So life at camp began, and it was a welcome change, in a way, from the former system of drilling. Not that it was any easier, for the plebes had much to learn. More than once did Tom fall under the stern eye of Captain Hawkesbury who seemed to single our hero out for special reproof.
One day when Tom was sent to the old army officer’s tent, he saw, on a table amid a pile of other letters, one that bore the scrawling signature of Aaron Doolittle. A puff of wind blew the epistle to the floor, and Tom, who picked it up, could not help seeing part of one sentence.
These words seemed fairly to stare out at him: “The Railroad Company is not altogether satisfied about bridge land title. We’ll have to get together on it soon.”
“Now what in the world can that mean?” thought Tom, as he placed the letter back with the others. “If I could only get a good lawyer to take up our case I might find there was something coming to my mother from that land. But I guess it isn’t of much use. Poor mother! If Captain Hawkesbury knows anything about any money due us he’s keeping it mighty secret.”
But Tom’s speculations concerning the strange meaning of the sentence in the letter were brought to an abrupt end, at least for the time being, that same night.
There had been hard and gruelling drill, and a mild spirit of revolt was abroad among some of the “plebes.” Word was passed around that a lark was in prospect. Some of the boys were going to play a trick on one or two of the sentries. Tom had a chance to go in on it but refused, and he was glad, later, that he had stayed out.
For the lark was a fizzle. The sentries had been informed beforehand about the trick, and nearly captured those who intended to take their guns away from them. The officer of the day, the officer of the guard and the sergeant came out on the alarm and a chase of the luckless cadets resulted.
Tom was in his tent when Sam entered hurriedly, barely managing to slip in past the sentinel in the Company street.
“Narrow squeak!” Sam murmured. “Mum’s the word, Tom, old man.”
“Sure!” Tom answered. In the next tent he could hear Harry and Chad going in hurriedly, to undress and get into bed before a general inspection was made.