to run the guard and put in some time outside of the camp limits.

Keeping as much in the shadow as he could, Prescott stepped along
until he came near one of the sentry lines.

For some time he stood thus, eyes and ears alert, though he lounged
in the shadow where he was not likely to be seen.

"It's an off night for plebe mischief, I reckon," he murmured
at last. "All the plebes are good little boys to-night, and safely
tucked in their cribs."

At last, when it was near midnight, Prescott came out from his
place of semi-concealment and stepped over near the guard line.

It was not long ere a yearling sentry, with bayonet fixed and
gun resting over his right shoulder, came pacing toward the first
classman.

Recognizing a cadet officer, the yearling sentry halted, holding his
piece at "present arms."

"Walk your post," Dick directed, after having returned the salute.

Had Prescott been a cadet private the sentry would have questioned
him as to his reasons for being out after taps. But with a cadet
captain it was different. Though Prescott was not cadet officer
of the day, he was privileged to have official reasons for being
out without making an accounting to the sentry.