"What's that?" called Dick, who had dropped a little to the rear. "I don't know. Better take a look." Dick forced his rather unwilling steed up to the object. The next moment he uttered a cry. "It's a man!" he exclaimed. He leaped off his horse, and bent closely to the black, huddled mass. Then he reached over and took hold of it. "Here, Paul!" cried Dick. "Help me!" "What is it?" "It's Dutton, and he's unconscious and half frozen. Must have fallen from his horse and struck on his head! We must get him to shelter in a hurry." Paul was quickly at his companion's side. He helped Dick lift the unconscious youth from the pile of snow. Dutton seemed to be trying to say something, but though his lips moved no sound came from them. "What's the matter? Are you hurt?" asked Dick. "How did it happen?" Dutton murmured something, but the words "horse" and "Stiver" were all they could distinguish. "Maybe he's only fainted," suggested Paul. "Rub some snow on his face." Dick tried this, but it was evident that Dutton was semi-conscious from the effects of some injury. "What shall we do?" asked Paul, who was not used to acting in emergencies. "We've got to get him to the academy as soon as possible." "Maybe we had better take him back to the Weatherbys. That's nearer." "Yes, but they wouldn't know how to take care of him. He needs a doctor. No, what we've got to do is to get him on my horse. He's stronger than yours, and can carry double. Then you ride on ahead and tell them to send a carriage." Paul realized that this was the best thing to do, and the two, after some difficulty, hoisted Dutton to the back of Dick's steed. Then Dick mounted behind him, and, supporting in his arms the unconscious cadet, he set off through the snow. Paul galloped on ahead, urging his horse to a sharp gait, and made good time in reaching the academy. There he found considerable confusion, and no little alarm, not only over the absence of Dutton, but over that of Dick and himself. Paul quickly explained how he and his chum had become lost, and told how they had found Dutton. A carriage was at once sent out, and soon the injured lad was in the hospital, where an examination showed that he was not badly hurt, having merely received a severe blow on the head. "We feared something had happened when Dutton's horse came in without him," said Colonel Masterly. "Lieutenant Stiver said that he and Dutton became separated, after losing their way, and that he could not find him. So he came here to get help, and arrived just as Dutton's horse galloped in." Dick told the colonel how he had found the young captain, but did not think it necessary to mention about the farmhouse and the two girls. "I should have stopped the march when I saw that the weather was likely to be bad," the colonel said. "However, I am glad it is no worse."