Read Ebook: The Young Scout: The Story of a West Point Lieutenant by Ellis Edward Sylvester

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Ebook has 1473 lines and 66250 words, and 30 pages

"The son of Herbert Decker?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, now, I must shake your hand again; your father is one of my best and oldest friends; he did more than any other one man to bring about my election to congress; I suspect it was he who started the cane presentation business to me. Is he proud of you, James?"

The boy laughed outright at the overwhelming manner of the portly congressman.

"I don't think he is; at least I never heard him say so; when he believes I need a switching, he doesn't forget to give it to me."

"He does, eh? Well, I shall see him about that at once. It must be stopped; I won't allow it; I don't believe such a manly fellow as you ever deserves it. How old are you?"

"Thirteen years."

"Thirteen years," repeated Mr. Willard musingly, and then with great impressiveness he added:

"Young man, I've got an idea regarding you--an idea; yes, sir, and it shall be carried out--yes, sir, it shall be carried out--yes, sir."

A WELL EARNED REWARD.

Buck Kennon smarted so much under the castigation of Mr. Willard that he had hardly stopped his outcries when he reached home. In answer to the demands of his startled father, he stated that a big man, with a cane as large as a telegraph pole, had tried to kill him and came pretty nigh succeeding.

Mr. Kennon was naturally stirred by the news and set out to investigate. He was a sensible man, but could not be expected to submit tamely to such an outrage upon his offspring. He learned, after due inquiry, that the offending gentleman was Mr. Willard, the newly elected congressman. Seeking him out, he received the facts from that person, who expressed the regret that opportunity was denied him for making his punishment more complete. Mr. Kennon, as I have said, was a sensible man and told Mr. Willard that he had served his boy right. In fact, he was so well pleased that he promised to vote for him if he should run a second time for congress. Then Mr. Kennon strode homeward, and, as he expressed it, made his hopeful "dance," for his cowardly behavior.

The occurrence became so generally known that it reached the ears of Mr. Bryton, the teacher, who instituted a committee of inquiry of his own, with the result that Buck was call upon to answer again for his flagrant breach of discipline, so that it may be said, the mean behavior of the bully received its full meed of punishment. The teacher talked severely to James Decker, but felt obliged to add that, after all, he could not blame him for his chivalrous course.

"It is always manly to defend the helpless, but I don't like fighting; it is brutalizing and I'm afraid if you keep on, James, you will end in being a full back on some football club. Then all hope will be lost."

Some nights after the exciting incident, Mr. Willard called upon his old friend, Mr. Decker. As the gentlemen sat by themselves, smoking their cigars and discussing public questions, the caller suddenly remarked:

"Decker, do you know you have got a mighty bright boy?"

"Yes; James is a good lad."

"He's as full of pluck as an egg is of meat. You heard about his fight with that big bully who tried to impose upon the Goodwin cripple boy?"

"Yes, James told me about it; I was glad you arrived when you did; for you not only gave the scamp a good castigation, but saved James from being badly beaten."

"I don't know about that; I think the bully suffered the most, even though he was on top when I appeared on the scene. There's another fact which gives me pleasure."

"What is that?"

"Mr. Bryton, the teacher, tells me that your son is his brightest pupil."

"Since he has told me and his mother the same thing, there must be some truth in the statement. It is a source of gratitude to me that James does so well."

"What are you going to do with him?"

"I have hardly given the matter thought. He is only thirteen years old, and there's time enough to think of that. I presume he will be a lawyer or doctor or minister, though," qualified the parent. "I'm afraid that he may not take quietly to a calling of peace."

"There's no reason why he should not. What I meant to say is this: if I am elected to serve a second term, I shall have the appointment of a cadet to West Point; James will be of the right age; if you desire him to go there, I will make the promise now to appoint him."

"You are very kind, Mr. Willard; I will talk over the matter with his mother and with James himself. If they all like it, I will be glad to avail myself of your kindness."

"Take my advice and accept; I have already had a number of applications, though the appointment is nearly three years off. I have made no promises and, understand, that it is yours, if you wish it."

Some days later the gentlemen met again.

"Mr. Willard," said his friend, "James is eager to go to West Point; his mother held off at first, but has given her consent, and I favor the scheme very much. So I accept your promise with thanks."

