Gliding along the right side of the trunk he stayed the motion of the skiff by grasping it with his left hand.
"Tumble in, Teddy—quick!" he said.
Teddy obeyed, literally falling into the bottom of the boat, limp and sprawling between the thwarts.
DOWN, DOWN THE BOILING, FOAMING, ROARING DESCENT HE SPED.
Reddy let go the trunk, went towards the rapids, raking the crest at the same place he had taken it before. Down, down the boiling, foaming, roaring descent he sped, plying his oar with all his might, lest in turning a frothing Scylla he might be hurled upon a threatening Charybdis. His former success attended him.
Again the soldiers ran to meet him at the foot of the watery slope, filling the air with shouts as they ran. But the sight of Teddy lying senseless in the bottom of the boat, checked further joyous demonstration. He was tenderly lifted in stalwart arms and borne to a grassy knoll near by, where he was received by his anxious mother and the surgeon. Restorative treatment brought him back to consciousness, and he was taken at once to the fort. The wherry was again carried to the landing before the hay-camp, and the crowd of soldiers dispersed through the ravines and groves in the direction of their barracks.
Captain Bartlett accompanied Redmond Carter to the place where the mule and pony were picketed, and, saying that he would ride Puss to the post, ordered one of the men to saddle her, and entered into conversation with the boy.
"I think you are out of place in the army, Carter," said he.
"What, sir! Have I not always done my duty well?" asked Reddy, in dismay.