To his willing “satellites” Scott Clemmons, from a knowledge of his own nature, judged Mark, believing that the young sailor would inform his friends of the affair of the toy ship and what followed. He had told his version of the affair, and soon through the corps went the story of enmity between the two “men from Maine,” as they were called.
Had Scott Clemmons been less arrogant, Herbert Nazro would not have been so severe upon him as he was.
But all new cadets must expect hard times the first year they enter into Uncle Sam’s service as baby tars.
In his studies Mark went to work with the determination to win, and a feeling began to creep over the class in which he was that he meant to be a dangerous man in the race for honors.
Scott Clemmons understood this more keenly than any one else, and he began to feel his inferiority in spite of his vanity, so he decided that the only way to beat Mark Merrill was to get him out of the academy.
He sized up the others of the class, and felt that, with a struggle, he could lead for honors, but Mark Merrill was dangerous, and intended to see to it that his threat to leave him behind was carried out.
Demerits against a cadet would upset all standing for good lessons, perfect drill and attention to duties, and that these ugly little demerit marks could be readily gotten from the slightest causes Scott Clemmons soon discovered. He accordingly induced his roommate to enter into a plot against the unsuspecting young sailor.
When rigged out in his uniform Mark Merrill was certainly a very handsome and striking-looking lad.
The corps tailor had complimented him by saying he had never measured a finer formed lad for his clothes, and seldom one his equal.
Fortunately for the new men, there had recently been several dismissals from the academy of “hazers,” so that no great indignities were heaped upon Mark and the others.