He can nurse a weak back the rest of his days." When the drill was dismissed a party of three ladies, who had seen the whole scene from one of the iron balconies, came down to meet the cavalry officer.
"Your conduct was just splendid, captain, cried one of the women, her face glowing.

But I feared you would be killed, or at least badly hurt, when you put yourself in the way of that somersaulting cadet.

Why did you take such chances ?" "In the first place," replied the cavalry officer quietly, "because it was simple duty.

There was another reason.

If I am hurt, in the line of duty, I have my retired pay, as an officer, to live on.