was making believe to march straight by the fellow's desk,"
resumed Dan, "when Clairy brought me up sharply. Told me to frap
the pap for strolling with my hands in my pockets. I didn't do
anything like that."

In another hour indignation was running riot in that division.
Midshipman Clairy had ordered no less than eight first classmen
to put themselves on report for offenses that none of them would
admit having committed.

Oh, but there was wrath boiling in the quarters occupied by those
eight first classmen.

Immediately after release had sounded, Page and Farley made a
bee-line for Dave's room.

"Did Clairy wet you, Farley?" demanded Darrin.

"No; I haven't been out of my room until just now."

"Page," continued Darrin, "circulate rapidly in first class rooms
on this deck and find out whether Clairy improperly held up any
more of the fellows. Dan was a victim, too."

Page had five first classmen on the scene in a few minutes. The
meeting seemed doomed to resolve itself into a turmoil of angry
language.

"Clairy is a hound!"

"A liar in my case!"

"He's hunting a fight!"

"Coventry would do him more good."

"Yes; we'll have to call the class to deal with this."

"The scoundrel!"

"The pup!"

"He's trying to pile some of us up with so many demerits that we
won't be able to graduate."

"Oh, well," argued Page, "Fenwick has hit it. We can't fight
such a lying hound. All we can do is to get the class out and
send the fellow to Coventry."

"What do you imagine it all means, Darry?" questioned Fenwick.

Dave's wrath had had time to simmer down, and he was cooler now.

"I wish I knew what to think, fellows," Dave answered slowly.
"Clairy has never shown signs of doing such things before."

"He has always been a sulk, and never had a real friend in the
class," broke in Farley.

"He has always been quiet and reticent," Dave admitted. "But
we never before had any real grievance against Mr. Clairy."

"We have a grievance now, all right!" glowered Page. "Coventry,
swift and tight, is the only answer to the situation."

"Let's not be in too much haste, fellows," Darrin urged.

"You---you give such advice as that?" gasped Midshipman Dalzell.
"Why, Davy, the fellow went for you in fearful shape. He insulted
you outrageously."

"I know he did," Darrin responded. "That's why I believe in going
slowly in the matter."

"Now, why?" hissed Page. "Why on earth---why?"

"Clairy must have had