Immediately the young men in all these varieties of uniform disappeared within their tents.
There was a subdued sound of great bustle.

Then, almost in the same instant, it seemed, cadets stepped from the various tents into the open.

Each was immaculate, very nearly glorious in spotless, faultlessly pressed white duck trousers, topped by the gray full-dress coat and hat.

Each cadet carried his rifle now, except for the cadet officers, who wore their swords.
With almost dizzying speed, after the return and the dressing, the assembly was sounded.

The company to which Dick and his mates belonged was then, at the command, formed and inspected, marched across the plain, over to the parade ground, where hundreds of girls, in bright-hued dresses, and other visitors to West Point awaited their coming.
With the cadet adjutant and cadet sergeant-major in place as guides, the company came to its place in battalion formation.
Other companies marched in, and parade rest was ordered.