The superintendent still continued to gaze at him in consternation.
"And pray," he inquired at last, "were you drunk, too?"
It was a rather bold question, to say the least, and that flashed over the officer's mind a moment later, as he saw the handsome lad in front of him start a trifle and color visibly. He was sorry then that he had said it, and more so when he heard Mark's response.
"I have never touched liquor in my life," said the latter, in a low, quiet tone that was a rebuke unspoken.
Mark saw a vexed look sweep over the colonel's face, caused by that gentleman's recognition of his own rudeness; and Mark's heart bounded at that.
"He'll be extra kind to me now," he thought, "to make up for it. Score one point for our side."
"If you please," Mark continued, after a moment's pause, "I will tell you the story."
"Do," said the colonel, briefly.
"I was in my tent about ten minutes before the accident happened, and a cadet ran in and told me that Texas——"
"Texas?"