He secured them, then gently led the cavalry mount over toward the crowd. "Hurt much, Hal?" hailed Noll "No; nothing worth talking about." A soldier had said something about the woman and the girl wishing to thank Corporal Hal, but that man had spoken without looking, for now the woman lay on the grass in a dead faint, while the girl bent over her. "Noll," spoke Corporal Overton, "at last accounts I believe we were supposed to be standing in front of Captain Cortland's tent, awaiting his summons. I guess we'd better be hurrying back to get on our job." Noll led the horse at first. By and by Hal reached over and secured the bridle, pausing just an instant to stroke the animal's neck. "You're a fine old fellow," Hal murmured, gazing wistfully at the horse. "Let's keep right on back," urged Noll. "Remember, we're here really against orders." Neither soldier boy thought of mounting the animal for a ride back. No need existing, either would have thought it a big piece of impudence to mount an officer's horse unbidden. Captain Cortland was standing before the door of his tent, watching the approach of his soldier boys. Beside Cortland stood another officer, down the outer side of whose trousers' legs ran the broad, yellow stripe of the cavalry. This gentleman was Captain Ellis. "We're in for it, I reckon," muttered Corporal Hal to his chum as they drew nearer to Cortland's tent. "Leaving when under orders, and taking an officer's horse, at that. Well, here's for our medicine!" Both soldier boys stepped forward holding themselves as erect as ever, just the same. Then, halting before the captain's tent, they came very formally to the salute. "Captain Cortland, I am obliged to report, sir, that I left here when under orders. I have also to report that, seeing the danger of a serious accident to others, I had the impudence to impress an officer's horse. Unfortunately, sir, that animal now appears to be injured." "I have also, sir, to report leaving in the face of other orders," Noll Terry stated gravely. "In view of the reasons that lay behind your acts," replied Captain Cortland, with only the faintest twinkle of a smile, "I think we shall have to conclude that discipline has not suffered a serious affront this time." "I am very sorry, indeed, sir, that I rode your fine animal to any injury," continued Corporal Hal, turning and saluting the cavalry captain. "Pooh!" scoffed Captain Ellis, stepping to one side and surveying the cuts on his mount's flank. "Nothing but a few scratches, Corporal--and a whole horse is as nothing compared with human lives. We got out in time to see your handsome work, Corporal, and all I'm sorry for is that we haven't you in the cavalry." "Thank you, sir." "You can't have these non-coms. of mine for yellow-legs, Ellis," laughed Captain Cortland. "You have just seen what a fine pair of young soldiers they are. I intend to keep them right here in B Company."