[Dick Prescotts’s Fourth Year at West Point by H. Irving Hancock]@TWC D-Link book
Dick Prescotts’s Fourth Year at West Point

CHAPTER III
14/16

"Who's there ?" Now the glow disappeared, but cadet captain and sentry were close enough to see the outlines of a figure in cadet uniform.
The figure still moved uncertainly, as though bent on flight.
But the sight of two pursuers seemed to change the unknown's mind.
"A cadet," he called, in answer to the sentry's challenge.
The sentry halted.
"Advance, cadet, to be recognized," he commanded.
Prescott came to a halt not far from the sentry.
Slowly, with evident reluctance, the figure moved forward.
"Mr.Jordan!" called Prescott, in considerable amazement.
"Yes, sir," admitted Jordan huskily.
Now, Dick had every reason in the world for not wanting to report this cadet again, but duty is and must be duty, in the Army.
"Mr.Jordan, you are under orders of confinement to the company street," cried Dick sternly.
"Yes, sir." "And yet you are found outside of camp limits?
Have you any explanation to offer, sir ?" "I was nervous, sir," replied Jordan, "and couldn't sleep.

So I slipped out past the guard line to enjoy a quieting smoke." "Smoking causes vastly more nervousness than it ever remedies, Mr.Jordan," replied the young cadet captain.

"Have you any additional explanation or excuse for being outside the company street ?" "No, sir." "Then return to your tent, sir." "I---I suppose you are going to report this, Mr.Prescott ?" asked the other first classman.
"I have no alternative," Dick answered.

"You are under confinement to the company street; you have made a breach of confinement, and I am your company commander." "Very good, sir." Jordan stiffened up, saluted, then passed on across the guard line, making for the street of A company.
Dick turned back, more slowly, a thoughtful frown gathering on his fine face, while the yearling sentry was muttering to himself: "Great Caesar, but Prescott surely has put both feet in it.

He reports a fellow classman for a little thing like a late smoke, and the man reported will be doomed to go into close arrest! Glad I'm not Prescott!" It would be untruthful to deny that Dick Prescott was worried; nevertheless, he made his way briskly to the tent of the O.C.
"Jove, what luck!" chuckled Jordan tremulously, as he hastened along the street of A company to his tent.


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