 Jerry at ferrokes is to try out for the mounted real team. Is that right Jerry? Yes, sir right on the top too I suppose you're glad about that aren't you Jerry? Yes, sir. I sure am hope I make it do you know about the hunter Craig's trophy Yes, sir if we win it from Edson in this next contest it becomes a property of ferrokes That's right, and we want that trophy We very nearly won it last year But the judges thought the jumps of the ferrokes team weren't quite as clean as those of the EMI Well, they will be this year, sir, especially if Jerry makes the team. You're not modest. Are you Jerry? All I know is if I make the team I'll do the very best I can and I think that will be sufficient. Oh Just a minute Look at that smokestack on the powerhouse there Reaching majestically for the sky an imposing sight isn't it? Yes a pretty color too that pale gray against a background of white clouds Yeah, it sure is it's strange that some of the cadets think it would look better If it had the letters FMA smeared on it in gaudy blue paint Yeah Well, come on. I'm glad that you agree with me that the stack looks better plain gray Oh, yes, sir much better. Don't you think so Jerry? Oh, yeah, sure sure does me Say major Davis. Yes, I Completely forgot when I went into your office I wanted to ask you something but when you told me Sergeant Alden wanted to see me it slipped my mind Oh, what was it? Oh, well, sir. I got a letter from mr. Randall and he said he was sending me a surprise I was just wondering if some sort of a package came for me. No, there was no package for you in the mail today That's funny. Mr. Randall said that the surprise should reach here about the same time as the letter No, I guess it takes a little longer for packages, huh? Yes, it sometimes does. Oh, they're Sergeant Alden now He's waiting for you. She looks so stern. I wonder if he's angry about something. Hello, Major Davis. Hello, Sergeant Oh, I I have something to take up with you get at Dugan. Yes, sir I just got your message and came right out here, sir. Well does come with me now. Yes, sir May we come along? Yes, too. Oh, you took it at Phillips. I could have been here sooner But I didn't know you wanted to see me today. Oh, and thanks for putting my name on the list Well, I hope you make it Dugan. You know, I'd I'd like to have you on the team What are we coming back here to the stalls for? I just wanted to ask you something about Well Oh, yes, that's right. He's a pretty animal lean. Yes. He is very pretty that was Sergeant Alden's mouth when he was in the army Oh, right here Dugan in this next stall. Take a look at that horse and tell me Why it's winter. Hey, look Lee, Major Davis. Hey, it's blender from the circus Splendid am I glad to see you? Oh Jean you're glad to see me too. Aren't you fella? Where did he come from Sergeant Alden? I mean, well, well, how did he get here Lee isn't in the a beauty sure is Jerry I figured you'd be glad to see him glad say I was oh boy, you know, I Well, yeah, I don't know. I don't know what to say. Hey, can I go in the stall and pet him? It appears the boy was very much fond of that horse. It looks like a pretty nice friendship. Major Davis. Yes, Lee Isn't that isn't that the surprise mr.. Randall said Yes, that's right Jerry so excited it hasn't dawned on him yet. He told me many times how much he thought of that horse This is great. Isn't it major Davis? I didn't expect to see a welcome like that from either the horse or Jerry But first I got to find out what this is all about Say tell me Sergeant Alden. I don't understand. Well, I think at best we let Major Davis to the explain. Well Jerry That's the surprise mr.. Randall mentioned in his letter to you. Oh, sure. He said I might add a big surprise Oh, is it big enough? Well, I couldn't want anything more. I'll explain it to you Jerry I'll tell you why Splendor's here at Pharaoh. Yes, sir now It seems that you wrote mr.. Randall that you were trying out for the polo team. Yes, sir I did but that was some time ago. Oh, yes, yes I know but as soon as mr.. Randall received your letter He wrote me and asked if it would be permissible to send you your own mount if you made the team No, I see I answered his letter and gave him the ruling That is that no cadet is allowed to have his own horse at the academy Now then he wrote back and wanted to know if we would accept Splendor as a gift from him to Fair Oaks I thought this over for a couple of days and then wrote him that we would accept his kind offer and appreciate the gift very much But I added that you wouldn't be allowed to ride Splendor unless you took part in some of the equestrian activities Yes, sir. You want to stand now? Splendor belongs to Fair Oaks military Academy. Yes, sir. Sergeant Holden. Yes, sir Did I mention to you that mr.. Randall informed me that a mr. Quitey said Splendor had been trained as a jumper. Yes, sir I I believe you did say something about his being a jumper. Why? Gee He told me he was going to make a good jumper out of Splendor as Splendor's mother was a wonderful jumper The horse certainly shows very good early training. I broke him in. I was the first one that ever wrote him Yeah, that explains the friendship between you two that man. I nursed him through pneumonia. He was awful sick Britain really died well you Seems that you know more about horses than I thought you did well why he told me what to do He's had charged your horses with circuses for years. Well, he knows plenty about him I should think he would oh by the way I'm I'm calling the boys for the riding test tomorrow afternoon. I'll give you your call right now I want you to be here right after