what's that got to do with the plot?" cried Mark. + +"Everything. The plot is to 'dump' you, as the slang has it." + +"Dump me?" + +"Yes; take away your gun and roll you head over heels into the mud." + +"Oh!" responded Mark, thoughtfully, "I see. Take my gun away and roll me +head over heels into the mud. Well, well!" + +There was a silence for a few moments after that during which Mark +tapped the chair reflectively. + +"Are you going to let them do it?" inquired Grace at last. + +"From what you know of me," inquired he, "do you suppose I will?" + +"Hardly." + +"And I won't, either. I think the yearlings that try it will have some +fun. I only hope there are enough of them." + +"There will be," said the girl. "There'll be three." + +"I'm very glad you told me," said Mark, "very. I'm beginning to perceive +that our ally will be a very serviceable ally indeed." + +"She will be faithful anyway," said the girl. "The Daughters of the +Revolution always are. She has a debt of gratitude to pay to the chief +rebel which she will not very soon forget; and she hopes he will not, +either." + +Whereupon Mark bowed and arose to take his leave. + +"I must get back to camp," he explained, "to tell the Seven about this +new plan. We shall find a way to circumvent it, I think; we always do. +And I'll promise you that the yearlings who 'dump' me will have a very +lively evening of it. Good-by." + +And Mark left. + +Now it must be explained that the plebes had lately been given guns. + +The instruction in marching, halting, etc., which they had gotten in +barracks was supplemented by all sorts of evolutions, and by drill in +the manual of arms. + +This latter of course necessitated guns; and great was the joy of the +ambitious and warlike plebe on the momentous day that "guns" were given +out. The guns were regulation army muskets, heavy beyond imagination. So +the plebe soon wished he hadn't wished for them. Besides drilling with +them, which he found harder work than digging trenches, he had to clean +them daily; and cleaning a gun under the watchful eye of a merciless +yearling proved to be a matter of weeping and gnashing of teeth. It had +to be done; for he had a number on his gun, so that he couldn't steal +his neighbor's well-cleaned one; and if his own wasn't clean he got +into trouble at the very next inspection. + +Besides the three drills a day, there were other duties galore. There +was policing twice a day, "policing" meaning the sweeping clean of the +acre or two of ground within the limits of Camp McPherson. Then also +there was "guard-mounting." + +Guard-mounting is the daily ceremony of placing the sentries about the +camp; the cadets who go on duty then remain until the following morning. +This ceremony has already been described within the pages of this +series; it will have much to do with our present story. + +The plebes of course were not put on guard until they had been fairly +well trained in other duties. They had to know how to march, halt, +salute, present arms, etc. Also they had to be accoutered in their dress +uniforms, which were issued about this time. + +Mark Mallory had been notified to report for guard duty that morning, +greatly to the joy of his friends, the Seven, who had rubbed and +polished him till he shone. He had "fallen in" at the summons and +received a long and appalling list of instructions from his corporal. +Then he had been put on Post No. 3 for his first tour of duty. + +The sentries about the camp march for two hours, and then have four +hours off duty, thus having eight hours "on" in the twenty. During this +time they speak to no one, except to challenge parties who cross their +beats. This last duty is where the yearlings have all the fun with the +new plebe. + +"Deviling" sentries is an old, old amusement at West Point. The plebe +goes on duty, solemn and anxious, awed to silence and gravity by the +sternness of his superiors. He is proud of his important office and +thoroughly resolved to do his duty, come what may, and to die in the +last ditch. He seizes his gun resolutely; feels of the bayonet point +valiantly; puts on his sternest and most forbidding look; strides forth +with a step that is bold and unwavering. And the yearlings "don't do a +thing" to him. + +What they did to Mark and his friends will be described later on. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MARK'S COUNTERPLOT. + + +Mark returned to the camp to find his six friends just returned from +drill and enjoying a brief respite until the summons came for their next +duty. He gathered them together in solemn conclave, and then in whisper +imparted to them the information he had just received from the "angel." + +The effects of Mark's announcement upon his friends varied considerably +with each. + +Indian was terrified beyond measure; the possibility of such tricks +being tried upon him, too, made his fat eyes bulge. Texas, on the other +hand, was wild with excitement and joy, and a little good-natured envy. + +"Wow! Mark," he cried. "Why is it you always have all the fun? Them ole +cadets always go fo' you; nobody else kin ever do anything. Ef them +fellers don't git roun' to me some day I'm goin' off an' raise a rumpus +some other way." + +"What'll you do?" inquired Mark, laughing. + +"I'll go off'n git on a roarin' ole spree!" vowed the other, solemnly. +"An' I'll ride into this yere ole camp an' raise such a rumpus as it +ain't ever seen afore. Jes' you watch me now! What you fellers +a-laughin' at?" + +"I'm sorry I can't let you go on in my place," said Mark, smiling. "Or +perhaps I'll let you come out and help me 'do' them when they tackle +me." + +Texas was somewhat mollified by that; and then the Seven settled down to +a serious discussion of the situation. + +"Fellows," said Mark, "I want to tell you something. You know I'm +getting tired of the notion those yearlings have in their heads, that +they can haze us without its costing them anything. Now I've been +thinking this business over and I've got an idea. If they try to dump me +to-night I'm going to fool them and I'm going to fix it so that they'll +be the laughingstock of the corps. After I get through with them then +we'll go dump some of their sentries instead. And now, what I want to +know is, will you help me?" + +"Help you!" gasped the others, excitedly. "Help you! What are we banded +for?" + +"Oo-oo!" wailed Indian. "I can't. I'll be on duty, too! And suppose they +attack me! Bless my soul!" + +"You'll have to fight your own battle!" laughed Mark. "They won't try +anything very desperate on you. But now let me tell you of my plot." + +The six gathered about him to listen to his whispered instructions. +From the contortions their faces went through one would have supposed +they liked the scheme. And in the end Mark, finding that it met with +approval, sat down and wrote a brief note: + + "DEAR MISS FULLER: We have a plan to punish those + yearlings, and we want you to help us once more. Ask + George, the butler, to go down to Highland Falls and + buy us a quart of peroxide of hydrogen. The Parson + says it must be very strong, a ninety per cent. + saturated solution. We'll explain to you afterward + what we want the stuff for. Please do not fail us. + + "Your friend, + + "MARK MALLORY." + +They sealed that note and put it together with a coin into the hands of +a drum orderly. And after that there was nothing to do but wait in +suspense and impatience for the momentous hours of evening, when the +yearling class was to make one more effort to subdue "the B. J.-est +plebe that ever struck the place." + +Night came, as night always does, no matter how anxiously it is waited +for. Mark and his friend Indian went on guard that afternoon from two to +four; and soon after that came dress parade and the sunset gun, then +supper and finally darkness at last. With eight o'clock the two went on +once more. + +Though Mark did not once relax his vigilance during the time from then +till taps he was inclined to think that the attack upon him would not +take place until his next watch, which began at two. For now there were +numbers of people strolling about and hazing was decidedly unsafe. So +sure was he of this that his allies did not even prepare their plot. + +Mark's judgment proved to be correct; he marched back and forth along +the path that marked his beat and no one offered to disturb him. What +"deviling" was being done at that hour was of a milder sort, a sort that +was not intended for such B. J. plebes as he. + +Among the victims of this, however, was our unfortunate friend Indian. +What happened to Indian happens to nearly all plebes at the present day. +It is our purpose to describe it in this chapter. + +Indian was a gullible, innocent sort of a lad; life was a solemn and +serious business with him. Most plebes take their hazing as fun, rather +unpleasant, but still nothing dangerous. With Indian on the other hand +it was torture; he dreaded the yearlings as his mortal enemies, and to +his poor miserable soul everything they did was aimed at his life. + +This curious state of affairs the yearlings were not slow to discover, +and the result had been that fully half the hazing that was done had +fallen on the head of this unfortunate plebe. And one may readily +believe that the merry cadets were waiting with indescribable glee for +the first night when poor Joseph Smith turned out on sentry duty. + +Sentry duty at the camp is of course a mere formality; no enemies are +expected to attack West Point, and there is no necessity for an +all-night guard. But it was precisely this fact that our friend could +not understand, and that was where the fun came in. + +To Indian, the sentry was put on guard to ward off some real and +terrible danger. Everything that happened confirmed this view in his +mind. In the first place the solemnity and businesslike reality he found +in the guard tent impressed him. Then the sepulchral tones of the +corporal who gave him instructions, and who, it may readily be believed, +lost no opportunity to impress the gravity of the situation upon his +charge and to frighten him more and more, strengthened his conviction. +Then they gave him a gun, a heavy, dangerous-looking gun, with a +cold-steel bayonet sharp as a knife, that made him see all sorts of +harrowing visions of himself in the act of plunging it, all bloody, into +the body of some gasping foe. + +After that, with all these uncanny ideas in his head, they marched him +solemnly out to his post and left him there alone in the darkness. + +Indian's post lay alongside the camp, but in his fright he did not +recognize anything. All he knew was that it ran along a dark deserted +path beneath trees that groaned and creaked in the moonlight. And +Indian paced tremblingly up and down clutching his cold steel gun +nervously, seeing an enemy in every waving shadow and in every tree +stump, hearing one in every distant voice and tread, consoling his mind +with visions of all sorts of horrors, wishing he had some one to talk +to, and wondering if it were not almost ten o'clock and time for that +other sentry to relieve him. The very clanking of his own bayonet +scabbard made this bold young soldier jump. + +This continued as the night wore on. Indian strode back and forth losing +heart every moment, and beginning to believe that the relief guard had +forgotten him. Tramp, tramp--and then suddenly he halted, his heart +leaped up and began to thump in a frenzy. Could that be? Yes, surely it +was! Some one was crossing his beat, stealing along in the moonlight! + +Half mechanically, Indian obeyed his instructions, brought down his gun +to the charge position and gave the challenge: + +"Who goes there?" + +The voice was so weak that Indian scarcely heard it. He stood trembling, +to await the answer. When the answer came he was still more mystified. + +"The Prince of Wales!" called the intruder. + +The Prince of Wales? What on earth was he doing here? Poor Indian had +received no instructions about the Prince of Wales. But he was given no +time to find out, for a step way back at the other end of the post took +him down there on the run, where in response to his second challenge the +ghost of Horace Greeley made itself known. And scarcely had the ghost +been warned away before the confused sentry had to rush back to the +original place to find that the prince had given place to a band of +Potawottamie squaws combined with Julius Caesar and the Second +Continental Congress. + +Indian of course should have summoned the corporal of the guard. But in +the alarm he had forgotten everything except that he must challenge +everybody he saw. The result was that the poor lad was kept flying up +and down until nearly dead from exhaustion, challenging ghosts and +colonels, armed parties, patrols, grand rounds, reliefs, and other +things military and otherwise. Occasionally a "friend with the +countersign" would hail, and then inform the rattled sentry that the +countersign was "butter beans," or "Kalamazoo," or "kangaroo," or "any +old thing you please," as one joker told him. Poor Indian was fast being +reduced to a state of nervous prostration. + +He was in this condition when the climax came. Hurrying down the path he +was suddenly electrified to see a red can lying in the middle of the +path. Staring out in great black letters that made the sentry gasp were +the letters d-y-n-a-m-i-t-e! Indian started back in alarm. He saw a +spark, as if from a fuse; and in an instant more before he had a chance +to run, that can--which contained a firecracker--went up into the air +with a terrific flash and roar. + +That was the last straw for Joseph. + +He dropped his gun; gave vent to one shriek of terror and then turned +and fled wildly into camp! + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE ATTACK ON MARK. + + +There was confusion indescribable in a moment; cadets rushed out of +their tents, and every one who chanced to be in the neighborhood started +on a run for the scene of the trouble, most of them just in time to see +the figure of the frightened plebe flying down a company street to the +guard tent. Indian's hair was sailing out behind, his eyes were staring +and his cheeks bulging with fright. + +In response to the first yell, Lieutenant Allen, the tactical officer in +charge, had rushed to the tent door, followed by the corporal of the +guard, the officer of the day, and a host of other cadet officials. The +figure in blue, however, was the only one the plebe saw. That meant an +army officer and safety for him. So to that figure he rushed with a gasp +of fright. + +"What's the matter?" cried Lieutenant Allen. + +"Dynamite, sir, anarchists!" + +"What!" + +"Yes, sir, oh, please, sir, bless my soul, sir, I saw it, +sir--puff--oh!" + +It took the amazed officer several moments to take in the situation. + +"Anarchists," he repeated. "Dynamite! Why, what on earth?" + +And then suddenly the whole thing flashed across him. It was another +prank of the yearlings! And, what was worse, a thousand times worse, +here was a sentry off his beat, in direct violation of his orders of all +military law. + +"Didn't you receive a command, sir," he demanded severely, "not to leave +your post for any reason whatsoever? Don't you know that in time of war +your offense would mean hanging?" + +"Bless my soul, sir!" gasped the sorely perplexed plebe, frightful +visions of gallows rising up before his bulging eyes. "Yes, +sir--er--that is, no, sir--bless my soul! They're going to attack the +place!" + +The officer gazed at the lad incredulously for a moment; he thought the +plebe was trying to fool him. But that look on Indian's face could not +possibly be feigned; and the officer when he spoke again was a trifle +more consoling. + +"Don't you know, my boy," he said, "this is all a joke? It was not real +dynamite." + +"Not real dynamite!" cried the other in amazement. "Why, I saw it! +It----" + +"It was the yearlings trying to fool you," said the lieutenant. + +"Yearlings trying to fool me!" echoed the other as if unable to grasp +the meaning. "Why--er--bless my soul! Yearlings trying to fool me!" + +The thought filtered through gradually, but it reached Indian's excited +brain at last. The change it produced when it got there was marvelous to +behold. The look of terror on his face vanished. So he had been fooled! +So he had let the yearlings outwit him! Yearlings--his sworn enemies! +And he a member of the Banded Seven at that! It was too awful to be +true! It was---- + +And then suddenly before Lieutenant Allen could raise a hand or say a +word the plebe wheeled, sprang forward and tore back down the company +street. + +There was a look on Indian's face that his friends had seen there just +once before. The yearlings had tied him to a stake that day to "burn" +him, and they had set fire to his trousers by accident. Indian had +broken loose, and it was then that the look was on his face, a look of +the wildest fury of convulsive rage. Now it was there again, and Indian +was too mad to speak, almost too mad to see. + +He rushed down the street, he tore in between two of the tents and burst +out upon the path where the sentry beat lay. It was dark and he could +see little, but off to one side he made out a group of cadets. He heard +a sound of muffled laughter. Here were his tormentors! Here! And with a +gasp and gurgle of rage Indian plunged into the midst of them. + +After that there was just about as lively a time as those yearlings had +ever seen. Indian's arms were windmills and sledge hammers combined, +with the added quality of hitting the nail on the head every time they +hit. The result ten eyes could not have followed, and as many pens could +not describe it. Suffice it to say that the plebe plowed a path straight +through the crowd, then whirled about and started on another tack. And +that a few moments later he was in undisturbed possession of his post, +the yearlings having fled in every direction. + +Then Indian picked up his musket, shouldered it, and strode away down +the path. + +"I guess they'll leave me alone now," he said. + +They did. Indian marched courageously after that, his head high and his +step firm, conscious of having done his duty and signally retrieved his +honor. + +Pacing patiently, he heard tattoo sound and saw the cadets line up in +the company street beyond. He heard the roll call and the order to break +ranks. He saw the cadets scatter to their tents, his own friends among +them. Indian knew that it was half-past nine then and that he had but +half an hour more. + +As he marched he was thinking about Mark. He was wondering if the +yearlings had had the temerity to try their "dumping" so early in the +evening. And he wondered, too, if Mark had prevailed, and if he had +dared to put into execution the daring act of retribution he had +planned. + +Mark meantime was also walking his post, over on the other side of the +camp. He had marched there in silence and solitude since eight. He, too, +had heard tattoo; he had seen his five friends enter their tents which +lay very close to his beat, and he had nodded to them and signaled that +all was well. + +Time passed rapidly. He saw the cadets undressing, saw most of them +extinguish their lights and lie down. And then suddenly came a roll upon +the drum--ten o'clock--"lights out and all quiet." And at the same +moment he heard the clank of a sword, and the tramp of marching feet +coming down the path. It was the relief. + +They left another sentry there in Mark's stead and marched on around the +camp, picking up the others. Among these was the weary fat Indian, who +joined them with a sigh that it is no pun to call one of "relief." A few +minutes later they were in the guard tent, where Indian learned that the +attack had not yet come, at which he sighed again. + +Cadets who are members of the guard sleep in the big "guard tent," which +is situated at the western end of the camp. Here they can be awakened +and can fall in and join the relief when their time comes without +disturbing the rest of the corps. Mark and Indian did not go on duty +again until two o'clock in the morning, and so they "turned in," in no +time and were soon fast asleep. + +When they are awakened again we shall follow Mark to "Post No. 3." +Nothing more was done to poor Indian that night. + +It was the "corporal of the relief," who touched Mark on the shoulder +and brought him out of the land of dreams. He sprang up hastily and +began to dress; cadets sleep in their underclothing, so that they may be +ready to "fall in" promptly, all dressed in case of an emergency. Mark, +gazing about him, saw a big white tent, with sleeping forms scattered +about it. A yawning cadet officer sat at a table, a candle by his side. +And five other sentries, about to go "on" like himself, were sleepily +dressing. + +Promptly at the minute of two the six fell in, in response to the low +command of the corporal. At the same time the sentry's call of the hour +sounded: + +"Two o'clock and all's well!" + +And then out into the cold night air marched the six and away to their +posts of duty. There was a bright moon and the whole camp was light as +day as they marched. At number three, in response to the corporal's +order, Mallory fell out. And then "Forward, march!" and away down the +dim vista of trees swept the rest and around a turn and were gone. Mark +Mallory was alone, waiting for the enemy. + +He was not afraid. He had made up his mind as to what he should do, and +now he was here to do it. He realized that from the very first moment he +set foot on this post, the word must be vigilance, vigilance! And he +gritted his teeth and set his square, sunburned jaws and seized his +rifle with a grip of determination, striding meanwhile on down the path. + +He had not gotten halfway down to the end, the tramp of the relief was +still in the air, when suddenly came a low, faint whistle. Mark was +expecting that, and he faced about, started off the other way. He heard +a faint sound of hurrying feet and knew that his friends, the five, had +crossed. He saw shadows flitting in the deep grass of the ditch beside +him and knew that they were scattering to hide and wait in accordance +with the agreement. And he set his teeth with a still more grinding snap +and strode on. Vigilance, vigilance! + +The moon was high in the heavens by this time; one could almost have +seen to read. + +"They won't dare to try it," thought Mark. "A snake couldn't creep up on +me now. They'll have to come from the camp, too, for they can't cross +any sentry beat. But I'll watch, all the same." + +His heart was beating fast then, he could almost regulate his step by +it. Outside of that all was ghostly and silent, except for the breathing +of the sleepers in the nearest tents of Company A. Once, too, he heard +the distant roar of a train as it whirled down the river valley, and +once the faint chug chug of a steamboat that passed on the water. But +for the most part the camp was unbroken in its peacefulness. + +Tramp, tramp. Down the path to the sentry box, right about, and back +again. His post--number three--extended from the upper end of the +colorline on which two and six were marching, down along the north side +of the camp skirting the tents of Company A--his own--with the deep +ditch of Fort Clinton right to the left, past the tent of Fischer, the +first captain, and that of the adjutant, and ending near the water tank. +Tramp! tramp! + +It was just a few minutes more before the corporal of the relief came +around, testing the sentries' knowledge of the orders of the night. +Later still came the cadet officer of the guard, with a clank of sword; +and he passed on, too. Tramp, tramp. And still no sign of trouble. +Mark's challenge, "Who comes there?" had been heard but once, and that +by the corporal. + +"Will they try it?" he thought. "Now's the time. Will they try it?" + +The answer came soon. Peering ahead with the stealthiness of a cat, +glancing back over his shoulder every minute, watching every moving +shadow, listening for every faintest sound. Tramp, tramp. Eastward +toward the river; he reached the water tank, where the shade was the +thickest, where stood the only bushes that could conceal a lurking foe. +Opposite the tent of the bootblack he halted and started back again, +where the path lay clear in the moonlight. Tramp, tramp. He could see +number two, far down in the distance, his white trousers glistening as +he marched. He saw the shadows of the trees waving, he heard the +breathing of the sleepers. + +Then suddenly came the attack. There was a quick step behind him, and +everything grew dark. A cloth was flung about his mouth, and two pair of +hands about his writhing, sinewy body. Down he went to the ground, +fighting with every ounce of muscle that was in him. And after that +there was fun to spare. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THREE DISCOMFITED YEARLINGS. + + +It was Mark's duty to summon the corporal of the guard at the very first +sign of danger. But he didn't. He was going to settle this himself, and +he meant to punish those yearlings without any official aid. + +He wanted to keep them busy, so that his friends could approach unseen, +and he set out to do it with all the strength of his powerful frame. +There were three of the yearlings, just as Grace had said, and they were +big fellows, selected for that reason; the yearling class knew Mark +Mallory--knew that he could fight when he wanted to, and he wanted to +then. He went down struggling, kicking, hitting right and left; on the +ground he was writhing and twisting as no eel had ever done. And then +suddenly he heard a muttered exclamation, felt the hands that were +gripping him relax; he flung off his enemies and sprang up to find each +of them struggling desperately in the grip of the triumphant five. + +There were two for each of the yearlings. That was not quite so unfair +as the three to one that had prevailed a moment before; but it was +enough to make victory certain. The yearlings did not dare cry out; they +were more to blame than the plebes and they knew it. The plebes knew +it, too, knew that they had only to hold their enemies, not trying to +keep them quiet. + +The six had the yearlings flat upon their backs in a very brief space of +time. To bind them hand and foot was a still easier task. And then the +mighty Texas flung one over his shoulder, the rest carrying the other +two; they sprang down into the ditch; they climbed the parapet of the +fort beyond; and a moment later were safe, out of sight or hearing. + +Then Mark Mallory, sentry number three, brushed off his soiled clothing, +picked up his soiled gun, shouldered it and marched calmly away down the +path. Tramp, tramp. + +Sentry number three would have loved dearly to "see the fun," but there +is no worse offense known at West Point than deserting a sentry post. He +did not dare take the risk, so we shall have to leave him alone and go +see for ourselves. + +The five rascals with their securely-bound and gagged victims did not go +very far. They stopped in the middle of old Fort Clinton and dropped +their mummy burdens to the ground. Texas pulled from under his coat a +bottle, one quart of peroxide of hydrogen, very strong, "a ninety per +cent. saturated solution." And he got right to work, too. + +You ask what he did? Any one ought to guess that. As a hair dye, +peroxide of hydrogen is pretty well known, we fancy. + +Add Texas was a liberal hair dyer, too. He put plenty of it on. He was +not careful to apply it evenly, to get it on everywhere. In fact, he was +rather careful not to. Texas was not seeking for any beautiful effects, +mind you; all he wanted to do was to put some mark on those yearlings +that would cure them of their hazing habits, that would make them the +laughingstock of the class. + +Having finished one, doused him well, Texas went on to the next. And +more miserable looking and feeling cadets than the three a human being +cannot imagine. They had some vague idea of what their tormentors were +doing, and visions arose up before them, visions of themselves dancing +in the ballroom, or walking about with their best girls, or marching on +parade, with half yellow and half black or brown hair, stamped and +labeled before all to their shame as the yearlings who tried to haze +Mallory. And the worst of it was they daren't tell the authorities; they +were more to blame than anybody! + +Texas knew that; and he soaked on the peroxide of hydrogen the +more--ninety per cent. saturated solution. + +Having finished this they left their victims there for a while, so that +their hair might dry and the bleach have a good chance to work. It would +never have done in the world to let them run back to camp and wash it +all out. Oh, no! And, besides, it might be well to leave them there a +while to reflect upon the sin of hazing. + +As to this last point a mild bit of sarcasm occurred to the Parson. "The +Parson" was just the man to preach a sermon; and he got down upon his +knees and whispered very softly into the ears of each of the three: + +"Gentlemen," said he, "the epistle for the day is written in the sixth +chapter of Galatians, the seventh verse. 'Be not deceived, brethren. For +whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' Here endeth the first +lesson. Yea, by Zeus!" + +And then the five hair dyers stole away, and likewise the one quart +bottle, peroxide of hydrogen, ninety per cent. saturated solution. + +They were not through yet. Oh, not by a long shot! They rejoined sentry +number three and held a whispered consultation. + +"Who's on to-night?" was the question. + +"Only one to interest us. Bull Harris!" was the answer. + +"Where?" + +"Number two." + +And then the five figures disappeared once more in the darkness--the +moon had kindly hidden for a while. Mark could see number two from his +post, and he watched with the utmost eagerness. He saw three horrified +yearlings dash across his own beat and vanish in their tents. He let +them pass without challenge, even if it was against the orders, for he +knew that they were the three unhappy heroes of the peroxide of hydrogen +bottle, just released by the plebes. + +After that there was a silence of perhaps five minutes. Mark, in +disobedience of all orders, was actually standing still, peering across +at the sentry on the next beat. He could see that gentleman's white +"pants" shining out; and then suddenly he saw several dark figures steal +up behind him, saw the sentry shoot up into the air and take a header to +the grass. The next moment came rapid footfalls and some quick shadows +flying across the path. The shadows disappeared in the tents and Camp +McPherson was once more silent as the night. + +Sentry number two got up from the ground in a meditative way; his +look--though Mark did not see it--was what is often described as an +injured one. He made no sound, because for one thing he was too +surprised, and for another because he had an idea some of his own class +had done that trick--mistaken him for Mallory! For though Bull Harris +had watched long and anxiously he hadn't seen Mark "dumped." + +Mark meanwhile had faced about and was strolling on down the path, a +rather happy and satisfied expression upon his face. Tramp, tramp. + +This chapter would not be complete without a word--just a word--about +three yearling friends of ours. They woke up--if they slept at all that +night--with three startling crops of beautiful golden shining hair, +rather piebald in places. One likes to lavish adjectives upon that hair; +the piebald is not meant to be a pun. Now, as to how that hair got dyed +during the night, not a man of them would tell. But the Seven told +Grace, of course; and Grace told the cadets, which amounted to the same +thing in the end. The story was all about the post that morning. + +By that time the three had been to the barber's and their heads looked +like a wheat field, a field of golden grain after the reaping machine +had been hauled across. But that didn't save the three. They were guyed +unmercifully; one of them had three fights at Fort Clinton before he +could convince his classmates that he really didn't want to be called +"Peroxide." