The release bell had just sounded, giving all of the young men a brief interval of freedom before taps.
"Not especially," laughed Farley, as he finished stacking his books and papers neatly.
It was about a week after the night of Dan's fight with Midshipman
Quimby.
"Let me get a good look at your face, Farley, under the light," continued Henkel. "Why, it looks almost natural again. My, but it was a rough pounding that fellow, Darrin, gave it!"
"Yes," nodded Farley, flushing.
"Let me see; isn't it about time that you squared matters up with
Darrin?" went on Midshipman Henkel.
"How? What do you mean?" demanded Farley, while Page, too, looked on with interest.
"Well, first of all, Darrin gets the whole bunch of us ragged by the watchman. The when you object, he pounds your face at his own sweet will."
"What are you trying to do?" laughed Farley. "Are you trying to fan up the embers of my wrath against Darrin?"
"Such embers shouldn't need much fanning," retorted Mr. Henkel coolly.
"Surely, you are not going to let the dead dog lie?"