r midshipmen visited all the druggists in
Annapolis, seeking light on the matter. The druggists, however,
denied any knowledge of the vial or of its contents.

Now, the friends appeared to be up against a dead wall of difficulty.
They did not cease their efforts, however, and held many conferences
behind closed doors.

Brimmer kept track of their activities as best he could. He became
moody, and slackened in his studies.

After that the semi-annual examinations came on. Dave passed
better than he had hoped, making two-nine as his standing.

Dalzell was forced to be content with two-seven, but as two-five
was a high enough mark for passing Dan was delighted. Farley and
Page got through safely, and that was all.

Fifty-nine of the men of the fourth class were dropped for failing
to keep up to the two-five standard.

And one of these was Midshipman Brimmer. He and the other unlucky
ones left for their homes as soon as the results had been announced.

Brimmer would have passed, in all probability, had he not been
unstrung by the knowledge that four of his comrades were working
to secure the evidence which should warrant his expulsion from
the Naval Academy. Oppressed by dread, this young scoundrel was
not capable of doing his best work at the semi-annuals.

So Brimmer left as Henkel had done. The only difference was that
Brimmer did not have to slink away to the tune of "The Rogue's
March."

"You're past the worst of it, now, mister," murmured Youngster
Trotter, in passing Dave. "You'll win through hereafter."

But Dave Darrin could hardly help feeling that his greatest
thankfulness was over the fact that the poisonous pair, Henkel and
Brimmer, were both out of the Navy for good and all.

CHAPTER XIX

The Collision on the Chesapeake

The weeks slipped by quickly now.

Athletics cannot occupy as prominent a place at Annapolis as at
the universities and colleges, for the midshipmen must, above
all, be sure that they stand high enough in their academic work.
Dave and Dan were both invited out for baseball try-out,
but both asked to be excused.

Dan, by himself, would have gone in for the Navy nine, and
doubtless would have made it.

It was Darrin, the cautious, who dissuaded Dalzell.

"Better shy away from athletics, Danny boy, until you've made your
academic footing secure," was Dave's advice.

"You didn't talk that way in the High School," argued Dan.

"No; there the athletics were mor