Then Tom told the story, with the result that Sam’s father advanced enough on some rather poor securities Tom’s mother held to enable the widow to make ends meet. The securities could not be negotiated save by some one in Mr. Leland’s line of business, but he said he was really running no financial risk. So that matter was settled for the time being.
As to the trust deed, Tom had given up hope about that.
The work at West Point went on, Tom progressing rapidly. He enjoyed, most of all, the horsemanship, at which he was among the most expert. That being so, it was difficult to account for what occurred one day.
The battalion to which Tom was attached was engaged in a sham battle, and there was some wild riding. Tom held his own, however, until toward the close. He was riding alone when suddenly Captain Hawkesbury, on a mettlesome steed, dashed out from the line of officers. At first it seemed as though he had come out to speak to Tom, and the latter drew rein.
“Go on! Go on!” shouted the captain. “Don’t stop in my way!”
Tom was confused. His horse became a little unmanageable, and as Captain Hawkesbury came on at top speed there was a collision between them. Tom was unhorsed and fell heavily. He felt a sharp pain in his head, his eyes saw nothing but blackness, and then he lay unconscious, dimly hearing, as the fast sound, the gallop of horses’ hoofs as his companions rode toward him.
CHAPTER XX
IN THE HOSPITAL
Tom seemed to himself to come back from some remote place with a wrench that shook his whole body. As he said afterward it was like falling through some vast space, bringing up with a jerk. He seemed to be floating in space one minute, and the next he awoke with a start to find himself in bed. A glance around told him it was the hospital attached to the Academy. And, thus recognizing it, Tom was spared the necessity of asking:
“Where am I?”
What he did ask when he saw an orderly coming toward him was: