"Then, Mr. President and gentlemen," went on Dave Darrin in a voice slow and grave, "speaking for myself, as an individual member, I beg to state that I cannot respect a Coventry ordered under such circumstances. In this matter I would find myself unable to respect the mandates of the class. Therefore. I beg you to send me to Coventry with Mr. Jetson!" Blank astonishment fell over the second class. Utter indignation seized some of the midshipmen. In another moment the feeling boiled up so that a few hisses rose. Dave Darrin was pallid, but he had no desire to recede. He had acted according to the dictates of his conscience and he had kept his word. In that pained instant Midshipman Farley sought to save the situation. He leaped to his feet, shouting: "Mr. President, I move that this meeting adjourn!" "Second the motion," called Page promptly, and now there was uproar on all sides. CHAPTER XIX DAVE STANDS ON PRINCIPLE A motion to adjourn being always "in order," the class president put it. "Aye!" came a thundering response. "Contrary minded?" "No." The ayes appeared to have it, but the chair called for a showing of hands. Then the chair declared the class meeting adjourned. "Hustle along with us, Darry. I want to talk with you!" sputtered Farley. He thrust an arm inside of Dave's and carried him along, Dalzell and Page following. Straight to Darrin's quarters they went. "Now, then," demanded Farley, almost savagely, "what's the meaning of the very remarkable exhibition that you gave the class?" "How was it remarkable?" questioned Dave. "In your asking the class to send you to Coventry along with Jetson." "It wasn't just to Jetson, just because he made a slip, that he should be shunned by the whole class." "Couldn't the class decide that better than one man?" insisted Farley, his eyes gleaming. "Without a doubt," Dave admitted. "I didn't attempt to do the deciding for the class. All I did was to try to throw my personal weight against it." "And you compelled the class to adjourn without attending to Jetson's case." "You're wrong, there, Farl" "Didn't you?" "I certainly didn't." "Darry, you knew the class wouldn't vote to send you to Coventry just because you had ventured to give your opinion. Now, the only way the class could escape from the consequences of your action was to adjourn without action on Jetson." "It was you, Farl, who moved to adjourn." "Just to save a lot of hot-bloods from jumping on you, Darry. They'd have done it in another minute. The motion to adjourn was the only thing we could do." "That's just it," nodded Midshipman Page. "But there'll have to be another meeting called right away," Farley went on. "The brigade will expect it--will have a right to demand it. A member of our class has insulted the whole brigade, and under our old traditions only the second class can administer discipline."