Reveille and roll call the next morning passed without incident, except that Cadet Mallory was reported "late" at the latter function; the charge being true, no suspicions were awakened4. After that came the march to mess hall, the plebe company, which was by this time able to march presentably though rather stiffly, falling in behind the rest of the corps5. During that march[Pg 178] "File Closer" Vance had occasion to rebuke6 Cadet Mallory for loud talking in ranks. It hadn't been loud, at least not very loud, but Mark swallowed it and said nothing.
Breakfast passed without incident, and the plebes were marched back to barracks, there breaking ranks, and scattering7 to quarters to "spruce up" for inspection. Mark and Texas, who shared the same room, lost no time in getting to work at the sweeping8 and dusting and arranging.
It seems scarcely necessary to say that there are no chambermaids at West Point. Cadets do their own room cleaning, "policing," as it is called, and they do it well, too. A simpler, barer place than a room in barracks it would be hard to imagine. Bare white walls—no pictures allowed—and no wall paper—a black fireplace, a plain table, an iron bedstead, a washstand, two chairs, and a window is about the entire inventory9. And every article in that room must be found placed with mathematical precision in just such a spot and no other. There is a "bluebook"—learned by heart—to tell where; and there are penalties for every infringement11. Demerits are[Pg 179] the easiest things in the world to get; enough might be given at one inspection to expel.
The signal, dreaded12 like poison by all plebes, that the time for inspection has come, is a heavy step in the hall and a single tap upon the door. It came that morning while the two victims-to-be were still hard at work. In accordance with orders each sprang up, stood at attention—heels together, head up, eyes to the front, chest out, etc.—and silently awaited developments.
Mark gasped13 for breath when he saw who it was that entered; Cadet Corporal Jasper had been transferred and the man who was to do the work this time was none other than Murray, next to Bull Harris, Mark's greatest enemy on earth.
Cadet Murray looked handsome in his spotless uniform of gray and white, with his chevrons14 of gold; he strode in with a stern and haughty15 look which speedily changed to one of displeasure as he gazed about him at the room. He took a rapid mental count of the possible charges he could make; and then glanced up at the name which is posted on the wall, telling who is "room orderly" for the week—and so responsible for the faults. It was Mal[Pg 180]lory, and the yearling could scarcely hide a smile of satisfaction.
"You plebes have had nearly two weeks now," he began, frowning with well-feigned displeasure, "in which to learn to arrange your rooms. The disorder16 which I see shows not only carelessness but actual insubordination. And I propose to make an example of you two for once and for all."
The two victims were expected to say nothing; and they said it. But Mark did a pile of thinking and his heart sank as he realized what his enemy might do if he chose. It is possible to find a thousand faults in the most perfect work if one only hunts long enough and is willing to split hairs.
Cadet Corporal Murray took out a notebook and pencil with obvious meaning.
"In the first place," said he, "where should that broom be? Behind the door, should it not? Why is it not? I find that your bedding is piled carelessly, very carelessly. The blanket is not evenly folded; moreover, the bluebook states particularly that the blanket is to be placed at the bottom of the pile. You may see that it is not so. Why, Mr. Mallory, I do not think it has ever happened to me[Pg 181] to find a room so utterly17 disorderly, or a cadet so negligent18! Look at that bluebook; it belongs upon the mantelpiece, and I see it on the bed——"
"I was reading it," put in Mark, choking down his anger by a violent effort.
"In the first place, sir," said he, "you have no business to be reading while awaiting inspection, and you know it—though I must say a more frequent study of that book would save you much trouble. In the second place, you are not expected to answer under such circumstances; the proper thing for you to do is to hand in the explanation to the authorities, and you know that, too. I am sent here to notice and report delinquencies and not to argue about them with you. I regret now that I shall be obliged to mention the fact that you remonstrated20 with an officer during inspection, a most serious charge indeed."
"What next?" thought the two plebes.
There was lots more. The yearling next stepped over to the mantelpiece and ran his finger, with its spotless[Pg 182] white glove, along the inner edge. Texas had rubbed that mantel fiercely; yet, to get it so clean as not to soil the glove was almost impossible, and so the corporal first held up the finger to show the mark of dirt and then—wrote down "dust on mantel."
There is no need to tell the rest in detail, but simply to say that while Mark and his roommate gazed on in blank despair, their jubilant enemy made out a list of at least a dozen charges, which he knew would aggregate22 to at least half of the demerit maximum, and for every one of which there was some slight basis of justification23. The yearling was shrewd enough to suspect this fact would prevent their being excused, for he did not think that Mark would sign his name to a lie in his explanation.
The disastrous24 visit was closed with a note—"floor unswept"—because three scraps25 of paper were observed peering out from under the table; and then without another word the cadet turned on his heel and marched out of the room. And Mark and Texas stood and stared at each other in utter and abject26 consternation27.
It was a minute at least before either of them spoke;[Pg 183] they were both too dumfounded. The bombshell had struck, and had brought ruin in its path. Mark knew now what was the power of his enemies; knew that he was gone. For with such a weapon as the one the cowardly Murray had struck his dismissal was the matter of a week or less. Already he was more than halfway28 to expulsion; already the prize for which he had fought so long and so hard was slipping from his grasp. And all on account of a cowardly crowd he had made his enemies because he had been strong and manly29 enough to do what he knew was right.
It was a cruel fact and Mark felt pretty bitter toward West Point just then. As for Texas, his faithful friend and roommate, Texas said not one word; but he went to the chimney, up which he had hidden his sixteen revolvers for safety, calmly selected two of the biggest, and having examined the cartridges30, tucked them safely away in his rear pockets. Then he sat down on the bed and gave vent10 to a subdued31 "Durnation!"
About this same time Cadet Corporal Murray, having handed in his reports at headquarters, was racing32 joyfully[Pg 184] back to camp, there to join his friend, Bull Harris, with a shout of victory.
"Rejoice! Rejoice!" he cried, slapping his chum on the back. "We've got him! I soaked him for fifty at least!"
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1
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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2
hazing
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| n.受辱，被欺侮v.（使）笼罩在薄雾中( haze的现在分词 )；戏弄，欺凌（新生等，有时作为加入美国大学生联谊会的条件） | |
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3
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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4
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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5
corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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6
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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7
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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8
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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9
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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10
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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11
infringement
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| n.违反；侵权 | |
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12
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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13
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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14
chevrons
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| n.（警察或士兵所佩带以示衔级的）∧形或∨形标志( chevron的名词复数 ) | |
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15
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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16
disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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17
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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18
negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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19
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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20
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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21
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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22
aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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23
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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24
disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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25
scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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26
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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27
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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28
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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29
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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30
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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31
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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32
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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