“You make me think of my cousin, Jack Reade, of the militia,” taunted Tom.  “He’s a captain.  Now, Jack wanted to be appointed assistant inspector general of rifle practice.  He was ordered up for his exam.  Poor fellow spent three weeks, days and nights, boning for that exam.  The family had the doctor in twice, for they were afraid Jack was studying himself crazy.  Then the day came for the exam.  Jack went into the ordeal shivering.  The examiner asked Jack to write down his full name, the date of his birth, and the date of his entry into the militia.  Jack answered all three questions straight, and got a hundred per cent. for his marking.  Yet you fellows talk about exams as though they were really hard!”

Still laughing the three passed inside.

Dick Prescott had firmly resolved to do no more talking about the ordeal.  But Darrin hadn’t.  So, after the boys had entered the building, and had climbed to the next floor, where the hall was, and had taken a look inside, Dave drew back into the corridor.

“Great guns, did you look inside?” he demanded.  “There are a million boys in there already.”

“Cheer up,” soothed Tom.  “Most of ’em want to go to West Point.”

Tom fairly forced his chums inside.  The boys already there, some three-score, at least, turned to regard the newcomers curiously.

“The rest of you may as well go home,” announced Tom laughingly.  “My friends have a first mortgage on the jobs you’re after.”

Presently, more fellows came in.  Then some more, and still more.

“Let’s go down and stand by the door, where we can get more air,” urged Darrin.

“Yes,” agreed Tom.  “And we’ll throw out any of the rest that may have a nerve to try to step in here.”

Hardly had they taken their stand by the door when the three chums received a shock.

For the next arrivals were Phin Drayne, and his father, Heathcote Drayne.

Phin was now in attendance at the Wilburville Academy, and his father had come down, the evening before, to urge his son to try for West Point.

Tom looked the newcomer over with especial disfavor.  Young Drayne, like many another “peculiar” fellow, was an unusually good student.  At any time Drayne would have a very good chance of coming out even with, or just ahead of, either Dick or Dave.

The Draynes did not favor our three chums with any greeting, but walked on down into the hall.

“Excuse me a minute,” murmured Tom.  “I want to find out how the land lies.”

Tom thereupon walked boldly over to the Draynes.

“May I speak with you just a moment, Mr. Drayne?” asked Tom.

“Go ahead,” replied Mr. Heathcote Drayne, not over-graciously.

“It is important, sir, that I speak with you aside,” Tom went on.

Heathcote Drayne scowled, then stepped to one side, turning and glancing down at Reade.