oss town Dave had been noting the direction and force of
the wind. He didn't altogether like it, but didn't say anything. At the
float he found Tom Foss, Ab Canty, Ella Wright and Susie Danes awaiting
the midshipmen and their fair companions.

"All ready and waiting for you amateur sailors," called Foss laughingly.
"And here's the boat. Say, isn't she really a beauty?"

"Good lines," nodded Dave Darrin. "And she looks speedy. But you've
changed your mind about going out this afternoon, haven't you, Foss?"

"Why?" demanded the young fellow, in very evident astonishment.

"Look at the water," responded Dave, pointing to the white-caps, which
were running rather high for an inland stream.

"Pooh! You're not afraid of a little foam on top of the water, are you?"
demanded Foss.

"The waves are running pretty high for the inches of freeboard that your
boat has," remarked Darrin quietly. "And look at the sky to windward.
There's a bit more blow coming out of those clouds yet."

"Say, what do they teach you at Annapolis?" grinned Foss. "To go sailing
only in calm weather?"

"Since you ask," Dave replied as quietly as before, though a slight flush
mounted to his face, "one of the things they teach us at the Naval
Academy is consideration for women. Now, if just we four fellows were
going out, I wouldn't say a word."

"Don't think we girls are afraid," broke in Belle with spirit.

"I'm well aware that you're not afraid," Darrin replied turning and
looking at her. "But I'm afraid, Belle of what I might think of myself
afterwards, if I were a party to taking you out in this boat when the
river is running so much to whitecaps."

"Do you think the boat is one of the kind that will turn turtle and sink
the crowd?" demanded Tom Foss, flushing in turn. "I tell you, Darrin, the
craft is as tight and sound, and as manageable, as any boat of her length
to be found anywhere on fresh water."

"She is a fine boat," Dave assented; "but I don't feel like being
responsible for what may happen to the young lady who is more especially
under my escort and care. There's too big a chance of danger this
afternoon, Foss."

"Pooh, Mr. Sailor!" laughed Ella Wright. "I'll show you that some
folks who don't know what Annapolis looks like are not frightened by
toy waves."

Miss Ella thereupon stepped into the launch and seated herself. Miss
Susie followed.

"Aren't you people going?" asked Ab Canty.

"I'm not going if Dave considers it s