“That ends parading for some time to come,” remarked Captain Fred Rover, of Company C.
“And I’m not sorry,” returned Andy Rover, his cousin.
“Hurrah for the Thanksgiving holidays!” burst out Randy, Andy’s twin. “Won’t we have a dandy time at home?”
“And don’t forget that invitation from Ralph Mason,” came from Jack.
“Hoopla! Me for a life on the ocean wave!” burst out Andy. “Ralph says that motor boat is a dandy.”
“If only the weather stays clear!” said Fred, anxiously.
“Young gentlemen, a little less noise, please,” came from Professor Snopper Duke, who chanced to be at the head of the table at which the four Rovers were seated.
“Yes, sir. Sorry I spoke, sir,” mumbled Andy, and slyly put his tongue in one cheek, at which his twin brother and his cousins grinned.
All of the cadets were in high spirits, and with good reason—school was to close that afternoon for the Thanksgiving holidays. Nearly all of the cadets were going either home or elsewhere, so that only a handful would be left at the academy for ten days. Usually the Thanksgiving recess was shorter, but Colonel Colby wished to take advantage of the holidays by having some necessary repairs done to the mess hall ceiling, which was in danger of coming down.
Before Jack Rover had been elected major of the school battalion, Ralph Mason had occupied that important position. Now Ralph had left Colby Hall for good, but he still retained his affection for many of the lads there, and had invited the Rover boys and two of their chums, Gif Garrison and Dick Powell, to accompany him on a motor-boat trip from Woods Hole to Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cape Cod—the proposed outing, of course, being contingent upon the condition of the weather.