like--"

"Never mind my fate in the fight," interposed Farley. "It was
a fair fight."

"Well, ever since the fight," resumed Henkel, "Darrin has been
climbing up again in class favor. Most of the boobies in the
fourth class seem to feel that, just because Darrin hammered you
so, the beating you received proves Darrin's innocence of a mean
act."

"I can't help what the class concludes," retorted Farley stiffly.

"Page, you have more spirit than that, haven't you?" demanded
Henkel, wheeling upon Midshipman Farley's roommate.

"I hope I have spirit enough," replied Page, bridling slightly,
"but I am aware of one big lack."

"What is that?"

"I seem to lack the keen intelligence needed to understand what
you are driving at, Henkel."

"That's the point, Henkel," broke in Midshipman Farley, walking
the floor in short turns. "Just what are you driving at? Why
are you trying to make me mad by such frequent references to the
fact that Darrin won his fight with me?"

"I'm sounding you fellows," admitted Henkel.

"That's just what it rings like," affirmed Midshipman Page, nodding
his head. "Well, out with it! What's your real proposition?"

"Are you with me?" asked Midshipman Henkel warily.

"How can we tell," demanded Farley impatiently, "until you come
down out of the thunder clouds, and tell us just what you mean?"

"Pshaw, fellows," remarked Mr. Henkel, in exasperation, "I hate
to think it, but I am beginning to wonder if you two have the
amount of spirit with which I had always credited you."

"Cut out the part about the doubts," urged Farley, "and tell us,
in plain English, just what you are driving at."

"Fellows, I believe, then," explained Midshipman Henkel, "that
we owe it to ourselves, to the Naval Academy and to the Navy,
to work Dave Darrin out of here as soon as we can."

"How?" challenged Farley flatly.

"Why, can't we put up some scheme that will pile up the 'dems.'
against that industrious greaser? Can't we spring a game that
will wipe all his grease-marks off the efficiency slate?" asked
Midshipman Henkel mysteriously.

"Do you mean by putting up a job on Darrin?" inquired Page.

"That's just it!" nodded Henkel, with emphasis.

"Putting up a job on a man usually calls for trickery, doesn't it?"
questioned Farley.

"Why, yes--that is--er--ingenuity," admitted Henkel.

"Trickery isn't the practice of a gentleman, is it?" insisted
Farley.

"It has to be, sometimes, when we ar