Dick tried to rein his horse in, but the animal had the bit in his teeth, and it was useless to pull on the leather. Still the young millionaire was not frightened. He knew he could manage the animal.
But Dutton, with a muttered exclamation, spurred after Dick.
"Halt!" he cried again. "Halt, or I'll place you under arrest for disobeying orders!"
"I can't stop him!" Dick flung back, over his shoulder.
Dutton's horse was a fast one, and he soon caught up to the young cadet. He crossed in front of him, wheeled about and, a moment later the two horses collided violently. Dick was flung up in the air, and, the next instant, came heavily to the ground, where he lay quiet, while his horse bolted.
Dutton, who had retained his seat, looked down on the prostrate figure.
"Here, Drew, Butler, Graham!" called Captain Dutton. "Here's a chance to practice first aid to the injured. See what's the matter with him."
The three cadets he had named galloped forward, while the remainder of the company came to a halt.
"Pick him up, and see if he's hurt," ordered Dutton though he did not take the trouble to get off his horse to ascertain. "Very likely he's only shamming."
But is needed only a look at Dick's pale face to show that he had had a hard fall. The breath was knocked out of him.
The three cadets bent over him, and, while one raised him to a sitting position, the others chaffed his hands. Dick opened his eyes, and stared wonderingly about him.
"What--what--where am I?" he asked, and then he saw the mounted students, he added, "I fell."
But when Dick tried to stand he found he was so dizzy that his fellow cadets had to support him.
"Take him back to the hospital," ordered Dutton, "and then you three rejoin your company."
At that moment Major Webster, who had been drilling some of the older cadets, in advanced tactics on a distant part of the field, came galloping up.
"What has happened?" he asked. "Ah, Hamilton, eh? Are you hurt?"
"I fell off my horse. He bolted with me," replied Dick.
"I'm sending him back to the hospital," announced Dutton.
"That's proper. Are you sure you'll be all right, Hamilton?" asked the major kindly.
"No, I can't allow it. You must take a rest."
On the way back with the cadets, Dick insisted that he could go alone, and did not need help.