“I have become convinced of that,” was Mark’s laughing response. CHAPTER XXIII. A SECRET FOE. Of course Scott Clemmons became a mortal enemy of Herbert Nazro after his first drill in the awkward squad, under the command of that most efficient young officer. He dared not come out in open rebellion, as he well knew what that would mean to him; but he treasured up for Nazro a bitter feeling and a hope of revenge in the future when the chance should come in his way. To be rebuked before Mark Merrill cut him deeper than if it had been before the entire corps, for he had tried to impress Mark with his importance. He had watched Mark’s face for some sign of rejoicing, but even his ill-nature had failed to detect there any expression of triumph. Fisher lad though Mark Merrill had been, the spoiled and petted child of fortune, Scott Clemmons, was intensely jealous of him. He feared the reserve power of the youth who had gotten an appointment to the naval school by his own acts, when, with all his father’s influence, he had found it no easy task to accomplish it. Then, too, Mark had entered with a kind of hurrah, and more, he had passed the surgeon and examining committee under flying colors, while his first drill had been marked by no grave error upon his part. There were lads at the academy to toady to the riches and influence of Scott Clemmons, and so that youth at once found a following among them. To his willing “satellites” Scott Clemmons, from a knowledge of his own nature, judged Mark, believing that the young sailor would inform his friends of the affair of the toy ship and what followed. He had told his version of the affair, and soon through the corps went the story of enmity between the two “men from Maine,” as they were called. Had Scott Clemmons been less arrogant, Herbert Nazro would not have been so severe upon him as he was. But all new cadets must expect hard times the first year they enter into Uncle Sam’s service as baby tars. In his studies Mark went to work with the determination to win, and a feeling began to creep over the class in which he was that he meant to be a dangerous man in the race for honors. Scott Clemmons understood this more keenly than any one else, and he began to feel his inferiority in spite of his vanity, so he decided that the only way to beat Mark Merrill was to get him out of the academy. He sized up the others of the class, and felt that, with a struggle, he could lead for honors, but Mark Merrill was dangerous, and intended to see to it that his threat to leave him behind was carried out. Demerits against a cadet would upset all standing for good lessons, perfect drill and attention to duties, and that these ugly little demerit marks could be readily gotten from the slightest causes Scott Clemmons soon discovered. He accordingly induced his roommate to enter into a plot against the unsuspecting young sailor.