"Here we go!" the laughing cadet put in.
"Aw, come on fellas!" James objected, "Let our cadet officer be proud of his station! I got to admit, I'm kind of impressed myself!"
Men with hand trucks began to gather on the dock, and Samuel could hear activity below. The ferry came to a stop, bumping the dock lightly as it was securred. "She's wood!" Samuel remarked.
"Certainly!" Roger answered, "And she burns wood, or charcoal, renewable fuel from our own wood lots!"
A couple of the cadets grabbed up Samuel's things and pushed on after Roger .
"We'll tend these," they insisted, "you go hear the lecture."
Samuel smiled. He knew he was going to like these young men. He already seemed to fit with them, like he'd been with them already. It was a very comfortable feeling!

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