“It is hard, but necessary, if the West Point man is to be graduated as anything but a snob with an enlarged cranium.  Laura, you remember what a fuss the ‘Blade’ made over me when I won my appointment?  Now, almost every new man come to West Point with some such splurge made about him at home.  He reaches here thinking he’s one of the smartest fellows in creation.  In a good many cases, too, the fellow has been spoiled ever since he was a baby, by being the son of wealthy parents, or by being from a family distinguished in some petty local social circles.  The first move here, on the part of the upper classmen, is to take all of that swelling out of the new man’s head.  Then, most likely, the new man has never had any home training in being really manly.  Here, he must be a man or get out.  It takes some training, some probation, some hard knocks and other things to make a man out of the fellow.  He has to be a man, if he’s going to be fit to command troops.”

Anstey, who had been walking close behind his comrade, added: 

“The new man, if he has been spoiled at home, usually comes here with a more or less bad temper.  He can’t talk ugly here, or double his fists, or give anyone black looks—–­except with one invariable result.”

“What?” asked both girls eagerly.

“He must fight, as soon as the meeting can be arranged,” replied Anstey.

“That sounds rather horrible!” shuddered Laura.

“Does it?” asked Dick dryly.  “We’re being trained here for fighting men.”

“But what do they fight about?” inquired Belle.

“Well, one man, who probably will never be thought of highly again,” replied Anstey, “spoke slightingly of a girl at the hop last night.  The cadet who heard him didn’t even know the girl, but he called the cadet a ‘dog’ for speaking that way of a woman.”

“What happened?” inquired Laura.

“The man who was called a ‘dog’ was, according to our code, compelled to call his insulter out.”

“Are they going to fight?” asked Belle eagerly.

“The ‘dog’ was whipped at the first streak of daylight this morning,” the Virginian answered.  “That particular ‘dog’ is now in a special little kennel at the hospital.  Hasn’t he learned anything?  He knows more about practical chivalry than he did last night.”

“This talk is getting a bit savage,” laughed Dick.  “Let me call your attention to the beauty of the view here.”

The view was, indeed, a striking one.  The two couples had halted at a rock-strewn point on the walk.  The beauty of the woods was all about them.

Through the trees to the east they could see the Hudson, almost at their feet, yet far below them.  Looking northward, they saw a noble sweep of the same grand river, above the bend.

“Come forward a bit” urged Anstey of Belle.  “I want to show you a beautiful effect across the river.”

As they passed on, just out of sight, Greg Holmes came along, talking animatedly with Miss Griffin.  At sight of Laura, Greg halted, and the four young people chatted.  At last Holmes and Miss Griffin passed on to speak to Belle.