ted Prescott recently,
he did not pause now, but kept on past the cadet officer standing
there in the shadow.

As the sentry's footsteps again sounded softer in the distance,
Prescott suddenly became aware of something not far away from him.

It was a little glow of fire, at an elevation of something less
than six feet from the ground, over beside a bush.

This glow of fire looked exactly as though it came from a lighted
cigar.

If the cigar were held by a civilian, it was a matter that needed
looking into.

Cadets, if they wish, may smoke at certain times and within certain
limits. But nothing in the regulations permits a cadet to go
outside the guard lines after taps to smoke.

Dick Prescott drew further back into the shadow, noiselessly,
and kept his eye on the distant glow until he heard the yearling
returning.

"Sentry!" called Prescott sharply. The yearling, his piece at
port arms, came on the run.

"Investigate that glow yonder," ordered Prescott.

"Very good, sir!"

Prescott and the sentry started together. For an instant the
glow wavered, as though the man that was behind the glow meditated
taking to his heels.

"Halt!" called the sentry. "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?"