They found the majority of the liberty party gathered there awaiting the hour set for returning on board.
It was on the stroke of eight and the boats were already on their way ashore.
Shortly after Judson and Chris reached the dock, a carriage drove up and Joy and Nanny leaped out close to where the former were standing.
Joy glanced anxiously from one to the other of the group of cadets. His face was even more grave than usual. And Nanny looked as if tears were not far away from his eyes.
“I say,” called out the lanky plebe, “has any one seen Faraday?”
Judson and Spendly shrank back into the shadows.
“No,” replied a first class cadet named Blakely. “He ought to be here. Why, what’s up? You fellows look worried.”
“We can’t understand why Clif isn’t here, that’s all. He went out to a place in the suburbs at four o’clock and was to meet us on the dock at six. We’ve been up to the house where he called and they said he left there in a carriage shortly before dark.”
“He may have stopped somewhere on the way back.”
“No. Clif is not the fellow to break a promise if he could help it.”