im.

Another cadet was passing along the walk. To him Haynes turned
with an appealing face.

"Lewis," began the turnback, "I am afraid I shall have to ask
you-----"

Whatever it was, Lewis did not wait to hear. He looked at Haynes
as though he saw nothing there, and joined a little group of cadets
beyond.

"Confound these puppies!" growled Haynes to himself. "They're all
fellows that I hazed when they were plebes, and they haven't
forgiven me. I see clearly enough that, if I am to have an
explanation, or get a chance to make one, I must do it through the
members of my old class."

Some distance down the quadrangle stood Brayton and Spurlock, first
classmen and captains in the cadet battalion.

"They're high-minded, decent fellows," said Haynes to himself.
"I will go to them and get this nasty business set straight."

Past several groups of cadets stalked Haynes, affecting not to
see any of the fellows. But these cadets appeared equally indifferent
to being recognized.

Brayton and Spurlock were talking in low tones when the turnback
approached them.

"Brayton," began Haynes, "I want to ask you to do me a bit of
a favor."

Brayton did not stop his conversation with Spurlock, nor did he
show any other sign of having heard the turnback.

"Brayton! I beg your pardon!"

But the first classman did not turn.

"Spurlock," asked Haynes, in a thick voice, "are you in this tommy-rot
business, too?"

Spurlock, however, seemed equally deaf.

"Then see here, both of you-----" insisted Haynes, choking with
anger.

The two first classmen turned their backs, walking slowly off.

There was no chance to doubt the fate that had overtaken him.
Haynes had been "sent to Coventry." Henceforth, as long as he
remained in the corps of cadets, he was to be "cut." No other
cadet could or would speak to him, under the same penalty of also
being sent to Coventry.

Henceforth the only speech that any cadet would have with him would
be a necessary communication on official business. Socially there
was no longer any Cadet Haynes at West Point.

Once, two years before, Haynes had helped to put this punishment
on a plebe, who had soon after quitted the Academy.

Then Haynes had thought that sending another to Coventry was, under
some circumstances, a fine proceeding. But now the like fate had
befallen him!

"The fellows don't really mean it. They're excited now, but to-morrow
they'll be sorry and call the whole fo