 at feral just look at him Harold and he didn't want to take the test here is just as good as Newsom and Warren isn't he Lee it looks that way to me I think he handles that pony perfectly he sure makes sharp turns boy look at that Sergeant Alden's waving him down now what do you mean well a sergeant seen enough oh you know Harold that didn't look like much of a test to me oh no I'll bet you couldn't ride like that the sergeants talking to all three of them now I'd certainly like to hear what he's saying you heard me what I said I'll bet you couldn't ride as good as Jerry well that is what I met Harold just seems to me they'd have a longer test than that especially as long as they're so evenly matched I don't see how it's possible to pick the best man all three of them did a very good job of writing that's right I think Jerry was just a little better well you're just saying that because you want him to get the open spot on the team well don't you too certainly but we've got to be fair about it come on let's walk over to that bench we were sitting on they're taking the ponies into the stable now okay Sergeant Alden had a lot to say to them did you notice how much he was talking uh-huh Jerry'll tell us what he said as soon as he comes out of the stable you know Lee I think it would be swell if Jerry could make the polo team so soon what do you mean so soon well I mean he's only been here at Faroq such a short time and to be able to make a team well that's something you're right about that and especially a polo team she would make me proud to have him for a roommate here they come now yeah Jerry sees us he's coming over now we'll find out what happened let's wait like catches up with us I don't see any big smile on his face maybe he hasn't got such good news don't say that wait until you find out Cully and Paul Warren are still talking to the sergeant maybe Jerry should have stayed to talking won't do any good with Sergeant Alden he's a square shooter and he judges on merit and merit alone hi Jerry well what happened Jerry tell us all about it I don't know yet there's nothing to tell you don't know well didn't sergeant Alden make a choice come on don't keep us waiting Jerry what did he say well he said it was a tie he said each one of us was as good as the other well and why didn't he make your ride some more to break the tie oh I don't know he said he could see we were all good horsemen that any one of us would make a good polo player but he didn't pick the winner no he said he'd have to take it up with captain Gardner what for what's captain Gardner got to do with it I don't know but that's what he said he rated us even and said he'd talk it over with the captain and decide which one of us was to get the open position on the team oh come on let's take a walk down to the lake you haven't seen it yet Jerry okay well anyway you didn't lose yet no but well I bet I'm not pick now why do you say that well you think they'd pick me ahead of older boys maybe why not Sergeant Alden's a good coach Jerry he's been turning out wonderful first-string polo teams every year he doesn't care about age or seniority or personality he's just interested in getting good polo players I guess that's right Jerry of course it's right if you roll just as well as Cully Newsom and Paul Warren well then you've got just as good a chance as they have for the open position yeah I suppose so but still well they're bigger and stronger than I am too they'd most likely swing a polo stick a lot better than me you know Jerry you talk as though you didn't want to make the team I don't get me wrong Lee I do want to make the team you sure don't act it I want to make the team but I want to stay on it too hmm well what good would it be to make the team and then get taken off because I couldn't play every cadet of feralks would laugh at me I'm beginning to see how you feel now but I can straighten that out listen if you get on one of the second string teams you'll learn to play polo all right see Sergeant Alden will see to that he doesn't expect you to be able to play a good game right off all he wants is good riders and then he'll turn out good polo players that's right Jerry the second string team is just just so you can learn the game now let's forget about it both Captain Gardner and Sergeant Alden will be very fair and well tomorrow we'll know the results there's the lake now Jerry oh yeah see let's walk down to the shore before we go out on the pier okay this way Jerry boy what a lake he I didn't think it was this big see the island way out there what do you know about that lake he was one of the biggest lakes in this part of the country Jerry it was named after that great Indian wasn't that's right he Lee has the island got a name too yeah they call it woodman's island he is there anyone living out there in that queer little shack no no it's deserted nobody knows who built it or how long it's been there pretty much of a mystery hey look at what see we're over there on the other shore there's smoke coming up over there yeah hope it's not a forced fire don't worry about that Jerry if there wasn't smoke coming up then that'd be something to worry about what do you mean well Jerry that smoke's coming from a little cabin that's the Hermits place a hermit no not exactly no no soldier lives out there all alone every evening about this time he builds a fire in his fireplaces regular clockwork no but what do you mean if there wasn't any smoke we'd have something to worry about well he's pretty old Jerry not any too active but as long as there's smoke coming from his chimney we know he's all right oh I see have you ever hiked around there to see him Lee no I haven't and I don't think I ever will either I'll bet you're scared of him no I'm not not as long as he doesn't want company why bother him well I should think he'd get loads him out there all alone and like to see someone once in a while that's a long story oh grumpy used to be friendly years ago but it is that