xams, and summer cruise.

Dan had started into the room, and Dave was about to follow, when he
heard an unusually loud thud at the further end of the deck.

"Danny boy, the plebes must be getting it hard to-night."

"I'd like to see the fun," muttered Dalzell, his eyes snapping with
mischief. "But it doesn't seem to be any of our business. Hazing work is
left in charge of the youngster crowd."

"Yes; a second classman shouldn't interfere," assented Dave. "Well, study
for ours."

"I'm afraid I'm not as studious as I was a minute ago," contended Dan,
with a grin.

Dave looked almost startled as he seized his chum by the arm.

"Inside with you, Danny boy!"

"Not under compulsion," laughed Midshipman Dalzell.

"I'll condescend to coaxing, then. But don't anger the youngsters by
butting in."

"And why not? An upper classman has a right to step in, if he wishes."

"It is, at least, against the rules of good taste to interfere,"
argued Darrin.

"Well, hang you, I don't want to interfere. All I want to do is to look
on. Can't an upper classman do that?"

"I won't," returned Dave.

Yet almost immediately he changed his mind, for two hard bumps and a gust
of laughter swept up the deck.

"They're making so much racket," murmured Dave, lingering by his own
door, "that, the first thing we know, a duty officer will swoop down and
rag the bunch."

"Let's go in, then, as grave and dignified second classmen, and warn the
youngsters like daddies," proposed Dan, but his eyes were twinkling with
the spirit of mischief.

A good deal against his own inclination Darrin allowed himself to be
coaxed into the thing.

Nine youngsters were found in Midshipmen Flint and Austin's room when
Dave and Dan entered after rapping.

"We're not intruding, I hope?" inquired Dalzell, with his most
inviting grin.

"Not at all, gentlemen," responded Midshipman Eaton, of the third class.

"These fourth classmen seemed unwontedly popular to-night,"
insinuated Dan.

"They've been most uncommonly touge all through the year, sir," replied
Eaton, tacking on the "sir" in order to impress Midshipmen Flint and
Austin with the tremendous dignity or all upper classmen.

"What form does their tougeness take?" Dan wanted to know.

"They have not yet learned the respect that is due to upper
classmen, sir."

"And especially to third classmen?" inquired Dan, now without the flicker
of a smile.

"They are especially touge, sir, with third cla