The pigs rose to the occasion beautifully. The tiny opening called as loudly as a pile of corn. They continued the excavating so promptly and expeditiously that by the time Dr. Morton returned from town, every piglet had deserted its maternal ancestor and was joyously rooting for itself in the corral.
243“I don’t see how those pigs got out,” said Dr. Morton disgustedly. “I thought that small pen was secure.”
The girls listened attentively.
“They were there at four o’clock, I saw them,” Sherm remarked.
“Oh, I suppose the heavy rain loosened the earth and it was easy rooting.”
“Possibly,” said Sherm.
The incident might have awakened more interest if the Doctor had not returned, bringing a fateful letter. The long-expected letter from Senator Pratt had come. He would be most happy to give Ernest the appointment immediately, if he thought he could pass the mental examinations. An extra examination was to be held on the 30th at Annapolis. He was sending a catalogue and some special literature as to the ground to be covered, by the same mail. He would, however, recommend that Ernest go immediately to some reputable physician and see if he could pass the physical examination. They had a naval surgeon there in Topeka, if he cared to incur the expense of a visit to the Capital.
Ernest was so busy poring over the catalogue that he could hardly be induced to stop long enough to eat his supper.
“I’m more afraid of the mathematics than anything else. I wonder if I couldn’t get Prof. Smith 244to coach me. I could study all week and go in Saturdays to recite.”
“The first thing to do is to get that doctor’s certificate. We’ll go to town to-morrow and have Dr. Hardy look you over, and if he doesn’t find anything suspicious, we’ll run down to Topeka to see the surgeon and call on the senator at the same time. I think I could go Monday.”