g, had proven themselves very
good cadet horsemen, though all would have chance to learn more
during the two years yet ahead of them.

Dodge, who rode in the same detachment with Dick and Greg, was
credited with being the poorest rider in the class.

"When you get to be an officer, Mr. Dodge, you'll have to take
the yearly walking test for three days. You'll get over the ground
quicker and safer than you would on a horse," remarked the cadet
corporal.

"Oh, well, sir, I'm going into the doughboys, anyway," grinned
Dodge. "It will be a good many years before I can get up far
enough in the line to be called upon to ride a horse."

The "doughboys" are the United States Infantry. No company officer
in the infantry mounted; only the field and staff officers of
the doughboys are provided with mounts.

One cloudy Friday afternoon Cadet Corporal Haskins marched a yearling
detachment down to the riding hall. Captain Hall, their instructor,
was already in saddle. He turned to receive the report of Haskins
after the detachment had been halted at the edge of the tan-bark.

"Stand to horse!" ordered Captain Hall.

The men of the detachments sprang over, each leading out his mount
for the afternoon.

"Prepare to mount!"

Instantly each young man stood with one foot in stirrup, one hand
at the animal's mane, and one at saddle.

"Mount!"

In perfect unison the yearling cadets swung themselves up into
saddle, their right feet searching for and then resting in the
stirrup boxes.

Then, at the command, Haskins led his men out in single file.
Thus they circled the riding hall twice at a walk.

"Trot!" came Captain Hall's command.

A few rounds of this was followed by the command, "gallop!" Around
and around the hall the cadets rode, every man but one feeling
the blood tingling with new life through his arteries. It was
glorious to stride a horse and to ride at this gait!

Glorious, that is, for all except one man. Dodge rode at the
tail end of the line, on a fiend of a horse that had proven
disastrous to more than one green rider.

As the "gallop" was ordered, Dodge's mount showed a longing to
bolt and dash up to the head of the line. Dodge, throbbing uneasily,
reined in hard. His horse began to chafe as it found itself forced
back. In another moment Dodge was lagging behind.

"Keep the pace, Mr. Dodge! Keep the pace, sir!" called out Captain
Hall.

Bert obeyed, but in fear. He did not know at what in