class. Yes, sir. I will and can't May I try out on Splendor? Would that be giving a Dugan an advantage over the other boys? And why I don't think so major, but I'll tell you what I had in mind to do Dugan Yes, sir now in as much as Splendor is pure white and beautiful dudes, right major I thought we'd try to use him as a pivot horse on the drill team We'd look very well in pivot position You see Dugan all the other horses on the team are bays And I thought that the contrast would be very good if you were to hold down the pivot spot Excuse me. Am I interrupting? No, no, no not at all Morrison come in. Hello, Sergeant Alden. Oh, hello Morrison Dugan Phillips We were just talking about Jerry's horse this one here Jerry's horse. Well, not exactly You see mr. Randall Jerry's guardian just made a present of Splendor to the Academy. Hmm That's what I call a fine animal Splendor huh, that's right Hello Splendor a real circus pony Morrison and a beauty. Oh, what were you saying about the pivot position sergeant Alden? Well, there isn't very much more to say that's all I but I'd like to use him in that spot if I can And I think he can do the work all right pivot position on horseback is the same as in drill is that? Well, and that means that Splendor will have to stand still while the other horses go around in different formations That's right. You see that not only takes a good horse, but it takes a good rider as well Well, I think I could do it. All right. I mean I try out for that position. I surely I'll be glad to have you I'd like to put in my bed for that pivot position sergeant Alden. All right, Morrison I'll give you your call now. It's tomorrow afternoon just as fast as you can get here after class Then whoever gets a pivot position gets to ride Splendor. Mm-hmm now I'll have three of you trying out you and Morrison and oh, yes Paul Warren Gee, I hope I make it may the best man win. I wouldn't mind riding Splendor myself It's safe to say we'll all try hard for that position. Is that all now sergeant Alden? Yes, I think so as far as I'm concerned, but oh, how about you major? Well, that's all Jerry I just wanted to come out here and be with you to see how you'd take your surprise and it was worth the walk to see the Expression on your face. Goodbye Splendor. See you tomorrow Yes, I will. Well major, there's no doubt about that little horse remembering him. Yes as you said sergeant There's a real friendship there. You ready Lee? I want to get right back to the room and get a letter off to Mr. Randall before dinner Excuse us, please. Surely surely go right ahead. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon. Yes, sir Goodbye. I Want to write to mr. Randall right away and thank him you should in fact He said in his letter for you to write him right away and let him know how you like the surprise boy He wasn't that a surprise though. Hey, you didn't know about it. Did you know I was just so surprised as you were well You know, I don't like the idea of somebody else riding Splendor though I think I should get to ride him. Well, don't worry about that. I think you'll get to ride him All right, but did you notice right away red put in his bid for a pivot position? That's just because he'd like to ride Splendor. Yeah, he might be right about that. I don't know But I wouldn't let it worry me any if I were you don't you think mr. Randall would want me to ride Splendor Yes, I guess he would but he gave Splendor to the school with the understanding Oh, I know what you're gonna say, but just the same. I feel like worrying till the time comes He isn't he a swell little horse though. It's pretty horses. I've ever seen Jerry You know the thing that got me was the way he knew you knew you right away the second He said eyes on you. You could just see it in his face. Yeah, and did you see the way he kicked around in his stall and went eat? Gee that sure brings back memories of the circus. I've been so busy since I've been here I haven't had much time to think about it But I sure miss the animals and the clowns and makeup and the band playing and the lions and the crowds What are you trying to do? Tell me on the idea of running away and joining a circus. Well, I guess I am talking too much I just got to thinking you figure on being with a circus when you grow up Oh, I don't know Mr. Randall didn't do so bad He started with a circus when he was just a boy and wand up on in his own show Yeah, that's one of the biggest circuses too, isn't it? I'll say it is You know whenever I think about a circus. I think about the wild animal trainers. That's a job I'd like now who wouldn't and don't think they don't make money either Jason is one of the highest paid trainers in the world. Now he gets plenty. It's risky though sure it is But exciting Jason always said that the excitement kept his nerve up Here comes red and now what's he want slow down Jerry and listen, don't forget to salute We're not in work clothes today since no you're starting trouble. No, okay That's a grand horse the circus sent us What do you mean us? He belongs to the school now Did you used to ride him when you were with the circus? No, I guess they let anybody ride choice animals in a circus But here at Faro it's different Splendor's much too good for a plea to ride. I wouldn't say that but I said it and what's more I'm going to make it my business to ride Splendor. We'll see about that. Okay. We will see about that Don't forget Dugan that horse is school property and you have no more claim on him than I have or anyone else Is that so? Yes, that's so and what's more you can bet your uniform you won't be riding him on the mounted drill team