[Illustration: Darrin's Blow Knocked the Midshipman Down]

DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS

or

Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters"

By

H. IRVING HANCOCKIllustrated

MCMXI

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I. A QUESTION OF MIDSHIPMAN HONOR

II. DAVE'S PAP-SHEET ADVICE

III. MIDSHIPMAN PENNINGTON GOES TOO FAR

IV. A LITTLE MEETING ASHORE

V. WHEN THE SECONDS WONDERED

VI. IN TROUBLE ON FOREIGN SOIL

VII. PENNINGTON GETS HIS WISH

VIII. THE TRAGEDY OF THE GALE

IX. THE DESPAIR OF THE "RECALL"

X. THE GRIM WATCH FROM THE WAVES

XI. MIDSHIPMAN PENNINGTON'S ACCIDENT

XII. BACK IN THE HOME TOWN

XIII. DAN RECEIVES A FEARFUL FACER

XIV. THE FIRST HOP WITH THE HOME GIRLS

XV. A DISAGREEABLE FIRST CLASSMAN

XVI. HOW DAN FACED THE BOARD

XVII. LOSING THE TIME-KEEPER'S COUNT

XVIII. FIGHTING THE FAMOUS DOUBLE BATTLE

XIX. THE OFFICER IN CHARGE IS SHOCKED

XX. CONCLUSION

CHAPTER I

A QUESTION OF MIDSHIPMAN HONOR

"How can a midshipman and gentleman act in that way?"

The voice of Midshipman David Darrin, United States Navy, vibrateduneasily as he turned to his comrades. 

"It's a shame--that's what it is, " quivered Mr. Farley, also of thethird class at the United States Naval Academy. 

"But the question is, " propounded Midshipman Dan Dalzell, "what are wegoing to do about it?"

"Is it any part of our business to bother with the fellow?" demandedFarley half savagely. 

Now Farley was rather hot-tempered, though he was "all there" in pointsthat involved the honor of the brigade of midshipmen. 

Five midshipmen stood in the squalid, ill-odored back room of a Chineselaundry in the town of Annapolis. 

There was a sixth midshipman present in the handsome blue uniform of thebrigade; and it was upon this sixth one that the anger and disgust ofthe other five had centered. 

He lay in a sleep too deep for stirring. On the still, foul air floatedfumes that were new to those of his comrades who now gazed down on him. 

"To think that one of our class could make such a beast of himself!"sighed Dave Darrin. 

"And on the morning of the very day we're to ship for the summercruise, " uttered Farley angrily. 

"Oh, well" growled Hallam, "why not let this animal of lower grade sleepjust where he is? Let him take what he has fairly brought upon himself!"

"That's the very question that is agitating me, " declared Dave Darrin, to whom these other members of the third class looked as a leader whenthere was a point involving class honor. 

Dave had became a leader through suffering. 

Readers of the preceding volume in this series, "DAVE DARRIN'S FIRSTYEAR AT ANNAPOLIS, " will need no introduction to this fine specimen ofspirited and honorable young American. 

Readers of that preceding volume will recall how Dave Darrin and DanDalzell entered the United States Naval Academy, one appointed by aCongressman and the other by a United States Senator. Such readers willremember the difficult time that Dave and Dan had in getting through thework of the first hard, grinding year. They will also recall how DaveDarrin, when accused of treachery to his classmates, patiently bided histime until he, with the aid of some close friends, was able todemonstrate his innocence. Our readers will also remember how twoevil-minded members of the then fourth class plotted to increase Damn'sdisgrace and to drive him out of the brigade; also how these twoplotters, Midshipmen Henkel and Brimmer, were caught in their plottingand were themselves forced out of the brigade. Our readers know thatbefore the end of the first year at the Naval Academy, Dave had fullyreinstated himself in the esteem of his manly classmates, and how hequickly became the most popular and respected member of his class. 

It was now only the day after the events whose narration closed thepreceding volume. 

Dave Darrin and Dalzell were first of all brought to notice in "THE HIGHSCHOOL BOYS' SERIES. " In their High School days, back in Gridley, thesetwo had been famous members of Dick & Co. , a sextette of youngsters whohad made a name for themselves in school athletics. 

Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes, two other members of the sextette, hadbeen appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where they were serving in the corps of cadets and learning how tobecome Army officers in the not far distant future. All of theadventures of Dick and Greg are set forth in "THE WEST POINT SERIES. "

The two remaining members of famous old Dick & Co. , Tom Reade and HarryHazelton, became civil engineers, and went West for their first taste ofengineering work. Tom and Harry had some wonderful and startlingadventures, as fully set forth in "THE YOUNG ENGINEERS' SERIES. "

On this early June day when we again encounter Dave Darrin and DanDalzell in their handsome Naval uniforms, all members of the first, second and third classes were due to be aboard one of the three greatbattleships that lay off the Yard at Annapolis at four p. M. 

These three great battleships were the "Massachusetts, " the "Iowa" andthe "Indiana. " These three huge, turreted fighting craft had their fullcrews aboard. Not one of the battleship commanders would allow a"jackie" ashore, except on business, through fear that many of the"wilder" ones might find the attractions on shore too alluring, and failto return in time. 

With the young midshipmen it was different. These young men wereofficially and actually gentlemen, and could be trusted. 

Yet here, in the back room of this laundry, was one who was apparentlynot dependable. 

This young midshipman's name was Pennington, and the fact was that helay in deep stupor from the effects of smoking opium!

It had been a storekeeper, with a shop across the street, who had calledthe attention of Dave and his four comrades to the probable fate ofanother of their class. 

"Chow Hop runs a laundry, but I have heard evil stories about a lot ofyoung fools who flock to his back room and get a chance to 'hit' theopium pipe, " the storekeeper had stated to Dave. "One of your men, or atleast, one in a midshipman's uniform, went in there at eleven o'clockthis forenoon, and he hasn't been out since. It is now nearly twoo'clock and, I've been looking for some midshipmen to inform. "

Such had been the storekeeper's careful statement. The merchants ofAnnapolis always have a kindly feeling toward these fine youngmidshipmen. The storekeeper's purpose was to enable them to help theircomrade out. 

So the five had entered the laundry. The proprietor, Chow Hop, hadattempted to bar their way to the rear room. 

But Dave had seized the yellow man and had flung him aside. 

The reader already knows what they discovered, and how it affected theseyoung men. 

"Bring that copper-colored chink in here, if you'll be so good, "directed Dave. 

Dan and Hallam departed on the quest. 

"You're wanted in there, " proclaimed Dalzell, jerking a thumb over hisshoulder. 

"Me no sabby, " replied Chow Hop, looking up briefly from his ironingboard. 

"Get in there--do you hear?" commanded Hallam, gripping the other's armwith all his force. 

"You lemme go chop-chop (quickly), or you get alle samee hurt--yousabby?" scowled Chow Hop, using his free hand to raise a heavy flat-ironmenacingly. 

But Dan Dalzell jumped in, giving the Chinaman's wrist a wrench thatcaused him to drop the iron. 

Then, without a bit of ceremony, Dan grasped the Oriental by theshoulders, wheeled him about, while he protested in guttural tones, andbluntly kicked the yellow-faced one through the door into the innerroom. 

At this summary proceeding both the Chinese helpers gripped theirflat-irons firmly; and leaped forward to fight. 

In an ugly temper the Chinaman is a bad man to oppose. But now this pairwere faced by a pair of quietly smiling midshipmen who were alsodangerous when angry. 

"You two, get back, " ordered Dalzell, advancing fearlessly upon thepair. "If you don't, we'll drag you out into the street and turn youover to the policemen. You 'sabby' that? You heathen are pretty likelyto get into prison for this day's work!"

Scowling for a moment, then muttering savagely, the two helpers slunkback to their ironing boards. 

Yet, while Dan turned to go into the rear room, Hallam stood just wherehe was, to keep an eye on two possible sources of swift trouble. 

"Chow Hop, " began Dave Damn sternly, as the proprietor made his flyingappearance, "You've done a pretty mean piece of work here"--pointing tothe unconscious midshipman in the berth. "Do you understand that you'repretty likely to go to prison for this?"

"Oh, that no maller, " replied Chow, with a sullen grin. "Him plenty'shipmen come here and smoke. "

"You lie!" hissed Dave, grasping the heathen by the collar and shakinghim until the latter's teeth rattled. 

Then Dave gave him a brief rest, though he still retained his hold onthe Chinaman's collar. But the yellow man began struggling again, andDave repeated the shaking. 

Chow Hop had kept his hands up inside his wide sleeves. Now Farleyleaped forward as he shouted:

"Look out, Darry! He has a knife!"

Farley attempted to seize the Chinaman's wrist, for the purpose ofdisarming the yellow man, but Dave swiftly threw the Chinaman around outof Farley's reach. Then, with a lightning-like move, Dave knocked theknife from Chow Hop's hand. 

"Pick that up and keep it for a curio, Farley, " directed Dave coolly. 

In another twinkling Darrin had run the Chinaman up against the wall. 

Smack! biff! thump!

With increasing force Dave's hard fist struck the heathen in the face. 

"Now stand there and behave yourself, " admonished Midshipman Dave, dropping his hold on the yellow man's collar, "or we'll stop playingwith you and hurt you some. "

The scowl on Chow Hop's face was ominous, but he stood still, glaring atDave. 

"Chow, what can we do to bring this man out of his sleep!" asked Davecoolly, and almost in a friendly tone. 

"Me no sabby, " sulked the Chinaman. 

"Yes, you do, " retorted Dave warningly. "Now, what can we do to get ourfriend out of this!"

"You allee same cally (carry) him out, " retorted Chow, with a suspicionof a sulky grin. 

"None of that, now, you yellow-face!" glared Dave. "How shall we get ourcomrade out of this opium sleep!"

"Me no sabby no way, " insisted Chow. 

"Oh, yes, you do!" snapped Dave. "But you won't tell. All right; we'llfind the way, and we'll punish you into the bargain. Dan, get a piece ofpaper from the other room. "

Dalzell was quickly back with the desired item. On the paper Dave wrotea name and a telephone number. 

"It's near the end of the doctor's office hours, " murmured Dave. "Go toa telephone and ask the doctor to meet you at the corner above. Tell himit's vastly important, and ask him to meet you on the jump. "

"Shall I tell him what's up!" asked Dan cautiously. 

"Yes; you'd better. Then he'll be sure to bring the necessary remedieswith him. "

Dan Dalzell was off like a shot. 

Chow tried to edge around toward the door. 

"Here, you get back there, " cried Dave, seizing the Chinaman andslamming him back against the wall. "Don't you move again, until we tellyou that you may--or it will be the worse for you. "

Ten minutes passed ere Dan returned with Dr. Lawrence. 

"You see the job that's cut out for you, " said Darrin, pointing to theunconscious figure in the bunk. "Can you do it, Doctor?"

The medical man made a hasty examination of the unconscious midshipmanbefore he answered briefly:

"Yes. "

"Will it be a long job, Doctor?"

"Fifteen minutes, probably. "

"Oh, good, if you can do it in that time!"

"Me go now?" asked Chow, with sullen curiosity, as the medical manopened his medicine-case. 

"Yes; if you don't try to leave the joint, " agreed Dave. "And I'm goingoutside with you. "

Chow looked very much as though he did not care for company, butMidshipman Darrin kept at his side. 

"Now, see here, Chow, " warned Dave, "this is the last day you sellopium for white men to smoke!"

"You heap too flesh (fresh)" growled the Chinaman. 

"It's the last day you'll sell opium to white men, " insisted Dave, "for, as soon as I'm through here I'm going to the police station to informagainst you. They'll go through here like a twelve-inch shot. "

"You alle same tell cop?" grinned Chow, green hatred showing through hisskin. "Then I tell evelybody about you fliend in there. "

"Do just as you please about that, " retorted Dave with pretendedcarelessness. "For one thing, you don't know his name. "

"Oh, yes, I do, " swaggered Chow impudently. "Know heap 'bout him. Hisname alle same Pen'ton. "

Seizing a marking brush and a piece of paper, Chow Hop quickly wrote outPennington's name, correctly spelled. His ability to write English witha good hand was one of Chow's great vanities, anyway. 

"You go back to your ironing board, yellow-face, " warned Darrin, andsomething in the young third classman's face showed Chow that it wouldbe wise to obey. 

Then Hallam drew Darrin to one side, to whisper earnestly in his ear:

"Look out, old man, or you will get Pen into an awful scrape!"

"I shan't do it, " maintained Darrin. "If it happens it will have beenPen's own work. "

"You'd better let the chink go, just to save one of our class. "

"Is a fellow who has turned opium fiend worth saving to the class!"demanded Dave, looking straight into Hallam's eyes. 

"Well, er--er--" stammered the other man. 

"You see, " smiled Dave, "the doubt hits you just as hard as it does me!"

"Oh, of course, a fellow who has turned opium fiend is no fellow ever tobe allowed to reach the bridge and the quarter-deck, " admitted Hallam. "But see here, are you going to report this affair to the commandant ofmidshipmen, or to anyone else in authority?"

"I've no occasion to report, " replied Dave dryly. "I am not in any wayin command over Pennington. But I mean to persuade him to report himselffor what he has done!"

"But that would ruin him!" protested Hallam, aghast. "He wouldn't evenbe allowed to start on the cruise. He'd be railroaded home without lossof a moment. "

"Yet you've just said that an opium-user isn't fit to go on in thebrigade, " retorted Darrin. 

"Hang it, it's hard to know what to do, " rejoined Hallam, wrinkling hisforehead. "Of course we want to be just to Pen. "

"It doesn't strike me as being just exactly a question of justice toPennington, " Darrin went on earnestly. "If this is anything it's aquestion of midshipman honor. We fellows are bound to see that all theunworthy ones are dropped from the service. Now, a fellow who hasfastened the opium habit on himself isn't fit to go on, is he?"

"Oh, say, but this is a hard one to settle!" groaned Hallam. 

"Then I'll take all the responsibility upon myself, " said Dave promptly. "I don't want to make any mistake, and I don't believe I'm going to. Wait just a moment. "

Going to the rear room, Dave faced his three comrades there with thequestion:

"You three are enough to take care of everything here for a few minutes, aren't you?"

"Yes, " nodded Dan. "What's up?"

"Hallam and I are going for a brief walk. "

Then, stepping back into the front room, Darrin nodded to his classmate, who followed him outside. 

"Just come along, and say nothing about the matter on the street, "requested Dave. "It might be overheard. "

"Where are you going?" questioned Hallam wonderingly. 

"Wait and see, please. "

From Chow Hop's wretched establishment it was not far to the otherbuilding that Dave had in mind as a destination. 

But when they arrived, and stood at the foot of the steps, Hallamclutched Darrin's arm, holding him back. 

"Why, see here, this is the police station!"

"I know it, " Dave replied calmly. 

"But see here, you're not--"

"I'm not going to drag you into anything that you'd object to, " Darrincontinued. "Come along; all I want you for is as a witness to what I amgoing to say. "

"Don't do it, old fel--"

"I've thought that over, and I feel that I must, " replied Dave firmly. "Come along. Don't attract attention by standing here arguing. "

In another instant the two midshipmen were going swiftly up the steps. 

The chief of police received his two callers courteously. Dave told theofficial how their attention had been called to the fact that one oftheir number was in an opium joint. Dave named the place, but requestedthe chief to wait a full hour before taking any action. 

"That will give us a chance to get out a comrade who may have committedonly his first offense, " Dave continued. 

"If there's any opium being smoked in that place I'll surely close thejoint out!" replied the chief, bringing his fist down upon his desk. "But I understand your reasons, Mr. --"

"Darrin is my name, sir, " replied Dave quietly. 

"So, Mr. Darrin, I give you my word that I won't even start myinvestigations before this evening. And I'll keep all quiet about themidshipman end of it. "

"Thank you very much, sir, " said Dave gratefully. 

As the two midshipmen strolled slowly back in the direction of ChowHop's, Dave murmured:

"Now, you see why I took this step?"

"I'm afraid not very clearly, " replied Midshipman Hallam. 

"That scoundrelly Chow made his boast that other midshipmen patronizedhis place. I don't believe it. Such a vice wouldn't appeal to you, andit doesn't to me. But there are more than two hundred new plebes comingin just now, and many of these boys have never been away from homebefore. Some of them might foolishly seek the lure of a new vice, andmight find the habit fastened on them before they were aware of it. Chow's vile den might spoil some good material for the quarter-deck, and, as a matter of midshipman honor, we're bound to see that the placeis cleaned out right away. "

"I guess, Darry, you come pretty near being right, " assented Hallam, after thinking for a few moments. 

By the time they reached Chow Hop's again they found that Dr. Lawrencehad brought the unfortunate Pennington to. And a very scared andhumiliated midshipman it was who now stood up, a bit unsteadily, andtried to smooth down his uniform. 

"How do you feel now?" asked Dave. 

"Awful!" shuddered Pennington. "And now see here, what are you fellowsgoing to do? Blab, and see me driven out of the Navy?"

"Don't do any talking in here, " advised Dave, with a meaning look overhis shoulder at the yellow men in the outer room. "Doctor, is our friendin shape to walk along with us now?"

"He will be, in two or three minutes, after he drinks something I'mgoing to give him, " replied the medical man, shaking a few drops fromeach of three vials into a glass of water. "Here, young man, drink thisslowly. "

Three minutes later the midshipmen left the place, Dave walking besidePennington and holding his arm lightly for the purpose of steadying him. 

"How did this happen, Pen?" queried Dave, when the six men of the thirdclass at last found themselves walking down Maryland Avenue. "How longhave you been at this 'hop' trick?"

"Never before to-day, " replied Midshipman Pennington quickly. 

"Pen, will you tell me that on your honor?" asked Dave gravely. 

The other midshipman flared up. 

"Why must I give you my word of honor?" he demanded defiantly. "Isn't myplain word good enough?"

"Your word of honor that you had never smoked opium before to-day wouldhelp to ease my mind a whole lot, " replied Darrin. "Come, unburdenyourself, won't you, Pen?"

"I'll tell you, Darry, just how it happened. To-day _was_ the firsttime, on my word of honor, I came out into Annapolis with a ragingtoothache. Now, you know how a fellow gets to hate to go before themedical officers of the Academy with a tale about his teeth. "

"Yes, I do, " nodded Darrin. "If a fellow is too much on the medicalreport for trouble with his teeth, then it makes the surgeons look hismouth over with all the more caution, and in the end a fellow may getdropped from the brigade just because he has invited over zeal from thedentist. But what has all this to do with opium smoking?"

"Just this, " replied Pennington, hanging his head. "I went into a drugstore and asked a clerk that I know what was the best thing fortoothache. He told me the best he knew was to smoke a pipe of opium, andtold me where to find Chow Hop, and what to say to the chink. And it'sall a lie about opium helping a sore tooth, " cried the wretchedmidshipman, clapping a hand to his jaw, "for there goes that fiendishtooth again! But say! You fellows are not going to leak about my littlemishap?"

"No, " replied Darrin with great promptness. "You're going to do thatyourself. "

"What?" gasped Midshipman Pennington in intense astonishment. "What areyou talking about?"

"You'll be wise to turn in a report, on what happened, " pursued Dave, "for it's likely to reach official ears, anyway, and you'll be betteroff if you make the first report on the subject. "

"Why is it likely to reach official ears, if you fellows keep yourmouths shut?"

"You see, " Darrin went on very quietly, "I reported the joint at thepolice station, and Chow Hop threatened that, if I did, he'd tell allhe knew about everybody. So you'd better be first----"

"You broke the game out to the police!" gasped Pennington, staringdumfoundedly at his comrade. "What on earth----"

"I did it because I had more than one satisfactory reason forconsidering it my duty, " interposed Dave, speaking quietly thoughfirmly. 

"You--you--bag of wind!" exploded Midshipman Pennington. 

"I'll accept your apology when you've had time to think it all over, "replied Dave, with a smile, though there was a brief flash in his eyes. 

"I'll make no apology to you--at any time, you--you--greaser!"

Marks for efficiency or good conduct, which increase a midshipman'sstanding, are called "grease-marks" or "grease" in midshipman slang. Hence a midshipman who is accused of currying favor with his officers inorder to win "grease" is contemptuously termed a "greaser. "

"I don't want to talk with you any more, Mr. Darrin, " Pennington went onbitterly, "or walk with you, either. When I get over this toothache I'llcall you out--you greaser!"

Burning with indignation, Midshipman Pennington fell back to walk withHallam. 

CHAPTER II

DAVE'S PAP-SHEET ADVICE

When our party reached the landing a lively scene lay before them. 

Fully a hundred midshipmen, belonging to the first, second and thirdclasses, were waiting to be transported out to one or another of thegreat, gray battleships. 

Several launches were darting back and forth over the water. The baggageof the midshipmen had already been taken aboard the battleships. Onlythe young men themselves were now awaited. 

Near-by stood a lieutenant of the Navy, who was directing theembarkation of the midshipmen of the different classes. 

Five minutes after our party arrived a launch from the "Massachusetts"lay in alongside the landing. 

"Third classmen, this way!" shouted the lieutenant. "How many of you?"

Turning his eyes over the squad that had moved forward, the officercontinued:

"Twenty-two. You can all crowd into this launch. Move quickly, younggentlemen!"

In another couple of minutes the puffing launch was steaming away tothe massive battleship that lay out in the stream. 

Dave stood well up in the bow. Once he barely overheard Penningtonmutter to a comrade:

"The rascally greaser!"

"That means me, " Dave muttered under his breath. "I won't take it upnow, or in any hurry. I'll wait until Pen has had time to see thingsstraight. "

As soon as the launch lay alongside, the young midshipmen clamberednimbly up the side gangway, each raising his cap to the flag at thestern as he passed through the opening in the rail. 

Here stood an officer with an open book in his hand. To him eachmidshipman reported, saluting, stated his name, and received hisberthing. 

"Hurry away to find your berthings, and get acquainted with thelocation, " ordered this officer. "Every midshipman will report on thequarter-deck promptly at five p. M. In the meantime, after locating yourberthings, you are at liberty to range over the ship, avoiding the wardroom and the staterooms of officers. "

The latest arrivals saluted. Then, under the guidance of messengerschosen from among the apprentice members of the crew, the young menlocated their berthings. 

"I'm going to get mine changed, if I can, " growled Pennington, wheelingupon Dave Darrin. "I'm much too close to a greaser. I'm afraid I may getmy uniforms spotted, as well as my character. "

"Stop that, Pen!" warned Dave, stationing himself squarely before theangry Pennington. "I don't know just how far you're responsible for whatyou're saying now. To-morrow, if you make any such remarks to me, you'llhave to pay a mighty big penalty for them. "

"You'll make me pay by going to the commandant and telling him all youknow, I suppose?" sneered Pennington. 

"You know better, Pen! Now, begin to practise keeping a civil tonguebehind your teeth!"

With that, Darrin turned on his heel, seeking the deck. 

This left "Pen" to conjecture as to whether he should report hismisadventure, and, if so, how best to go about it. 

"See here, Hallam, " began the worried midshipman, "I begin to feel thatit will be safer to turn in some kind of report on myself. "

"Much safer, " agreed Hallam. "It will show good faith on your part ifyou report yourself. "

"And get me broken from the service, too, I suppose, " growled theunhappy one. 

"I hardly think it will, if you report yourself first, " urged Hallam. "But you'll be about certain to get your walking papers if you wait forthe first information to come from other sources. "

"Hang it, " groaned Pennington, "I wish I could think, but my head achesas though it would split and my tooth is putting up more trouble than Iever knew there was in the world. And, in this racked condition, I'm togo and put myself on the pap-sheet. In what way shall I do it, Hallam?Can't you suggest something?"

"Yes, " retorted Hallam with great energy. "Go to the medical officer andtell him how your tooth troubles you. Tell him what you tried on shore. I'll go with you, if you want. "

"Will you, old man? I'll be a thousand times obliged!"

So the pair went off in search of the sick-bay, as the hospital part ofa battleship is called. The surgeon was not in his office adjoining, butthe hospital steward called him over one of the ship telephones, informing him that a midshipman was suffering with an ulcerated tooth. 

