the adjoining table.

"I'm going to duck the team and quit playing," protested Dick,
"if Holmesy and I are to be twitted about being wonders."

"But, honestly, Prescott" began Brayton, "you two are-----"

"Average good Army men, I hope," interposed Dick. "Nothing more,
I hope. At least. I speak for myself. If Holmesy wants to star-----"

"I'll call you out, ramrod, if you carry the joke too far!" warned
Greg.

Seeing that both of the chums were in earned and didn't want to
hear their merits sung, the others near them desisted. But, at
many a table further removed, the whole trend of prediction was
that, with Prescott and Holmes now definitely on the eleven, the
Army stood its first chance of defeating Navy that year.

The Navy! It is the whole hope of West Point to send Annapolis
down to defeat. The middies of the Navy on the other hand, can
smile at many and many a defeat, provided the Army trails behind
the Navy at the annual football game.

As the cadets marched out of mess hall and back along the sidewalk
to barracks, those who allowed their gaze to stray ever so little
across the roadway in the direction of the administration building
noted that the holiday crowd had already begun to gather.

There were girls down from Vassar for the afternoon, and from half
a dozen choice schools along the river. There were many out-of-town
visitors from every direction.

We're going to three or four thousand people here to see the game,"
murmured Greg to Dick, in the undertone that cadets know so well
how to use in ranks without being detected in conversing.

"Think so?" inquired Prescott.

"I'm sure of it."

In the groups that were strolling up and down the roads leading
across the plain were young ladies whom many of the cadets wanted
badly to see and exchange greetings with. First of all, however,
Saturday afternoon inspection had to be gone through with. From
this, not even the members of the Army football squad were privileged
to be absent.

When inspection was over many of the cadets hastened forth for brief
converse with popular fair ones.

None of the football men, however, had time for this. As soon
as might be, they reported at the gymnasium, there to receive much
counsel from coach and captain.

"Keep yourself in good shape, Haynes," called Dick, laughingly,
when, after getting into togs, he met the turnback similarly attired.

"Going to funk?" asked Haynes rather disagreeably.

"Not