If the "principal" fails there, the alternate is given a chance to make good for the cadetship.
But Greg Holmes, though he was wildly anxious to go to West Point, felt certain that it would be useless to go there as Dick Prescott's alternate.
"I hate to see you not try at all, Greg," declared Dick.

"Why don't you try?
If you beat me out there won't be any hard feelings." "I couldn't beat you out, and I don't want to, either," responded Greg.

"But wait! I may have something to tell you later on." Dan Dalzell had much the same kind of a talk with Dave Darrin.
Dan felt the call to the sailor's life, but hadn't any notion that he could slip in ahead of Darrin.
"Even if I could, Dave, I wouldn't try it," declared Dan earnestly.
"I want badly enough to go to Annapolis, and I admit it.

But I believe you're just about crazy to get there." "I am," Dave admitted honestly.

"But the prize goes to the best fellow, Dan.