Dr. Mackenzie came at once, turned on a reflector light, and gazed intoMidshipman Pennington's mouth. 

"Have you tried to treat this tooth yourself, in any way?" queried theship's surgeon. 

"Yes, sir; I was so crazy with the pain, while in Annapolis, that I amafraid I did something that will get me into trouble, " repliedPennington, with a quiver in his voice. 

"What was that?" asked Dr. Mackenzie, glancing at him sharply. "Did youtry the aid of liquor?"

"Worse, I'm afraid, sir. "

"Worse?"

Pennington told of his experience with the opium pipe. 

"That's no good whatever for a toothache, sir, " growled Dr. Mackenzie. "Besides, it's a serious breach of discipline. I shall have to reportyou, Mr. Pennington. "

"I expected it, sir, " replied Pennington meekly. 

"However, the report won't cure your toothache, " continued Dr. Mackenziein a milder tone. "We'll attend to that first. "

The surgeon busied himself with dissolving a drug in a small quantity ofwater. This he took up in a hypodermic needle and injected into thelower jaw. 

"The ache ought to stop in ten minutes, sir, " continued the surgeon, turning to enter some memoranda in his record book. 

After that the surgeon called up the ship's commander over the 'phone, and made known Pennington's report. 

"Mr. Pennington, Captain Scott directs that you report at his officeimmediately, " said the surgeon, as he turned away from the telephone. 

"Very good, sir. Thank you, sir. "

Both midshipmen saluted, then left the sick-bay. 

"This is where you have to go up alone, I guess, " hinted MidshipmanHallam. 

"I'm afraid so, " sighed Pennington. 

"However, I'll be on the quarter-deck, and, if I'm wanted, you can sendthere for me. "

"Thank you, old man. You're worth a brigade of Darrins--confound thegreasing meddler!"

"Darrin acted according to his best lights on the subject of duty, "remonstrated Mr. Hallam mildly. 

"His best lights--bah!" snarled Pennington. "I'll take this all out ofhim before I'm through with him!"

Pennington reported to the battleship's commander. After some tenminutes a marine orderly found Hallam and directed him to go to CaptainScott's office. Here Hallam repeated as much as was asked of himconcerning the doings of the afternoon. Incidentally, the fact ofMidshipman Darrin's report to the police was brought out. 

"Mr. Pennington, I shall send you at once, in a launch, over to thecommandant of cadets to report this matter in person to him, " saidCaptain Scott gravely. "Mr. Hallam, you will go with Mr. Pennington. "

Then, after the two had departed, an apprentice messenger went throughthe ship calling Dave's name. That young man was summoned to CaptainScott's office. 

"I am in possession of all the facts relating to the unfortunate affairof Midshipman Pennington, Mr. Darrin, " began Captain Scott, after theinterchange of salutes. "Will you tell me why you reported the affair tothe police?"

"I went to the police, sir, " Dave replied, "because I was aware thatmany members of the new fourth class are away from home for the firsttime in their lives. I was afraid, sir, that possibly some of the newmidshipmen might, during one of their town-leaves, be tempted to try fora new experience. "

"A very excellent reason, Mr. Darrin, and I commend you heartily for it. I shall also report your exemplary conduct to the commandant ofmidshipmen. You have, in my opinion, Mr. Darrin, displayed very goodjudgment, and you acted upon that judgment with promptness and decision. But I am afraid, " continued the Navy captain dryly, "that you have donesomething that will make you highly unpopular, for a while, with someof the members of your class. "

"I hope not, sir, " replied Dave. 

"So do I, " smiled Captain Scott "I am willing to find myself a poorprophet. That is all, Mr. Darrin. "

Once more saluting, Dave left the commanding officer's presence. Almostthe first classmate into whom he stumbled was Dan Dalzell. 

"Well, from what quarter does the wind blow!" murmured Dan. 

Darrin repeated the interview that he had just had. 

"I'm afraid, Dave, little giant, that you've planted something of a mineunder yourself, " murmured Dalzell. 

"I feel as much convinced as ever, Danny boy, that I did just what Ishould have done, " replied Darrin seriously. 

"And so does Captain Scott, and so will the commandant, " replied Dan. "But winning the commendation of your superior officers doesn't alwaysimply that you'll get much praise from your classmates. "

"Unfortunately, you are quite right, " smiled Dave. "Still, I'd do thesame thing over again. "

"Oh, of course you would, " assented Dan. "That's because you're DaveDarrin. "

Here a voice like a bass horn was heard. 

"All third classmen report to the quarter-deck immediately!"

This order was repeated in other parts of the ship. Midshipmen gatheredwith a rush, Pennington and Hallam being the only members absent. Assoon as the third classmen, or "youngsters, " as they are called inmidshipman parlance, had formed, the orders were read off dividing theminto sections for practical instruction aboard ship during the cruise. 

Dave's name was one of the first read off. He was assigned to duty assection leader for the first section in electrical instruction. Dalzell, Farley, Hallam, Pennington and others were detailed as members of thatsection. 

The same section was also designated for steam instruction, Dalzellbeing made leader of the section in this branch. 

The class was then dismissed. Somewhat later Pennington and Hallamreturned from their interview with the commandant. 

Hallam at once sought out Dave. 

"Darry, old man, " murmured Hallam, "Pen is as crazy as a hornet againstyou. As he had taken the first step by sticking himself on the pap-sheet(placing himself on report), the commandant said he would make thepunishment a lighter one. "

"What did Pen get?" queried Dave. 

"Fifty demerits, with all the loss of privileges that fifty carry. "

"He's lucky, " declared Dave promptly. "Had the report come from othersources, he would have been dismissed from the service. "

"If Pen's lucky, " rejoined Hallam, "he doesn't seem to realize the fact. He's calling you about everything. "

"He can keep that up, " flashed Dave, "until his toothache leaves him. Then, if he tries to carry it any further, Pen will collide with one ofmy fists!"

Not much later a call sounded summoning the youngsters to themidshipmen's mess. Dave was glad to note that Pennington sat at somedistance from him at table. 

While the meal was in progress the "Massachusetts" and the otherbattleships got under way. The midshipmen were on deck, an hour later, when the fleet came to anchor for the night, some miles down ChesapeakeBay. 

Before the youngsters were ordered to their berths that night ThirdClassman Pennington had found opportunity to do a good deal of talkingto a few comrades who would listen to him. 

Pennington was determined to stir up a hornet's nest for Dave Darrin. 

CHAPTER III

MIDSHIPMAN PENNINGTON GOES TOO FAR

At eight o'clock the following morning the various sections were formedand marched to the deck. 

Dave reported:

"All present, sir. "

The chief electrician was now summoned, and to him the section wasturned over. This young man, Whittam, by name, was an enlisted man, buta bright young sample of what the Navy can do for the boy who enlists asan apprentice. 

"You will take your orders from Mr. Whittam as though he were anofficer, " directed the officer, his words intended for all members ofthe section, though he looked only at Darrin. 

Dave saluted, then, as Chief Electrician Whittam turned to lead the way, Dave called quietly:

"Section, left wheel--march!"

They followed Whittam down into the dynamo room, an interesting spot fora machinist. 

"It's fine, " muttered Dan, as he stared about him at the bright metalwork, the switch-board and the revolving machines. "But I'm afraid Icouldn't learn the use and sense of all this in five years. "

"Silence in the section, " commanded Dave, turning around upon his chum. 

Whittam now began a short, preliminary talk upon the subjects in whichthe midshipmen would be required to qualify. 

"One of the first and most important requests I have to make, " saidWhittam presently, "is that none of you touch the switches, except bydirection. None of you can guess the harm that might follow the carelessand ignorant handling of a switch. "

"It's pretty cheeky for an enlisted man to talk to midshipmen aboutignorance, " whispered Pennington to Farley. 

"Oh, I don't know--" Farley started to reply, but Darrin's quiet voicebroke in with authority:

"Cease talking in section. "

Farley knew this to be a merited rebuke, and accepted it as such, butPennington's face went violently red. 

"Confound that grease-spot-chaser, " growled Pen. "He'll be bound to takeit out of me as long as the cruise lasts. But I'll get even with him. Nocheap greaser is going to ride over me!"

That morning none of the midshipmen were called upon to handle any ofthe fascinating-looking machinery. Nearly the whole of this tour ofpractical instruction was taken up by the remarks of the chiefelectrician. As he spoke, Whittam moved over to one piece or another ofmechanism and explained its uses. Finally, he began to question theattentive young men, to see how much of his instruction they hadabsorbed. 

"This is a shame, to set an enlisted man up over us as quiz-master, justto see how little we know, " growled Pennington; but this time he had thegood sense not to address his remark to anyone. 

Pennington was not yet in good shape, after his harrowing experiences ofthe day before. 

Ere the tour of instruction was over, he began to shift somewhatuneasily. 

Then his attention began to wander. 

A brilliantly shining brass rod near him caught his eye. Something aboutthe glossy metal fascinated him. 

Once or twice Pen put out his hand to touch the rod, but as quicklyreconsidered and drew back his hand. 

At last, however, the temptation proved too strong. He slid one handalong the rail. 

"Here, sir, don't handle that!" rasped in the voice of Whittam. 

Pennington drew back his hand, a flush mounting to his face. 

"The fellow has no right to talk to a midshipman in that fashion!"quivered Pennington to himself. "But it was the fault of that low-mindedgreaser Darrin, anyway. Darrin saw me, and he glanced swiftly at thechief electrician to draw attention to me. "

It is only just to Pennington to state that he actually believed he hadseen Dave do this. Darrin, however, was not guilty of the act. He had inno way sought to direct attention at Pennington. 

Towards the close of the tour the officer in whose department thisinstruction fell passed through the dynamo room. 

"Are there any breaches of conduct to be reported, Whittam?" inquiredthe officer, halting. 

"Nothing worth mentioning, sir, " replied the chief electrician. 

"I asked you, Whittam, whether there had been any breaches of conduct, "retorted the officer with some asperity. 

"One midshipman, sir, after having been instructed to touch nothing, rested his hand on one of the brass rods. "

"His name?"

"I don't know the names of many of the young gentlemen yet, sir, so Idon't know the particular midshipman's name, sir. "

"Then point him out to me, " insisted the officer. 

There was hardly any need to do so. Pennington's face, flushed withmortification, was sufficient identification. But the chief electricianstepped over, halting in front of the hapless one, and said:

"This is the young gentleman, sir. "

"Your name, sir?" demanded the officer. 

"Pennington, sir. "

"Mr. Pennington, you will place yourself on the report, sir, fordisobedience of orders, " commanded the officer. "Is this the only case, Whittam?"

"The only case, sir. "

The officer passed out of the dynamo room, leaving the unlucky one morethan ever angry with Darrin, whom he incorrectly charged with hispresent trouble. 

The recall sounding, Dave turned to Whittam, saying crisply butpleasantly:

"Thank you for our instruction. "

"He's thanking the fellow for my new scrape, " growled Penningtoninwardly. 

Dave marched his section back to deck and dismissed it. Dan Dalzell, assection leader in steam instruction, immediately re-formed it. 

"You will report in the engine-room, Mr. Dalzell, toLieutenant-Commander Forman, who is chief engineer of this ship. Hewill assign you to an instructor. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " Dan replied, saluting. "Section, right wheel--march!"

Dan already knew where, down in the bowels of the great battleship, tofind the engine room. 

Reaching that department, Dan halted his section. 

"Section all present, sir, " reported Dan, saluting a strange officer, who, however, wore the insignia of a lieutenant-commander. 

"Your name, sir?" inquired the officer. 

"Dalzell, sir. "

"Let your section break ranks. Then you may all follow me, and keep youreyes open, for you will go through one or two dark places. "

"Aye, aye, sir. Section break ranks. "

Lieutenant-Commander Forman led the way, with all the members of thesection wondering what was to be the nature of their first day's work inthe engineer department. 

Descending lower into the ship, the chief engineer led the young middiesover a grating, and paused at the head of an iron ladder. 

"Pass down in orderly fashion, single file, " directed the chiefengineer, halting. "When at the foot of this ladder, cross a grating toport side, and then descend a second ladder, which you will find. "

All the midshipmen went down the first ladder in silence. Dan, who hadpreceded the others, crossed the grating and found the second ladder. 

Once more these youngsters descended. Pennington, as though by mereaccident, succeeded in following Dave Darrin down the ladder. 

Just as they were near the bottom Dave felt a foot descend upon hisshoulder, almost with a kick, and then rest there with a crushingpressure. 

It hurt keenly until Darrin was able to dodge out from under andhurriedly reach the bottom. 

"Pardon, whoever you are, " came a gruff voice. 

Dave, with his shoulder crippled a good deal, and paining keenly, haltedas soon as his foot had touched bottom. It was dark down there, thoughsome reflected light came from an incandescent light at a distance. 

Dave waited, to peer into the face of the man who had stepped on hisshoulder. 

It was Pennington, of course!

"I'll take pains not to go down ahead of you again, or to follow you upa ladder, " grunted Darrin suspiciously. 

"Oh, are you the man on whose shoulder my foot rested?" askedPennington, with apparent curiosity. 

"Didn't you know it!" questioned Darrin, looking straight into theother's eyes. 

Instead of answering intelligibly, Pennington turned and walked away afew feet. 

"Perhaps that fellow thinks he's going to vent his spite on me in a lotof petty ways, " murmured Dave. "If that is the idea he has in his head, he's going to wake up one of these days!"

Following the last midshipman came Lieutenant-Commander Forman. 

"After me, gentlemen, " directed the chief engineer. He turned down anarrow passage, only a few feet long, and came out in the furnace room. 

Here huge fires glowed through the furnace doors. Four of the Navy'sfiremen stood resting on their shovels. Instantly, on perceiving thechief engineer, however, the men stood at attention. 

"Pass the word for the chief water tender, " ordered the engineer, turning to one of the firemen. 

The messenger soon came back with a pleasant-faced, stalwart man offorty. 

"Heistand, " ordered the chief engineer, "give these members of the firstsection, third: class, steam instruction, a thorough drill in firing. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " replied the chief water tender, saluting. 

"Heistand's orders are mine, Mr. Dalzell, " continued thelieutenant-commander, facing Dan. "Preserve order in your section. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " replied Dan, saluting. Acknowledging this courtesy inkind, the chief engineer turned and left the furnace room. 

Heistand was presumably of German parentage, though he had no accent. Hestruck the midshipmen as being a pleasant, wholesome fellow, though thewater tenders and firemen of the "Massachusetts" knew that he could beextremely strict and grim at need. 

"You will now, young gentlemen, " began Heistand, "proceed to learn allabout priming a furnace, lighting, building, cleaning and generallytaking care of a fire. Two furnaces have been left idle for thisinstruction. "

But two of the regular firemen now remained in the room. These wereordered to hustle out coal before boilers B and D. Then Heistand taughtthe members of the section how to swing a shovel to the best advantageso as to get in a maximum of coal with the least effort. He alsoillustrated two or three incorrect ways of shoveling coal. 

"The idea of making coal heavers out of us!" growled a much-disgustedvoice. 

Dan did not see who the speaker was, but his eyes flashed as he turnedand rasped out:

"Silence in the section! Speak only to ask for information, and then atthe proper time. "

"Another young autocrat!" muttered a voice. 

"Wait one moment, please, Heistand, " begged Dan. Then, wheeling squarelyabout, and facing all the members of the section, he declared withemphasis:

"If there's any more unauthorized talking I shall feel obliged to passthe word above that discipline is in a bad way in this section. "

Then he wheeled about once more, facing the chief water tender. 

"Now, young gentlemen, " resumed the chief water tender, "take yourshovels and fill in lively under boilers B and D. "

Three or four times Heistand checked one or another of the midshipmen, to show him a more correct way of handling the shovel. Yet, in goodtime, both furnaces were primed. 

"Now, Mr. Dalzell, please detail four members of the section to followme with their shovels and bring red coals from under another boiler. "

Dan appointed himself, Darrin, Farley and Pennington. 

Burning coals were brought and thrown into each furnace, and in a littlewhile roaring fires were going. These, though not needed for thehandling of the battleship, were permitted to burn for a while, Heistand explaining to the section practically the uses of the watergauges and the test cocks. By this time the midshipmen's white workingclothes were liberally sprinkled with coal dust and somewhat smearedwith oils. 

"And now, young gentlemen, as we have no further use for these fires, you will next learn how to haul them, " announced Heistand. 

This was interesting work, but hot and fast. The implements with whichthe middies worked soon became red-hot at the end. Yet, as all enteredinto this novel work with zest, the fires had soon been hauled out on tothe floor plates. 

Just as the last of this work was being done Pennington, as an apparentaccident due to excess of zeal, dropped the red-hot end of his implementacross the toe of Darrin's left shoe. 

In an instant the leather began to blaze. With swift presence of mindDave stepped his right foot on the flame, smothering it at once. 

But he was "mad clean through. "

"See here, Pen, " he muttered, in a low voice, his eyes blazing fiercelyinto the other midshipman's, "that is the last piece of impudence thatwill be tolerated from you. "

Midshipman Pennington's lip curled disdainfully. 

Dan had not seen the "accident, " but he was near enough to hear thetalking, and he caught Dave at it. So Dan ordered, impartially:

"Mr. Darrin, you will place yourself on report for unauthorized talkingin section!"

Dave flushed still more hotly, but said nothing. 

Midshipman Dalzell now marched the section from the furnace room, anddismissed it. It was near noon, and would soon be time for the middiesto eat. 

Dave hurried away, washed, changed his uniform, and then stepped awayswiftly to place himself on the report. 

"I was sorry to do that, old chum, " murmured Dan, as he met Davereturning. "But of course I couldn't play favorites. What made you sofar forget yourself?"

"A something that would have had the same effect on you, " retorted Davegrimly. Thereupon he described Pennington's two underhanded assaultsthat morning. 

"Humph!" muttered Dalzell. "That fellow Pen is bound to go the wholelimit with you. "

"He won't go much further, " declared Dave, his eyes flashing. 

"And the chump ought to know it, too, " mused Dan. "The class history ofthe last year should have taught him that. But see here, Dave, I don'tbelieve Pen will do anything openly. He will construct a series ofplausible accidents. "

"There will be one thing about him that will be open, if he goes anyfurther, " retorted Dave, "and that will be his face when he collideswith my fist. "

"I hope I see that when it happens, " grinned Dalzell. "It's bound to beentertaining!"

"Wait a second, then. Here comes Pennington now, " murmured Dave Darrinin an undertone. 

Pennington, in his immaculate blue uniform, like the chums, camestrolling along the passageway between decks. 

He affected not to see the chums, and would have passed by. But Dave, eyeing him closely, waited until Pen was barely three feet away. ThenDarrin said tersely:

"Mr. Pennington, I wish an understanding with you. "

"I don't want any with you, " replied Pennington insolently, as he staredat Dave from under much-raised eyebrows. He would have gone by, but Davesprang squarely in front of him. 

"Just wait a moment!" warned Dave rather imperiously, for he was aglowwith justifiable indignation. 

"Well?" demanded Pennington halting. "Out with it, whatever you maythink you have to say. "

"I have two things to speak about, " replied Dave, trying to control hisvoice. "In the first place, while going down the ladders to the furnacesthis morning, you stepped on my shoulder. "

"Well!" insisted Pennington coldly. 

"The second thing you did was, when hauling the fires, to drop red-hotmetal across one of my shoes, setting it on fire. "

"Well?" insisted Pennington more coldly. 

"If you mean to contend that either one was an accident, " resumed Dave, "then--"

But he found himself obliged to pause for a moment in order to steadyhis voice. 

"Well?" asked Pennington with more insolence than ever. 

"If you make such pretense in either case, " tittered Dave Darrin, "thenyou're a liar!"

"Fellow!" sputtered Pennington, turning white with anger. 

"I mean what I say, and I can back it up, " muttered Darrin. 

"Then I'll make you eat your words!" roared Pennington. 

Clenching his fists and with the boxer's attitude, Pen aimed two swiftblows at Darrin. 

Neither blow reached, however, for Dave dodged out of the way. ThenDarrin struck back, a straight, true, forceful blow that landed on theother midshipman's nose, knocking him down. 

Pennington staggered somewhat when he rose, but he was quickly up, nonethe less, and ready for anything that might happen. 

All of a sudden Dan Dalzell felt his own heart going down into hisshoes. One of the ship's officers had just entered the passageway, intime to see what was going on. 

CHAPTER IV

A LITTLE MEETING ASHORE

"Stop it, both of you, " whispered Dan. 

"Stand at attention, ready to salute the officer. "

Pennington, with the blood flowing from his damaged nose, would havemade a most ludicrous figure saluting!

The instant that he saw such evidence as Pen's nose presented theofficer would be bound to make inquiries. 

Then, just as surely, his next step must be to Border the three beforethe commandant of midshipmen. 

Fighting carries with it a severe penalty. Even Dan was certain to bereported, through the mere fact of his presence there, as aiding in afight. And those who aid are punished as severely as the principalsthemselves. 

It was a tense, fearsome instant, for midshipmen have been dismissedfrom the Naval Academy for this very offense. 

The passage was not brilliantly lighted. 

The on-coming officer, a lieutenant, junior grade, was looking at thefloor as he came along. 

Suddenly he paused, seemed lost in thought, then wheeled and walkedback whence he had come. 

Dan breathed more easily. Dave heaved a sigh of relief. 

As for Pennington, that midshipman had wheeled and was stealing rapidlydown the passageway, intent only on escape. 

"That was the closest squeak we'll ever have without being ragged cold, "murmured Dalzell tremulously. 

"Where is Pennington?" demanded Dave, wheeling about after he hadwatched the Naval lieutenant out of sight. 

"Ducked out of sight, like a submarine, " chuckled Dan. 

At that moment the call for midshipmen's dinner formation sounded. Daveand Dan were ready. 

Pennington showed up just after the line had started to march into themidshipmen's mess tables. 

To the inquiry of the officer in charge, Pen lamely explained that hehad bumped his nose into something hard in a poorly lighted passageway. 

Though the officer accepted the excuse, he smiled within himself. 

"It wasn't iron or steel that bumped that young man's nose, " thought theofficer. 

"Oh, the middies haven't changed a lot since I boned at Annapolis!"

Pennington's nose was no very lovely member of his face at that moment. It had been struck hard, mashed rather flat, and now looked like a redbulb. 

"Meet with an accident, Pen?" asked Hallam curiously at table. 

"Quit your kidding, please, " requested Pennington sulkily. 

That directed the curious glances of other middies at Pennington's newbulbous nose. 

The young man was so brusque about it, however, that other table matesceased quizzing him. 

Yet, as soon as the meal was over, many a youngster asked others of hisclass for news regarding Pen. But none possessed it. 

During the brief rest that followed the meal, however, MidshipmanPennington made it his business to try to meet Dave Darrin alone. Hesucceeded, finding Dave staring off across the water at the port rail. 

"Of course, Mr. Darrin, " began the other midshipman, in a voicesuggestive of ice, "you are aware that the incident of an hour agocannot be allowed to pass unnoticed. "

"I don't believe there's any danger of that, " retorted Darrin, with anironical glance at Pennington's damaged-looking nose. 

"Confound you, sir, " hissed the other midshipman, "don't you dare to beinsolent with me. "

"Why, I had thought, " observed Dave, "that, of your own choice, theperiod of courtesies between us had passed. "

"I shall call you out, Mr. Darrin!"

"You'll find my hearing excellent, " smiled Dave. "I shall make but onestipulation. "

"I'll do you the favor of asking what that stipulation is, " sneeredPennington. 

"Why, after the narrow escape we had from being caught and reported, anhour or so ago, I shall ask that the fight be held where we are not solikely to be caught at it. I don't care about being dropped from theNaval Academy, nor do I believe you do. "

"It would be a good thing for the service, if one of us were to bedropped, " sneered Pennington. 

"Yes! Oh, well, you can easily procure writing materials from thecaptain's clerk, " volunteered Dave generously. "On a cruise, I believe, a resignation is sent direct to the commandant of midshipmen. "

This ridicule served only to fan the flame of Pennington's wrath. 

"Darrin, " he hissed, "the Academy isn't big enough to hold us both!"

"But I've already told you how to get out, " protested Dave coolly. 

"I don't intend to get out!"

"No more do I, " rejoined Dave. "I won't even toss pennies with you tofind out who quits the service. "

"Mr. Darrin, you are merely seeking to divert my mind from what I havesaid. "

"What did you say--particularly?"

"That you would have to fight me. "

"I have already signified my entire willingness, Mr. Pennington. To thatI really can add nothing. "

Fourth classmen are always addressed as "mister, " and they must use thesame "handle to the name" when addressing upper classmen. But members ofthe three upper classes resort to the use of "mister, " in addressingclassmates, only when they wish to be offensive or nearly so. 

"I will send a friend to meet you, " Pennington continued. 

"Why, I thought, " bantered Darrin ironically, "that you were going tofight me yourself. "

"So I am--be sure of it. I will amend my statement by saying that I willsend a second to see you. "

"Save time by sending him to Dalzell. "

"Very good, Mr. Darrin. "

"Is that all you wished to say to me?"

"Yes. "

"Very good, Mr. Pennington. "

With two very stiff nods the midshipmen parted. 

Pennington hastened at once in search of Hallam. 

"Will you serve me, old man?" queried Pennington. 

"Sorry, but----"

"Well, you see, Pen, not knowing all the facts of the case, I must admitthat all my sympathies are with Darrin. "

"All your sympathies?" echoed Pen, frowning. 

"Well, nearly all, anyway. You see, I've known and observed Darrin for afull year now, and I don't believe patient old Darry is the one to startany trouble. "

"He called me a liar, " protested Pennington. 

"Did he?" gasped Hallam. 

"Well, he qualified the statement, but his way of saying it was asoffensive as the direct lie could have been. "

"So you're bent on fighting Darry?"

"I am. "

"Too bad!" muttered Hallam, shaking his head. 

"Are you anxious for your idol?" asked Pen in a disagreeable tone. 

"No, Penny; it's you that I'm concerned about in my own mind. You'regoing next to a very hard proposition. Darry is patient--almost aspatient as the proverbial camel--but when he fights he fights! You'll behammered to a pulp, Pen. "

"Pooh!"

"No one has yet beaten Darrin at a fist fight. "

"There always has to be a first time, you know. "

"And you think you're It?"

"As far as Darrin is concerned--yes. "

"Too bad--too bad!" sighed Hallam. "I'm afraid, Penny, that the heat inthe furnace room was too much for you this morning. "

"Then you won't serve as one of my seconds?"

"The honor is most regretfully declined, " replied Hallam in a tone ofmock sadness. 

"You want to see Darrin win?"

"If there has to be a fight, I do, " replied Midshipman Hallam. 

"Don't bet your money on him, anyway. "

"I'm not a gambler, Penny, and I don't bet, " replied Hallam, with adignity that, somehow, ended the conversation. 

Pennington had considerable difficulty, at first, in finding a second. At last, however, he induced Decker and Briggs to represent him. 

These two midshipmen went to see Dan Dalzell. 

"Wait until I send for Mr. Farley, " proposed Dalzell. He soon had thatmidshipman, who was wholly willing to serve Darrin in any capacity. 

"We're ready to have the fight this evening, " proposed MidshipmanDecker. 

"We're not, " retorted Dan, with vigor. 

"Why not?"

"This forenoon Pennington deliberately stepped on Darrin's shoulder, with such force as to lame it a good deal, " replied Dan. "Our maninsists that he has a right to rest his shoulder, and to wait untilto-morrow. "

"But to-morrow we have a short shore liberty at Hampton Roads, "remonstrated Briggs. 

"Yes; and during that shore liberty we can have the fight more safelythan on board ship, " insisted Dalzell. 

"But we intended to devote our shore leave to pleasure, " objectedDecker. 

"You'll find plenty of pleasure, if you accept our proposition, " urgedDan dryly. "At any rate, we won't hear of Darrin fighting beforeto-morrow. He must have to-night to rest that shoulder. "

"All right; so be it, " growled Decker, after a side glance at Briggs. 

"On shore, at some point to be selected by the seconds?" asked DanDalzell. 

"Yes; that's agreed. "

Details as to whom to invite as referee and time-keeper were alsoarranged. 

"I suppose we'll have to use up our shore leave that way, then, " gruntedPennington, when told of the arrangement. 

"There's one way you can save the day, " grinned Decker. 

"How?"

"Put Darrin to sleep in the first round, then hurriedly dress and leave, and enjoy your time on shore. "

"But Darrin is a very able man with his fists, " observed Pennington. 

"Yes; but you're a mile bigger and heavier, and you're spry, too. Youought to handle him with all the ease in the world. "

"I don't know, " muttered Pennington, who didn't intend to make themistake of bragging in advance. "I'll do my best, of course. "

"Oh, you'll win out, if you're awake, " predicted Midshipman Briggsconfidently. 

When the cadets were called, the following morning, they found thebattleship fleet at anchor in Hampton Roads. 

CHAPTER V

WHEN THE SECONDS WONDERED

One after another the launches sped ashore, carrying their swarms ofdistinguished looking young midshipmen. 

The fight party managed to get off all in the same boat, and on one ofthe earliest trips. 

Pennington was to have ordinary shore leave on the cruise, his fiftydemerits to be paid for by loss of privileges on his return to the NavalAcademy. 

"Decker, " proposed Dan, "you and I can skip away and find a good placein no time. Then we can come back after the others. "

"That's agreeable to me, " nodded Midshipman Decker. 

In twenty minutes the two seconds were back. 

"We've found just the place, " announced Decker. "And it isn't more thanthree minutes' walk from here. Will you all hurry along?"

"The place" turned out to be a barn that had not been used for a year ormore. The floor was almost immaculately clean. In consideration of twodollars handed him, the owner had agreed to display no curiosity, andnot to mention the affair to any one. 

"How do you like it, Darry?" asked Dan anxiously. 

"It will suit me as well as any other place, " responded Dave, slippingoff his blouse, folding it neatly and putting it aside, his uniform capfollowing. 

"And you?" asked Decker of his man. 

"The floor's hard, but I don't expect to be the man to hit it, " repliedPennington. 

In five minutes both midshipmen were attired for their "affair. " Betweenthem the different members of the party had smuggled ashore shoes, oldtrousers and belts for the fighters. 

It being a class affair, Remington, of the third class, had come alongas referee, while Dawley; was to be the time-keeper. 

"If the principals are ready, let them step forward, " ordered MidshipmanRemington, going to the middle of the floor. "Now, I understand thatthis is to be a finish fight; rounds, two minutes; rests, two minutes. Ialso understand that the principals do not care to shake hands beforethe call to mix up. "

Darrin and Pennington nodded their assent. 

"Take your places, gentlemen, " ordered the referee quickly. "Are youready, gentlemen?"

"Yes, " came from both principals. 

"Time!"

Both men had their guards up. As the word left the referee's lips eachtried two or three passes which the other blocked. Midshipman Penningtonwas trying to take his opponent's "measure. "

Then Dave ducked, darted, dodged and wheeled about. Pennington had tofollow him, and it made the latter angry. 

"Stand up and fight, can't you, " hissed Pen. 

"Silence during the rounds, Mr. Pennington, " admonished the refereequietly. "Let the officials do all the talking that may be necessary. "

Dave, as he dodged again, and came up unscathed, grinned broadly overthis rebuke. That grin made Pen angrier than anything else could havedone. 

"I'll wipe that grin off his face!" muttered Pennington angrily. 

And this very thing Pennington tried hard to do. He was quick on his ownfeet, and for a few seconds he followed the dodging Darrin about, raining in blows that required all of Dave's adroitness to escape. 

Dave's very success, however, made his opponent all the angrier. Fromannoyance, followed by excessive irritation, Pennington went into almostblind rage--and the man who does that, anywhere in life, must always payfor it. 

Suddenly Dave swung his right in on the point of Pen's chin with a forcethat jolted the larger midshipman. As part of the same movement, Darrin's left crashed against Pennington's nose. 

Then, out of chivalry, Dave dropped back, to give Pen a few moments, incase he needed them, to get his wits back. 

"Time!" roared Dawley, and Pennington's seconds pounced upon him andbore him away to his corner. 

"Now I know how that fellow Darrin wins his fights, " growled Penningtonin an undertone. "He keeps on running away until he has the other mangasping for breath. Then Darrin jumps in and wins. "

"The method doesn't much matter, " commented Briggs dryly, as he andDecker worked over their man. "It's the result that counts. Rush Darryinto a tight corner, Pen, and then slam him hard and sufficiently. "

"Thanks, fellows; now I'm all right for the second round. " mutteredMidshipman Pennington. 

In a few seconds more Dave and his opponent were hard at work. 

Dave still used his footwork, and most cleverly. Yet, wherever he went, Pen followed him nimbly. It didn't look so one sided now. 

Then Pennington, at last, managed to deliver one blow on Darrin's rightshort ribs. It took a lot of Dave's spare wind; he raced about, seekingto regain his wind before allowing close quarters. But at lastPennington closed in again, and, after a swift feint, tried to land thesame short-rib blow. 

Darrin was watching, and blocked. Then, his temples reddening withanger, Dave swung in a huge one that crashed in under Pennington's rightear. 

"Time!" shouted Dawley, just as Pen went to the floor in a heap. Thatsaved the larger midshipman from having to take the count. His secondshad him ready at the call for the third round. 

Now, suddenly, Darrin seemed to change not only his tactics, but hiswhole personality. To his opponent Dave seemed suddenly transformed intoa dancing demon. 

It was about the same old footwork, but it was aggressive now, insteadof being defensive. 

First, Dave landed a light tap on the already suffering nose. A fewseconds later he landed on the point of Pen's chin, though not hardenough to send his man down. Then a rather light blow on the jaw, justunder Pen's right ear again. The larger midshipman was now thoroughlyalarmed. He feared that Darrin could do whatever he willed, and shiveredwith wonder as to when the knockout blow would come. 

The truth was, Pennington was still putting up a better battle than hehimself realized, and Darrin was not disposed to take any foolishchances through rushing the affair. Thus, the third round ended. 

By the time that they came up for the fourth round, after both men hadundergone some vigorous handling by their respective seconds, Penningtonwas a good deal revived and far more confident. 

Dave's tactics were the same in the fourth round. Pennington didn't findtime to develop much in the way of tactics for himself, save to defendhimself. 

During the first minute no important blows were landed on either side. Then, suddenly, Dave darted in and under, and brought a right-arm hookagainst Pen's nose in a way that started that member to bleeding again, and with a steady flow. 

That jarred the larger midshipman. He plunged in, heavily and blindly, blocking one of Darrin's blows by wrapping both arms around him. 

"None of that, Mr. Pennington! Break away fast!" ordered MidshipmanRemington quickly. 

Dave took a fair get away, not attempting to strike as the clinch wasbroken. But an instant later Dave came back, dancing all around hisdazed opponent, landing on the short ribs, on the breast bone, undereither ear and finally on the tip of the chin. 

Pen was sure that none of these blows had been delivered with the forcethat Darrin could have sent in. 

"Time!" shouted Midshipman Dawley. 

The principals retired to their corners, Pennington almost wholly afraidfrom the conviction that his antagonist was now merely playing with himto keep the interest going. 

So Pennington was still rather badly scared when the two came togetherfor the fifth round. 

"Get lively, now, gentlemen, if you can, " begged Referee Remington. "Finish this one way or the other, and let us get some of the benefitsof our shore leave. "

Pen started by putting more steam behind every blow. Dave, who had usedup so much of his wind by his brilliant footwork, began to find itharder to keep the upper hand. 

Twice, however, he managed to land body blows. He was trying to drive ina third when Pennington blocked, following this with a left-arm jab onDarrin's left jaw that sent the lighter man to the floor. 

Instantly Dawley began to count off the seconds. 

"--seven, eight, nine, te----"

Dave was up on his feet. Pen tried to make a quick rush, but Darrindodged cleverly, them wheeled and faced his opponent as the latterwheeled about. 

After that there was less footwork. Both men stood up to it, as keenlyalert as they could be, each trying to drive home heavy blows. Whilethey were still at it the call of time sounded. 

"Don't let him put it over you, David, little giant!" warned Dan, as thelatter and Farley vigorously massaged Darrin's muscles. "He all but hadyou, and there isn't any need of making Pen a present of the meeting. "

"I tried to get him, " muttered Dave in an undertone, "and I shall go ontrying to the last. But Pennington is pretty nearly superior to anyonein my class. "

"Just waltz in and show him, " whispered Dalzell, as the call sounded. 

Pennington entered the sixth round with more confidence. He began, atthe outset, to drive in heavy blows, nor did Dave do much dodging. 

Bump! Twenty-five seconds only of this round had gone when Darrin landedhis right fist with fearful force upon the high point of Pennington'sjaw. 

Down went the larger midshipman again. This time he moaned. His eyeswere open, though they had a somewhat glassy look in them. 

Dawley was counting off the seconds in measured tones. 

"--seven, eight, nine--ten!"

Pen had struggled to rise to his feet, but sank back with a gasp ofdespair and rage. 

"Mr. Pennington loses the count and the fight, " announced RefereeRemington coolly. "I don't believe we're needed here, Dawley. Theseconds can handle the wreck. Come along. "

As the two officials of the meeting hustled out of the barn, Dalzellgave his attention to helping his chum, while Farley went over to offerhis services in getting the vanquished midshipman into shape. 

"There were times when I could have closed both of Pennington's eyes, "murmured Dave to Dan. "But I didn't want to give him any disfiguringmarks that would start questions on board ship. "

"You had him whipped from the start, " murmured Dan confidently, as hesprayed, then rubbed Dave's chest and arms. 

"Maybe, but I'm not so sure of that, " rejoined Darrin. "That fellowisn't so easy a prize for any one in my class. There were times when Iwas all but convinced that he had me. "

"Oh, fairy tales!" grunted Dan. 

"Have it your own way, then, Danny boy!"

When Darrin and his seconds left the barn they went off to enjoy whatremained of the shore leave. Pennington's seconds finally, at his ownrequest, left him at an ice cream parlor, where he proposed to remainuntil he could return to the big, steel "Massachusetts" without excitingany wonder over the little time he had remained ashore. Pennington hadstrength to walk about, but he was far from being in really good shape, and preferred to keep quiet. 

CHAPTER VI

IN TROUBLE ON FOREIGN SOIL

From Hampton Roads the Battleship Squadron, with the midshipmen onboard, sailed directly for Plymouth, England. 

During most of the voyage over slow cruising speed was used. By the timethat England's coast was sighted the third-class middies found they knewmuch more about a battleship than they had believed to be possible atthe start of the voyage. 

They had served as firemen; they had mastered many of the electricaldetails of a battleship; they had received instruction and had "stoodtrick" by the engines; there had been some drill with the smaller, rapid-fire guns, and finally, they had learned at least the rudiments of"wig-wagging, " as signaling by means of signal flags is termed. 

It was just before the call to supper formation when England's coastloomed up. Most of the midshipmen stood at the rail, watching eagerlyfor a better glimpse at the coast. 

Some of the midshipmen, especially those who came from wealthierfamilies, had been in England before entering the Naval Academy. Thesefortunate ones were questioned eagerly by their comrades. 

The battleships were well in sight of Eastern King Point when themidshipmen's call for supper formation sounded. Feeling that they wouldmuch have preferred to wait for their supper, the young men hastenedbelow. 

After the line was formed it seemed to the impatient young men as thoughit had never taken so long to read the orders. 

Yet there came one welcome order, to the effect that, immediately afterthe morning meal, all midshipmen might go to the pay officer and drawten dollars, to be charged against their pay accounts. 

"That ten dollars apiece looms up large David, little giant, " murmuredDan Dalzell, while the evening meal was in progress. 

"We ought to have a lot of fun on it, " replied Darrin, who was lookingforward with greatest eagerness to his first visit to any foreign soil. "But how much shore leave are we to have?"

"Two days, the word is. We'll get it straight in the morning, atbreakfast formation. "

In defiance of regulations, Midshipman Pennington, whose father waswealthy, had several hundred dollars concealed in his baggage. He hadalready invited Hallam, Mossworth and Dickey to keep in his wake onshore, and these young men had gladly enough agreed. 

"Say, but we're slackening speed!" quivered Dalzell, when the meal wasnearly finished. 

"Headway has stopped, " declared Darrin a few moments later. 

"Listen, everyone!" called Farley. "Don't you hear the rattle of theanchor chains?"

"Gentlemen, as we're forbidden to make too much racket, " proposedirrepressible Dan, "let us give three silent cheers for Old England!"

Rising in his place, Dan raised his hand aloft, and brought it down, ashis lips silently formed a "hurrah!"

Three times this was done, each time the lips of the midshipmen forminga silent cheer. 

Then Dan, with a mighty swoop of his right arm, let his lips form theword that everyone knew to be "tiger!"

"Ugh-h-h!" groaned Midshipman Reilly. 

"Throw that irresponsible Fenian out!" directed Dan, grinning. 

Then the midshipmen turned their attention to the remnants of the meal. 

Boom! sounded sharply overhead. 

"There goes the twenty-one-gunner, " announced Darrin. 

When a foreign battleship enters a fortified port the visiting fleet, orrather, its flagship, fires a national salute of twenty-one guns. Aftera short interval following the discharge of the last gun, one of theforts on shore answers with twenty-one guns. This is one of the methodsof observing the courtesies between nations by their respective fleets. 

Ere all the guns had been fired from the flagship, the third classmenreceived the rising signal; the class marched out and was dismissed. Instantly a break was made for deck. 

The midshipmen were in good time to see the smoke and hear the roar ofguns from one of the forts on shore. 

In the morning the commandant of cadets, as commanding officer of thesquadron, would go ashore with his aide and pay a formal call to thesenior military officer. Later in the day that English officer and oneor two of his staff officers would return the call by coming out to theflagship. That accomplished, all the required courtesies would have beenobserved. 

It was still broad daylight, for in summer the English twilight is along one, and darkness does not settle down until late. 

"Oh, if we were only going ashore to-night!" murmured Hallam. There weremany others to echo the thought, but all knew that it could not be done. 

"Couldn't we find a trick for slipping ashore after lights out?"eagerly queried Dickey, who was not noted as a "greaser. "

"Could we?" quivered Hallam, who, with few demerits against him, feltinclined to take a chance. 

But Pennington, to whom he appealed, shook his head. 

"Too big a risk, Hally, " replied Pen. "And trebly dangerous, with thatgreaser, Darrin, in the class. "

"Oh, stow that, " growled Hallam. "Darrin is no greaser. You've got himon your black books--that's all. "

"He is a greaser, I tell you, " cried Pennington fiercely. 

There were a score of midshipmen in this group, and many of them noddedapprovingly at Pennington's statement. Though still a class leader, Davehad lost some of his popularity since his report to the police ofAnnapolis. 

So the middies turned in, that night, with unsatisfied dreams of shorelife in England. 

Soon after breakfast the next morning, however, every midshipman haddrawn his ten dollars, even to Pennington, who had no use for such atrifling amount. 

As fast as possible the launches ranged alongside at the side gangway, taking off groups of midshipmen, everyone of whom had been cautioned tobe at dock in time to board a launch in season for supper formation. 

Pennington and his party were among the first to land. They hurriedaway. 

It was on the second trip of one of the launches that Dave, Dan andFarley made their get away. These three chums had agreed to sticktogether during the day. They landed at the Great Western Docks, to findthemselves surrounded by eager British cabbies. 

"Are we going to take a cab and get more quickly and intelligently tothe best part of the town to see?" asked Farley. 

"I don't vote for it, " replied Darrin. "We have only five dollars apiecefor each of the two days we're to be ashore. I move that we put in theforenoon, anyway, in prowling about the town for ourselves. We'll learnmore than we would by riding. "

"Come on, then, " approved Dan. 

Plymouth is an old-fashioned English seaport that has been rather famousever since the thirteenth century. Many parts of the town, includingwhole streets, look as though the houses had been built since that time. This is especially true of many of the streets near the water front. 

For two hours the three middies roamed through the streets, oftenmeeting fellow classmen. Wherever the young midshipmen went many of theEnglish workmen and shopkeepers raised their hats in friendly salute ofthe American uniform. 

"We don't seem to run across Pen's gang anywhere, " remarked Farley atlast. 

"Oh, no, " smiled Dave. "That's a capitalistic crowd. They'll hit onlythe high spots. "

Nevertheless, these three poor-in-purse midshipmen enjoyed themselveshugely in seeing the quaint old town. At noon they found a real oldEnglish chop house, where they enjoyed a famous meal. 

"I wish we could slip some of these little mutton pies back with us!"sighed Dan wistfully. 

In the afternoon the three chums saw the newer market place, where allthree bought small souvenirs for their mothers at home. Darrin alsosecured a little remembrance present for his sweetheart, Belle Meade. 

The guild hall and some of the other famous buildings were visited. 

Later in the afternoon Dave began to inspect his watch every two orthree minutes. 

"No need for us to worry, with Dave's eye glued to his watch, " laughedDan. 

"Come on, fellows, " summoned Darrin finally. "We haven't more than timenow to make the dock and get back to supper formation. "

"Take a cab?" asked Farley. "You know, we've found that they're vastlycheaper than American cabs. "

"No-o-o, not for me, " decided Dave. "We'll need the rest of our shoremoney to-morrow, and our legs are good and sturdy. "

Yet even careful Dave, as it turned out, had allowed no more than time. The chums reached the dock in time to see the launches half way betweenthe fleet and shore. Some forty other midshipmen stood waiting on thedock. 

Among these were Pennington and his party, all looking highly satisfiedwith their day's sport, as indeed they were. 

Pennington's eyes gleamed when he caught sight of Darrin, Dalzell andFarley--for Pen had a scheme of his own in mind. 

Not far from Pennington stood a little Englishman with keen eyes and ajovial face. Pen stepped over to him. 

"There are the three midshipmen I was telling you about, " whisperedPennington, slipping a half sovereign into the Englishman's hand. "Youthoroughly understand your part in the joke, don't you?"

"Don't h'I, though--just, sir!" laughed the undersized Englishman, andstrolled away. 

Darrin and his friends were soon informed by classmates that thelaunches now making shore-ward were coming in on their last trip formidshipmen. 

"Well, we're here in plenty of time, " sighed Dave contentedly. 

"Oh, I knew we'd be, with you holding the watch, " laughed Dan in hissatisfied way. 

As the three stood apart they were joined by the undersized Englishman, who touched his hat to them with a show of great respect. 

"Young gentlemen, " he inquired, "h'I suppose, h'of course, you've 'ad alook h'at the anchor h'of Sir Francis Drake's flagship, the time 'e wenth'out h'and sank the great Spanish h'Armada?"

"Why, no, my friend, " replied Dave, looking at the man with interest. "Is that here at Plymouth?"

"H'assuredly, sir. H'and h'only a minute's walk h'over to that shedyonder, sir. H'if you'll come with me, young gentlemen, h'I'll show h'itto you. H'it's one of h'our biggest sights, h'and it's in me owncustody, at present. Come this way, young gentlemen. "

"That sounds like something worth seeing, " declared Dave to hiscomrades. "Come along. It'll take the launches at least six minutes toget in, and then they'll stay tied up here for another five minutes. "

With only a single backward glance at the young midshipmen, theundersized Englishman was already leading the way. 

At quickened pace the young midshipmen reached the shed that had beenindicated. Their guide had already drawn a key from a pocket, and hadunsnapped the heavy padlock. 

"Step right in, young gentlemen, h'and h'I'll follow h'and show h'it toyou. "

Unsuspecting, the three middies stepped inside the darkened shed. Suddenly the door banged, and a padlock clicked outside. 

"Here, stop that, you rascally joker!" roared Dalzell, wheeling about. "What does this mean?"

"Big trouble!" spoke Dave Darrin seriously and with a face from whichthe color was fast receding. 

CHAPTER VII

PENNINGTON GETS HIS WISH

"The scoundrel!" gasped Farley, his face whiter than any of the others. 

Dave was already at the door, trying to force it open. But he mightalmost as well have tried to lift one of the twelve-inch guns of thebattleship "Massachusetts. "

"We're locked in--that's sure!" gasped Dalzell, almost dazed by thecatastrophe. 

