“I did, sir, as his actions toward me were curious, and I caught him trying to slip something in my pocket. It was done so slyly that had I not been on the watch I would not have known it, but both Cadets Nazro and Dillingham saw him do it, and, of course, when I was challenged to do his feat I accepted and the coin rolled out.” “Did he challenge you?” “No, sir, Clemmons did.” “And who accused you?” “I continued my hand-walk around the track, sir, and Cadet Clemmons asked me to explain how it was I had his luck coin.” “And your answer?” “I told him that I had no claim to it, as Breslin had stolen it from him and slipped it into my pocket, a fact corroborated by Cadets Dillingham and Nazro.” “And he attacked you?” “Yes, sir, and I knocked him down.” “And then?” “He arose and rushed upon me again.” “No one interfered?” “Yes, sir; but his movements were very quick, and----” “Contrary to his usual manner,” dryly said the commandant. “As he rushed upon me a second time, sir, some one struck my hand upward, and he grasped me, so I had to throw him, and I did so with a force which I intended should prevent a continuance of the fracas.” “Then you acted only in self-defense?” “Yes, sir.” “How many cadets were in the gymnasium at the time?” “About one-third of the corps, I should say, sir.” “Name others who were there?” Mark did so, while the commandant jotted down the names, until he had fully a score on the list, men from the various classes, and some of them cadet officers, who had witnessed the affair. Then, after a few moments of silence, the commandant said: “Merrill, in what way have you ever offended Breslin?” “I was not aware that I had done so, sir.” “Yet he has never been friendly toward you?” “No, sir.” “You have done nothing to anger him?” “I have seldom spoken to him, sir.” “Did it ever strike you that he was one of your persecutors when the demerits rolled up against you in the earlier part of the year?” “I have no evidence that he was.” “And in what way have you wronged Clemmons?” “I prefer not to speak of what occurred prior to my coming to the academy, sir.” “You admit that there was trouble between you?” “Yes, sir, we had some trouble one day.” “I desire to hear your statement of it.” “It was of little moment, sir; but one day I went up from my home to B---- to sell a toy ship I had made, to get money needed for my mother, who was ill. Clemmons and a few of his mates, in a spirit of amusement, set upon me, and my ship was broken. This angered me, and I used my fists, and we were arrested.” “With what result?” “A seaman had taken my part, and he was also arrested by the constable; but the judge made the lads pay me for my toy ship, and released the sailor and myself.”