"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. "Of course I'll be
in for all sorts of penalties, and I'll have to be mighty good,
after this, to keep within safe limits on demerits. But I have
Prescott just where I want the insolent puppy! The class, this
evening, was much in doubt about giving him the silence. But
flow! When he has gone out of his way to catch me in such an
innocent little breach of con.! Whew! But my lucky star is surely
at the top of the sky to-night."

Cadet Jordan was soon tucked in under his bed cover. He had not
fallen asleep, however, when he heard a step coming down the street.

Dick had chanced to find the O.C. still up. In a few words Prescott
made his report.

"This is a very serious report against a first classman, Mr. Prescott,"
said kind-hearted Lieutenant Denton gravely. "It is most unfortunate
for Mr. Jordan that he has not a better excuse. You will go to
Mr. Jordan's tent, Mr. Prescott, and direct him to remain in his
tent, in close arrest, until he hears as to the further disposition
of his case by the commandant of cadets."

"Very good, sir," Prescott answered, saluting.

"And then you may go to your own tent and retire, Mr. Prescott.
I fancy the plebes have been good to-night."

"Thank you, sir."

With a rather heavy heart, though outwardly betraying no sign,
Prescott walked along until he reached Jordan's tent, where he
delivered the order from the O.C.

"Did you hear that, old man?" growled Jordan to his t