CHAPTER XXVIII.
MARK MEETS THE SUPERINTENDENT.
"Yes, colonel, the lad is a hero, and I want to tell him so, too!"
The speaker was a tall, gray-haired gentleman, and he whacked his caneon the floor for emphasis as he spoke.
"It was a splendid act, sir, splendid!" he continued. "And I want tothank Mark Mallory for it right here in your office."
The man he addressed wore the uniform of the United States army; he wasColonel Harvey, the superintendent of the West Point Academy.
"I shall be most happy to have you do so," he replied, smiling at thisvisitor's enthusiasm. "You have certainly," he added, "much to thank theyoung man for."
"Much!" echoed the other. "Much! Why, my dear sir, if that daughter ofmine had been drowned I believe it would have killed me. She is my onlychild, and, if I do say it myself, sir, the sweetest girl that everlived."
"Wasn't it rather reckless, judge," inquired the other, "for you toallow her to go sailing alone?"
"She is used to the boat," responded Judge Fuller, "but no one on earthcould have handled it in such a gale. I do not remember to have seensuch a one in all the time I have lived up here."
"Nor I, either," said the superintendent. "It was so dark that I couldscarcely see across the parade ground. It is almost miraculous thatMallory should have succeeded in finding the boat as he did."
"Tell me about it," put in the other. "I have not been able to get aconsistent account yet."
"Cadet Captain Fischer told me," responded the colonel. "It seems thathe and Mallory were just at the finish of a swimming race when the stormbroke. They caught sight of the boat with your daughter in it comingdown stream. The plebe turned, exhausted though he was, and headed forit. It got so dark then that those on shore could scarcely see; but thelad managed to catch the boat as it passed and climbed aboard. Just thenthe boom swung round and flung the girl into the water. Mallory divedagain at once----"
"Splendid!" interrupted the other.
"And swam ashore with her."
"And then fainted, they say," the judge added.
"Yes," said Colonel Harvey. "Dr. Grimes told me that it was one of theworst cases of exhaustion he had ever seen. But the lad is doing wellnow; he appears to be a very vigorous youngster--and I've an ideaseveral of the yearlings found that out to their discomfort. The doctortold me that he thought he would be out this morning; the accident wasonly two days ago."
"That is fortunate," responded the other. "The boy is too good to lose."
"He appears to be a remarkable lad generally," continued thesuperintendent. "I have heard several tales about him. Some of thestories came to me 'unofficially,' as we call it, and I don't believeMallory would rest easily if he thought I knew of them. Young Fischer,who's a splendid man himself, I'll tell you, informed me yesterday thatthe plebe had earned his admission fee by bringing help to a wreckedtrain and telegraphing the account to a New York paper."
"I heard he had been in some trouble about demerits," put in JudgeFuller.
"In very serious trouble. I had to take a very radical step to get himout of it. Every once in a while I find that some new cadet is being'skinned,' as the cadets call it, demerited unfairly. I always punishseverely when I find that out. In this case, though, I had no proof;Mallory would say nothing, though he was within five demerits ofexpulsion. So I decided to end the whole matter by declaring a new ruleI've been contemplating for some time. I've found that new cadets gettoo many demerits during the first few weeks, before they learn therules thoroughly. So I've decided that in future no demerits shall begiven for the first three weeks, and that delinquencies shall bepunished by extra hours and other penalties. That let Mallory out of histrouble, you see."
"A very clever scheme!" laughed the other. "Very clever!"
It may be of interest to notice that Colonel Harvey's rule has been ineffect ever since.
There was silence of a few moments after that, during which Judge Fullertapped the floor with his cane reflectively.
"You promised to let me see this Mallory," he said, suddenly. "I'm readynow."
By way of answer, the superintendent rang a bell upon his desk.
"Go over to the hospital," he said to the orderly who appeared in thedoorway, "and find out if Cadet Mallory is able to be about. If he is,bring him here at once."
The boy disappeared and the colonel turned to his visitor and smiled.
"Is that satisfactory?" he inquired.
"Very!" responded the other. "And I only wish that you could send for mydaughter to come over, too. I hope those surgeons are taking care ofher."
"As much as if she were their own," answered the colonel. "I cannot tellyou how glad I was to learn that she is beyond danger."
"It is God's mercy," said the other, with feeling. "She could not havehad a much narrower escape."
And after that neither said anything until a knock at the door signaledthe arrival of the orderly.
"Come in," called the superintendent, and two figures stepped into theroom. One was the messenger, and the other was Mark.
"This," said the superintendent after a moment's pause, "is CadetMallory."
And Cadet Mallory it was. The same old Mark, only paler and more weakjust then.
Judge Fuller rose and bowed gravely.
"Sit down," said he, "you are not strong enough to stand."
And after that no one said anything for fully a minute; the last speakerresumed his seat and fell to studying Mark's face in silence. And Markwaited respectfully for him to begin.
"My name," said he at last, "is Fuller."
"Judge Fuller?" inquired Mark.
"Yes. And Grace Fuller is my daughter."
After that there was silence again, broken suddenly by the excitable oldgentleman dropping his cane, springing up from his chair, and stridingover toward the lad.
"I want to shake hands with you, sir! I want to shake hands with you!"he cried.
Mark was somewhat taken aback; but he arose and did as he was asked.
"And now," said the judge, "I guess that's all--sit down, sir, sit down;you've little strength left, I can see. I want to thank you, sir, forbeing the finest lad I've met for a long time. And when my daughter getswell--which she will, thank the Lord--I'll be very glad to have youcall on us, or else to let us call on you--seeing that we live beyondcadet limits. And if ever you get into trouble, here or anywhere, justcome and see me about it, and I'll be much obliged to you. And that'sall."
Having said which, the old gentleman stalked across the room once more,picked up his hat and cane, and made for the door.
"Good-day, sir," he said. "I'm going around now to see my daughter.Good-day, and God bless you."
After which the door was shut.
It was several minutes after that before Colonel Harvey said anything.
"You have made a powerful friend, my boy," he remarked, smiling at therecollection of the old gentleman's strange speech. "And you havebrought honor upon the academy. I am proud of you--proud to have youhere."
"Thank you, sir," said Mark, simply.
"All I have to say besides that," added the officer, "is to watch outthat you stay. Don't get any more demerits."
"I'll try not, sir."
"Do. And I guess you had best go and join your company now if the doctorthinks you're able. Something is happening to-day which always interestsnew cadets. I bid you good-morning, Mr. Mallory."
And Mark went out of that office and crossed the street to barracksfeeling as if he were walking on air.