CHAPTER III
A HAPPY SURPRISE
Robert and Stonewell spent the first day of their return in gettingsettled and in seeing the football coaches and talking about thefootball material of the new fourth class. A number of the regularplayers had already returned, and the afternoon train brought in abouttwenty midshipmen who had been in the squad the previous year, all ofwhom were now eager to commence practice.
"We'll start in to-morrow, fellows, good and hard," said Stonewell; "beon the field at eight in the morning; we'll get the whole fourth classout later, after they've finished their morning drill, and we'll size upand pick out the likely ones and give them a tryout. Come on, Bob, let'sgo to quarters. Come along with us, Farnum, if you're walking that way."
The three walked toward Bancroft Hall together. "What do you think ofthe fourth class, Stone?" asked Farnum. "Are there any good men in it?"
"There are indeed, I should say, from just looking at them, but we willknow better to-morrow, after we've given them a try on the field.There's a plebe named Bligh who has told me he expects to make theteam."
Farnum laughed. "He told me the same thing. I hope he'll make good; ifhe does we'll pardon his freshness. What do you hear of West Point? Nomidshipman now at Annapolis has ever seen the Academy beat West Point atfootball. George! I do hope we'll win; we ought to, we have twice asmany men here as there are at West Point."
"It would seem so. And yet when we had many less midshipmen than therewere cadets at West Point we used to beat them right along, and since wehave had more West Point has beaten us. You can depend on one thing,both academies will have strong teams this year and both will makestrenuous efforts in the great battle to be fought in Philadelphia nextfall. I hope you'll make the team this year, Farnum; you tried hardenough last year," added Stonewell kindly.
"I'll get it if desperate work on my part will bring it to me."
Neither Farnum nor Robert addressed remarks directly to one another, andafter a while the three midshipmen had reached the steps leading toBancroft Hall.
"Let's see if there are any new orders posted," suggested Robert, andthe three young men directed their steps toward the bulletin-board. Inan instant Robert set up a great shout. "Hooray," he cried, "Stonewellhas five stripes." Robert had looked no further than the head of thelist and was wild with unexpected happiness. Then he suddenly grabbedFarnum by the arm and said: "Stone told me that I wasn't fair to you;that you were a better man than I took you to be; that the first thingyou would do when you got to Annapolis would be to go to the commandantand report yourself for that affair of last summer. Did you do that?"
Farnum looked pleased. "Yes, Drake, I did, but it makes me feel mightygood that Stone thought well enough of me to predict that I would. I'drather have that confidence on his part than five stripes, any day ofthe week."
"Farnum, I'm not as wise as old Stone; I apologize to you for my unkindjudgment and for not taking your hand in the train. I hope you willforgive me and accept my friendship," and a warm handclasp and a happyreconciliation followed.
"Why don't you chaps read the rest of this list, and see who theremaining cadet officers are?" asked Stonewell.
"They're just the same as in the list we saw published, aren't they?"queried Robert.
"Well, Farnum gets the first battalion----"
"Good, I'm delighted," burst out Robert.
"They've a good man commanding the first company, haven't they?"continued Stonewell.
"Yes, Blair is one of the best men in the class; he'll make a splendidthree striper; he----"
"Oh, it isn't Blair; take a look for yourself, Bob."
Robert glanced at the written order assigning the brigade officers.
"Drake, cadet lieutenant, commanding first company."
Robert's heart commenced to thump, the blood rushed to his head and hefelt a surging of happiness within that seemed almost overwhelming. Hewas like a thirsty man in a desert unexpectedly finding water. Untilthis moment he had never known how much cadet rank meant to him.
"Oh, Stonewell," he cried, "I can't believe it; isn't it likely to be amistake?"
"Not a bit of it. The superintendent's name is signed to it. This isbetter news to me than the five stripes, even," rejoined Stonewell."Bob, I'm pleased beyond expression."
"I'm delighted, Bob," cried Farnum.
It was indeed a happy trio that congratulated each other and tried torealize their good fortune.
"Come on, Bob," said the practical Stonewell at last, "let's go to ourroom and straighten it up a bit. Will you come along, Farnum?"
"No, I've my own room to fix up. Bob, old chap, you're my senior threestriper, and I'm ever so glad of it," and Farnum's expressive eyesconfirmed this feeling.
