ll for your splendid, hard work!"

Thanks like that was sweet music, after all. But Dick raced to
dressing quarters full of but one thing.

"Quick, Holmesy! We don't know how soon the Navy team may have
to run down the road to a train."

"Aren't they going to have supper at the mess?" demanded Greg,
as he stripped.

"I don't know; I'm afraid not."

Dick and Greg were the first of the Army nine to be dressed in
their fatigue uniforms. Immediately they made a quick break for
the Navy quarters.

"It looks almost cheeky to throw ourselves in on the other fellows,"
muttered Greg dubiously. "Some of the middies will think we've come
in on purpose to see how they take their beating."

"They didn't get a bad enough beating to need to feel ashamed,"
replied Dick. "And we won't say a word about the game, anyway."

"May we come in?" called Prescott, knocking on the door of the
middies' quarters.

"Who's there?" called a voice. Then the Navy coach, in uniform,
opened the door.

"Oh, come in, gentlemen," called the coach, holding out his hand.
"And let me congratulate you, Prescott and Holmes, on the very
fine game that you two had a star part in putting up for the nine
from Crabtown."

"Thank you, sir," Dick replied. "But we didn't call on that account.
There are two old chums of ours here, sir, that we're looking for."

"See anything of them anywhere?" smiled Dave Darrin, stepping
forward, minus his blouse and holding out both hands.

Dick and Greg pounced upon Dave. Then Dan struggled into another
article of clothing and ran forward from the rear of the room.

"How soon do you go?" asked Dick eagerly.

"The 6.14 train to New York," replied Dave.

"Oh, then you're not going to have supper at cadet mess?" asked
Greg in a tone of deep disappointment.

"No," answered Dan Dalzell. "It would get us through too late.
We dine in New York on arrival."

"Hurry up and get dressed," Dick urged. Then, turning to the
coach, he inquired:

"May we keep Darrin and Dalzell with us, sir, until your train
leaves?"

"No reason on earth why you shouldn't," nodded the Navy coach.

So Dave and Dan were dressed in a trice, it seemed, though with
the care that a cadet or midshipman must always display in the
set of his immaculate uniform.

Dick seized Dave by the elbow, marching him forth, while Greg
piloted Dan.

"Great game for you-----" began Dan, as soon as the quartette
of old chums were outside.

"Send al