"Aren't you going to take your rifle with you?" asked Fred Murdock. "I guess they'll provide me with a gun at Kentfield," answered Dick. "But they won't give you such grub as we had at camp," remarked Bricktop. "Oh, I guess they will, but maybe it won't taste so good," replied the young millionaire. "Well, boys, I guess this is my train." All his chums tried to shake hands with Dick at once as the locomotive pulled into the station. "Don't forget to send me a souvenier postal," called Bill Johnson. "Tell us how you like it," chimed in Walter. "Maybe my dad will send me," added Bricktop. "Tell us if you meet any girls as pretty as those here," was Fred's contribution. "Get on the football team," advised Frank. "And the baseball nine," chimed in Bricktop. By this time a number of passengers had their heads out of the windows, to see who was getting such a send-off. Dick's chums shook him by the hand, clapped him on the back, and fairly carried him up the steps of the coach. Then, amid a chorus of good-byes, the train pulled out, and Dick was started on his way to become a cadet. CHAPTER V AN ODD CHARACTER It was evening when Dick arrived at Kentfield, which, from the scenes about the station, he judged to be quite a town of little importance. There were few signs of life, scarcely anyone being at the depot, and only a few passengers alighting. "I wonder if I can get a carriage to take me out to the academy?" mused Dick, as he looked about. "This doesn't strike me as being much of a place, but the catalogue dad got showed quite an academy. I wonder where it is?" He saw a rather dilapidated hack standing near the platform, and, walking up to it, addressed the driver. "Can you take me out to the military academy?" he asked. "Sure," replied the man, "but there's nothing to see. It isn't open yet. Term doesn't begin until next week." "I know," replied Dick. "But I'm going to attend there." "You?" The man seemed much surprised, but there was a noticeable change in his manner. "Going to be a student there?" he asked respectfully. "Yes. I had to come on ahead of time." "All right. Take you out there in a jiffy," went on the hack driver briskly. "Got any baggage?" Dick handed over his checks, and the man soon returned with his trunk and suitcase. "This doesn't appear to be a very lively place; not as much so as I expected," remarked the young millionaire as he got into the vehicle. "Oh, bless your heart, sir, you just wait until next week," said the man. "Then this town will sit up and take notice. This is our off season, when the military school is closed. But when the boys arrive--wow! Say, then's when you got to look out. My! Oh my! But it's fierce!" "Do they--do they cut up much?" asked Dick, secretly glad that he was to have a hand in it if the students did.