t the folks down at the Naval Academy?
They all intend to be your friends!"

"I guess that is true," Dan went on. "Of course, back in April,
we went before the Civil Service Commission and took our academic
examinations. We passed, and haven't got that to go up against
again."

"We passed the home medical examiner, too," retorted Dave. "In
fact, you might say that we passed the sawbones with honors.

"But that medical chap put in a long time listening at my chest,"
complained Dan Dalzell, who was undeniably fidgeting in his seat.
"Then, too, the civil service sawbones told me that, while he
passed me, as far as he was concerned, I'd have to stand the ordeal
again before the Naval surgeons at Annapolis."

"Well, he did just the same thing with me," rejoined Darrin.
"You just keep your eye on me, Dan! Do you see me shaking? Do
you hear my voice falter? See me burning any blue lights?

"Perhaps, Dave, you don't take the whole business as much to heart
as I do," continued Dan Dalzell almost tremulously. "Why, Great
Scott, if they drop me at the Naval Academy, I'll be the bluest
fellow you ever saw! But maybe you won't care, Dave, whether
you are dropped or not."

"Won't I?" grumbled Darrin. "The Navy is the only thing in life
that I care about!"

"Then aren't you nervous, just now?" demanded Dan.

"If I am, I'm not making a show of myself," retorted Darrin.

"But are you nervous?" begged Dan.

"No!" roared Dave, and then he allowed a grin to creep over his face.

"Oh, go ahead and say so tonight," jeered Dan. "Tomorrow, if
you have the good luck to get sworn in, you'll have to quit fibbing
and begin practicing at telling the truth. A midshipman at the
Naval Academy, I understand, is kicked out of the service if he
tells lies."

"Not quite--only in case he gets caught," laughed Dave Darrin.

"But really, about being nervous--"

"Oh, forget that sort of nonsense, won't you, Dan, old fellow?"
begged his chum. "Just get your eye on the lovely country we're
going through."

It was just about the first of June. Our two young travelers
had come by train, from Baltimore to a little country junction.
Thence they had traveled, briefly, by trolley, to Odenton. There,
after a wait of some minutes, they had boarded another trolley
car, and were now bowling along through the open country of that
part of Maryland. At the end of their journey lay the historic
little town of Annapolis. It was now after se