Dick wheeled about, saluted, then stood at attention.
"A serious offence against military discipline has been committed at Battle Monument tonight.

Have you any knowledge about the matter which, if in our possession, would aid in any way in clearing up the mystery surrounding this offence?
"I have absolutely no knowledge of any form, sir, except that, as I stated, while Mr.Holmes and I were walking toward the monument, we heard the reports and saw the flashes." "You realize the full import of your statement, Mr.Prescott ?" pressed the K.C.
"I do, sir." "Then, on your honor as a cadet and a gentleman, you declare that your statement is true ?" "I do, sir," Cadet Prescott replied.
The pledge he had just given is the most solemn that is exacted of a United States military cadet.

Usually, the cadet's plain word is accepted as ample, for the sense of faith and honor is paramount at West Point.

A cadet detected in a lie would be forced out of the cadet corps by the ostracism of his own comrades.
"That is all, for the present, Mr.Prescott." Dick respectfully saluted the K.C., then the O.C., next wheeled and marched out of the tent, going straight to his own tent.
Prescott would gladly have remained, but he had been dismissed.
It was twenty minutes later when Greg crept back into the tent and began to undress.
"How about it ?" whispered Prescott.
"I was asked more questions, but all of the same import," Holmes answered in a whisper.
"Did the O.C.make you tell on yourself, about being over by the reveille gun ?" "No; I thought some of his questions led that way, but my other answers stopped him in that line.

As a last resort I would respectfully have declined to say anything to incriminate myself." As was afterwards learned, Dick and Greg were the only witnesses examined that night.