"Dick Prescott!" gasped Harry delightedly.
"I suppose you think I might have waited until daylight," laughed Dick, as their hands met.
"I'm heartily glad you didn't wait," said Harry. "How long can you stay with us?"
"Not as long as I'd like to, for I'm due at Fort Clowdry in a very few days."
"And Greg?"
Lieutenant Prescott gave the same explanation he had furnished Tom.
"How does it seem to be an army officer?" Harry continued.
"I believe it to be the finest career on earth," Prescott answered. "Still, as you can guess, I'm utterly without experience so far. After a few days more I shall have my first day as an officer on duty with troops. But do you and Tom continue to find engineering the grandest career on earth?"
"We certainly do," affirmed Hazelton.
"It must be very interesting," agreed Dick. "Still, I imagine there is yet enough of the primitive savage in the average man to make him enjoy a real fight once in a while. That's an experience you're denied in your calling, but an army officer may always look forward to the chance of seeing a little fighting."