stop it," replied Dave.

"And what if you can't stop it?"

"Then I am obliged to direct the offender to put himself on the
report."

"Great Scott! Would you tell your chum to frap the pap for a
little thing like that, and take demerits unto himself?"

"If I had to," nodded Dave. "You see, Dan, we're here trying
to learn to be Naval officers and to hold command. Now, it's
my belief that a man who can't take orders, and stick to them,
isn't fit to give orders at any period in his life."

"This sort of thing is getting on my nerves a bit," grumbled Dan.
"Just think of all the freedom we had in the good old days back
at Gridley!"

"This is a new life, Dan--a different one and a better one."

"Maybe," half assented Dalzell, who was beginning to accumulate
the elements of a "grouch."

"Dan," asked Darrin, as he seated himself at his desk and opened
a book preparatory to a long bit of hard study, "don't you know
that your bed isn't the regulation place to hang your cap?"

"Oh, hang the cap, and the regulations, too!" grumbled Dalzell.
"I'm beginning to feel that I've got to break through at some
point."

"Pick up your cap, and put it on its hook--do," begged Darrin
coaxingly.

At the same time he looked us with a smile which showed that he
thought his friend was acting in a very juvenile manner.

Something impelled Dan to comply with his chum's request. Then,
after hanging the cap, with great care, on its nail, the disgruntled
one slipped to the study table and picked up a book.

Just as he did so there came a knock on the door.

Then Lieutenant Stapleton, in white gloves and wearing his sword,
stepped into the room, followed by a midshipman, also white-gloved.

Lieutenant Stapleton was the officer in charge, the young man
the midshipman in charge of the floor.

"Good morning, gentlemen," said the Lieutenant pleasantly, as
both midshipmen promptly rose to their feet and stood at attention.
Dave and Dan remained standing at attention while the lieutenant
stepped quickly about the room, taking in everything with a practiced
glance.

"Everything in order," commented the lieutenant, as he turned
to the door. "Resume your work, gentlemen."

"Maybe you're glad you hung your cap up just in time," grinned
Dave.

"Oh, bother the whole scheme!" grunted Dan "The idea of a fellow
having to be a jumping-jack all the time!"

"A midshipman has to be a jumping-jack, I reckon," replied Dave,
"until he learns t