By the time the corps of cadets was seated at breakfast, in the great mess hall, the following morning, the news began to circulate rapidly.
It was discussed in low tones at every table save that at which the silence against Prescott prevailed.
The silence by this time had ceased to be literal, except so far as it applied to Dick. Other cadets at his table talked among themselves, though never to Prescott. Greg, being Dick's roommate, was the sole cadet exempted from this rule.
But the men at Prescott's table restrained their curiosity until the two battalions had marched back to barracks and had been dismissed.
After the dismissal of the companies Dick and Greg strolled along slowly. Wherever they passed backs were turned to them, though this would not have happened to Holmes had he been alone.
Though the news was discussed, no class action was taken. This must not be done until Durville's fate had overtaken him. Otherwise, the Military Academy authorities might take such action as defiant and visit a more severe penalty upon Cadet Durville.
For five days Durville remained in close arrest. This meant, to the initiated, that the Superintendent had taken up the matter with the War Department at Washington.
On the sixth day Durville was once more sent for by the commandant of cadets. His sentence was handed out to him. On account of an academic reputation of high grade, and a hitherto good-conduct report, Mr. Durville was not dropped from the corps. Had the offender, before leaving West Point in “cits.,” gone to the cadet guard house and made any false report concerning his absence, nothing could have saved him from dismissal for making a false official report. All things being taken into consideration, Cadet Durville was “let off” with loss of privileges up to the time of semi-annual examinations, with, in addition, the walking of punishment tours every Saturday afternoon during the same period.
Now the gathering wrath broke loose upon Dick. A class meeting was called, that neither Prescott nor Holmes could attend with propriety.
Durville, as a matter of policy, did not attend, but there were not wanting first classmen who looked upon Durville as a sacrifice, and who were fully capable of presenting his side of the case at the meeting.
Upon Anstey, as on a former occasion, fell the task of making Prescott's side clear.
The class meeting had not been in session many minutes when Dick's accusers had made it rather plain that Mr. Prescott, following his previous course with Jordan, had revenged himself also on Durville, who had taken an active part in securing the imposition of the silence.
Anstey took the floor in a fiery defence. He brought forth the statement that Prescott had not made any attempt to pry into the goings or comings of the unlucky Durville. The Virginian declared that Prescott had happened to be abroad in time to “catch” Mr. Durville, simply because Prescott had started for the office of the officer in charge with an official paper that he had been tardy about turning in.
Though Anstey dwelt upon this side of the case with consummate oratory, the defence was regarded as “too transparent.” Anstey's good faith was not questioned, but Prescott's was.
In the turmoil the office of class president was declared vacant. Anstey was nominated for the office just made vacant, but, with cold politeness, he refused what, at any other time, would have been a high honor.
Cadet Douglass was presently elected class president.
Then further action was taken with regard to Cadet Richard Prescott. Without further debate a motion was carried that Prescott be sent to Coventry for good and all.
The class meeting adjourned, and upon Greg Holmes, who was informed by Anstey, fell the task of carrying the decision to Dick.
“I expected it, Holmesy,” was Dick's quiet reply.
“Buck up, anyway, old ramrod,” begged Greg. “This terrible mess will all be straightened out before graduation.”
“Not in time to do me any good,” replied Dick gloomily.
But Dick closed his jaws firmly.
Greg knew better than to press his questioning further, just then. He contented himself with crossing the room, resting both hands on Dick's shoulders.
“Now, old ramrod, just remember this: Into every life a good deal of trouble comes. It is up to each fellow, in his own case, to show how much of a man he is. The fellow who lies down, or runs away, isn't a man. The fellow who fights his trouble out to a grim finish, is a man every inch of his five or six feet! The class is wild, just now, but on misinformation. Fight it out! Enemies of yours have brought you to this pass. Don't run away! All your friends are with you as much as ever they were.”
Dick was a good deal affected.
“Believe me, Greg, whatever I decide on doing won't be in the line of running away. Whatever I decide upon will be what I finally believe to be for the best good of the service.”
“Humph!” muttered Greg, looking wonderingly at his chum.
In the closing period of the next forenoon Dick's section did not recite. Greg's did. So Prescott was left alone in the room with his books.
Despite himself, Greg was so worried, during that recitation, that he “fessed cold”—-that is, he secured a mark but a very little above zero.
As soon as the returning section was dismissed Cadet Holmes, his heart beating fast, hurried to his room.
There sat Dick, at the study table, as Greg had left him. But Prescott had pushed his textbooks aside. Before him rested only a sheet of paper. With pen in hand Prescott wrote something at the bottom just as Holmes entered the room. Then Dick looked up with a half cheery face.
“I've done it, Greg,” he announced simply, in a hard, dry voice.
“Done it?” echoed Cadet Holmes. “What?”
“I have written my resignation as a member of the corps of cadets, United States Military Academy.”
“Bosh!” roared Cadet Holmes in a great rage. “The resignation is written, signed, and—-it sticks!” returned Dick Prescott with quiet emphasis.
