at his studies, with a dogged determination
to get high markings in everything.

Yet over mathematics more than anything, he pored. He fought
out his problems in the section room grimly, bent on showing that
he could win high marks without the aid of "cribs."

He was still in arrest, and must remain so until the finding of
the court-martial---whatever it was---had been duly considered
at Washington and returned with the President's indorsement.
All this time Dick's mother and three faithful Gridley friends
remained at the West Point Hotel. Dick could not go to them;
they could not come to him, but notes might pass. Prescott received
these epistles daily, and briefly but appreciatively answered
them.

Then he went back furiously to his studies.

Grit could do him little good, except in his studies, if he were
fated to remain at West Point. Grit could not help him in the
settling of his fate. Either the court-martial had found him
guilty, or had found him innocent, and all the courage in the
world would not alter the verdict.

In the section room in mathematics, Captain Abbott did not show this
cadet any disfavor or the opposite. The instructor's manner and
tone with Prescott were the same as with all the other cadets.

When going to formations some of the cadets rather openly avoided
Prescott. This cut like a knife. But evidently they believed
him probably guilty, and they were entitled to their opinions.
He must possess himself with patience for a few days; there was
nothing else to do.

So the week rolled around again to Saturday. Now here were two
afternoons when the young cadet might have gone to his mother
and friends at the hotel, had he not been in arrest. There was
to be a hop that night, but he could not "drag" the girl who had
been so staunch and sweet.

On this Saturday, when he need not study much, Dick found himself
in a dull rage with his helplessness. The day was bright, clear,
cold and sunny, but the young cadet's soul was dark and moody.
Would this suspense never end?

Dinner was to him merely another phase of duty. He had no real
appetite; he would have preferred to sit brooding at his study
table.

The meal over, the battalion marched back, halting, still in formation,
at the north side of barracks near the sally-port.

The cadet captain in command of the battalion read some unimportant
notices. Dick did not even hear them. He knew his fate was not
to come to him through