By both officers Dick was congratulated on his fortunate escape
from death. Each officer asked him a few direct questions. Prescott
stated that he had remained over night with the village clergyman,
giving his wet, icy clothing a chance to dry.
It was when asked how he came to fall from the rear platform of
the car that the cadet hesitated.
"I thought I was thrown from the platform, sir," Dick replied
in each case.
"Who was on the platform with you?"
"No one, sir, an instant before."
"Did you see any one come out of the car?"
"No, sir."
"Did you recognize any assailant?"
"No-o, sir."
"Have you any good reason to suspect any particular person?"
"No _good_ reason, sir."
"Could any one have come out of the car, unless it had been a
tactical officer, a cadet or a railway employee?"
"No, sir."
That was as far as the questioning went, for both the adjutant
and the commandant of cadets believed that Dick had been pitched
from the rear platform by some sudden movement of the car. No
other belief seemed sane enough to be considered.
It was the commandant of cadets who suggested:
"If you feel the slightest need of it, Mr. Prescott, you may go
at once to cadet hospital, and be examined by one of the surgeons.
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