They must be in uniforms of immaculate white duck trousers and gray fatigue blouses, wearing cleanly polished shoes, and ready to march to dinner.
A great deal to be accomplished in a few minutes by the average American boy! Yet let one of these cadets be late at dinner formation, without an unquestionably good excuse, and he must pay the penalty in demerits.

These demerits, according to their number, bring loss of prized privileges.
Cadet Jordan, having done little, was among the first to be clean and presentable.

Immaculate, trim and trig he looked as he stepped from his tent, but on his face lay a scowl that boded ill for his appetite at the coming dinner.
Dick was a master of swift toilets.

He was on the company street almost immediately after Jordan had stepped out under the shadow of a tree.
"Prescott," began Jordan stiffly, "I want a word or two with you." "Yes ?" asked Dick, looking keenly at his classmate.

"Very good." "Why did you report me this morning ?" "Because you performed the work in an indolent, laggard manner, even after I had cautioned you." "Do you consider yourself called upon to be a judge of your classmates ?" "When I am detailed in command over them in any duty---yes." "Shall I tell you what I think of you for reporting me ?" "It would be in bad taste, at least," Dick answered.