Greg, too, managed to get well away from the goats, and so was happy.

Through the winter the yearlings, in detachments, had attended the riding hall regularly during the afternoons.

Most of the men, as spring came along, had proven themselves very good cadet horsemen, though all would have chance to learn more during the two years yet ahead of them.

Dodge, who rode in the same detachment with Dick and Greg, was credited with being the poorest rider in the class.

“When you get to be an officer, Mr. Dodge, you’ll have to take the yearly walking test for three days.  You’ll get over the ground quicker and safer than you would on a horse,” remarked the cadet corporal.

“Oh, well, sir, I’m going into the doughboys, anyway,” grinned Dodge.  “It will be a good many years before I can get up far enough in the line to be called upon to ride a horse.”

The “doughboys” are the United States Infantry.  No company officer in the infantry mounted; only the field and staff officers of the doughboys are provided with mounts.

One cloudy Friday afternoon Cadet Corporal Haskins marched a yearling detachment down to the riding hall.  Captain Hall, their instructor, was already in saddle.  He turned to receive the report of Haskins after the detachment had been halted at the edge of the tan-bark.

“Stand to horse!” ordered Captain Hall.

The men of the detachments sprang over, each leading out his mount for the afternoon.

“Prepare to mount!”

Instantly each young man stood with one foot in stirrup, one hand at the animal’s mane, and one at saddle.

“Mount!”

In perfect unison the yearling cadets swung themselves up into saddle, their right feet searching for and then resting in the stirrup boxes.

Then, at the command, Haskins led his men out in single file.  Thus they circled the riding hall twice at a walk.

“Trot!” came Captain Hall’s command.

A few rounds of this was followed by the command, “gallop!” Around and around the hall the cadets rode, every man but one feeling the blood tingling with new life through his arteries.  It was glorious to stride a horse and to ride at this gait!

Glorious, that is, for all except one man.  Dodge rode at the tail end of the line, on a fiend of a horse that had proven disastrous to more than one green rider.

As the “gallop” was ordered, Dodge’s mount showed a longing to bolt and dash up to the head of the line.  Dodge, throbbing uneasily, reined in hard.  His horse began to chafe as it found itself forced back.  In another moment Dodge was lagging behind.

“Keep the pace, Mr. Dodge!  Keep the pace, sir!” called out Captain Hall.

Bert obeyed, but in fear.  He did not know at what instant this uneasy animal would rear and unhorse him.

At last the detachment was halted and the line faced about.  Now the detachment rode in reverse direction around the tan-bark.