Once in their room Robert was in no hurry to do anything but talk.Boisterous jubilance exuded from his every movement and everyexpression. "Stone, the first company is going to win the flag thisyear," he suddenly exclaimed. "We're going to have the best drilled, thebest all around company of the brigade. Just keep your eye on the firstcompany this year, old fellow."
"Bully for you, Bob, I believe you'll win it," replied Stonewell. "Now Iwonder," he continued with a laugh, "if you have already decided whichpretty girl you will ask to present the flag to your company after youhave won it."
Robert's face reddened, and then he said, smiling happily, "We'll talkabout that later."
The young men now busied themselves in unpacking their trunks andstowing their clothes in their wardrobes, placing aside their civilianclothing to be sent to the basement. After this was finished theycommenced to talk. "This is a fine room, Stone," commented Robert."Here, out of this window, is Chesapeake Bay, and from the other we canlook over at the Armory across the lawns, and into the city ofAnnapolis. I tell you, it's worth while to room with the five striper.And it's worth while to be a five striper, too. You can visit duringstudy hours, you can come and go as you please; no officer would everthink of questioning the cadet commander. You'll have a good brigade,Stone; discipline here depends pretty much on the cadet officers, andevery one of us will do his level best that your brigade shall be thebest of our time."
"That's right, Bob, we'll all do our best. We'll try to make every manfeel that what he does is important. If all the units are earnest thegrand result is bound to be satisfactory."
"Stone, you and I are the best of friends, aren't we?"
"That's been my idea, Bob, for several years."
"Well, I've been thinking it's surprising that in spite of our intimatefriendship I should know so little of your family; you know all aboutmine."
"Why, Bob, what's put that into your head. You've been to my home inChicago and have met my people--and they think everything of you."
"Well, it just came over me that you never speak of them. Do youremember three years ago, at about this time, how you Frenched from the'Santee' and how I followed you out into Annapolis, and how CaptainBlunt caught us and reported us?"
"I do indeed; pretty hard luck, wasn't it? Say, Captain Blunt is a finefellow, isn't he? I've just read that his ship, the 'New Orleans,' nowon the Asiatic station, is to come home in a few months. I trust hishopeful son will not be bilged by that time; that young man is inconstant danger of getting into trouble." Stonewell picked up his capand continued, "I'm going down the corridor; I'll be back in a littlewhile."
"Hold on, Stone, I want to talk about that time we Frenched. Now I'venever asked you any particulars; you told me you had to go out to see abrother who was in some terrible trouble, and you've never said a wordabout him since--and I've never asked you. Now can't you tell mesomething about him, Stone? It isn't mere idle curiosity, but you areso much in my thoughts that I can't help but be interested in yourbrother. Is he like you?"
Stonewell sat down, saying: "Bob, you were very good to me at that timeand were most considerate then and have been ever since in not askingquestions. I went out that night to see my brother Frank. Frank isentirely unlike me in character, though peo
ple say we resemble oneanother very much in appearance; from his earliest boyhood he hasconstantly been getting into scrapes, and some of these have beenserious. He is wild and impulsive. Frank wouldn't intentionally do a lowor a wrong thing, but has done some crazy acts which have resultedbadly.
"Now, the day I Frenched, when you followed me, I had received word thatFrank had passed a forged check, and the same day I learned he washiding in Annapolis; I was beside myself. You see I didn't know but whatif it was true. Well, it came out all right. Frank hadn't passed a badcheck, but an older man with whom he spent much time had, and Frank'sname was brought in. He was badly scared; he was only sixteen at thetime, and he came here to me. You see there was no real occasion for hisbeing scared and coming here or for my being so upset. But I didn't knowhow bad it was and I was nearly crazy until the next morning, when Ireceived word that everything was all right. Still, it isn't a verypleasant recollection, and I have never felt inclined to talk about it.Now, Bob, I think I've answered your question. Do you want to knowanything more about Frank?"
"Yes, where is he now?"
"He's a sophomore at Princeton," returned Stonewell.
"Well, you are the greatest fellow, Stone; if I had a brother atPrinceton I couldn't help but talk about it; all my friends here wouldknow it."
Stonewell smiled. "Come on, Bob," he said, picking up his cap again."Let's go out and see what fellows have come back. The entire squadshould be here by this time."