"And what's more, we won't get out in a hurry, unless we can make someof our classmates hear, " declared Dave. 

For the next half minute they yelled themselves nearly hoarse, but noresponse came. 

"What could have been that little cockney's purpose in playing thisshabby trick on us?" demanded Farley. 

"Perhaps the cockney thinks we're admirals, with our pockets lined withgold. Perhaps he and some of his pals intend to rob us, later in theevening, " proposed Dan, with a ghastly grin. 

"Any gang would find something of a fight on their hands, then, "muttered Dave Darrin grimly. 

All three were equally at a loss to think of any explanation for such a"joke" as this. Equally improbable did it seem that any thugs of thetown would expect to reap any harvest from robbing three midshipmen. 

Desperately they turned to survey their surroundings. The shed was anold one, yet strongly built. There were no windows, no other door savethat at which the three middies now stood baffled. 

"Another good old yell, " proposed Darrin. 

It was given with a lusty will, but proved as fruitless as the formerone. 

"We don't take the last launch back to ship, " declared Farley, wild withrage. 

"Which means a long string of demerits, " said Dan. 

"No shore leave to-morrow, either, " groaned Darrin. "Fellows, thismishap will affect our shore leave throughout all the cruise. "

"We can explain it, " suggested Farley with a hopefulness that he did notfeel at all. 

"Of course we can, " jeered Dave Darrin. "But what officer is fool enoughto believe such a cock-and-bull story as this one will seem? At the veryleast, the commandant would believe that we had been playing some prettystiff prank ourselves, in order to get treated in this fashion. No, no, fellows! We may just as well undeceive ourselves, and prepare to takethe full soaking of discipline that we're bound to get. If we attemptedthis sort of explanation, we'd be lucky indeed to get through the affairwithout being tried by general court-martial for lying. "

"Drake's anchor, indeed!" exclaimed Dan in deep self disgust. 

"We ought to have known better, " grunted Farley, equally enraged withhimself. "What on earth made us so absent-minded as to believe that apriceless relic would be kept in an old shed like this?"

"We're sure enough idiots!" groaned Dan. 

"Hold on there, fellows, " interrupted Dave Darrin. "Vent all your angerright on me. I'm the great and only cause of this misfortune. It was Iwho proposed that we take up that cockney's invitation. I'm the real andonly offender against decent good sense, and yet you both have to sufferwith me. "

"Let's give another yell, bigger than before, " suggested Dan weakly. 

They did, but with no better result than before. 

"The launches are away now, anyway, I guess, " groaned Farley, afterconsulting his watch. 

"Yes, and we're up the tree with the commandant, " grunted Dalzellbitterly. 

"Yell again?" asked Farley. 

"No, " retorted Dave, shaking his head. "We've seen the uselessness ofasking help from outside. Let's supply our own help. Now, then--altogether! Shoulder the door!"

A savage assault they hurled upon the door. But they merely caused it tovibrate. 

"We can't do it, " gasped Dan, after the third trial. 

Considerable daylight filtered in through the cracks at top, bottom andone side of the door. Further back in the shed there was less light. 

"Let's explore this old place in search of hope, " begged Dave. 

Together they started back, looking about keenly in what appeared to bean empty room. 

"Say! Look at that!" cried Dave suddenly. 

He pointed to a solid looking, not very heavy ship's spar. 

"What good will that thing do us?" asked Farley rather dubiously. 

"Let's see if we can raise it to our shoulders, " proposed Dave Darrinradiantly. "Then well find out!"

"Hurrah!" quivered Dan Dalzell, bending over the spar at the middle. 

"Up with it!" commanded Darrin, placing himself at the head of the spar. Farley took hold at the further end. 

"Up with it!" heaved Midshipman Darrin. 

Right up the spar went. It would have been a heavy job for three youngmen of their size in civil life, but midshipmen are constantlyundergoing the best sort of physical training. 

"Now, then--a fast run and a hard bump!" called Darrin. 

At the door they rushed, bearing the spar as a battering ram. 

Bump! The door shook and shivered. 

"Once more may do it!" cheered Darrin. "Back. "

Again they dashed the head of their battering ram against the door. Itgave way, and, climbing through, they raced back to the pier. 

But Dan, who had secured the lead, stopped with a groan, pointing outover the water. 

"Not a bit of good, fellows! There go the launches, and we're the onlyfellows left! It's all up with our summer's fun!"

"Is it, though?" shouted Dave, spurting ahead. "Come on and find out!"

As they reached the front of the piers, down at the edge of a landingstage they espied a little steam tender. 

"That boat has to take us out to the 'Massachusetts'!" cried Darrindesperately, as he plunged down the steps to the landing stage, followedby his two chums. 

[Illustration: The Three Midshipmen Raced Toward the Pier. ]

"Who's the captain here?" called Dave, racing across the landing stageto the tender's gangplank. 

"I am, sir, " replied a portly, red-faced Englishman, leaning out of thewheel-house window. 

"What'll you charge to land us in haste aboard the American battleship'Massachusetts'?" asked Darrin eagerly. 

"Half a sov. Will be about right, sir, " replied the tender's skipper, touching his cap at sight of the American Naval uniform. 

"Good enough, " glowed Dave, leaping aboard. "Cast off as quickly as youcan, captain, or we'll be in a heap of trouble with our disciplineofficers. "

The English skipper was quick to act. He routed out two deckhands, whoquickly cast off. Almost while the deckhands were doing this the skipperrang the engineer's bell. 

"Come into the wheel-'ouse with me, " invited the skipper pleasantly, which invitation the three middies accepted. "Now, then, younggentlemen, 'ow did it 'appen that you missed your own launches. "

"It was a mean trick--a scoundrelly one!" cried Darrin resentfully. Thenhe described just what had happened. 

The skipper's own bronzed cheeks burned to a deeper color. 

"I can 'ardly believe that an Englishman would play such a trick onyoung h'officers of a friendly power, " he declared. "But I told you, sir, the fare out to your ship would be half a sov. I lied. If a nastylittle cockney played such a trick on you, it's my place, as a decentEnglishman, to take you out for nothing--and that's the fare. "

"Oh, we'll gladly pay the half sov. " protested Darrin. 

"Not on this craft you can't, sir, " replied the skipper firmly. 

Looking eagerly ahead, the three middies saw two of the launches goalong side of the "Massachusetts" and discharge passengers. As thesecond left the side gangway the Briton, who had been crowding on steamwell, ranged in along side. 

"What craft is that, and what do you want?" hailed the officer of thedeck, from above. 

"The tender 'Lurline, ' sir, with three of your gentlemen to put h'aboardof you, sir, " the Briton bellowed through a window of the wheel-house. 

"Very good, then. Come alongside, " directed the officer of the deck. 

In his most seamanlike style the Briton ranged alongside. Dave tried topress the fare upon the skipper, but he would have none of that. So thethree shook hands swiftly but heartily with him, then sprang across tothe side gangway, where they paused long enough to lift their caps tothis stranger and friend. The Briton lifted his own cap, waving itheartily, ere he fell off and turned about. 

"You didn't get aboard any too soon, gentlemen, " remarked the officer ofthe deck, eyeing the three middies keenly as they came up over the side, doffing their uniform caps to the colors. "Hustle for the formation. "

Midshipman Pennington was chuckling deeply over the supposed fact thathe had at last succeeded in bringing Darrin in for as many demerits asDarrin had helped heap upon him. 

"That'll break his heart as an avowed greaser, " Pen told himself. "Withall the demerits Darrin will get, he'll have no heart for greasing therest of this year. It's rough on Farley, but I'm not quite as sorry forDalzell, who, in his way, is almost as bad as Darrin. He's Darrin'scuckoo and shadow, anyway. Oh, I wish I could see Darrin's face now!"

This last was uttered just as Midshipman Pennington stepped into line atthe supper formation. 

"I wish I could see Darrin's face now!" Pen repeated to himself. 

Seldom has a wish been more quickly gratified. For, just in the nick oftime to avoid being reported, Midshipmen Darrin, Dalzell and Farley cameinto sight, falling into their respective places. 

At that instant it was Midshipman Pennington's face, not Dave Darrin's, that was really worth studying. 

"Now how did the shameless greaser work this!" Pennington pondereduneasily. 

But, of course, he couldn't ask. He could only hope that, presently, hewould hear the whole story from some other man in the class. 

CHAPTER VIII

THE TRAGEDY OF THE GALE

There is altogether too much to the summer practice cruise for it to berelated in detail. 

Nor would the telling of it prove interesting to the reader. When atsea, save on Sundays, the midshipman's day is one of hard toil. 

It is no life for the indolent young man. He is routed out early in themorning and put at hard work. 

On a midshipman's first summer cruise what he learns is largely the workthat is done by the seamen, stokers, water tenders, electricians, thesignal men and others. 

Yet he must learn every phase of all this work thoroughly, for some day, before he becomes an officer, he must be examined as to his knowledge ofall this great mass of detail. 

It is only when in port that some relaxation comes into the midshipman'slife. He has shore leave, and a large measure of liberty. Yet he must, at all times, show all possible respect for the uniform that he wearsand the great nation that he represents. If a midshipman permits himselfto be led into scrapes that many college boys regard as merely "larks, "he is considered a disgrace to the Naval service. 

Always, at home and abroad, the "middy" must maintain his own dignityand that of his country and service. Should he fail seriously, he isregarded by his superiors and by the Navy Department as being unfit todefend the honor of his flag. 

The wildest group from the summer practice fleet was that made up ofPennington and his friends. Pen received more money in France from hisfond but foolish father. Wherever Pennington's group went, they cut awide swath of "sport, " though they did nothing actually dishonorable. Yet they were guilty of many pranks which, had the midshipmen beencaught, would have resulted in demerits. 

Ports in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy were touched briefly. At someof these ports the midshipmen received much attention. 

But at last the fleet turned back past Gibraltar, and stood on for theAzores, the last landing point before reaching home. 

When two nights out from Gibraltar a sharp summer gale overtook thefleet. Even the huge battleships labored heavily in the seas, the"Massachusetts" bringing up the rear. 

She was in the same position when the morning broke. The midshipmen, after breakfast, enjoyed a few minutes on the deck before going belowfor duty in the engine rooms, the dynamo room, the "stoke hole" andother stations. 

Suddenly, from the stern rail, there went up the startled cry:

"Man overboard!"

In an instant the marine sentry had tumbled two life-preservers overinto the water. 

With almost the swiftness of telegraphy the cry had reached the bridge. Without stopping to back the engine the big battleship's helm was thrownhard over, and the great steel fighting craft endeavored to find her ownwake in the angry waters with a view to going back over it. 

Signal men broke out the news to the flagship. The other two greatbattleships turned and headed back in the interests of humanity. 

It seemed almost as though the entire fleet had been swung out of itscourse by pressure on an electric button. 

Officers who were not on duty poured out. The captain was the first toreach the quarter-deck. He strode into the midst of a group ofstricken-looking midshipmen. 

"Who's overboard!" demanded the commanding officer. 

"Hallam, sir----"

"And Darrin, sir----"

"And Dalzell, sir----"

"How many?" demanded the captain sharply. 

"Three, sir. "

"How did so many fall overboard?"

"Mr. Hallam was frolicking, sir, " reported Midshipman Farley, "and losthis footing. "

"But Mr. Darrin and Mr. Dalzell?" inquired the captain sharply. 

"As soon as they realized it, sir, Darrin and Dalzell leaped overboardto go to Hallam's rescue, sir. "

"It's a wonder, " muttered the captain, glancing shrewdly at the bronzed, fine young fellows around him, "that not more of you went overboard aswell. "

"Many of them would, sir, " replied Farley, "but an officer forwardshouted: 'No more midshipmen go overboard, ' So we stopped, sir. "

Modest Mr. Farley did not mention the fact that he was running towardthe stern, intent on following his chums into the rough sea at the veryinstant when the order reached him. 

The captain, however, paused for no more information. He was now runningforward to take the bridge beside the watch officer. 

The midshipmen, too, hurried forward, mingling with the crew, as the bigbattleship swung around and tried to find her wake. 

The flagship had crowded on extra steam, and was fast coming over theseas. 

With such a sea running, it was well nigh impossible to make out sosmall a thing as a head or a life-preserver, unless it could be observedat the instant when it crested a wave. 

Marine glasses were in use by every officer who had brought his pair tothe deck. Others rushed back to their cabins to get them. 

A lieutenant of the marine corps stood forward, close to a big group ofsorrowing midshipmen. 

"There are certain to be three vacancies in the Naval Academy, " remarkedthe lieutenant. 

"Don't say that, sir, " begged Farley, in a choking voice. "The threeoverboard are among the finest fellows in the brigade!"

"I don't want to discourage any of you young gentlemen, " continued themarine corps lieutenant. "But there's just about one chance in athousand that we shall be able to sight and pick up any one of theunlucky three. In the first place, it would take a wonderful swimmer tolive long in such a furious sea. In the second place, if all three arestill swimming, it will be almost out of the question to make out theirheads among the huge waves. You've none of you seen a man overboardbefore in a big sea?"

Several of the mute, anxious midshipmen shook their heads. 

"You'll realize the difficulties of the situation within the next fewminutes, " remarked the lieutenant. "I am sorry to crush your hopes foryour classmates, but this is all a part of the day's work in the Navy. "

The largest steam launches from all three of the battleships were beingswiftly lowered. Officers and men were lowered with the launches. As thelaunch shoved off from each battleship tremendous cheers followed them. 

"Stop all unnecessary noise!" bellowed the watch officer from the bridgeof the "Massachusetts. " "You may drown out calls for help with yourracket. "

While the three battleships went back over their courses in more statelyfashion, the launches darted here and there, until it seemed as thoughthey must cover every foot within a square mile. 

"I don't see how they can help finding the three, " Farley declaredhopefully. 

"That is, " put in another third classman, "if any of the three are stillafloat. "

"Stow all talk of that sort, " ordered Farley angrily. 

Other midshipmen joined in with their protests. When a man is overboardin an angry sea all hands left behind try to be optimists. 

When fifteen minutes had been spent in the search the onlooking buthelpless middies began to look worried. 

At the end of half an hour some of them looked haggard. Farley's facewas pitiable to see. 

At the end of an hour of constant but fruitless searching hardly any onefelt any hope of a rescue now. 

All three midshipmen, the "man overboard" and his two willing, would-berescuers, were silently conceded to be drowned. 

Yet the hardest blow of all came when, at the end of an hour and aquarter, the flagship signaled the recall of the small boats. 

Then, indeed, all hope was given up. In an utter human silence, save forthe husky voicing of the necessary orders, the launches were hoisted onboard. Then the flagship flew the signal for resuming the voyage. 

There were few dry eyes among the third class midshipmen when thebattleships fell in formation again and proceeded on their way. 

As a result of more signals flown from the flagship, all unnecessaryduties of midshipmen for the day were ordered suspended. 

In the afternoon the chaplain on each battleship held funeral servicesover the three lost midshipmen. Officers, middies and crew attended onboard each vessel. 

CHAPTER IX

THE DESPAIR OF THE "RECALL"

Dave Darrin stood within ten feet of Hallam when that latter midshipmanhad lost his balance and fallen into the boiling sea. 

Dave's spring to the stern rail was all but instantaneous. He wasoverboard, after his classmate, ere the marine had had time to leap tothe life buoys. 

Out of the corner of one eye Dan Dalzell saw the marine start on thejump, but Dan was overboard, also, too soon to see exactly what themarine sentry was doing. 

Both daring midshipmen sank beneath the surface as they struck. 

As Dan came up, however, his hand struck something solid and he clutchedat it. It was one of the life buoys. 

As he grasped it, and drew his head up a trifle, Dan saw anotherfloating within thirty feet of him. Swimming hard, and pushing, Dansucceeded in reaching the other buoy. He now rested, holding on to bothbuoys. 

"Now, where's David, that little giant?" muttered Dalzell, striving hardto see through the seething waters and over the tops of foam-crestedwaves. 

After a few minutes Dan began to feel decidedly nervous. 

"Yet Dave can't have gone down, for he's a better swimmer than I am, "was Dan's consoling thought. 

At last Dalzell caught sight of another head. He could have cheered, buthe expended his breath on something more sensible. 

"Dave!" he shouted. "Old Darry! This way! I have the life buoys. "

At the same time, holding to both of them, but kicking frantically withhis feet, Dalzell managed slowly to push the buoys toward Dave. 

Soon after he had started, Dan did utter a cheer, even though it waschecked by an inrush of salt water that nearly strangled him. 

He saw two heads. Dave Darrin was coming toward him, helping Hallam. 

The wind carried the cheer faintly to Dave. He raised his head a littlein the water, and caught sight of Dan and the buoys. 

Some three minutes it took the two chums to meet. Dave Darrin was allbut exhausted, for Hallam was now unconscious. 

As Darrin clutched at the buoy he tried to shout, though the voice cameweakly:

"Catch hold of Hallam. I'm down and----"

But Dan understood, even before he heard. While Dave clutched at one ofthe life buoys Dalzell shot out an arm, dragging Hallam in to safety. 

Now, it was Darrin who, with both arms, contrived to link the buoystogether. 

At last the youngsters had a chance to observe the fact that thebattleships had put about and were coming back. 

"We'll soon be all right, " sighed Dave contentedly, as soon as he couldspeak. "There are thirty-five hundred officers, middies and sailors ofthe American Navy to look after our safety. "

From where they lay as they hung to the buoys the chums could even seethe launches lowered. 

Dan, with some of the emergency lashing about the buoy, succeeded, aftera good deal of effort, and with some aid from Dave, in passing a cordabout Hallam and under the latter's armpits that secured that midshipmanto one of the buoys. The next move of the chums was to lash the buoystogether. 

"Now, " declared Dave, "we can't lose. We can hang on and be safe herefor hours, if need be. "

"But what a thundering long time it takes them to bring the battleshipsaround to get to us!" murmured Midshipman Dalzell in wonder. 

"Be sure not an unnecessary second has been lost, " rejoined Dave. "We're learning something practical now about the handling of bigcraft. "

"I wonder if Hally's a goner?" murmured Dan in an awe-struck voice. 

"I don't believe it, " Dave answered promptly. "Once we get him backaboard ship the medicos will do a little work over him and he'll sit upand want to know if dinner's ready. "

Then they fell silent, for, with the roar of wind and waters, it wasnecessary for them to shout when they talked. 

As the minutes went by slowly, the two conscious midshipmen foundthemselves filled with amazement. 

A dozen times the launches darted by, not far away. It seemed impossiblethat the keen, restless eyes of the seekers should not discover theimperiled ones. 

At such times Dave and Dan shouted with all the power of their lustyyoung lungs. 

Alternately Dan and Dave tried the effect of rising as far as they couldand frantically waving an arm. There was not a cap to wave among thethree of them. 

"I'm beginning to feel discouraged, " grunted Dave in disgust at last. "They must have spent a full half day already looking for us. "

"Merciful powers!" gasped Dan at last, as they rode half way up theslope of a big wave. "I just caught sight of the 'recall of boats'flying from the flagship!"

"No!" gasped Dave incredulously. 

"Yes, I did!"

"But--"

"They've failed and have given up the search, " spoke Dan ratherdespairingly. 

"But--"

"We may as well face it, " muttered Dan brokenly. "They don't believethat any of us has survived, and we've been abandoned. "

"Then, " spoke Dave Darrin very coolly, "there's nothing left for us butto die like men of the American Navy. "

"It seems heartless, needless, " protested Dan. 

"No, " broke in Darrin. "They've done their best. They're convinced thatwe're lost. And I should think they would be, after all the time they'vesearched for us--half a day, at least. "

Dan said nothing, but tugged until he succeeded in bringing his watch upto the light. 

"The blamed thing is water-logged, " he uttered disgustedly. 

"Why?"

"The hands point to less than half past nine!"

Darrin managed to get at his own watch. 

"My timepiece doesn't call for half past nine, either, " he announced. 

"Can it be possible--"

"Yes; the time has only seemed longer, I reckon, " observed Dalzell. 

"Well, we'll face it like men, " proposed Dave. 

"Of course, " nodded Dan. "At least, we're going down in the ocean, andwe wear the American Naval uniform. If there's any choice in deaths, Iguess that's as good and manly a one as we could choose. "

"Poor old Hally won't know much about it, anyway, I guess, " remarkedDarrin, who seemed unnaturally cool. Possibly he was a bit dazed by thestunning nature of the fate that seemed about to overtake them. 

"Maybe the ships will go by us in their final get-away, " proposed DanDalzell very soberly. 

"Not if I'm seaman enough to read the compass by what's visible of thesun, " returned Midshipman Darrin. 

"Then there's no help for it, " answered Dan, choking slightly. "I wonderif we could do anything for Hallam?"

"We won't do anything to bring him to, anyway, " muttered Darrin. "Underthese circumstances I wouldn't do anything as mean as that to a dog!"

"Maybe he's dead already, anyway, " proposed Dan, now hopefully. 

"I hope so, " came from Darrin. 

Now they saw the not very distant battleships alter their courses andsteam slowly away. 

All was now desolation over the angry sea, as the battleships graduallyvanished. The two conscious midshipmen were now resolved to face the endbravely. That was all they could do for themselves and their flag. 

CHAPTER X

THE GRIM WATCH FROM THE WAVES

By the time that little more than the mastheads of the departingbattleships were visible, Hallam opened his eyes. 

It would have seemed a vastly kinder fate had he been allowed to remainunconscious to the last. 

Hallam had not been strangled by the inrush of water. In goingoverboard, this midshipman had struck the water with the back of hishead and had been stunned. In the absence of attention he had remained along time unconscious. 

Even now the hapless midshipman whose frollicking had been the cause ofthe disaster, did not immediately regain his full senses. 

"Why, we're all in the water, " he remarked after a while. 

"Yes, " assented Darrin, trying to speak cheerfully. 

Midshipman Hallam remained silent for some moments before he next asked:

"How did it happen?"

"Fell overboard, " replied Dan laconically, failing to mention who it waswho had fallen over the stern. 

Again a rather long silence on Hallam's part. Then, at last, heobserved:

"Funny how we all fell over at the same time. "

To this neither of his classmates made any rejoinder. 

"See here, " shouted Hallam, after a considerable period of silentwondering, "I remember it all now. I was fooling at the stern rail and Itoppled overboard. "

Dan nodded without words. 

"And you fellows jumped in after me, " roared Hallam, both his mental andbodily powers now beginning to return. "Didn't you?"

"Of course, " assented Darrin rather reluctantly. 

"And what became of the fleet!"

Dave and Dan looked at each other before the former replied:

"Oh, well, Hally, brace up! The ships searched for us a long time, andsome launches were put out after us. But they couldn't see our littleheads above the big waves, and so----"

"They've gone away and left us?" queried Hallam, guessing at once. "Now, fellows, I don't mind so much for myself, but it's fearful to think thatI've dragged you into the same fate. It's awful! Why couldn't you haveleft me to my fate?"

"Would you have done a thing like that?" demanded Dave dryly. 

"Oh, well, I suppose not, but--but--well, I wish I had been left to paythe price of my tomfoolery all alone. It would have served me right. Butto drag you two into it--"

Hallam could go no further. He was choking up with honest emotion. 

"Don't bother about it, Hally, " urged Dave. "It's all in the day's workfor a sailor. We'll just take it as it comes, old fellow. "

To not one of the trio did it occur to let go of the life buoys and sinkas a means of ending misery. In the first place, human instinct holds tohope. In the second place, suicide is the resort of cowards. 

"None of you happened to hide any food in his pockets at breakfast, Itake it?" asked Dan grimly, at last. 

Of course they hadn't. 

"Too bad, " sighed Dan. "I'm growing terribly hungry. "

"Catch a fish, " smiled back Darrin. 

"And eat it raw?" gasped Dalzell. "Darry, you know my tastes better thanthat. "

"Then wait a few hours longer, " proposed Dave, "until even raw fish willbe a delicacy. "

Hallam took no part in the chaffing. He was miserably conscious, allthe while, that his own folly had been solely responsible for thepresent plight of these noble messmates. 

Thus the time passed on. None kept any track of it; they realized onlythat it was still daylight. 

