zing in mock despair at the pile of new books
that he had just drawn.

These text-books contained the subjects in which a midshipman is
required to qualify in his second academic year.

"Been through the books for a first look?" called Dave from behind his
own 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 come
to a startling conclusion."

"What?"

"I'm inclined to believe that I have received a complete set of
text-books for the first and second classes."

"No such luck!" grunted Dan, getting up and going over to his chum. "Let
me see if you got all the books I did."

Before Dave could prevent it, Dan started a determined over-tossing of
the book pile. As he did so, Dan suddenly uncovered a photograph from
which 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 and
of 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 that
subject at the time.

"But, seriously," Dan grumbled on, after a while, "I'm aghast at what an
exacting government expects and demands that we shall know. Just look
over the list--mechanical drawing and mechanical processes, analytical
geometry, calculus, physics, chemistry, English literature, French and
Spanish, integral calculus, spherical trigonometry, stereographic
projection and United States Naval history! David, my boy, by the end of
this year we'll know more than college professors do."

"Aren't you getting a big head, Danny?" queried Darrin, looking up with
a smile.

"I am," assented Dalzell, "and I admit it. Why, man alive, one has to
have a big head here. No small head would contain all that the Academic
Board insists on crowding into it."

By the time that the chums had attended the first section recitations
on the following day, their despair was increased.

"Davy, I don't see how we are ever going to make it, this year," Dalzell
gasped, while they were making ready for supper formation. "We'll bilge
this year without a doubt."

"There's only one reason I see for hoping that we can get through the
year with fair credit," murmured Darrin.

"And what's that?"

"Others have done it, before us, and many more are going to do it this
year," replied Dav