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +"TEXAS" RUNS AMUCK. + + +"Drunk! Drunk! For Heaven's sake what do you mean?" + +Mark had been sitting in the door of a tent in "A" company street, +vigorously polishing a musket. At the moment he had dropped the gun and +the cleaning kit to the ground and was gazing in amazement at Indian, +who had halted, breathless, in front of him. + +"Drunk!" the first speaker repeated. "Texas drunk! What on earth are you +talking about?" + +The other was so red in the face and out of breath from what had +evidently been a long run that he could scarcely manage to answer. His +eyes were staring, and his face a picture of excitement and alarm. + +"Bless my soul!" he gasped. "I tell you--I saw him! He's wild!" + +"What do you mean? Where is he?" + +"He--he's got a horse! He's ridden off! Oh--bless my soul--he's killing +everybody!" + +Mark sprang to his feet in excitement. At the same moment another head +appeared in the opening, preceded by a hasty "What's that?" It was +Parson Stanard, and his learned classical face was a picture of +amazement. + +"Texas drunk!" he echoed. "Where did he get anything to drink?" + +"I don't know!" gasped Indian. "Bless my soul--I only saw him one +moment; he dashed down the road. Oh! And had a horse, and his +guns--Lord, I was scared nearly to death." + +"Which way did he go?" inquired Mark, quickly, a sudden resolution +taking possession of his mind. + +"Down toward Highland Falls," answered the other. + +And before he could say another word, Mark had seized his hat, sprang +out of the tent, and bounded away down the company street to the great +amazement of the cadets who chanced to see him. + +"Texas'll be expelled! Expelled!" he muttered. "And then what on earth +will I do?" + +The time was morning. The plebe class had just been dismissed a short +while ago from an hour of drill, and most of them were over by the +cavalry plain, watching the preparations of the rest of the corps for +"light artillery drill," which was the programme of the morning. + +Scarcely half an hour ago Mark had left Texas and now he was drunk! And +he was drunk after the fashion of the cowboys, reckless of everything, +shooting and yelling, ready to raid a town if need be. Where he had +gotten his whiskey, or his horse, what on earth had led him to such an +extraordinary proceeding, were questions that Mark could not solve; but +he knew that his friend was in imminent danger, that expulsion stared +him in the face. And that was all Mark needed to know. + +He did not notice that the plain on his right was crowded with +spectators of the drill, and that those same spectators were staring at +him curiously as he dashed past. He had eyes for but one thing, and that +was a building to one side, down the hill toward the shore of the +Hudson. He did not stop for paths; he plunged down the bank, and finally +wound up breathless in front of the cavalry stables. + +Most of the men were off to one side, at that moment engaged in +harnessing the horses for the drill on the plain above. But one was +left, and he sat in the doorway, calmly smoking his pipe, and gazing +curiously at the figure before him. + +"What d'ye want?" he demanded. + +"A horse!" gasped Mark. + +"Plebe?" inquired the other, with exasperating slowness. + +"Yes." + +"Where's yer permit?" + +"Haven't got any." + +"Don't get no horse then!" + +Mark gazed at the man in consternation--he hadn't thought of that +difficulty. Then a sudden idea occurred to him, and he thrust his hand +into the watch pocket of his uniform. There was money there, money which +as a cadet Mark had no business to have. But he thanked his stars for it +all the same. There was a five-dollar bill, and he handed it to the man. + +"For Heaven's sake," he panted, "give me a horse! Quick! Don't lose a +moment! I'll see you don't get blamed--say I took it away from you if +you want to." + +The man fingered the bill for a few moments, lost in thought. + +"It'd take more'n you to take a horse away from me," he said at last. +"But since you're in such a hurry----" + +He stepped inside the building, and a moment later reappeared, leading +one of the government cavalry horses. + +"Saddle?" he inquired. + +By way of answer Mark sprang at the animal's head, and in one bound was +on his back. + +"Get up!" he cried, digging his heels into the horse's side. "Get up!" +and a moment later was dashing down the road as if he had been shot from +a catapult. + +"Terrible hurry that!" muttered the stableman, shaking his head, as he +turned away. "Terrible hurry! Something wrong 'bout that 'ere." + +There was; and Mark thought so, too, as he galloped down the road. He +feared there would be much more wrong in a very short while. In half an +hour or so the plebe class, his class, would be called to quarters once +more for drill, and if he and Texas were not on hand then, there would +be trouble, indeed. If they were, there was prospect of no less +excitement. From what Mark knew of his hot-tempered and excitable +comrade when sober, he could form a vague idea of what a terror he might +be when he was mad with drink; and being thus he would not be apt to +behave as the meek and gentle thing a plebe is supposed to be. Mark had +had great trouble in keeping Texas quiet, even under ordinary +circumstances. + +Mark, it may be mentioned, had met this wild and uncivilized lad down at +the hotel at Highland Falls, some weeks before either of them had been +admitted to the academy. Texas had then with recklessness helped Mark in +outwitting some hazers among the candidates. Mark had been drawn to the +other by his frank and open nature, by their mutual love of fun and +adventure, and by a certain respect each felt for the other's prowess. +The story of the heroic efforts by which Mark had earned his cadetship +was known to Texas, as indeed it was to every one on the post. + +The two had come up to the Point together, and passed their +examinations; and they had been fast friends ever since. Mark had +backed Texas in a battle in which Texas had "licked" no less than four +of the yearlings. Texas had been Mark's second in a fight with the +picked champion of the same class. And since then the two had set out +together on a crusade against hazing which had turned West Point customs +topsy-turvy and made the yearlings fairly wild with desperation. + +Through all this the two had fought side by side, and were stanch +friends. And now! The Texan's wild passions had led him to an act that +might mean instant expulsion. And Mark felt that West Point was losing +half its charm. + +All this he was rapidly revolving in his mind as the horse sped down the +road. Texas might be found! He might be brought back in time, if indeed +he had not already shot some one! Mark felt that the chance was worth +the risk, and he leaned forward over the flying horse's neck and urged +him on with every trick he could think of. + +On, on they sped. Down the road past the riding hall, up the hill, past +the mess hall, the hospital and then on southward toward Highland Falls. +The passers-by stopped to look at the hurrying figure in astonishment; +people rushed to the windows to see what the clatter of hoofs might +mean; but before they got there the horse and rider had vanished down +the street in a swirling cloud of dust. + +As if there were not enough to perplex Mark, a new problem rose up +before him just then. The village he had left behind him, and was +speeding down the road--when he chanced to think of the fact that he was +almost at "Cadet limits." There was a fork in the road just below; to go +beyond it meant instant expulsion if discovered! And how could he hope +to be undiscovered, he in a cadet uniform and on that public highway? + +The risk was desperate, but Mark had almost resolved to take it, when a +startling sound broke upon his ears. + +"Wow! Whoop!" Bang! Bang! "Wow!" + +And a moment later, sweeping around a turn, a cloud of dust appeared to +Mark's straining eyes. The cloud drew nearer; the shouts and yells +swelled louder, accompanied now and then by a fusillade as from a dozen +revolvers; and at last, in the midst of the cloud, as if racing with it, +a horse and rider came into view, the rider with a huge revolver in each +hand and a dozen in his belt, flinging his arms, shouting and yelling as +if forty demons were on his trail. + +"Heaven help him!" Mark thought to himself. "Heaven help him, for I +can't!" + +The rider was Texas. + +Mark had scarcely had time to take in the startling situation, before +the horse and rider were upon him with a rush and a whirl. + +"Wow! Whoop!" roared Texas, with all the power of his mighty throat; and +at the same moment Mark heard a bullet whistle past his head. + +Texas had not recognized his friend at the pace he was riding; he and +his flying steed were past and started up the road in the direction +whence Mark had come, when the latter turned and shouted: + +"Texas! Oh, Texas! come back here!" + +Texas gave a mighty tug upon the reins which brought his horse to his +haunches; he swung him around with a whirl that would have flung any +ordinary rider from the saddle; and then he dashed back, on his face a +broad grin of recognition and delight. + +"Hi, Mark!" he roared. "Durnation glad to see you! Whoop!" + +Mark's mind was working with desperate swiftness just then. He saw in a +moment that there was yet hope. Texas was not staggering; he sat his +saddle erect and graceful. His voice, too, was natural, and it was +evident that he had drunk only enough to excite him, to make him wild +and blind to the consequences. There was room for lots of diplomacy in +managing him, Mark thought. The only obstacle was time--or lack of it. + +He reached over from his horse and seized the hand which the other held +out to him. + +"How are you, old man?" he said. + +"Bully!" cried Texas. "Ain't felt so jolly, man, fo' weeks! Whoop! 'Ray! +Got a horse, Mark, ain't you? Wow! that's great! Come along, thar! Git +up! We'll go bust up the hull camp. Wow!" + +And Texas had actually turned to gallop ahead. Mark had but a moment to +think; he thought quickly, though, in that moment, and resolved on a +desperate expedient. + +"Texas!" he called, and then as his friend turned, he added: "Texas, get +down from that horse!" + +The other stared at him in amazement, and Mark returned that stare with +a stern and determined look. There was fire in Powers' eye, more so than +usually; but there was a quiet, unflinching purpose in Mark's that the +other had learned to respect. + +That had been a hard lesson. Texas had lost his temper once and struck +Mark, and Mark thrashed him then as he had never been thrashed before. +Texas knew his master after that, and now as he stared, a glimmering +recollection of the time returned to his whirling brain. + +"Texas, get down from that horse." + +There was a moment more during which the two stared at each other in +silence; and then the right one gave way. Texas leaned forward, flung +his leg over the saddle, and sprang lightly to the ground. And after +that he stood silent and watched his friend, with a worried and puzzled +look upon his face. + +Mark breathed a sigh of relief as he saw that he had won. He dismounted, +led his horse over to the side of the road, and sat down. Texas followed +him, though his unwillingness was written on his face. + +"Now see here, old man," Mark began, having gotten him quiet, as he +thought. "I want to talk to you some." + +"Pshaw!" growled Texas. "I don't want to talk. I want to git up an' git, +an' have some fun." + +"Well, now, see here, Texas," Mark continued. "Don't you know if you are +seen carrying on this way you'll get into trouble? How about drill in a +few minutes?" + +"Ain't goin' to drill!" cried the other, wriggling nervously in his +seat, and twitching his fingers with excitement. "Tired o' drillin'! I'm +a-goin' to have some fun!" + +"But don't you know, man, that you'll be expelled?" Mark pleaded. + +"Expelled! Wow!" + +That was the spark that started the conflagration again. Texas leaped to +his feet with fury. + +"Expelled!" he roared. "Who'll expel me? Whoop! I'd like to see anybody +in this place try it naow, by thunder! I'll show 'em! I'll hold up the +hull place! Watch me scare 'em! Whoop!" + +And almost before Mark could move or say anything, the wild lad sprang +forward at a bound and landed upon his horse's back. A moment later he +was off like a shot, leaving only a cloud of dust and an echo of yells +behind him. + +"Wow! Whoop! Who'll expel me? Come out yere, you ole officers, an' try +it! Wow!" + +Texas was on the warpath again. This time headed straight for West +Point. + +And riding behind him with desperate speed, scarcely fifty yards in the +rear, was Mark, pursuing with all his might, and trembling with alarm as +he thought of what that desperate cowboy might do when once he reached +the post. + +For West Point, and the crowded parade ground, were not a quarter of a +mile away. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +TEXAS RAIDS WEST POINT. + + +The summer season is a gay one at West Point. During the winter cadet +life is a serious round of drill and duty, but after that comes a three +months' holiday, when cadets put on their best uniforms and welcome +mothers and sisters and other fellows' sisters to the post. There are +hops then, and full dress parades, and exhibition drills galore. + +It was one of these drills that was going on that morning, perhaps of +all of them the most showy and interesting to the stranger. And the +mothers and sisters and other fellows' sisters were out in full force to +see it. + +"Light artillery drill" is practice in the handling and firing of field +cannon. The cadets learn to handle heavy guns also, practicing with the +"siege and seacoast batteries" that front on the southern shore of the +Hudson. But the drill with the field pieces is held on the cavalry +plain, a broad, turfless field just south of the camp. + +The field presented a pretty sight on that morning. It was surrounded +with a wall of trees, behind which, to the south, the somber gray stone +of barracks stood out, with the academy building, the chapel and the +library. To the north the white tents of the camp shone through the +trees and a little further to the left, the Battle Monument rose above +them and caught on its marble sides the glistening rays of the sun. +Beneath the trees all around the plain and crowding the steps of the +buildings, were scattered groups of spectators, the gay dresses of the +women helping to make a setting of color. + +There was a jingling of harness, a rumbling of wheels, and a murmur of +excitement among the spectators as the cadet corps put in an appearance, +natty and handsome in their uniforms, the officers riding on horseback, +and the privates mounted on the cannon or the caissons. Platoon after +platoon they swept out upon the field; then formed in accordance with +the sharp commands of the officers; and in a few minutes more "artillery +drill" was under way. + +It is rather an inspiring sight at times. There are over a dozen of the +cannon, with four horses each to draw them, and when the whole squadron +gets into motion at once, there is a thundering of hoofs and a cloud of +dust behind to mark the path. And then when they wheel, and aim and +fire, the roar of the discharge echoes among the hills and makes the +post seem very military and warlike indeed. + +So thought the spectators as they sat and watched, too much interested +to have any eyes for what might happen elsewhere. But those who sat on +the southern edge of the plain, where the road from Highland Falls +emerged, were destined to witness a far more exciting incident than +that, an incident which was not down on the programme, and which the +tactical officers and the commandant of cadets, who stood by their +horses at one side, had not planned or prepared for. + +The last discharge of the morning's drill was yet ringing in the +spectators' ears, and the sound barely had time to make its way down the +road, before it was answered and flung back by another volley that was +all the louder for its unexpectedness. + +Bang! Bang! + +The people turned and gazed in alarm. The cadet captain out upon the +field stopped in the very midst of a command and leaned forward in his +saddle to see; a sentry marching up the street forgot his orders and +wheeled about in surprise. There was the wildest kind of excitement in a +moment. + +A horseman was racing up the road, galloping blindly ahead at full tilt. +He wore the uniform of a cadet, and his face was red with excitement. He +leaned forward over his horse, firing right and left into the air, while +from his throat proceeded a series of yells such as no one in that vast +crowd had ever heard before. + +"Wow! Wow! Whoop!" + +There was no time for exclamations from the spectators, no time for +questions or anything else. It was scarcely a second more before the +wild rider was upon them and he drove straight through the crowd with +the speed of an express train, neither he or his horse heeding any one. + +The panic-stricken people fled in all directions, some of them barely +escaping the flying animal's hoofs. And in a moment more he was out on +the open plain, heading straight for the squadron. + +"Wow! Wow!" yelled the rider. "Expel me, will ye? What ye got them guns +for, hey? Hold up yer hands! Whoop!" + +Shouting thus at the top of his lungs, he was almost upon the cadets +when the frightened spectators heard another rattle of hoofs and another +rider burst through the open space in full pursuit. It was Mark, and he +was desperate then, galloping even more furiously than the cowboy in +front, for he knew that no one but he could ever stop Texas now. + +The amazement and fright of the spectators cannot be pictured; nor the +anger of the officers who saw it all. These latter put spurs to their +horses and galloped out to the two; but Texas and Mark behind him had +already reached the dumfounded cadets. + +Texas had emptied the two revolvers in his hands, and he raced yelling +across the plain. With a whoop he flung them at the nearest cadet, and +whipping two more from his belt, opened fire point-blank. + +"Wow! Whoop!" he howled. "Expel me, will ye? Take that!" + +Bang! Bang! + +Half the horrified cadets turned to run; some dropped down behind the +cannon and the horses, when Texas fired there was not a man in sight. + +Mark was almost upon him when the first bullet struck. It hit one of the +horses upon the flank, and tore a deep gash. The animal reared and +snorted with terror. His companions in harness took the alarm, and +almost at that same instant started on a wild dash across the field, the +four of them whirling the heavy cannon along as if it had been a toy. + +A few yards ahead was the end of the field, and there, crowded in a +dense mass, people who had rushed to that side to avoid the Texan's +flying speed. And toward that surging, frightened mass the four horses +plunged with might and main. + +It was a terrible moment. Those who saw the danger gasped, cried out in +horror, but those who stood in the path of the flying steeds were too +frightened to move. The move had come so suddenly, so unexpectedly. The +crowd stood huddled together; the crash came before they had time to +realize what was happening. + +In the moment's excitement, the two horsemen had remained unnoticed. +Texas had seen the runaway, seen the crowd an instant later. Through his +confused and excited brain the consequences of his acts seemed to flash +with the sharpness of a thunderbolt. He had acted with the quickness of +a man who lives, knowing that at any moment he may be called upon to +"pull his gun," and defend his life. He had wheeled his horse about, +plunged his heels into the horse's sides, and at that moment was +sweeping around in a wild race for the leaders of the runaway four. + +Quick as Texas was, Mark was a moment ahead of him. As he raced across +the plain toward his friend he had seen the horses start and swerve and +made for them, approaching from the opposite side to the Texan. + +All this had happened in the snapping of a finger--the dash of the four, +and two racing from each side to head them off. And it was all over +before the imperiled crowd could turn to flee. + +Texas was seen to leap out over his horse's head and seize the bridle of +one of the leaders as he fell. The crowd saw Mark's horse, dashing in +from the other side, barely a foot from the mass of the spectators, +crash into the Texan's flying steed. They saw the horse go down; they +saw Mark disappear. And then in the crush that followed he was lost to +sight beneath the plunging hoofs of the four. + +There was a moment of blind confusion after that in which each one in +the crowd had time to think and see for himself alone. The spectators +were pushing wildly back before the onslaught of the approaching horses. +Several of the cadets and officers had sprung forward to seize the +horses' heads; Texas was clinging to the bridle with all his strength. +And Mark--Mark's was the greatest peril of all. He had fallen over his +horse's neck; he had seen the two leaders plunging toward him, stumbling +over the body of his own prostrate horse, crushing down upon him--and +then before his dazed eyes had swept a flying rein. He saw it, and +clutched at it, as a drowning man might do; raised himself upon it with +a mighty tug, and then a moment later was hurled far out over the plain, +as the horse he clung to, stopped in its rush, went down in a heap with +the cannon on top. + +It was all over then. The spectators had been saved as by a miracle, the +barrier interposed by Mark's horse. And there was left a pale, +half-fainting lot of people crowded around a tangled mass of horses and +harness, with Texas clinging to one of the bridles, unconscious from a +wound in his head. + +They loosened his deathlike grip, and laid him on the ground, while +Mark, having picked himself up in a more or less dazed condition, +burrowed frantically through the crowd to reach his side. + +"Is he hurt? Is he hurt?" he cried. + +The surgeon was at that moment bending over the Texan's body, where he +had hurried as soon as he saw the accident. + +"It is only a scratch," he said, hastily. "He will get well." + +And Mark breathed freely again; he turned pale, however, a moment later, +as he saw the doctor, catching the odor of the lad's breath, shake his +head and look serious. + +"He knows! He knows!" Mark muttered to himself, "and it is all up with +poor Texas." + +They carried the lad over to the hospital; and then West Point set to +work to get over its amazement and alarm as best it could. + +They cleared up the wreck for one thing. Two of the horses had broken +their legs and had to be led off and shot. The rest trotted behind the +corps as it marched away--marched, for no amount of excitement could +interfere with West Point discipline. And then there was left down at +that end of the cavalry plain only a crowd of curious people, with a +scattering of army officers and plebes, all discussing excitedly the +amazing happenings of scarcely five minutes ago, and wondering what on +earth had taken possession of the two reckless cadets that had started +all the trouble. + +They looked for Mark, but Mark had disappeared while the excitement was +at its height. He did not welcome the questions or the stares of the +curious. Moreover, he saw the superintendent, Colonel Harvey, excitedly +questioning several of the staff about the matter. Mark feared that the +superintendent might turn upon him any moment, and he wanted time to +think before that happened. + +He dodged behind the library building, the Parson with him, and made his +way around to the now deserted camp. Once beneath its protection, the +two sat down and stared at each other in dismay. There was no need to +say anything, for each knew how the other felt. Texas was up the spout; +Mark was but little better off; and the universe was coming to an end. + +That was all. + +"Well," said Mark at last, "we're busted!" + +And the Parson assented with a solemn "Yea, by Zeus!" and relapsed into +a glum silence again. + +Neither of them felt called upon to say anything after that; neither +could think of the least thing to say. There wasn't a glimmering of +hope--they were simply "busted," and that was all there was to it. + +There is a saying that in multitude of council there is safety. The tent +door was pushed aside a few minutes later and Indian's lugubrious, +tear-stained, horrified face peered in. Indian followed, and seated +himself in one corner, and then the tent relapsed into silence and +solemnity once more. + +Three more disgruntled persons it would be hard to find, excepting +possibly the other three of the Banded Seven, who at the moment were +wandering disconsolately about the camp. The whole situation was so +unutterably amazing, dumfounding. Texas had often talked in his wild +Texas way about getting on a "rousing ole spree jest once," and of his +intention to "hold up" the cadet battalion some fine day just for a +joke; but nobody had ever taken him seriously. And now he had gone to +work and done it, and killed two horses, and Heaven only knew how many +people besides--for who could say what the crazy cowboy might not have +done down at Highland Falls? Why, it made his friends shiver to think of +the whole thing! But the situation only grew worse with the thinking; +and the three in the tent stared at one another in undiminished +consternation and despair. + +"Well," muttered Mark a second time. "We're busted!" + +And he had two to agree with him. + +They would probably have sat there all morning if it had not been for a +small drum orderly outside--the drum orderly sounded the "call to +quarters," and a few minutes later the plebes were lined up in the +company street, muskets in hand, for drill. And it did not take a very +sharp eye to notice that every man in the class was staring curiously at +Mark Mallory, the plebe who but a few minutes before had been riding +across the parade ground in an attempt to put a whole artillery squadron +to flight, and that, too, under the superintendent's very nose. + +"I wonder if he's crazy?" muttered one. + +"Or drunk?" suggested another, laughing. "Oh, say, but I'd hate to be in +his place!" + +Which last sentiment was held unanimously by the class, and by the rest +of the corps, too, as they scattered to their tents. A storm was going +to break over Mallory's head in a very, very short while, the cadets +predicted. + +The prediction proved to be true. One of the cadet officers had barely +managed to run over the list of names at roll call before an orderly +raced into camp and handed him a message. He read it, and then he read +it again, aloud: + +"Cadet Mallory will report to the superintendent at once." + +And a moment later, while a murmur of excitement ran down the line, Mark +stepped out and hurried away down the street. + +"The storm breaks now in just about five minutes," thought the corps. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE CAUSE OF A FRIEND. + + +Mark was doing a desperate lot of thinking during that brief walk down +to the headquarters building. Every one he passed turned to stare at +him, but he did not notice that. He knew that in a very short while now +the critical moment was coming. Texas could not speak for himself; Mark +must tell his story for him, and save him from disgrace and dismissal if +the thing could possibly be done. + +The headquarters building lies behind the chapel, just beyond the scene +of the runaway. There was still a crowd of people standing around, and +Mark saw them nod to one another with an "I-told-you-so" look as he +turned to enter the superintendent's office. + +"Oh, just won't he catch it!" thought they. + +Mark thought so, too, as he entered. A man met him at the door, and +without an inquiry or a moment's delay led him to Colonel Harvey's door +and knocked. He evidently knew just why Mark came. + +The door was opened as the man stepped to it. Mark entered and the door +shut. He turned, and found himself confronted by the tall and stately +officer. Mark gazed at him anxiously and found his worst fears +confirmed. There was wrath and indignation upon the superintendents' +face, a far different look from the one Mark had seen there the last +time he stood in that office. + +Colonel Harvey started to speak the instant Mark entered the room. + +"Mr. Mallory," said he, "will you please have the goodness to explain to +me your extraordinary conduct of this morning?" + +Mark looked him squarely in the eye as he answered, for he knew that he +had nothing to be ashamed of. + +"I can explain my conduct better," he said, "by explaining that of Cadet +Powers first." + +The colonel frowned impatiently. + +"I want to know about it; I do not care how. I want to know whatever +induced a cadet of this academy to behave in the disgraceful way that +you two did this morning." + +"I can explain it very easily, sir. It was simply that Cadet Powers was +drunk." + +"Drunk!" echoed the superintendent. + +He started back and stared at Mark in amazement. Mark returned his look +unflinchingly. + +"Yes, sir," he said. "Drunk. You will probably receive a report from the +hospital to that effect this afternoon." + +"And now," thought Mark to himself, "the cat is out of the bag. I wonder +what will happen." + +The superintendent still continued to gaze at him in consternation. + +"And pray," he inquired at last, "were you drunk, too?" + +It was a rather bold question, to say the least, and that flashed over +the officer's mind a moment later, as he saw the handsome lad in front +of him start a trifle and color visibly. He was sorry then that he had +said it, and more so when he heard Mark's response. + +"I have never touched liquor in my life," said the latter, in a low, +quiet tone that was a rebuke unspoken. + +Mark saw a vexed look sweep over the colonel's face, caused by that +gentleman's recognition of his own rudeness; and Mark's heart bounded at +that. + +"He'll be extra kind to me now," he thought, "to make up for it. Score +one point for our side." + +"If you please," Mark continued, after a moment's pause, "I will tell +you the story." + +"Do," said the colonel, briefly. + +"I was in my tent about ten minutes before the accident happened, and a +cadet ran in and told me that Texas----" + +"Texas?" + +"Pardon me. Texas is our name for Cadet Powers. Told me that Powers was +drunk. I set out to find him. The horse which I had I--er--ran away with +from the stables. I met Powers down the road and I tried to keep him +quiet. He broke away from me, and I followed him. You saw the rest." + +"I see," said Colonel Harvey, reflectively. "I see. I am very glad, Mr. +Mallory, to find that you are not as much to blame as I thought. This is +a bad business, sir, very bad. It was almost murder, and to all +appearances you were as much to blame as the other. But I have no doubt +that I shall find your story true." + +Mark bowed, and waited for the other to continue; the crisis was almost +at hand now. + +"Mr. Powers," the colonel went on, "will of course be dismissed at once. +And by the way, Mr. Mallory, you deserve to be congratulated upon your +promptness and bravery." + +There was a silence after that, and Mark, drawing a long breath, was +about to go. The superintendent had one thing more to add, however, and +it was a singularly fortunate remark at the moment. + +"I wish," he said, "that I could reward you." + +"You can!" + +It burst from Mark almost involuntarily, and he sprang forward with +eagerness that surprised the other. + +"If there is anything you wish," he said, quietly, "anything that I can +do, I shall be most happy." + +"There is something!" Mark cried, speaking rapidly. "There is something. +And if you do it I'll never forget it as long as I may live. If you do +not--oh!" + +Mark stopped, unable to express the thought that was in his mind. The +colonel saw his agitation. + +"What is your wish?" he inquired. + +"Powers!" cried Mark. "He must not be dismissed." + +The colonel started then and gazed at him in amazement. + +"Not be dismissed!" he echoed. "What on earth is Powers to you?" + +"To me? He is everything that one friend can be to another. I have known +him but two months, sir, but in those two months I have come to care +more for him than for any human being I have ever known--except my +mother. He has stood by me in every danger; he has been as true as ever +a friend on earth. He would die for me, sir--you saw what he did to-day. +I have seen him do braver things than that, and I know that he has the +heart of a lion. If he goes--I--I do not see how I can stay!" + +"But, my dear sir," cried the colonel, still surprised, "think of the +discipline! You do not know what you ask. I cannot have my cadets carry +on in that manner." + +"What I have told you no one knows but you and I, and two others I can +trust. The surgeon knows it, and that is all. He can call it temporary +insanity, sunstroke--a thousand things!" + +"That is not the point. It is the man himself, his contempt for +authority, for law and order, his lacking the instincts of a gentleman, +his----" + +"You are mistaken," interrupted Mark, forgetting entirely in his +excitement that he was talking to the dreaded superintendent. "You were +never more mistaken in your life! Texas has all the instincts of a +gentleman; he has a true heart, sir. But think where he was brought up. +He is a cowboy, and to get drunk is the only amusement he knows at home. +He has no more idea right now that it is wrong to drink than to eat. His +own father, he told me, got him drunk when he was ten years old." + +"But, my boy," expostulated the colonel, "I can't have such a man as +that here. Think of an army officer with such a habit." + +"It is not a habit," cried Mark. "He did it for fun--he knows no better. +And I will guarantee that he does not do it again. If I had only known +beforehand he would not have done it this time." + +"Do you mean to say," demanded the other, "that you have sufficient +influence over him to see that he behaves himself?" + +"I mean to say just that," responded Mark, eagerly, "just that! And I +will risk my commission on it, too! I offer you my word of honor as a +gentleman that Mr. Powers will give you his word never to touch another +drop of liquor in his life. And there's no man on earth whose promise +you could trust more." + +Mark halted, out of breath and eager. He had said all he could say; he +had fired his last cartridge, and could only sit and wait for the +result. + +"You said you would like to reward me!" he cried. "And oh, if you only +knew what a favor you could do! If you will only give him one chance, +one chance after he has realized his danger. It is in your power to do +it--the secret is yours to keep." + +Colonel Harvey was pacing the room in his agitation; he continued +striding up and down for several minutes in thought, while Mark gazed at +him in suspense and dread. + +At last he halted suddenly in front of Mark. + +"You may go now, Mr. Mallory," said he. "I must have time to think this +over." + +Mark arose and left the room in silence. He could not tell what might be +Texas' fate, and yet as he went he could not help thinking that the +colonel's hesitation meant nine points won of the ten--thinking that one +more chance was to be granted. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE REFORMATION OF TEXAS. + + +"Well?" + +There were five of them--Indian, the Parson, Dewey, Chauncey and Sleepy. +They sat in a tent in Company A and at that moment were gazing anxiously +at a figure who stood in the doorway. + +"Well?" + +"There is hope," said Mark. "Hope for poor Texas." + +And then he came in and sat down to tell the story of his interview with +the colonel. The plebes listened anxiously; and when he finished they +set to work to compose themselves as best they could to wait. + +"The answer will come to-night," Mark said, "when they read off the +reports. And until then--nothing." + +Which just expressed the situation. + +The day passed somehow; between police duties and drills, the six were +kept busy enough to relieve the suspense of waiting. And after supper +the battalion lined up, the roll was called, and the orders of the +following day were read, while Mark and his friends fretted and gasped +with impatience. There were reports, and finally miscellaneous notices, +among them the sick list! + +"Fourth class," read the officer, then halted a moment. "Powers"--every +man in the line was straining eyes and ears, half dead with +curiosity--then, "excused indefinitely--temporary mental aberration, +caused by heat." + +Safe! + +And a moment later the line broke ranks, the cadets discussing with +added interest the case of that extraordinary plebe. But the six had +danced off in joy. + +"He's safe! He's safe!" they cried. "Hooray!" + +"And now," said Mark, "there's only one thing more. We've got to reform +him, make sure he don't do it again!" + +"We will," said the others. + +It was two days after that, one evening after supper, that the door of +the hospital building was opened and Texas came forth, spruce and +handsome in a brand new uniform, looking none the worse for his +"sunstroke" treatment--_i. e._, plenty of cold water, inside and out. +Texas felt moderately contented, too. He had held up the corps as he had +promised--not a man in the crowd had dared to fire a shot at him. He had +a vague recollection of having done something heroic, besides. He saw +that every one was staring at him in "admiration;" in short, our friend +Powers was prepared for a rousing and hearty reception from the rest of +the Seven. + +He strode up the company street, not failing to notice meanwhile that +plebes, and old cadets, too, made way for him in awe and respect. He +stopped at Mark's place, pushed the flap aside, and entered with a rush. + +"Oh!" he cried. "Whar be you? How's everybody?" + +The first person he saw was Master Dewey, and to him Texas rushed and +held out his hand. To his indescribable amazement that young gentleman +calmly stared at him, and put both his hands behind his back. + +"W--w--why!" gasped Texas. + +Whereupon Dewey turned upon his heel and walked out of the tent. + +Texas was dumfounded. He stared at the others; they were all there +except Mark, and they gazed at the intruder in cold indifference. None +of them apparently had ever seen him before. + +"Look a yere!" demanded Texas at last. "Ain't you fellows a-goin' to +speak to me?" + +Evidently they were not, for they didn't even answer his question. Texas +stood and stared at them for a few moments more, wondering whether he +ought not to sail in and do up the crowd. Finally, as the silence grew +even more embarrassing, he decided to go out and find Mark to learn what +on earth was the matter. With this intention he turned and hurriedly +left the tent, while the five inmates looked at one another and smiled. + +Mark was walking up the street; Texas espied him and made a dash for +him. + +"Hi, Mark!" he roared. "What's the matter with them----" + +Texas stopped in alarm; a feather might have laid him flat. Mark, his +chum, his tent mate, was staring at him without a sign of recognition! +And a moment later Mark turned on his heel and strode away in silence, +while Texas gasped, "Great Scott!" + +That evening, seated on one of the guns up by Trophy Point, was visible +a solitary figure, looking about as lonely and wretched as a human being +can. It was "the Texas madman." Everybody kept a safe distance away from +him, and so no one had a chance to notice that the madman's eyes were +filled with tears. + +"Poor Texas," Mark was thinking. "He'll come to terms pretty soon." + +He did, for a fact. That same evening, just before tattoo, Mark felt a +grip upon his arm that made him wince. He turned and found it was his +friend, a look of misery upon his face that went to the other's heart. + +"Look a-yere, old man," he pleaded. "Won't you--oh, for Heaven's sake, +tell me what's the matter?" + +"I don't mind telling you," responded Mark, slowly. "You have behaved +yourself as no gentleman should, and as no friend of mine shall!" + +"I!" cried Texas, in amazement. "I! What on earth have I done?" + +"Done!" echoed Mark. "Didn't you go off and get drunk? For shame, +Texas!" + +Texas was too dumfounded to say a word. He could only stare and gasp. +Here was a state of affairs indeed! + +"Yes!" chimed in Dewey, approaching at this moment. "And you nearly +killed dozens of people, too. Mark was within an ace of being dismissed; +and as for you! why, you'd have been fired long ago if Mark hadn't +pleaded for hours with the superintendent!" + +Texas turned his wondering eyes upon Dewey then. He was fairly choking +with amazement. + +"Do you mean to say," he gasped at last, "that you fellows are mad with +me because I got drunk?" + +"Exactly," responded Mark. + +"And do you mean to tell me that you call that disgraceful conduct?" + +"I do. And I mean to tell you, moreover, that you can't be a friend of +ours while you do it. I don't know how people feel about such things +where you come from, Texas, but I do know that if people up here knew +you had been in that condition not a soul would speak to you. There's +very little room among decent people for the fellow who thinks it smart +to make a fool of himself, and he usually finds it out, too, after it is +too late. I never spent my time hanging around saloons, and I don't +think much of fellows that do, either." + +Mark could scarcely repress a smile as he watched the effect this brief +sermon produced on the astounded Texan. + +"I wonder what dad would say if he heard that!" was the thought in the +latter's mind. + +Texas was brought back from this thought rather suddenly to his own +situation. For Mark and Dewey both turned away to leave him again. + +"Look a-yere, Mark," he cried, seizing him by the arm again. "Look +a-yere, ole man, won't you forgive me jest this once. Oh, please!" + +And there were tears in the Texan's big gray eyes as he said it. + +"But you'll do it again," Mark objected. + +"'Deed I won't, man! 'Deed I won't. I'll swear I'll never do it again +s'long as I live." + +"But will you keep your promise?" + +"I never broke one yit as I know," responded Texas with an injured look. + +And Mark, rejoicing inwardly at his success, but outwardly very grave +and solemn, said that he'd go in and ask the other six about it. + + * * * * * + +Texas sat with his feet against the tent pole and a pen in one hand. He +held a letter to his father in the other; he was just through writing +it, and he was going to read it for the edification of the Banded Seven. + +"'Dear Scrap,'" he began. "You see," added Texas, in an explanatory +note, "I call him Scrap sometimes just to make him feel comfortable. All +the boys call him that. 'Dear Scrap. This yere is the first letter I've +written you since I hit this place. I ain't heard from you, so I don't +know whether you got 'lected fo' Congress or not. I been havin' piles o' +sport up yere. Took in three quarts 'tother day, an' I held up the hull +corps on the strength of it. Busted two horses' legs, though, an' I +reckon you'll have to send on the price. Don't think they'll mount to +over a thousan' or two. I've still got my guns----' + +"Guns is spelt with one 'n,' ain't it?" Texas inquired, interrupting +himself. "I put two--makes it seem bigger and more important, sorter. + +"'They're the queerest folks up this way! They gave me thunder fer +gittin' drunk, said twarn't gentlemanly. Reckon after you licked a few +they'd call you a gentleman all right 'nough! They made me swear off, +else they wouldn't let me stay. What do you reckon the boys'll say to +that? Had to do it, though--you needn't git mad over it--I'm havin' so +much fun a-doin' of the yearlings that I wanted to stay. They kain't one +of 'em lick me.' + +"I didn't mention you, Mark," Texas added, laughing. "Cause if I'd told +dad that you did lick me, he'd probably want to come up an' try a whack +himself, jes' to see ef you really could hit hard. Dad won't ever +acknowledge that I kin do him, though I almost licked him twice, when he +got riled. Reckon I'll end this yere letter now. I jest wanted to tell +him to send 'long some money. + +"Now let's go out and hunt up some o' them old yearlin's." + +And that was the beginning of Texas' reformation. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A PLOT OF THE YEARLINGS. + + +"An invitation! Why, surely, man, you must be mistaken. They never +invite plebes to the hops." + +The speaker was Mark. He was sitting with a book in his hand beneath the +shade trees at one side of the summer encampment of the corps. At that +moment he was looking up from the book at Chauncey, who had just +approached him. + +"An invitation!" he repeated. "I can hardly believe it possible." + +"Perhaps if you see it you'll believe it more readily, ye know," +remarked the dudish cadet. + +"Seeing's believing, they say," laughed Mark, taking it and glancing at +the address. "Mr. Chauncey Van Renssalaer Mount-Bonsall," he read. "Yes, +I guess that's for you. I don't believe there are two persons on earth +with that name, or with one so altogether aristocratic and impressive." + +Mark was glancing at the other out of the corner of his eye with a +roguish look as he said that. He saw a rather pleased expression sweep +over his face and knew that he had touched his friend Chauncey in his +weak spot. Mark had been removing the contents of the envelope as he +spoke. He found a square card, handsomely engraved; and he read it with +a look of amazement upon his face--amazement which the other noticed +with evident pleasure. + +The card had the words "Camp McPherson" over the top, and below in a +monogram, "U. S. C. C."--United States Cadet Corps. At one side was a +view of the camp, the Highlands of the Hudson in the distance. And in +the center were the words that had caused all the surprise: + + "The pleasure of your company is requested at the hops + to be given by the Corp of Cadets every Monday, + Wednesday and Friday evening during the encampment. + + "West Point, N. Y., + + "July 6, 18--." + +That was all, except for the list of "hop managers" below. But such as +it was, it was enough to cause Mark no end of perplexity. + +"A plebe invited to the hop," he muttered. "I can hardly believe it yet. +There must be some mistake surely. Why, man, no plebe has ever danced at +a hop in all West Point's history. They scarcely know there are such +things. Just think of it once--we miserable beasts who hardly dare raise +our heads, and who have to obey everyone on earth!" + +"We've raised our heads pretty well, bah Jove," drawled the other. "And +we've shown ourselves a deuced bit livelier than the yearlings, don't ye +know." + +"Yes, but we've only done that by force. We've licked them and outwitted +them at every turn, something no plebes have ever dared to do before. +But simply because we've made them recognize our rights that way is no +reason why they should ask one of us to a hop." + +"No," responded Chauncey, "it isn't. But I know what is." + +"What?" + +"I've a cousin in New York by the name of Sturtevant--deuced +aristocratic folks are the Sturtevants! Ever hear of the Sturtevants of +New York?" + +"Er--yes," responded Mark, that same sly look in his eyes again. "I've +heard of them very often. They are related to the Smiths, aren't they?" + +"Well, not that I know of, bah Jove--but come to think of it, my second +cousin was a Sturtevant and she married one of the De Smythes, if that's +who you're thinking of." + +"I guess that's it," said Mark, solemnly. "Let it go at that, anyway. +But what have the Sturtevants, the Sturtevants of New York, got to do +with a West Point hop?" + +"It's simply that this cousin of mine, ye know, has a friend up here, a +first class man, an adjutant or sergeant quartermaster, or some such +deuced animal, I forget just what, bah Jove! Anyway, I've an idea he got +me the invitation." + +Mark let himself down to the ground on his back and lay there for a few +moments after his friend's "explanation," while he thought over it and +incidentally kicked a tree trunk for exercise. Chauncey waited +anxiously, wondering what sort of an effect his announcement of his +influential friends would have upon Mark. + +"Those yearlings," began the latter at last, in a meditative, half +soliloquizing tone, "have never yet lost an opportunity to annoy us." + +"What's this got to do with the hop, bah Jove?" interrupted Chauncey. + +"Lots. It's simply this. You have been just as fresh as any of us, +Chauncey. With all your aristocratic blood, ye know. I saw you nearly +whip half a dozen of them one day when they wouldn't stop hazing +Indian." + +"I didn't whip them, bah Jove," began Chauncey, modestly. + +"Well, anyhow, they couldn't whip you, and so it was all the same. The +point is that they have never done anything to be revenged for the +insult. I have an idea that this may be an attempt." + +"This!" echoed the other in surprise. "Pray how?" + +"Simply that they'd like to see you come to the hop and have nobody to +dance with--for no girl will dance with a plebe, you know, I don't care +who he is--and so have to go home feeling pretty cheap. Then you'd be +the laughingstock of the corps, as the plebe who wanted to dance at the +hop." + +It was Chauncey's turn to be thoughtful then. And to his credit be it +said that he recognized the truth there was in Mark's explanation of +that surprising card. For Chauncey was no fool, even if he was dudish +and aristocratic. + +"I'm afraid that's it," said he. "I'm deuced glad I thought of asking +you, Mark, ye know. I'll not go to-night. And we'll let the matter drop, +bah Jove." + +"Let it drop!" echoed Mark; and then he added, with emphasis, "Not +much!" + +"What'll ye do?" + +"Do? What's the use of having a secret society for the purpose of +avenging insults, if you don't avenge 'em? And don't you call it an +insult that the yearlings should suppose us big enough fools to take +that bait and go to their old hop?" + +"It was rather insulting," admitted Chauncey. + +"It was," said Mark. "And what's more, I move that we retaliate this +very day. Let's go up and find the rest of the Seven, and by Jingo, +perhaps we'll bust up their plaguey old hop!" + +With which words Mark slammed his book to and arose to his feet and set +out in a hurry for camp. + +They entered Camp McPherson and hurried up the A Company "street" to +their own tent. They entered without ceremony, and Mark scarcely waited +to greet the rest before he plunged right into the subject in hand. + +"Fellows," he said, "the yearlings have tried a new trick on us; and +Chauncey and I have vowed to get square, right off." + +Texas sprang up with a whoop that scared the sentry on the path nearby, +and a "Wow!" scarcely less voluble. He demanded to know instanter what +was up, and danced about anxiously until he managed to learn; when he +did learn he was more excited still. + +The Parson forgot his fossils, and even his "Dana" when he heard Mark's +news, and he rose up and stretched his long, bony arms, inquiring with +almost as much anxiety as Texas. In fact, the only one of the three who +was not excited was "Sleepy." His state was that of the tramp, who +answered: "Why did you come here?" "To rest." "What made you tired?" +"Gittin' here." + +The two other members of the Banded Seven popped into the tent just then +and Mark sat down and told them all of the yearlings' plan, as soon as +he could manage to get the excitable Texas quiet enough. He passed +around the invitation which the rest stared at as incredulously as Mark +had; and then he offered his explanation, and finding that they all +seemed to agree with him, stated his purpose to retaliate, with which +they agreed still more. + +"Yes!" cried Texas. "Come on, let's do it. Let's bust up their ole hop! +Let's raise a rumpus an' scare 'em to death! What d'ye say?" + +"I don't think we had better do that," responded Mark, laughing. +"Whatever trick we play has got to have something to do with hop, so as +to let them know why we did it. But we broke up one entertainment not a +week ago. I think it had better be a quiet trick on some of them, for +you know they say that a man may play the same trick once too often." + +"Let's hold up their ole band," suggested Texas, "an' run 'em into the +woods an' hide 'em." + +"Or else," laughed Mark, "we might dress up in the band players' +uniforms and go in and play hymns for 'em. But I think somebody ought to +suggest something that's possible." + +"Let's put glue on the floor," hinted Indian. + +"Let's dress up as girls and go," laughed Dewey. + +"Or make the Parson put in some of his chemicals, ye know, an' smoke 'em +all out, bah Jove," put in Chauncey. + +"B'gee!" cried Dewey. "That reminds me of another story. You fellows +needn't groan," he added, "because this is a good one. And I'm going to +tell it whether you like it or not. It's true, too. There was an old +professor of chemistry gave a lecture, and there were whole lots of +ladies present. We might work this trick some time. A good many of the +complexions of those ladies weren't very genuine, b'gee, and not +warranted to wear. And some of the chemicals the professor mixed made a +gas that turned 'em all blue!" + +Dewey breathed a sigh of relief at having been allowed to deliver +himself of a whole story without interruption; and the Parson cleared +his throat with a solemn "ahem!" + +"The chemicals to which you refer," he began, "were probably a mixture +of hydrofluosilicic acid with bitartrate of potassium and +deflagisticated oxygen, which produces by precipitation and reduction a +vaporous oxide of silicate of potassium and combines----" + +"We've only half an hour left before drill," interrupted Mark solemnly. +"I move that the Parson discontinue his lecture until he'll have time to +finish it." + +The Parson halted with an aggrieved look upon his face; and after +remarking the surprising lack of interest in so fascinating a subject as +chemistry, buried himself in silence and "Dana's Geology." + +"It seems to me," continued Mark, after a few minutes' pause, "that we +haven't gotten very far in our planning. Now I have an idea." + +The effect was that of a rainbow bursting through a stormcloud. The +Seven were all smiles in an instant, and the Parson came out of his +shell once more and leaned forward with interest. + +"What is it?" he cried. + +"It won't take long," said Mark, "to tell it. You may not like it. It'll +take lots of planning beforehand if we do try it. It seems to me that +the yearlings have set a trap for us, and want us to walk into it. Now, +I think we might bid them defiance, and show how little we care for +them, by going in right boldly and outwitting them in their own country, +that's the plan." + +The six stared at him in amazement. + +"You don't mean," cried Dewey, "that Chauncey ought to go to the hop?" + +"That's just exactly what I mean," was the answer. "And I mean, +moreover, that we ought every one of us to go with him." + +"But nobody'll dance with us, man!" + +"They won't? That's just exactly the part we ought to fix. Grace Fuller +will, for one, I'm sure. And I'm also sure she can find other girls who +will. What do you say?" + +They scarcely knew what to say. The proposition was so bizarre, so +altogether startling. Plebes go to the hop! Why, the thought was enough +to take a man's breath away. No plebe had ever dared to do such a thing +in West Point's history. One might almost as well think of a plebe's +becoming a captain! And here was Mark seriously proposing it! + +They had a perfect right to go. They had an invitation, and no one could +ask for more. But the freezing glances they would get from every one! +The stares, and perhaps insults from the cadets! Still, as Mark said, +suppose Grace Fuller, the belle of West Point, danced with them? Suppose +all the girls did? Suppose, swept away by the fun of "jollying" the +yearlings, the girls should even prefer plebes! The more you thought +over that scheme the better you liked it. Its possibilities were so +boundless, so awe-inspiring! And suddenly Master Dewey leaped up with an +excited "b'gee!" + +"I'm one!" he cried. "I'll go you!" + +"Wow!" roared Texas. "Me too!" + +And in a few moments more those seven B. J. plebes had vowed to dance at +the hop that night if it was the last thing they ever did on this earth. + +"By George!" cried Mark, as they finished, leaping up and seizing his +hat, "I'm going over to see Grace Fuller about it now! Just you wait!" + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE PLEBES PLOT, TOO. + + +Mark found the object of his search on the hotel piazza, looking as +beautiful and attractive as his mind could imagine. As it proved, she +was fully as anxious to see him as he was to see her; she was curious to +hear about "Texas." + +"So he has promised never to do it again!" she said, when Mark had told +her of Powers' "reformation." "I thought he would do anything for you. +Poor Texas fairly worships the ground you walk on." + +"He has promised never to drink, anyhow," responded Mark. "It was very +funny to see how long it took him to get the idea into his head that it +was wrong. It's just as I told you, and as I told the superintendent, +too; down where he comes from it's the custom when a man wants to have +fun he drinks all the whiskey he can to start him. And Texas thought +he'd try it up here." + +"He certainly did have fun," exclaimed the girl, breaking into one of +her merry laughs at the recollection of the scene. + +"I had been having a pretty exciting time myself," he said, "trying to +keep Texas quiet. And when those huge horses took fright and started to +dash into the crowd, I had still more of it." + +"I think you were perfectly splendid!" cried the girl, clasping her +hands in alarm even as she thought of the occurrence. "When you came +dashing down on your horse and sprang in to head them off, my heart +fairly stopped beating. But I knew you would do it; I have always said +you would never stop at any danger, and father agrees with me, too." + +There was a moment's silence after that; and then Mark, who was anxious +to get at the important business of the morning, thought it a good time +to begin. + +"I've something more interesting to discuss, anyway," he added. "And +I've only a very few minutes before drill in which to talk it over with +you. I've taken the trouble to get a permit from headquarters and all to +run over and ask you, so you mustn't delay me by compliments. That's my +province, anyway--and duty." + +"That was a very neat one," laughed Grace Fuller. "I declare, you are +quite a cavalier. But excuse me for wasting the valuable time of the +house. What is the matter?" + +"I've a scheme," responded Mark. + +The girl lost all her bantering manner in a moment; she saw the twinkle +in Mark's eyes, and knew that some fun was coming. + +"Is this another plan for worrying the unfortunate yearlings?" she +inquired. + +"It is," said he. "I've no time to think up any other kind of plans just +at present. You see they get up so many against me that I am busy all +the time holding up my end. If it were not for your aid I am afraid I +should have failed before this." + +"Have they prepared a new one already?" + +By way of answer Mark took out the "invitation." + +"Read that," he said, "and see." + +Grace took it and glanced at it, a look of surprise spreading over her +face. + +"Why, I have one just like it!" she cried. "But where on earth did you +get this?" + +"It was sent to our friend Chauncey," answered the plebe. "You see the +yearlings thought he would take the bait and come; being rather weak on +the point of his aristocracy, he was supposed to fall right into the +trap and consider it a recognition of his social rank. Then when he came +he'd have no one to dance with, and would be a laughingstock generally." + +"I see," said the girl. "It was a nice tribute to our common sense." + +"Ours!" laughed Mark. "The yearlings have small idea that you are +sympathizing with the plebes." + +"Well, I am," vowed the other. "With you, anyway, and I do not care in +the least how soon they know it. I told father, and he said I was quite +right. I don't like hazing." + +"You may have a chance to let them know it publicly very soon," +responded Mark, gazing at her sweet face gratefully. "That's what I came +over to see you about. You see we want to accept the invitation." + +"Accept it! Why, that would be walking right into the trap!" + +"That's just exactly what I mean to do. Only I mean to put a hole in the +other side first, so that I can walk out again and run off with traps +and trappers and trappings and all." + +"How do you mean?" + +"You are not as acute as usual," laughed Mark. "I had expected that by +this time you would have guessed the secret." + +"You don't mean to go and dance?" + +"Exactly," said Mark. + +Grace Fuller glanced at him in horror for a moment, and then as she saw +his merry eyes twinkle a vague idea of what he meant began to occur to +her. She began to see the possibilities of the affair, just as Mark had +seen them. He might get all the girls to dance with him; he might have +the yearlings perfectly furious, raving; he might dump West Point +traditions all at once, all in a heap, and with a dull, sickening thud +at that. + +As she began to realize all this, Mark was gazing into her eyes; he saw +them begin to dance and twinkle just as his had. And he laughed softly +to himself. + +"Our angel has not failed us," he whispered. "I knew she would not. Will +you help us?" + +And Grace answered simply that she would. But she set her teeth together +with a snap that meant much. + +It meant that Mark Mallory was to be the first plebe ever to dance at a +West Point hop. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +SETTING THE TRAP. + + +The dinner hour had passed, likewise the second policing of the day had +been attended to by the humble plebes. The afternoon's drill was over; +it was time for full dress parade. + +Company streets were alive with bustling cadets. Officers were winding +themselves into their red sashes, privates were giving the last +polishing touches to spotlessly shining guns. And the plebes, lonely and +disconsolate, were watching the preparations for the ceremony and +wondering if the time really would ever come when they too might be +esteemed handsome enough to be put on parade. + +There was one plebe, however, to whom no such foolish idea occurred. For +indeed, he was quite convinced that he was better looking in his new +uniform than most of them, and a great deal more aristocratic than all. +He was, at the moment we stole in upon his thoughts, marching with much +dignity down the street of Company B. + +He carried his hands at his sides, "palms to the front, little fingers +on the seams of the trousers," as plebes used to be obliged to do +whenever they walked about in public. But even with all that stiff and +awkward pose he could not lose the characteristic dudish "Fifth Avenue" +gait without which our friend Chauncey would not have been himself. + +For it was Chauncey, and he was bound upon an all important duty. + +He stopped at one of the tents; there was only one occupant in it, a +yearling, red-headed, hot-tempered looking chap, with a turned-up nose +and a wealth of freckles, Corporal Spencer, known to his classmates as +"Chick." + +Master Chauncey Van Rensselaer Mount-Bonsall stood in the doorway and +bowed with his most genteel, perfect and inimitable bow. He would have +knocked had he seen anything but canvas to knock on. + +"Mr. Spencer?" he inquired. + +The yearling stared at the plebe in amazement; but Chauncey's politeness +and urbanity were contagious, and Corporal Spencer could not help +bowing, too. + +"May I have the privilege of a few moments' conversation with you?" the +plebe next inquired. + +"Ahem!" said Mr. Spencer. "Why--er--I suppose so." + +"Corporal Spencer, I have a favor to ask of you, don't cher know, bah +Jove!" + +Corporal Spencer was silent. + +"I do not know why I should look to you for it, except--aw--ye know, +you were my drill master, and so I look to you as my superior, my +guardian, so to speak." + +"That's a little taffy for him," Chauncey added--to himself. "Bah Jove, +I think the deuced idiot has taken the bait." + +The plebe lost no time in taking advantage of his opportunity; he opened +an envelope he held in his hand. + +"I received to-day," he began, "a card, ye know, an invitation to the +hop. I do not know who sent it, bah Jove, but I'm deuced grateful, for +I'm awfully fond of dawncing. I need scarcely tell you that I shall +hasten to accept it, don't cher know." + +The look of delight which spread over the yearling's face was not lost +upon the plebe. + +"So the idiot is going to fall into the trap," thought the former. + +"So the idiot thinks I'm idiot enough to be fooled," thought Chauncey. + +Chauncey continued, delighted with his success, no less than the +corporal was with his supposed one. + +"Now, I have two friends," he said, "plebes, don't cher know, who are +deuced anxious to come with me. And I wanted to awsk you, bah Jove, if +you could get me two invitations. I know it is a great deal for one to +do for a plebe, but----" + +Corporal Spencer was in such a hurry to assent that he could not wait +for the plebe to finish. + +"Not at all!" he cried. "Not at all. Why, I shall be most happy to do it +for you, Mr. Mount-Bonsall. Really, it is a very small favor, for I have +plenty of invitations at my disposal. Wait just one moment, and you +shall have them. The yearling class will be delighted to--ahem--welcome +your two friends." + +A minute or two later Master Chauncey's Fifth Avenue gait was carrying +him swiftly up the street again, with two more of the much coveted +invitations in his hand. And Chick Spencer was rushing into another tent +to seize his friend Corporal Jasper wildly by the arm. + +"What do you think? What do you think?" he cried. "The plebes are coming +to the hop!" + +"What! Why!" + +"That fool dude has fallen into the trap. He's coming to dance, and +bring two more plebes with him. Oh, say, oh say!" + +The whole yearling class knew of it a few moments later when the +companies fell in for parade. And the wildest hilarity resulted. + +"A plebe at the hop! A plebe at the hop!" was the cry. "A plebe without +a soul to dance with him. Oh! but won't there be fun." + +There was indeed to be fun; the yearlings would have thought so if they +could have seen Chauncey and read his thoughts. Oh, yes, there was fun. + +But the question was, who was to enjoy it? + +Chauncey, when he reached his own tent, found Mark standing in front of +it; and Mark was dancing about with excitement, too. + +"Did you get them?" he cried. + +"Yes, I did, ye know, and--where are you going?" + +Mark had started hastily down the street. He stopped long enough to +shove a note into his friend's hand and give a warning word as to +secrecy; then he turned and was gone. + +"Read it! Read it!" was echoing in Chauncey's ears. + +He did; and this was what he read: + + "DEAR MR. MALLORY: I am writing this in great haste. + Come over to see me at once; things are coming out + beautifully. Did you get the extra invitations? + + "Your friend, + + "GRACE FULLER." + +And Chauncey nodded his head in delight, gave vent to an extra "bah +Jove," and then dived into his tent to talk it over with the others. + +What the others had to say is of little moment; the all important person +was Mark, and Mark was hurrying over to the hotel, keeping step to the +tune of the band that was just then marching across the parade ground +at the head of the battalion. + +He found Grace waiting for him. + +"You got the invitations?" she inquired. + +"Yes, Chauncey did," responded the other, laughing. + +"I told you," said the girl, "that Corporal Spencer would do it. I knew +his handwriting on the envelope at once, and I was sure that he was in +the plot to fool Mr. Chauncey. And I'd just love to outwit him, too." + +"You say you were successful?" inquired Mark. + +For answer Grace Fuller presented three dance cards, at which Mark +glanced with amazement and delight indescribable. + +"Why, they're full!" he cried. "You've gotten some one for every dance!" + +"Yes," she said, laughing gleefully as she went over the names with him. +"I put your names over the top, you and Mr. Dewey and Mr. Chauncey--that +last name of his is too long to say. And I could have filled a dozen +just as well, only you said that you three were the only ones who cared +for dancing. I hope you all dance well. Mr. Dewey looks as if he might; +and our Fifth Avenue friend I'm sure is a perfect sylph. I think you do +everything gracefully." + +"I hope you have a chance to find out," laughed Mark. "I hope you have +put yourself down on my card." + +"I have put you down for the very first dance," said she, simply. "You +told me to fix it all the way I liked." + +"But who are the other girls?" inquired Mark. "I haven't met any of +them." + +"You will in plenty of time. I'll introduce you to them. They're all +friends of mine; you see, I know nearly every one about the post. And +I've picked all the very prettiest and nicest girls of them all, too." + +"And arranged them in order of merit," added Mark, slyly glancing at his +own card, whereat the girl shook her fan at him. + +"But tell me," he continued, in perplexity, after a few moments' pause, +"how did you ever manage to get so many girls into the conspiracy? Why, +I had no idea that one-tenth as many cared anything about plebes." + +"I used a little diplomacy," laughed Grace. "I made myself as charming +as I could. I found two, three in fact, whose brothers are plebes, and +one whose brother will be next year. I think most of the girls really +sympathize with the plebes, and then, too, I'm sure all of them like to +tease. Did you ever know one who did not? And this will make the +yearlings fairly wild. But the chief reason I urged I can't tell to you; +you wouldn't like it." + +"Why not?" + +"It would make you conceited, as you say. You must know--you ought to +if you don't--that you're a regular hero among West Point girls. In the +first place, every one knows how you saved me; and then all of them saw +you the other day stop that runaway. You're famous, besides, as the +boldest plebe that ever came here; the yearlings are the laughingstock +of the place because of you. And that makes you a sort of romantic +creature, a Sir Galahad in disguise. To dance with you is a whole fairy +tale." + +Mark laughed heartily over this description, which he chose to consider +exaggerated. But whatever might be the cause of Grace Fuller's success, +he was heartily and undisguisedly delighted at the success itself. Here +were three dance cards, one for each of the conspirators; and all of +them were full, which meant that there were a score or more of girls who +had pledged themselves to join in that plot. + +It was a triumph indeed, and Mark thanked Grace for it most heartily. +And when he left the hotel and hurried over to camp again, his chuckles +of delight were audible and numerous. