There was an influence working against Ralph though neither he nor Himski knew what it was. At this time of the year the Academy was on exhibition before the whole country, it being “June week,” and every day columns were published in the newspapers. Hazing troubles at Annapolis have always been as greatly exaggerated as they have been widely advertised; and this graduating time was the worst time imaginable for a hazing scandal. If hazing had been going on the authorities preferred to know nothing about it; it would work to the great harm of the famous school, and it was feared that the testimony given in Ralph’s trial might lead to many other trials and consequent newspaper scandal. So the court confined itself entirely to the case on trial and excluded, as was its clear right, all outside testimony.
And so Himski failed completely in having any testimony given by Mr. Chappell concerning his encounter with the midshipman and civilian previous to the time Ralph had hazed him.
The trial did not last very late in the afternoon, as Bollup and Mr. Chappell were the only witnesses that appeared before it.
That night in their room Himski for the first time was utterly dejected.
“The injustice of it!” he cried. “Oh, Os, my very heart and soul rebel!”
Ralph, sad and hopeless though he was, now tried to cheer up his friend; neither had the faintest hope for any other verdict than guilty, and Ralph tried to form some plans for the future. “I’ll go back to Toledo,” he said. “It’s an awful blow, my dismissal; there’s only one comfort in it all, no dishonor is attached to my name.”
“No, Os, nothing but good-will and affection from midshipmen and the respect of officers. But this will hurt Captain Waddell; he took such a keen interest in you.”
“Captain Waddell!” exclaimed Ralph. “I hadn’t thought of him. He told me to write to him if I ever needed a friend. Here, Himski, let me have paper and ink; and find his address for me, will you?”
“He’s in command of the receiving ship at the New York Navy Yard,” said Himski. “I happened to run across that fact the other day.”
“Good. He can’t help me—I’m beyond all help, but I’ll write him about everything that has happened to me since I left the Puritan.”