Produced by Jim Ludwig
DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT
or
Ready to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps
By H. Irving Hancock
CHAPTERS
I. Dick Reports a Brother Cadet
II. Jordan Reaches Out for Revenge
III. Catching a Man for Breach of "Con."
IV. The Class Committee Calls
V. The Cadet "Silence" Falls
VI. Trying to Explain to the Girls
VII. Jordan Meets Disaster
VIII. Fate Serves Dick Her Meanest Trick
IX. The Class Takes Final Action
X. Lieutenant Denton's Straight Talk
XI. The News from Franklin Field
XII. Ready to Break the Camel's Back
XIII. The Figures in the Dark
XIV. The Story Carried on the Wind
XV. The Class Meeting "Sizzles"
XVI. Finding the Baseball Gait
XVII. Ready for the Army-Navy Game
XVIII. Dan Dalzell's Crabtown Grin
XIX. When the Army Fans Winced
XX. The Vivid Finish of the Game
XXI. A Cloud on Dick's Horizon
XXII. Cadet Prescott Commands at Squadron Drill
XXIII. A West Pointer's Love Affair
XXIV. Conclusion
"Detachment halt!" commanded the engineer officer in charge.
Out on the North Dock at West Point the column of cadets had marched,and now, at the word, came to an abrupt stop.
This detachment, made up of members of the first and third classesin the United States Military Academy, was out on this Augustforenoon for instruction in actual military engineering.
The task, which must be accomplished in a scant two hours, wasto lay a pontoon bridge across an indentation of the Hudson River,this indentation being a few hundred feet across, and representing,in theory, an unfordable river.
"Mr. Prescott!"
Cadet Richard Prescott, now a first classman, and captain of oneof the six cadet companies, stepped forward, saluting.
"You will build the bridge today, Mr. Prescott, continued theinstructor, Lieutenant Armstrong, Corps of Engineers, United StatesArmy.
"Very good, sir," replied Dick.
With a second salute, which was returned, Prescott turned to dividehis command rapidly into smaller detachments.
It was work over which not a moment of time could be lost. Allmust be done with the greatest possible despatch, and a real bridgewas called for—-not a toy affair or a half-way experiment.
"Mr. Holmes," directed Prescott, "you will take charge of theboats. Mr. Jordan, take charge of the balk carriers!"
A balk is a heavy timber, used, in this case, in the constructionof the pontoon.
Cadet Jordan, one of the biggest men, physically, in the firstclass, scowled as he received this order for what was especiallyarduous duty.
"That's mean of you, Prescott," glowered Jordan.
"If you have any complaints to make, sir, make them to the instructor,"return Cadet Captain Prescott, after a swift, astonished look athis classmate.
"You know I can't do that," muttered Cadet Jordan. "But you——-"
"Silence, sir, and attend to your duty!"
Then, raising his voice to one of general command, Prescott called:
"Construct the bridge!"
Jordan fell back, with a surly face and a muttered imprecatio