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE RESULT AT THE HOP. + + +Every one goes to hops promptly on time at West Point. In select society +it is the thing nowadays to go late everywhere, so Chauncey assured his +friends. But at the academy relentless tattoo sounds on hop-nights at +half-past nine as usual. The cadets have to be in line at camp five +minutes later. And so, anxious to dance all they can, everybody who +intends to dance is on hand by the hour of eight. + +The dances were held, in Mark's day, in the academy building, in two big +rooms on the second floor. Those rooms are used as examination rooms; +luckless and frightened candidates were sent there to show what they do +not know. This evening, however, it was gay and festive. + +The West Point Military Band, in full plumage, occupied a small platform +and dispensed an overture previous to the first waltz. The walls were +gay with flags and an abundance of decorations in general. And the floor +and seats about the room were still more beautifully adorned. + +A person who "knew the ropes," who was familiar with hops and hop ways, +would not have failed to notice that there was something unusual going +on that night, that everybody seemed to be waiting for something. Cadets +talking to damsels could not keep their eyes from straying to the +doorway, while at the doorway sauntered about, waiting, a considerable +group of anxious cadets. There was one thought in the minds of all of +them. + +"Will they come? Oh, say, will they come?" + +And then, suddenly, a ripple of excitement ran around the room; cadets +crowded to the doorway, girls strained their necks to get a view, the +leader of the band in all his finery nearly let his orchestra run wild +in his interest. And across the floor rushed Corporal Spencer, hop +manager, and grasped his friend Jasper by the arm. + +"They're here! They're here, man!" he gasped. "Oh, say!" + +And the next instant the bandmaster waved his baton, the music crashed +all at once, and the first dance was begun. + +A dance with plebes present! + +To say that the three, Mark, Chauncey and "B'gee," were the cynosure of +all eyes would not begin to express the situation. Every one's glance +was fairly glued upon them. Girls forgot their dance partners, cadets +stopped still in their tracks. Not a soul offered to dance. Not a soul +did anything but stare at those three idiots. + +They did not seem the least bit ill at ease. All of them seemed quite +in their element. Their attire was surely immaculate; Chauncey was +fairly radiant in an elegantly handled monocle. And they did not seem to +notice the stares, intentionally rude, that came from the cadets. They +knew just what to do, and they did it, while the whole room watched and +gasped. + +Grace Fuller, belle of West Point, sat in one corner of the room, a +perfect vision of loveliness indescribable. About her were half a dozen +cadets. Her stern old father sat nearby, with Mrs. Fuller beside him. +And toward that group those idiotic plebes were going! + +The yearlings gasped in horror, bit their lips in vexation. For Judge +Fuller arose from his seat and welcomed Mark Mallory heartily; his wife +did likewise. The three sat down and began to talk to them and to Grace, +at which the cadets with that party went off in horror and amazement. + +Well, there was no use staring any more, for the three plebes were safe +behind that bulwark; and vexed and aggravated, the cadets went their +ways and began to dance. They kept their eyes on the three, however. +They saw Mrs. Fuller rise suddenly and cross the room, with Chauncey and +Dewey at her side. And then what must she do but introduce them to two +girls? Oh! + +This was terrible! Bull Harris, Mark's old enemy, was in the very act of +asking one of the girls, a tall, stately creature clad in pink, if he +might have the pleasure, etc. + +"I'm sorry, Mr. Harris," said she. "But I'm already engaged for this +dance." + +And then up stepped Mrs. Fuller. + +"Miss Evens," she said, "allow me to present Mr. Dewey, with whom I +believe you have promised to dance." + +A moment later, to the indescribable horror of the cadets in the place, +three plebes set out upon that floor to dance, each of them leading +girls with whom to dance was a privilege that came only to the best. And +how those plebes did dance! The yearlings had never seen better; they +could not but acknowledge that. For the plebes were on their mettle +then, and if ever they danced in their lives, they did then, radiant +with triumph, swept away by the excitement distributing benignant smiles +upon every one. + +There is only one heaven that lasts an eternity. All others, that dance +included, have their finish. The three plebes returned the delighted +girls to their seats, and the cadets, excusing themselves from every +one, rushed out into the hall, there to hold an angry and excited +consultation. For this was indeed a desperate, a terrible thing! +Evidently three girls, relying upon their charms, were going to insult +the corps wantonly, dance with some beastly plebes. + +"They shall pay for it!" was the cry. "Not a man shall dance with them. +Cut them dead!" + +But if the yearlings supposed that Mark and his friends proposed to +dance with just three girls all that night, they were woefully and badly +mistaken. The fever had spread in the interim; introductions had been +going on. When the yearlings returned, behold, Mark was making himself +charming to another girl, and Chauncey, perfectly in his element at +last, was busily engaged in describing the streets of Paris to a group +of half a dozen! + +"Cut them all!" whispered the yearlings. + +Well, they tried it. To be brief, Grace and the other two danced with no +one that next dance. But three more girls went down on the blacklist, +and the plebes' triumph was yet greater. + +"We'll leave 'em no one to dance with," chuckled Mark. "We'll send them +all home!" + +The next dance was a lanciers. Three couples joined the groups upon the +floor and lo and behold, from the spot where the plebes stood every +cadet fell away with obvious meaning. The rudeness was seen by every one +in the room; it was the worst insult of all. The three couples stood +lost for a moment; and then, suddenly, red with indignation, the +dignified judge sprang to his feet. + +He and his daughter made up that set. And once more the yearlings fairly +ground their teeth with rage. + +They did not know what to do then. They were fairly baffled. The plebes +had entered the trap--and here was the result! + +"Oh, if we only hadn't been fools enough to send those invitations!" was +their thought. + +Meanwhile dance after dance passed, girl after girl was "out of it." +There is always a scarcity of girls at a place like West Point. There +are always sure to be more cadets at every hop than there are partners, +and with those three vile plebes sending three to the wall every +dance--and the prettiest and most liked ones, too--things soon began to +arrive at a crisis. It looks funny to see the pretty girls sitting and +the ugly ones dancing; and every one began to see that the plebes were +having decidedly the best of the bargain. They were dancing with whom +they pleased; most of the cadets were soon unable to dance at all, +finding it necessary to hang about the doorway and discuss the +situation. + +It was a distinct triumph for the plebes; even the yearlings could not +deny that, and that made them all the angrier. + +Ten dances had passed; by actual count there were thirty girls "out of +it," and something less than twenty still left to the cadets. And then +the matter came to a head. + +Cadet Lieutenant Wright, a first class man, captain of the football +team, and a hop manager for his class, caused the trouble. Urged by all +his desperate classmates and urged still more by the spectacle of Mark's +dancing with a certain sweet creature who had hitherto devoted all her +energies to making herself charming to him, he stepped forward in the +middle of the dance and with his badge of manager upon his coat, touched +Mark upon the arm. + +Mark halted abruptly. The whole room stared. + +"Mr. Mallory," said the lieutenant, "the cadets who are giving this hop +request you to leave the floor." + +Mark's face turned white; he bit his lip savagely to choke down his +anger, and when he spoke at last his voice was hard and calm. + +"The cadets who are giving this hop," he said, drawing the invitation +from under his coat, "invited me by this to come. I shall consider your +remark, sir, as a personal insult, for which you will be called upon to +answer at Fort Clinton." + +"And do you refuse to leave?" + +"As an invited guest and a cadet of this academy I most decidedly do." + +And the whole room heard him, too. + +Wright returned to his classmates; a brief consultation was held, ending +in his stepping across the room and speaking to the leader of the band. +The music stopped abruptly. + +The hop was over for the night. + +Three heartily delighted plebes escorted three heartily delighted +damsels home that night. And wild indeed was the hilarity of them and of +the Banded Seven. + +"Victory! Victory!" was the cry. "We danced and we have conquered!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A STRANGE ANNOUNCEMENT. + + +"Hey, fellows! What do you think? Mark Mallory's in disgrace." + +"In disgrace!" + +"Yes, and he's going to be fired. Whoop!" + +The first speaker was Bull Harris. At the moment he was red in the face +and breathless as the result of a long run across the parade ground. At +the end of it he had burst suddenly into the midst of a crowd of his +classmates with the excited exclamation above. + +The effect upon them of the startling announcement was electrical. To a +man they had leaped to their feet, with expressions of delight they made +no effort to conceal. + +"How do you know it, Bull?" demanded one of the crowd. + +"The superintendent has sent for him right in the middle of drill," +cried Bull. + +"What for?" + +"I don't know. It's something he's been doing. One of the orderlies told +me he heard the old man say he'd fire him. And that's all I know." + +The babel of confusion and excited voices that resulted from this bit of +news lasted without interruption for several minutes. + +"It's too good to be true," they vowed. "By George, just as we were +talking about him, wondering how we could get square with the confounded +plebe, for his tricks! And now he's going to be fired." + +And then suddenly Bull's voice rose above the excitement again. + +"Look! Look!" he cried. "If you don't believe me look and see for +yourselves. There he goes now!" + +The cadets stared across the parade ground and then shouted aloud for +joy. + +Down on the road by the cavalry plain a single lone figure was walking, +a figure clad in the "plebe" uniform. And the figure was that of +Mallory! + +Mark as he walked did not observe the group of cadets who were glaring +at him so angrily. It would not have worried him if he had, for he had +something a good deal more important to occupy his mind just then. He +was racking his brains to think of some plausible reason to account for +his errand at the moment. + +He had been, along with the rest of the plebe company, lined up on one +side of the camp for drill. A tactical officer had been rigidly putting +them through the manual of arms, with half a dozen yearling corporals +and file closers aiding him. And then, breathless with running, an +orderly had burst upon the scene. + +He had a note in his hand, and he handed it to the "tac." The latter +read it, then read it aloud--again. + +"Cadet Mallory will report to the superintendent at once." + +That was all; the rest of the class stared and wondered, and Mark +stepped out of the line, handed his gun to the orderly, and strode away +from the scene. + +The yearlings, as we have seen, had a good deal clearer notion of why +Mark was wanted than he had himself. To Mark it was an absolute mystery. +He knew no reason on earth why the superintendent should want him, and +he quickened his pace so as to get there and find out the sooner. + +Erect and firmly stepping as was the plebe's habit by this time, he +marched down the road toward the academy building, between the parade +ground and the Cavalry Plain. He passed the chapel, and then the +headquarters building, his destination, lay before him. Mark had entered +that building just three times before this. He could not help thinking +of them then. + +The first time, he had felt, was the most momentous moment of all his +life. Months of struggling were there crowned with a triumph that had +seemed to leave no more worlds to conquer. For he had entered that +building then to take the oath of allegiance as a duly certified and +admitted "conditional" cadet. + +What that had meant to Mark only those who have followed his history can +appreciate. Poor and friendless, he had seen West Point as a heaven, the +object of all his future hopes, an object far away from his home in +Colorado, but one to be struggled for and hoped for none the less. He +had earned the money to come by a sudden stroke of cleverness--one step. +After that he had striven for the appointment, a step far longer and +harder, yet one that must be taken. + +The congressman of that Colorado district had held a competitive +examination. Mark had tried, and also his deadly enemy, one Benny +Bartlett, a rather weak, malicious youth, spoiled by the old squire, his +father. Benny had sworn to win, and was desperate when he realized he +couldn't; he had bribed a printer's devil, gotten the examination +papers, and so passed ahead of Mark, who was made alternate. But Mark +had afterward beaten Benny at the West Point examination, where cheating +was impossible, and had thus secured the long coveted cadetship. + +While we are talking about him he has gone inside. It would be well to +stop and follow him, for momentous things were destined to result from +that visit, too. It was indeed true, as the yearlings so joyfully +learned, Mark Mallory was in deep and serious danger. + +An orderly showed him promptly to the office of Colonel Harvey. Mark +found that gentleman alone in the room, the same room where he had been +received so kindly before. But this time the stern old officer seemed +less cordial. There was a chilly air about it all that made the plebe +feel rather uncomfortable. Colonel Harvey did not speak; he did not even +look up from the paper on which he was writing; and Mark stood by at +attention, waiting respectfully. + +The first movement did not come from either of them. Mark strove to keep +his eyes to the front, which was in accordance with orders. But he could +not help glancing about the room a little. And to his surprise he saw a +side door open and another figure enter the room. + +Mark did not see that just at the moment the colonel's glance was fixed +upon him steadfastly; he was too busy staring at the stranger. The +stranger was a young fellow with coarse features, evidently a +workingman. He twisted his hat in his hand nervously, obviously ill at +ease. He stared at Mark and at the officer alternately. Mark, who did +not know him from Adam, turned away after the first glance, giving no +more thought to the intruder except to wonder what he was doing in that +office. + +When Mark turned his eyes upon Colonel Harvey again he saw then that +the latter was watching him. And a moment later the colonel laid down +his pen and spoke: + +"Cadet Mallory," he said sternly, "I wish you to observe this man. Do +you know him?" + +Mark stared at the stranger in amazement. + +"No, sir," he said. "I never saw him before, to my knowledge." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Perfectly." + +There was a moment's pause after that, and then the superintendent +tapped a bell upon his desk. It was answered at once. The same door +opened again, and two persons entered suddenly. Mark knew them, and he +knew them well. He stared at them incredulously, gasping; and he sprang +back in amazement. + +"Benny Bartlett!" he cried. "You here! And the squire!" + +It was Benny Bartlett sure enough; Mark knew his sallow deceptive look +too well to be mistaken. And the squire was the same stout and +blustering, self-assertive old man. He banged his cane on the floor as +he heard Mark's exclamation and saw his look of surprise. + +"Yes, sir," he cried. "It is the squire. And I observe you start with +guilt when you see him, too." + +Mark stared at the two all the harder then. And there was a brief +silence during which every one stared at every one else. Mark thought +he saw the stranger twist his cap yet more nervously. + +"Mr. Mallory," began the superintendent at last. "Mr. Mallory, do you +know why these three are here?" + +"No, sir," said Mark, with evident emphasis. + +"Is this upon your honor as a gentleman?" + +"It is," was the answer. + +"Humph!" snorted the squire. "Your word of honor isn't worth much! +I----" + +"If you please," interrupted Colonel Harvey with dignity, "that question +is for me to settle. Mr.--er--what did you say this man's name was?" + +"Nick," put in the squire. + +"Nick," said the superintendent, turning toward the strange youth, "will +you please have the goodness to tell again the story which you told to +me." + +Nick looked frightened and hesitated. + +"Come, come!" cried the squire, impatiently. "Out with it now, and no +lies about it!" + +Thus enjoined Nick cleared his throat and began. + +"I'm a printer's boy," he said, "and I works for the Roberts in Denver. +I was a-walking along the street one day, I was and up comes this +feller--indicating Mark--and he says, says he to me, 'Your people are +printing the examination papers for Congressman Wheeler, ain't they?' +'Yes,' says I, and then after that a little while he says that he wants +to win them examinations, 'cause there was a feller trying 'em that he +wanted to beat. So he gimme a hundred--that was the next day; he said +he'd earned it in a railroad smash up, or something--and then I got them +papers and gave 'em to him. And that's all I know." + +"Very good," commented the squire, tapping his cane with approval. "Very +good! And what did he say about these West Point examinations?" + +"He said, says he, 'If I win these here and git the appointment, I ain't +a-going to do nothin' but skin through the others with cribs.'" + +"That's right!" cried the squire, triumphantly. "There now! What more do +you want?" + +He glanced at the superintendent inquiringly, and the superintendent +gazed at Mark. As for Mark, he was simply too dumfounded to move. He +stood as if glued to the spot and stared in blank consternation from one +to the other. + +"Well," said the colonel at last, "what have you to say for yourself?" + +Mark was too amazed to say much. + +"So that is their plan!" he gasped. "So they seek to rob me of my +cadetship by this--this----" + +He stopped then, unable to express his feelings. + +"Colonel Harvey," he inquired at last, "may I ask if you believe this +story?" + +"I do not see, Mr. Mallory," was the response, "what else I am to +believe. I do not like to accuse these three gentlemen of a plot to ruin +you. And yet--and yet----" + +"May I ask a question or two?" inquired Mark, noticing the puzzled and +worried look upon his superior's face. + +"Most certainly," was the answer. + +"In the first place, if you please, according to this story, if I gave +this man a hundred dollars, why did he tell about it afterward?" + +"His conscience troubled him," cried the old squire excitedly. "As yours +would have if you had any. He knew that he had done wrong, robbed my +son, and he came and told me. And I was wild, sir, wild with anger. I +have brought this man on all the way from Colorado, and I propose to see +my son into his rights, if I die for it!" + +"Oh!" said Mark. "So you want Benny made a cadet. But tell me how, if I +had the papers, did Benny beat me so badly, anyhow?" + +"My son always was brighter than you," sneered the old man. + +"And all the examinations weren't from printed papers," chimed in +Benny's crowing voice. "There was spelling, and reading and +writing--that was where I beat you." + +"I see," responded Mark. "It is a clever scheme. And I'm told I passed +here because I cheated; how came you to fail?" + +"My son was sick at the time," cried Squire Bartlett, "and I can prove +it, too." + +Mark smiled incredulously at that; Benny Bartlett nodded his head in +support of his father's assertion. + +"Well?" inquired the squire. "Is there anything more you want to know?" + +"No," said Mark. "Nothing." + +"Satisfied now, are ye?" sneered the other; and then he turned to +Colonel Harvey. "I think that is all, sir," he said. "What more do you +want?" + +The colonel stood gazing into space with a troubled look. He did not +know what to say; he did not know what to think. He could not call these +three men conspirators; and yet the handsome, sturdy lad who had done so +much to win his approval, surely he did not look like a thief! + +"Mr. Mallory," he inquired at last. "What have you to say to this?" + +"Nothing," responded Mark. "Nothing, except to denounce it as an +absolute and unmitigated lie from beginning to end." + +"But what proof can you bring?" + +"None whatever, except my word." + +After that there was no more said for some minutes. The silence was +broken by the superintendent's rising. + +"Mr. Mallory," he said, "you may go now. I must think this matter over." + +And Mark went out of the door, his brain fairly reeling. He was lost! +lost! West Point, his aim in life, his one and only hope, was going! He +was to be dismissed in disgrace, sent home branded as a criminal! And +all for a lie! An infamous lie! + +A few minutes later Benny and the printer's devil, his accomplice, came +out of that same door. But it was with a far different look. Benny was +chuckling with triumph. + +"It worked!" he cried. "By Heaven, it worked to perfection! Even the old +man hasn't caught on!" + +"Squire Bartlett's as blind as Mallory," laughed the other. "And +Mallory'll be out in a week. Remember, you owe me that hundred to-day." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +TEXAS TURNS HIGHWAYMAN. + + +There were six terrified plebes up at Camp McPherson, when Mark rushed +in, pale and breathless, to tell them the reason for his summons to +headquarters. The Banded Seven had not had such a shock since they +organized to resist the yearlings. + +"Benny Bartlett!" cried Texas, springing up in rage. "Do you mean that +little rascal I licked the day he got sassy during exams?" + +"That's he," said Mark, "and he's come back to get his revenge." + +"And you don't mean," cried the six, almost in one breath, "Colonel +Harvey believes it?" + +"Why shouldn't he?" responded Mark, despairingly. "I cannot see any way +out of it. The whole thing's a dirty lie from beginning to end, but it +makes a straight story when it is told, and I can't disprove it." + +"But I thought you said," cried Texas, "that you saw Benny himself +cheating, or tryin' to, at the examinations right hyar." + +"So I did," said the other. "But I cannot prove that. I know lots of +things about him, but I can't prove one of them. They've simply got me +and that's all there is of it. There are three of them, and it's almost +impossible to make the superintendent think they're lying. Think of a +rich old man like the squire's doing a trick like that!" + +"Perhaps he ain't," suggested Texas, shrewdly. + +"Perhaps not," admitted Mark. "Benny would not hesitate to lie to his +own father. But all the same I have no proof. And what in Heaven's name +am I to do?" + +Mark sat down upon the locker in his tent and buried his face in his +hands. His wretchedness is left to the imagination. The whole thing had +come so suddenly, so unexpectedly, right in the midst of his triumph! +And it was so horrible! + +The six could think of no word of comfort; for they were as cast down, +as thunderstruck, as he. Their regard for Mark was deep and true, and +his ruin they felt was theirs. They sat or stood about the tent in +characteristic attitudes, and with dejection written upon every line of +their countenances. + +First to move was the wild Texas, ever impulsive and excitable. And +Texas leaped to his feet, with a muttered whoop! + +"I'm a-goin' to prove them air fellers are lyin', by thunder, ef I have +to resign to do it!" + +By the time that brief resolution was finished Texas was out of the tent +and gone. The six glanced up as he left, and then once more resumed +their dejected and bewildered discussion. + +"I can see no way out of it. No way!" groaned Mark. "I am gone." + +And the others could see no other way to look at it. + +Texas was rather more bizarre and unconventional, more daring than his +companions from the "effete East," and his detective efforts were apt to +be more interesting for that reason. He paced up and down the company +street, hearing and seeing no one, thinking, thinking for all he was +worth. + +"Proof! Proof!" he kept muttering to himself over and over again. +"Proof! Proof!" + +Perhaps it was ten minutes before he did anything else. Texas was like a +fisherman waiting for a bite during that time. He was waiting for an +inspiration. And then suddenly the inspiration came. He stopped short in +his tracks, opened his eyes wide and staring, and his mouth also; his +fingers began to twitch with a sudden wave of excitement; his face +flushed and he trembled all over. The next moment with a joyful +"durnation!" he had turned and was off like a shot down the street. + +"I've got it! I've got it! Whoop!" + +And then suddenly he halted again. + +"I won't tell 'em," he muttered to himself. "I'll keep it for a +surprise! But then, I'll want some one to help me. Who'll I--oh, yes!" + +Texas had turned and started with no less haste the other way. + +"I'll git one o' them ole cadets," he chuckled, "some one the ole man'll +believe. I know!" + +At the eastern side of the camp, in A Company Street, and facing the +sentry post of Number Three, stood a single spacious tent. It belonged +to the first cadet captain, Fischer by name. And at that tent, trembling +with impatience, the plebe halted and knocked. + +"Come in," called a voice, and Texas entered. + +There was but one occupant in the tent--the first captain has a tent to +himself, if you please. It was Fischer, tall and stately and handsome as +usual, with his magnificent uniform and sash and chevrons. He was +engaged in writing a letter at the moment; he looked up and then arose +to his feet, a look of surprise upon his face as he recognized the +plebe. + +"Mr. Powers," said he. + +Texas bowed; and then he started right in to business. + +"Mr. Fischer," he began, "I know it ain't customary for plebes to visit +first classmen, and especially B. J. plebes. But I got something to say +right naow that's important, more important than ceremonies an' such. +Will you listen?" + +The officer bowed courteously, though he still looked surprised. + +"It's about Mr. Mallory," said Texas. "I reckon you've heard the stories +'bout him?" + +"I have heard rumors," said the other. "I shall be glad to hear more." + +Texas told him the story then, just as Mark had told it a few minutes +ago. And the look of surprise on the captain's face deepened. + +"This is a serious business, Mr. Powers," he said. + +"It's one lie from beginning to end!" growled the other. "Now look +a-yere. You been a pretty good friend o' Mark's, Mr. Fischer. You're the +only man I know of in this place that's tried to see fair play. When +Mark had to fight them yearlings it was you saw he had his rights. When +they tried to get him dismissed on demerits, you were the one to stop +'em. Now, I don't know why you did it, 'cept perhaps you're an honest, +fair an' square man yourself, an' saw he was, too. Anyhow, you've been +his friend." + +"I have tried to see fair play," responded the other, slowly. "I have +not approved of many of his acts, what he did last night at the hop, for +instance. But still----" + +"If you knew this yere plot was a lie, would you say so?" interrupted +Texas. + +"I most certainly should." + +"An' if you saw a chance to prove it, knowin' that Mark'd be dismissed +if you didn't, would you?" + +"It would be my duty, I think, as captain of his company. I should do it +anyway, for I respect Mr. Mallory." + +And Texas seized the surprised Fischer by the hand and gave him a mighty +squeeze. + +"Wow!" he cried. "I knew you would! Whoop! We'll fool them ole liars +yet!" + +Then, to the still greater surprise of the cadet captain--who wasn't +used to Texas' ways--the plebe dragged him over to the corner of the +tent and whispered in a trembling, excited voice. + +"Don't you tell a soul, naow, not a soul. S-sh! Do you want to turn +highwayman?" + +Fischer stared at the other in alarm. + +"Turn highwayman!" he echoed. + +"Yes," whispered Texas. "Don't you know what a highwayman is? He's a man +what robs folks at night?" + +Fischer gasped and looked dumfounded. The day that Texas had gone on his +"spree" and tried to wreck West Point he had been reported by the +surgeon on the sick list for "temporary mental aberration due to the +heat." + +"This is an awfully hot day," thought Fischer. "I hope to gracious he +hasn't got any guns!" + +Texas waited a moment longer, and then he went on to whisper. He had +lots to say, and one would have been interested to observe its effect +upon the officer. His look of consternation faded; one of interest, +doubt, and then finally of delight replaced it. And by the time the +other was through he had forgotten the lad was a plebe. He seized his +hand and slapped him upon the back. + +"By George!" he cried. "I'll do it! It's a slim chance, slim as thunder, +but if it'll clear Mark Mallory I'll try it if it costs me my chevrons!" + +At which Texas gave vent to a whoop that awoke the echoes of the +Highlands. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +TWO MIDNIGHT PROWLERS. + + +On the night of the day we are writing about, there was something +unusual happening. It was neither a sentry nor an officer, this stealthy +figure that stole out of a tent in the street of Company A. He waited +cautiously until the sentry behind his tent had passed on to the other +end, and then with the slyness of an Indian he crept down the path. And +when he disappeared again, it was the big tent of the first captain that +swallowed him up. + +Fischer was expecting that visit. He was up and dressing, and ready for +the other. + +"There are the clothes, Mr. Powers," he whispered. "Leave your uniform +here and slip into them quickly." + +The captain's voice was trembling with excitement, and some little +nervousness, too. This was a desperate errand for him. It might cost him +his chevrons, if not worse; for he had desperate deeds to do that night. + +"Have you got the guns?" he whispered. + +By way of answer Texas slipped two shining revolvers into the other's +hands. Fischer gripped the cold steel for a moment to steady his nerves, +and then thrust the weapons into the pocket of the rough coat he wore. + +"Come on," he said. "I'm ready." + +He stepped out of the tent, Texas close at his heels. The two crept +around the side, then crouched and waited. Suddenly Fischer put his +fingers to his lips and gave a low whistle. The effect was +instantaneous. Sentries Number Three and Four promptly faced about and +marched off the other way. It was contrary to orders for sentries to +face in opposite directions at the same time. But it was handy, for it +kept them from "seeing any one cross their beats." Texas and his +companion had sprung up and dashed across the path and disappeared over +the earthworks of old Fort Clinton. + +"That was neatly done," chuckled Texas. "We're safe now." + +"It would be a sad state of affairs, indeed," laughed the other, "if a +first captain couldn't 'fix' two sentries of his own class. We're all +right if we don't make any noise." + +A person who glanced at the two would not have taken them for cadets. +They were clad in old dilapidated clothing, with collars turned up to +increase the effect. To complete this disguise, they took two black +handkerchiefs from their pockets, and in a few minutes more were as +desperate-looking burglars as ever roamed the night. + +"Burglary's not much worse than conspiracy, anyway," muttered Fischer, +as he hurried along. "I wonder what time it is." + +"Twelve o'clock and all's we-ell!" rang the voice of the sentry +from camp just then--an answer to the question. And the two +villainous-looking men crept on in silence, gripping their weapons the +tighter as they went. + +The hotel lies very near the camp; it was only a short walk for the two, +even creeping and dodging as they were, before they were safely hidden +close to the porch of the building. The house is in Colonial style, with +big, high pillars, painted white. It was a difficult climb, but the two +lost not one moment in hesitation. They evidently knew just why they +came, and had planned their task beforehand. Texas sprang up on the +shoulders of the other, and a short while later was lying breathless +upon the tin roof of the piazza. + +Fischer had dodged back into the shadow to wait. The other lay where he +was for a short while, to glance about him and recover his breath; then +he rolled over and crept softly and silently along until he reached one +of the windows. Texas had found out which one beforehand; he could +afford to waste no time now, for this was a State's prison offense he +was at. + +He raised himself and glanced over the sill of the open window; he +glanced hastily about the room inside, and then dropped down again and +crept to the edge of the roof. + +"They aren't there," he whispered. "S-sh!" + +"Not there!" echoed the other. "Then they haven't come home yet. Drop +down." + +Texas slid down that pillar with alacrity that would have scared a cat. +And the two were hiding in the bushes a moment or two later. + +"Gee whiz!" muttered Fischer. "Just think of the risks we took. They +might have come in on us." + +"Where can they be?" whispered Texas, anxiously. "I hadn't any idea they +wouldn't be in by twelve." + +"There's nothing they can be doing around here," said Fischer. "I don't +know----" + +"Look a here!" muttered Texas, excitedly, as a sudden idea occurred to +him. "I saw 'em a-goin' down to Highland Falls this evenin', an----" + +Fischer gripped him by the arm. + +"Jove!" he cried. "We'll go down and lay for 'em. It's a faint chance, +but if we catch 'em there it'll be a thousand times less dangerous for +us. And if we miss them we can come back. Let's hurry." + +It was a dangerous business, that getting down to Highland Falls. There +were the camp sentries and the sentries of the regular army, besides, +patroling most of the paths. And any of them would have stopped those +two rough-looking men if they had seen them skulking about the post. But +Fischer had been there three years, and he knew most of the "ropes." He +dodged from building to building, always keeping the road in view so as +to see their victims if they passed--and finally came out upon the road +just at the beginning to cadet limits. Here they hid in a thick clump of +bushes and lay down to wait amid the silence of that dark, deserted +spot. + +"I wonder if they'll come," whispered Texas. "I wish I had one of 'em by +the neck. The rascals----" + +The words were choked in their utterance; for the officer suddenly +nudged his companion and pointed down the road. + +"Look!" + +That was all he said. Texas turned and glanced as he directed. There +were two figures, clearly outlined in the moonlight, walking slowly up +the road. + +"It's they," whispered Fischer. "Shall we try it?" + +And Texas gripped the two revolvers in his pocket and muttered, "Yes, we +shall!" + +The two came nearer and nearer. Out of the black shadows where they lay +the cadets stared hard, watching them anxiously, waiting, panting with +impatience and excitement. The strangers were slightly built, both of +them, and young; Texas recognized one of them plainly. It was Benny +Bartlett; that the other was the printer's boy, he took for granted. +Then suddenly he noticed one of them stagger. + +"That solves it," whispered Fischer. "They've been down to Cranston's +getting drunk. The beasts!" + +That last word cut Texas like a knife; he had been that way not a week +ago himself. Texas was slowly learning the civilized view of +drunkenness. + +He forgot that in a few moments more, however. There was excitement, +plenty of it, to fill his mind. The pair drew nearer still in the bright +moonlight, and the time for their desperate deed was almost upon the +cadets. + +"For Heaven's sake don't let them get away," whispered Fischer. "If they +cry out, make a break for camp, and I'll fix it." + +That word was the last to be spoken; they lay in silence after that, +listening to the others. Benny Bartlett, it appeared, was the more +hilarious of the two, as such feeble hilarity goes. The other was trying +hard to keep him quiet. The bushes that hid the cadets were right beside +the road; and as Benny drew near they made out that he was trying to +sing. + +"We won't go home till morning; we won't go----" + +"Shut up, you fool!" the other muttered, shaking him by no means gently. +"You'll