It was dark, now, and that portion of the yard appeared
clear of any moving beings but themselves.

"Darrin," continued Jetson, "when you risked Coventry in the effort to
save me from it, I thought you were posing, though for the life of me I
couldn't fathom your motive. But the risk that you took this afternoon
wasn't in the line of posing. Do you mind telling me why you did it?"

"I'd have done as much for any man in the brigade," Dave answered
frankly.

"Just the same it has touched me--touched me deeply."

"I'm glad of that, Jetson," Dave answered heartily. "And now I hope that
we can bury the hatchet and be friends, as men in the brigade should
always be."

"But why do you want to be friends with a fellow like me?"

"Because I want to know the real Jetson--not the one that you
present outside of a sulky exterior. Jetson, I know there's gold in
you, and I want to see it brought to the surface. I want your
friendship because--well, it may be a selfish reason, but I think
it's worth having."

"That's a funny notion to take," laughed Midshipman Jetson uneasily.
"I have never been conceited enough to fancy that my friendship was
worth having."

"Let yourself out and be natural, man!"

"How?"

Then indeed did Dave Darrin plunge into his subject. There was a lot
to be said, but Dave said it briefly, tersely, candidly. Jetson
listened with a flushing face, it is true, but at last he stopped and
held out his hand.

"Will you take it, Darrin?"

"With all my heart!"

There was chance for but little more talk, as now the slowly moving
midshipmen were close to the entrance to Bancroft Hall.

"You'll be at the class meeting this evening, won't you?" asked
Dave Darrin.

"You may be very sure that I shall!"

Then they entered the lobby of Bancroft Hall, parting and going their
different ways.

In Darrin's eyes there was a strange flash as he turned down the "deck"
on which he lived. But Dan, still absorbed in study, did not pay especial
heed to his roommate.

Immediately after supper in the mess-hall, Dalzell caught his chum's arm.

"Let's get in early at the meeting, David, little giant. I'm afraid
there's big trouble brewing, and we must both be on hand early. We may
have some chance to talk a bit before the meeting is called to order."

"I don't believe I shall care to talk any, Danny boy, before the
president raps."

"Don't be too stubborn, Davy! Your future will very likely be at stake
to-night.