“Well, you’ve been vindicated, anyway,” muttered Greg cheerily, one day.  “So you needn’t look as thoughtful as you do half of the time these present days.”

“Have I been vindicated, Greg?” asked Dick gravely.

“What did the court say?  And you’re still wearing the uniform that Uncle Sam gave you, aren’t you?

“Vindication, Greg, means something more that a court-martial verdict of acquittal.”

“What more do you want?”

“Greg, the verdicts of all the courts-martial sitting between here and Manila wouldn’t make some of the men of this corps believe that I innocent.”

“G’wan!” retorted Cadet Holmes impatiently.

“I see it, Greg, old chum, if you don’t.”

“You’re morbid, old ramrod!”

“Greg, you know the cheery greeting, in passing, that one man here often gives another when he likes and trusts that man.  Well, some of own classmates that used to give me the glad hail seem to be thinking about something else, now, when they pass me.”

“Who are they?” demanded Greg, his fists doubling.

“You’d provoke a fight, if I told you,” retorted Dick.  “This isn’t a matter to fight about.”

“Then you don’t know much about fighting subjects,” grumbled Cadet Holmes, as he leaned back and opened his book of everlasting mathematics.

“Let me see, Greg; have you any show to get out of the goats in math.?”

“I’m in hopes to get out and step into the next section above,” replied Greg.  “I’ve been working hard enough.”

“Then you’d better waste no thoughts on pugilism.  Calculus will bring you more happiness.”

“Calculus was never designed to bring anyone happiness,” retorted Greg sulkily.  “It’s a torment invented on purpose to harrow the souls of cadets.  What good, any way, will calculus ever be to an officer who has a platoon of men to lead in a charge on the enemy?”

This could not very well be answered, so Dick dodged the subject.

“Remember the January exams., old fellow,” warned Dick.  “And the general review begins Monday.  That will show you up, if you don’t keep your nose in math. and out of books on the Queensbury rules.”

“Funny how Bert Dodge keeps up in mathematics, and yet takes in all the pleasures he can find,” rumbled on Greg, as he turned the pages of his book, seeking what he wanted.  “Dodge is in the section just under the stars, and I hear he has dreams of being in the star section after the January ordeals.”

“Dodge always was a rather good student at Gridley High School” rejoined Prescott.

“But he never led our class there in the High School mathematics, which is baby’s play compared with West Point math.”

“Well, he gets the marks now,” sighed Dick.  “I wish we could, too.”

The academic part of the cadet’s year is divided into two halves.  The first half winds up in January.  During the last few weeks before the period for the winter examination, there is a general review in some of the subjects, notably in mathematics.  This general review brings out all of a man’s weak points in his subject.  Incidentally, it should strengthen him in his weak points.