"I should have stopped the march when I saw that the weather was likely to be bad," the colonel said. "However, I am glad it is no worse."
Because of the incidents of the march it was called off, as far as a contest was concerned, and so no inquiry was made as to why Dutton and Stiver had failed to report at the checking point.
"I tell you what I think happened," said Paul, when he and Dick were discussing it in their room that night.
"Well, what?"
"I think Dutton and Stiver had more hard cider than was good for them. They must have quarreled, and Stiver left Dutton, who later fell from his horse. There was no excuse for them losing each other after they left Weatherby's house, and Dutton is too good a horseman to fall off, unless he couldn't take care of himself."
"Maybe you're right. I'm glad we found him, though."
"So am I, though I don't believe he'll treat you any better for saving his life."
"Oh, I don't know as I did that. Some one would have found him before he froze to death," said Dick.
Paul's idea of what had taken place between Dutton and Stiver seemed borne out by the coldness that sprang up between the two former cronies, as soon as Dutton could leave the hospital. He hardly spoke to the lieutenant of his company.
Nor was he specially cordial to our hero. In a stiff sort of fashion he thanked him for what he had done, but there was no semblance of real friendship, and Dutton's crowd did not take up with Dick, as they might, reasonably, have been expected to.