Dick was now advancing in years, and he knew that before long he would either have to go into business or to college, which he had not yet fully decided.  To tell the truth, the thought of separating from his brothers was exceedingly distasteful to him.

“If I went to college I’d like you fellows to be with me,” he said one day to Tom and Sam.  “There would be no fun in going alone.”

“That’s true,” answered Tom.  “But if you wanted us to go together you’d have to wait for Sam and me to catch up to you.”

“Well, I might spend a year or so in traveling while I waited, or Sam and you might hurry up a little,” answered the eldest Rover.

During those days but little out of the ordinary happened.  Dick took especial care to avoid Lew Flapp, and the tall youth did not attempt to bother him.  It was soon learned that Flapp was more of a braggart than anything else, and then even some of the smaller boys grew less afraid of him.

As already told, it had been decided by Captain Putnam to have the cadets elect a new set of officers for the term, and these officers were to be chosen in a somewhat different manner than heretofore.

“In the past,” said the captain, when addressing the students on the subject, “you have been permitted to elect whoever you pleased to any office, from major down.  This has occasionally resulted in someone being chosen who, while he might be a good scholar and a good fellow generally, was not exactly fitted to a military position.  On that account I have made a change.  Next Wednesday and Thursday I shall hold a general examination in military matters only, and the twenty pupils standing highest shall be the ones eligible for the positions of major, captain, and first and second lieutenants.  On these twenty names you shall vote as heretofore.  As we now have three companies here we shall want a major, three captains, and six lieutenants, making a total of ten officers.  After that each company shall choose its own corporals and sergeants.  The company marching best on parade the following Saturday shall have the honor of carrying the flag until after the annual encampment, which this year will begin a month from to-day.”

At the mention of the annual encampment the cadets set up a cheer.  The outing was looked forward to with great interest.

“Where are we going this year?” asked George Granbury.

“It’s a secret, I believe,” answered Larry Colby.  “But I am pretty certain that we are going further away than usual.”

“I hope we go into the mountains.”

“Or along some other lake, where the fishing is fine,” put in Tom.

“Yes, that would suit me, too.”

The announcement concerning the examination in military matters also caused much talk, and many of the cadets began at once to study military tactics harder than ever, while drills became a pleasure instead of a hardship.

“I’m going to win some kind of a place,” said Larry earnestly.  “Even a lieutenantship would be better than nothing.”