The next forenoon the ladies would attend to some shopping.

Then the reunited party would journey back to Gridley.
A dozen or so West Point graduates stood at the stern of the swift river steamer.

The captain of the craft, a veteran in the river service, knew something of how these young men just out of the gray felt.

For the first five miles down the river the swift craft went at half speed.

Then, suddenly, full speed ahead was rung on the engine-room bell, and the craft went on under greatly increased headway.
"Well, gentlemen," murmured Anstey, moving around and walking slowly forward, "the United States Military Academy is the grandest alma mater that a fellow could possibly have.