nto the strains of "Auld Lang Syne."

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot-----"

The band was playing softly. As the spectators took up the fine
old words the band music died down. There came a rolling rattle
from the drum section of the Navy band, and then high over all
the voices rose the triumphant measures of "Columbia, the Gem
of the Ocean."

That crowd forgot to cheer. It was a moment for song, as thousands,
catching the full spirit of the air, gave voice to---

"The Army and Navy forever!"

Not a word, so far, had been spoken by any one of the chums.
They had not intended to bring about a scene like this, making
themselves the central figures in the great picture. But it was
too late to retreat.

"It seems as though an age had gone by, Dave," spoke Cadet Prescott.

"It surely does, Dick," returned Midshipman Darrin.

"And we've got to beat you today, too," said Midshipman Dalzell
dolefully.

"What? Beat the Army?" gasped Cadet Holmes.

"The Navy is the only crowd that can really do it," admitted Dalzell.

"Foes in sport today, Dave!" declared Prescott ardently. "But in
nothing else, ever!"

"Never mind either the Army or the Navy, just for the minute,"
begged Dave Darrin. "But it's great, isn't it, just to be in
the service at all?"

Then, becoming suddenly aware that they had demoralized the practice
work of both elevens, cadets and midshipmen parted.

"But do your best to beat me today, Dave!" begged Dick.

"I surely will!" came back the retort. "And don't you falter
for the Army, Dick!"

"Old friends, Prescott?" demanded Brayton as the two cadets ran
back to their own forces.

"We four learned football together, on the same team," confessed Dick.

"Is that man Darrin as big a wonder as we've heard?" queried Brayton.

"Bigger, I'm afraid," returned Prescott.

"He opposes you today. Can he get away with you?"

"He may be able to batter me down. But I'll give him all the
trouble I can, Brayton. Darrin is for the Navy, but I'm equally
for the Army!"

"It will be all right, as long as friendship doesn't break up your
work," warned Brayton.

"That very friendship will make all four of us fight harder than
ever we did in our lives before," spoke Prescott seriously.

At almost the very same moment Dave Darrin was saying about the
same thing to the captain of the Navy team.

"Humph! Do those fellows think they're posing before a moving-picture
machine?"

The one who utter