There was an awed silence for a few moments to give that terrifically original proposition a chance to settle in the minds of the amazed "devils."
Texas was the first to act and he leaped across the room at a bound and seized "B'gee" by the hand.
"Wow!" he roared. "Whoop! Bully, b'gee!"
And in half a minute more the seven, including the timid Indian, had registered a solemn vow to do deeds of valor that would "make them ole cadets look crosseyed," as Texas put it.
They were going to haze the yearlings!
CHAPTER XXX.
THE MOVE INTO CAMP.
The new cadets at West Point are housed in barracks for two weeks after their admission. During this time "squad drill" is the daily rule, and the strangers learn to march and stand and face—everything a new soldier has to learn, with the exception of the manual of arms. After that they are adjudged fit to associate with the older cadets, and are marched up to "Camp McPherson." This usually takes place about the first day of July.
Our friends, the seven, had been measured for uniforms along with the rest of the plebe company during their first days in barracks. The fatigue uniforms had been given out that morning, to the great excitement of everybody, and now "cit" clothing, with all its fantastic variety of hats and coats of all colors, was stowed away in trunks "for good," and the plebes costumed uniformly in somber suits of gray, with short jackets and only a black seam down the trousers for ornament. Full dress uniforms, such as the old cadets up at camp were wearing, were yet things of the future.
That morning also the plebes had been "sized" for companies.