“Major Ruddy, I have examined several witnesses to this affair and I find that your story of the occurrence is substantially correct,” began the head of the school.  “Ritter struck the first blow.”

“He did.  He slapped me in the face.  That angered me so greatly that I pitched into him without thinking twice.  It was all done in a few seconds.  But I guess I’d do it again,” added Jack.  “I wouldn’t let anybody slap me without getting back at him.  I guess if I did that I’d make a mighty poor soldier.”

At these words Captain Putnam’s face became a study.  He had been on the point of reading Jack a stern lecture on the disgrace of breaking the school rules, but now he paused.  When at West Point a certain upper classman had once pulled his nose and, regardless of consequences, he had knocked the fellow down and dragged him by the heels through the dirt of the road.  He had considered himself justified in his actions, and his whole class has stood by him.  That being so, he did not have it in his heart to punish Jack, or even to find fault with him.  Yet the discipline of the school must be maintained.

“Major Ruddy, do you know what the first duty of a soldier is?” he asked, but his voice was soft and easy.

“Yes, sir; to obey orders.”

“Exactly.”

“But there is no rule about what to do if a fellow slaps your face,” added Jack, quickly.

“That is true.”  Captain Putnam had to turn away to conceal a sudden smile.  “And, in one way, let me say I do not blame you for what you did, especially as you acted on the spur of the moment.  But fighting must stop.  If I dismiss this case against you, will you promise to leave Ritter alone in the future?”

“I will if he leaves me alone.  If he attacks me, I’ll defend myself to the best of my ability.”

“He won’t attack you—­I’ll see to that,” answered the captain, grimly.  “You may go.  But remember, no more fighting.”

“Thank you, sir,” answered Jack, and lost no time in leaving the office.

“Well, how did you make out?” questioned Pepper, eagerly, when Jack joined him on the campus.

“Case dismissed, Pep.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Hurrah!  That’s the best news yet.  I was in fear that you would at least be cut off from your holidays.”

“What about Ritter?” asked Fred.

“I don’t know what Captain Putnam is going to do with him.”

The fight and the doings in the office had put Jack out of the notion of taking a sail, and the crowd of boys took a walk instead, that lasted until it was time for the evening parade.

“Wonder if Ritter will show up for drill?” came from Dale.

“We’ll know soon,” answered Jack.

In a few minutes the drums commenced to roll and out on the parade ground poured the cadets and their officers.  Jack had buckled on his sword, and so had Henry Lee and Bart Conners.  The cadets had their guns, that is all but the band, who carried their drums and fifes, and the color sergeants, who carried Old Glory and the Putnam Hall banner.