wake the old man, and----" + +The two watchers rose upon their knees. Two revolvers clicked gently, +which made the printer's boy start in alarm, and then came a subdued +"Now!" + +Before the victims could move or utter a sound two stalwart, roughly +dressed, black-masked figures sprang out into the road. And the +half-drunken pair found themselves gazing into the muzzles of two +glistening revolvers. + +"Hold up your hands!" + +Half dead with terror the printer obeyed; the other sunk in a heap to +the ground, his teeth fairly chattering. + +"Not a sound!" was the next gruff order, obeyed equally well; and then +the robbers got quickly to work. + +It was all done so expeditiously that the victims scarcely realized it. +One of the men covered the two with his weapons and the other went +swiftly through the pockets of both. + +He did not seem to care for watches or money. It was papers he looked +for, and he glanced at what he found with feverish impatience. He had a +matchbox in his hand, and he turned away from the party as he struck a +light and read one after the other, tossing them aside with an angry +exclamation. He searched the printer first and seemed to find nothing. +Then he went for Benny, tumbling him about the ground and not forgetting +to administer sundry vigorous kicks. + +He had almost searched Benny, too, without success, when suddenly he +gave an exclamation of joy, an exclamation which almost caused the other +to drop his revolvers. The searcher had put his hand into a small, +out-of-the-way pocket, and found a bit of carefully folded paper. + +"This'll do it!" he whispered. "Come on." + +Texas' heart began to throb with joy--Texas was the one with the gun. + +"Victory! Victory!" he muttered. "Wow!" + +Ready to shout with excitement at his success he started to follow the +other, who was already making for the dense woods at the side of the +road. He backed away slowly, still facing the two horrified lads, still +leveling his weapons at them. + +"Not a sound!" he muttered gruffly. "Remember!" + +He reached the edge of the shadow in safety, and then suddenly a noise +caught his sharp ear. It was not from the two, but from up the road. It +was the sound of a horse's hoofs, accompanied by a jingling of sword and +spur. Texas glanced around quickly; it was a horseman trotting up the +road, an officer from the cavalry post! And in an instant more Texas had +sprung into the woods and was dashing away with all his speed. + +"Run, run!" he whispered to the cadet just in front. "Somebody's +coming." + +Benny Bartlett had not nerve to give an alarm; but the printer's boy +had. The fleeing pair heard his voice shouting: + +"Help! help! Murder!" + +And an instant later came a clatter and thunder of hoofs as the soldier +dashed up. + +"What's the matter?" he cried. + +"Robbers!" shrieked the two. "We've been held up! They ran in there! +Help! Help!" + +The rescuer wheeled his horse sharply about; he whipped his sword from +its scabbard and plunged furiously into the woods. The two heard his +horse dashing up, and they knew their danger was great indeed. + +Texas was flying on ahead, running for his life; but Fischer, who was a +good deal the cooler of the two in the emergency, seized him by the arm +and forced him into a clump of bushes on one side. + +"Lie there!" he cried. "S-sh! Not a sound!" + +The wisdom of the ruse was apparent. Crashing footsteps gave the officer +something to follow; without it he might not find them in the black +woods. They heard his horse thrashing about in the underbrush; the man +was evidently afraid of nothing even in the darkness, for he plunged +through it furiously, riding back and forth and beating the bushes. Once +he passed so near to them that Texas heard the sword swish and felt for +his revolvers instinctively. But that was the best the man could do, +and finally he gave it up in disgust and rode out to the road again. + +Then the two highwaymen arose and stole softly away in the darkness, +congratulating themselves upon that narrow escape and still more upon +their success. + +When they reached the camp, which they did in a great hurry, for they +knew the officer would alarm the post, they passed the sentry in the +same way, and separated, Texas hurrying into his own tent. To his +amazement he found his tent mates awake and sitting up, for what reason +he had no idea. + +"What's the matter?" he cried anxiously, for he saw at once that +something horrible had happened. + +"Matter enough!" cried Mark in just as much anxiety. "It's not enough +for me to get dismissed, but you have to go to work and get yourself in +the same scrape." + +"I dismissed!" echoed Texas, in amazement. "How?" + +"Your absence has been noticed," groaned Mark. "Lieutenant Allen has +ordered an inspection of the tent every half hour until you return. +They've been here twice now, and you're a goner. And what makes it ten +thousand times worse, I know it's on account of me. You've been doing +something to clear me." + +All this was said in about as lugubrious a tone as one could well +imagine. But as for Texas, he merely chuckled as if he didn't care in +the least. + +"I reckon it'll be all right," he chuckled, as he began to shed his +"cits" clothing. "Jes' you fellers go to bed an' be good. I reckon it'll +all come out all right. Good-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +BENNY IS EXPOSED. + + +"Well, sir, I've come to ask what you propose to do about it." + +It was the pompous old squire, and he stood once more in the +superintendent's office, impatience written in every line of his face. + +"Yes, sir," he continued, "I should like to know your decision." + +"But, my dear sir," exclaimed Colonel Harvey, "I have not made up my +mind entirely. It is only yesterday you stated your case. What is the +hurry?" + +"Hurry, sir?" returned the squire, "I am in a hurry for my rights. I +mean that my son shall have the cadetship he has earned." + +"Where is your son?" inquired the other, after a moment's thought. + +"He is up at the hotel," answered the squire. "Why?" + +"I should like to see him for just a moment. I have one question to ask +him, if you please. I'll send an orderly for him." + +The old man bowed stiffly; he sat up very straight in his chair and +waited with dignity until his young hopeful appeared, wondering +meanwhile what more the obdurate officer could want. + +Master Benjamin entered the room obviously pale and flushed. He did not +feel very well as the result of his last night's "manliness," and he had +dim visions of robbers and stolen papers besides. He bowed to his father +and the grave superintendent. + +"Take a seat," said the latter. "I shall not keep you long. Take this +pen and paper. I am anxious to see your handwriting. Please write these +words as I dictate them." + +Benny, puzzled and alarmed, prepared to obey; he saw that the army +officer was watching him narrowly, which did not increase his ease of +manner. + +"Write," said Colonel Harvey, "I--promise--to--pay-to--Nick---- What's +the matter?" + +Benny had begun to write promptly. At the sixth word he had turned pale +as death, and his hand was trembling. + +"What's the matter?" thundered the colonel again. "Why don't you write?" + +"I--I----" stammered Benny. "I'm not very well." + +"I should say not!" responded the other, angrily. "Let me see that +paper." + +He took it from the trembling lad's hand. + +"Is that your son's handwriting?" he demanded, turning to the squire. + +Old Mr. Bartlett glanced at it quickly, a look of amazement upon his +face. + +"No," he said, "it isn't. Benny, why don't you write in your usual way? +Why don't you do as the gentleman tells you? And what's the meaning of +this, anyway?" + +Benny took the pen again, this time weakly. + +"I'll write it," he said. "Here." + +Colonel Harvey dictated it again relentlessly. + +"I--promise--to--pay--to--Nick--Flynn--one--hundred--dollars--when +M.--M.--is--fired. Benjamin Bartlett. Received--payment--July--13. Nick +Flynn." + +The officer took the result, laid it on his desk and took another from +his pocket to compare. + +"That settles it," said he, looking up at last. "Conspiracy." + +"What does this mean, sir?" demanded the angry old squire, who had been +waxing more and more impatient under the ordeal. "Why should my son be +insulted like a common criminal? Why----" + +"Because he is one," responded the other, just as warmly. "Look at those +two papers, sir! Your son wrote both, and I know it." + +"Where did you get that other?" + +"The story is briefly told," said Colonel Harvey. "Two cadets of my +academy turned highwaymen yesterday and held up your son at the point of +a revolver. I presume he has told you." + +"So that's who it was!" cried the furious squire. "So that's the kind of +cadets you have! I shall have them both in jail." + +"You will not," laughed the other, "for several reasons. In the first +place, you do not know who they are, and I do not propose to tell you. +In the second, if you do, your son is guilty of conspiracy, and I shall +see him punished for that." + +"This is preposterous!" exclaimed Squire Bartlett. "That paper proves +absolutely nothing----" + +"His manner when I asked him to write it, and his attempt to disguise +his hand, prove a good deal to me. It proves to me, sir, that he is +lying, and that you are a very foolish and indulgent father to believe +him as you do. He has lied to me and to you, and he lies still when he +denies it. Look at him cower now, sir! I knew that this whole thing was +an outrageous plot the very moment the cadets showed me that paper this +morning. One of them is one of my most trusted officers, and I believe +his account. And what is more----" + +Here the colonel stopped and glared at Benny. + +"I say this for the benefit of your son, who evidently hates Mark +Mallory. I believed and was glad to believe, that Mallory, who is the +finest lad I had seen for many a day, is as honest as he is brave. And I +shall take great pleasure in telling him so, and in apologizing for my +doubts. And in conclusion----" + +Colonel Harvey arose to his feet and bowed. + +"I bid you a good-day, Squire Bartlett. Cadet Mallory will not be +expelled from this academy, if I can help it." + +And Benny and the squire left West Point that morning, which was the end +of Mark's peril in that direction. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +MARK RECEIVES A COMMITTEE. + + +"Oh, say, Mark, I wish you'd fight that ole cadet! An' ef you do, jest +won't we whoop her up! Gee whiz!" + +The speaker was Texas. His quiet gray eyes were glistening as he spoke, +and his face was alive with excitement. + +The two were resting from the morning's drill, and were lounging about a +shady nook in the corner of the siege battery inclosure. Grouped about +them, and equally interested in the important discussion were five +plebes, the other members of the Banded Seven. + +It will be remembered that one of the "hop managers," a first classman +and an officer, Cadet Lieutenant Wright, had ventured in behalf of his +class to request Mark to leave the floor. Mark, who was in the midst of +a dance at the moment, had been justly indignant. He had informed the +other that an apology would be demanded; and that as a cadet, having an +invitation, he proposed to stay and dance. Whereupon the hop managers +had stopped the music and "busted up their ole hop" and gone home in a +rage. + +That was the end of the matter, except that there was a fight on +between Cadet Mallory and Lieutenant Wright. It was to that fight that +Texas was alluding. + +"An' ef you lick him," he repeated, "won't we whoop her up!" + +"There will certainly be a fight," responded Mark, after a moment's +thought. "That is, unless Wright apologizes, which he will not do of +course. I do not like to fight; I'd a great deal rather get along +without it; for it is a brutal sort of an amusement at best." + +"Rats!" growled Texas. + +"But it's necessary all the same," continued the other. "I do not see +how I can keep my dignity otherwise. The notion that a plebe is a +creature without any feelings who may be slammed about at will is +altogether too prevalent to suit my taste; and I propose to have the +cadets understand once and for all that they may haze me all they want +to if they can, but that when they insult me they are going to get +hurt." + +"Bully, b'gee!" chimed in Dewey, with a chuckle of delight. + +"Do you think you can do him?" inquired one. + +"I don't know," said Mark. "And what is more I don't want to know. If I +knew I could whip him I wouldn't want to fight. I mean to try." + +"Wow!" growled Texas, angry at the mere supposition of Mark's not being +able to thrash any one on earth. "Didn't he whop Billy Williams? An' +ain't he the best man in the yearlin' class?" + +"They said he was," said Mark. "And I had a hard time with him. But +Wright's been here two years longer and is trained to the top notch. +He's stronger than Williams, but I doubt if he's so quick. And still +he's captain of the football team, which means a good deal, I'll tell +you." + +"I wish 'twar my chance to fight him!" exclaimed Texas. "Say, Mark, you +always were lucky." + +"I don't even know if he'll fight yet," laughed the other. + +"B'gee!" chimed in Dewey, "I think it's about time you began to think of +getting ready to start to send over and find out. Reminds me of a story +I once heard, b'gee----" + +"Good Heavens!" groaned Mark, with a look of anguish, "I'll send at +once. Everything I do seems to remind you of something. I'll send." + +"You will, hey?" laughed Dewey. "B'gee, that reminds me of another. +There was a fellow lived in Kalamazoo, and he----" + +"You go!" said Mark. "I'll make you my ambassador to keep you quiet. Or +at least you can tell your stories to the enemy. Hurry up now!" + +Dewey arose from his seat and prepared to start upon his errand. Texas +was on his feet in an instant. + +"Naow look a yere, Mark!" he cried. "Why kain't I go? I want some fun, +too. You wouldn't let me go that time to Billy Williams!" + +"I won't let you go now for the same reason," laughed Mark. "You'd be in +a free-for-all fight in half a minute yourself. You go ahead, Dewey. +Tell Mr. Wright that I demand an apology or else that he name the time +and place. Throw in a few 'b'gees' for good measure, tell him a yarn or +two, and make yourself charming and agreeable and handsome as usual. +Tra, la, la." + +Dewey tossed him an effusive kiss by way of thanks for the compliment, +and then vaulted over the embankment and set out for camp, marching +right merrily to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me," hands at the +side, chest out, palms to the front, little fingers on the seams of the +trousers! + +The remainder of the Banded Seven waited in considerable anxiety for the +return of the "ambassador." They were one and all of them interested in +their leader and hero; his triumph was theirs and theirs his. + +"He'll take half an hour, anyway," said Mark. "So there's no use +beginning to get impatient yet. Let's take it easy." + +"Yea, by Zeus!" said the Parson. "And in the meantime allow me to call +your attention to a most interesting and as yet unclassified fossil +which I unearthed this very morning." + +The Parson cleared his throat with his usual "Ahem!" and Mark cast up +his eyes. + +"I wish I had found an embassy for the Parson, too," he groaned. + +But there was no necessity for Mark's alarm, as it proved. The Parson +had barely time to give a few introductory bits of information about +"the pteroreptian genera of the Triassic and Jurassic periods," when the +"Girl I Left Behind Me" once more made herself audible and Dewey +appeared upon the scene, obviously excited. + +"What are you back so soon for?" inquired Mark. + +"I hadn't anything to do," responded the other, hurriedly. "Wright +wouldn't see me." + +"What! Why not?" + +"He says there's a committee from his class coming to see you about it, +b'gee." + +"A committee!" echoed Mark. "I've got nothing to do with any committee. +It's my business to challenge him." + +"I know. But that don't make any difference. He wouldn't talk about it, +he just said the committee would see you about it and explain the +situation. And to make it more exciting, b'gee, they're coming now." + +"How do you know?" inquired Mark. + +"I saw 'em," answered Dewey, "and I told 'em where you were and, b'gee, +they're on the way in a hurry. Something's up, b'gee, and I'm going to +be right here to see it, too." + +Dewey dropped into his corner once more, and after that the Seven said +nothing, but waited in considerable suspense for the arrival of the +distinguished first classmen, wondering meanwhile what on earth they +could want and why on earth they found it necessary to interfere in +Mark's quarrel with the officer. + +They came, three of them, in due time. The Parson immediately arose to +his feet. + +"_Hoi presbeis tou Basileos!_" he said in his mist stately tone, and +with his most solemn bow. "That's Greek," he added, condescendingly--to +the six; he took it for granted that the learned cadets knew what it +was. "It's a quotation from the celebrated comedy, the _Acharnians_, and +it----" + +They were shockingly rude, that committee. They paid not the least +attention to the Parson and his classical salutation, but instead, after +a stiff, formal bow, proceeded right to their business with Mark. The +Parson felt very much hurt, of course; he even thought of challenging to +a duel at once. But a moment later he found himself listening with rapt +attention to the amazing information which that committee had to give. + +Mark did not know the names of the three cadets who confronted him. +Their faces were familiar and he knew that they were first classmen. +That was evidently all that the committee considered necessary, for they +did not stop for an introduction. + +All of the Banded Seven's fun had, up to this point, been manifested +against the yearlings, and it had been the yearlings, chiefly, whose +wrath they had incurred. But that hop was too much; that had been an +insult to every cadet, and Mark knew that he had made new and more +powerful enemies. He could see that in the looks of the three stern and +forbidding cadets who glared at him in silence, with folded arms. + +"Mr. Mallory," said the spokesman. + +Mark arose and bowed politely. + +"What is it you wish?" said he. + +"We have been sent to say a few words to you from the first class." + +Another bow. + +"In the first place Mr. Mallory, the class instructs us to say that your +conduct at the hop the other night deserves their severest censure. You +had no business to go." + +"As a cadet of this academy," responded Mark, calmly, "I considered it +my right." + +"It has not been customary, sir," said the other, "for new cadets to go +to the hops." + +"Precedent may be changed," was Mark's answer. "It should be when it is +bad." + +There was a moment's silence after that and then he continued: + +"Let us not discuss the point," he said. "I always consider carefully +the consequences of my acts beforehand. I am prepared for the +consequences of this one." + +"That is fortunate for you," returned the "committee," with very mild +sarcasm. "To proceed however, Lieutenant Wright, one of our hop +managers, acting, please understand, in behalf of the class, requested +you to leave." + +"To continue the story," said Mark, keeping up the sarcastic tone, "I +was naturally insulted by his unwarranted act. And I mean to demand an +apology." + +"And if you do not get it?" inquired the other. + +"Then I mean to demand a fight." + +"Which is precisely what we were sent to see you about," responded the +cadet. + +Mark was a trifle surprised at that. + +"I thought," he said, "that my second should arrange the matter with Mr. +Wright's. However, I shall be glad to fix it with you." + +"You will fix nothing with us," retorted the other. "The class has +instructed me to tell you that most emphatically you will not be +allowed to fight with the lieutenant." + +Mark stared at the three solemn cadets in amazement, and Texas gave vent +to a muttered "Wow!" + +"Not be allowed to fight!" echoed Mark. + +"No, sir, you will not. Mr. Wright was the class' delegate; your quarrel +is with the class." + +"B'gee!" put in Dewey, wriggling with excitement, "let's lick the class, +b'gee!" + +Mark was silent for a while, thinking over the strange turn of affairs; +and then the committee continued: + +"Mr. Wright will not do you the honor of a fight or of an apology." + +Mark flushed at that stinging remark. The speaker never turned a hair, +but stared at him just as sternly as ever, seeing that his thrust had +landed. + +Mark had a way of saying nothing when he was angry, of thinking +carefully what it would be best to do. And now he gazed into space, his +brows knitted, while his six friends leaned forward anxiously, wondering +what was coming next. + +"Suppose," the plebe inquired at last, "suppose, sir, I were to force a +fight with Mr. Wright?" + +"If you do," said the other, "the class will take it upon itself to +prevent that fight, using brute force if necessary, and punishing you +severely for your impertinence. And moreover you will be required to +defend your right to resist their authority, to defend it against every +member of the class." + +"All at once?" inquired Mark, with a tinge of irony. + +"No, sir. Separately, and in fair fight." + +Mark was thoughtful and silent again. + +"The consequences," he said, at last, "are unpleasant. The consequences +of swallowing so gross and unmerited an insult as Mr. Wright's, given +before hundreds of people, are more unpleasant still. Dewey!" + +That young man sprang to his feet with an excited "B'gee!" + +"Dewey," said Mark, in slow and measured tones, and never once taking +his eyes off the three stern cadets, "Dewey, you will return for me, +please, to Mr. Wright's tent. Tell Mr. Wright for me that I demand an +apology by this evening--or else that he name a time and place. And tell +him finally that if he refuses I shall consider myself unfortunately +obliged to knock him down the first time I see him." + +"Bully, b'gee!" + +"Wow!" + +The six plebes had leaped to their feet as one man, with a wild hurrah! +Oh, could anything have been better than that? Those three cadets had +fairly quailed before Mark's bold and sudden, yet calm defiance. + +"I think, gentlemen," said he, "that my purposes are clear to you now. +And I bid you good-morning." + +Half a minute later Mark was buried in the wild embraces and +congratulations of his hilarious friends; Texas was dancing a Spanish +fandango about the inclosure, and Dewey, red and excited, was on his way +to camp as fast as his delighted legs could carry him. + +"B'gee!" he kept chuckling. "B'gee, we'll wipe the spots off of 'em, +b'gee. Whoop!" The more excited Dewey got the more b'gees he was +accustomed to put in. + +He was back again at the Siege Battery ten minutes later, this time even +more excited, more red, more breathless than ever. + +"B'gee!" he gasped. "I got it. He'll--he'll--b'gee, he'll fight." + +"Whoop!" roared Texas. + +"Yes," continued Dewey, "and b'gee, you can bet there'll be fun! You +see, he wants to fight. He's no coward, I could see that, and he's mad +as thunder because the class won't let him. And b'gee, I chucked in a +few hints about his being afraid, which made him madder still, so that +when I fired out that last part about knocking him down if he didn't, +b'gee, he was wild. Oh, say! He hopped about that tent like--like Texas +is doing now--and b'gee he wanted to have it out right away." + +"Whoop!" roared Texas. "Let's go up now! I'll help! Let's----" + +"Sit on him and keep him quiet," laughed Mark, shoving Texas into a +corner. "Now go on." + +"We couldn't fight at Fort Clinton, b'gee," continued Dewey still +gasping for breath, "because the cadets would have learned. And so +finally, b'gee, he said we'd get a boat and cross the Hudson. How's +that?" + +"When?" cried Mark. + +"To-morrow morning first thing, b'gee!" + +Texas had escaped by this time and was dancing about once more. And the +rest of the Seven were about ready to join him. This was the greatest +bit of excitement of all. The most B. J. thing they had ever done, +defying the whole first class and going out of cadet limits besides. +There never were seven lads more full of fun than these boys; and never +had they seen a chance for quite so much fun as in this daring venture. + +The seven adjourned for dinner soon after that. As they "fell in" on the +company street it was evident to Mark that the story of his bold +defiance, his desperate stroke, was all about the place even then. It +was known to the first class, and to the yearling enemies, and even to +the plebes, who stared at him in awe and wondered where on earth he had +gotten the "nerve" to dare to do what he had. For Mark Mallory stood +pledged by his defiance to fight the whole corps of cadets. + +He bore his notoriety easily; he returned the stares of his enemies with +cool and merry indifference, and as he cleaned his musket and turned out +for drill, or made the dust about the camp fly while on "police duty," +there was nothing about him to lead any one to suspect that he was, of +all West Point's plebes and even cadets, the most conspicuous, the most +talked of. + +The story spread so far that it reached the ears of a certain very dear +friend of his. An orderly handed him a note late that afternoon; he knew +the handwriting well by this time and he opened the letter and read it +hastily: + + "DEAR MR. MALLORY: Please come over to the hotel as + soon as you can. I have some important news for the + Seven, and for you particularly. + + "Your friend, + + "GRACE FULLER." + +Mark went, wondering what could be "up," and he found that it was about +that same all-important affair that Grace wanted to see him. + +"I hear you are going to fight," she began as soon as she saw him; there +was a worried smile on her face which made Mark smile involuntarily. + +"It's nothing very desperate," he answered. "So you needn't be alarmed. +You see it's necessary for me to fight once in a while else you and I +couldn't play all our beautiful B. J. tricks." + +"I guess you'd better go then," she laughed. "But I don't like it a bit. +You'll come home all bruised up and covered with court-plaster, and I +shan't have anything to do with you until you get handsome again." + +"Thanks for that last word 'again,'" responded he with a laugh. Then, he +added, more seriously, "How did you find all this out? I thought none of +the cadets were going to speak to you since the hop?" + +"Pooh!" said Grace. "You didn't suppose they meant that, did you? Half +of them are beginning to capitulate already. I knew they wouldn't hold +out." + +"I knew it too," thought Mark to himself; he was watching the girl's +beautiful face, with its expression of action and life. + +"It seems then that all my rivals are back again," he said, aloud. + +"None of them are your rivals," answered the girl; and then she added, +quickly: "But that wasn't what I sent for you to tell you. I have been +finding out some more secrets. I think if I keep on practicing on the +cadets I'll be quite a diplomatist and confidence man by and by." + +"What have you found out now?" + +"Simply that the whole first class proposes to keep you from fighting." + +"I knew that before," said Mark. + +"Yes," answered Grace. "But you didn't know that they knew you and +Wright were going to cross the river to settle it." + +"Do they know that, too?" cried Mark. + +"They do; and moreover they intend to keep watch on you, and if you +leave camp to-night you'll have the whole class to follow you." + +Mark looked interested at that. + +"I can see," he said, "that I am going to have no small amount of fun +out of this business. I wish you could manage to use a little of your +diplomacy in helping me escape." + +"And I wish," added Grace, gazing at him with the same anxious look he +had noticed before, "I wish I could help you do the fighting too. I hate +to think of your being hurt." + +"It hurts me to have you look so unhappy," said Mark, seriously. "I can +stand the other. As a fighter I don't think you would make much of a +success. This is a case of 'angels for council; devils for war.'" + +"Go ahead," sighed Grace, "if you have to go to hospital I'll come over +and nurse you." + +Mark took his departure soon after that; he set out for camp, revolving +in his mind all sorts of impracticable schemes for outwitting the first +classmen that night. His thoughts were interrupted by hearing his name. +He looked up; a cadet was addressing him. + +"Mr. Mallory," he said, "good-afternoon. My name is Harden. Mr. Wright +has asked me to be his second." + +Mark bowed. + +"Also to say that if you will be outside of your tent, dressed, at two +to-morrow morning he will have a boat ready to take us to a quiet +place." + +Mark bowed again. + +"Bring one second with you," the cadet continued, "Mr. Wright will have +but one. And keep this very secret; tell no one, for the cadets will +surely stop us if they learn. Mr. Wright has great doubts of our success +anyway." + +"I shall do my best," answered Mark. "I am as anxious to succeed as he. +And I'm much obliged to you for your trouble." + +Mark turned away and entered his tent. + +"There'll be fun to-night," he muttered; "plenty of fun to-night." + +There was. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A FIGHT, AND OTHER THINGS. + + +"Are you ready in there? S-sh!" + +"Yes, I'll be out in a moment." + +"Two o'clock and all's we-ell!" + +The first speaker was Harden, the first classman, the second was Mark, +and the third the sentry, calling the hour. + +The moonlight, clear and white, shone down on the glistening, snowy +tents; the camp was almost as bright as day. Two figures who stood +crouching in the company street were plainly visible, dressed in old +contraband "cit's clothing" for disguise. And presently two more +appeared, similarly clad, Mark and his old friend, the learned and +pugilistic Parson. + +The four said not a word, but stole silently down the street to the park +that bounded the camp on the east, the river side, the beat of sentry +No. 4. One of them gave a low whistle, a signal to the sentry to face +about so that he might not "see any one cross his beat." The four sped +across the line and were lost a moment later in the shadow of the woods. + +The sound of their whistle had an echo, though they did not know it. It +came from another tent and was the signal for a strange scene, one that +probably that camp had never before witnessed. In an instant, it seemed, +the white ground was alive with dark figures and black hurrying shadows. +One-third of the whole cadet corps, all the first class, in fact, were +about to engage in the perilous task of dodging camp! + +There was no delay, no hesitation; the whole crowd fell in under one +leader, stole down the street, signaled the sentry; and then came a dash +and a tramp of feet that almost shook the ground. The class was gone. +Gone to stop that fight or die! + +One hates to tax a reader's credulity. To say that that sleepy moonlit +camp was once more a witness of the same unusual scene not half a minute +later seems beyond the possibility of belief. Yet so it was. There was +no signal this time; they simply met, five of them, all plebes, two from +an A Company and three from a B Company tent just in the rear. They, +too, fell in under a leader, a leader who punctuated his orders with a +whispered "Wow!" And they, too, crossed the sentry post and vanished in +the woods. + +There was some one to trail the trailers! + +We shall skip forward to those in advance. The four would-be duelists +had no idea of their detection. They thought that their early start had +done the work. They climbed down the bank of the river, passed the +riding hall, and came out on the railroad track below, just at the mouth +of the tunnel. + +"The boat is down near Highland Falls," said Harden, briefly; and then +there was silence again. Wright had not said one word since the start. + +They set out down the track. They stole by the little station, with its +single light and its half-sleeping telegraph operator. And then--hark! +What was that? + +Tramp, tramp! The four turned in amazement. Great heavens, they were +followed! Clearly visible in the moonlight, their white trousers +glittering, the company was marching steadily behind them. They were in +line and had a captain. At concealment there was no attempt; they seemed +to say, every one of them. "Well, here we are. Now what are you going to +do about it?" And the four stared at each other in amazement. + +"Shall we resort to flight?" inquired the learned Parson. + +"They're too many; they'd catch us," said Harden, emphatically. "I don't +know just what to do. I rather think we're outwitted. I--what's that?" + +"Ding! dong! Woow-oo!" + +"A train!" exclaimed Mark. "That'll scatter 'em. But it'll do us no +good." + +A moment later there was a glare of light in the tunnel, light that +shone upon the figures on the track; and then the heavy train shot out +and came rushing down upon them. The cadets scattered of course; and in +the temporary confusion Mark saw a golden chance. It was a slow train; +he could see. A freight! And a moment later as the engine rushed past +them, he shouted to the other three: + +"Catch it! Catch it as it passes!" + +It was all done so quickly they had scarcely time to think. They saw the +last car whirl past the cadets; they saw the company reforming to march. +And a moment later all four of them leaped toward the train and flung +themselves aboard the last platform of the way car. + +It was going faster than they had thought; the sudden jerk they got +nearly tore their arms from their sockets, and the Parson's loose joints +cracked ominously. But they hung on, all of them, with a grip like +death. And they had the intense satisfaction of hearing a yell of rage +from the cadets in the rear, and of seeing, as they clambered up and +looked behind them, the whole crowd break into a run and set out in +furious, though vain pursuit. + +"That settles it," said Mark, joyfully. "We're safe! now then." + +But his words were just a trifle premature. The cadets were fast being +left behind, running though they were; but there was a new danger +hitherto unthought of. The car they were on was the caboose. The door +was flung open; a rough figure strode out. + +"Hey, there, git off o' that! What the divil are yez doin' there?" + +The four stared at each other in consternation. Here was a rub! They +looked for all the world like tramps, to be kicked off unceremoniously +into the hands of the enemy again. But before the man could move Harden +thrust his hand into his pocket. + +"Here," he said. "Take that, and shut up." + +The man gazed at them dubiously. They might be burglars, robbers--but +then it was good money, and nobody the wiser. That was none of his +business anyhow. He muttered an apology and slammed the door again, +while the four sighed with relief. + +"I wonder what next," said Mark. + +There was nothing more; the long train rumbled on down the river bank +and the party waited in silence until Harden gave the signal. Then they +made more or less ungraceful and uncomfortable leaps from the platform, +sprang down the bank into the rushes, and a moment or so later were on +their way across the river in a rowboat. + +"Which means," whispered the Parson to Mark, "that we'll have our fight +after all." + +Mark had thought of that. He was already calculating the chances. Wright +had a great, powerful frame, with massive, bull shoulders and a face +that showed no end of grit. That much Mark could see. He knew, too, that +the man was a gymnast of three years' practice under a master as skilled +as Uncle Sam could find; that every muscle had been worked and trained, +that he was lithe and quick and active, skilled with foil and bayonet +and broadsword, a perfect horseman, and the captain of West Point's +crack eleven besides. Mark thought of all this; and then he clinched his +own broad hands and gritted his teeth and waited. + +There was not a word said on the trip; all were too solemn and anxious. +Harden rowed--working silently and swiftly. The waves lapped against the +boat, and the ripples spread out in long, silvery, moonlit trail behind +them. And then the boat sped in under the shadow of the trees on the +eastern bank, and a moment later grated on the pebbly beach. + +Harden sprang ashore and drew up the boat. The rest landed and he went +on into the woods. The three followed him a short ways, and then at a +little clearing he stopped. + +"Here," said he, "is the spot." + +Mark halted and gazed about him. He saw a small turf-covered inclosure +surrounded by the deep black shadows of a wall of trees. The moon +strayed down through the center furnishing the only light. It was not +three o'clock yet, and the sun was far below the horizon. Mark whipped +off his coat. + +"I am ready," said he. "Let us lose no time." + +Wright and his second were just as prompt and businesslike. The +lieutenant stripped his brawny frame to the waist and bound his +suspenders about him to hold his trousers. Mark was ready then, too. + +"It is your choice," said he to the other. "How shall we fight?" + +"By rounds," he answered simply. He was a man of few words. "My second +has a watch," he added. "Mr. Stanard may look on if he cares to, though +we shall each have to rely upon the other's honor mostly. We have no +referee." + +"I am willing," said Mark. "Let Mr. Harden manage it. And let us be +quick. Will you shake hands?" + +They shook. And then the "referee" pronounced the word. + +"Go!" + +And they went, hammer and tongs. + +A man who chanced to be strolling along the river bank in the moonlight +at three o'clock that July morning would have met with a startling +scene. Just picture it to yourself, a quiet glade in the deep shadows of +the trees, and in the center of it two white half-naked figures battling +to the death, landing blows that shook the air. And all in silence and +mystery. The two seconds, kneeling in the shadows watching anxiously, +feverishly, were hidden from view. + +Wright had one advantage over Mark. He had seen him fight, and he knew +his method. He knew that in skill and agility Mark was his equal; it was +agility that had beaten Billy Williams, the yearlings' choice. And so +Wright relying on his strength and training pitched right in, for he and +his second had agreed that a "slugging match" was the best way to beat +Mallory. + +Mark was willing to have it so; time was short, and they might be +interrupted any moment. The sooner that unpleasant episode were over the +better. And he answered the officer's forward spring by another no less +sudden and fierce. + +A fight such as this one could not last very long, for human bodies +cannot stand many blows as crushing as human arms can deal. The two had +leaped in, each bent on forcing the other back; and for a moment they +swayed, as in a deadlock, landing blow after blow with thuds that woke +the stillness of the forest depths. The two seconds sprang forward, +staring anxiously. They could scarcely follow the flying white arms, +they could not see the effects of the crashes they heard; but they +realized that any one of them might end it all, that their man might go +down at any moment. + +The end came, however, sooner than either had thought. Harden, glancing +feverishly at the watch, had counted off the first minute, was counting +for the end of the second. He had opened his mouth to call time, when he +heard the Parson give a gasp. He looked up just in time to see one of +the white figures--they had been bounding all about the inclosure and he +knew not which it was--tottering backward from one mighty blow upon the +head. + +A moment later the figure was lying gasping upon the ground, and Harden +sprang forward to see who it was. But he had hardly moved before he +heard a shout, and glancing about him, saw a sight that made him start +in alarm. The black woods were fairly alive with flitting white figures. +And the figures with one accord were rushing wildly down upon the group. + +"Kill 'em! Soak 'em!" was the cry. "Where's that plebe? Hooray!" + +It was the baffled first class. