"If I had to," nodded Dave. "You see, Dan, we're here trying to learn to be Naval officers and to hold command. Now, it's my belief that a man who can't take orders, and stick to them, isn't fit to give orders at any period in his life."
"This sort of thing is getting on my nerves a bit," grumbled Dan. "Just think of all the freedom we had in the good old days back at Gridley!"
"This is a new life, Dan—a different one and a better one."
"Maybe," half assented Dalzell, who was beginning to accumulate the elements of a "grouch."
"Dan," asked Darrin, as he seated himself at his desk and opened a book preparatory to a long bit of hard study, "don't you know that your bed isn't the regulation place to hang your cap?"
"Oh, hang the cap, and the regulations, too!" grumbled Dalzell. "I'm beginning to feel that I've got to break through at some point."
"Pick up your cap, and put it on its hook—do," begged Darrin coaxingly.
At the same time he looked us with a smile which showed that he thought his friend was acting in a very juvenile manner.
Something impelled Dan to comply with his chum's request. Then, after hanging the cap, with great care, on its nail, the disgruntled one slipped to the study table and picked up a book.
Just as he did so there came a knock on the door.