en Dave became infected with it, for he was a loyal Navy man
to the very core. He began to think much of every trick of play
that could possibly help to retire Dick Prescott to the
background---all for the fame of the Navy and not for the hurt of
his friend.

Dave even dreamed of it at night.

As for Dalzell, he caught the infection, proclaiming:

"We're out, this year, just to beat old Prescott and Holmes!"

Yet readers of the High School Boys' Series, who know the deep
friendship that had existed, and always would, between Prescott
and Holmes on the one side, and Darrin and Dalzell, on the other,
do not need to be told that this frenzied feeling had in it nothing
personal.

"If you two go on," laughed Midshipman Farley, one evening after
release, "you'll both end up with hating your old-time chums."

"Don't you believe it!" retorted Dave Darrin almost sharply.
"This is just a matter between the two service academies. What
we want is to show the country that the Navy can put up an eleven
that can walk all around the Army on Franklin Field."

"A lot the country cares about what we do!" laughed Page.

"True," admitted Dare. "A good many people do seem to forget
that there are any such American institutions as the Military
and the Naval Academies. Yet there are thousands of Americans
who are patriotic enough to be keenly interested in all that we do."

"This is going to be a bad year for Army friends," chuckled Farley.

"And for the feelings of Cadets Prescott and Holmes," added Page
with a grimace.

As the practice went on the spirits of the Navy folks went up to
fever heat. It was plain that, this year, the Navy eleven was to
make history in the world of sports.

"Poor old Dick!" sighed Darrin one day, as the members of the
squad were togging to go on to the field.

"Why?" Dan demanded.

"Because, in spite of myself, I find that I am making a personal
matter of the whole business. Dan, I'm obliged to be candid with
myself. It has come to the point that it is Prescott and Holmes
that I want to beat!"

"Same case here," Dan admitted readily. "They gave us a trouncing
last year, and we're bound to pass it back to 'em."

"I believe I'd really lose all interest in the game, if Dick and
Greg didn't play on the Army this year."

"I think I'd feel the same way about it," agreed Dan. "But never
fear---they will play."

Two days later Dan finished his bath and dressing, after football
practice, t