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +SIX TO THE RESCUE. + + +Be it said in the first place, for the reader's comfort and relief, that +the figure who lay upon the ground stunned and gasping was not that of +Mark Mallory. Harden saw that as he turned again, and he groaned. The +Parson saw it, too, and uttered a geological and classical exclamation +of satisfaction, completely forgetful of his peril at the present +moment. And as for Mark, he had known it long ago; he had meant that it +should be just so. + +The first classmen as they poured in upon the scene, furious and out of +breath, took in the situation in one glance. They saw their friend and +classmate, the mighty Wright, stretched helpless on the turf, and they +knew that Mark Mallory, the hated plebe, had defied them successfully, +had outwitted them, and stood now in all his impudence, his purposes +completely achieved. And their rage rose to bounds beyond the +possibility of description. + +But they had him now! Though triumphant, he was in their power, alone +with no soul to help him in all that lonely forest! And like so many +wild animals they leaped upon him. + +You have read of the fury of a mob? And you know what a mob may do? It +is far more than any single one of them, any half dozen of them, would +ever dream of doing. This mob had everything to urge them on, nothing to +restrain them. Had not this plebe tormented their very eyes out? Had +they not sworn to punish him within an inch of his life if he dared to +fight with their lieutenant? And was not the lieutenant lying there now, +half dead, calling upon them for vengeance? + +One and all they sprang upon him. The leader seized him roughly by the +shoulder, flung him backward; the next moment Mark's arm shot out and +the man went down like a log. That made the crowd still more furious; a +dozen of them reached the bold plebe at once, and then there was the +wildest kind of a time. + +Mark could not tell very clearly what happened; he was vaguely conscious +of shouts and imprecations; of flying arms and closely pressing bodies; +of blows and kicks that blinded him, stifled him. He himself was +striking out right and left, and he felt that he was landing, too. He +saw another figure beside him doing likewise, and he knew that the +gallant old Parson was at his side. And after that his head began to +swim; lights danced before his eyes, and his strength began to fail him. +He went down, and that was all he knew. + +There was no restraining those wild cadets, though fully half among them +were manly enough to try. The brute passions of the rest were let loose +and there was no stopping them. They still pressed about the two +struggling plebes, a crowd roaring for vengeance and satisfaction. And +they meant that nothing should prevent their having it, either. + +Something did, none the less. And it was something startling and +unexpected. The reader will remember that we left the five hot upon the +trail. The five were upon the trail still. + +They had followed the crowd down the railroad track. The crowd had hired +a schooner the day before, having learned that Mallory and Wright were +going to attempt to cross the next morning; they had followed in that, +and the five under the leadership of Texas had broken the lock on a +rowboat they found and had pursued the cadets across. They had landed a +few minutes later; they had heard the shouts of the crowd; and now, wild +and reckless with rage at what they saw, they were rushing from the +woods to the rescue. + +To the rescue? It bid fair to be a weak attempt, for there were just +five to attempt it, and of the others there may have been fifty. No one +could count them; they were a mob, a wild-eyed, furious mob. But of the +unevenness of the conflict the gallant five never once thought. They +knew that their leader was in peril, and that it was their business to +rescue him. And that was all. + +Foremost among them was the wild Texan and he was a sight to put a +hundred in a panic, a sight to rival Hercules and his club. Texas had +snatched an oar from the boat, and as he ran he was brandishing that. +His hair was ruffled, his face was red, and his eyes staring and wild. +From his mouth came a series of yells and whoops that made the forest +echo. And a moment later he struck the crowd of cadets. + +How that mighty oar did cut the air! If it had been a broadsword it +could not have swept a clearer furrow. And behind it came the other +four, all armed with clubs, making a V formation that was simply +irresistible. + +So long as the cadets were unarmed the fight was very one-sided, indeed, +and the five might have rescued Mark in no time. But quick as a wink one +of the cadets stooped and seized a stick; his example was followed +instantly, and in half a minute the gallant rescuers were confronted +with a score of clubs and assailed by a shower of stones that beat them +back in confusion--stalled! + +No, not quite! There was one rescuer left, a resource that Texas alone +had. Texas had received a cut across the face that made him simply +crazy. He dropped the oar, slung his hands around to his hip pockets, +and a moment later with two huge six-shooters opened fire point-blank at +the crowd. + +It happened that those revolvers held only "blanks." Mark had insisted +upon that beforehand, for he knew his friend's sudden temper. But that +made no difference to the cadets. When they saw those weapons flash in +the pale moonlight, saw them in the hands of that wild-haired, wild-eyed +figure, heard the deafening reports and saw the powder flash blindingly +in their faces, they turned as one man and fled in terror to the cover +of the woods. + +And they left their victims lying on the ground! + +Texas was not so mad but that he had some cunning left. He saw his +chance, and shouted to his companions. The four seized the +half-unconscious, sorely-battered pair in their arms, and whirling +suddenly, made a dash for the shore. Texas himself scorned to run. He +gazed about him defiantly, balancing his revolvers in his hands; and +when he saw that the alarmed cadets did not contemplate a sally, he +backed slowly through the woods and rejoined the other plebes. + +The cadets had not the nerve to face those revolvers again, at least not +at once. They had a moment later when they discovered to their horror +what the plebes were going to do. + +It was a horrible revenge. Instead of going to their own rowboat, the +crowd deliberately marched out upon a little dock where the schooner +lay. They put their charges into that, and then while the big Texan +coolly faced about with his guns, the others seized the two rowboats and +deliberately proceeded to tie them on behind. + +They were going to leave the whole class stranded! + +A yell of fury, of horror, of fright went up from the crowd! Leave them! +Impossible! It lacked then two hours of reveille. And for them to be +absent meant disgrace, court-martial, dismissal! Wild with alarm the +crowd made a dash for the schooner, leaping into the water, running for +the dock, shouting and yelling. And Texas calmly raised his revolvers, +and stood thus, firm and terrible in the clear moonlight. + +Before that figure they quailed an instant; that instant was enough. The +big vessel swung off from the dock, the night breeze filling her sails. +And Texas turned like an antelope and made a leap for the boat. + +The crowd saw him land on the stern; they saw the white glistening track +bubble up as the vessel glided away; then in blank horror they turned +and gazed at each other--lost! + +Texas meanwhile, soon as he saw the boat clear, had but one thought in +his devoted mind. He made a dash for Mark and staring in horror and +anguish at his white and bloody face, fell to flinging water upon him. +And he gasped with relief when he saw Mark open his eyes. + +Mark's body was still stripped, and Texas, even Texas, shuddered as he +saw the bruises upon it. There was one that made the victim cry out as +his friend touched it, and Texas started back in alarm. + +"Good heavens!" he cried; "his shoulder is broken." + +Mark smiled feebly; and at the same instant a chorus of cries arose from +the despairing cadets on the shore. + +"Tell Mallory we'll leave him alone if he'll come back," was one of +them. + +"B'gee!" cried Dewey, "did you hear that? What do you say?" + +And Mark raised himself with a struggle. + +"No, no," he gasped. "Don't! I mean to fight them." + +"Fight them! How can you fight with a broken shoulder?" + +"I--I won't tell them it's broken!" panted Mark. + +"Wow!" roared Texas, wildly. "Ef you don't lick 'em I will! Whoop! An' +as fo' them cowards on the shore, let 'em get fired an' bust!" + +"Bully, b'gee!" echoed Dewey. + +And the battered old Parson chimed in with a feeble and gasping "Yea, by +Zeus!" while the schooner sailed on in disdainful triumph. + +The first class, as it seemed, did not get fired. They ran all the way +to Garrisons, the town opposite the point, and there begged a boat +secretly to cross. But the news when it spread next morning made them +the laughingstock of all creation. And Mark, in the hospital, was the +hero of the whole cadet corps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +MARK IN THE HOSPITAL. + + +"General Miles here? Who told you so?" + +"I saw him myself. He just got off the train. And there's going to be a +review of the corps and a whole lot of stuff. Don't you hear those guns. +That's the salute, b'gee!" + +Texas and Dewey paused in their excited conversation to listen to the +booming of the cannon to the west of the camp. And scarcely had the +sound ceased before the roll of a drum was heard coming from the guard +tent at the head of the A Company Street. + +"That's the call to quarters, b'gee," continued the bearer of the news +excitedly. "I bet we're going to see some fun, Texas." + +That "call to quarters" brought cadets from every direction hurrying +into camp to "spruce up," and "fall in;" but the two, who were seated on +a bench over by Trophy Point, did not even offer to move. For that call +to quarters had nothing to do with them; that was for old cadets, the +first classmen, and the yearlings. + +When the battalion turned out for review in honor of its distinguished +guest nobody thought of putting them on exhibition. + +The two sat looking at the line forming over by camp, and also at a +group of figures way down at the other end of the parade ground, a group +of blue-uniformed officers, with the West Point band at the head. It was +evidently the superintendent and his staff and the distinguished visitor +with him. + +"Looks as if there's goin' to be high jinks roun' hyar," observed Texas. +"It's a shame Mark ain't hyar to see it." + +Dewey assented to that emphatically, and Texas after a few moments of +moody thoughtfulness, continued: + +"Hang them ole cadets!" he growled. "It makes me want to git up and +slash round some whenever I think of half o' that whole battalion +pitchin' in to punch a feller, because not one of 'em was man enough to +lick him in a square, stand-up fight. Tell you, it makes my blood boil! +An' they broke his shoulder, an' sent him to hospital, an' he too much +of a man to tell on 'em at that! The cowards!" + +"That's what I say, too, b'gee!" chimed in Dewey. "Mark's the spunkiest +man that ever they laid eyes on." + +"That's what he is," growled Texas. "Jes' think o' whar we'd be ef +twan't for him. We'd be lettin' them cadets haze us, that's what we +would." + +"Never mind," said Dewey, prophetically. "Just wait till he's well +again, b'gee! And we'll stick by him meanwhile." + +"Will we?" echoed Texas. "I couldn't tell in a thousands years what that +aire feller's done fo' me. An' I know one other besides us that'll stand +by him, too." + +"Grace Fuller, you mean?" + +"That's what I do! Ever since Mark swam out and near killed himself +savin' her from drownin' that girl's been the best friend ever he had. +You jes' ought to go over to the hospital an' see how she sends him +flowers an' fruit an' things. They let her in to sit with him an' talk +to him where they won't let us plebes near him." + +"B'gee, I don't blame 'em!" laughed Dewey. "They're afraid of you over +there, since they had to nurse you after you rode out and 'held up' the +artillery squadron at drill. But I tell you, Mark's in luck to have +Grace spooney over him. She's the most beautiful girl I ever saw, and +she's the belle of this place. I declare I can hardly believe it, that +she's joined with us plebes to fool the yearlings." + +"She's jes' full o' fun," laughed Texas, "but I reckon the great +reason's cause she's so fond o' Mark. I wish I had his luck. I jes' +stand off, 'n look at her and wonder s'posin' 'twas me--dog gone it!" + +Texas saw an amused smile begin to flit about his companion's merry +face; he suspected he was about to "remind" that cheerful recounter of a +yarn; so he stopped. + +"Tell you what," he continued after some more thinking. "I know 'nother +girl that's dead gone on Mark." + +"B'gee!" cried Dewey in surprise. "Who's that?" + +"'Moll' Adams." + +"Who on earth is she?" + +"I reckon she came in afore you met us," mused Texas. "Yes, 'twas 'fore +you joined the Banded Seven. You know Bull Harris?" + +"B'gee!" laughed Dewey. "Didn't I lick the cuss once?" + +"That's so," said Texas. "I forgot. Well, Bull--'twas jes' like him--was +botherin' this girl down on the road to Highland Falls one day. He had +hold of her arm an' she was fightin' to git away or somethin'. Anyhow +Mark knocked him down, which was the beginnin' of all this hazin' +business. Bull got all his yearlin' gang after Mark. After that Mark did +her 'nother favor, got her brother out of a terrible scrape. An' I think +she's been mighty fond of him ever since." + +"B'gee!" laughed Dewey. "This is real romantic. What makes you think +so?" + +"I've seen her hangin' roun' the hospital inquirin' fo' Mark. An' I can +tell by the way she looks at him. I don't think she likes to see him so +chummy with Grace." + +"That's more romantic yet," chuckled Dewey. "Why don't Mark care for +her?" + +"You see," said Texas, "some o' the cadets, one of 'em a pretty decent +feller, a friend o' Mark's, told him that she waren't--she waren't quite +right. She's somethin' of a flirt, you know. I don't like girls that +kind much myself an' I'm sure Mark don't. He's kep' pretty shy o' her, +an' I kinder think she's noticed it." + +"Is she pretty?" inquired the other. + +"She's mos' as pretty as Grace," responded Texas. "An' that's sayin' a +deal. She's what you call a brunette--black hair an' eyes. There's some +girls a feller feels are all right; he feels he's a better feller when +he's with them. Grace Fuller's one of 'em. She's jes' the angel we call +her. Then there's some that ain't, an' this girl's one of them." + +"Quite a character analysis," laughed the other. "But I guess, b'gee, +you're right, all the same. And speaking of unpleasant characters, +there's that Bull Harris. We haven't heard from him for a long time." + +"I reckon," said Texas, "Bull's been wantin' to see what the first +class'd do to Mark since he'd failed to haze him. I reckon the durty ole +rascal's right well satisfied now." + +"You don't love him much," observed the other. + +"Why should I? Ain't he tried every mean kid trick he could think of on +Mark an' me, too? He's all right to bully girls but when he tried Mark +now, he found he'd hit a snag. He's been doin' nothin' ever since but +tryin' to get us into scrapes. An' I was thinkin' to-day, 'tain't no +lucky sign he's quiet. I jes' reckon he's plottin' some new durnation +trick." + +"I wish he'd come on with it," laughed Dewey. "Life is getting really +monotonous the last two days since Mark's been in hospital. We've been +having so many lively and interesting brushes with the cadets, b'gee, +that I can't get along without some excitement at least every day." + +"I reckon it'll come soon enough," observed Texas. "An' they say when +you speak of angels they flap their wings. I wonder how 'bout devils. +There's ole Bull Harris now, the third feller from the right in the +front rank of A." + +"And he's going out to salute the general," observed Dewey. "I wish we +had another bloodhound now so's we could put it on his trail the way we +did once. B'gee, but he was mad!" + +As the two had been talking the battalion had formed on the company +ground; roll call had passed quickly, and the cadet adjutant had turned +the parade over to the charge of the tactical officer, Lieutenant Allen. +The latter's sharp commands had rung out a moment later and the +firmly-stepping lines had swung around and were now well on their way +down the parade ground, at the other end of which stood the famous +general and his staff. + +It was an inspiring moment. The air seemed fairly to shake with the gay +music of the band. The cadet's uniforms and equipments were glittering +in the sunlight, their banners waving on the breeze. They wheeled like +so many splendid pieces of mechanism and in a few moments more were +standing at "present arms" in one long line that extended the width of +the field. + +The officers brought their swords up to the salute and the spectators +cheered, as a handsome figure rode out from the group of officers and +cantered down the line. It was General Miles himself, a fine military +figure, striking and imposing. The cadets would have cheered him, too, +if they had dared. + +During this interesting ceremony our two friends of the plebe class had +gotten up and started on a run for the scene. They had been so much +interested in their discussion of "Meg" Adams and Bull Harris that they +had forgotten all about watching this. But by the time they got there +the review was over, and the cadets had scattered once more. This time +to prepare for exhibition drill of the afternoon. + +The two wandered about disconsolately after that, Texas growling at +Dewey for having talked too much. And then suddenly the former stopped +short and stared at his friend. + +"I know what I'm going to do!" he declared. + +"What?" + +"I'm a-goin' to see Mark." + +"I thought they wouldn't let you in," laughed Dewey. + +"I'm a-goin' all the same," vowed the other. "Ef they won't let me I'll +make 'em. Jes' you watch me!" + +And with that the impulsive Texan faced about and set out for the +hospital in a hurry. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +TEXAS HAS AN INTERVIEW. + + +Texas' promised "fun" in the effort to see Mark did not, as it proved, +materialize; because, whereas Texas had expected to be refused +admittance and to raise a rumpus about it, he was allowed to enter and +was escorted to Mark's room with all politeness. + +"Well!" thought Texas, "I reckon he must be gittin' better." + +This eventually proved to be the case; and Texas shrewdly guessed the +reason for it as he approached the room and heard the sound of voices +through the open door. + +"With her to talk to," he muttered, "anybody could get well." + +Grace Fuller was sitting by the window, dressed in white, an angel of +loveliness, as she appeared to Powers. She was reading aloud to Mark, +but she stopped suddenly as Texas burst into the room. And a moment +later the newcomer had seized his chum by his one well arm and was +shaking it vigorously. + +"Hello, ole man!" he cried. "I kain't tell you how glad I am to see +you." + +"Take it easy," said Mark, smiling. "I've got better news still. They +found that my shoulder was only dislocated; and I'll be out to-day." + +Texas uttered a whoop that brought the attendants in on a run. He +subsided after a threat of expulsion and sat down by the bedside and +stared at Mark. It was still the same old Mark, handsome and sturdy, but +just a little pale. + +"Say," growled Texas, "you've got no idee how lonely things are 'thout +you. There's nobody to lick the cadets, or anything." + +"What's all the fuss I hear?" inquired Mark. + +Texas explained to him what was happening; and went into ecstasies when +he was told that Mark would be out to see that afternoon's drill. With +just the same startling impulsiveness as that which had led him to pay +his brief visit, Texas sprang up again and made for the door. + +"Wow!" he cried. "I'm a-goin' out to tell the fellers 'bout this. Whoop! +See you later, Mark. I reckon you're in pretty good company." + +Mark "reckoned" so too, and said so, as he laughed over his friend's +hot-headed manner. + +Texas in the meantime was bounding down the hall and out of the door of +the building; he meant to turn up toward camp on a run, and he had even +started up the street. But something happened just then that made him +change his mind in a hurry. In the first place he heard some one call +his name: + +"Mr. Powers! Oh, Mr. Powers!" + +It was a sweet girlish voice, and "Mr. Powers" faced about with +alacrity, to find himself, to his infinite surprise, face to face with +Mary Adams, the girl he had not long ago been discussing. + +"Hello!" thought he, "what on earth's up?" + +His surprise was the greater because he did not know the girl; he had +never been introduced to her, and he wondered how she even knew his +name. She was indeed a beautiful girl, with a full round figure, deep +black hair and eyes, and a complexion that was warm and red. There was a +look of anxiety upon her face that the cadet did not fail to notice. + +"Tell me!" she cried. "Mr. Powers, how is he?" + +"Why--why----" stammered Texas, adding, "Bless my soul!" after the +fashion of his fat friend Indian. "He's all right. He'll be out this +afternoon." + +"I thought he was nearly killed," said the girl. "I have been so +worried." + +There was a brief silence after that, during which Texas shifted his +feet in embarrassment. + +"Tell me," she exclaimed, suddenly. "Do you--do you think he would like +to see me?" + +"Why, er!" stammered Texas. "To be sure. Why wouldn't he?" + +The girl noticed his hesitating tone, and her dark eyes flashed as she +spoke again. + +"Answer me," she cried. "Is she there?" + +"If by 'she,'" answered the other, "you mean Miss Fuller?" + +"Yes, yes, I mean her." + +"Then she is," said Texas, defiantly. + +He said that with a dogged, none-of-your-business sort of an air, though +rather sheepishly for all that. The girl stared at him for a moment, and +then to Texas' indescribable consternation and bewilderment, she buried +her head in her hands and burst into a passionate flood of tears. + +"My Lord!" gasped the astounded plebe. + +Poor Texas wasn't used to girls; the only things he knew of that cried +were babies, and a baby he would have taken in his arms and rocked until +it stopped. But he had an instinctive impression that that wouldn't do +in this case. Beyond that he was at a loss. + +"Bless my soul, Miss Adams!" he cried--no exclamation seemed to do quite +so well as Indian's in that case. "Please don't do that! What on earth's +the matter?" + +Texas had a vague idea that some one might come that way any moment; and +he wondered what that person would think to look at them. Texas just +then wished himself anywhere on earth but there. + +In response to his embarrassed pleading, the girl finally looked through +her tears. And her eyes, red with weeping, gave her beautiful face a +look of anguish that touched the Texan's big heart. + +"Lord bless me!" said he. "Miss Adams, is there anything I can do?" + +She looked at him for a moment and then she answered "Yes," and turned +slowly down the street. + +"Come," she said. "Mr. Powers, I want to talk to you." + +If he had wanted to, Texas could not have disobeyed; the fact of the +matter was that Texas was too bewildered to have any wants. The true +state of affairs had not dawned upon his unromantic mind. + +The two hurried down the road toward Highland Falls, the cadet following +meekly. They came almost to "cadet limits," to an old lonely road that +turned off to the right. Up that the girl turned, and when she was well +out of sight of the main road, turned and faced her companion. + +"Now," she said, "I will tell you. Oh, why is it you do not see?" + +The look upon her face made Texas fear she was going to burst into tears +again, and he shifted about uncomfortably. + +And just then came the crash. + +"Tell me, Mr. Powers," demanded the girl, with a suddenness that almost +took the other's breath away, "Tell me, Mr. Powers, do you think +he--he--likes me?" + +Texas started; he stared at the girl's anxious face; a sudden light +breaking in upon him. And the girl gazed into his deep gray eyes and +saw--she knew not what. + +"Why--why----" stammered Texas. + +"I have thought so much of him," cried Mary Adams, pouring out her +feelings, in a passionate flood of words. "I have followed him about, I +have watched him all day! Ever since he befriended me so that night when +he saved my brother, I have thought of no one but him. He is so splendid +and brave and handsome! He--never even looks at me!" + +The girl's last words were said in a tone of anguish and despair, and +she buried her head in her hands once more. + +"It is all that other girl!" she continued, after a moment's pause. "He +thinks of no one but her! Oh, how I hate her! He is with her all the +time; he asked her to join that society----" + +"How--how on earth did you know?" gasped Texas. + +"Do you think I am blind?" cried the girl, fiercely. "Do you suppose I +cannot see what Mark Mallory is doing? It is all that Grace Fuller--all! +And, oh, what shall I do?" + +In a perfect convulsion of sobbing the girl flung herself down upon the +bank at the side of the road. And Texas stood and gazed at her in +consternation and embarrassment, and vowing if the gods ever got him out +of that most incomprehensible fix, he'd never look at a girl again. A +dozen Comanches could not have inspired Texas with half the awe that +this one passionate and beautiful creature did. + +"Miss Adams," he said, at last, "I--I really don't think Mark knows how +you regard him." + +"I know it," sobbed the girl; "he doesn't! But I cannot tell him!" + +A sudden and brilliant idea flashed across Texas' mind. + +"I can!" he exclaimed. "I can, an' I will." + +The girl sprang to her feet and stared at him. + +"No! no!" she cried, in horror. "What would----" + +But Texas had already turned and was striding off in excitement. + +"Gosh!" he muttered. "That's jes' the thing! I'll tell Mark fo' her, ef +she kaint. An' anyhow, I couldn't keep a secret from Mark. Dog gone it, +I'd have to ask his advice. This yere's a 'portant matter." + +Texas heard Mary Adams crying out to him to come back, imploring him to +listen to her. But Texas, once well out of that embarrassing fix and +beyond the spell of the beautiful girl had no idea of returning to his +uncomfortable position. And to his rough old heart there was no reason +on earth why he should not tell Mark. Who else ought to know it but +Mark? + +"An'," muttered Texas, "ef she ain't got sense 'nough to tell him, I +will." + +So, deaf to the girl's entreaties, he left her to bemoan her fate alone +and set out in hot haste for camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A PLOT TO BEAT "THE GENERAL." + + +Now the adventures of Texas were wild and exciting, to him, anyway. But +up at camp in the meantime another plebe was having adventures that +fairly put Texas into the shade. The plebe was "Indian," and you may +listen and judge for yourself of the adventures. + +Indian had been rather less credulous of late, but the yearlings were +still anxiously watching for another chance to have some fun with him. +The chance came that day. + +Nelson A. Miles is a hero of a hundred fights, and as major general he +commands the United States army. The more they considered the importance +of that mighty visitor, the more the yearlings began to think of that +plan. There were a dozen of them got together that morning and swore +they'd fool Indian or die in the effort. + +Indian of course had seen the review and had been mightily impressed in +his innocent soul. From the distance he had admired the military figure +and imposing features of the great man. And then, filled with resolves +to fight loyally under him and perhaps some day to be like him, he had +turned away and strolled solemnly back to camp. + +He entered his tent, still in that serious, that really heroic mood. +There was no one in the tent, and so Indian had it all alone for his +meditations philosophical. + +"Oh, what a fine thing it must be to be a great hero like that!" he +mused. "To gaze upon the world from a large, ethereal standpoint"--an +ethereal standpoint would have made unsteady standing even for a hero; +but Indian did not think of that. "I can have no higher ambition in life +than to imitate that man. As the poet has said: + + 'Lives of great men all remind us, + We can make our lives sublime, + And departing, leave behind us + Footprints----' + +"Bless my soul!" + +Indian had stopped his meditations with startling suddenness; and this +was the reason thereof. + +He had heard mysterious sounds in the Company B tent next door. It was a +yearling tent. Two cadets had crept into it silently; and Indian heard +one of them mutter a subdued "S-sh!" + +Have you seen a pointer dog prick up his ears suddenly? That was the way +Indian did. + +"A plot?" said one of the yearlings. "A plot did you say? What is it? +Tell me? I'll come in!" + +"S-sh!" said the other. "Do you swear eternal secrecy, swear it by the +bones of the saints?" + +"I swear!" growled the other in a low, sepulchral voice. "Out with it!" + +"All the fellows know," continued the other. "They'll all help. But not +the plebes! Do you hear? Not a word to the plebes! If any plebe should +hear he'd surely tell on us, and that would ruin us. He might do it, you +know, for he'd get no end of reward. They might even promote him, make +him a yearling." + +Indian's little fat heart was bounding with delight. A plot! And he knew +it! Ye gods! Bless my soul! He crept close to the wall of his tent, +straining eyes and ears to listen, not to lose the faintest sound of +this most important news. + +"It must be something desperate," gasped the other. + +"Yes, it is. S-sh! You'll nearly drop I know when I tell you. We're----" + +Indian's eyes were like walnuts, half out of his head. + +"We're going," continued the yearling, slowly, "we're going to beat the +general!" + +"Beat the general!" echoed the other. "By George, I'll help! I'm glad of +it. I----" + +Indian heard no more. Quietly he had arisen from the tent floor, +glancing about like a serpent rearing his glittering head from the +grass. He arose; he crept to the tent door; and a moment later he was +striding down the street as fast as his little legs could carry him. + +So that was the plot! Those wicked and reckless cadets who had hazed him +so much were now going to beat the general! The general could, of +course, mean only one general, the great general. There was no general +at West Point but Major General Miles. + +Indian never once stopped until he was well out of camp, out of the +enemies' hands. A man with so mighty a secret as that could afford to +take no risks; he must lurk in the shadows until he saw his chance to +reveal the whole daring conspiracy. Visions rose up before his delighted +mind, visions of himself a hero like Mark, congratulated by all, even +made a yearling as the cadets had hinted. Indian even imagined himself +already as hazing the rest of the plebes. + +These thoughts in his mind, he was suddenly startled by seeing two +yearlings coming near. Were they after him? Indian trembled. Nearer and +nearer. No, they had passed him. And then, once more, he heard the +words: + +"Yes, yes! We're going to beat the general!" + +"What! Heavens, suppose some one should find it out." + +That settled it. Indian sprang up boldly and strode away, determination +in his very waddle. He knew! And he would tell! + +At that moment Indian saw Cadet Fischer crossing the parade ground. +Surely, thought Indian, so high and responsible an officer as this had +nothing to do with the plot! Why not tell him? And so at him Indian made +a dash. + +"Mr. Fischer! Oh, Captain Fischer!" + +The officer turned in surprise. Hailed by a common plebe. + +"Mr. Fischer!" gasped Indian. "Bless my soul! I hear they're going to +beat the general!" + +"Yes," said the other. "In half an hour. But why----" + +Good heavens, he knew it too! And like a flash, the frightened plebe +wheeled and dashed away. There was only one resource left now. He would +tell the general himself. + +Across the parade ground dashed Indian, panting, gasping. Down by the +headquarters building, he saw a group of horses standing. One charger he +recognized instantly. The general was inside the building, and a moment +later a group of officers appeared in the doorway. The handsome, +commanding figure in front. Indian's heart bounded for joy; and then +suddenly the amazed General Miles was greeted by a gasping, excited +cadet in plebe fatigue uniform. + +"General, oh, general! Bless my soul!" + +The officer stared at him. + +"A plot!" panted Indian. "Oh, general, please don't go"--puff--"near the +camp--bless my soul! A plot!" + +"A plot!" echoed the other. "A plot! What do you mean?" + +"They're going to hurt you--bless my soul!" + +"Hurt me! Who?" + +"The cadets, sir! Bless my soul, I--puff--heard them say, they +were--puff--oh!