“Time to get up, everybody!” cried Sam, flinging the covers from him.  “It won’t do to be late this morning.”

“That is true, Private Rover,” came solemnly from Dick.  “I will fine any soldier of my command who is behind time.”

“Thank you, Captain Rover, I’ll remember that,” came from one of the other cadets.  “And how is Lieutenant Rover this morning”?

“Fine as silk,” came from Tom, who was already splashing in the cold water of his washbowl.  “I’ll bet a big red apple against a turnip that I’m down first,” and he began to don his uniform with remarkable rapidity.

All of the students were soon below, and then the various companies marched into the messroom for their last breakfast at the Hall for some time to come.

“I see the wagons have already left,” said Sam.

“Yes, the drivers are to get the camp in readiness for to-night,” answered his big brother.

Knowing that they had a long march before them, the majority of the cadets ate a hearty breakfast.  Mrs. Green, the housekeeper, was sorry to have them leave, and had prepared an unusually fine repast.

“Mrs. Green is just all right,” declared Tom.  “I move we give her a vote of thanks.”  And this was later on done, much to the old lady’s delight.

It was a perfect day.  The sun shone brightly, and there was just enough breeze to keep the atmosphere fresh and exhilarating.  Captain Putnam was to accompany the students on horseback, and the teachers had already gone off with the wagons.

“Battalion, attention!” shouted Major Larry Colby, when the cadets were assembled on the parade ground.  And the order was immediately obeyed.

“Shoulder arms!” was the next order given, and up went every gun in unison.  The movement was so pretty that the spectators who had gathered to see the boys march off clapped their hands in approval.

“Forward—­march!” came next, and the drums and fifes struck up, and away went the cadets, company front, toward the road.

“By column of fours!” was the next command, and Captain Dick Rover turned to his company.

“By column of fours!” he repeated, and Company A broke up into four abreast and turned into the road leading off in the direction of Pine Island.  The other companies also broke up, and in a minute more the cadets were really and truly on the march for the camp.

The drums and fifes sounded well on that bracing morning air, and quite a crowd of boys and not a few girls followed the students over the first of the hills back of Putnam Hall.  But here the crowd dropped gradually away, until the young soldiers had the country road practically to themselves.

For a full mile the cadets were made to keep in step.  Then came the order, “Route step!” and they moved forward as pleased them, keeping together, however, by companies.  The route step is given that one may take the step that is most natural to him, be it longer or shorter than the regulation step.