There was band concert in camp that night. Many cadets of the
first and third classes had already gone to meet girls whom they
would escort in strolling near the bandstand. Plebes are not
expected to escort young ladies to these concerts. The members
of the second class were away on the summer furlough, as Dick
and Greg had been the summer before.

As the musicians began to tune up at the bandstand, most of the
remaining cadets sauntered through the company streets on their
way to get close to the music.

All cadets who passed through A company's street became suddenly
silent when within ten paces of Dick's tent, and remained silent
until ten paces beyond.

Dick's tent being at the head of the street, he was quite near
enough to the music. But he was not long in noting that both
cadet escorts and cadets without young ladies took pains not to
approach too close to where he sat. It was enough to fill him
with savage bitterness, though he still strove to be just to his
classmates who had been blinded by Cadet Jordan's villainous scheme.

Of a sudden the band struck up its lively opening march. Just
at that moment Prescott became aware of the fact that Greg Holmes
was lifting out a campstool and was placing it beside him.

"Well," announced Greg, "I've found out all there is behind the
silence."

"I took it for granted that was your purpose," Dick responded.