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But, foiled in this attempt, Satan allowed his front feet to come down. Close to the ground the brute lowered its head, kicking up high with his hind heels. This, accompanied by a "worming" motion, sent Prescott flying from his saddle. He made an unavoidable plunge over the animal's head. "Let go your bridle!" roared Captain Albutt.
Cadet Prescott did not betray a sign of any thought save to do his duty perfectly. Yet, every time that his horse was brought close to Haynes's, Prescott had his eyes open for any foul play that might be attempted by the turnback. "If the young men do as splendidly to-morrow before the Board of Visitors," thought Captain Albutt, "I shall feel that my year of work here has been a grand success.
In the same instant the cavalry officer leaped from his own saddle. Over came Cadet Prescott, turning a somersault in the air. Albutt had jumped in order to catch the cadet. It all happened so quickly, however, that the cavalry officer had chance only to catch the cadets shoulders. Had it not been for that, Prescott would have struck fully on his back.
"He didn't say whether he did or not." "Then " "But he certified that I was fit to ride." "Dick, you didn't have to do this " "No; but I want to be restored to full duty. Captain Albutt has informed me that the horse assigned to me will be a dependable, tractable animal, and I shall be on my guard and use my head." "I don't like this," muttered Greg, as he fastened on his leggings.
Haynes did not salute the officer; he didn't have to. Even had Haynes saluted, Captain Albutt could not have returned this military courtesy, for Haynes was no longer a member of the American Military establishment. On the afternoon of the day following the graduating exercises came to a brilliant finish at Cullum Hall.
When Captain Albutt reached the detachment he saw nothing to indicate the disturbance that had just occurred. "Prepare to mount! Mount!" Some preliminary commands of drill were executed. Then the serious work of the hour began. Never had Captain Albutt commanded at a better bit of cavalry work than was done this afternoon by members of the first and second classes.
Those who were going for drill at this hour fell in at the command, of their squad marcher, and strode away to the riding hall. Once inside, the cadets disposed of their uniform raincoats. The squad marcher reported to Captain Albutt, who was their instructor for the afternoon. "To horse!" came the crisp order. Each cadet stepped to his mount, untying the animal and standing by.
"And I think you need have no fear of seeing Satan on the tan-bark again. If I have any influence, that beast will never be assigned to a cadet's use after this." When Captain Albutt had gone Greg came in, on tiptoe. "Out the soft pedal, old chap," smiled Dick cheerily, as their hands met. "I'm not a badly hurt man. The worst of this is that it keeps me from recitations for a few days.
And Captain Albutt, I want to thank you for your splendid conduct in risking your own life to save me." "Surely, Prescott," replied the captain quietly, "you know the spirit of the service better than to thank a soldier for doing his duty." Captain Albutt had called him simply "Prescott," dropping the "mister," which officers are usually so careful to prefix to a cadet's name when addressing him.
Captain Albutt, watching closely, became anxious when he saw that the cadet was failing in bringing down the temper of the infuriated beast. Satan was more than furious; he was crafty. Master of many tricks, and with a record for injuring many a rider in the past, the animal dashed about the tan-bark, seeking some way of throwing his rider.
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