and would have been a captain if he
had not been a bully; for there were enough who disliked him on this
account to prevent his election. As the first sergeant of the company,
he was almost sure that he should be chosen the next time. But his
sentence removed all hope of such preferment.

"Grant, I believe you are sincerely sorry for what has happened; but
you have done wrong, and you must be punished."

Richard's anger rose at these words, and he was disposed to resent the
idea of being punished for what he had done, especially after the judge
had ruled so decidedly in his favor.

"I shall order you to be placed under arrest, and to spend the night in
the guard house. You will report to me at dress parade. You can go."

The culprit's lips were compressed, and his teeth were tightly closed.
He was angry, for he had expected to be fully justified before the boys
for his conduct. An impudent remark trembled on the end of his tongue,
but the memory of the conquest he had achieved over himself prevented
him from uttering it.

"I have done wrong, and I have owned that I was in the wrong. I will
submit," said Richard to himself, as he left the office.

When he went out upon the play ground, he found the boys assembled in
groups discussing the exciting event of the day. They gathered around
him to learn the result of the trial.

"Nevers has lost his office, and I am under arrest, to spend the night
in the guard house," replied Richard, in answer to their inquiries.

"You got off easy," said Bailey.

"I suppose I did; at any rate, I am satisfied."

"Nevers has lost his warrant," exclaimed the boys, who were
particularly technical in speaking of military events. "Let's give
three cheers."

"Don't do it," said Richard. "It's a hard case for him."

"I am glad of it. The bully is down," added one."

"You licked him well," said another.

"I am sorry I did," replied Richard. "I didn't understand the matter so
well then as I do now. Colonel Brockridge is a trump!"

If any of Richard's friends at Woodville had heard this remark, they
would have been ready to canonize him at once, for it was so utterly at
variance with his style, that his acquaintances would not have
recognized it as coming from him. But Richard was engaged in the
conquest of himself, and had won two or three important victories.

The early call for dress parade sounded, and the boys all hasted to the
armories to prepare for it. As Richard had no unif