Howard Roger Garis

“ The lads, using their bayonets as spades, and scooping the dirt up with their hands, soon formed shallow ditches, with an embankment of earth in front, and, lying prone behind this, ruthlessly mowed down the ranks of the enemy who still refused to show himself.
The rattle and bang of the rifles, the clouds of smoke, the flashes of fire, mingled with the hoarse commands of the major who was a war veteran; the rushing forward of the cadets, and their activity in digging trenches, made the scene one of excitement. It was glorious sport, Dick thought. ”

“ I invited you out for three weeks, and that time isn't up yet. You might as well stay. Hannibal will cook for you, and if I can come back I will. Otherwise you stay here and enjoy yourselves."
"We won't enjoy ourselves very much if you leave," said Walter regretfully, and the others echoed his sentiment.
"Well, that's a compliment to me," declared Dick, with a smile, "but I guess you'll manage to exist. Now I wonder how I'd better go? Henry, I s'pose I could ride with you to the village, and take a train."
"I should advise you to," remarked the young iron merchant. ”

“ At this, Dick arose. He peered through the trees toward a seldom-used wagon road, which ran near the camp. He caught sight of something moving.
"It's a wagon, all right," he said, "but it isn't the ice man."
A few moments later a remarkable rig hove into sight. It consisted of a rattle-trap of a wagon, loaded with all sorts of scrap iron, and drawn by a horse that looked as if it had escaped from the bone yard. It just crawled alone. On the seat was a bright-faced youth, who was doing his best to excite the animal into a speed a little better than that of a snail. ”

“ At any rate our hero's steed gave a sudden spring, and, rushing through the opened ranks of the cadet horsemen ahead of him, sailed past Captain Dutton at a fast gait.
"Halt!" cried the leading cadet. "Where are you going, Hamilton? Come back here at once! I'll report you! Come back!"
Dick tried to rein his horse in, but the animal had the bit in his teeth, and it was useless to pull on the leather. Still the young millionaire was not frightened. He knew he could manage the animal.
But Dutton, with a muttered exclamation, spurred after Dick. ”

“ It was the day of the great and deciding game with Mooretown. Dick was struggling into his trousers and blouse in his room, when Toots brought him word that there was a visitor for him in the reception room.
"Who is it, Toots?" he asked. "I haven't much time. Most of the fellows are already on the diamond."
"He says his name is Honeybee, as near as I can make out."
"Honeybee," repeated Dick, much puzzled. "Oh, it must be Larabee. It's my Uncle Ezra!" ”

“ But from the blood on the head of poor Toots, it would seem that the wound was not a small one.
Sorrowfully Dick and his chums carried the unconscious man. There was little use remaining at the fire now, for it was almost out, having consumed everything save the walls.
"He isn't badly hurt," announced the surgeon cheerfully, when he had examined Toots. "Only a cut on the head. He'll be all right in a few days." ”

“ Dick, you're a brick!"
"As long as I'm not a gold one, it's all right," said the millionaire's son. "But I thought you'd agree with me that it was best to take a cook along."
"It sure is all to the pancake batter," observed Bricktop. "Well, I don't mind if I do have a little more of the white meat, if you insist," he added, though no one had asked him to pass his plate.
Dick laughed as he helped his chum to some choice bits. Matters were moving more slowly, now that the first edge of hunger was dulled, and the boys were taking occasional stops to make remarks. ”

“ For a week or more Dick and his fellow freshmen practiced every day in the riding hall. The cadets who at first sat insecurely in the saddle were beginning to learn how to maintain themselves, and one afternoon the drill master announced that the next day they would be allowed to go out on the cavalry plain.
"That's the stuff!" cried Dick. "I've been wanting a good gallop for a long time."
"Guess we won't have much chance to gallop," replied Paul, who had been transfered to Dick's company. "Dutton's so mean he'll probably keep us at an easy walk. He thinks no one knows how to ride but him." ”

“ THE FANCY DRESS BALL
"Well, Dick," remarked Paul Drew, one afternoon, as he and his roommate came in from drill, "I see you're on the ball committee."
"What ball, and what committee?"
"The fancy dress ball, if I have to go into all the details. You know the academy has one every year, and it's a swell affair, let me tell you. Lights, gay music, pretty girls——"
"Especially pretty girls," said Dick with a smile. "But what committee am I on?" ”

“ Dick forced his rather unwilling steed up to the object. The next moment he uttered a cry.
"It's a man!" he exclaimed.
He leaped off his horse, and bent closely to the black, huddled mass. Then he reached over and took hold of it.
"Here, Paul!" cried Dick. "Help me!"
"What is it?"
"It's Dutton, and he's unconscious and half frozen. Must have fallen from his horse and struck on his head! We must get him to shelter in a hurry."
Paul was quickly at his companion's side. He helped Dick lift the unconscious youth from the pile of snow. ”

