“I thought you had more sense, both of you. I have learned that it is your practice to behave this way continually, and I propose to see that you are punished. Your cadet days are numbered from this moment, Mr. Powers.”
Big tears gathered in the Texan’s eyes, but he choked back the rising sob and stared all the harder at his superior. Just then he remembered that he had forgotten to salute, and so he saluted, being too dazed to think of anything else to do. He was gone! And Mark, too! Their offense had only one penalty, a swift one—dismissal.
“Mr. Powers,” said the lieutenant, sternly, “you will march back to camp and return to your tent, Mr. Mallory with you—at once! Do you hear?”
And Texas saluted once more, faced about and strode off into the deep, black woods feeling as if his heart would break.
As for Allen, once alone, he turned and fell to pacing back and forth in the little clearing, musing to himself. Angry though that worthy officer had been at first, he could not hide the fact from himself that he hated to ruin Mallory.
“He should have known better sense!” he muttered. “And such a fine lad! Plague take it!—but I’ve got my duty to do, and the commandant must attend to the rest. Discipline would be ruined if I let a thing like this pass.”
With this thought in his mind the tactical officer faced about and started toward camp. He took but two steps, however. Then he stopped!
It was not because he wanted to, either. It was because somebody stopped him, and that somebody nearly stopped his heart from beating, as well. The officer felt two sinewy arms flung about his body, pinioning them as if in a vise. In all his life Allen had never felt such a paralyzing clutch as that.
But one idea flashed over him. Texas had attacked him! Enraged at having been detected, the wild cowboy had been driven to desperation—perhaps even to murder!
Allen struggled with all his might. He did not wish to cry out, to alarm the camp. He wished to bring that wild lad to his senses, to subdue his ferocious temper. The officer felt his hot breath beating on his neck, and heard him pant as he hugged him in his clutch of iron.