?"

"As it is contrary to the spirit of the brigade, sir, I would be more
afraid of my own contempt than of any other punishment."

Lieutenant-Commander Denham appeared to lose some of his patience
presently.

"I wonder," he remarked brusquely, "why you midshipmen cannot learn to
accept some of your sense of honor from the officers who have seen so
much more service than you. I wonder why you will go on formulating your
own canons of honor, even when such beliefs sometimes result in the
dismissal of midshipmen from the service."

The three midshipmen, not being questioned, remained silent.

"And so not one of you has the slightest idea of the original nature of
the quarrel in which you so readily took part? And none of you has any
idea of the identity of the fourth midshipman concerned in this
evening's work?"

"I have not, sir," replied Midshipmen Darrin, Dalzell and Joyce in
one breath.

"Very good, gentlemen. The matter will be investigated further. You will
go to your quarters and remain there. You will take part in the meal
formations, but in no drills or recitations until you are further
advised. And you will not leave Bancroft Hall without direct orders from
competent authority."

The three midshipmen saluted, turned and left the office, going to their
own rooms.

"Wow!" muttered Dan as soon as the chums had closed their door on
themselves.

"We shall surely have enough to think of," smiled Dave wearily.

"Oh, aye!" agreed Dalzell.

"Oh, well, if we're going to skip some recitations we'll need all the
more study," sighed Dave, seating himself at his study table and drawing
his books toward him.

But he was not permitted to study long in peace. Word of the affair had
spread, and Hepson presented himself at Darrin's quarters in great
consternation.

"Great!" mocked Hepson. "Just when we've discovered that the Navy has a
dub team without you two, or next door to one, then you two go and get
ordered to quarters. You'll not turn out with us Monday; you may not
practice with us through the week or play in our next game. Fine!"

"Perhaps," grinned Dan, "if we two are so important to Navy prestige as
you appear to imagine, we shall not be kept long from the gridiron."

"Dalzell," retorted Hepson impatiently, "you're a second classman, and
you've been here long enough to know that no considerations of discipline
will be made to stand aside in order that the Navy may have a better
athletic team of any