“ Excusing himself from his roommate Dick walked a little distance, following William the Silent.
"Don't mind Dutton," said William.
"Who's Dutton?" inquired Dick.
"Fellow that rigged you. He's an uppish chap, but he's a leader with the upper classmen. Don't let him worry you."
This was a longer speech than Will usually made.
"But why should he be down on me because I've got money?" asked Dick. "It isn't my fault."
"Very exclusive school, this," explained Will. "Patronized by old, blue-blooded families, who pretend to have a horror of the newly-rich." ”

“ I've been here for some time, and very likely I've lost my train, but I couldn't go back without seeing you."
"I'm sorry I kept you so long, Uncle Ezra," replied Dick, "but you see I was in a baseball game, and I couldn't leave until we won. It was very important to win."
"Stuff and nonsense!" exclaimed the old man. "Baseball is a dangerous and wicked game. It leads to all sorts of trouble. When I was a boy we played such sensible games as tag and blindman's buff. Baseball! The idea!"
"The cadets of Kentfield would look pretty playing tag," thought Dick, but he did not say anything. ”

“ It hurt him, to think that he should be taken for a "squealer." He, Dick Hamilton, who had done his own share of hazing in the academy at home.
"No, thank you. It's too risky monkeying with millionaires," said Button. "Come on, fellows."
The band of hazing cadets filed out of Dick's room, bent on subjecting other students to their harmless pranks. As they left, Dick heard one of them say:
"Aw, Dutton, why didn't we try the rope and window game on him? It would have been sport. He looks like an all-right sort." ”

“ The pace was slower now, for the snow was deeper, and the horses were beginning to feel the strain of the long march. The flakes were falling thicker and faster, and from the rear the leader of the squad could not be seen.
"Come, boys, close ranks!" called Rutledge several times. "If you stray off now you'll be in danger. Keep together."
They tried to, but some horses went better than others, and it was impossible for the stragglers to keep up with the leaders at all times. Rutledge saw this and called to Dick:
"Here, Hamilton, you and Drew are good riders. ”

“ But, by this time Dick had caught up to his pet, and grasped him by the collar.
"Grit! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" he asked, but he could hardly keep from smiling, while, as for Grit, he nearly wagged off his stump of a tail, so glad was he at having routed Uncle Ezra. ”

“ Swords, eh? Well, with football helmets on, and a baseball chest protector, and heavy gloves, I guess it won't be dangerous. But what's the use of fighting if some one doesn't get hurt? I prefer my fists."
"Dutton's idea seems to be for you both to be rigged out as we are when we practice with broadswords on horses," said Paul, referring to one of the drills taught at the school.
"Well, I don't like to object," said Dick, "but it strikes me that as the challenged party, I have the choice of weapons." ”

“ Then came mounting and dismounting at hurdles, which was more difficult, and weeded out a number, and then, the last of the semi-finals, was the feat of standing astride on two horses, driving a steed on either side, and, while doing this, to take a difficult hurdle.
More than a score did not succeed at this, and Dick was not a little nervous when it came his turn, as, though he was an expert, he had not practiced this evolution much.
On his steeds thundered over the ground, one being a skittish horse, and hard to manage.
"If they don't jump together," thought Dick, "I'm done for. ”

“ Dick, coming out on a little projection, could see the battle in progress between Dutton and Hale. The latter had all but won, and the attackers were fast being driven back. They were a mere handful of cadets now, many having been "killed" by the merciless fire. Being "killed" in theory meant that a certain number had to drop out every minute, and could take no further part in the battle. Of course Hale had a number of soldiers "killed" also.
"Hurry!" cried Dick to his lads. "We're only just in time. A little farther and we'll plant the field piece and open fire. ”

“ He will send you to a boarding school of his own selection. Let me know what you will do. I will not be able to get home by Christmas, as I expected, and you had better remain at the academy over the holidays. I know it will be lonesome for you, but it can't be helped."
"Go to a boarding school selected by Uncle Ezra," murmured Dick. "Never! I'll stay here a full term, even if no one but the teachers speak to me. I never could stand Uncle Ezra and Dankville. This is bad enough, but there are some bright spots in it. The sun never shines where Uncle Ezra is." ”

“ The young millionaire was ready to submit to any form of hazing that might be inflicted, but, to his surprise Dutton said:
"Never mind him. We'll let him go."
"Why he's a freshman," objected several of the cadets, evidently thinking Dutton imagined Dick to be immune.
"I know it, but he's in a different class," went on the leader with a covert sneer. "He might buy up the police authorities and have us arrested for having a little fun. We'll let him alone. We're only after common mortals." ”

