other man who presumes to say it knows well enough
that he is thereby lying," came quickly from between Prescott's
teeth.

"Why, hang you, you-----"

"You'd better hush for a moment," warned Prescott. "Here comes
the corps adjutant, and I think he is looking for you."

"Yes! With a message of discipline from the O.C. just because
I was reported by a toy martinet like you!" retorted Cadet Jordan.

Cadet Filson, corps adjutant, wearing his white gloves, red sash
and sword, came up with brisk military stride. He halted before
Jordan, while Prescott moved away.

"Mr. Jordan, by order of the commandant of cadets, you will confine
yourself to the company street, leaving it only under proper orders.
This, for being reported this morning during the tour of engineer
instruction. Any further punishment that is to be meted out to you
will be published in orders at dress parade this afternoon.

"Very good, sir," replied Cadet Jordan, choking with rage.

Wheeling about, Adjutant Filson strode away again.

The moment he was gone, Jordan, his brow black with fury, stepped
over to Prescott.

"So!" he hissed. "The thunderbolt of punishment has fallen, Mr.
Prescott. As for you-----"

"Mr. Jordan," broke in Dick coolly, "you are ordered to confine
yourself to the company street. At this moment you are outside
that limit. You will return immediately to the company street!"

Jordan glared, but he had discretion enough left to obey, for
Prescott was speaking now as cadet commander of A company, to
which company Mr. Jordan belonged.

"Oh, I'll pay you back for this!" raged the disciplined cadet,
trembling as he stepped forward.

By this time, many other cadets were out in the company street.
Soon after the loud, snappy tones of the bugle summoned the two
battalions to dinner formation.

A little while before Cadet Adjutant Filson had approached Jordan,
the commandant of cadets, sitting in his tent over by post number
one, had sent for the Engineer instructor of the forenoon.

"Mr. Armstrong," asked the commandant, "how much is there in this
report against Mr. Jordan this morning? Does Mr. Jordan deserve
severe discipline?"

"In my opinion he does, sir," replied Lieutenant Armstrong. "I
had the whole happening under observation, though I pretended not
to see it."

"Why did you make such pretence, Mr. Armstrong?"

"Because I was watching to see how a man like Mr. Prescott would
conduct himself when in command.