“You’ll get into more trouble if you don’t,” whispered Short. “You will be there to-night or you’ll be in the Annapolis jail to-morrow; take your choice,” and Short turned away.
At ten o’clock taps were rung out by the bugler, and the new midshipmen turned into their hammocks. Soon after all lights were put out and everything was quiet aboard the Santee. At eleven o’clock two dark forms quietly slipped out of their hammocks and crept to an open gun-port. Here they had a whispered conversation that lasted till after midnight. Then one handed the other a roll of bills; the latter said: “Thank you, Short; you may depend upon me. I understand what you want done and I’ll do it. I’m glad you’ve given me more than one year. He would feel it much worse four years from now than he would to-day.”
“I suppose so,” grumbled Short. “He’s the superintendent’s white-haired boy now and it would be useless to try anything just at present. But mind you, if you let up on him when the time comes, or play me false, I’ll have you landed in jail as sure as my name is Short. Have no false notions on that subject.”
“All right, Short, I’ll remember; you need have no fear of me. I guess everything is understood, so good-night.”
They separated, and each returned to his hammock.
Three days later, at dinner formation, Midshipman Short was directed to stand in front of his classmates. Then the acting cadet officer, who mustered the new midshipmen at all formations, himself one who had been turned back into this class, read the following order which was signed by the Secretary of the Navy.
“Order.
“For having been guilty of the most dishonorable, contemptible action, for being in effect a thief, thereby proving himself to be unfit for any decent association, Midshipman Thomas G. Short is hereby dishonorably dismissed from the Naval Academy and the naval service. Two hours after the publication of this order he will be marched to the Naval Academy gate, and hereafter he will never be permitted to enter the Naval Academy grounds.”
Astonishment was depicted on the faces of most of Short’s erstwhile classmates, for though much speculation had been indulged in as to the nature of Short’s trouble, the exact facts had not been divulged and were known to but few people at the Naval Academy.