nized the fourth midshipman?" pursued the O.C.
"That, in itself, was strange, Mr. Darrin, was there any agreement among
you three that you would not recognize your comrade?"

"Not exactly an agreement, sir," Dave confessed candidly. "At the
distance that we were from the scene before we rushed in the darkness
prevented our seeing the face of the unknown midshipman. As we started
forward, I will admit that I warned Mr. Dalzell and Mr. Joyce not to look
at the other midshipman's face."

"So that you might answer truthfully, if asked, that you did not
know the man?"

"Yes, sir; that was my reason for so advising Mr. Dalzell and Mr. Joyce."

"That was what might be termed extraordinary foresight, Mr. Darrin,"
remarked Lieutenant-Commander Denham ironically.

"Thank you, sir," answered Dave as innocently as though he did not
understand that he had just been rebuked. The O.C. frowned.

"Mr. Darrin, since I assume you to have been the ringleader of your trio,
did you give that wonderful advice to your companions just so that you
might be able to refuse any aid to the Naval Academy authorities in
running this matter to the ground?"

"Yes, sir," Dave answered very frankly.

"You wished, then," demanded the O.C. sternly, "to hinder the course of
justice at the Naval Academy?"

"It, at least, sir, did not strike me at the time quite in that light."

"Yet something was happening on the streets of Annapolis that you knew
would be very thoroughly investigated if it were reported here, and so
you took precautions against being able to aid the authorities in the
investigation?"

"I admit the truth of that, sir."

"Mr. Darrin, why did you feel called upon to try to defeat the
investigation that you foresaw, and which is now under way?"

"Because, sir, it is contrary to the spirit of the brigade of midshipmen
to carry tales against each other. I did not care to act contrary to
that spirit."

"Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that you did not dare,"
observed the O.C. half sneeringly.

"That way of stating it would be true, sir. I do not care to turn
informer against my comrades."

"Yet you think you possess the courage to become one of our fighting
officers in the future, if the need arises?

"Of my courage as a fighting man, sir, I am unable to form any opinion
until that courage has been properly tested."

"But you are afraid to inform the authorities of the identity of comrades
who commit serious offenses