"Hold on, I tell you! You had almost recovered, Danny, in the short space of five minutes. Now, don't bring on a relapse by opening up the old sore. I shall soon begin to believe it was your heart that was involved, instead of your vanity." "Oh, hang girls, then!" exploded Dan. "Couldn't think of it," urged Dave gently. "That wouldn't be chivalrous, and even a midshipman is required to be a gentleman at all times. So-----" "Good evening, gentlemen," spoke a pleasant voice. The midshipmen glanced up, then promptly brought up their hands in salute to an officer whom they would otherwise have passed without seeing. That officer was Lieutenant Adams, discipline officer. "Are you enjoying your stroll, Mr. Darrin?" asked Mr. Adams. "Very much, sir; thank you." "And you, Mr. Dalzell. But let me see---wasn't your liberty for the purpose of paying a visit?" "Yes, sir," Dan answered, coloring. "And you are strolling, instead?" "Yes, sir; the person on whom I went to call was not there." "Then, Mr. Darrin, you should have returned to Bancroft Hall, and reported your return." "Yes, sir; I should have done that," Dan confessed in confusion. "The truth is, sir, it hadn't occurred to me." "Return at once, Mr. Dalzell, and place yourself on report for strolling without permission." "Yes, sir." Both midshipmen saluted, then turned for the shortest cut to Maryland Avenue, and thence to the gate at the end of that thoroughfare. "Ragged!" muttered Dan. "And without the slightest intention of doing anything improper." "It was improper, though," Dave replied quickly, "and both you and I should have thought of it in time." "I really forgot." "Forgot to think, you mean, Dan, and that's no good excuse in bodies of men where discipline rules. Really, I should have gone on report, too." "But you had liberty to stroll in town." "Yes; but I'm guilty in not remembering to remind you of your plain duty." Lieutenant Adams had not in the least enjoyed ordering Dan to place himself on report. The officer had simply done his duty. To the average civilian it may seem that Dan Dalzell had done nothing very wrong in taking a walk when he found the purpose of his call frustrated; but discipline, when it imposes certain restrictions on a man, cannot allow the man himself to be the judge of whether he may break the restrictions. If the man himself is to be the judge then discipline ceases to exist. "So I've got to stick myself on pap, and accept a liberal handful of demerits, all on account of a girl?" grumbled Dan, as the chums turned into the road leading to Bancroft Hall." "That is largely because you couldn't get the girl out of your head," Dave rejoined. "Didn't I tell you, Danny, that you hadn't head enough to give any of your attention to the other sex?"