"Anstey, I hope there's time for you to make the acquaintance of Dave and Dan," Dick said earnestly while the Virginian was visiting Greg and himself. "Dave and Dan are two of the real fellows, if there are any left in the world.
"They must be, old ramrod," replied the Virginian quietly, "if they hold such place in your affections, and in old Holmesy's."
Great was the rejoicing, on the eventful morning, when the two "Army specials" pulled out from the station down by the river's edge.
The first section of the train pulled out ahead, carrying the officers of the post, their families and closest friends.
On the second longer section traveled the corps of cadets—-with the exception of a few of the young men who, under discipline, were not allowed to take this trip. With the cadets went the tactical officers and the coaching force.
At Jersey City the first real stop was made. Then the journey was resumed to Philadelphia.
Franklin Field was crowded with somewhere between thirty and thirty-five thousand people when the corps of cadets, headed by the band, marched on to the field and thence to the seats reserved for the band and the corps.
The whole progress of the corps across the field was accompanied by lusty cheering, by applause and by the mad waving of the gray, black and gold Army pennants. Most of the spectators who carried the Navy's blue and gold pennants so far forgot their partisanship as to cheer and wave for the Army's young men.
Hardly was the corps of cadets seated when another loud strain of joyous music was heard. The brigade of midshipmen, from Annapolis, behind the Naval Academy Band, was now entering the field. All the cheering and all the other frantic signs of approval were repeated, the corps of cadets from West Point lending heavy additional volume to the rousing send-off.
In the meantime rival football squads had been hustled off to dressing quarters.