t to the special officer in charge
at the cadet guard house, and receive your assignment to your
room. The special officer in charge will give you any further
immediate orders that may be necessary."

Again saluting, Prescott wheeled with military precision and left
the adjutant's office. As he was going out Dick was passed by
Greg coming in.

For a moment Prescott waited outside until Greg had joined him.

"It would be a howling mess if we didn't have a room together
this year, old ramrod, wouldn't it?" muttered Cadet Holmes as soon
as they were clear of the administration building.

"Oh, that isn't one of our likely troubles," Dick answered. "We
asked for a room together, and second classmen generally have what
we want in that line."

On reporting to the special officer in charge, the two chums found
that they had been given quarters together. Moreover, their room
was one of the best assigned to second classman, and looked out
over the plain and parade ground.

"We ought to be jolly happy in here this year, old ramrod," predicted
Greg. "Especially as we haven't any fellow like Dodge in the class."

"Nor in the whole Military Academy," rejoined Prescott.

"I hope not," murmured Cadet Holmes thoughtfully.

Boys at boarding school would have needed at least the rest of
the day to get themselves to rights. Trained to soldierly habits,
our two cadets had quickly dropped the furlough life. Citizen
clothes, in dress-suit cases, were deposited at the cadet store,
and the two cadets, back in "spooniest" white duck trousers and
gray fatigue blouses, were soon speeding along the roads that
led across the plain to where the other three classes were having
their last day of summer encampment.

"Greetings, old ramrod!" called a low but pleasant voice, as First
Classman Brayton hurried up, grasping Dick's hand. Then Greg
came in for a hearty shake. Brayton, who had been a cadet corporal
when the two boys from Gridley were plebes, now wore the imposing
chevrons of a cadet captain.

"My, but I'm glad to see you two idlers return to a fair measure
of work," laughed another voice, and Spurlock, whom Dick, as a
plebe, had thrashed, pushed his right hand into the ceremonies.
Spurlock, too, was a cadet captain. Other first classmen crowded
in for these returning furlough men were popular throughout the
upper classes.

"May a wee, small voice make itself heard?"

Dick and Greg half wheeled to meet another comer.