ce has to go home, perhaps hopelessly crippled for
life---and a cadet injured in the line of duty has no retired pay."

"Why is that?" asked another of the ladies.

"I do not know, replied Captain Albutt simply, unless it is because
Congress has always been too busy to think of the simple act of
justice of providing proper retired pay for a cadet who is injured
for life."

"Has Mr. Prescott been injured so that he'll have to leave the Army?"

"I don't know. But, if you'll excuse me, ladies, I am going over
to the hospital now and find out."

CHAPTER XX

THE CADET HOSPITAL

Cadet Prescott lay on one of the operating tables at cadet hospital.

Without a murmur he submitted to the examination. At times the
work of the medical officer's hurt a good deal, but this was evidenced
only by a firmer pressing together of the young soldiers lips.

At last they paused.

"Are you through, gentlemen?" Dick asked, looking steadily at the
two medical officers.

"Yes," answered Captain Goodwin, the senior surgeon.

"May I properly ask what you find?"

"We are not yet quite sure," replied the senior surgeon. "None
of the bones of the spine are broken. There has, of course, been
a severe wrenching there. Whether your injury is going to continue
into a serious or permanent injury we cannot yet say. A good deal
will depend upon the grit with which you face things."

"I am a soldier," replied Dick doggedly. "Even if I am not much
longer to be one."

"We will now have you removed to your cot. We are not going to
place you in a cast as yet, anyway. It is possible that, after
a few days, you may be able to walk fairly well."

"In that case, captain, is it then likely that I shall be able to
return to duty?"

"Yes; the quicker things mend, and the sooner you are able to
walk without help, the greater will be your chance of pulling
through this injury and remaining in the service."

"Then I'd like to try walking back to barracks right now," smiled
Cadet Prescott, wistfully.

"You are not to think of it, Mr. Prescott! You must not even
attempt to put a foot out of bed until we give you permission.
If you take the slightest risk of further injury to your back
you are likely to settle your case for good and all, so far as
the Army is concerned."

"I told you I was a soldier, sir," Dick replied promptly. "For
that reason I shall obey orders."

"Good! That's the way to talk, Mr. Prescott," replied the sen