on the one subject at the United States Naval Academy in
October---football.

So the time sped. Dave lost his chance to read his novel, but
he did not mind the loss. It was Jetson who, at last, discovered
the time.

"Whew, fellows!" he muttered. "Only ten minutes to taps."

That sent most of the midshipmen scuttling away. Page and Farley,
however, whose quarters were but a few doors away on the same
deck, remained.

"Farl," murmured Darrin, "for the first time tonight I'm feeling a
bit worried."

"Over Danny?"

"The same."

"What's up?" Page wanted to know.

"Why, he hasn't been around all evening. Surely Dalzell would
be coming back by this time, unless-----"

"Didn't he have leave to visit town?" demanded Midshipman Page.

"Not that I've heard of," Dave Darrin answered quickly. "Nor
do I see how he could have done so. You see, Wednesday he received
some demerits, and with them went the loss of privileges for October."

"Whew!" whistled Page.

"What?" demanded Dave, his alarm increasing.

"Why, not long after supper I saw Danny heading toward the wall on
the town side."

"I have been afraid of that for the last two or three minutes,"
exclaimed Dave Darrin, his uneasiness now showing very plainly.
"Dan didn't say a word to me about going anywhere, but-----"

"You think, leave being impossible, Danny has Frenched it over
the wall?" demanded Farley.

"That's just what I'm afraid of," returned Dave.

"But why-----"

"I don't know any reason."

"Then-----"

"Farl", broke in Dave hurriedly, almost fiercely, "has anyone a
doughface?"

"Yes."

"Who has it?"

"I don't know."

"Find it---on the jump!"

"But-----"

"There's no time for 'buts,'" retorted Darrin, pushing Farley
toward the door. "Find it!"

"And I-----" added Page, springing toward the door.

"You'll stay here," ordered Dave.

Darrin was already headed toward his friend's alcove, where Dalzell's
cot lay. Page followed.

"The dummy," explained Darrin briefly.

Every midshipman at Annapolis, doubtless, is familiar with the
dummy. Not so many, probably, are familiar with the doughface,
which, at the time this is written, was a new importation.

Swiftly Dave and Page worked. First they turned down the clothing,
after having hurriedly made up the cot. Now, from among the garments
hanging on the wall nearby the two midshipmen took down the garments
that normally lay under others. With these they rigged up a figu