g," smiled Darrin.

"What is that, sir?" demanded coach.

"Why, sir, the Army has Prescott and Holmes, beyond a doubt, for
they played last year."

"I saw Prescott and Holmes last year," nodded Mr. Parker. "But
they didn't have a thing to compare with what you've just been
explaining to me."

"May I remark, sir, that that was last year?" suggested Dave.

"Then you think that Prescott and Holmes may have developed some
new plays."

"I'd be amazed, sir, if they hadn't done so. And I've tried to
have the Navy always bear in mind, sir, that Dalzell and myself
learned everything we know of football under Dick Prescott, who,
for his weight, I believe to be the best football player in the
United States!"

"You're not going to get cold feet, are you, Mr. Darrin?" laughed
Lieutenant-Commander Parker.

"No, sir; but, on the other hand, I don't want to underestimate
the enemy."

"You don't seem likely to commit that fault, Mr. Darrin. For
my part," went on coach, "I'm going to feel rather satisfied that
Prescott and Holmes, of the Army, won't be able to get up anything
that will equal or block the new plays you've been describing
to me."

Dave and Dan were more than usually excited as they lingered in
their room, awaiting the call to supper formation. Farley and
Page, all ready to respond to the call, were also in the room.

"I hope old Dick and Greg haven't got anything new that will stop
us!" glowed Dan Dalzell.

"It's just barely possible, of course," assented Darrin, "that
they haven't."

"If they haven't," chuckled Farley gleefully, "then we scuttle
the Army this year."

"Wouldn't it be truly great," laughed Page, "to see the great
Prescott go down in the dust of defeat. Ha, ha! I can picture,
right now, the look of amazement on his Army face!"

"We mustn't laugh too soon," Dave warned his hearers.

"Don't you want to see the redoubtable Prescott shoved into the
middle of next year?" challenged Midshipman Page.

"Oh, yes; of course. Yet that's not because he's Prescott, for
good old Dick is one of the most precious friends I have in the
world," Dave answered earnestly. "I want to see Prescott beaten
this year, and I want to have a hand in doing it---simply for
the greater glory of the Navy!"

"Well," grunted Page, "that's good enough for me."

"We'll trail Soldier Prescott in the dust!" was a gleeful boast
that circulated much through the Naval Academy during the few
succeeding days.

Ev