He considers himself
as good as any of the upper class men, and is going to insist on
uniformly good treatment from the upper class men.

If this be the new man's frame of mind he is set down as being
"ratey."

But often the new man arrives with a conviction that he will have
to submit to a certain amount of good-natured hazing by his class
elders. Yet this man, from having been spoiled more or less at
home, is "fresh." In this case he is called only "touge."

Hence it is a far more hopeful sign to be "touge" than to be "ratey."

The new man who honestly tries to be neither "touge" nor "ratey,"
and who has a sensible resolve to submit to tradition, is sometimes
termed "almost sea-going."

Dave Darrin was promptly recognized as being "almost sea-going."
He would need but little running.

Dan Dalzell, on the other hand, was soon listed as being "touge,"
though not "ratey."

CHAPTER V

INVITED TO JOIN THE "FRENCHERS"

Within the nest few days several things happened that were of
importance to the new fourth class men.

Other candidates arrived, passed the surgeons, and were sworn into
Naval service.

Many of the young men who had passed the surgeons, and who had
gone through the dreary, searching ordeals over in grim old Academic
Hall, had now become members of the new fourth class.

As organized, the new fourth class started off with two hundred
and twenty-four members--numerically a very respectable battalion.

At the outset, while supplied only with midshipmen's caps, and
while awaiting the "building" of their uniforms, these new midshipmen
were drilled by some of the members of the upper classes.

This state of affairs, however, lasted but very briefly. Graduation
being past, the members of the three upper classes were rather
promptly embarked on three of the most modern battleships of the
Navy and sent to sea for the summer practice cruise.

The night before embarkation Midshipman Trotter looked in briefly
upon Dave Darrin and his roommate.

"Well, mister," announced the youngster, with a paternal smile,
"somehow you'll have to get on through the rest of the summer
without us."

"It will be a time of slow learning for us, sir," responded Darrin,
rising.

"Your summer will henceforth be restful, if not exactly instructive,"
smiled Trotter. "In the absence of personal guidance, mister,
strive as far as you can to reach the goal of being sea going."

"I'll try, sir."

"You won't