The speaker was Colonel Harvey, superintendent1 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 offenders2."
"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[Pg 47] the plebes entered camp. I do not know what had been going on before that, but the yearlings had evidently become entirely3 reckless of consequences, and careless of discovery. They woke the camp by a series of outrageous4 noises; one of them fired off a gun, I believe."
"Lieutenant5 Allen," put in the other, "told me that he made an investigation6 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 awakened7 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 hazing8 some one. They were all rushing back to camp; he says that it was so dark he could recognize no one."
"It is perfectly9 outrageous!" exclaimed the commandant.
"It has got to be stopped, too," vowed10 the other. "That incident of the gun last night capped the climax11. I have heard of the cadets playing that prank12 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[Pg 48] 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 auditor13, however, and it was Mark.
He was a sentry14 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 mighty15 Colonel Harvey reached his ears it must be confessed that between chuckles16 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.
[Pg 49]"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 pranks17 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! Whoop18! 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 busted20 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 vehement21.
[Pg 50]"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 bust19 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 smitten22, and she likewise. I do not blame her, since he saved her life."
A rattle23 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 piazza24 as he approached. She was dressed in white and the color just seemed to set off the brightness and beauty of her complexion25. 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 ascended26 the steps with alacrity27 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.
[Pg 51]"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 hearty28 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 pompous29 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 hops30 about it."
"That's good," laughed Mark, rubbing his hands gleefully. "Perhaps we'll have some fun now."
[Pg 52]"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 paramount31 to all others."
"Yes," responded Mark, "we'll expel you if you play us false. But don't keep me in suspense32. 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 head[Pg 53]quarters. 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[Pg 54] Daughters of the Revolution always are. She has a debt of gratitude33 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 circumvent34 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 necessitated35 guns; and great was the joy of the ambitious and warlike plebe on the momentous36 day that "guns" were given out. The guns were regulation army muskets37, 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 trenches38, he had to clean them daily; and cleaning a gun under the watchful39 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[Pg 55] well-cleaned one; and if his own wasn't clean he got into trouble at the very next inspection40.
Besides the three drills a day, there were other duties galore. There was policing twice a day, "policing" meaning the sweeping41 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 sentries42 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, salute43, 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 appalling44 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[Pg 56] 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, awed45 to silence and gravity by the sternness of his superiors. He is proud of his important office and thoroughly46 resolved to do his duty, come what may, and to die in the last ditch. He seizes his gun resolutely47; feels of the bayonet point valiantly48; puts on his sternest and most forbidding look; strides forth49 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.
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1
superintendent
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| n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长 | |
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offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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3
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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4
outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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5
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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6
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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7
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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8
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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9
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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11
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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12
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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13
auditor
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| n.审计员，旁听着 | |
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14
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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15
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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16
chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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17
pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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18
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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19
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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20
busted
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| adj. 破产了的，失败了的，被降级的，被逮捕的，被抓到的 动词bust的过去式和过去分词 | |
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21
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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22
smitten
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| 猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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23
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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24
piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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25
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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26
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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28
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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29
pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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30
hops
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| 跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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31
paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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32
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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33
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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34
circumvent
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| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
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35
necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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37
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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38
trenches
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| 深沟，地沟( trench的名词复数 )； 战壕 | |
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39
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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40
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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41
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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42
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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43
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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44
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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45
awed
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| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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47
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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48
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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49
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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