Then suddenly Dave gave a gasp and raised one hand to point. 

His two classmates turned and were able to make out the mastheads of acraft in the distance. 

How they strained their eyes! All three stared and stared, until theyfelt tolerably certain that the craft was headed their way. 

"They may see us!" cried Hallam eagerly. 

"Three battleships and as many launches failed to find us, " retortedDan. "And they were looking for us, too. "

As the vessel came nearer and the hull became visible, it took on theappearance of a liner. 

"Why, it looks as though she'd run right over us when she gets nearer, "cried Dave, his eyes kindling with hope. 

"Don't get too excited over it, " urged Dan. "For my part, I'm growingalmost accustomed to disappointments. "

As the minutes passed and the liner came on and on, it looked stillmore as though she would run down the three middies. 

[Illustration: "Look! They See Us!"]

At last, however, the craft was passing, showing her port side, not veryfar distant, to be sure. 

Uniting their voices, the three midshipmen yelled with all their power, even though they knew that their desperate call for help could not carrythe distance over the subsiding gale. 

Boom! That shot came from the liner, and now her port rail was blackwith people. 

"They see us!" cried Hallam joyously. "Look! That craft is slowing up!"

Once more came the cheers of encouragement, as the liner, now somedistance ahead, put off a heavy launch. A masthead lookout, who hadfirst seen the midshipmen, was now signaling the way to the officer incommand of the launch. 

Unable to see for himself, the officer in the launch depended wholly onthose masthead signals. So the launch steamed a somewhat zig-zag courseover the waves. Yet, at last, it bore down straight upon the midshipmen. 

Darrin, Dalzell and Hallam now came very near to closing their eyes, tolessen the suspense. 

A short time more and all three were dragged in over the sides of thelaunch. 

"Get those life buoys in, if you can, " begged Dave, as he sank in thebottom of the launch. "They are United States property entrusted to ourcare. "

From officer and seamen alike a laugh went up at this request, but thelife buoys were caught with a boathook and drawn aboard. 

What rousing cheers greeted the returning launch, from the decks of theliner, "Princess Irene"! When the three midshipmen reached deck and itwas learned that they were midshipmen of the United States Navy, thecheering and interest were redoubled. 

But the captain and the ship's doctor cut short any attempt at lionizingby rushing the midshipmen to a stateroom containing three berths. Here, under the doctor's orders, the trio were stripped and rubbed down. Thenthey were rolled into blankets, and hot coffee brought to them in theirberths, while their wet clothing was sent below to one of the furnacerooms for hurried drying. 

As soon as the medical man had examined them, the steamship's captainbegan to question them. 

"Headed for the Azores, eh?" demanded the ship's master. "We ought to beable to sight your squadron before long. "

He hastened out, to give orders to the deck officer. 

By the time that the young midshipmen had been satisfactorily warmed, and their clothing had been dried, the ship's surgeon consented to theirdressing. After this they were led to a private cabin where a satisfyingmeal was served them. 

"Oh, I don't know, " murmured Dan, leaning back, with a contented sigh, after the meal was over; "there are worse things than what happened tous to-day!"

The greater speed of the liner enabled her to sight the battleshipsquadron something more than two hours afterward. Then the nearestvessel of the fleet was steered for directly. 

The deck officers of the liner sent their heavy overcoats for the use ofthe midshipmen, who, enveloped in these roomy garments, went out on deckto watch the pursuit of their own comrades. 

Within another hour it was possible to signal, and from the "PrincessIrene's" masthead the signal flags were broken out. 

"Now, watch for excitement on board your own craft, " smiled the liner'scommander, an Englishman. 

As soon as the liner's signal had been read by the vessels of thesquadron a wild display of signal bunting swiftly broke out. 

"Heaven be thanked!" read one set of signal flags. 

"We have officially buried the young men, but ask them to go onliving, " read another. 

While the most practical signal of all was:

"The 'Massachusetts' will fall astern of the squadron. Kindly stand byto receive her launch. "

In a few minutes more the two vessels were close enough. Both stoppedheadway. One of the big battleship's launches put off and steamed over, rolling and pitching on the waves. 

Most carefully indeed the three midshipmen climbed down a rope ladderand were received by an ensign from the "Massachusetts, " who next gavethe American Navy's profound thanks to the rescuers of the middies. 

"Kindly lower that United States property that was in our care, sir!"Dave Darrin called up. 

There was good-humored laughter above, and a look of amazement on EnsignWhite's face until the two buoys, attached to lines, were thrown downover the side. 

"When your time comes you will make a very capable officer, I believe, Mr. Darrin, judging by your care of government property, " remarkedEnsign White, working hard to keep down the laughter. 

"I hope to do so, sir, " Dave replied, saluting. 

Then away to the "Massachusetts" the launch bore, while the wholebattleship squadron cheered itself hoarse over the happy outcome of theday. 

Dave, Dan and Hallam all had to do a tremendous amount of handshakingamong their classmates when they had reached deck. Pennington was theonly one who did not come forward to hold his hand out to Darrin--a factthat was noted at the time by many of the youngsters. 

To the captain the trio recounted what had befallen them, as matter forofficial record. 

"Mr. Darrin and Mr. Dalzell, " announced the battleship's captain, "Imust commend you both for wholly heroic conduct in going to the aid ofyour classmate. And, Mr. Darrin, I am particularly interested in yourincidental determination to preserve government property--the life buoysthat you brought back with you. "

"It's possible I may need them again, sir, " returned Dave, with a smile, though he had no notion of prophetic utterance. 

CHAPTER XI

MIDSHIPMAN PENNINGTON'S ACCIDENT

The stop at the Azores was uneventful. It remained in the minds of themidshipmen only as a pleasant recollection of a quaint and pretty place. 

Once more the squadron set sail, and now the homeward-bound pennant wasflying. The course lay straight across the Atlantic to the entrance ofChesapeake Bay. 

On the second night out the wind was blowing a little less than half agale. 

Darkness had fallen when Dave, Dan, Farley and several other midshipmengathered to talk in low tones at the stern rail. 

Presently all of them wandered away but Dave. He stood close to therail, enjoying the bumping motion every time the descending stern hitone of the rolling waves. 

Presently, thinking he saw a light astern, he raised himself, peeringastern. 

Another group of restless middies had sauntered up. Pennington, after aswift look at the pacing officer in charge here, and discovering thatthe officer's back was turned, executed a series of swift cartwheels. 

"Look out, Pen!" called Midshipman Dwight, in a low, though sharpvoice. 

Just too late the warning came. 

As Pen leaped to his feet after the last turn, one of his hands struckDarrin forcefully. 

Dave swayed, tried to clutch at something, then--

"O-o-o-oh!" rang the first startled chorus. 

Then, instantly, on top of it, came the rousing hail:

"Man overboard--astern!"

Farley and Hallam were the first to reach the rail. But LieutenantBurton was there almost as quickly. 

"Haul back!" commanded the lieutenant sternly. "No one go overboard!"

That held the middies in check, for in no place, more than in the Navy, are orders orders. 

Clack! was the sound that followed the first cry. Like a flash themarine sentry had thrown his rifle to the deck. A single bound carriedhim to one of the night life buoys. This he released, and hurled farastern. 

As the night buoy struck the water a long-burning red light was fused bycontact. The glow shone out over the waters. 

In the meantime, the "Massachusetts's" speed was being slowed rapidly, and a boat's crew stood at quarters. 

The boat put off quickly, guided by the glow of the red signal light onthe buoy. Ere the boat reached the buoy the coxswain made out the headand shoulders of a young man above the rim of the floating buoy. 

Soon after the boat lay alongside. Dave, with the coxswain's aid, pulledhimself into the small craft. 

Recovering the buoy, the coxswain flashed the red light three times. From the deck of the battleship came a cheering yell sent up fromhundreds of throats. 

In the meantime, however, while the boat was on its way to the buoy, apulsing scene had been enacted on board. 

Farley went straight up to Midshipman Pennington. 

"Sir, " demanded Farley hotly, "why did you push Mr. Darrin over therail. "

Pennington looked at his questioner as one stunned. 

"I--I did push Darrin over, " admitted Pennington, "but it was anaccident. "

"An easily contrived one, wasn't it?" demanded Midshipman Farley, rathercynically. 

"It was pure accident, " contended Pennington, paling. "Until it happenedI hadn't the least idea in the world that I was going to send Mr. Darrinor anyone else overboard. "

"Huh!" returned Farley dubiously. 

"Huh!" quoth Hallam. 

Dan Dalzell uttered not a word, but the gaze of his eyes was fixedangrily on Pennington. 

That latter midshipman turned as white as a sheet. His hands worked asthough he were attempting to clutch at something to hold himself up. 

"Surely, you fellows don't believe, do you--" he stammered weakly, thenpaused. 

"One thing we did notice, the other day, " continued Farley briskly, "wasthat, when Darrin was rescued from the sea and returned to us, you wereabout the only member of the class who didn't go up to him andcongratulate him on his marvelous escape. "

"How could--"

"Mr. Pennington, I haven't the patience to talk with you now, " rejoinedFarley, turning on his heel. 

At that moment the yell started among the midshipmen nearer the rail. Farley, Dan, Hallam and others joined in the yell and rushed to betterpoints of vantage. 

Pennington tried to join in the cheer, but his tongue seemed fixed tothe roof of his mouth. He stood clenching and unclenching his hands, hisface an ashen gray in his deep humiliation. 

"I don't care what one or two fellows may say, " groaned Pennington. "But I don't want the class to think such things of me. "

He was the most miserable man on board as the small boat came alongside. The boat, occupants and all, was hoisted up to the davits and swungin-board. To the officer of the deck, who stood near-by, Dave turned, with a brisk salute. 

"I beg to report that I've come aboard, sir, " Darrin uttered. 

"And very glad we are of it, Mr. Darrin, " replied the officer. "You willgo to your locker, change your clothing and then report to the captain, sir. "

"Aye, aye, sir. "

With another salute, Dave hastened below, followed by Dan Dalzell, whowas intent on attending him. 

Ten minutes later Dave appeared at the door of the captain's cabin. Justa few minutes after that he came out on deck. 

A crowd gathered about him, expressing their congratulations. 

"Thank you all, " laughed Dave, "but don't make so much over a middygetting a bath outside of the schedule. "

To the rear hung Pennington, waiting his chance. At last, as the crowdthinned, Pennington made his way up to Dave. 

"Mr. Darrin, I have to apologize for my nonsense, which was the meansof pushing you overboard. It was purely accidental, on my honor. I didnot even know it was you at the stern, nor did I realize that my anticswould result in pushing any one overboard. I trust you will do me thehonor of believing my statement. "

"Of course I believe it, Mr. Pennington, " answered Darrin, opening hiseyes. 

"There are some, " continued Pennington, "who have intimated to me theirbelief that I did it on purpose. There may be others who half believe orsuspect that I might, or would, do such a thing. "

"Nonsense!" retorted Dave promptly. "There may be differences, sometimes, between classmates, but there isn't a midshipman in the Navywho would deliberately try to drown a comrade. It's a preposterousinsult against midshipman honor. If I hear any one make a charge likethat, I'll call him out promptly. "

"Some of your friends--I won't name them--insisted, or at least let mefeel the force of their suspicions. "

"If any of my friends hinted at such a thing, it was done in the heat ofthe moment, " replied Dave heartily. "Why, Mr. Pennington, such an act ofdishonor is impossible to a man bred at Annapolis. "

Darrin fully believed what he said. On the spur of the moment he heldout his hand to his enemy. 

Pennington flushed deeply, for a moment, then put out his own hand, giving Dave's a hearty, straightforward grasp. 

"I was the first to imply the charge, " broke in Farley quickly. "Iwithdraw it, and apologize to both of you. "

There was more handshaking. 

During the next few days, while Darry and Pen did not become by anymeans intimate, they no longer made any effort to avoid each other, butspoke frankly when they met. 

The remaining days of the voyage passed uneventfully enough, except fora great amount of hard work that the middies performed as usual. 

On the twenty-second of August they entered Chesapeake Bay. Once wellinside, they came to anchor. There was considerable practice with thesub-caliber and other smaller guns. On the twenty-ninth of August thebattleship fleet returned to the familiar waters around Annapolis. Theday after that the young men disembarked. 

Then came a hurried skeltering, for the first, second and third classmenwere entitled to leave during the month of September. 

CHAPTER XII

BACK IN THE HOME TOWN

Back in the old, well-known streets of their home town, Gridley!

Dave and Dan, enjoying every minute of their month's leave, had alreadygreeted their parents, and had told them much of their life asmidshipmen. 

What hurt was the fact that the skipper of the "Princess Irene" hadalready told the marine reporters in New York the thrilling story of howDave and Dan had nearly come to their own deaths rescuing MidshipmanHallam. 

Everyone in Gridley, it seemed, had read that newspaper story. Darrinand Dalzell, before they had been home twelve hours, were weary ofhearing their praises sung. 

"There go two of the smartest, finest boys that old Gridley ever turnedout, " citizens would say, pointing after Dave and Dan. "They'remidshipmen at Annapolis; going to be officers of the Navy one of thesedays. "

"But what's the matter with Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes? They're atWest Point. "

"Oh, they're all right, too, of course. But Darrin and Dalzell----"

It was the old circumstance of being "the lions of the minute" and ofbeing on the spot. 

On the first morning of his arrival home Dave Darrin went frankly andopenly to call on his old schoolgirl sweetheart, Belle Meade. 

Dan, having no particular associations with the gentler sex, took astroll around town to meet any old friends who might care to see himagain. 

Dave was shown into the parlor at the Meade home. Soon after Belle cameswiftly in, her face beaming with delight. 

"Oh, but you're not in uniform!" was her first disappointed comment. 

"No, " smiled Dave. "I'm allowed every possible chance, for one month, toforget every detail of the big grind which for a short time I've leftbehind. "

"But you're the same old Dave, " cried Belle, "only bigger and manlier. And that magnificent work you and Dan did in jumping over-bo----"

"Stop!" begged Dave. "You're a friend of mine, aren't you! Then don'tadd to the pain that has been already inflicted on me. If I had had thenewspapers in mind I wouldn't have the nerve to----But please let's nottalk about it anymore. "

Then the two young people seated themselves and spent a delightful hourin talking over all that had befallen them both since they had lastmet. 

Belle, too, through Laura Bentley, had some much later news of the oldchums, Dick and Greg, now cadets at West Point. 

This news, however, will be found in full in "DICK PRESCOTT'S SECONDYEAR AT WEST POINT. "

"What are your plans for this afternoon?" Belle asked at last. 

"That's what I want your help in making, " Dave answered. 

"Can you get hold of Dan?"

"No trouble about that. But keeping hold of him may be more difficult, "laughed Dave. 

"I was going to propose that you get Dan, call here and then we'll allgo over to Laura Bentley's. I know she'll be anxious to see us. "

"Nothing could be better in the way of a plan, " assented Dave. "I'll pinDanny boy down to that. It would really seem like a slight on good oldDick if we didn't make Laura an early call. "

"I'll go to the telephone, now, and tell her that we're coming, " criedBelle, rising quickly. 

"Laura is delighted, " she reported, on her return to the room. "ButDave, didn't you at least bring along a uniform, so that we could seewhat it looks like?"

"I didn't, " replied Dave, soberly, then added, quizzically:

"You've seen the district messenger boys on the street, haven't you?"

"Yes, of course; but what--"

"Our uniforms look very much like theirs, " declared Dave. 

"I'm afraid I can't undertake to believe you, " Belle pouted. 

"Well, anyway, you girls will soon have a chance to see our uniforms. Just as soon as our hops start, this fall, you and Laura will come downand gladden our hearts by letting us drag you, won't you!"

"Drag us?" repeated Belle, much mystified. 

"Oh, that's middies' slang for escorting a pretty girl to a midshipmanhop. "

"You have a lot of slang, then, I suppose. "

"Considerable, " admitted Dave readily. 

"What, then, is your slang for a pretty girl?"

"Oh, we call her a queen. "

"And a girl who is--who isn't--pretty!"

"A gold brick, " answered Dave unblushingly. 

"A gold brick?" gasped Belle. "Dear me! 'Dragging a gold brick' to a hopdoesn't sound romantic, does it?"

"It isn't, " Darrin admitted. 

"Yet you have invited me--"

"Our class hasn't started in with its course of social complimentsyet, " laughed Dave. "Please go look in the glass. Or, if you won'tbelieve the glass, then just wait and see how proud Dan and I are if wecan lead you and Laura out on the dancing floor. "

"But what horrid slang!" protested Belle. "The idea of calling a homelygirl a gold brick! And I thought you young men received more or lesstraining in being gracious to the weaker sex. "

"We do, " Dave answered, "as soon as we can find any use for theaccomplishment. Fourth classmen, you know, are considered too young toassociate with girls. It's only now, when we've made a start in thethird class, that we're to be allowed to attend the hops at all. "

"But why must you have to have such horrid names for girls who have notbeen greatly favored in the way of looks? It doesn't sound exactlygallant. "

"Oh, well, you know, " laughed Dave, "we poor, despised, no-accountmiddies must have some sort of sincere language to talk after we get ourmasks off for the day. I suppose we like the privilege, for a fewminutes in each day, of being fresh, like other young folks. "

"What is your name for 'fresh' down at Annapolis!" Belle wanted to know. 

"Touge. "

"And for being a bit worse than touge?"

"Ratey. "

"Which did they call you?" demanded Belle. 

Dave started, then sat up straight, staring at Miss Meade. 

"I see that your tongue hasn't lost its old incisiveness, " he laughed. 

"Not among my friends, " Belle replied lightly. "But I can't get my mindoff that uniform of yours that you didn't bring home. What would havehappened to you if you had been bold enough to do it?"

"I guess I'd have 'frapped the pap, '" hazarded Dave. 

"And what on earth is 'frapping the pap'?" gasped Belle. 

"Oh, that's a brief way of telling about it when a midshipman gets stuckon the conduct report. "

"I'm going to buy a notebook, " asserted Belle, "and write down andclassify some of this jargon. I'd hate to visit a strange country, likeAnnapolis, and find I didn't know the language. And, Dave, what sort ofplace is Annapolis, anyway?"

"Oh, it's a suburb of the Naval Academy, " Dave answered. 

"Is it dreadfully hard to keep one's place in his class there?" askedBelle. 

"Well, the average fellow is satisfied if he doesn't 'bust cold, '" Daveinformed her. 

"Gracious! What sort of explosion is 'busting cold'?"

"Why, that means getting down pretty close to absolute zero in allstudies. When a fellow has the hard luck to bust cold the superintendentallows him all his time, thereafter, to go home and look up a moresuitable job than one in the Navy. And when a fellow bilges----"

"Stop!" begged Belle. "Wait!"

She fled from the room, to return presently bearing the prettiest hatthat Dave ever remembered having seen on her shapely young head. In onehand she carried a dainty parasol that she turned over to him. 

"What's the cruise?" asked Darrin, rising. 

"I'm going out to get that notebook, now. Please don't talk any more'midshipman' to me until I get a chance to set the jargon down. "

As she stood there, such a pretty and wholesome picture, David Darrinthought he never before had seen such a pretty girl, nor one dressed insuch exquisite taste. Being a boy, it did not occur to him that BelleMeade had been engaged for weeks in designing this gown and others thatshe meant to wear during his brief stay at home. 

"What are you thinking of?" asked Belle. 

"What a pity it is that I am doomed to a short life, " sighed Darrin. 

"A short life? What do you mean?" Belle asked. 

"Why, I'm going to be assassinated, the first hop that you attend at theNaval Academy. "

"So I'm a gold brick, am I?" frowned Belle. 

"You--a--gold brick?" stammered Dave. "Why, you--oh, go look in theglass!"

"Who will assassinate you?"

"A committee made up from among the fellows whose names I don't writedown on your dance card. And there are hundreds of them at Annapolis. You can't dance with them all. "

"I don't intend to, " replied Belle, with a toss of her head. "I'llaccept, as partners, only those who appear to me the handsomest and mostdistinguished looking of the midshipmen. No one else can write his nameon my card. "

"Dear girl, I'm afraid you don't understand our way of making up dancecards at Crabtown. "

"Where?"

"Crabtown. That's our local name for Annapolis. "

"Gracious! Let me get out quickly and get that notebook!"

"At midshipmen's hops the fellow who drags the----"

"Gold brick, " supplied Belle, resignedly. 

"No--not for worlds! You're no gold brick, Belle, and you know it, eventhough you do refuse to go to the mirror. But the fellow who drags anyfemme--"

"Please--?"

"'Femme' stands for girl. The fellow who drags any femme makes up herdance card for her. "

"And she hasn't a word to say about it?"

"Not as a rule. "

"Oh!" cried Belle, dramatically. 

She moved toward the door. Dave, who could not take his eyes from herpretty face, managed, somehow, to delay her. 

"Belle, there's something--" he began. 

"Good gracious! Where? What?" she cried, looking about her keenly. 

"It's something I want to say--must say, " Dave went on with more of aneffort than anyone but himself could guess. 

"Tell me, as we're going down the street, " invited Belle. 

"_Wha-a-at?_" choked Dave. "Well, I guess not!"

He faced her, resting both hands lightly on her shoulders. 

"Belle, we were pretty near sweethearts in the High School, I think, " hewent on, huskily, but looking her straight in the eyes. "At least, thatwas my hope, and I hope, most earnestly, that it's going to continue. Belle, I am a long way from my real career, yet. It will be five years, yet, before I have any right to marry. But I want to look forward, allthe time, to the sweet belief that my schoolgirl sweetheart is going tobecome my wife one of these days. I want that as a goal to work for, along with my commission in the Navy. But to this much I agree: if yousay 'yes' now, and find later that you have made a mistake, you willtell me so frankly. "

"Poor boy!" murmured Belle, looking at him fully. "You've been a plebeuntil lately, and you haven't been allowed to see any girls. I'm notgoing to take advantage of you as heartlessly as that. "

Yet something in her eyes gave the midshipman hope. 

"Belle, " he continued eagerly, "don't trifle with me. Tell me--will youmarry me some day?"

Then there was a little more talk and--well, it's no one's business. 

"But we're not so formally engaged, " Belle warned him, "that you can'twrite me and draw out of the snare if you wish when you're older. AndI'm not going to wear any ring until you've graduated from the NavalAcademy. Do you understand that, Mr. David Darrin?"

"It shall be as you say, either way, " Dave replied happily. 

"And now, let us get started, or we shan't get out on the streetto-day, " urged Belle. 

Then they passed out on the street, and no ordinarily observant personwould have suspected them of being anything more than school friends. 

Being very matter-of-fact in some respects, Belle's first move was to goto a stationer's, where she bought a little notebook bound in redleather. 

Dave tried to pay for that purchase, but Belle forestalled him. 

"Why didn't you allow me to make you that little gift?" he asked in alow tone, when they had reached the street. 

"Wait, " replied Belle archly. "Some day you may find your hands full inthat line. "

"One of my instructors at Annapolis complimented me on having verycapable hands, " Dave told her dryly. 

"The instructor in boxing?" asked Belle. 

It was a wonderfully delightful stroll that the middy and his sweetheartenjoyed that September forenoon. 

Once Dave sighed, so pronouncedly that Belle shot a quick look ofquestioning at him. 

"Tired of our understanding already?" she demanded. 

"No; I was thinking how sorry I am for Danny boy! He doesn't know thehappiness of having a real sweetheart. "

"How do you know he doesn't?" asked Belle quickly. "Does he tell youeverything?"

"No; but I know Danny's sea-going lines pretty well. I'd suspect, atleast, if he had a sweetheart. "

"Are you sure that you would?"

"Oh, yes! By gracious! There's Danny going around the corner above atthis very moment. "

Belle had looked in the same instant. 

"Yes; and a skirt swished around the corner with him, " declared Belleimpressively. "It would be funny, wouldn't it, if you didn't happen toknow all about Dan Dalzell?"

In the early afternoon, however, the mystery was cleared up. 

On the street Dalzell had encountered Laura Bentley. Both were full oftalk and questions concerning Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes, at WestPoint, for which reason Dan had strolled home with Miss Bentley withoutany other thought, on the midshipman's part, than playing substitutegallant for his chum, Cadet Richard Prescott, U. S. Military Academy. 

