elligence, I perceive how much good it all did you."

"I took my hazing pretty well, didn't I?" insisted Dick.

"All that came your way you took like a gentleman," agreed Dobbs.

"At that time," went on Prescott, "I made up my mind that I'd
submit, during my plebedom. But I also made up my mind---and
it still my mind---that I'd go very slow, indeed, in passing the
torment on to the plebes who followed me."

Dick spoke so seriously that there was an awkward pause.

"I don't want you to think that I'm going to set up as a yearling
saint," Dick added. "I don't mean to say that I may not put a
single plebe through any kind of pace. What I do mean is that
I shall go very slowly indeed in annoying any plebe. I shan't
do it, probably, unless I note a case of such utter b.j.-ety that
I feel bound to bring the plebe quickly to his senses."

"You cast a gloom over us," muttered Furlong. "So far we haven't
done any hazing. We were thinking of ordering a plebe in here, and
starting in on him, so as to get our hands in. We need practice
in the fine art."

"Don't let me interfere with your pursuit of happiness," begged
Dick, with mock politeness.

"But, seriously, old ramrod, are you as strong for the plebe as we
have just been led to believe? Are you prepared to take the plebe
to our heart and comfort him---instead of training him?"

"Do you believe we ought to take the plebe right into our midst,
and condole with him until we get him over his homesickness?
Do you feel that we should overlook all the traditional b.j.ety
of the plebe, and admit him to full fellowship without any probation
or instruction?"

"No," spoke Dick promptly. "I don't believe in patting the plebe
on the shoulder and increasing his conceit. When a candidate
first comes to West Point, and is admitted as a cadet, he is one
of the most conceited simpletons on earth. He has to have that
all taken out of him, I admit. He must be taught to respect and
defer to upper classmen, just as he will have to do with his superior
officers after he goes from here out into the service. The plebe
must be kept in his place. I don't believe in making him feel
that he's a pet. I do believe in frowning down all b.j.-ety.
I don't believe in recognizing a plebe, except officially. But
I don't believe in subjecting any really good fellow to a lot
of senseless and half cruel hazing that has no purpose except
the amusement of the yearlings. Now, I think I've