"Greg, you know the cheery greeting, in passing, that one man here often gives another when he likes and trusts that man. Well, some of own classmates that used to give me the glad hail seem to be thinking about something else, now, when they pass me."
"Who are they?" demanded Greg, his fists doubling.
"You'd provoke a fight, if I told you," retorted Dick. "This isn't a matter to fight about."
"Then you don't know much about fighting subjects," grumbled Cadet Holmes, as he leaned back and opened his book of everlasting mathematics.
"Let me see, Greg; have you any show to get out of the goats in math.?"
"I'm in hopes to get out and step into the next section above," replied Greg. "I've been working hard enough."
"Then you'd better waste no thoughts on pugilism. Calculus will bring you more happiness."
"Calculus was never designed to bring anyone happiness," retorted Greg sulkily. "It's a torment invented on purpose to harrow the souls of cadets. What good, any way, will calculus ever be to an officer who has a platoon of men to lead in a charge on the enemy?"
This could not very well be answered, so Dick dodged the subject.
"Remember the January exams., old fellow," warned Dick. "And the general review begins Monday. That will show you up, if you don't keep your nose in math. and out of books on the Queensbury rules."