Five minutes later another gong sounded, and by this time all of the cadets, except one or two who had been excused, were assembled on the parade ground. Major Jack was at the head of the battalion, which consisted of three companies, and beside him stood Captain Dale, who usually was present to witness the conduct of the cadets.
“Battalion, attention!” commanded the youthful major, and at once the cadets of the three companies braced up and stood in long rows like so many ramrods.
“Present arms!” was the next command, and thereafter Jack put the battalion through the manual of arms. At the conclusion he looked inquiringly at Captain Dale.
“Very good, Major Rover,” said the military instructor. “Very good, indeed.”
After this came a slight pause, and then came another command.
“Battalion, attention! Forward, march!”
Boom! Boom! Boom, boom, boom! sounded out the drums, and then came a rattle and the shrill notes of the fifes and away marched the cadets, to circle the Hall and then enter the building. Here the guns and swords were discarded and the boys poured into the big mess hall, there to seat themselves at the long tables provided, each in his accustomed place. Then, after a blessing asked by one of the professors, they all fell to eating with great gusto.
Jack did his best that day to settle his mind on his studies, yet many times he found himself thinking of Ruth and her father and wondering what was the trouble that had come to Mr. Stevenson.
“It must be something out of the ordinary,” mused the young major. “Otherwise, Ruth wouldn’t have bothered to mention it. It’s too bad—and just when her father is under the weather, too!”
Of course, the Rovers and the others who had been out on the lake when the biplane crashed down were asked innumerable questions by their friends, and they had to tell the particulars of the mishap over and over again. Those who had gone overboard were asked if they had suffered anything from the sudden plunge.