--going to b-b-beat the general." + +There was a moment of silence, then a perfect roar of laughter came from +the staff officers. The general laughed too, for a moment, but when he +saw the plebe's alarm and perplexity he stopped and gazed at him with a +kindly expression. "My boy," he said, "you've been letting the yearlings +fool you." + +"Fool me!" echoed Indian in horror. "Bless my soul!--how?" + +"Beating the general means," answered the officer, "beating the general +assembly, which is a drum call." + +The officers shook with laughter again, and as for poor Indian, he was +thunderstruck. So he had been fooled again! So he had let those mean +cadets haze him once more! And--and---- + +Poor Indian's eyes began to fill with tears. And he choked down a great +big sob. The old officer saw his look of misery. + +"Do they fool you often that way, my boy?" he asked, sympathetically. + +"Ye--yes!" answered Indian, at the verge of a weeping spell. "Ye--yes, +th-they do. And I think it's real mean." + +"So do I," said the general, smiling. "I tell you how we'll fix it. +Don't you let on they succeeded." + +"I can't help it," moaned Indian. "They know! L-look!" + +With trembling finger he pointed across the street to where in the +shadow of the sally port of the academy stood a group of hilarious +yearlings, fully half the class, wild with glee. The general shook his +head as he looked, and poor Indian got out his handkerchief as a +precaution. + +"Too bad!" said the former. "Too bad, I declare! We'll have to turn that +joke on them somehow or other. Let me see. Let me see. How would you +like it for me to help you get square, as you boys say?" + +Indian gazed up at the stalwart and kindly form confidingly; he was all +smiles in a moment. + +"I'll tell you," said the general at last, "you and I'll take a walk. +And when they see you with me, they'll be sorry they sent you. Come on." + +He took the arm of the delighted Indian, who was scarcely able to +realize the extent of his good fortune. + +"You'll excuse me a short while, gentlemen," said General Miles to his +military staff. "I'll return shortly. And now," to Indian, "where shall +we go? I guess I'll let you show me about camp." + +And sure enough, pinching himself to make sure if he really were awake, +Indian, on the arm of the mighty guest of West Point, commander of Uncle +Sam's whole army, marched away up the road past the parade ground and +all through Camp McPherson. + +The general was enjoying the joke hugely, but he affected not to notice +it, and plied the plebe with questions. + +Why did the yearlings haze him so much? Was he B. J.? Oh, it was because +he was a friend of Mark Mallory's, was it! General Miles had heard of +Mark Mallory. He was the plebe who had saved the life of the general's +friend, Judge Fuller's daughter. A beautiful girl that! And a splendid +act! Indian had seen it, had he? Colonel Harvey had described it to the +general. The general would like to meet Mark Mallory. No, he was not +joking; he really would. Mr. Mallory was in hospital, was he? Too bad! +Had been too B. J., had he? The general liked B. J. plebes. He hoped +Mark was not badly hurt. And---- + +Then suddenly the conversation was interrupted by a cry of joy from +Indian. + +"There's Mark now! He's out of hospital!" + +"That handsome lad down the street there?" inquired the general, "let us +go down by all means." + +A moment later, Mark, to his great amazement, was confronted by the +curiously contrasted pair. Indian was beaming like a sunflower. + +"Mr. Mallory," he said, with a flourish, "allow me to present my friend, +General Miles." + +Mark bowed, and the general took the hand he held out. + +"Mr. Mallory," he said, "I am proud to meet you. I have heard of what +you have done. The service needs such men as you." + +And the whole corps heard him say so, too. The general had been very +careful to say those words in a loud and clear voice that made the camp +ring. Then he turned and spoke to an orderly who was passing. + +"Tell my staff to ride up here for me," he said, and added, turning to +the two radiant plebes: "Now, my young friends, I must ask you to excuse +me. I am very pleased to have met you both. Good-morning, Mr. Smith, and +Mr. Mallory." + +With which he turned and strode away up the street again, smiling at the +recollection of the incident. And Mark stood and stared at his grinning +friend Indian. + +"Well," said he, "you blessed idiot, you certainly do beat the Dutch!" + +And then he turned and went into the tent. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +"BULL" FINDS AN ALLY. + + +"For Heaven's sake, man, you don't mean this for a fact, do you?" + +It was Mark who spoke; he sat alone in his tent with Texas late that +evening, and Texas was telling him the story of Mary Adams and what she +had done during the day. + +"And did she tell you to tell me this?" Mark continued, in amazement. + +"No," said Texas; "she didn't want me to a bit. I couldn't make her out +'t all. She wanted you to know it, but she didn't want me to tell it." + +"I'm afraid," laughed the other, "that you haven't a very delicate sense +of propriety. I'm afraid you're no ladies' man, Texas." + +"That's all right," answered Texas. "I think I managed this yere affair +right well. Now, what I want to know is, what you're goin' to do 'bout +it?" + +"That's just what I want to know," said his friend. "I'm as puzzled as +you. Why, I hadn't the least idea the poor girl felt that way about me." + +"Don't you care for her?" + +"Why, of course, man. I like her well enough, from what I know of her. +But I don't want any of that sickly, sentimental business in mine, and +especially about a girl like her. I'm afraid of her, and I don't know +what on earth to say to her. I wish to gracious, old man, you hadn't +said a word to me about it." + +Texas gazed at Mark with a grieved expression. That was a nice thing to +say to a man who was just priding himself on having managed a delicate +affair so nicely. And Texas arose to his feet. + +"Well," said he, "I'm sorry you don't like it. An' ef that's all I git, +I'll keep out of it." + +With which he bounced out of the tent and strode away. Mark also left +the tent for a walk a moment later, still thinking. + +The girl was sincere, that was certain. And he knew it all, and so did +she. The question was, what could Mark do without hurting her feelings. +She was wildly jealous of Grace. Now Mark had not the remotest idea of +dropping Grace Fuller, his "angel"; he did not like even to think of her +in connection with this girl. He knew in his heart it would be best to +let Mary Adams alone from this time on. But what would she think then? + +Mark was weighing this question as he went. He was not noticing, +meanwhile, where he was going. It was within half an hour or so of +tattoo he knew, and a dark, cloudy night. He had taken the path down +through "Flirtation Walk," heeding no one; he had strolled to the other +end, and turned to retrace his steps when suddenly he halted in +surprise. A dark figure was hurrying past him, and as he gazed at it and +recognized it, he exclaimed aloud: + +"Miss Adams!" he cried. "You here!" + +The girl turned and faced him, pushing aside the shawl she wore and +disclosing her face in all its passionate beauty. + +"Mr. Mallory!" she cried, in just as much surprise; and then gazed at +him trembling. + +"Miss Adams," said Mark, quietly, after a moment's thought. "I want to +have a talk with you, if you please. May I?" + +"Yes," she cried. "Yes, but not here. I want to see you alone." + +She turned, and Mark followed her, almost having to run to keep up with +the girl's excited pace. They descended the hill at the end of the path, +and then on they went almost to the Hudson's shore. It was a dark, +deserted spot, and there the girl halted. Mark stopped too, and she +turned about and gazed at him. + +"Now, then," said she. + +Mark said nothing at first; he was watching her features, admiring them +and at the same time wondering at the emotion they showed. Her cheeks +became red as fire under his gaze. + +"Mr. Powers has told you all?" she demanded at last. "He has; I can see +it!" + +Mark started as he noticed the tone of her voice; he had never heard her +speak that way before. Usually her voice was soft and melodious, a voice +with a hidden, musical charm. Now it was cold and harsh, and Mark knew +at once what that meant. + +The girl was angry already. She saw that he was about to cast her aside, +after all her passionate, humiliating confession. And she was putting a +bold, brazen front upon it. + +"I can see!" she cried, suddenly. "I can see it all in your face. You do +not care for me!" + +"Miss Adams," he began, quietly; the girl shook her head impatiently. + +"Call me Mary or Moll!" she exclaimed. "Call me Mary and be done with +it. They all do." + +Mark was puzzled. He did not wish to call her Mary, he did not wish to +indicate any familiarity. He saw on the other hand that to refuse would +be to cut her to the quick; but he chose the latter course. + +"I shall call you Miss Adams," he said, decisively. "And I want to +explain to you----" + +The girl stamped her foot upon the ground. + +"There is no need for you to explain!" she cried. "I know! I know it +all! I have watched you, followed you, dreamed of you, and you have +flung me off." + +As she spoke, the girl had been striding about the spot. As she finished +she bowed her head and broke into a passion of tears. + +"But, Miss Adams," expostulated Mark, "you will not let me explain." + +"'Explain!'" The girl raised her head and tossed her dark hair in anger, +while her eyes flashed. "I do not want you to explain! Your explanations +are simply honeyed words to hide the facts. I know the facts. You want +to tell me why. I know why! It is because of her, of her! I hate her, +the yellow-haired creature. And I hate you! Yes, I hate you! You have +treated me as if I were a puppet, as if I had no right to live. And I do +not want to live. I have no use for life. I wish I were dead!" + +The girl had raised her hands to the sky, a weird figure; she gazed +about her despairingly as she finished. + +"I wish I were dead!" she cried, again. + +The wind whistled through the lonely trees as she spoke, and made a +strange accompaniment to her impassioned voice. A steamboat, plying the +river, was softly churning little waves that lapped against the shore +and made a low, gurgling sound upon the rocks. The girl gazed over the +steep, dark bank as she cried out in her wretchedness, and the next +instant she sprang forward. + +The thought had flashed over Mark at the same moment. He saw the girl +move, and seized her. She turned upon him with the fury of a tiger, a +tiger she was, with all a tiger's passions. For a moment they struggled +and wrestled, the girl crying out all the time. And then she tore +herself loose with one mighty effort--Mark had only one free hand--and +lunged down, down into the darkness. + +Mark heard a splash and a gurgle of the black invisible waters. And then +all was silent as the grave. + +Mark Mallory hesitated, hesitated for the first time in his life. One +arm was bound tight in a sling and helpless. He was weak and faint yet +from his maltreatment. Still he could not see her die without trying to +save her. His hesitation gone, he took a step forward, but he was too +late. + +There was a quick noise behind him; he heard the word "coward!" hissed +in his ear, and a white figure shot past him and dived out into the +darkness. + +Mark gasped with relief; and quick to act, he turned, and helpless +though he was, clambered down around the side to reach the spot. He +heard sounds of a struggle out beyond him; he heard some whispered +words, and a moment later the figure of the rescuer arose out of the +water and confronted him, bearing the girl in his arms. + +It was Bull Harris! + +Mark started back instinctively; and Bull sneered as he saw it. + +"Coward!" he repeated. "Coward! The corps shall know of this!" + +Mark knew that expostulation and explanation were useless and +unnecessary. He said not a word, but saw the girl safely brought to +shore. And then, sad and heavy at heart, he turned and walked back +toward the camp. + +Bull Harris stayed, to reap the fruit of his labors. He held the +half-fainting, half-hysterical girl in his arms and wiped her straying +hair from her face and sought to calm her. He seemed to like his task, +for when she was better he made no move to stop. + +"Did he push you over?" inquired Bull, insinuatingly. + +"No," cried the girl, with fierceness. "He did not. But I hate him!" + +"You might say he did then!" the yearling whispered softly. + +Mary Adams glanced at him with a sharp look. + +"I might," she said, "if I chose. And I may. What's that to you?" + +"To me!" cried Bull clinching the girl's hand in his until she cried +out. "To me! I hate him! I could kill him!" + +"You were rude to me once," she muttered. + +"Yes," exclaimed Bull. "I was. You liked him, and I hated you for it." + +That was a lie, but the girl did not choose, for some reason, to say so. + +"Come," she said, striving to arise. "Help me home." + +"One moment!" cried Bull, holding her back. "Promise me one thing, one +thing before you go." + +"What is it?" + +"I know the whole story, Mary," he said. "I know how he has treated you, +how he has cast you off, made a puppet of you, and all for that Grace +Fuller! You say you hate him. So do I. Promise me, promise me to be +revenged if you have to die for it." + +"I will!" cried she, furiously. + +"Will you give me your hand on it?" + +"I will." + +Bull took her home that night, though he was in no hurry about it. He +came in after taps, for he thought it would do him good to hand in his +explanation that he had been saving a girl's life, and restoring her to +consciousness. A girl; perhaps a girl upon whom murder had been +attempted. + +He evaded all details, however, and went to his tent chuckling +triumphantly at his evil work that night. + +He had laid a foundation for trouble, but would success follow? + +Only the future could tell. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +STRANGE CONDUCT. + + +"Say, fellows, what do you think?" + +"What's the matter?" + +"Mallory's given in!" + +"Given in! How do you mean?" + +"He's going to let himself be hazed." + +"What!" + +Two more surprised cadets than the two who uttered this last exclamation +it would be hard to imagine. They had been sitting on a bench near +Trophy Point, and one of them had been carelessly tinkling a mandolin. +He had dropped the instrument and leaped to his feet. Now he was staring +with open mouth at the new arrival, who bore the extraordinary tidings. + +"Mallory given up! Gus Murray, what on earth do you mean?" + +The three were yearlings, all of them. The crowd which has usually been +designated in these stories as "Bull Harris' gang." There was Gus +Murray, the new arrival, a low, brutal-looking chap. There was the +sickly and disagreeable "Merry" Vance. And there was the little fellow +"Baby" Edwards, the meanest of them all. + +"You surely can't mean," cried Vance, "that Mallory has consented to +allow the fellows to haze him?" + +"Better than that even," chuckled Murray. "Better than that!" + +"For Heaven's sake," gasped the other, "sit down and tell us what you do +mean. What is the use of talking riddles?" + +Thus enjoined, Gus Murray explained; he was nothing loath to tell the +tale. + +"I'll tell you how it was," he said. "I was never more astounded in my +life. I saw that plebe strolling down the street a while ago, holding +his head high as ever and looking as if he owned the place." + +"Confound him!" muttered Vance. + +"You know," the other continued, "he's never done any work like the rest +of the plebes. Usually we yearlings make them fix our tents and guns, +and carry water, and so on. Mallory never has, and of course nobody's +succeeded in making him. I thought I'd guy him a little just now and see +how he'd take it. So I stopped and said, 'See here, plebe. Let me show +you how to clean a gun.'" + +"And what did he say?" cried Vance. + +"Just as B. J. as ever," growled Murray. "'Thank you,' he said, 'I'll go +get mine and let you do it.' Of course he knew perfectly well that I +wanted to show him on mine and let him do the work. I said to him, +'I've a gun to show you on, if you please.' And by George----" + +"You don't mean he cleaned your gun for you!" gasped Baby. + +"That's just exactly what I do! You might have knocked me over with a +feather. He said, 'Certainly, sir.' Yes, by jiminy, he actually said +'sir.' And when I left him he was working away like a beaver. He had the +gun half cleaned. What do you think of that?" + +Gus finished and gazed at his two companions triumphantly. He felt that +he had accomplished something that no other member of his class ever +had. + +"I'll bet Mallory was afraid of you," chirruped Baby Edwards. "Don't you +suppose that's it, Merry?" + +Vance picked up his mandolin and resumed his cynical smile. + +"I'll tell you what I think," he said. + +"What?" demanded Murray. + +"That you're a fool." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Simply," said Vance, "that Mallory was playing some kind of a joke on +you." + +"But he wasn't!" cried the other. "I went back after he was through and +the gun was perfect. The wood was polished till it shone like a mirror. +I actually did not like to touch it, it was so pretty." + +"And how about the rest of the tent?" inquired Vance. + +"He hadn't disturbed a thing. I looked particularly. I tell you, man, +that Mallory has given in." + +"It's not much like him," said Merry, dubiously. + +"You don't have to look very far for the cause," began Murray. "You +remember how the first class gave him a licking the other day?" + +Vance admitted that might have something to do with it. + +"It's got everything," chuckled Murray. "It's simply broken his spirit. +Why look, man! He was black and blue all over. Even now one of his arms +is in a sling. I tell you he's made up his mind that it isn't safe to +carry on as he's been, and so he's decided to get meek and mild for a +change." + +"And, oh, say, if it's true!" cried Baby, excitedly. "If it's true! Gee +whiz, won't we have some fun!" + +"Just won't we!" responded Murray, doubling up his fists and glaring as +if the hated plebe were really in front of him. "I just tell you I mean +to make him wish he'd never been born. I've been waiting for a chance to +get even with that confounded beast, and now I'll have him." + +For the next half hour there was joy unbounded among those three young +gentlemen. Only those who are familiar with their dispositions can +comprehend the amount of satisfaction they felt; and only those who know +our friend Mark Mallory's character as they did can appreciate their +surprise at his "flunk." + +"I wish Bull were here to hear about it," remarked Baby at last. + +"Where is Bull anyhow?" inquired Murray, who was chief lieutenant in +Bull's gang and an invaluable assistant in all of Bull's schemes for +revenge upon Mark. + +That question changed the topic of conversation for a few minutes. It +was Vance who answered it. + +"There's something mysterious about Bull," he said. "I've been puzzling +my head to think what it means. You know Bull was absent from taps last +night." + +"What!" + +"Yes, he was. And you know that's a pretty serious offense. It may mean +court-martial, you know." + +"Good gracious!" gasped Baby. "What would we do without Bull?" + +"I guess we won't have to," laughed Vance. "You needn't begin to worry. +I was corporal of the guard last night when Bull came in to report. It +was way after eleven." + +"Where on earth had he been?" + +"He wouldn't tell me. He was very mysterious. It seems that he had been +in the water somehow and was soaking wet; all I could get out of him was +that the business had something to do with Mary Adams." + +"Mary Adams!" cried Gus. "I thought she wouldn't speak to him." + +"Well, I don't know," said Vance. "That was what Bull told me. Anyhow he +didn't seem a bit alarmed about his absence." + +"The superintendent sent for him this afternoon," put in Murray. "I +suppose that was to give him a chance to explain the matter." + +"Yes, and I saw Bull with Mary a while ago," added the other, shrewdly. +"I shouldn't wonder if Bull were getting up some scheme. He hasn't said +much about Mallory to-day. He's been very mysterious." + +The mystery, whatever it was, was destined to remain unsolved, however, +for just then the rattle of a drum echoed across the field, and the +three sprang up hastily. + +"It's dress parade," said Murray. + +"Yes," responded Vance, dryly. "And now you'll have a chance to show off +that beautifully cleaned gun of yours. Come on." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +A SURPRISE FOR MURRAY. + + +Gus Murray went straight to his tent when the group broke up. He hastily +dusted off his clothes and looked at himself in the glass to make sure +that nothing was out of place. Then he took up his gun from the rack and +hurried out to "fall in." + +A moment later the order was given, "'Tention company!" and after roll +call the battalion wheeled and marched out upon the parade ground. + +The ceremony of dress parade has been described in these pages before. +The solemn cadet adjutant formed the parade and then turned it over to +his superior. The gayly-dressed band marched down the line and took its +station. A few moments later the battalion was in the midst of its +evolutions. + +It was not very long before they halted again, down toward the southern +end of the plain, to go through the manual of arms. It was then that Gus +Murray received a shock. + +The cadets had been marching with their guns at a "carry." Gus had held +his that way ever since he picked it up, and then suddenly the +lieutenant in command gave the order: + +"Present--arms!" + +In a "carry" the soldier holds his gun in the right hand, with thumb and +first finger around the trigger guard. In coming to "present" he swings +it up in front of him and seizes the stock in the left hand, at the same +time letting go with the right and reversing his grip. + +The cadet lines work like a perfect machine in that drill. Every gun +swings up at the same instant, every hand moves in unison, so that the +sound of the many motions is but one. This time, however, there was a +break, and the cause of it was our dear friend Gus. + +Gus got through the first part of the motion all right. On the second +part he got "stuck"--in more senses than one. When he went to let go +with his right hand--he couldn't! + +At first he could hardly understand what was happening. He pulled and +tugged with all his might. But it did no good; his hand was fast. And in +an instant the horrible truth flashed over him--Mallory--he had polished +the gun with glue! + +Every spectator on the grounds was staring at Gus. As for him, he was +still tugging and wrestling, blushing, and gasping with rage. Finally he +saw that his efforts were useless, and he gave it up in despair; he +stood silent and helpless, gazing into space. + +Lieutenant Ross was the name of tac in command, and he was noted for +being a crank. He gave no more orders, of course, but stood and stared +at the offending cadet in horror and indignation, while the cadets, who +did not dare to look, but who knew that something was "up," waited and +wondered. + +How long this suspense and torture would last no one could tell; the tac +broke in at last. + +"Mr. Murray!" he demanded. "What is the matter?" + +"My gun!" stammered Murray. "I--I--why--that is----" + +"Mr. Murray, leave the ranks!" + +Blushing scarlet, the yearling obeyed, conscious of the fact that +hundreds of eyes were upon him. He strode furiously down the line and +once clear, set out on a run for camp, almost ready to cry with +vexation. He reached his tent, rushed in, tore off his glove, and hurled +his musket into the corner. And then he stood in the middle of his tent +and clinched his fists until his nails cut the palms of his hands. + +"By Heaven!" he cried, "I'll be revenged on that plebe if I have to kill +him to do it!" + +He stayed in his tent, nursing his wrath and resentment, until the +battalion marched back to camp. And he refused to come out then; his +classmates who inquired as to what was the matter received angry replies +for their pains. And when the corps marched down to supper Murray still +sat where he was. He didn't want any supper. + +He was in just the mood to welcome a visitor who came then. The visitor +was Murray's chum and crony, Bull Harris. + +"Hello, old man," said he, pushing aside the tent flap. "What's up?" + +"Go to blazes!" responded Murray, by way of answer. + +"Come, come," said Bull, pleasantly. "You don't want to get mad with me, +Gus. Tell me what's wrong." + +"It's that confounded plebe!" snapped Murray. + +"I thought so," said Bull. "Well, that's what my news is about. I've got +a plot." + +And the other's sullen glare gave place to a look of delight in an +instant. He leaped to his feet with an exclamation of joy. + +"By George, I knew it!" he cried. "Quick! quick! Out with it! Nothing's +too desperate for me to-night." + +"That's good," chuckled Bull. "Very good. Come, let us go and take a +walk. This is a long story; and no one must overhear it, either." + +Such is the effect of bad motives upon men. Those two precious rascals +stooped instinctively as they hurried down the company street and +dodged out of camp. Bull led his company down through "Flirtation Walk" +and out to the far end of it. Here they scrambled down the hillside +until they were in a lonely, deserted glen almost at the river's edge. +It was already growing dark with the shadows of the evening. And here +Bull stopped and took a seat. + +"I hope this is quiet enough for you," said Murray. + +"I had an especial reason for bringing you here!" responded Bull. "All +I've got to tell you about happened here. Do you know, old man, I jumped +into the river off that high bank last night." + +"What!" gasped the other. "For Heaven's sake, why?" + +"That's in the story," answered Harris. "I'll begin at the beginning. +Listen. You remember how I told you a a while ago when that plebe +Mallory first came here, how Mary Adams and I had a quarrel and that +fool came along and knocked me down." + +"You never told me what you were doing," said Murray. + +"Never mind. I was a fool to try it, that way. Anyhow, she's hated me +ever since. And oh, how she has struggled to get that plebe. Murray, I'm +smarter than you think. I've been watching this business night and day, +waiting for my chance. And now it's come. I found that plebe and Mary +on this very spot just before taps last night." + +"What doing?" gasped Murray. + +Bull told the particulars. + +"And, by George, I'll be hanged if she didn't end it by flinging herself +head first over that bank!" he concluded. + +"What!" gasped Murray. + +"Yes, sir. And then I saw my chance. Oh, it was a bonanza for me, Gus! +Mallory was lame, you know, and he hesitated. I rushed past him and +saved her life. Throwing in some heroic flourishes, so's to have the +right effect upon her. I carried her out, and upbraided him as a coward. +He was lame, I knew, and couldn't do anything if he wanted to. And it +made her hate him all the more." + +"How did it turn out?" + +"Splendidly. He went back to camp, and I took her all the way home. And +you can bet I fixed it all right with her on the way. I made up for what +she was mad about before; and I talked about Mallory and that other girl +until she was wild. And, Gus, we've got her!" + +"Got her for what?" + +"Mallory! She's our tool, man; we can do just what we please. She'll do +anything on earth for revenge. I almost think she'd kill him." + +"You don't mean," gasped Gus, "that she's going to swear he pushed her +into the river?" + +"She wanted to," said Bull. "Oh, Murray, you can't imagine how simply +desperate that girl was! She'd simply thrown herself at Mallory's feet, +and he'd kicked her away. At least that was the way it seemed to her, +and you can bet I didn't try to change her view. And she was crying with +rage all the way home. Her face was simply scarlet, and she was +trembling like a leaf. I was honestly afraid of her. She vowed she'd +swear to anything I said if she could only ruin him, and to get that +Grace Fuller away from him. She said she'd swear to it and stick to it +that he tried to murder her. She was even mad because I wouldn't let +her." + +"Why didn't you?" cried the other. + +"In the first place, I doubt if the superintendent would believe her. +There have been several plots like that tried, but he has too much faith +in that fool of a plebe. Then, too, I doubt if the girl's rage'll last +that long. We must use it while it does. All we want to do is to get +that plebe dismissed." + +"That's all!" exclaimed Murray. "But in Heaven's name, how?" + +"Didn't I tell you I had a plot?" + +"Yes, but what? and when?" + +"To-night!" cried Bull. "To-night! And I want you to help us." + +Murray sprang up in excitement and joy. Bull hushed his exclamations, +and after glancing cautiously about him to make sure that no one was +near in that now black and shadowy glade, went on in a low, muttering +tone: + +"It's very simple," he whispered. "It's because it's so simple it's sure +to work. It won't leave Mallory the ghost of a chance. I'm just as sure, +man, sure as I stand on this spot of ground, that Mallory will be +court-martialed in a week." + +"What is it?" cried Murray. + +"Listen. Mary's going to write him a letter to-night, send it to him +about midnight, asking him to come to her. Then----" + +"But will he come?" + +"Certainly. We can make it strong. She will. She can say she's dying, +anything to make sure. He'll go. She lives beyond cadet limits. Some of +us'll be there, catch him, tie him--anything, I don't care. And I know +the girl don't. I think she'd tear his eyes out. Anyhow, we'll fix him +there, beyond limits, and then back to camp we go, make some infernal +racket and have the tac out in no time. Then there'll be an inspection, +and Mallory'll be 'hived' absent after taps. They'll ask him next +morning where he's been, and he'll tell." + +"He may lie." + +"He won't. He couldn't. I know him too well. And he'll be +court-martialed, and there you are!" + +And Gus Murray leaped up with a cry of joy. He seized his companion by +the hand. + +"That's it!" he cried. "That's it! By Heaven, it'll do him. And if +there's any blame to bear that fool of a girl shall bear it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE PLOT SUCCEEDS. + + +That beautiful July evening, while those precious rascals sat whispering +and discussing the details of their plan, while first classmen and +yearlings were all down in the academy building at the "hop," a certain +plebe sat in a tent of Company A, all by himself. A candle flickered +beside him, and he held a writing pad in his hand. The plebe was Mark, +his clear-cut, handsome features shining in the yellow light. + + "Dear Mother," he was writing. "It is hard for one to + get time to write a letter here. We plebes have so + much to do. But I have promised you to write once a + week, and so I have stolen off from my friends to drop + you a line. + + "This is the fifth letter I have written now, the + close of the fifth week. And I like West Point as much + as I ever did. You know how much that is. You know how + I have worked and striven for this chance I have. West + Point has always been the goal of all my hopes, and I + am still happy to have reached it. If I should forfeit + my chance now, it would be by my own fault, I think; I + know that it would break my heart. + + "We plebes have to work hard nowadays. They wake us up + at five with a big gun, and after that it is drill all + day. But I like it, for I am learning lots of things. + If you could see me