About them, through the corridors of the building, they could hear other candidates going to their rooms with their possessions. There was not much noise, for the “lowly candidates” were beginning to feel how unimportant they were compared to the “lordly cadets.”
“Here comes some one,” remarked Sam, as they saw their door pushed open. A corporal—a supercilious and sneering corporal—entered. Watson his name was, as they learned later.
“Here, you!” he said, sharply. “That’s no way to pile your stuff. You—what’s your name?” he asked, turning to Harry Houston.
“Er—Houston,” stammered the lad, and in a flash Tom and Sam knew their friend had forgotten the proper form.
“Mister Houston, sir!” fairly thundered the corporal. “Say it after me!”
“Mister Houston, sir!” imitated the luckless one.
“That’s better,” came in semi-mollified tones. “Now I’ll show you how to get your room into shape—and keep it so!” he added impressively. “You’ll be inspected when you least look for it. Don’t get caught, whatever you do!”
His manner was so important that Tom, at least, resolved that there should not be a pin out of place. The corporal showed them how to make up their cots. He indicated the official Blue Book, a copy of which was required to be kept at all times in a certain place in the room. This book gave minute directions for keeping the room in order, and specified much as to the candidate’s conduct.
Though neither Tom nor his companions were cadets yet, the strictest military discipline must be observed by them. They had to report on leaving their room, and on coming back, and they could not leave unless it was absolutely necessary. It was a hard life, but doubtless it had the intended effect.
Once the beds were arranged to the liking of the corporal, and he was not easy to please, Tom and the others were taught to stand at “attention.” This position—as stiff as a ramrod, with eyes straight to the front, and never, by any chance, allowed to rest on the countenance of the officer—must be maintained whenever any cadet officer, or the tactical officer in charge of instructions, came into the quarters of the candidate. The tactical officers were called “tacs,” and were army officers, graduates from the Academy, who, in turn, were stationed for four years at West Point to give military instruction.