A most delightful afternoon the four young people spent together at theBentley home. 

These were the forerunners of other afternoons. 

Belle and Laura, however, were not able to keep their midshipmen tothemselves. 

Other girls, former students at the High School, arranged a series ofaffairs to which the four young people were invited. 

Dave's happiest moments were when he had Belle to himself, for a strollor chat. 

Dan's happiest moments, on the other hand, were when he was engaged inhunting the old High School fellows, or such of them as were now athome. For many of them had entered colleges or technical schools. TomReade and Harry Hazelton, of the famous old Dick & Co. , of High Schooldays, were now in the far southwest, under circumstances fully narratedin "THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA, " the second volume of "THE YOUNGENGINEERS' SERIES. '"

Day by day Belle jotted down in her notebook more specimens ofmidshipman slang. 

"I shall soon feel that I can reel off the language like a native ofCrabtown, " she confided laughingly to Dare. 

"It won't be very long before you have an opportunity to try, " Davedeclared, "if you and Laura embrace your first opportunity to come to amiddy hop. "

Dan had a happy enough time of it, even though Dave's suspicion was truein that Dan had no sweetheart. That, however, was Dan's fault entirely, as several of the former High School girls would have been willing toassure him. 

Since even the happiest times must all end so the latter part ofSeptember drew near. 

Then came the day when Dave and Dan met at the railway station. A hostof others were there to see them off, for the midshipmen still hadcrowds of friends in the good old home town. 

A ringing of bells, signaling brakesmen, a rolling of steel wheels andthe two young midshipmen swung aboard the train, to wave their hats fromthe platform. 

Gridley was gone--lost to sight for another year. Dan was exuberantduring the first hour of the journey, Dave unusually silent. 

"You need a vast amount of cheering up, David, little giant!" exclaimedDalzell. 

"Oh, I guess not, " smiled Dave Darrin quietly, adding to himself, underhis breath:

"I carry my own good cheer with me, now. "

Lightly his hand touched a breast pocket that carried the latest, sweetest likeness of Miss Belle Meade. 

One journey by rail is much like another to the traveler who pays littleheed to the scenery. 

At the journey's end two well-rested midshipmen joined the throng ofothers at Crabtown. 

CHAPTER XIII

DAN RECEIVES A FEARFUL FACER

"Oh, you heap!" sighed Dan Dalzell dismally. 

He sat in his chair, in their new quarters in Bancroft Hall, UnitedStates Naval Academy, gazing in mock despair at the pile of new booksthat he had just drawn. 

These text-books contained the subjects in which a midshipman isrequired to qualify in his second academic year. 

"Been through the books for a first look?" called Dave from behind hisown study table. 

"Some of 'em, " admitted Dalzell. "I'm afraid to glance into the others. "

"I've looked in all of my books, " continued Darrin, "and I've just cometo a startling conclusion. "

"What?"

"I'm inclined to believe that I have received a complete set oftext-books for the first and second classes. "

"No such luck!" grunted Dan, getting up and going over to his chum. "Letme see if you got all the books I did. "

Before Dave could prevent it, Dan started a determined over-tossing ofthe book pile. As he did so, Dan suddenly uncovered a photograph fromwhich a fair, sweet, laughing face gazed up at him. 

"Oh, I beg a million pardons, Dave, old boy!" cried Dalzell. 

"You needn't, " came Dave's frank answer. "I'm proud of that treasure andof all it means to me. "

"And I'm glad for you, David, little giant. "

Their hands met in hearty clasp, and that was all that was said on thatsubject at the time. 

"But, seriously, " Dan grumbled on, after a while, "I'm aghast at what anexacting government expects and demands that we shall know. Just lookover the list--mechanical drawing and mechanical processes, analyticalgeometry, calculus, physics, chemistry, English literature, French andSpanish, integral calculus, spherical trigonometry, stereographicprojection and United States Naval history! David, my boy, by the end ofthis year we'll know more than college professors do. "

"Aren't you getting a big head, Danny?" queried Darrin, looking up witha smile. 

"I am, " assented Dalzell, "and I admit it. Why, man alive, one has tohave a big head here. No small head would contain all that the AcademicBoard insists on crowding into it. "

By the time that the chums had attended the first section recitationson the following day, their despair was increased. 

"Davy, I don't see how we are ever going to make it, this year, " Dalzellgasped, while they were making ready for supper formation. "We'll bilgethis year without a doubt. "

"There's only one reason I see for hoping that we can get through theyear with fair credit, " murmured Darrin. 

"And what's that?"

"Others have done it, before us, and many more are going to do it thisyear, " replied Dave slowly, as he laid comb and brush away and drew onhis uniform blouse. 

"I know men have gotten through the Naval Academy in years gone by, "Dalzell agreed. "But, the first chance that I have, I'm going to lookthe matter up and see whether the middies of old had any such fearfulgrind as we have our noses held to. "

"Oh, we'll do it, " declared Darrin confidently. "I shall, anyway--forI've got to!"

As he spoke he was thinking of Belle Meade, and of her prospects in lifeas well as his own. 

As the days went by, however, Dave and Dan became more and more dull ofspirits. The grind was a fearful one. A few very bright youngsters wentalong all right, but to most of the third classmen graduation began tolook a thousand years away. 

The football squad was out now and training in deadly earnest. Therewere many big games to be played, but most of all the middies longed totow West Point's Army eleven into the port of defeat. 

In their first year Dave and Dan had looked forward longingly to joiningthe gridiron squad. They had even practised somewhat. But now theyrealized that playing football in the second year at Annapolis must be, for them, merely a foolish dream. 

"I'm thankful enough if I can study day and night and keep myself up to2. 5, " confessed Darrin, as he and Dan chatted over their gridironlongings. 

Two-and-five tenths is the lowest marking, on a scale of four, that willsuffice to keep a midshipman in the Naval Academy. 

"I'm not going to reach 2. 5 in some studies this month, " groaned Dan. "Iknow that much by way of advance information. The fates be thanked thatwe're allowed until the semi-ans to pick up. But the question is, are weever going to pick up? As I look through my books it seems to me thatevery succeeding lesson is twice as hard as the one before it. "

"Other men have gone through, every year. "

"And still other men have been dropped every year, " Dalzell dolefullyreminded him. 

"We're among those who are going to stay, " Dave contended stubbornly. 

"Then I'm afraid we'll be among those who are dropped after Christmasand come back, next year, as bilgers, " Dalzell groaned. 

"Now, drop that!" commanded Darrin, almost roughly. "Remember one thing, Daniel little lion slayer! My congressman and your senator won't appointus again, if we fail now. No talk of that kind, remember. We've got tomake our standing secure within the next few weeks. "

Before the month was over the football games began in earnest on theathletic field. Darrin and Dalzell, however, missed every game. Theywere too busy poring over their text-books. Fortunately for them theirdrills, parades and gym. Work furnished them enough exercise. 

The end of October found Darrin at or above 2. 5 in only three studies. Dan was above 2. 5 in two studies--below that mark in all others. 

"It's a pity my father never taught me to swear, " grumbled Dalzell, inthe privacy of their room. 

"Stow that talk, " ordered Darrin, "and shove off into the deeper watersof greater effort. "

"Greater effort?" demanded Dan, in a rage. "Why I study, now, everypossible moment of the time allowed for such foolishness. And we can'trun a light. Right after taps the electric light is turned off at themaster switch. "

"We're wasting ninety seconds of precious time, now, in grumbling, "uttered Dave, seating himself doggedly at his study table. 

"Got any money, Darry?" asked Dalzell suddenly. 

"Yes; are you broke?"

"I am, and the next time I go into Annapolis I mean to buy somecandles. "

"Don't try that, Danny. Running a light is dangerous, and doubly so withcandles. The grease is bound to drip, and to be found in some littlecorner by one of the discipline officers. It would be no use to study ifyou are going to get frapped on the pap continuously. "

Immediately after supper both midshipmen forfeited their few minutes ofrecreation, going at once back to their study tables. There theyremained, boning hard until the brief release sounded before taps wasdue. 

Almost at the sound of the release there came a knock at the door. Farley and his roommate, Page, came bounding in. 

"I've got to say something, or I'll go daffy, " cried Farley, rubbing hiseyes. "Fellows, did you ever hear of such downright abuse as the secondyear course of studies means?"

"It is tough, " agreed Dave. "But what can we do about it, except fightit out?"

"Can you make head or tail out of calculus?" demanded Farley. 

"No, " admitted Darrin, "but I hope to, one of these days. "

Just then Freeman, of the first class, poked his head in, after a softknock. 

"What is this--a despair meeting?" he called cheerily. 

"Yes, " groaned Page. "We're in a blue funk over the way recitations aregoing. "

"Oh, buck up, kiddies!" called Freeman cheerily, as he crossed thefloor. "Youngsters always get in the doldrums at the beginning of theyear. "

"You're a first classman. When you were in the third class did you haveall the studies that we have now?"

"Every one of them, sir, " affirmed Midshipman Freeman gravely, thoughthere was a twinkle in his eyes. 

"And did you come through the course easily?" asked Page. 

"Not easily, " admitted the first classman. "There isn't anything atAnnapolis that is easy, except the dancing. In fact, during the firsttwo months very few of our class came along like anything at all. Afterthat, we began to do better. By the time that semi-ans came aroundnearly all of us managed to pull through. But what seems to be the worstgrind of all--the real blue paint?"

"Calculus!" cried the four youngsters in unison. 

"Why, once you begin to see daylight in calculus it's just as easy astaking a nap, " declared the first classman. 

"At present it seems more like suffering from delirium, " sighed Dave. 

"What's the hard one for to-morrow?" asked Freeman. 

"Here it is, right here, " continued Dave, opening his text-book. "Here'sthe very proposition. "

The others crowded about, nodding. 

"I remember that one, " laughed Freeman lightly. "Our class named it'sticky fly paper. '"

"It was rightly named, " grumbled Farley. 

"None of you four youngsters see through it?" demanded MidshipmanFreeman. 

"Do you mean to claim, sir, that you ever did?" insisted Dan Dalzell. 

"Not only once, but now, " grinned Mr. Freeman. "You haven't been lookingat this torturing proposition from the right angle--that's all. Now, listen, while I read it. "

"Oh, we all know how it runs, Mr. Freeman, " protested Page. 

"Nevertheless, listen, while I read it. "

As the first classman read through the proposition that was torturingthem he threw an emphasis upon certain words that opened their eyesbetter as to the meaning. 

"Now, it works out this way, " continued the first classman, bending overthe disk and drawing paper and pencil toward him. "In the first place. "

Freeman seemed to these youngsters like a born demonstrator. Within fiveminutes he had made the "sticky fly paper" problem so plain to them allthat they glanced from one to another in astonishment. 

"Why, it does seem easy, " confessed Farley. 

"It sounds foolish, now, " grinned Darrin. "I'm beginning to feel ashamedof myself. "

"Mr. Freeman, " protested Page, "you've saved us from suicide, or someother gruesome fate. "

"Then I'll drop in once in a while again, " promised the first classman. 

"But that will take time from your own studies, " remonstrated Darringenerously. 

"Not in the least. I won't come around before release. By the time afellow reaches the first class, if he's going to graduate anyway, hedoesn't have to study as hard as a youngster does. The man who reachesthe first class has had all the habits of true study ground into him. "

Darrin, Dalzell, Farley and Page were all in different sections inmathematics. When they recited, next day, it so happened that each wasthe man to have the "sticky fly paper" problem assigned to him by theinstructor. Each of the quartette received a full "4" for the day'smarking. 

"Did you have any assistance with this problem, Mr. Darrin?" askedDave's instructor. 

"Yes, sir; a member of the first class tried to make it plain to me lastnight. "

"He appears to have succeeded, " remarked the instructor dryly. 

There was, however, no discredit attached to having received properassistance before coming into section. 

True to his promise Freeman dropped in every fourth or fifth evening, tosee if he could be of any help to the four youngsters. Always he foundthat he could be. 

Even when Thanksgiving came, Dave Darrin did not go to Philadelphia, butremained at the Academy, devoting his time to study. 

Dan, in sheer desperation, took in the trip to Philadelphia. He hopedto meet Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes, but they did not come down fromWest Point. 

On the first day of December, Dan Dalzell's name was formally reportedby the Academic Board in a report to the superintendent whichrecommended that Midshipman Dalzell be dropped from the rolls for"inaptitude in his studies. "

Poor Dan. It was a staggering blow. Yet it struck Dave Darrin just aboutas hard. 

CHAPTER XIV

THE FIRST HOP WITH THE HOME GIRLS

That report was allowed to reach Dan's ears on a Friday. 

On the evening of the day following there was to be a midshipman hop onthe floor of the great gym. 

Moreover, it was the very hop that Belle Meade and Laura Bentley hadfinally selected to attend. Mrs. Meade was coming with the girls aschaperon. 

"Oh, but I shall feel fine and light hearted for going to the dance!"muttered Dan miserably. "Facing the kick-off from the Academy, and doingthe light hearted and the fantastic toe with the girls. "

"I shan't feel a whole lot more merry myself, " sighed Dave, as he gazedaffectionately, wistfully at his chum. "Danny, this has hit me about ashard as it has you. And it warns me, too, that my turn will probablycome next. I don't stand an awful lot higher in my markings than youdo. "

"Doesn't it feel fine to be a bilger?" gulped Dalzell, staring at thefloor. 

A "bilger, " as has been already explained, is a midshipman who hasfailed and has been dropped. 

"Oh, but you're not a bilger, yet!" cried Darrin, leaping up and restingboth hands on his chum's shoulder. 

"What's the odds?" demanded Dan grimly. "I shall be, after I've beenbefore the Board next Monday forenoon at ten o'clock. "

"Nonsense! Not if you make a good fight!"

"Fight--nothing!" sighed Dan wearily. "In a fight there's some one elsethat you can hit back at. But I won't have a blessed soul to fight. I'mup against a gang who are all referees, and all down on me at theoutset. "

"Nonsense, " combatted Dave. "You----"

"Oh, that's all right, David, little giant, " returned Dalzell with anattempt at cheeriness. "You mean well, but a fellow isn't reporteddeficient unless he's so far behind that the Board has his case settledin advance. From all I can hear it isn't once in a camel's age that afellow so reported, and ordered before the Board, gets off with anythingless than a hard, wet bilge. What I'm thinking of now is, what am Igoing to pick up as a career when I go home from here as a failure. "

If it hadn't been for the pride he felt in still having the uniform on, Dalzell might not have been able to check the tears that tried to flow. 

"Come on, " commanded Dave, leaping up, "we'll run up to the deck above, and see if we can't find Mr. Freeman in. "

"What good will that do?" demanded Dan. "Freeman is a first classman, but he hasn't any particular drag with the Board. "

"It won't do any harm, anyway, for us to have a talk with an olderclassman, " argued Dave. "Button your blouse, straighten your hair andcome along. "

"So it's as bad as that, is it!" asked Freeman sympathetically, afterhis cheery "come in" had admitted the unhappy youngsters. 

"Yes, " replied Dave incisively. "Now, the question is, what can be doneabout it?"

"I wish you had asked me an easier one, " sighed the first classman. "You're mighty well liked, all through the Academy, Dalzell, and everyone of us will hate to see you go. "

"But what can be done to ward off that fate?" insisted Darrin asimpatiently as a third classman might speak to a venerable firstclassman. 

"Well, now, I want to think over that, " confessed Freeman frankly. "Ofcourse, Dalzell's record, this term, is in black and white, and can't begainsaid. It's just possible our young friend can put up some line oftalk that will extend his time here, and perhaps enable him to pullthrough. It's a mighty important question, so I'll tell you what we'lldo. Of course, the hop comes on for to-morrow night. Let me have untilSunday evening. Meanwhile I'll talk with some of the other fellows of myclass. You both come in here Sunday evening, and I'll have the answerfor you--if there's any possible way of finding one. "

With that the chums had to be content. Expressing their gratitude tothis friendly first classman, they withdrew. 

That Saturday forenoon Dan did considerably better with the tworecitations that he had in hand. 

"I got easier questions than usual, I guess, " he said to Dave, with amournful smile. 

After Saturday dinner, Dave and Dan, having secured permission to visitin Annapolis, steered their course through the gate, straight upMaryland Avenue, through State Circle and around into Main Street, tothe Maryland House. 

At the desk they sent up their cards to Mrs. Meade, then stepped intothe parlor. 

Barely two minutes had passed when Belle and Laura flew downstairs. 

"Mother says she'll be down as soon as she fancies you'll care aboutseeing her, " laughed Belle. 

"And how are you getting on in your classes?" asked Laura Bentley, glancing straight at unhappy Dan. 

Both midshipmen had agreed not to mention a word of Dan's heartache toeither of the girls. 

Dan gulped hard, though he managed to conceal the fact. 

Darrin, however, was ready with the answer:

"Oh, we're having pretty rough sailing, but we're both still in ourclass. "

Which statement was wholly truthful. 

"Up at West Point, " Laura continued, "Dick told us that the first twoyears were the hardest for a man to keep his place. I fancy it's justabout the same here, isn't it?"

"Just about, " Dave nodded. "The first two years are hardest because ittakes all that time for a fellow to get himself keyed up to the gait ofstudy that is required in the government academies. But won't you let ustalk about something that's really pleasant, girls?" Dave asked, withhis charming smile. "Suppose we talk about yourselves. My, but you girlsare good to look at!"

After that, the conversation was shifted to lighter subjects. 

Even Dan, in the joy of meeting two girl friends from home, began to beless conscious of his load of misery. 

Presently Mrs. Meade came down. She chatted with the two fine-lookingyoung midshipmen for a few moments. Then Dave proposed:

"Wouldn't you like us to escort you through the Academy grounds, so thatyou can get a good idea of the place in daylight?"

"We've been waiting only for you to invite us, " rejoined Belle. 

For the next two hours the time was passed pleasantly. 

But Belle, behind all her light chatter, was unusually keen andobserving. 

"Is anything wrong with either of you?" she asked Dave suddenly, whenthis pair were out of easy hearing of the others. 

"Why do you ask that?" inquired Dave, looking at her in his directfashion. 

"Why, I may be unnecessarily sensitive, but I can't help feeling thatsome sort of disaster is hanging over either you or Dan. "

"I hope not, " replied Darrin evasively. 

"Dave, that isn't a direct answer, " warned Belle, raising her eyebrows. "Do you consider me entitled to one?"

"Yes. What's the question?"

"Are you in any trouble here?"

"No, I'm thankful to say. "

"Then is Dan!"

"Belle, I'd rather not answer that. "

"Why----"

"Well, because, if he is, I'd rather not discuss it. "

"Has Dan been caught in any scrape?"

"No. His conduct record is fine. "

"Then it must be failure in his studies. "

Dave did not answer. 

"Why don't you tell me?" insisted Belle. 

"If anything were in the wind, Belle, we'd rather not tell you and spoilyour visit. And don't ask Dan anything about it. "

"I think I know enough, " went on Belle thoughtfully andsympathetically. "Poor Dan! He's one of the finest of fellows. "

"There are no better made, " retorted Dave promptly. 

"If anything happens to Dan here, dear, I know you will feel just asunhappy about it as if it happened to yourself. "

"Mighty close to it, " nodded Darrin. "But it would be a doubleheartbreak for me, if I had to leave. "

"Why?"

"On account of the future I've planned for you, Belle. "

"Oh, you silly boy, then!" Belle answered, smiling into his eyes. "Ibelieve I have half committed myself to the idea of marrying you whenyou've made your place in life. But it was Dave Darrin to whom I gavethat half promise--not a uniform of any sort. Dave, if anything everhappens that you have to quit here, don't imagine that it's going tomake a particle of difference in our understanding. "

"You're the real kind of sweetheart, Belle!" murmured Dave, gazingadmiringly at her flushed face. 

"Did you ever suspect that I wasn't?" asked Miss Meade demurely. 

"Never!" declared Midshipman Darrin devoutly. "Nevertheless, it's fineto be reassured once in a while. "

"What a great fellow Dan is!" exclaimed Belle a few minutes later. "Seehow gayly he is chatting with Laura. I don't believe Laura guesses for amoment that Dan Dalzell is just as game a fellow as the Spartan boy ofolden times. "

CHAPTER XV

A DISAGREEABLE FIRST CLASSMAN

The hop that night was one of the happiest occasions Dave had everknown, yet it was destined to result in trouble for him. 

Midshipman Treadwell, of the first class, caught sight of Belle as sheentered the gym at Dave Darrin's side. 

With Treadwell it happened to be one of those violent though unusuallysilly affairs known as "love at first sight. "

As for Belle, she was not likely to have eyes for anyone in particular, save Dave. 

Treadwell, who had come alone, and who was not to be overburdened withdances, went after Dave as soon as that youngster left Belle for thefirst time. 

"Mighty sweet looking girl you have with you, Darry, " observed the firstclassman, though he took pains not to betray too much enthusiasm. 

"Right!" nodded Dave. 

"You'll present me, won't you?"

"Assuredly, as soon as I come back. I have a little commission to attendto. "

"And you might be extremely kind, Darry, and write me down for a coupleof numbers on Miss----"

"Miss Meade is the young lady's name. "

"Then delight me by writing down a couple of reservations for me on MissMeade's card. "

Darrin's face clouded slightly. 

"I'd like to, Treadwell, but the card is pretty crowded, and some otherfellows--"

"One dance, anyway, then. "

"I will, then, if there's a space to be left, and if Miss Meade isagreeable, " promised Dave, as he hurried away. 

Two minutes later, when he returned, looking very handsome, indeed, inhis short-waisted, gold-laced dress coat, Dave felt his arm touched. 

"I'm waiting for you to keep your engagement with me, " MidshipmanTreadwell murmured. 

"Come along; I shall be delighted to present you to Miss Meade. "

Since every midshipman is granted to be a gentleman, midshipmanetiquette does not require that the lady be consulted about theintroduction. 

"Miss Meade, " began Dave, bowing before his sweetheart, "I wish topresent Mr. Treadwell"

Belle's greeting was easy. Treadwell, gazing intensely into her eyes, exchanged a few commonplaces. Belle, entirely at her ease, did notappear to be affected by the battery of Mr. Treadwell's gaze. Then goodbreeding required that the first classman make another bow and strollaway. 

As he left, Treadwell murmured in Dare's ear:

"Don't forget that dance, Darry! Two if there is any show. "

Midshipman Darrin nodded slightly. As he turned to Belle, that younglady demanded lightly:

"Is that pirate one of your friends, Dave?"

"Not more so than any other comrades in the brigade, " Darrin answered. "Why?"

"Nothing, only I saw you two speaking together a little while ago----"

"That was when he was asking me to present him. "

"Then, after you left him, " continued Belle, in a low voice, "Mr. Treadwell scowled after you as though he could have demolished you. "

"Why, I've no doubt Mr. Treadwell is very jealous of me, " laughed Damnhappily. "Why shouldn't he be? By the way, will you let me see yourdance card? Mr. Treadwell asked me to write his name down for one or twodances. "

"Please don't, " begged Belle suddenly, gripping her dance card tightly. "I hope you don't mind, Dave, " she added in a whisper, "but I've takenjust a shadow of a dislike to Mr. Treadwell, after the way that hescowled after you. I--I really don't want to dance with him. "

Dave could only bow, which he did. Then other midshipmen were presented. Belle's card was quickly filled, without the appearance of MidshipmanTreadwell's name on it. 

The orchestra struck up. Dave danced the first two numbers with Belle, moving through a dream of happiness as he felt her waist against hisarm, one of her hands resting on his shoulder. 

The second dance was a repetition of Dave's pleasure. Then Dave and Danexchanged partners for two more dances. 

After their first dance, a waltz, Dave led Laura to a seat. 

"Will you get me a glass of water, Dave?" Laura asked, fanning herself. 

As Dave hastened away he felt, once more, a light, detaining touch. 

"Darry, did you save those two dances for me with Miss Meade?" askedTreadwell. 

"Oh, I'm sorry, " Dave replied. "But there had been many otherapplicants. By the time that Miss Meade's card was filled there weremany disappointed ones. "

"And I'm one of them?" demanded Mr. Treadwell. 