his name no but that's what they call him because he's so cross and mean all the time hey let's go this way now we'll go out on the pier okay but go ahead what were you saying about grumpy oh yeah well it seems that when he first settled here on the shore of Lake he often he built an old shack right over there near the stable lived there until just a few years ago when they built the new stable and pattern I think I know what you mean he was kicked off no I wouldn't put it that way Jerry he was asked to leave after all he didn't own the property it had free rent for years maybe he got mad because he couldn't take a shack with him well he did get upset but Major Davis was awfully good to him he hired a couple of men to help him move his belongings and then he gave him money to buy lumber to build a new place and even set a good carpenter out there to help him put up a decent cabin to live in well and what's he grumpy about well I guess he just didn't like the idea of being asked to move at any rate he's never given any of the cadets a very nice welcome when they've gone out there does he ever come over to this side of the lake sure I guess so yeah he comes over into Faroaks once a month or so to buy provisions and get his check his check yeah he gets a small pension check from the government that's all he has to live on I was wondering where he got his money what do you think of the view from here Jerry boy this is nice isn't it do you know the waters over 10 feet deep out there at the end of the pier really sure isn't it late that's right well there's a boat house back there oh yeah and there's the racing boat the shell Jerry oh is that what you call it you like to roll one sometime can you roll a little boy maybe you can make the plebe crew wouldn't that be keen I don't know about that Jerry's pretty like to have much of a stroke but say I'll tell you what you'd make a grand coxswain Jerry what's that well that's the man that sits in the back and does the steering and gives the order oh well don't you have to work up to a job like that seems to me it after all first before they let you be the boss no no Jerry coxswain's are picked because they're light and they won't weigh the shell down too much you would be good for that job Jerry why don't you see about it maybe I will I'd like that well first we'll see how your chances are to make a poll with you know Jerry yeah one thing at a time look here comes a boat way around the bend see it no where look now right out there we out see it I don't see it either I mean oh yeah I see it now I don't see how you can tell which way it's headed Harold I didn't say I mean what way it was coming I just said here comes a boat I wonder who it is it's traveling pretty fast how many boats do you think there are in the lately I don't know exactly guess about 50 besides the boats here at school who else owns the boats on the lake a lot of folks from the town of Faroaks there's a regular little harbor around the bend that boat is coming this way see I believe we're right sure it is you can tell by the way it's an outboard hey maybe it's captain Garner has he got a boat sure what a few of the instructors have captain Roland owns a speedboat one of the fastest on the lake he's the crew coach Jerry he's the one to see about that place in the crew say it is captain Gardner and Mrs. Gardner's with him now you'll get to meet Mrs. Gardner Jerry hey come on let's get over to the other side of the pier and help them dock see are we allowed out here certainly you never off limits any place down by the lake during free periods except during crew practice you're not allowed in the dock then we forgot about them here they come yeah they see us yeah Mrs. Gardner's waving at us right over on this side Jerry this is where they tie up okay I'm right behind you come on Harold okay now let's wait right here all right hey that's a cute little boat isn't it and Captain Gardner gets a lot of enjoyment out of it he's out in at every chance he gets they when they pull up I'll grab the rope and pull up out and you fellas get the stern okay reception committee careful Harold don't leave out too far yes ma'am I'm watching give me your hand Lee yes and easy now I'm pretty near there pulling well and do good hello sir help Mr. Gardner out of the boat Lee yes never mind covering the boat Kirk will take care of that later yes well so this is Jerry Duke and I've been anxious to meet you Jerry I've been anxious to meet you too Mrs. Gardner we'll see a lot of each other starting tomorrow your arithmetic tests were very good you'll be in my class every morning I'm sure glad of that tell me how have you been getting along would you spine thank you I'd like to have you come over to our quarters some evening Jerry both Captain Gardner and myself would like to hear some of your experiences with the circus that's right Jerry you promised me we'd have a talk sometime well I think it's safe to say you've been a fairly busy boy these past few days yes I have well we just have to let you get settled first but don't forget you've been invited and any night you want to get out of the study period and visit with us I'll arrange excuse me sir oh yes Lee Jerry took the writing test this afternoon for Polo oh yes I'd forgotten about that how'd you make out well Sergeant Alden said all three of us were good and he's going to talk with you about making a choice why Jerry I didn't know you were a horseman Oh Jerry rode with the circus now isn't that fine who were the other boys cadets Newsom and Warren sir hmm well I'll see what Sergeant Alden has to say and we'll pick the right man you know that don't you Jerry yes sir you boys going to stay here at the lake for a while yes I believe we will I'll see you in the morning Jerry yes ma'am goodbye boy goodbye to Gardner goodbye sir well it's all set Jerry what do you mean that open position on the polo team Captain Gardner likes you Jerry you don't have to worry about not being picked it's a cinch