loss of privileges doesn't
mean so very much. It's the big danger of losing my chance to
remain here at the Naval Academy that is worrying me."

Yet outwardly, to others, Dave Darrin was patient. His surplus
irritation he vented in extraordinary effort in the gymnasium,
where he was making a remarkable record for himself.

But of course his worries were reflected in his studies and recitations.
Dave was dropping steadily. He seemed soon destined to reach
the "wooden section" in math. This "wooden section" is the section
composed of the young men who stand lowest of all in a given study.
The men of the "wooden section" are looked upon as being certain
of dismissal when the semiannual examinations come along.

Now, for five days, things went along more in a better groove.
Nothing happened to Darrin, and he was beginning to hope that
his very sly persecutor had ceased to annoy him for good.

On the sixth day, however, the chums returned from recitation
in English.

"Nothing seems to be wrong here," remarked Dave, with a sigh of
satisfaction.

"Umf--umf!" sniffed Dan, standing still in the middle of the
room. "Doesn't it smell a little as though some one had been
smoking in here?"

"Don't even suggest the thing!" begged Dave turning white at the
thought.

Tap-tap! sounded at the door. In walked the white-gloved cadet
assistant officer of the day.

"Mr. Darrin, you will report immediately to the officer in charge."

"Very good, sir," Dave answered.

This was again Lieutenant Hall's day to be in charge. Dave walked
into that gentleman's office, saluted, reported his presence under
orders and then stood at attention.

"Mr. Darrin," began Lieutenant Hall, "I had occasion to inspect
your room. The air was quite thick with tobacco smoke. I felt
it necessary to make a very thorough search. In the pocket of
your rain-coat I found"--Lieutenant Hall produced from his desk
a pouch of tobacco and a well-seasoned pipe--"these."

The officer in charge looked keenly at Darrin, who had turned
almost deathly white. Certainly Dave had the appearance of one
wholly guilty.

"Have you anything to say, Mr. Darrin?" continued the officer in
charge.

"I have never, in my life, sir, smoked or used tobacco in any form,"
Darrin truthfully answered.

"Then how did these articles come to be in your possession?"

"They were _not in my possession_, sir, were they?" Darrin asked,
with the utmost respect.

Lieutenant