"We will consider it settled then. Keep the matter a secret until after the next election, for I shall make any number of enemies because of the disappointments."

"Mr. Willard, let me make a suggestion to you."

"I shall be glad to hear it."

"As you say, you will receive many applications for this appointment, and if you fail to promise every one before your election comes around again, each man will be your opponent. It has become quite fashionable to select the candidates for the Military Academy by competitive examination. Do so in this case."

"But I wish your son to receive the honor and that may jeopardize his success."

"If he cannot secure the appointment by a fair contest against all comers, I don't wish him to get it. I have been told that less than one half of those admitted to West Point succeed in being graduated, and in many cases the vacancies are unfilled because of the poor material sent by congressmen."

"That I know to be a fact, and you have named the right cause. A brilliant lad may prove to be physically weak, while one physically strong is mentally deficient. The government has reason to complain that so much time, labor and money are wasted because of this state of things."

"It seems to me that the true means of meeting this objection is through competitive examinations. The advantage is not only that the government secures the best qualified young men, but you will escape a great deal of fault finding. You can let it be known that, when you have an appointment at your disposal, that you will decide it by a competitive test. That places all on the same level, and though some parents will be dissatisfied, you will receive much less blame. So you see, Mr. Willard, that it will be a wise procedure, whatever view you take of it."

"I am glad of your suggestion; I think I shall follow it. The only objection I feel is that possibly your boy may be crowded aside by some one else."

"I shall not complaint if such proves the fact. He has several years in which to prepare himself; he possesses a fine physique; he is anxious for the appointment, and, if all this is not sufficient to secure it, then it will be certain to go to some one who is better entitled to the same."

The disastrous consequences of Buck Kennon's collision with James Decker had a most salutary effect upon him. He was subdued and thoughtful, and ceased in a great measure his oppressive course toward his classmates.

It is probable that this would have been the fact, had not his father and teacher taken a hand in reforming him. He could not forget that, though he was able to outwrestle the young champion, the latter really inflicted the most punishment, and what struck Buck as strange, young Decker did not show any fear of him. James was too manly to exult over him, but he gave Buck to understand that if he acted again as he had toward the crippled Almon, a second fight was certain. On the whole, Buck decided that it was wise not to invite another bout at arms.

Mr. Willard followed the suggestion of his friend, Herbert Decker. He announced, shortly after his second election to Congress, that the West Point vacancy in his district would be filled by competitive examination, on a certain date which was named, so that no possible misunderstanding could follow.

In accordance with the custom, recommended by the authorities, this date was so arranged that the appointment would occur one year before the time of the application of the candidate at West Point. Young Decker, by a little figuring, discovered that, if he should be the successful contestant, he would attain the required age just one week before taking his eventful journey up the Hudson, to learn whether Uncle Sam would pronounce him qualified to become one of his future generals and leaders of his armies.

And now let us pass over the intervening years to the day fixed for the test of scholarship and ability. Mr. Bryton had been selected by Congressman Willard to pass upon the merits of the thirty odd candidates who presented themselves on the decisive day. The honorable gentleman himself was present, and expressed his pleasure as he looked into the faces of the boys, who were mostly alert and fully alive to the task before them.

To his eye James Decker was the brightest and must promising of all. Looking down from the platform, he caught his eye and smiled encouragingly. James was tall, handsome, and manly. His frame had expanded and hardened a good deal in the intervening years, for he was one of those boys who possessed a healthy mind in a healthy body.

He was the captain of the leading baseball club and its best player. He had become that which his teacher dreaded, full back on a football eleven, but he never indulged in "slugging," or received any serious injury. He was a good runner and swimmer, and, when Buck Kennon looked at him, he thought that he would as soon tackle a full-grown grizzly bear as engage him in a test of physical ability. Conditions had greatly changed in the few years since that first collision of the lads.

"Of course," remarked Mr. Willard to Teacher Bryton, "I wish this to be a competitive examination and, therefore, to be perfectly impartial, but--that is--I am very hopeful that--or--James may be successful."

"He has every chance in his favor," replied the examiner, with a quiet smile at the earnestness of the gentleman.

"He has maintained the high standard he showed when I first made his acquaintance?"

"Fully so; there is no boy in the school that is his equal."

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