He met only a cold stare from the man who had been his friend, and placing his hand to his head in a dazed sort of way, he walked slowly out of the gymnasium. “He shall speak!” cried Mark, starting after him, but a dozen hands held him back, while Byrd Bascomb said: “No need of it, Merrill; for he is the thief.” “And worse, he well-nigh ruined you, Merrill,” added Herbert Nazro. “Forgive me, Merrill, but he accused you to me, and it was his plot to have you walk on your hands that the money might roll out of your pocket,” and Scott Clemmons held out his hand. But sharp and decisive came the response: “No, Clemmons, I will not take your hand, for you are no more my friend than Breslin has been--I pity him, but despise you,” and Mark walked away with Dillingham, Nazro and Byrd Bascomb. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE STORY TOLD. Mark Merrill’s first act was to go at once to the officer of the day and report the occurrence at the gymnasium. Accompanied by Cadet Captain Byrd Bascomb, Herbert Nazro and Winslow Dillingham, who were there to vouch for the affair as stated, the officer of the day suggested that the young cadet go immediately to the commandant, and he would give no order of arrest against Barney Breslin until he heard from headquarters. It was decided then that Mark should go alone to the commandant and tell his story, while the three cadets whom he had as witnesses would hold themselves in readiness to be called upon for their version of the affair. “There will be plenty more of us, Merrill, never fear, to report the affair as it occurred,” said Byrd Bascomb. “Yes, all there knew that you were attacked by Breslin, which was reversing the old saying and adding injury to insult, to attempt to annihilate you after he had accused you of stealing; but, great Scott! what a knock-down you gave him,” said Nazro, while Dillingham responded: “Oh, yes, Merrill can do it, as I have cause to remember--he tumbled me into the drink,” and all three laughed at the remembrance. “It will go hard with Breslin even if he escapes arrest for stealing, for Clemmons gave him an awful ugly look when he saw that he was the thief--that it was his room mate who had robbed him,” said Dillingham. So Mark wended his way to headquarters, and the commandant granting him an interview, he made a clean breast of the whole occurrence. The commandant listened with an attention that revealed the deepest interest, for it was something so thoroughly out of the usual run for one who was to become an officer in the navy to be accused of theft. Mischief untold, hazing, and even insubordination, might be charged against the jolly young tars, but anything against their honor was a stigma too serious to be lightly thought of. At last the commandant spoke, and in a low, earnest tone: “You requested Cadets Nazro and Dillingham to watch Breslin’s movements?”