“Publish your Orders, sir.”
Finkelton faced to the battalion again, sheathed his sword, drew a paper from his belt, unfolded it, gave the command: “Attention to orders!” and began to read.
Headquarters, Riverpark Academy.
June 20, 186-.
SPECIAL ORDER, NO. 21.
In consideration of the excellent order and high standing which have recently been maintained by the cadets of Riverpark, a general amnesty is hereby proclaimed in favor of all offenders. All delinquencies are cancelled to this date, and all delinquents are hereby absolved from further punishment or restriction on account of past offences.
By order of the Principal,
Col. Jonas Silsbee.
J. R. Finkelton,
Acting First Lieut. and Adjt.
It was a full half-minute before the boys in the ranks realized the great good fortune that had fallen on them. Then they all seemed to discover it at once. A shout went up as from a single throat. Caps were tossed wildly into the air. There was cheering, hand-shaking, excited laughter, enthusiasm beyond control. To those forty delinquents it was the same as giving sudden freedom to a caged wild bird.
Plumpy, whose irrepressible spirits had made it necessary, since the very beginning of the year, that he should dwell in seclusion at Riverpark, was almost convulsed with delight. He leaped and waved his cap and shouted, until the boys nearest to him in the ranks felt obliged to resort to their customary method of laying him down on his back and sitting on him to repress his wild enthusiasm.