“That will be the way to do it,” said Tom, delighted with the idea. “Push yourself up in the world, even if you have to pull somebody down in doing it. That’s my motto.”
A few moments serious consideration ought to have shown the new student that his plan never could succeed. Suppose the principal did break the adjutant! What chance was there for Tom to receive the appointment, when he did not even understand the manual of arms? But Tom did not stop to think of this. He wanted to be an officer, the highest in rank in the academy; and, having decided upon the course he ought to pursue in order to accomplish his object, he held to it with the tenacity of a bull-dog.
Tom walked with his companions toward the gymnasium, and, as they entered the building, the first object that attracted his attention was the adjutant, who, having performed some evolutions on the parallel bars, stood leaning against a post with his arms folded, waiting to recover his breath after his violent exercise.
“Rich,” whispered Tom, “give me an introduction to that officer!”
“What, that Spooney?” exclaimed Rich, in surprise. “If that’s your game, Newcombe, we might as well break ranks first as last. If you are going to be friends with those fellows, we don’t want any thing more to do with you. The set won’t like it.”
Under almost any other circumstances, Tom would have hesitated before incurring the displeasure of Rich and his companions; but if he accomplished the object he had in view, it would, he thought, more than make amends for the loss of their friendship. So he replied:
“I don’t belong to the set yet, and I don’t care whether they like it or not. I know what I am about.”
“So do I,” said Miller. “You’re going back on us; that’s what you are about. I didn’t think that of you, Newcombe.”
“Better keep away from every one that wears a shoulder-strap,” said Martin; “you’ll only get yourself into trouble if you do not.”
Tom, seeing that they were not disposed to assist him in making the acquaintance of the adjutant, walked off, leaving his three friends vexed and disappointed. They disliked the idea of his becoming intimate with the young officer, for he was one whose influence and example had won more than one student from the “set;” and knowing that Tom could be easily led in any direction, besides being unacquainted with the object he had in view, they feared that they were about to lose him forever. It was too late to recall him, however, for Tom walked straight up to the adjutant, who extended his hand, saying: