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Page 24
"Well, I'm mighty glad you've come to look after her, for she has
nearly killed two men already, and we were just wondering whether we
should kill her or turn her loose. Now you'd better take her to water."
"May I put on a saddle and bridle?" inquired Ridge.
"Of course not. Who ever heard of riding a cavalry horse to water any
way but bareback?"
So the young trooper was obliged to set forth on| his great undertaking
without equipment of any kind. In his joy at finding himself once more
in possession of his beloved "Rita," this did not trouble him; and
untying the mare's halter, he leaped to her back. In an instant they
were dashing off at full speed, followed by jeers from all who
witnessed the proceeding, and who imagined the mare to be running away
with her present rider, as she had with every other who had attempted
to take her to water during her master's absence.
The camp was quickly left behind, and knowing his general direction,
Ridge soon found himself on the road to Port Tampa. It was a hard ride
to make without saddle or bridle, and long before the welcome lights
marking the mile-long pier of the port came into view the young soldier
was aching in every bone. The dim road through the solemn pines was so
heavy with sand that it took even fleet-footed Rita more than an hour
to cover the distance, and night had closed in before their destination
was reached.
It was with many misgivings that Ridge rode out on the long pier,
which, never intended for the use of horses or wagons, carried only a
sidewalk for pedestrians beside its railway-track, for Rita regarded
locomotives with the utmost terror. Still, he believed he must go to
the extreme outer end, where the big steamers lay, and where he hoped
to find either the _Speedy_ herself or some one from her to direct his
movements. Half-way out he discovered a train coming directly towards
them, and, to avoid it, turned his mare on to the platform that served
as front yard to the pretty little inn that was here built over the
water.
At this moment a figure in white duck approached him. It was Ensign
Comly of the _Speedy_.
"You are the very man I was sent to look for!" he cried. "I thought
you might be coming out here, and so was on my way to head you off and
turn you back. You see, the end of the pier is so crowded that our
craft can't lie alongside. So Captain Boldwood got hold of a small
scow, which he has sent in to shore, towed by one of our boats, to take
you off. We'll just about meet it if we hurry."
By this time the unusual sight of a horse in that place had aroused
much curiosity among the guests of the inn, who came out to see what
was going on. Among them was an army officer, who uttered an
exclamation the moment his eyes rested on Ridge standing in the glow of
an electric light. Stepping quickly up to him, he placed a heavy hand
on the young trooper's shoulder, and said, in a harsh voice:
"I arrest you, sir, and order you to come at once with me to my camp on
shore, where a guard-house awaits you."
"On what charge am I arrested?" asked Ridge, calmly, turning, and
looking Major Herman Dodley full in the face.
"On the several charges of contempt for an officer, disobedience of
orders, and desertion," was the startling reply.
"Very well, sir, I'll go with you," said Ridge, "seeing that I was
going in that direction anyhow."
"But--" remonstrated Ensign Comly.
"Who are you, sir? And what have you to say regarding this business?"
demanded the Major, fiercely, at the same time drawing and cocking his
revolver.
"Only a United States officer."
"Then, in the name of the United States, I call upon you to assist me
in carrying this deserter to a place of security," shouted the Major,
in theatrical tones.
"Pretend to agree," said Ridge, in a low voice, heard only by Comly.
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