been in the water.

"Torpedo boat ahead, sir," reported the helmsman.

"Give her the distress signal to lie to," directed Dave.

The engine's whistle sent out the shrieking appeal over the waters.
The destroyer was seen to heave about and come slowly to meet
the steamer.

Long before the two craft had come together Dave Darrin was standing,
holding to one of the awning stanchions, for he was not yet any too
strong.

"Destroyer, ahoy!" he shouted as loudly as he could between his
hands. "Have you a surgeon aboard?"

"Yes," came back the answer.

"Let us board you, sir!"

"What's-----"

But Dave had turned to the helmsman with:

"Steam up alongside. Lose no time."

In a very short space of time the destroyer was reached and the
steamer ran alongside. The unconscious form of Miss Butler was
passed up over the side, followed by the other members of the
sailboat party. Mrs. Meade followed, in case she could be of
any assistance.

"You may chaperon your party of young ladies in the steamer, Belle,"
smiled Mrs. Meade from the deck of the destroyer. "I give you
express authority over them."

Farley's and Wolgast's sweethearts laughed merrily at this. All
hands had again reached the point where laughter came again to
their lips without strong effort. Pauline Butler was safe under
the surgeon's hands, if anywhere.

Then the destroyers pulled out again, hitting a fast clip for
Annapolis.

"That's the original express boat; this is only a cattle-carrier,"
muttered Dave, gazing after the fast destroyer.

"Calling us cattle, are you?" demanded Belle. "As official chaperon
I must protest on behalf of the young ladies aboard."

"A cattle boat often carries human passengers," Dave returned.
"I call this a cattle boat only because of our speed."

"We don't need speed now," Belle answered. "Those who do are
on board the destroyer."

By the time that the steamer reached her berth at the Academy
wall, and the young people had hastened ashore, they learned that
Pauline Butler had been removed to a hospital in Annapolis; that
she was very much alive, though still weak, and that in a day
or two she would again be all right.

With a boatswain's mate in charge, another steamer was despatched
down the bay to recover and tow home the capsized sailboat.

Examination week went through to its finish. By Saturday night
the first classmen knew who had passed. But two of the members
of the class had "bilged."