sweeping and dusting I know you + would laugh. Texas says if 'the boys' saw him they'd + lynch him 'sho'. + + "I told you a lot about Texas the last time I wrote. + He is the most delightful character I have ever met in + my life. He is just fresh from the plains, and his + cowboy ways of looking at things keep me laughing all + day. But he is just as true as steel, and as fine a + friend as I ever knew. + + "I believe I told you all about the Banded Seven, the + secret society we have gotten up to stop hazing. Well, + we are having high jinks with 'the ole ya'rlin's,' as + Texas calls them. We have outwitted them at every + point, and I think they are about ready to give up in + despair. We plebes even went to the hop the other + night. I can hear the music of the hop now as it comes + over the parade ground. It is very alluring, so you + must appreciate this letter all the more. + + "I shan't tell you about the fight I had, for it would + worry you. And I haven't time to tell you how I saved + the life of a girl last week. I inclose a newspaper + clipping about it, but you mustn't believe it was so + absurdly heroic. The girl's father is a very rich man + here, and, mother, she is very sweet and attractive. + She has joined the Seven to help me fool the + yearlings. + + "I guess I shall have to stop now. I hear some sounds + that make me think it is time for tattoo, and besides, + I am getting very homesick, writing to you way out in + Colorado. You need not be fearing any rival to my + affections, mother dear, even if I am fond of Grace + Fuller. I wish I could see you just once to-night to + tell you how much I miss you. And I am still + + "Your devoted son, + + "MARK." + +Mark laid down his pencil with a sigh. He folded the letter and sealed +it, and then arose slowly to his feet. Outside of his tent he heard +quick steps and voices, and a moment later the rattle of a drum broke +forth. + +"Tattoo," he observed. "I thought so." + +He turned toward the door as the flap was pushed aside--and a tall, +slender lad entered, a lad with bronzed, sun-tanned features and merry +gray eyes. + +"Hello, Texas!" said Mark. + +"Hello," growled Texas. "Look a yere! What do you mean by runnin' off +an' hidin' all evenin'? I been a huntin' you everywhere." + +"I've been right here," said Mark, "writing a letter home. Did you want +me to go to the hop?" + +"No, I didn't. But I wanted you to tell me all 'bout that crazy Mary +Adams last night an' what you did. You ain't had time to tell me all +day." + +Mark told him the story then. They were still discussing it when they +turned out and lined up for roll call; and that ceremony being over, +they scattered again, Texas still eagerly asking questions about the +strange affair. + +Taps sounded half an hour later--ten o'clock--"lights out and all +quiet." They stopped then. + +Sentry No. 3 that night was "Baby" Edwards. His beat lay along the +northern edge of the camp, skirting the tents of Company A. And Baby +Edwards let quite a number pass his beat that night. + +For instance, he was on duty from midnight until two. It was bright +moonlight then, and Baby could have seen any one who crossed his post; +but he heard a signaling whistle and faced out in order not to see any +one. The person who entered was a boy clad in a blue uniform, an +"orderly," as they are called. + +He ran silently and swiftly in and made straight for one tent. When he +got there he hesitated not a moment, but stepped in and crept up to one +of the sleepers. + +It was Mark who awoke at his touch, and Mark sat up in alarm and stared +at him. + +"Sh!" said the boy. "Sh! Don't wake any one." + +"What do you want?" Mark demanded. + +"I've a letter, sir, a letter from her again." + +Mark stared at the boy and recognized him at once as a messenger who had +given him a note from Mary Adams about a month ago. And he sprang to his +feet in surprise. + +"She writing again!" he whispered. "Quick, give it to me." + +He broke the seal, stepped to the tent door, where, in the white +moonlight, he could read every letter plainly. And this was what he +saw: + + "DEAR MR. MALLORY: Oh, once more I have to write you + to call upon you for aid. You cannot imagine the + terrible distress I am in. And I have no one to call + upon but you. If you respect me as a woman, come to my + aid to-night and at once. And come alone, for I could + not bear to have any one but you know of my terrible + affliction. Oh, please do not fail me! You may imagine + my state of mind when I write you like this. And let + me call myself + + Your friend, + + "MARY ADAMS." + +Mark finished the reading of that letter in amazement, even alarm. + +"Did she give you this?" he demanded of the boy. + +"Yes, sir, she did, not five minutes ago," replied the lad. "And she +told me to run. She seemed scared to death, sir, and I know she'd been +crying." + +Mark stared into his earnest face a moment, and then he turned away in +thought. + +"You may go," he said to the boy. "I know my way to her house alone." + +The lad disappeared; and Mark, without a moment's hesitation, went over +and woke one of the cadets. + +"Wake up, Texas," he whispered. "Wake up and read this." + +Texas arose from his couch in surprise and sleepy alarm. He read the +letter, gasping; then he stared at Mark. + +"Do you think she wrote it?" he inquired. + +That problem was puzzling Mark, too. He had received two letters before +from the girl, under exactly similar circumstances. One had been a trick +of the cadets to lure him out. The other had been genuine, and had +resulted in Mark's saving the girl's brother from disgrace and ruin. But +which was this? + +Mark made up his mind quickly. + +"I think she wrote it, old man," he said. "The drum boy who gave me this +gave me the other she wrote, too, and he swears she wrote this. He said +she was frightened and crying. Texas, she lives way off there with her +old mother, who's blind and helpless. And there's no telling what may +have happened to her. Just see how urgent that note is. I must go, old +man. I'd be a coward if I didn't. She don't know a soul to call on but +me." + +And Mark, generous and noble to a fault, had turned and begun to fling +on his clothing. Texas was doing likewise. + +"I'm a-goin' too," he vowed. + +"She says not," whispered Mark. + +"I know," was the answer. "She ain't a-goin' to know it. I'm a-goin' in +case it's them ole yearlin's. Ef I see it's all right, and she wrote it, +I reckon I kin sneak home." + +Nothing could deter the faithful and vigilant Texan from his resolution, +and when Mark stole out of his tent his friend was at his heels. They +passed the sentry, Baby Edwards, with the usual signal, Mark fooled for +once, was chuckling at his deception, thinking Baby thought them +yearlings. But Baby knew who it was, and laughed. + +The two, once clear of camp, set out on a dead run. They dashed across +the Cavalry Plain and down the road to Highland Falls. It was nearly a +mile to where Mary Adams lived, but Mark never stopped once, not even +when he came to the dreaded cadet limits, to be found beyond which meant +court-martial and dismissal in disgrace. He took the risk grimly, +however, and ran on. When they finally reached the girl's house the +Texan was panting and exhausted. + +"You stay there," whispered Mark, pointing to a clump of bushes nearby. + +Texas crouched behind them, and doubled his fists in determination. Mark +just as promptly stepped up to the door and softly rapped. + +There was a light in one of the rooms on the ground floor. The curtain +was carefully drawn, but Texas, watching closely, saw a shadow swiftly +flit across. And just after that the door was flung open, and the girl +stood before them. + +"I knew you would come!" Texas heard her cry. "Oh, thank fortune!" + +Then Mark stepped inside, and the door shut again. + +Texas waited in suspense and curiosity. He did not know how long Mark +might be in there, but he was resolved to stick it out. Then suddenly, +to his surprise, the door was opened again, and Mark and the girl +stepped out. + +She was leaning upon his arm, and hurrying him forward quickly. She was +evidently in great distress, and from what the hidden listener heard, +Mark was striving his best to comfort her. The two figures hurried +across the clearing and vanished in the woods. Texas arose from his +position. + +"I reckon it's all right," he muttered. "It's blamed mysterious, but +there's nothin' mo' fo' me to do." + +And suiting the action to the word the faithful Southerner turned and +set out rapidly for camp. + +Mark, when he entered Mary Adams' house, found her standing before him, +a picture of misery and fright. He demanded to know what was wrong. + +"Come, come!" the girl cried. "Quick. I cannot tell you. Oh! Come and +see." + +She flung a shawl about her shoulders, seized Mark by the arm in a +convulsive grip, and together they hurried through the woods. + +It was a little footpath they followed. Mark had no idea where they were +going in the deep black darkness. He abandoned himself entirely to the +girl's guidance, trusting that no slight matter could have taken her +there, and he was right. + +The girl said not a word during the trip. She kept her face hidden in +the shawl, and only a sob told Mark the state of her feelings. He was +growing more mystified and curious every moment. + +On, on they went. They must have been hurrying continually for at least +five minutes, the girl dragging the cadet faster and faster, when +suddenly she turned and left the path. + +There was a dense thicket before them; she paused not a moment to +hesitate, but plunged into the midst of it. The briars tore her clothing +and hands, but she forced her way in. And when they were in the very +center, without a word, she stopped and faced about. + +She pushed aside her veil and hair and stared wildly at Mark. He gazed +at her blood-red, burning cheeks and saw her black eyes glitter. + +"What is the matter?" he cried. + +She made not a sound, but suddenly to Mark's infinite horror flung +herself upon him and wrapped her arms about his neck. + +"Why, Miss Adams," he gasped. "I----" + +His words stuck in his throat. His surprise changed to the wildest +dismay and consternation. For he felt a pair of sinewy arms flung about +his ankles, binding his feet together as in a vise. He had only one +free arm, the other being bound to his chest with the bandages of the +surgeon; the free arm was seized by the wrist with a grip that almost +crushed it. And to his mouth another pair of hands were pressed, making +outcry impossible as it would have been futile anyway. + +Mark was as motionless and helpless as if he had been turned to stone! + +The swift emotions that surged through his excited brain defy +description. He saw the plot in an instant, apprehended it in all its +fiendish heartlessness; and he knew that he was ruined. He could not see +behind him; he could not identify his assailants; but he was sure they +were cadets, Bull and his crowd leagued with this wretched girl to play +upon his kind-heartedness. + +And that girl! Oh, what a figure she was! She made no attempt to hide +herself, however much Bull Harris might. She stood before her helpless +victim's eyes a perfect figure of vengeance and triumph. + +There is a famous painting by Sichel of the Grecian sorceress, Medea. +The woman is standing clad in white that contrasts with her jet black +hair. In one hand, half hidden, she clutches a shining dagger; her mouth +is set in a firm, determined way, and her eyes are dark and gleaming. +Imagine that figure in the moment of victory, every feature convulsed +with joy, with hatred gratified, and that is the girl Mary Adams. She +was dancing about Mark in fury, flinging her hands in his face, taunting +him, jeering at him, threatening him so as to frighten even the +desperate cadets. + +They, meanwhile, were working quickly; they bound his legs together, his +arms to his side. They forced a gag into his mouth, and then lastly shut +off his view of the wildly shrieking girl by tying a handkerchief about +his eyes. And then they tumbled him to the ground and turned away and +left him. + +Mary Adams stayed behind them a moment to vent her fury upon the +helpless prisoner. + +"Satisfied!" she cried. "How do you like it? I told you I would have +revenge. I told you I hated you! And now, and now it is mine! You are +mine, too! Do you hear me? I can do what I please with you!" + +Mark could not see her, but he felt a stinging pain in his cheek and he +felt the warm blood flow. + +The girl's sharp heel had cut his flesh. And a moment later he heard a +low voice mutter: + +"Come away, you fool! Come on." + +They dragged her reluctantly with them. Mark heard the steps recede into +the distance, heard the silence settling down about the place. They had +left him alone, deserted and helpless, lost in the midst of the woods, +left him to die for all he knew, certainly to be missed, to be expelled, +to be ruined. + +And the poor fellow groaned within him as he realized the triumph of his +enemies. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +TRIUMPH--CONCLUSION. + + +Texas made his way back to camp in silence. Texas felt it was none of +his business, and yet he could not help trying to guess the errand upon +which those two had gone. It was certainly a mystery. Texas reached the +camp without succeeding in forming the least guess. + +He raced past the same sentry in the same style as usual. He entered his +tent and found the other two sleeping soundly, having not the least +suspicion of the night's occurrences. + +"I reckon," he mused, reflectively, "there ain't much use o' my sittin' +round. I'll go to bed." + +With which resolution he undressed and lay down to sleep. + +After such an exciting and lively half hour as the one Texas had just +spent, one does not usually drop off to sleep very easily. It was +fortunate that Texas did not; wide-awake as he was, he had a cooler and +steadier head to think when the hour of trial came. For the "hour of +trial" was coming very soon now. + +Bull Harris and his cowardly allies first took the precaution to calm +the angry girl, and then set out on a run for camp. Their hearts were +beating high with hope and triumph. Their time had come at last; their +enemy was theirs, and theirs without any blame falling on them. It was a +great day for the vengeful Bull. + +They passed their sentry ally in safety and vanished in their tents. In +a minute more they were all safely in bed, as Texas was, and then the +time had come. + +Texas, lying in his silent tent, was just beginning to doze, when +suddenly came a wild yell that shook the air, that made the hills to +echo. It rang through the sleeping camp, and it was followed by a series +of shouts. + +"Help! help! help!" + +The place was in an uproar in an instant; and Texas was almost paralyzed +with horror. An alarm! The camp awake! Inspection! And Mark, his Mark, +his friend and hero, absent! + +He sprang to his feet with a hoarse cry; at the same moment the other +two plebes sat up and stared about them wildly. + +"What's that?" cried one. + +"Mark's gone!" fairly shrieked Texas. + +"Mark gone! How?" + +"He's out of bounds! Great Heavens, he went to see Mary Adams! And he'll +be found out!" + +The two crowded about him, their faces pale with fright, their eyes +staring. + +Mark gone! Mark, their leader! What on earth would they do? + +The Texan's wild exclamation had been heard in the Company B tent to the +rear, and its occupants had rushed in regardless of rules, of discovery, +of everything. An alarm! An inspection! And Mark beyond limits! + +Things were happening with incredible swiftness outside. The shouts had +been echoed by excited inquiries from awakened cadets, by the cries of +sentries for the corporal of the guard, and by the quick, sharp commands +of officers. + +Lieutenant Allen, the "tac" in command, had sprung up from his bed at +the very first cry. And in half a minute more, dressed and with lighted +lantern in hand, he was rushing down the company street. + +"What's the matter?" he cried. + +No one knew. He saw cadets gathered in almost every tent door, staring +out anxiously. Thus he did not notice the state of affairs in Mark's +tent, where six horrified, frightened plebes were huddled, gasping. + +Night alarms had been getting too frequent at Camp McPherson that year, +and had excited the ire of the authorities. The lieutenant meant to find +out the authors of this one, if such a thing were within the realms of +possibility. + +First he thought of sounding the "long roll," the fire or mutiny signal, +summoning the cadets out on the street for roll call. Then it occurred +to him that an inspection of the tents might do better. Another "tac," +Lieutenant Ross, had joined him at this moment. And without a moment's +delay, the two set to work. And Lieutenant Allen started with Company A, +the very street in which Mark Mallory's tent stood! + +A thousand wild plans had occurred to the six, to Texas in particular. +He might "hold up" the tac, prevent the inspection! Or dress up as Mark +and have himself reported! Great Heavens! he must do something! + +The officer began at the head of the street. It was the work of but one +second to glance into each tent. It would take but five seconds more to +reach Mark's, to note the fact that there were but three in that tent, +and that Cadet Mallory was absent out of camp, out of limits! + +Texas turned to his comrades as the officer drew near. There were tears +in Texas' eyes, and his voice was choked. + +"You fellows," he said, to the three from the B tent, "you--you'd better +go back, or you'll get soaked, too." + +Nearer still came the officer. One tent more! The three had turned to +go--and then suddenly Texas uttered a cry of joy and staggered back +against the tent wall! An instant later he leaped forward, seized +Dewey, one of the three, by the shoulders and fairly flung him to the +ground. + +"Lie there! Lie there!" he gasped, hoarsely. "Durnation!" + +Dewey, quick as a wink, saw the ruse. The other two, confused and +frightened, dashed across to their tent and hid, wondering what was up, +what Texas was trying to do. But Dewey slid into the blankets that made +Mark's "bed," drew the sheet over him, all but his head, and then lay +still, gasping and trembling like a leaf. + +Texas and the other two sprang for their places and imitated him. And an +instant later the white light of the officer's lantern flashed into the +tent. + +The four held their breath; their hearts fairly ceased to beat as the +tac glanced around. He saw a tent undisturbed; he saw Texas, and the +Parson and Sleepy; and he saw the brown curly hair of the fourth +occupant, lying upon his stomach, his face turned away from the light. + +A second more and he passed on; and the four almost fainted with the +reaction of relief. + +It was not over yet, though. "Allen" had two more tents to visit up that +row, and then he would turn to B Company. Texas peered out and watched +him reach the last tent, and then uttered a whispered "Now!" + +Quick as a flash, Dewey slid under the wall at the rear, whisked across +the open space, and dived into his own tent--safe! + +The camp settled down into quietness a few minutes after that. But the +six never slept another wink. Mark had escaped that danger, he was safe +for a moment. But another alarm might come any moment! And reveille was +sure to come in a few hours! And where was Mark? + +Texas, ever sly, had become suspicious by that time; ever bold and +faithful, he lost not a moment in hesitation. He left camp again! He ran +straight to Mary Adams' house, and from it straight out the path he had +seen the two take. It was a forlorn hope, but it met with fulfillment. +Texas heard a low groan, the only signal Mark could make when he heard +the step of a possible rescuer. + +And in half an hour more Mark Mallory was back in camp again, safe, +telling to his furious friends the tale of his betrayal and hearing from +them the tale of his "escape." + +"We must get square, b'gee!" cried Dewey. + +"Yes, we must get square, by Zeus!" came from the Parson. + +"Give me time, boys, give me time," put in Mark. "I will think up a +plan." + +"Gosh, but it was a night o' nights," was the comment from Texas. "But +we fooled them ole yearlin's nicely, didn't we?" + +"Oh, they can't down us," chimed in Dewey. "We'll go 'em one better, +b'gee, every time, b'gee!" + +And the Banded Seven agreed to a man. + + +THE END. + + + + +_THE CREAM OF JUVENILE FICTION_ + + +THE BOYS' OWN LIBRARY + +A Selection of the Best Books for Boys by the Most Popular Authors + + +The titles in this splendid juvenile series have been selected with +care, and as a result all the stories can be relied upon for their +excellence. They are bright and sparkling; not over-burdened with +lengthy descriptions, but brimful of adventure from the first page to +the last--in fact they are just the kind of yarns that appeal strongly +to the healthy boy who is fond of thrilling exploits and deeds of +heroism. Among the authors whose names are included in the Boys' Own +Library are Horatio Alger, Jr., Edward S. Ellis, James Otis, Capt. Ralph +Bonehill, Burt L. Standish, Gilbert Patten and Frank H. Converse. + + +SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE BOYS' OWN LIBRARY + +All the books in this series are copyrighted, printed on good paper, +large type, illustrated, printed wrappers, handsome cloth covers stamped +in inks and gold--fifteen special cover designs. + +_146 Titles--Price, per Volume, 75 cents_ + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent, postpaid, on receipt of price by +the publisher. + + +DAVID McKAY, 610 SO. WASHINGTON SQUARE, PHILADELPHIA, PA. + + + + +HORATIO ALGER, Jr. + +One of the best known and most popular writers. Good, clean, healthy +stories for the American Boy. + + Adventures of a Telegraph Boy + Dean Dunham + Erie Train Boy, The + Five Hundred Dollar Check + From Canal Boy to President + From Farm Boy to Senator + Backwoods Boy, The + Mark Stanton + Ned Newton + New York Boy + Tom Brace + Tom Tracy + Walter Griffith + Young Acrobat + + +C. B. ASHLEY. + +One of the best stories ever written on hunting, trapping and adventure +in the West, after the Custer Massacre. + + Gilbert, the Boy Trapper + + +ANNIE ASHMORE. + +A splendid story, recording the adventures of a boy with smugglers. + + Smuggler's Cave, The + + +CAPT. RALPH BONEHILL. + +Capt. Bonehill is in the very front rank as an author of boys' stories. +These are two of his best works. + + Neka, the Boy Conjurer + Tour of the Zero Club + + +WALTER F. BRUNS. + +An excellent story of adventure in the celebrated Sunk Lands of Missouri +and Kansas. + + In the Sunk Lands + + +FRANK H. CONVERSE. + +This writer has established a splendid reputation as a boys' author, and +although his books usually command $1.25 per volume, we offer the +following at a more popular price. + + Gold of Flat Top Mountain + Happy-Go-Lucky Jack + Heir to a Million + In Search of An Unknown Race + In Southern Seas + Mystery of a Diamond + That Treasure + Voyage to the Gold Coast + + +HARRY COLLINGWOOD. + +One of England's most successful writers of stories for boys. His best +story is + + Pirate Island + + +GEORGE H. COOMER. + +Two books we highly recommend. One is a splendid story of adventure at +sea, when American ships were in every port in the world, and the other +tells of adventures while the first railway in the Andes Mountains was +being built. + + Boys in the Forecastle + Old Man of the Mountain + + +WILLIAM DALTON. + +Three stories by one of the very greatest writers for boys. The stories +deal with boys' adventures in India, China and Abyssinia. These books +are strongly recommended for boys' reading, as they contain a large +amount of historical information. + + Tiger Prince + War Tiger + White Elephant + + +EDWARD S. ELLIS. + +These books are considered the best works this well-known writer ever +produced. No better reading for bright young Americans. + + Arthur Helmuth + Check No. 2134 + From Tent to White House + Perils of the Jungle + On the Trail of Geronimo + White Mustang + + +GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + +For the past fifty years Mr. Fenn has been writing books for boys and +popular fiction. His books are justly popular throughout the +English-speaking world. We publish the following select list of his +boys' books, which we consider the best he ever wrote. + + Commodore Junk + Dingo Boys + Weathercock + Golden Magnet + Grand Chaco + + +ENSIGN CLARKE FITCH, U. S. N. + +A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, and thoroughly +familiar with all naval matters. Mr. Fitch has devoted himself to +literature, and has written a series of books for boys that every young +American should read. His stories are full of very interesting +information about the navy, training ships, etc. + + Bound for Annapolis + Clif, the Naval Cadet + Cruise of the Training Ship + From Port to Port + Strange Cruise, A + + +WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON. + +An author of world-wide popularity. Mr. Graydon is essentially a friend +of young people, and we offer herewith ten of his best works, wherein he +relates a great diversity of interesting adventures in various parts of +the world, combined with accurate historical data. + + Butcher of Cawnpore, The + Camp in the Snow, The + Campaigning with Braddock + Cryptogram, The + From Lake to Wilderness + In Barracks and Wigwam + In Fort and Prison + Jungles and Traitors + Rajah's Fortress, The + White King of Africa, The + + +LIEUT. FREDERICK GARRISON, U. S. A. + +Every American boy takes a keen interest in the affairs of West Point. +No more capable writer on this popular subject could be found than +Lieut. Garrison, who vividly describes the life, adventures and unique +incidents that have occurred in that great institution--in these famous +West Point stories. + + Off for West Point + Cadet's Honor, A + On Guard + West Point Treasure, The + West Point Rivals, The + + +HEADON HILL. + +The hunt for gold has always been a popular subject for consideration, +and Mr. Hill has added a splendid story on the subject in this romance +of the Klondyke. + + Spectre Gold + + +HENRY HARRISON LEWIS. + +Mr. Lewis is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and has +written a great many books for boys. Among his best works are the +following titles--the subjects include a vast series of adventures in +all parts of the world. The historical data is correct, and they should +be read by all boys, for the excellent information they contain. + + Centreboard Jim + King of the Island + Midshipman Merrill + Yankee Boys in Japan + Ensign Merrill + Sword and Pen + Valley of Mystery, The + + +LIEUT. LIONEL LOUNSBERRY. + +A series of books embracing many adventures under our famous naval +commanders, and with our army during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. +Founded on sound history, these books are written for boys, with the +idea of combining pleasure with profit; to cultivate a fondness for +study--especially of what has been accomplished by our army and navy. + + Cadet Kit Carey + Captain Carey + Kit Carey's Protege + Lieut. Carey's Luck + Out With Commodore Decatur + Randy, the Pilot + Tom Truxton's School Days + Tom Truxton's Ocean Trip + Treasure of the Golden Crater + Won at West Point + + +BROOKS McCORMICK. + +Four splendid books of adventure on sea and land, by this well-known +writer for boys. + + Giant Islanders, The + How He Won + Nature's Young Nobleman + Rival Battalions + + +WALTER MORRIS. + +This charming story contains thirty-two chapters of just the sort of +school life that charms the boy readers. + + Bob Porter at Lakeview Academy + + +STANLEY NORRIS. + +Mr. Norris is without a rival as a writer of "Circus Stories" for boys. +These four books are full of thrilling adventures, but good, wholesome +reading for young Americans. + + Phil, the Showman + Young Showman's Rivals, The + Young Showman's Pluck, The + Young Showman's Triumph + + +LIEUT. JAMES K. ORTON. + +When a boy has read one of Lieut. Orton's books, it requires no urging +to induce him to read the others. Not a dull page in any of them. + + Beach Boy Joe + Last Chance Mine + Secret Chart, The + Tom Havens with the White Squadron + + +JAMES OTIS. + +Mr. Otis is known by nearly every American boy, and needs no +introduction here. The following copyrights are among his best: + + Chased Through Norway + Inland Waterways + Reuben Green's Adventures at Yale + Unprovoked Mutiny + Wheeling for Fortune + + +GILBERT PATTEN. + +Mr. Patten has had the distinction of having his books adopted by the +U. S. Government for all naval libraries on board our war ships. While +aiming to avoid the extravagant and sensational, the stories contain +enough thrilling incidents to please the lad who loves action and +adventure. In the Rockspur stories the description of their Baseball and +Football Games and other contests with rival clubs and teams make very +exciting and absorbing reading; and few boys with warm blood in their +veins, having once begun the perusal of one of these books, will +willingly lay it down till it is finished. + + Boy Boomers + Boy Cattle King + Boy from the West + Don Kirke's Mine + Jud and Joe + Rockspur Nine, The + Rockspur Eleven, The + Rockspur Rivals, The + + +ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE. + +Mr. Rathborne's stories for boys have the peculiar charm of dealing with +localities and conditions with which he is thoroughly familiar. The +scenes of these excellent stories are along the Florida coast and on the +western prairies. + + Canoe and Camp Fire + Paddling Under Palmettos + Rival Canoe Boys + Sunset Ranch + Chums of the Prairie + Young Range Riders + Gulf Cruisers + Shifting Winds + + +ARTHUR SEWELL. + +An American story by an American author. It relates how a Yankee boy +overcame many obstacles in school and out. Thoroughly interesting from +start to finish. + + Gay Dashleigh's Academy Days + + +CAPT. DAVID SOUTHWICK. + +An exceptionally good story of frontier life among the Indians in the +far West, during the early settlement period. + + Jack Wheeler + + +The Famous Frank Merriwell Stories. + +BURT L. STANDISH. + +No modern series of tales for boys and youths has met with anything like +the cordial reception and popularity accorded to the Frank Merriwell +Stories. There must be a reason for this and there is. Frank Merriwell, +as portrayed by the author, is a jolly whole-souled, honest, courageous +American lad, who appeals to the hearts of the boys. He has no bad +habits, and his manliness inculcates the idea that it is not necessary +for a boy to indulge in petty vices to be a hero. Frank Merriwell's +example is a shining light for every ambitious lad to follow. Six +volumes now ready: + + Frank Merriwell's School Days + Frank Merriwell's Chums + Frank Merriwell's Foes + Frank Merriwell's Trip West + Frank Merriwell Down South + Frank Merriwell's Bravery + Frank Merriwell's Hunting Tour + Frank Merriwell's Races + Frank Merriwell's Sports Afield + Frank Merriwell at Yale + + +VICTOR ST. CLAIR. + +These books are full of good, clean adventure, thrilling enough to +please the full-blooded wide-awake boy, yet containing nothing to which +there can be any objection from those who are careful as to the kind of +books they put into the hands of the young. + + Cast Away in the Jungle + Comrades Under Castro + For Home and Honor + Zip, the Acrobat + From Switch to Lever + Little Snap, the Post Boy + Zig-Zag, the Boy Conjurer + + +MATTHEW WHITE, JR. + +Good, healthy, strong books for the American lad. No more interesting +books for the young appear on our lists. + + Adventures of a Young Athlete + Eric Dane + Guy Hammersley + My Mysterious Fortune + Tour of a Private Car + Young Editor, The + + +ARTHUR M. WINFIELD. + +One of the most popular authors of boys' books. Here are three of his +best. + + Mark Dale's Stage Venture + Young Bank Clerk, The + Young Bridge Tender, The + + +GAYLE WINTERTON. + +This very interesting story relates the trials and triumphs of a Young +American Actor, including the solution of a very puzzling mystery. + + Young Actor, The + + +ERNEST A. YOUNG. + +This book is not a treatise on sports, as the title would indicate, but +relates a series of thrilling adventures among boy campers in the woods +of Maine. + + Boats, Bats and Bicycles + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +The following typographical errors present in the original edition +have been corrected. + +In Chapter II, "sword of the tryant" was changed to "sword of the +tyrant", and "meant to spent that half-holiday" was changed to "meant to +spend that half-holiday". + +In Chapter III, "wondering about everythings" was changed to "wondering +about everything". + +In Chapter V, a missing period was added after "from two minutes to +twenty", and "B. B. J!" was changed to "B. B. J.!". + +In Chapter VII, "the B. J-est plebe" was changed to "the B. J.-est +plebe", "as those yearlings had even seen" was changed to "as those +yearlings had ever seen", and "'Will they try it' he thought?" was +changed to "'Will they try it?' he thought." + +In Chapter X, "his face on a broad grin" was changed to "on his face a +broad grin". + +In Chapter XI, a missing question mark was added after "Is he hurt". + +In Chapter XIV, "a rougish look" was changed to "a roguish look", and a +quotation mark was removed before "It'll take lots of planning +beforehand". + +In Chapter XX, "some little nervousness, to" was changed to "some little +nervousness, too". + +In Chapter XXII, "the corner of the seige battery inclosure" was changed +to "the corner of the siege battery inclosure", "that reminds be of +another" was changed to "that reminds me of another", "his mist stately +tone" was changed to "his mist stately tone", and a period was changed +to a comma after "he added, more seriously". + +In Chapter XXIII, "bound his supenders about him" was changed to "bound +his suspenders about him". + +In Chapter XXIV, a period was changed to a comma after "as his friend +touched it". + +In Chapter XXVII, a quotation mark was removed after "And--and----". + +In Chapter XXVIII, "He knew in his hear it would be best" was changed to +"He knew in his heart it would be best". + +In Chapter XXX, "Murray still sat where he was was" was changed to +"Murray still sat where he was". + +In Chapter XXXI, "her mouth it set in a firm, determined way" was +changed to "her mouth is set in a firm, determined way". + +In the advertisements, "to cutivate a fondness for study" was changed to +"to cultivate a fondness for study", and "good, wholsome reading" was +changed to "good, wholesome reading". + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON GUARD*** + + +******* This file should be named 36101.txt or 36101.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/6/1/0/36101 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://www.gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://www.gutenberg.org/about/contact + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: +http://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |