you are, Major Rover," and Fred saluted in the most precise
military fashion.

"Bonfires to-night, boys!" sang out Andy. "And we'll have some big
doings, believe me!"

"Right you are!" declared his twin.

CHAPTER XII

BONFIRE NIGHT

It was the custom at Colby Hall for the officers of the battalion to take
dinner with Colonel Colby on the day of an election. This was quite a
formal affair and the cadets to participate made it a point to look their
best.

"Say, Jack, you're going to make a stunning looking major," remarked
Fred, as he watched his cousin dressing.

"How about yourself as captain?" was the reply.

"Just wait till Ruth Stevenson sees Jack in his new uniform!" cried
Randy.

"Say, Jack, why not have a life-sized photo taken and give it to her to
hang over her dressing table?" put in Andy, with a grin.

"You beware, Andy," admonished his cousin, waving a finger severely at
him. "Remember, as the commandant of the battalion, I can throw you into
a dungeon cell if I feel so inclined," and Jack strutted around grandly
in the privacy of the Rovers' sitting room.

"I'll be good, oh, Most Noble One," answered the fun-loving Rover, bowing
down until his head almost touched his feet.

Jack and Fred had already sent word to Martha and Mary, and they, of
course, had told Ruth and the others. It is needless to say that the
Rover girls and their chums were almost as much pleased over the results
of the election as the boys had been.

"I'm just dying to see them on parade with Jack at the head," confided
Martha to the others.

"Yes, and Fred in command of Company C," added Mary. "Just to think of
it! And he so much younger than the others!"

"I hope I'm on hand to see their first parade," said Ruth, her eyes
beaming with pleasure.

"I thought you were going to write Jack a letter about that party," said
Martha in a low tone.

"I am. To-night. And I'll let him know that I've wanted to do it ever
since the party was talked of," went on Ruth.

The officers' dinner was a great success. Every one present made a little
speech and Colonel Colby and Captain Dale made addresses to which the
cadets listened with keen attention.

"It is my desire to make this military academy one of the best in the
country," declared the colonel earnestly. "And I cannot do that without
the sincere cooperation of every cadet attending the institution. As many
of you know"--and here he glanced at Jack and Fred--"when I