it does you credit as a gentleman and a man of honor. Now, you
know, it's a fearful thing for a man who has reached the first
class to have to drop his Army career at the last moment. So
we'll try to bring the majority of the class around to the idea
of the week's 'silence.'"

"Now, lest it appear as though I were actuated by personal motives,"
continued Jordan, "I'll have to stand back and let you fellows do
the talking with the other men of the class."

"That's all right," nodded Durville. "We wholly understand the
delicacy of your position, and we can attend to it all right.
Besides, all we have to do, anyway, is to ascertain how the class
feels on the matter."

"Don't let it be lost sight of, though," begged Jordan, almost
betraying his over anxiety, "that it is a serious matter of class
dignity and honor."

"We won't, old man," promised Durville, as the visitors rose.

As soon as he was alone---for his tentmate was away on a cavalry
drill, Jordan rose, his eyes flashing with triumph.

"Dick Prescott, I believe I have you where I want you! What a
rage you'll be in, if you get the 'silence'! 'Whom the gods would
destroy they first make mad,'" Jordan went on, under his breath,
wholly unaware that he had parodied the meaning of that famous
quotation. "You'll rage with anger, Prescott. You'll do the
very things that will warrant the class in giving you the long