his was the general sentiment among the first classmen. Darrin
was the only real dissenter to the plan.

"Oh, well, go ahead and call the class together, if you like,"
agreed Dave. "My main contention is that such a meeting will
be superfluous. The action of the class has really been taken
already."

"Will you come to the meeting, Darry?" asked Fenwick.

"Really, I don't know," Dave answered thoughtfully. "My presence
would do neither good nor harm. The action of the class has already
been decided. In fact, it has been put into effect."

"Then you won't be there?" spoke up Farley.

"I don't know. I'll come, however, if it will please any of you
especially."

"Oh, bother you, Darry! We're not going to beg your presence
as a favor."

At formation for dinner, when the brigade adjutant published the
orders, every midshipman in the long ranks of the twelve companies
waited eagerly to learn what had been done in the cases of the
eight midshipmen. They were doomed to disappointment, however.

At brigade formation for supper notice of a meeting of the first
class in Recreation Hall was duly published. There was rather
an unwonted hush over the tables that night.

Immediately afterwards groups of midshipmen were seen strolling
through the broad foyer of Bancroft Hall, and up the low steps
into Recreation Hall. Yet it was some ten minutes before there
was anything like a full gathering of the first class.

"Order!" rapped the class president Then, after glancing around:

"Is Mr. Clairy present?"

He was not.

"Where's Darry?" buzzed several voices.

But Dave Darrin was not present either.

"Where is he?" several demanded of Dan.

"Blessed if I know," Dan answered. "I wish I did, fellows."

"Isn't Darry going to attend?"

"I don't know that, either."

Midshipman Gosman now claimed the floor. He spoke a good deal
as though he had been retained as advocate for the eight accused
midshipmen. In a fiery speech Mr. Gosman recited that eight different
members of the class had been falsely accused by Mr. Clairy.

"There are not eight liars in our class," declared Midshipman
Gosman, with very telling effect.

Then, after more fiery words aimed at Clairy, Mr. Gosman demanded:

"Why is not Mr. Clairy here to speak for himself? Let him who
can answer this! Further, Mr. Clairy has been challenged to fight
by some of those whom be accused. Now, sir and classmates, a
midshipman may refuse to fight,