Dave's five comrades in the Brigade of Midshipmen loved him for that answer! CHAPTER XII READY TO TRIM WEST POINT "Have had an experience, sir, that we shall never forget, and one that we wouldn't have missed!" Thus spoke Dave Darrin the, following afternoon, as he saluted the young officers of the "Dodger" before going over the side as the boat lay alongside the wall of the basin. To which the other midshipmen agreed. "We have enjoyed having you aboard," replied Lieutenant Jack Benson. "None of us will ever forget this cruise." Then the six midshipmen strode briskly along the walks until they reached Bancroft Hall. It wasn't long ere news of the adventure of the night before got whispered along the decks. Then Dave and Dan, Farley and Page, Jetson and Wolgast all had so much midshipman company that it was a relief when the evening study hours came around. All six of the midshipmen had to tell the story of their submarine experience until all of them fairly hated to talk about the matter. Seaman Morton was never heard from again, and so did not come in for his share of the excitement. However, it was not destined to last long, for the football season was at its height and every blue-clad middy thought, talked and dreamed about the Navy team. A good team it was, too, and a good year for the Navy. The young men of the Naval Academy played one of their most brilliant seasons of football. Dave, by a bigger effort than any one understood, forced back his interest in the gridiron until he played a brilliant game. The Navy won more victories than it had done before in any one of fifteen seasons of football. Yet report said that the Army, too, was playing a superb game, considering that it had been deprived of its two best players, Prescott and Holmes. Up to the last Dave continued to hope that Cadet Dick Prescott might be restored to the Army eleven. Dick's letters from West Point, however, appeared to indicate clearly that he was not to play. Therefore Greg Holmes wouldn't play. At last came the fateful day, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Early the Brigade of Midshipmen was marched over to the trolley line, where a long string of cars waited to receive them. "We want an extra car to-night," one first classman called jovially to the car inspector who was in charge of the transportation. "We want that extra car to bring back the Army scalp in." All the way to Baltimore and thence to Philadelphia, Dave Darrin was unusually quiet. Dalzell, on the other hand, made noise enough for both of them. "Darry hasn't the sulks over anything, has be?" Wolgast anxiously asked Dalzell. "Don't you believe it," Dan retorted. "But he's so abominably quiet." "Saving all his breath to use on the field." "Are you sure Darry is in form?" persisted Wolgast. "Yes. Wait and see." "I'll have to," sighed Wolgast, with another sidelong glance at Darrin's emotionless face.