In the meantime Lieutenant-Commander Havens had turned to Motley, of the first class, who was serving as referee. "Mr. Motley," demanded coach, "did you see just what happened?" "Yes, sir." "Do you call it a foul trip?" "I do, sir. If I were referee in a regular game, I would penalize the team and order the player from the field." "Mr. Jetson--" began the coach, but, swift as a flash Dave Darrin interposed, though respectfully, saluting at the same time. "Will you pardon me, sir. Mr. Jetson has given me his word that he did not intend a foul trip. I accept his word without reservation." "Very good, then," nodded coach. "But Mr. Jetson, you will do well to be careful in the future, and avoid even the appearance of evil." "Yes, sir; very good, sir," answered Jetson, looking decidedly sheepish. In giving his word Jetson had told the truth, or had intended to. The exact truth was that he really did not realize what he had done until it was too late to avoid the foul. He had meant to stop Darrin, somehow. "Pull that scrimmage off again," directed Coach Havens dryly. The ball was placed, the whistle sounded, and again Dave received the ball and tried to break through. With the Rustlers prepared for the move, it was blocked and the ball was "down." Jetson felt his face burning. He knew, well enough, that many of the players regarded him with suspicion. "I suppose that suspicion will stick, and my chances of making the Navy eleven are now scantier than ever," muttered the unfortunate midshipman to himself. The whistle blew before any further advantage had been gained. Coach and Midshipman Hepson had gained considerable insight into the work of the team. "Mr. Hepson," said coach aside, in the interval that followed, "you have done well, I think, to place two such men as Darrin and Dalzell on the provisional team." "I am glad you think so, sir," replied the Navy football captain, "for that is the way it strikes me." "If you keep them at the left flank you'll have something like dynamite there," smiled coach. "Mr. Darrin goes through like a cannon-ball, and Dalzell is always just where Darrin needs him." "These men have played together before, and they're used to team work, sir," said Midshipman Hepson. "So? Where did they play before coming to Annapolis?" "On what was, in their day, one of the best High School eleven's going, sir." "Oho! Do you know, Mr. Hepson, they play more like college men than anything else. It must have been a bully High School team that graduated them." "From the little that I've heard, sir, that High School team was a great one." Coach and captain walked back to the scene. "You will now play another ten-minute period," directed Mr. Havens. "Jetson will withdraw from the second eleven during the next period and Doyle will take his place."