us, or recognize us. So he made no alarm, but
just waited and prowled until we came back. He heard the noise
we made trying to get up over the wall from the outside, and ran
down to that part of the wall. He didn't make any noise, and
stood in the shrubbery until we had all dropped over. Then he
stepped out, looked us over quickly and demanded our names. He
had us ragged cold, so there was nothing to do but give him our
names. Now, there's the whole story fellows, and I'm mighty glad
I've got at the truth of it."

"So am I," muttered Dan dryly.

"Darrin, you haven't said whether you accept my apology," Farley
continued insistently. "I'm mighty sorry for the whole thing,
and I'm glad you thrashed me as you did when we met. I richly
deserved that for my hot-headedness."

For just a moment Dave Darrin couldn't speak, but he held out his
hand.

"Thank you, old fellow," cried Farley, grasping it. "From now
on I hope we shall trust each other and be friends always."

Farley had been a good deal spoiled at home, and had a hasty,
impetuous temper. His career at Annapolis, however, was doing much
to make a man of him in short time.

Several of the other midshipmen spoke, expressing their pleasure
that the whole thing was cleared up, and that Dave had proved
to be above suspicion.

"And now I'm off to find the other fellows who were with me that
night," continued Farley. "I've told Page, already, but I've
got to find Scully and Oates, Henkel and Brimmer and put them
straight also."

Five minutes later Farley was explaining to Midshipman Henkel.

"Well, you are the softy!" said Henkel, in a sneering tone.

"Why?" demanded Farley stiffly.

"To fall for a frame-up like that."

"Do you mean that my cousin lied to me?"

"No; but Grierson certainly did."

"Old man Grierson is no liar," retorted Farley. "He is one of
most trusted employes in the yard. He has caught many a midshipman,
but Grierson is such a square old brick that the midshipmen of two
generations love him."

"You're too easy for this rough world," jeered Midshipman Henkel.

"Perhaps I am," retorted Farley. "But I'm going through it decently,
anyway."

"So you went and rubbed down Darrin's ruffled fur as gently as you
could," continued Henkel.

"I went to him and apologized--the only thing a man could do under
the circumstances."

"And now I suppose some of the fellows are trying to build up an
altar to Darrin as the class idol?"