The news nearly broke up Prescott's three hours of study that
Thursday evening. However, he fought off the feeling of excitement
and hampering delight.

When Dick marched with his section into mathematics Friday morning
he felt a calm confidence that he would keep up the average of
his fine performance for the week.

"Mr. Furlong, Mr. Dunstan, Mr. Prescott and Mr. Gray, go to the
blackboards," ordered Captain Abbott. "The other gentlemen will
recite from their seats."

Stepping nimbly over to the blackboard, in one corner of which
his name had been written, Dick picked up the chalk, setting down
the preliminaries of the problem assigned to him. Then his chalk
ran nimbly along over the first lines of his demonstration.

At last he stopped. Captain Abbott, who was generally accredited
with possessing several pairs of eyes, noted that Mr. Prescott
had halted.

For some moments the young man went anxiously over what he had
already written. At last he turned around, facing the instructor,
and saluted.

"Permission to erase, sir?" requested Prescott.,

Captain Abbott nodded his assent.