"Is that the best way you can find to enjoy yourself?" demanded the taller boy.
"But I am, Dave—dreadfully nervous!" insisted Dan Dalzell positively.
"Well, you'll have to conceal it, then. The doctors at the United
States Naval Academy won't pass any nervous wrecks," laughed Dave
Darrin.
"Don't you understand?" demanded Dan, in a hurt voice. "The nearer we get to Annapolis the more nervous I'm getting."
"You'd better drop off, then," hinted Dave ironically, "and take the next car back to Odenton and Baltimore. What earthly good would a Naval officer be who was going to get nervous as soon as he came in sight of an enemy?"
"But I wouldn't get nervous in the sight the enemy," flared up
Dan Dalzell.
"Then why get nervous about the folks down at the Naval Academy?
They all intend to be your friends!"
"I guess that is true," Dan went on. "Of course, back in April, we went before the Civil Service Commission and took our academic examinations. We passed, and haven't got that to go up against again."
"We passed the home medical examiner, too," retorted Dave. "In fact, you might say that we passed the sawbones with honors.
"But that medical chap put in a long time listening at my chest," complained Dan Dalzell, who was undeniably fidgeting in his seat. "Then, too, the civil service sawbones told me that, while he passed me, as far as he was concerned, I'd have to stand the ordeal again before the Naval surgeons at Annapolis."