star kicker!"

"Shall I try out the rest of the squad, sir?" asked Wolgast, turning
to Lieutenant-Commander Parker, this year's new coach.

"Try out a dozen or so of the men," nodded coach, which meant,
in effect: "Try out men who are most likely to remain on the Navy
team."

"Jetson!" called Wolgast.

Jet tried, but it took his third effort to make a successful kick.

"You see, Wolly, who is not to be trusted to make the kick in a
game," remarked Jetson with a rueful smile.

"It shows me who may need practice more than some of the others---that's
all," answered Wolgast kindly.

With that the ball went to Dave. The first kick he missed.

"I can do better than that, if you'll give me the chance," observed
Darrin quietly.

At a nod from Coach Parker, Dave was allowed five more trials, in
each one of which he made a fair kick.

"Mr. Darrin is all right. He won't need to practice that very
often, Mr. Wolgast," called coach.

Then Dan had his try. He made one out of three.

"No matter, Danny Grin," cried Page solacingly, "we love you for
other things that you can do better on the field."

Farley made two out of three. Page, though a rattling good man
over on the right flank, missed all three kicks.

"I'm a dub at kicking," he growled, retiring in much disgust with
himself.

Other midshipmen had their try, with varying results.

"Rustlers, forward!" shouted Lieutenant-Commander Parker.

Eleven young fellows who had been waiting with more or less patience
now threw aside their blankets or robes and came running across
the field, their eyes dancing with keen delight.

"Mr. Wolgast, let the Rustlers start the ball---and take it
away from 'em in snappy fashion!" admonished coach.

The game started. In the second team at Annapolis there were
some unusually good players---half a dozen, at least, who were
destined to win a good deal of praise as subs. that year.

Tr-r-r-r-ill! sounded the whistle, and the ball was in motion.

Yet, try as he did, the captain of the Rustlers made a side kick,
driving the ball not far out of Dave Darrin's way. It was coming,
now, in Dan's path, but Dalzell muttered in a barely audible undertone:

"You, Davy!"

So Darrin, playing left end on the Navy team, darted in and caught
the ball. He did not even glance sideways to learn where Dan
was. He knew that Dalzell would be either at his back or right
elbow as occasion demanded.

"Take it away from Darry!" called Pie