Lieutenant-Commander Denham appeared to lose some of his patience presently. "I wonder," he remarked brusquely, "why you midshipmen cannot learn to accept some of your sense of honor from the officers who have seen so much more service than you. I wonder why you will go on formulating your own canons of honor, even when such beliefs sometimes result in the dismissal of midshipmen from the service." The three midshipmen, not being questioned, remained silent. "And so not one of you has the slightest idea of the original nature of the quarrel in which you so readily took part? And none of you has any idea of the identity of the fourth midshipman concerned in this evening's work?" "I have not, sir," replied Midshipmen Darrin, Dalzell and Joyce in one breath. "Very good, gentlemen. The matter will be investigated further. You will go to your quarters and remain there. You will take part in the meal formations, but in no drills or recitations until you are further advised. And you will not leave Bancroft Hall without direct orders from competent authority." The three midshipmen saluted, turned and left the office, going to their own rooms. "Wow!" muttered Dan as soon as the chums had closed their door on themselves. "We shall surely have enough to think of," smiled Dave wearily. "Oh, aye!" agreed Dalzell. "Oh, well, if we're going to skip some recitations we'll need all the more study," sighed Dave, seating himself at his study table and drawing his books toward him. But he was not permitted to study long in peace. Word of the affair had spread, and Hepson presented himself at Darrin's quarters in great consternation. "Great!" mocked Hepson. "Just when we've discovered that the Navy has a dub team without you two, or next door to one, then you two go and get ordered to quarters. You'll not turn out with us Monday; you may not practice with us through the week or play in our next game. Fine!" "Perhaps," grinned Dan, "if we two are so important to Navy prestige as you appear to imagine, we shall not be kept long from the gridiron." "Dalzell," retorted Hepson impatiently, "you're a second classman, and you've been here long enough to know that no considerations of discipline will be made to stand aside in order that the Navy may have a better athletic team of any kind. Nothing here is sacrificed to athletics, and you surely must know it." "Then I guess we're dished," confessed Dalzell mournfully. "A fine way for you two to go and use the football squad! Great!" insisted Hepson bitterly. "Had you been with us, Hepson, you'd have done just as we did. I know that," Dave replied. "Well, you are calling me a bit," agreed Hepson. "After all, I don't know just what it was that got you both into this scrape. Some kind of fight, or row, in town, was all I heard." "Then I'll tell you about it," Darrin went on quietly.