val Academy Band, was now entering the field. All
the cheering and all the other frantic signs of approval were
repeated, the corps of cadets from West Point lending heavy additional
volume to the rousing send-off.

In the meantime rival football squads had been hustled off to
dressing quarters.

As the Army squad made quick time to the dressing rooms, Dick
and Greg had their eyes on the alert for even the briefest glimpse
of any of the Navy eleven. It was two years and a half since Dick
and Greg had had even a glimpse of Dave or Dan. How the two West
Pointers yearned for even an instant's look at the chums of old days!

But no such exchange of glimpses was possible at this time. The
Army players and substitutes got into their togs, then waited.

"All ready?" called Brayton at last. "Then fall in and out on
to the field in double time!"

Another wild outburst of cheering was let loose when the Army
eleven trotted in into view. The Military Academy Band began
playing. An instant later the Naval Academy Band fell in, playing
the same air by ear.

The ball was turned loose, and after it went the players. The
practice work was brisk and warm.

Hardly had the combined bands stopped playing when another great
yell broke loose. Young men in the blue and gold striped stockings
of the Navy were trotting on to the field. The Navy band turned
itself loose, followed in an instant by the Army band.

The din was something bewildering. Those in the further seats
could not hear the music of the bands at all.

Dick and Greg watched covertly as they saw the Navy team come
on at the other end of the field. Which was Dave, and which was
Dan? Hang it, how disguising these football suits were!

Both teams went on with their practice. There came a moment when
the Army and Navy teams came closer to each other.

Then the eager spectators saw something that was not on the programme.

The chums of the old Gridley days had made each other out in the
same moment. There was a rush. In mid-field Dick Prescott and
Dave Darrin gripped hands as if they could never let go again.
Across their outstretched arms Greg and Dan found each other in a
right-hand clasp.

So delighted were the old chums that they fairly hugged each other.

Over it all, while the spectators gazed in silent wonder, came
the strains from the Army band, for the leader, more with a sense
of the fitting than from any knowledge of facts, waved his men
i