made a famous sextette in school athletics. Their start was made
during their grammar school days, when they had many adventures
and did much in the field of junior sport. Their high school
life, as set forth in the series of that name, was one of athletics,
mixed with much study and efforts to find their true paths in
life. In high school athletics the members of Dick & Co. won
a statewide reputation, as to-day members of winning high school
athletic teams are bound to do. It was during their high school
days that Dick & Co. determined on their professions through life.
Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes both secured competitive appointments
to the United States Military Academy, and their further doings
are set forth in the "_West Point Series_." Dave Darrin and Dalzell,
with a burning desire for naval life, obtained appointments to
the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. What befell them
is fully told in the "_Annapolis Series_." As for Tom Reade and
Harry Hazelton, while still in high school they became seized
with a strong desire for careers as civil engineers. They were
fortunate enough to secure their first practice and training in
a local engineering office in the home town of Gridley. Then,
with vastly more courage than training, Tom and Harry went forth
into the world to stand or fall as engineers.

Their first experiences are told in the opening volume of this
series, "_The Young Engineers In Colorado_." Joining a western
engineering force as "cub" engineers, at first the laughing-stock
of the older engineers on the staff of a new railroad then building
in Colorado, the two boys did their best to make good. How well
they succeeded is known to readers of that volume. Their adventures
in the Rocky Mountains were truly astounding; some of them, especially
those with "Bad Pete," a braggart and scoundrel of the old school,