"Up oars!" commanded Mr. Hayes dryly.

From one of the visiting plebes came an incautious giggle. Mr.
Hayes turned and marked his man with a significant stare that
made the unfortunate giggler turn red and white in turn with alarm.

At the order, "up oars," Dave Darrin sent his feet aloft. By
rare good luck he succeeded the first time trying.

There he remained, his head in the bowl of water, his feet resting
against the wall.

Just at this moment, though, the sound of trouble was in the air,
even if it reached interested ears but faintly.

A step was heard in the corridor outside. There was a faint knock.

The upper class midshipmen knew on the instant what the knock
meant--and so indeed did Dave Darrin.




CHAPTER IV

THE "YOUNGSTERS" WHO BECAME "SPOONS ON"


It was a most critical moment in the life histories of several
young men who had grown to consider themselves as future officers