or swung open. Lieutenant
Adams, U.S.N., entered the room.

"Mr. Darrin, are you awake?" boomed the discipline officer.

Dave stirred in bed, rolled over so that he could see the lieutenant,
and then replied:

"Yes, sir."

"Rise, Mr. Darrin, and come to attention."

Dave got out of bed, but purposely stumbled in doing so. This
might give the impression that he had been actually awakened.

"Mr. Darrin," demanded Lieutenant Adams, "have you been absent from
this room tonight?"

"Yes, sir."

"After taps was sounded?"

"No, sir."

"You are fully aware of what you have answered?"

"Yes, sir."

"Very good."

That was all. A midshipman's word must be taken, for he is a
gentleman---that is to say, a man of honor.

"Mr. Dalzell!"

Poor Dan stirred uneasily.

"Mr. Dalzell!" This time the Naval officer's voice was sharper.

Dan acted as though he were waking with difficulty. He had no
intention, in the face of a direct question, of denying that he
had been absent without leave. But he moved thus slowly, hoping
desperately that the few seconds of time thus rained would be
sufficient to bring to him some inspiration that might save him.

"Mr Dalzell, come to attention!"

Dan stood up, the personification of drowsiness, saluted, then
let his right hand fall at his side and stood blinking, bracing
for them correct military attitude.

"It's too bad to disturb the boy!" thought Lieutenant Adams.
"Surely, this young man hasn't been anywhere but in bed since taps."

None the less the Naval officer, as a part of his duty, put the
question:

"Mr. Dalzell, have you, since taps, been out of this room? Did
you return, let us say, by the route of the open window from the
terrace?"

Midshipman Dalzell stiffened. He didn't intend to betray his own
honor by denying, yet he hated to let out the admission that would
damage him so much.

Bang! It was an explosion like a crashing pistol shot, and it
sounded from the corridor outside.

There could be no such thing as an assault at arms in guarded
Bancroft Hall. The first thought that flashed, excitedly, through
Lieutenant Adams's mind was that perhaps the real delinquent guilty
of the night's escapade had just shot himself. It was a wild
guess, but a pistol shot sometimes starts a wilder guess.

Out into the corridor darted Lieutenant Adams. He did not immediately
return to the room, so Dave Darrin, with rare and desperate presence
of mind, closed the d