“Has Mr. Prescott been injured so that he’ll have to leave the Army?”

“I don’t know.  But, if you’ll excuse me, ladies, I am going over to the hospital now and find out.”

CHAPTER XX

THE CADET HOSPITAL

Cadet Prescott lay on one of the operating tables at cadet hospital.

Without a murmur he submitted to the examination.  At times the work of the medical officer’s hurt a good deal, but this was evidenced only by a firmer pressing together of the young soldiers lips.

At last they paused.

“Are you through, gentlemen?” Dick asked, looking steadily at the two medical officers.

“Yes,” answered Captain Goodwin, the senior surgeon.

“May I properly ask what you find?”

“We are not yet quite sure,” replied the senior surgeon.  “None of the bones of the spine are broken.  There has, of course, been a severe wrenching there.  Whether your injury is going to continue into a serious or permanent injury we cannot yet say.  A good deal will depend upon the grit with which you face things.”

“I am a soldier,” replied Dick doggedly.  “Even if I am not much longer to be one.”

“We will now have you removed to your cot.  We are not going to place you in a cast as yet, anyway.  It is possible that, after a few days, you may be able to walk fairly well.”

“In that case, captain, is it then likely that I shall be able to return to duty?”

“Yes; the quicker things mend, and the sooner you are able to walk without help, the greater will be your chance of pulling through this injury and remaining in the service.”

“Then I’d like to try walking back to barracks right now,” smiled Cadet Prescott, wistfully.

“You are not to think of it, Mr. Prescott!  You must not even attempt to put a foot out of bed until we give you permission.  If you take the slightest risk of further injury to your back you are likely to settle your case for good and all, so far as the Army is concerned.”

“I told you I was a soldier, sir,” Dick replied promptly.  “For that reason I shall obey orders.”

“Good!  That’s the way to talk, Mr. Prescott,” replied the senior medical officer heartily.  “The better soldier you are, the better your chances are of remaining in the Army.”

“There won’t be any need, will there, captain, to send word to my father and mother of this accident until it is better known how serious it is?” coaxed Dick.

“If you wish the news withheld for the present, I will direct the adjutant to respect your wishes.”

“If you will be so good, sir,” begged the hapless cadet.

Hospital men were summoned and Dick was skillfully, tenderly transferred to a cot in another room.  The steward stood by and took his orders silently from Captain Goodwin.

Hardly had this much been accomplished when a hospital service man entered, passing a card to Captain Goodwin.