ey, who felt far more
unhappy than he was willing that Dave should see. In the end, Farley
returned to his own room, pondering deeply and trying to think out some
plan of speech or of action that would save Midshipman Dave Darrin from
the class anger that seemed certain to come.

After supper and just before study time was due, Dave went to Jetson's
door and knocked. As he entered he found Warner, the other midshipman
quartered there, as well as Jetson.

"Good evening, gentlemen," began Dave, after he had stepped into the room
and closed the door.

"Good evening, Darrin," responded Warner, while Jetson merely scowled and
picked up a book.

"Warner," went on Dave, "I came here to have a brief talk with Mr.
Jetson. Would it be asking too much to ask you to step outside--unless
Mr. Jetson feels that he would prefer that you remain?"

"Mr. Jetson prefers that Mr. Warner remain, and that Mr. Darrin take
himself away with great expedition," broke in Jetson decisively.

But Warner thought differently, and, with a murmured "certainly, Darrin,"
he left the room.

"I won't ask you to take a seat, Mr. Darrin," said Jetson, "because I'll
be candid enough to say that I hope you won't remain long."

"I don't need a seat," laughed Dave easily, "for I've heard that the best
Americans transact their business on their feet. Mr. Jetson, I've come on
a somewhat embarrassing mission."

"Yes?"--sneeringly.

"You know quite well the snarl that is to be untied before the class
meeting Friday evening."

"Quite well," replied Jetson sulkily. "It is a situation that I owe to
the fact of having been acquainted with yourself, Mr. Darrin."

"Jetson," resumed Dave, dropping the formal "Mr.", "the situation is one
that menaces you and your standing here. It menaces me equally. I could
get myself out of the scrape quite easily by withdrawing from the stand
that I took the other night."

"I either fail or refuse to understand why you went to the risk that you
did the other night, Mr. Darrin."

"If I were to retract what I said," Darrin added, "it would cause me to
violate whatever respect I may have for right and justice. On the other
hand, Jetson, surely you do not consider yourself right in refusing an
apology for a remark in which you thoughtlessly cast an unjust reflection
upon the whole body of midshipmen."

"To what is this leading, Mr. Darrin?"

"Jetson, your own sense of honor and justice surely tells you that you
owe it to