"Very sorry, " replied Darrin regretfully, "but you were one of theleft-over ones. "

"Very good, sir, " replied Treadwell coldly, and moved away. 

"Now, I'll wager anything that Treadwell is sore with me, " murmured Daveto himself. "However, Belle is the one to be pleased. "

It was a particularly gay and pleasant hop. When it was over Dave andDan escorted the girls and Mrs. Meade back to the hotel. The little roomin Bancroft Hall seemed especially small and dingy to the returningmidshipmen. 

Especially was Dan Dalzell in the blues. Though he had been outwardlygay with the girls, he now suffered a re-action. Dave, too, shivered forhis friend. 

Mrs. Meade and the girls returned by an early morning train, so the twochums did not see the girls again during that visit. 

On Sunday, Dave went at his books with a dogged air, after morningchapel and dinner. 

"I suppose this is the last day of study for me here, " grimaced Dan, "soI mean to make the most of the pleasure. "

"Nonsense, " retorted Darrin heartily; "you'll finish out this year, andthen have two more solid years of study here ahead of you. "

"Cut it!" begged Dan dolefully. "Don't try to jolly me along like that. "

"You're down in the dumps, just now, Danny boy, " smiled Darrinwistfully. "Just bombard the Board with rapid-fire talk to-morrow, andyou'll pull through all right. "

Dan sighed, then went on with his half-hearted study. 

Later in the afternoon Dave, feeling the need of fresh air, closed hisbooks. 

"Come for a walk, Danny boy?"

"Don't dare to, " replied Dalzell morosely. 

So, though Darrin went out, he resolved not to remain long away from hismoody chum. 

Outside, on one of the cement walks, Dave turned toward Flirtation Walk. It seemed the best surrounding in which to think of Belle. 

"Mr. Darrin!" called a voice. 

Dave turned, to behold Mr. Treadwell coming at a fast stride with ascowl on his face. 

"That was a dirty trick you played me last night, Mr. Darrin!" cried thefirst classman angrily. 

"What?" gasped Dave, astonished, for this was not in line with the usualconversation of midshipmen. 

"You know well enough what I mean, " cried Treadwell angrily. "You spikedmy only chance to dance with Miss Meade. "

"You're wrong there, " retorted Dave coldly and truthfully "I didn't. "

"Then how did it happen?"

"I can't discuss that with you, " Darrin rejoined. "I didn't make anyeffort, though, to spoil your chance of a dance with the young lady. "

"Mr. Darrin, I don't choose to believe you, sir!"

Dave's face went crimson, then pale. 

"Do you realize what you're saying, Mr. Treadwell?"

"Of course"--sneeringly. 

"Are you trying to pick trouble with me!" demanded Dave, his eyesflashing with spirit. 

"I repeat that I don't choose to believe your explanation, sir. "

"Then you pass me the lie?"

"As you prefer to consider it, " jeered the first classman. 

"Oh, very good, then, Mr. Treadwell, " retorted Dave, eyeing the firstclassman and sizing him up. 

Treadwell was one of the biggest men, physically, in the brigade. He wasalso one of the noted fighters of his class. Beside Treadwell, Midshipman Darrin did not size up at all advantageously. 

"If you do not retract what you just said, " pursued Dave Darrin, growingcooler now that he realized the deliberate nature of the affront thathad been put upon him, "I shall have no choice but to send my friends toyou. "

"Delighted to see them, at any time, " replied the first classman, turning disdainfully upon his heel and strolling away. 

"Now, why on earth does that fellow deliberately pick a fight with me?"wondered Darrin, as he strolled along by himself. "Treadwell can thumpme. He can knock me clean down the Bay and into the Atlantic Ocean, butwhat credit is there in it for a first classman to thrash a youngster?"

It was too big a puzzle. After thinking it over for some time Daveturned and strolled back to Bancroft Hall. 

"You didn't stay out long!" remarked Dan, looking up with a weary smileas his chum re-entered their room. 

"No, " admitted Dave. "There wasn't much fun in being out alone. "

With a sigh, Dan turned back to his book, while Dave seated himself athis own study table, in a brown daze. 

Things were happening fast--Dan's impending "bilge" from the NavalAcademy, and his own coming fight with the first classman who would besure to make it a "blood fight"!

CHAPTER XVI

HOW DAN FACED THE BOARD

"We trust, Mr. Dalzell, that you can make some statement or explanationthat will show that we shall be justified in retaining you as amidshipman in the Naval Academy. "

It was the superintendent of the United States Naval Academy who wasspeaking. 

Dan's hour of great ordeal had come upon him. That young midshipmanfound himself in the Board Room, facing the entire Academic Board, trying to remember what Freeman had told him the night before. 

The time was 10. 30 a. M. On that fateful Monday. 

Midshipman Dalzell appeared to be collected, but he was also verycertainly white-faced. 

Many a young man, doomed to be sent forth from a Naval career, back intothe busy, unheeding world, had faced this Board in times past. So it washardly to be expected that Dan would inspire any unusual interest in themembers of the Board. 

Dan swallowed at something hard in his throat, then opened his lips tospeak. 

"I am aware, sir, and gentlemen, that I am at present sufficientlydeficient in my studies to warrant my being dropped, " Dan began ratherslowly. "Yet I would call attention to the fact that I was nearly asbadly off, in the matter of markings, at this time last year. It is alsoa matter of record that I pulled myself together, later on, andcontrived to get through the first year with a considerable margin ofcredits to spare. If I am permitted to finish the present term here Ibelieve I can almost positively promise that I will round out this yearwith as good a showing as I did last year. "

"You have thought the matter carefully out in making this statement, have you, Mr. Dalzell?" asked the superintendent. 

"I have, sir. "

"Have you any explanation to offer for falling below the standards sofar this year, Mr. Dalzell?"

"I believe, sir, that I make a much slower start, with new studies, thanmost of my classmates, " Dan continued, speaking more rapidly now, but ina most respectful manner. "Once I begin to catch the full drift of newstudies I believe that I will overtake some of my classmates who showeda keener comprehension at the first. I think, sir, and gentlemen, thatmy record, as contrasted with the records of some of my classmates whoachieved about the same standing I did for last year will bear mystatement out. "

[Illustration: "Have You Any Explanation to Offer, Mr. Dalzell?"]

The superintendent turned to a printed pamphlet in which were set forththe records of the midshipmen for the year before. 

"Mr. Dalzell, " asked another member of the Board, "do you feel that youare really suited for the life of the Navy? Is it your highest ambitionto become an officer of the Navy?"

"It's my only ambition, sir, in the way of a career, " Dan answeredsolemnly. "As to my being suited for the Navy, sir, I can't make a goodanswer to that. But I most earnestly hope that I shall have anopportunity, for the present, to try to keep myself in the service. "

"And you feel convinced that you need only to be carried for the balanceof the term to enable you to make good, and to justify any action thatwe may take looking to that end?" asked another member of the Board. 

"That is my firm conviction, sir. "

The superintendent, who had been silently examining and marking somestatements in the pamphlet, now passed it to the nearest member of theBoard, who, after a glance or two, passed the pamphlet on to anothermember. 

Silence fell upon the room while Dan's printed record was being read. 

"Have you anything else that you wish to say, Mr. Dalzell?" asked thesuperintendent at last. 

"Only this, sir and gentlemen, " replied Dan promptly. "If I am permittedto go on with the brigade, I promise, as far as any human being maypromise, that I will not only be found to have passed at the end of thisterm, but that I will also have a higher marking after the annualexaminations than after the semi-annuals. "

These last few words Dan spoke with his whole soul thrown into thewords. How he longed to remain in the Navy, now that he stood at thethreshold of the life, uncertain whether he was about to be kickedacross it into the outer world!

After glancing around the table, the superintendent turned once more tothe young man. 

"That will be all, at present, Mr. Dalzell. "

Saluting briskly, crisply, Dan wheeled about, marching from the room. 

He was in time to make a section recitation before dinner. 

"How did you come out, Danny boy?" anxiously inquired Dave Darrin as thetwo, in their room, hastily prepared to answer the coming call fordinner formation. 

"I wish I knew, " replied Dalzell wistfully. "I said all that I couldsay without being everlastingly fresh. "

After the brigade had been formed for dinner, and the brigade adjutanthad reported the fact, the command was given:

"Publish the orders!"

This the brigade adjutant did rapidly, and in perfunctory tones. 

Dalzell jumped, however, when he heard his own name pronounced. Hestrained his ears as the brigade adjutant read:

"In the matter of Daniel Dalzell, summoned before the Academic Board todetermine his fitness and aptitude for continuing in the brigade, theBoard has granted Midshipman Dalzell's urgent request that he becontinued as a midshipman for the present. "

There was a great lump, instantly, in Dan's throat. It was a reprieve, achance for official life--but that was all. 

"I'll make good--I'll make good!" he told himself, with a violent gulp. 

The orders were ringing out sharply now. The midshipmen were beingmarched in to dinner. 

Hardly a word did Dalzell speak as he ate. As for Dave Darrin, he wastoo happy over his chum's respite to want to talk. 

Yet, when they strolled together in the open air during the briefrecreation period following the meal, Dalzell suddenly asked:

"Dave when do you fight with Treadwell?"

"To-night, I hope, " replied Darrin. 

"Oh, then I must get busy!"

"Why?"

"Why, I'm to represent you, Darry. Who are Treadwell's--"

"Danny boy, don't make a fuss about it, " replied Dave quietly, "but justfor this once you are not to be my second. "

"Why--"

"Danny boy, you have just gotten by the Board by a hair's breadth. Whatkind of an act of gratitude would it be for you to make your first act abreach of discipline? For a fight, though often necessary here, is indefiance of the regulations. "

"But Dave, I've never been out of your fights!"

"You will be this time, Danny. Don't worry about it, either. Farley andPage are going to stand by me. In fact, I think that even now they aretalking with Treadwell's friends. "

"You're wrong, " murmured Dalzell, looking very solemn. "Here come Farleyand Page right now. "

In another moment the seconds had reached Darrin and his chum. 

"To-night?" asked Dave Quietly. 

"Yes, " nodded Page. 

"Time?"

"Just after recall. "

"Good, " murmured Darrin. "You two come for me, and I'll be ready. And Ithank both of you fellows for taking up the matter for me. "

"We'll be mighty glad to be there, Darry, " grinned Farley, "for we lookto see you finish off that first classman. "

"Maybe, " smiled Dave quietly. "I'll do all I can, anyway. "

"And to think, " almost moaned Dan Dalzell, "that you're to be in ascrap, David, little giant, and I'm not to be there to see!"

"There'll be other fights, I'm afraid, " sighed Darry. "I seem destinedto displease quite a few of the fellows here at Annapolis. "

Dan tried to study, that night, after Darrin had left the room in thecompany of his seconds. Certainly Dan, in the light of his promise madeto the Board that morning, had need to study. Yet he found it woefullyhard to settle his mind on mathematics while Dave was fighting the fightof his Naval Academy career. 

"Oh, well, " muttered Dan, picking up a pencil for the third time, "Daveand I each have our own styles of fights, just now. Here goes for aknockout blow at math!"

CHAPTER XVII

LOSING THE TIME-KEEPER'S COUNT

Conners and Brayton were Treadwell's seconds. 

Since it is not considered fair to have the referee or time-keeper fromeither class represented in a fight, Edgerton and Wheeler, of the secondclass, were referee and time-keeper respectively. 

All of the young men were early at the usual fighting ground. The fallair was cool and crisp, but it was not yet considered cold enough tojustify the extra risk of holding a fight in-doors. 

Dave was quickly stripped and made ready by his seconds. Hiswell-developed chest bespoke fine powers in the way of "wind" andendurance. His smooth, hard, trim muscles stood out distinctly. 

Treadwell took more time in getting himself ready for the ring. When atlast, however, the first classman stood bared to the waist, he lookedlike a giant beside Dave Darrin. 

"It looks like a shame to take the money, Tread, " murmured refereeEdgerton. 

"I don't want to pound the youngster hard, " explained MidshipmanTreadwell, in an undertone. "Yet I've got to teach him both to respectmy class and myself. "

On this point, as an official of the fight, Referee Edgerton did notfeel called upon to express an opinion. 

Farley, at his first glimpse of the waiting first classman, felt a chillof coming disaster. 

"Page, " he growled, "that huge top-classman makes our Darry look like acreeping infant. "

"Darry will take care of himself, " retorted Midshipman Page in anundertone. 

"Do you believe it?"

"I surely do. "

"But Treadwell looks a whole lot more vast now that he's stripped. "

"Darry is much smaller, I know; But Darrin is one of those rare fellowswho don't know what it means to be whipped. He can't be put out ofbusiness by anything smaller than a twelve-inch gun!"

"I hope you're right, " sighed Farley. 

Dave, in the meantime, to keep himself from being chilled by the frostyair, was running lightly about, swinging his arms. 

"Are you both ready, gentlemen?" inquired Midshipman Edgerton, whileTime-keeper Wheeler drew out his stop watch. 

Both stepped to toe the scratch. 

"Yes. " nodded Dave. 

"Ready!" rumbled Treadwell. 

The referee briefly made the usual announcement about it being a fightto the finish, with two-minute rounds and two minutes between rounds. 

"Time!"

As Treadwell leaped forward, both fists in battery, Dave took a swift, nimble sidestep. He felt that he had to study this big fellow carefullybefore doing more than keep on the defensive. 

Now footwork was one of the fighting tricks for which Darry was famous. Yet he had too much courage to rely wholly upon it. 

Five times Treadwell swung at his smaller opponent, but each time Davewas somewhere else. 

Despite his greater size, Treadwell was himself nimble and an adept atfootwork. 

Finding it hard, however, to get about as quickly as his smalleropponent, the first classman soon went in for close, in-body fighting, following Dave, half-cornering him, and forcing him to stand and takeit. 

Two or three body blows Dave succeeded in parrying so that they glanced, doing him little harm. 

Then there came an almost crunching sound. Treadwell's right fist hadlanded, almost dazing the youngster with its weight against his nose. 

There was a swift, free rush of the red. Darrin had yielded up "firstblood" in the fight. 

"I've got to dodge more, and not let myself be cornered, " Darrin toldhimself, keeping his fists busy in warding off blows. 

Then, of a sudden, Dave turned on the aggressive. He struck fast andfuriously, but Treadwell, with a grin, beat down his attack, then soonlanded a swinging hook on Dave's neck that sent him spinning briefly. 

"He expects to finish this fight for his own amusement, " flashed angrilythrough Darrin's mind. "I'll get in something that hurts before I tossthe sponge. "

"Time!"

Two minutes were up. To Dave it seemed more like half an hour. 

"Steady, now!" murmured Page, in his principal's ear, as the two secondsleaped at the task of rubbing down their men. "Unless you let yourselfget rattled, Darry, that big fellow isn't going to get you. Wheneveryou're on the defensive, and being crowded hard, change like lightningand drive in for the top classer's solar plexus. "

"I tried that three times in this last round, " murmured Dave. "But thefellow is too big and powerful for me. He simply pounds me down when Igo for him. "

"Work for more strategy, " whispered Page, as he held a sponge to Dave'sbattered nose, while Farley rubbed the muscles of his right arm. 

"I haven't given up the fight, " muttered Dave, "But, of course, I'veknown from the start that Treadwell is a pretty big fighter for one ofmy weight. "

"Oh, you'll get him yet, " spoke Page confidently. 

The fighters were being called for the second round. 

In this Dave received considerable punishment, though he landed three orfour times on Treadwell's body. 

Then twice in succession the champion of the third class was knockeddown. 

Neither, however, was a knockout blow. 

Dave took plenty of time, within his rights, about leaping to his feet, and in each instance got away from Treadwell's leaping assault. 

Just after the second knock-down, time was called for the end of theround. 

"You'll get him yet, Darry, " was Page's prediction, but he did not speakas hopefully as before. 

Farley, too, was full of loyalty for his friend and fellow-classman, but he did not allow this to blind his judgment. Farley's opinion wasthat Dave was done for, unless he could land some lucky fluke in aknockout blow. 

"Go right in and land that youngster, " Treadwell's own seconds wereadvising him. "Don't let him have the satisfaction of standing up to youfor three whole rounds or more. "

"Do you think that little teaser is as easy as he looks?" growledTreadwell. 

"Oh, Darrin is all right at his own weight, " admitted MidshipmanConners. "But he has no business with you, Tread. You're quick enough, too, when you exert yourself. So jump right in and finish it before thisround is over. "

"I'll try it, then, " nodded Treadwell. 

Though he had not the slightest notion that he was to be defeated, thisbig top classman was learning a new respect for Darrin's prowess. Hecould thrash Dave, of course, but Treadwell did not expect to do iteasily. 

For the first twenty seconds of the third round the two men sparredcautiously. Dave had no relish for standing the full force of thosesledge-hammer blows, while Treadwell knew that he must look out for theunexpected from his still nimble opponent. 

"Lie down when you've had enough, " jeered Treadwell, as he landed ajolt on one of the youngster's shoulders and sent him reeling slightly. 

Dave, however, used his feet well enough to get away from the follow-up. 

"Are you getting tired?" Darrin shot back at his opponent. 

"Silence, both of you, " commanded Referee Edgerton. "Do all your talkingwith your fists!"

Just then Treadwell saw an opening, and followed the referee's advice byaiming a blow at Dave's left jaw. It landed just back of the ear, instead, yet with such force that Dave sank dizzily to the ground, whileTreadwell drew back from the intended follow-up. 

Farley and Page looked on anxiously from their corner. MidshipmanWheeler, scanning his watch, was counting off the seconds. 

"--five, six, seven, eight, nine--ten!"

At the sound of eight Dave Darrin had made a strenuous effort to rise. 

Yet he had swayed, fallen back slightly, then forced himself with a rushto his feet. 

But Midshipman Treadwell drew back, both fists hanging at his sides, forthe "ten" had been spoken, and Dave Darrin had lost the count. 

While Dave stood there, looking half-dizzily at his opponent, RefereeEdgerton's voice broke in crisply:

"Mr. Darrin required more than the full count to come back. The fight istherefore awarded to Mr. Treadwell. "

CHAPTER XVIII

FIGHTING THE FAMOUS DOUBLE BATTLE

"It wasn't fair, " hissed Midshipman Page hotly. 

"It was by a mighty small margin, anyway, " quivered Farley. 

"I don't feel whipped yet, " remarked Dave quietly. 

"Oh, well, Darry, " urged Farley, "don't feel humiliated over beingthrashed by such a human mountain of a top classer. "

Dave, whose chest had been heaving, and whose lungs had been taking ingreat gulps of air, suddenly pushed his second gently away. 

"Mr. Treadwell, sir, will you come over here a moment?" he called. "Andalso the officials of the fight?"

Treadwell, with a self-satisfied leer on his face, stepped away from hisseconds coming jauntily over. 

Midshipman Edgerton and Wheeler followed in some wonder. 

"Mr. Treadwell, " began Dave, looking full into the eyes of his lateantagonist, "I have no fault, sir, to find with your style of fighting. You behaved fairly at every point. "

"Thank you, sir, " interjected the big midshipman grimly. 

"The verdict was also fair enough, " Dave continued, "for I am aware thatI took a hair's-breadth more than the count. Still, I do not feel, Mr. Treadwell, that the result was decisive. Therefore I have to ask of youthe favor of another early meeting, for a more definite try-out. "

Treadwell gasped. So did his recent seconds and the late officials ofthe fight. Even Farley's jaw dropped just a trifle, but Page's faceflushed with new-found pleasure. 

"Another fight, sir?" demanded Midshipman Treadwell. 

"Yes, sir, " replied Darrin quietly. 

"Oh, very well, " agreed Treadwell, nonchalantly. "At any time that youwish, Mr. Darrin--any time. "

"How would fifteen minutes from now do?" demanded Dave, smiling coolly. 

Treadwell fairly gasped, though only from sheer astonishment. 

"Why, if your seconds and the officials think that fair to you, Mr. Darrin, " replied Treadwell in another moment, "I am sure that I have noobjection to remaining around here a little longer. "

"Do you insist on calling for the second fight within fifteen minutes, Mr. Darrin?" asked Second Classman Edgerton. 

"For my own part, I do, " replied Dave quietly; "I leave the decision toMr. Treadwell's courtesy. "

"Well, of all the freaks!" muttered Mr. Wheeler, as the two fightofficials walked aside to discuss the matter. 

"Darry, " demanded the agitated Farley, "are you plumb, clean crazy?"

"Do you know what we're fighting about, Farley, old man?" asked Davevery quietly. 

"No; of course not. "

"It's a personal matter. "

"O-oh!"

"It's a matter in which I can't accept an imitation whipping. "

"But surely you don't expect to whip Treadwell in your presentcondition?"

"I very likely shall get a thorough trouncing, " smiled Darrin. 

"It's madness, " broke in Page worriedly. 

"I told you it was a personal matter, " laughed Dave softly. "I shan'tmind getting whacked if it is done up in good shape. It's only thisnear-whipping to which I object. "

"Well--great Scott!" gasped Page. 

"Hush!" warned Farley. "Here comes Edgerton. "

Midshipman Edgerton, looking very much puzzled, stepped over to DaveDarrin's corner. 

"Darrin, " began the referee in a friendly tone, "Tread doesn't like theidea of fighting you again to-night. "

"Didn't he say he would?" demanded Darrin. 

"Yes; but of course, but--"

"I hold him to his word, Mr. Edgerton. "

"But of all the crazy--"

"I have my own reasons, sir, " Darrin interposed quietly. "I think itvery likely, too, that Mr. Treadwell will comprehend my reasons. "

"But he doesn't like the idea of fighting an already half-whipped man. "

"Will it get on his nerves and unsteady him?" asked Dave ironically. 

"Are you bound to fight to-night, Mr. Darrin?"

"I am, sir. "

"Then I suppose it goes--it has to, " assented Midshipman Edgertonmoodily. "But of all the irrational--"

"Just what I said, sir, " nodded Page. 

"I shall be ready, sir, when the fifteen minutes are up, " continuedDave. "But I am certain that I shall need all the time until then forgetting myself into first-class condition. "

"Darry is a fool--and a wonder!" ejaculated Edgerton under his breath, as he walked away. 

"I'm sorry, Darry, " murmured Farley mournfully, "but--well, beat yourway to it!"

"I intend to, " retorted Dave doggedly. 

Rubbed down by his seconds, Dave drew on his blouse, without a shirt. 

Quitting the others, Dave walked briskly back and forth. At last hebroke into a jog-trot. 

At last he halted, inflating and emptying his lungs with vigorousbreathing. 

"I feel just about as good as ever, " he declared, nodding cheerily tohis seconds. 

"Get off that blouse, then, " ordered Midshipman Farley, after a glanceat his watch. "We've two minutes left out of the fifteen. "

"I'll go forward at the scratch, then, " nodded Dave. 

Treadwell, in the meantime, had pulled on his outer clothing and hadstood moodily by, watching Dave's more workmanlike preparations with adisdainful smile. 

"I'll get the fellow going quickly this time, " Mr. Treadwell toldConners. "As soon as I get him going I'll dive in with a punch that willwind up the matter in short order. I've planned to do considerablereviewing of navigation to-night. "

"I hope you have your wish, " murmured Conners. 

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. "

"Do you think I'm going to have any trouble whatever about finishing upthat touge youngster!" demanded Tread well sarcastically. 

"No; I don't imagine you will. But at the same time, Tread, I tell you Idon't care about having enemies among fellows who come back as swiftly, strongly and as much like a bulldog as Darry does. "

Seeing Dave pull off his blouse, Treadwell slowly removed his ownclothing above the waist. 

"Rub me down along the arms a bit, " said Midshipman Treadwell, after hehad exercised his arms a moment. 

"I reckon we'd better, " nodded Conners. "You must have got stiff fromstanding still after the late mix-up. "

"No kinks but what will iron out at once, " chuckled Treadwell. "I'llshow you as soon as I get in action. "

His two seconds rubbed him down loyally. 

"Are you ready, gentlemen?" called Midshipman Edgerton. 

