“They gave me no choice of a roommate, did they, Syd?” said Phil, ten minutes later, as he dived into his trunk and commenced to toss his belongings on to his bunk to have them more handy to stow into the numerous small receptacles located about the narrow room which he and Sydney had been ordered to occupy. “No, they didn’t,” answered Sydney, with a grin, “but we have stood each other for four years; I guess we can do it for two more.” The last of their belongings was scarcely stowed when a servant announced that the midday meal was ready in the mess room. They entered and were greeted by more of their former schoolmates. Phil found his seat next to Marshall, an old friend of Annapolis days, who was anxious to give him all the tips possible on what he could expect in his daily life on a battle-ship. Phil listened intently while he breathlessly recited all the gems of wisdom that came into his head: “You are in Lazar’s division. It’s a crackerjack, too; you’ve got your work cut out for you. He’s a hustler. He isn’t much liked by the middies because he ‘horses’ us so much, but the captain swears by him. Beaty--you remember old ‘Pike’?--he had your job, but I guess Lazar was too many for him. We sent him to the hospital with nerves a week ago. Some of the fellows saw him yesterday, doing the gentleman act there, looking as pink and fresh as a girl. Hope you will manage all right.” Phil tried to look cheerful, but Marshall’s quick eye detected something wrong. “Do you know Lazar? of course you were at the Academy with him, but----” He stopped and glanced hurriedly into Phil’s face, then dropped his voice: “Why, it was you that fought him. How unfortunate!” Then musingly, “He is not the man to forget.” “I can’t believe that he would allow a boy’s quarrel--remember, that was nearly four years ago--to influence his feelings for me now,” answered Phil, gaining but scant comfort from his own words. He remembered how bitter Lazar had been in his relations to him the few months before the older man graduated and left him in peace. He was but a plebe then. Well, the future would tell. As soon as the short meal was over Phil went to his room and changed his uniform, donning the oldest he owned, but the bright lace and lustrous braid was in great contrast to the uniforms of those officers and midshipmen who had received their baptism of salt spray, in the year at sea on board the battle-ship, cruising and drilling until their ship was considered to be in efficient condition to join the fleet and compete in all the drills and games that go to make up the very full itinerary of the sailor’s life afloat. Sydney came in full of enthusiasm, having seen his divisional officer and obtained an idea of what he had to do.