“There is the most of the case in a nutshell I am afraid,” declared Cadet Douglass.  “In our interior corps discipline we not only work from tradition, but we strengthen or weaken it for the classes that are to follow us.  Have we any right to weaken a tradition that is as old as the Military Academy itself?”

These simple remarks, made with an absence of bitter feeling, swung the tide against Dick.  The meeting in Anstey’s room lasted for more than an hour.  When the meeting broke up Anstey and some of his advisers felt convinced that to call a class meeting would be merely to bring about a vote that Prescott was to be kept in Coventry for all time to come.

Anstey told Greg the result of the meeting, but Holmes did not tell his chum.

“It’s all settled as it ought to be,” declared Cadet Jordan.

“You mean-----” asked Durville.

“Why, either Prescott will have to be ‘found’ in his exams., or else he’ll be bound to resign as soon as he has proved that his departure from West Point was not due to poor scholarship.  Which ever way he prefers to do it, the fellow will have to get out of the corps within the next few days!”

“Yes; I suppose so,” almost sighed Durville.

“Why, hang you, Durry, you talk like a man whose good opinion can be won by a kicking.”

“Do you” asked Durville, with a warning flash in his eyes.

“Oh, don’t take me too seriously,” protested Jordan.  “But I cannot help marveling at your near liking for the man who landed you in such a scrape.”

“I don’t enjoy hitting a man who is down; that is all,” returned Durville.  “I’ve seen Mr. Prescott down for so many weeks and months that I’d like to see how he looks when he’s a man instead of an under dog.”

“Well, I’m glad to say the class is plainly not of your way of thinking,” growled Jordan.  “The class is for maintaining higher ideals of the honor of military service and true comradeship.  So it’s only a matter of what date the fellow selects for leaving here.”

And truly that was the view that seemed to be pressing more and more tightly upon Dick Prescott.  The pressure was becoming more than he could bear.  He had followed Lieutenant Denton’s advice, and had put up a good and a brave fight.  But to be “the only dog in a cage of lions” is a fearful ordeal for the bravest—–­especially when the door is open.

Greg never seemed to notice the sighs that occasionally escaped Dick Prescott’s lips.  Holmes no longer tried to cheer his friend by open speech or advice.  Yet not a thing that Dick did escaped the covert watchfulness of his roommate.

The semi-ans. over, and the results posted on the bulletin board in the Academic Building, it was discovered that Cadet Richard Prescott now stood number twenty-four in his class—–­a rank never heretofore won by him.

Cadet Jordan was so furious that his face was ghastly white when he made the discovery.