a
dough-head."

"Is this true, Nevers?"

"It is; but I did not call him so till I was satisfied he did not mean
to observe the order. In teaching him the facings, he would not come
about till all the others had finished the movement."

"I wouldn't, if I had been in his place," added the colonel, very much
to the astonishment of Richard, and very much to the indignation of
Nevers. "You know very well that one boy is never permitted in this
school to domineer over another. You took pains beforehand to inform
Grant, by your words, and especially by your looks and actions, that
you meant to haze him, to bully him. As a decent boy, he could not
submit to it. Then you called him a dough-head; which, as Grant
suggests, was the heaviest blow that was struck, for it touches a spot
which the fist cannot reach. Nevers, you commenced the fight."

"I think not, sir."

"We don't argue the matter, sir," said the colonel, sharply. "One thing
more: no pupil is allowed to use ungentlemanly language to another
pupil. Obedience to officers who are merely students is purely
voluntary. If a boy refuses to obey the officers, he must leave the
company. No boy is compelled to go into the ranks. On drill the case is
still stronger, Nevers. If the recruit will not obey, it is the duty of
the drill officer to report him to the instructor. If you had done so,
it would have been Mr. Gault's duty to drill Grant himself."

Nevers made no reply to these remarks. He cast a savage glance at
Richard, who appeared to have conquered him in the forum as well as in
the field.

"Grant, you are also to blame," continued the principal. "We will not
permit you to be insulted, bullied, or domineered over. I will protect
you, but you must not take the law into your own hands. A blow is not
justifiable except in self-defence, or when all other means have
failed. You knew it was wrong to strike Nevers."

"I did not think so, at the time, sir," replied Richard. "What you have
said has changed my view of the matter."

Nevers sneered at this remark of his antagonist, and Richard saw and
felt that sneer. It was as much as to say that he, Richard, was making
his peace with the principal by pretending a penitence he did not feel.
It stung him where he was very sensitive, and he was angry.

While his wrath was boiling, and he was considering in what manner he
should punish his crestfallen rival for his savage look and his bitter
sneer, the parting admonition of