Both men stepped quickly forward, but all of the onlookers thought theysaw rather more spring in Dave Darrin than in his more bulky opponent. 

The preliminaries were announced in a few words. 

Of course, there was no handshaking. 

"Time!" sounded the call. 

Dave Darrin quickly proved to be so full of vigor that Treadwell layback on the defensive after the first two or three passes. Dave followedhim right up with vim. 

Yet, for the first forty seconds of the round no real damage was done oneither side. Then:

Bump!

"O-o-oh!"

That cry came simultaneously from Treadwell and from all the spectators. 

Dave's right fist had landed crushingly on the top classman's left eye, almost instantly closing that organ. 

Darrin leaped nimbly back, both from a chivalrous impulse to giveTreadwell a chance to recover his steadiness and to save himself fromany sudden rush and clinch by his big opponent. 

But Treadwell, standing with his guard up, showed no inclination tofollow the one who had just given him such punishment. 

"Mix it up, gentlemen--mix it!" called Midshipman Edgerton impatiently. 

At that command from the referee Dave Darrin sprang forward. 

Treadwell seemed wholly on the defensive now, though he struck asheavily as ever. Toward the end of the round Treadwell, having gottenover the worst of the stinging from his eye, once more tried to rushmatters. 

Whenever the big fellow's undamaged eye caught sight of the cool, hostile smile on Darrin's face, Treadwell muttered savage words. 

Some hard body blows were parried and others exchanged. 

Both men were panting somewhat when the call of time closed the firstround. 

"Darry, you nervy little rascal, waltz in and put that other eye up inblack clothes!" begged Page ecstatically, as he and Farley worked overtheir principal. 

Dave was ready quite twenty seconds before the call of time for thesecond round. 

Treadwell, however, took his full time in responding. At the last momenthe took another dab with the wet sponge against his swollen left eye. 

"Time!"

With a suppressed yell Treadwell rushed at his opponent. Dave had tosidestep to his own right, out of range of Treadwell, to save himself. 

Then at it they went, all around the ring. Darrin had determined tokeep himself out of the way of those sledge-hammer fists until he sawhis own clear opening. 

Four or five times Treadwell landed heavily on Darrin's ribs. Theyounger, smaller midshipman was getting seriously winded, but all thetime he fought to save himself and to get that one opening. 

It came. 

Pound!

Darrin's hard-clenched left fist dropped in on Treadwell's right eye. 

This time there was no exclamation from the bruised one. 

Alert Dave was careful to give him no chance. Within a second after thateye-closer landed Darrin struck with his right, landing on the jaw boneunder Treadwell's ear. 

Down in a heap sank the top classman. He was unconscious before his bodystruck the ground. 

Wheeler counted off the seconds. 

"--ten!"

Still Mr. Treadwell lay motionless. 

"Do your best for him, gentlemen, " begged Referee Edgerton, turning tothe first classman's seconds. "Mr. Darrin wins the second fight. "

Dave, a satisfied look on his face, stepped back to his seconds. 

This time he did not require as much attention. Within five minutes hewas dressed. 

By this time Mr. Treadwell, under the ministrations of his seconds andof the late officials, was just coming back to consciousness. 

"Something happened, eh?" asked the top classman drowsily. 

"Rather!" murmured Mr. Edgerton dryly. 

"Did I--did I--lose the fight?"

"You did, " Edgerton assented. "But don't let that disturb you. You wentdown before the best man in the Naval Academy. "

Treadwell sighed gloomily. It was a hard blow to his pride--much harderthan any that Dave had landed on his head. 

"Mr. Treadwell, " inquired Dave, stepping over, "we are comrades, even ifwe had a slight disagreement. Do you care to shake hands?"

"Help me to my feet, " urged the first classman, who was sitting up. 

His seconds complied. Then Midshipman Treadwell held out his hand. 

"Here's my hand, " he said rather thickly. "And I apologize, too, Mr. Darrin. "

"Then say no more about it, please, " begged Dave, as their hands met ina strong clasp. 

None of the others present had the least idea of the provocation ofthis strange, spirited double fight. All, however, were glad to see thedifficulty mended. 

Then Dave and his seconds, leaving the field first, made their way backto Bancroft Hall. Farley and Page went straight to their own room. 

"How did it come out?" demanded Dan Dalzell eagerly, as soon as his chumentered their quarters. 

Dropping into a chair, Dave told the story of the double fight briefly. He told it modestly, too, but Dan could imagine what his chum omitted. 

"David, little giant, " exclaimed Dalzell, leaping about him, "that fightwill become historic here! Oh, how I regret having missed it. Don't youever dare to leave me out again!"

"It wasn't such a much, " smiled Dave rather wearily, as he went over tohis study desk. 

"Perhaps it's indiscreet, even of a chum, " rambled on Dalzell, "butwhat--"

"What was the fight all about?" laughed Dave softly. "Yes; I suppose youhave a right to know that, Danny boy. But you must never repeat it toany one. Treadwell wanted to dance with Belle at the hop, but she hadalready noticed him, and declared she didn't want to dance with him. Ofcourse that settled it. But Treadwell accused me of not having askedBelle. "

"The nerve !" ejaculated Dan in disgust. 

"And then he accused me of lying when I declared I had done my best forhim, " continued Dave. 

"I feel that I'd like to fight the fellow myself!" declared Dan Dalzellhotly. 

"Oh, no, you don't; for Treadwell apologized to-night, and we haveshaken hands. We're all comrades, you know, Danny boy. "

 * * * * *

Unknown to any of the parties to the fight, there had been spectators ofthe spirited double battle. 

Two men, a sailor and a marine, noting groups of midshipmen going towardthe historic battle ground of midshipmen, had hidden themselves near-byin order "to see the fun. "

These two enlisted men of the Navy had been spectators and auditors ofall that had taken place. 

Not until the last midshipman had left the ground did the sailor andmarine emerge from their hiding place. 

"Well, of all the game fights!" muttered the marine. 

"Me? I'm hoping that some day I fight under that gallant middy, " criedthe sailor. 

"Who is this Mr. Darrin?" asked the marine, as the pair strolled away. 

"He's a youngster--third classman. But he's one of the chaps who, onthe cruise, last summer, went over into a gale after anothermiddy--Darrin and his chum did it. "

"There must be fine stuff in Mr. Darrin, " murmured the marine. 

"Couldn't you see that much just now?" demanded the sailor, who took theremark as almost a personal affront, "My hat's off to Mr. Darrin. He'sone of our future admirals. If I round out my days in the service itwill be the height of my ambition to have him for my admiral. And amighty sea-going officer he'll be, at that!"

In their enthusiasm over the spectacle they had seen, the sailor and themarine talked rather too much. 

They were still talking over the battle as they strolled slowly past oneof the great, darkened buildings. 

In the shadow of this building, not far away, stood an officer whomneither of the enlisted men of the Navy saw; else they would havesaluted him. 

That officer, Lieutenant Willow, U. S. Navy, listened with a good deal ofinterest. 

Mr. Willow was one of those officers who are known as duty-mad. Hegathered that there had been a fight, so he deemed it his duty toreport the fact at once to the discipline officer in charge over atBancroft Hall. 

Regretting the necessity, yet full of the idea of doing his duty, Lieutenant Willow wended his way promptly towards the office of theofficer in charge. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE OFFICER IN CHARGE IS SHOCKED

Through the main entrance of Bancroft Hall, into the stately corridor, Lieutenant Willow picked his way. 

He looked solemn--unusually so, even for Lieutenant Willow, U. S. N. Hehad the air of a man who hates to do his duty, but who is convinced thatthe heavens would fall if he didn't. 

To his left he turned, acknowledging smartly the crisp salute given himby the midshipman assistant officer of the day. 

Into the outer office of the officer in charge stepped Mr. Willow, andthence on into the smaller room where Lieutenant-Commander Stearns satreading. 

"Oh, good evening, Willow, " hailed Lieut. Stearns heartily. 

"Good evening, Stearns, " was the almost moody reply. 

"Sit down and let's have a chat I'm glad to see you, " urgedLieutenant-Commander Stearns. 

Mr. Stearns, he of the round, jovial face, gazed at his junior withtwinkling eyes. 

"Willow, " he muttered, "I'm half inclined to believe that you've cometo me to make an official report. "

"I guess I have, " nodded Lieutenant Willow. 

"And against some unfortunate midshipman, at that!"

"Against two, at least, " sighed Mr. Willow, "and there were othersinvolved in the affair. "

"It must be something fearful, " said Mr. Stearns, who knew the juniorofficer's inclination to be duty-mad. "But, see here, if you make anofficial report you'll force me to take action, even though it'ssomething that I'd secretly slap a midshipman on the shoulder for doing. No--don't begin to talk yet, Willow. Try a cigar and then tell me, personally, what's worrying you. Then perhaps it won't be altogetherneedful to make an official report. "

"I never was able to take you--er--somewhat jovial views of an officer'sduty, Stearns, " sighed Lieutenant Willow. 

Nevertheless, he selected a cigar, bit off the end, lighted it and tooka few whiffs, Lieutenant-Commander Stearns all the while regarding hiscomrade in arms with twinkling eyes. 

"Now, fire ahead, Willow, " urged the officer in charge, "but pleasedon't make your communication an official one--not at first. Fire ahead, now, Willow. "

"Well--er--just between ourselves, " continued Lieutenant Willow slowly, "there has been a fight to-night between two midshipmen. "

"No!"

Lieutenant-Commander Stearns struck his fist rather heavily against thedesk. 

"A fight--a real fight--with fists?" continued the officer in charge, ina tone of mock incredulity. "No, no, no, Willow, you don't mean it--youcan't mean it!"

"Yes, I do, " rejoined the junior officer rather stiffly. 

"Oh, dear, what is the service coming to?" gasped Stearns ironically. "Why, Willow, we never heard of such things when we were midshipmenhere. Now, did we?"

"I'm afraid we did--sometimes, " admitted the junior officer. "But dutyis duty, you know, my dear Stearns. And this was an unusual fight, too. The man who was whipped insisted on another fight right then and there, and--he won the second fight. "

"Bully!" chuckled the officer in charge. "Whew, but I wish I had beenthere!"

"Stearns, you surely don't mean that?" gasped duty-mad Mr. Willow. 

"You're quite right, Willow. No; I certainly don't want to be aspoilsport, and I'm glad I wasn't there--in my official capacity. ButI'd like to have been divested of my rank for just an hour so that Icould have taken in such a scene as that. "

"I'm--I'm just a bit astonished at your saying it, Stearns, " rejoinedLieutenant Willow. "But then, you're always joking. "

"Perhaps I am joking, " assented the officer in charge dryly, "but Inever lose sight of the fact that our Navy has been built up, at hugeexpense, as a great fighting machine. Now, Willow, it takes fighting mento run a fighting machine. Of course, I'm terribly shocked to know thattwo midshipmen really had the grit to fight--but who were they! Mindyou, I'm not asking you in an official way. This question is purelypersonal--just between ourselves. Who were the men? And, especially, whowas the fellow who lost the decision, and then had the utter effronteryto demand a second chance at once, only to win the second fight?"

"Darrin was the man who lost the first fight and won the second, "replied Lieutenant Willow. 

"Mr. Darrin? One of our youngsters! Yes; I think I know him. And whatman of his class did he whip, the second time he tried!"

"It wasn't a man of his own class. It was Mr. Treadwell, of the firstclass, " rejoined Lieutenant Willow. 

"What?" almost exploded the officer in charge. "Did you say that Mr. Darrin fought with Mr. Treadwell, that husky top classman, and, losingthe decision on the count, insisted on fighting again the same evening?Oh, say, what a fellow misses by being cooped up in an office likethis!"

"But--but the breach of regulations!" stammered the duty-mad lieutenant. 

"My dear fellow, neither you nor I know anything about thisfight--officially. The Navy, after all, is a fighting machine. Do youfeel that the Navy can afford to lose a fighting man like thatyoungster?"

So Lieutenant Willow left Lieutenant-Commander Stearns' presence, notquite convinced he was performing his whole duty, but glad to bow to thedecision of a ranking officer. 

Two days later Dave and Dan were surprised at being halted byLieutenant-Commander Stearns. 

"Good afternoon, Mr. Darrin, " came the pleasant greeting. "Goodafternoon, Mr. Dalzell. Mrs. Stearns and I would be greatly pleased ifyou could take dinner with us. Couldn't you come next Sunday?"

The two midshipmen were astonished and delighted at this invitation. While it was not uncommon for officers to invite midshipmen to theirhomes, where there were so many midshipmen, it was as a rule only theyoung men who made themselves prominent socially who captured thesecoveted invitations. Darrin and Dalzell concealed their surprise, butexpressed their pleasure in accepting the gracious invitation. 

On entering Mrs. Stearns' drawing room the next Sunday Mr. Darrin andMr. Dalzell were introduced to two pretty girls. Miss Flora Gentle was acousin of their hostess. She had visited Annapolis before, and, beingpretty and vivacious, at the same time kind and considerate, she hadmany friends among the midshipmen. Marian Stevens, who had accompaniedher on this visit, was a direct contrast. Flora was blonde. Marian wasthe dark, flashing type. She was spoiled and imperious, yet she had adashing, open way about her that made her a favorite among young people. 

The two girls had heard of the double fight. Marian, therefore, waspleased when she found that Dave was to be her dinner partner. 

"He's handsome, " thought the girl, "and he's brave and dashing. He'llmake his mark in the Navy. He doesn't know it yet, but he'll becomemine, and mine alone. "

Miss Stevens was a calculating young person, and had already decidedthat Navy life was the life for her and that she would marry into it. At seventeen, she looked upon the officers as old men, even theyoungest of them, so was giving her time and her smiles to themidshipmen. That the Navy pay is small did not trouble Maid Marian, asshe liked to be called, as on her twenty-first birthday she would comeinto a considerable fortune of her own. 

She exerted herself all through the Stearns' dinner to captivate DaveDarrin. He, without diminution of love and loyalty to Belle Mead, wasglad to be on friendly terms with this dashing and sprightly girl. 

Coffee was served in the drawing room. Several officers dropped in. Marian, who wished no one to come between her and Dave for a while, turned to her host. 

"Mr. Stearns, do the regulations make it improper for Flora and me toask Mr. Darrin and Mr. Dalzell to take us for a stroll about the yard?"she asked with a pretty air of deference. The "yard" includes all thegrounds belonging to the Naval Academy. 

"They do not, Miss Marian, " was the smiling response. 

"With our hostess's approval we shall be charmed to grant any requestthe young ladies make, " ventured Dave, as Marian smiled into his eyes. 

But Marian, the wily and experienced, found herself baffled during thiswalk. Using all her cajoleries, she could bring him to a certain pointbeyond which he would not go. As a matter of fact, Dave Darrin, securein his loyalty to Belle, did not perceive what Maid Marian was strivingto lead up to, but saw in her only a lively and interesting girl. 

"I'll get you yet, Midshipman Darrin, " she vowed to herself after theyhad parted. 

The gossip of a sweetheart in his home town which in time reached herears only made the girl more determined to get her way. Looking in themirror with satisfaction, she murmured:

"There'll be the added zest of making Midshipman Darrin forget thedistant face of that home girl. "

Not on that visit did Maid Marian succeed in leading Dave beyond thepoint of simple but sincere friendship. However, Miss Stevens could becharming to whomsoever she wished, and before she left Annapolis she hadsecured invitations to visit the wife of more than one of the officers. 

CHAPTER XX

CONCLUSION

Christmas came and went, and soon after this the semi-annualexaminations were on in earnest. Some of the midshipmen failed and sadlyturned their faces homeward to make a place for themselves in some otherlane of life. Dan Dalzell, however, made good his promise, and by abetter margin than he had dared hope. Dave came through the examinationsomewhat better than his chum. Both felt assured now that they wouldround out the year with fair credit to themselves. 

Marian Stevens came to Annapolis several times during the latter half ofthe year, and as it is expected that the future officer shall havesocial as well as Naval training, Dave Darrin met her often. 

Exasperation that she could draw the young midshipman on only so farsoon changed in Miss Stevens to anger and chagrin. Still Dave, givingprolonged thought to no girl except Belle Meade, saw in her only alively companion. Sometimes he was her dinner partner. Always at a dancehe danced with her more than once. 

It was at one such dance that she looked up as they circled the room tosay:

"I wonder if you know, Mr. Darrin, how much I enjoy dancing with you. "

"Not as much as I enjoy dancing with you, " he replied smilingly. Justthen the music stopped suddenly and an officer called in a voice thatcarried over the great floor of the gymnasium and over all the chatter:

"Ladies and gentlemen, one moment's attention, please!"

In an instant all was still. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, " continued the officer, "official permission hasbeen granted for taking a flashlight photograph of the scene to-night. Will everybody please remain where he is until after the exposure hasbeen made?"

Dave and Marian had paused directly in front of the lens of the camera. Maid Marian looked up and made a light, jesting remark, gazing straightinto the midshipman's eyes. Dave, smiling, bent forward to hear what shesaid. 

Just then came the flash, and the photographer, his work finished forthe time, gathered his paraphernalia together and left. The musicrecommenced and the dancing proceeded. 

Three weeks later that photograph was reproduced as a double-pageillustration in one of the prominent pictorial weeklies. 

The day the magazine was on the newsstands Dan Dalzell bought a copy. Entering their quarters with it in his hand he opened it at theillustration and handed it to Dave. 

"You and Miss Stevens show up better than any one else, Dave, " remarkedDan. 

"The photograph is a good piece of work, " was Dave's only comment. Hedid not wish to express the annoyance he felt when he noted theappearance of intimacy between him and Marian, whose beauty showed, evenin this reproduction. "I'd a bit rather Belle shouldn't see this paper, "he admitted to himself. 

"David, old boy, this picture would make a good exhibit in abreach-of-promise suit. "

"That's an unkind remark to make about a fine girl like Miss Stevens, "said Dave coldly. 

Dan stared, then went off, pondering. 

Belle Meade, in her Gridley home, received one day a large, square, thinpackage. She saw the mark of the Annapolis express office, and hastilysnatched up scissors to cut the string. Out came a huge photograph. 

"A picture of an Annapolis dance! How thoughtful of Dave to send it tome!" Then her eyes fell on two figures around which a ring had beendrawn in ink. They were Dave Darrin and a pretty girl. On the margin ofthe card had been scrawled in bold letters:

"Your affair of the heart will bear close watching if you stillcherish!"

This was signed, contemptibly and untruthfully, "A Friend. "

"Uh!" murmured Belle in hurt pride and loyalty. Then she said resolutelyto herself: "I will pay no attention to this. An anonymous communicationis always meant to hurt and to give a false impression. "

But there was the picture before her eyes of Dave and the pretty girl inseemingly great intimacy. So though she continued to write to themidshipman and tried hard to make her letters sound as usual, in spiteof herself a coldness crept into them that Dave felt. 

"She must have seen that pictorial weekly, " thought the boy miserably. But as Belle said nothing of this, he could not write of it. 

The season was well along. Dave and Dan sent Belle Meade and LauraBentley invitations to one of the later spring dances. 

"I wonder if she'll come or if she's tiring of me, " thought Dave Darrinbitterly. 

But Belle answered, accepting the invitation for Laura and herself. 

When Saturday afternoon came both midshipmen hurried to the hotel in thetown and sent up their cards. Mrs. Meade soon appeared, saying the girlswould be down shortly. 

"Are they both well?" asked Dave. His tone was as one giving ameaningless greeting, but in his heart he waited anxiously to hear whather mother should say of Belle. 

"Well, yes. But Belle has been moping around the house a great deal, Dave, rather unlike her usual self, " replied Mrs. Meade slowly. 

If Mrs. Meade deplored this, Dave Darrin did not. It showed him at leastthat the girl's apparent coldness was not caused by her interest in someother young man. 

But when the girls came in and Belle greeted him cordially, to be sure, but with something of restraint, his heart sank again. 

"What's the matter, Belle? Has something gone wrong?" asked Dave whenDan was engaging the attention of Mrs. Meade and Laura. 

"Nothing. Is all right with you?"

"Surely!"

"Dave, when we're alone I have something to show you. I fear you have anenemy here. "

"An enemy! Oh, no. But I shall be glad to see what you have to show me. "

It was not long before, at a word from Dave, Dan took Mrs. Meade andLaura out for a walk. It was then that Belle got the large photographwith the two figures ringed in ink and showed it to Dave. 

"Why, what does this mean? Some one must have taken a good deal oftrouble to secure this photograph. The picture was taken for a pictorialweekly. One can get a photograph from which the cut is made, but it istroublesome and possibly expensive!"

"You have an enemy, then; some one bent on hurting you?"

"I don't know who it could be. My, how angry Miss Stevens would be ifshe knew of this!"

"Miss Stevens? Is that the girl?"

"Yes. She's visited here often this year. She knows a number of theofficers' wives. She's vivacious and always has a good time, but she'snothing to me, Belle. You know that, don't you?"

"I have never doubted you, Dave. Let us tear this up. I thought at firstI'd not show it to you; then decided it was best not to begin concealingthings from you. But let us not think of the thing again. "

"Belle, you're a thoroughbred!" and here the matter dropped as far as itwas between Dave Darrin and Belle Meade. 

Miss Stevens was at the dance that evening. Though she tried hard tomake that impossible, Dave did not dance with her, nor did he introduceher to Belle, though there again Marian tried to force this. 

It would have been well for Marian if Dan Dalzell had been equallycircumspect. 

This time it was Belle who contrived and got the introduction to theother girl, but Marian was by no means reluctant, so it was that theymanaged to get a few moments alone together when they had sent theirdance partners to get something for them. 

"You are a friend of Dave's, aren't you?" asked Marian. 

"Of Mr. Darrin's? Oh, yes, we've always known each other. "

"Then you've been here to many of these dances?"

"Only two. "

"Too bad you could not have been here oftener. This has been anunusually brilliant season. Really, many of the young people have losttheir heads--or their hearts. I often wonder if these midshipmen havesweethearts at home. " This daring--and impertinent--remark was mademusingly but smilingly. 

"These Annapolis affairs are never very serious, I imagine, " Belleobserved calmly. 

"On the contrary, most of the Navy marriages date back to an Annapolisfirst meeting. "

"Then you think it well to come often?"

"Unless one has other ways of keeping in touch, " was the brazen reply. 

"I have, " said Belle sweetly. "I receive a good many souvenirs in thecourse of a year. One last winter was a photograph. " With the wordsBelle gazed intently into Miss Stevens' eyes. Then she went on: "Therewas an anonymous message written on it. It was a lying message, ofcourse, as anonymous messages always are, written in a coarse hand. Didyou ever study handwriting, Miss Stevens?"

Marian gasped, realizing she was out-maneuvered. 

"This writing had all the characteristics of a woman whose instincts arecoarse, that of a treacherous though not dangerous person--"

"Here's Mr. Sanderson back. Will you excuse me, Miss Meade?" and Marianfairly fled. 

Belle told Dave she had found out who had sent the photograph, butadded:

"I wish you wouldn't ask me who it was, Dave. I can assure you that theperson who did it will never trouble us again, " and as Dave did not liketo think evil of any one, he consented, and continued to think of MarianStevens, when he thought of her at all, as a jolly girl. 

The annual examinations were approaching. Dan Dalzell was buried deep ingloom. Dave Darrin kept cheerful outwardly, but doubts crept into hisheart. 

The examinations over, Dave felt reasonably safe. But Dan's gloomdeepened, for he was sure he had failed in "skinny, " as the boys termedchemistry and physics. So it was that when the grades were posted Davescanned the D's in the list of third classmen who had passed. Dan, onthe other hand, turned instantly to what he termed the "bust list. "

"Why, why, I'm not there!" he muttered. 

"Look at the passing list, Danny, " laughed Dave. 

Unbelieving, Dan turned his eyes on the list and to his utterastonishment found his name posted. True, in "skinny" he had a barepassing mark. But in other subjects he was somewhat above the minimum. 

"So you see, old man, we'll both be here next year as second classmen, "said Dave jubilantly. 

This was as Dave Darrin said, and what happened during this time may belearned in a volume entitled, "DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS;or, Leaders of the Second Class Midshipmen. "

THE END