I beg
of you all, classmates, to quash the motion now before the class."

"No, no, no!" came the hearty response.

"Then, Mr. President and gentlemen," went on Dave Darrin in a voice slow
and grave, "speaking for myself, as an individual member, I beg to state
that I cannot respect a Coventry ordered under such circumstances. In
this matter I would find myself unable to respect the mandates of the
class. Therefore. I beg you to send me to Coventry with Mr. Jetson!"

Blank astonishment fell over the second class. Utter indignation seized
some of the midshipmen. In another moment the feeling boiled up so that a
few hisses rose.

Dave Darrin was pallid, but he had no desire to recede. He had acted
according to the dictates of his conscience and he had kept his word.

In that pained instant Midshipman Farley sought to save the situation. He
leaped to his feet, shouting:

"Mr. President, I move that this meeting adjourn!"

"Second the motion," called Page promptly, and now there was uproar on
all sides.

CHAPTER XIX

DAVE STANDS ON PRINCIPLE

A motion to adjourn being always "in order," the class president put it.

"Aye!" came a thundering response.

"Contrary minded?"

"No."

The ayes appeared to have it, but the chair called for a showing of
hands. Then the chair declared the class meeting adjourned.

"Hustle along with us, Darry. I want to talk with you!" sputtered Farley.
He thrust an arm inside of Dave's and carried him along, Dalzell and Page
following. Straight to Darrin's quarters they went.

"Now, then," demanded Farley, almost savagely, "what's the meaning of the
very remarkable exhibition that you gave the class?"

"How was it remarkable?" questioned Dave.

"In your asking the class to send you to Coventry along with Jetson."

"It wasn't just to Jetson, just because he made a slip, that he should be
shunned by the whole class."

"Couldn't the class decide that better than one man?" insisted Farley,
his eyes gleaming.

"Without a doubt," Dave admitted. "I didn't attempt to do the
deciding for the class. All I did was to try to throw my personal
weight against it."

"And you compelled the class to adjourn without attending to
Jetson's case."

"You're wrong, there, Farl"

"Didn't you?"

"I certainly didn't."

"Darry, you knew the class wouldn't vote to send you to Coventry just
because you had ventured to give your opinion. Now, the only way the
class could escape from the