“And what about Ruth and May?” questioned Jack, who was on the ’phone, with Fred beside him.
“Ruth is at the head of the class,” announced Martha, over the telephone. “May will stand third or fourth.”
“Then give them both our congratulations,” said Jack.
“And also our best regards,” added Fred, crowding his cousin to one side.
“Hold the wire a minute and you can talk to them yourselves,” said Martha. And a minute later Jack was talking to Ruth and later still Fred managed to get in a few words with May.
Following the examinations, Colonel Colby called the entire school together, and then announced that he was going to take his departure for Camp Huxwell and would leave the scholars in charge of Captain Dale and Professors Grawson and Brice.
“I am sorry to leave you,” announced the colonel, “but I have accepted the call of our country and shall go to the training camp without further delay. But you all know Captain Dale very well, and I feel sure that you will be glad to learn that he will have charge during the annual encampment. He will be assisted by the professors and some others, and all arrangements have been perfected for making this outing a great success.
“With talk of war filling the air, we shall try to show what Colby Hall can do in the way of first-class military training. Captain Dale will see to it that you are given an opportunity to show what you can do at target and bayonet practice, and in marching and other camp activities. There will, of course, be the usual athletic contests, and as you are going down to the coast, you will likewise have an opportunity to make use of the water.”
Here the colonel paused, and there was a faint handclapping, quickly followed by a generous round of applause.
“Evidently you all like the idea of going in camp near the water,” said Colonel Colby, smiling.