“ He felt very lonesome as he had to retire to his room that afternoon, and heard the merry shouts of the football eleven, the substitutes, and the other cadets leaving for the final battle on the gridiron with Mooretown.
"How I wish I could go!" thought Dick. "I'm punished for something I didn't do. It isn't right. Still, perhaps Glen was so sick he didn't know what he was doing."
He had already sent Glen some more money, for he did not want to refuse one of the few favors that had been asked of him since coming to the academy. ”

“ A rich lad can, to a certain extent, become popular, but he will never have the real, solid friends that some youth not so well off would win. So you've got to make friends in spite of your money."
"That ought to be easy," said Dick, but he was to find it a harder task than he had supposed it would be.
"So, as I have to go away, and close up the house," went on Mr. Hamilton, "I have arranged that you are to go to the academy a little ahead of time, about two weeks before the term opens. That will give you a chance to find your way around the place." ”

“ They want you to lead a procession. We're going to have a grand celebration, burn the uniforms, and break training to celebrate the victory. Hurry up!"
"This is worth losing one's money for," thought Dick, as he took his place at the head of the procession of merry, shouting, laughing cadets. "I'm getting to be popular, I guess."
Indeed, whether it was his victory on the diamond or the loss of his money, it would be hard to say, but, at any rate, more cadets made friends with Dick that night than had done so in his whole previous time at Kentfield. ”

“ DICK HAS A FIGHT
But it was too late. The door of Dick's room was pushed open, and, in the light of the incandescent that burned in the hall, the two cadets could see Captain Hayden and several of the instructors looking in.
"Hamilton—Drew—are you here?" asked Captain Hayden sharply.
"Yes, sir," replied Dick, but an instant later the light revealed him fully dressed, whereas he should have been in bed at taps.
"Ha!" exclaimed the head master. "This will bear investigation. Why aren't you in bed, Hamilton?" ”

“ Our hero's victory took nothing away from the regard in which Dutton was held, while, as for Dick, save a few friends whom he had made among the younger lads, he was not admitted to the comradeship of the older cadets, to which place, of right, he belonged. The fight had not made him popular, as he had hoped it would, after he had won it, though the sporting element in the academy could not but admire his fistic abilities.
"I don't seem to be making much progress," remarked Dick to his roommate, one afternoon. "You have more friends than I have." ”

“ But Dutton was ready for this. He had his field pieces in position, and, as soon as he saw that his soldiers had the bridge well under way, he began shelling the defenders, who were rushing down the hill to the attack. The infantry also began to pour in a withering fire.
The ropes, by which the long spars had been lowered and inclined across the stream, now served as guys to hold them steady and in place, while the floor beams were being put in position.
"Lively!" cried Dutton. "They're making it too hot for us! We must cross soon, or we'll lose! ”

“ A fellow who can't stand a little hazing is no good."
"That's so. Guess I'll go. I don't mind it if it isn't too rough. I wouldn't mind being hazed myself. It would give me a chance to make a rough house for Dutton and his cronies."
"Come on then. Let's go to the gym. I heard that they're going to haze a bunch of 'em there."
"What about Major Rockford?"
"Well, I guess he and the colonel know about it, but they won't interfere unless it gets too strenuous."
Dick and Paul found a large crowd of the older cadets already gathered in the gymnasium. ”

“ There's no need for you fellows to come back with me," went on Dick.
"If we don't Dutton may make a row," objected Butler. "We'd better do it."
Not wanting to get his fellow cadets into trouble, Dick allowed them to accompany him to the hospital, which was maintained by the academy. There the surgeon in charge, a grizzled war veteran, felt of our hero's bones, and announced, gruffly, that he was all right, but that he had better rest a while. ”

“ You're a regular molly-coddle, you are," said Glen, with a brutal laugh.
Dick flushed.
"Maybe," he admitted, as pleasantly as he could, "but I have an idea I shouldn't drink or smoke while in training, if for no other reason."
"Your training doesn't seem to be doing you much good," said another cadet. "You haven't had a show in any of the games yet. Better quit training and have some beer."
"No, thank you. Maybe I'll get a chance to play to-morrow."
But Dick's refusal had no effect on Glen's other guests. They drank more than was good for them, and smoked considerable. ”

“ Say, young man, when I start to drive a party of them cadets anywhere I don't never know if we're going to arrive. Never can tell when a wheel is coming off, or when my horses will start up, and leave the coach behind. That's why I always use quiet animals. Them cadets has life enough and to spare. Cut up? Say, jest you wait!"
"Well, maybe it won't be so bad after I get started, and make the acquaintance of some of the boys," thought Dick.
But he little knew what was ahead of him.
"Is the academy far out?" asked Dick, for, as the hack was an open one, he could converse with the driver. ”

“ It was a gloomy Christmas for the young millionaire, and, as a fever set in with his cold, he couldn't even enjoy the good thinks which the kind housekeeper, under orders from Colonel Masterly, provided for the patient. ”