It is fun indeed to be a hero, to know that every one you pass is gazing at you with admiration. Or if one cannot do anything heroic, let him even do something that will bring him notoriety, and then—  
"As he walks along the Boulevard,
With an independent air."
he may be able to appreciate the afore-mentioned sensation.
 
There was no boulevard at West Point, but the area in barracks served the purpose, and Mark could not help noticing that as he went the yearlings were gazing enviously at him, and the plebes with undisguised admiration. He hurried upstairs to avoid that, and found that he had leaped, as the phrase has it, from the frying pan to the fire. For there were the other six of the "Seven Devils" ready to welcome him with a rush.
 
"Wow!" cried Texas. "Back again! Whoop!"
 
[Pg 240]"Bless my soul, but I'm glad!" piped in the little round bubbly voice of "Indian." "Bless my soul!"
 
"Sit down. Sit down," cried "Parson" Stanard, reverently offering his beloved volume of "Dana's Geology" for a cushion.
 
"Sit down and let us look at you."
 
"Yes, b'gee!" chimed in Alan Dewey. "Yes, b'gee, let's look at you. Reminds me of a story I once heard, b'gee—pshaw, what's the use of trying to tell a good story with everybody trying to shout at once."
 
The excitement subsided after some five minutes more, and Mark was glad of it. With the true modesty natural to all high minds he felt that he would a great deal rather rescue a girl than be praised and made generally uncomfortable for it. So he shut his followers up as quickly as he could, which was not very quickly, for they had lots to say.
 
"How is the girl?" inquired Dewey, perceiving at last that Mark really meant what he said, and so, hastening to turn the conversation.
 
"She's doing very well now," said Mark.
 
"Always your luck!" growled Texas. "She's beautiful, and her father's a judge and got lots of money. Bet[Pg 241] he runs off and marries her in a week. Oh, say, Mark, but you're lucky! You just ought to hear the plebes talk about you. I can't tell you how proud I am, man! Why——"
 
"Right back at it again!" interrupted Mark, laughing. "Right back again! Didn't I tell you to drop it? I know what I'll do——"
 
Here Mark arose from his seat.
 
"I hereby declare this a business meeting of the Seven Devils, and as chairman I call the meeting to order."
 
"What for?" cried the crowd.
 
"To consider plans for hazing," answered Mark. "I——"
 
"Wow!" roared Texas, wildly excited in an instant. "Goin' to haze somebody? Whoop!"
 
And Mark laughed silently to himself.
 
"I knew I'd make you drop that rescue business," he said. "And Mr. Powers, you will have the goodness to come to order and not to address the meeting until you are granted the floor. It is my purpose, if you will allow me to say a few words to the society—ahem!"
 
Mark said this with stern and pompous dignity and[Pg 242] Texas subsided so suddenly that the rest could scarcely keep from laughing.
 
"But, seriously now, fellows," he said, after a moment's silence. "Let's leave all the past behind and consider what's before us. I really have something to say."
 
Having been thus enjoined, the meeting did come to order. The members settled themselves comfortably about the room as if expecting a long oration, and Mark continued, after a moment's thought.
 
"We really ought to make up our mind beforehand as to just exactly what we're going to do. I suppose you all know what's going to happen to-day."
 
"No!" cried the impulsive Texas. "I don't. What is it, anyhow?"
 
"We're to move to camp this afternoon," responded Mark.
 
"I know; but what's that got to do with it?"
 
"Lots. Several of the cadets have told me that there's always more hazing done on that one day than on all the rest put together. You see, we leave barracks and go up to live with the whole corps at the summer camp. And that night the yearlings always raise Cain with the plebes."
 
[Pg 243]"Bully, b'gee!" chimed in Dewey, no less pleased with the prospect.
 
"So to-night is the decisive night," continued Mark. "And I leave it for the majority to decide just what we'll do about it. What do you say?"
 
Mark relapsed into silence, and there was a moment's pause, ended by the grave and classic Parson slowly rising to his feet. The Parson first laid his inevitable "Dana" upon the floor, then glanced about him with a pompous air and folded his long, bony arms. "Ahem............