"And you're Darrin—-one of the few men we're afraid of."
"Does Prescott play to-day?" Dave asked eagerly.
The West Pointer's brow clouded.
"No," he replied. "Mr. Prescott isn't a subject for conversation at the Military Academy. Mr. Prescott is in Coventry."
"Sad mistake," muttered Darrin.
"Eh?"
"A sad mistake. You men have made a bad bungle; I know it."
"It is a matter of internal discipline in the corps," replied the West Point cadet, speaking much more coldly.
"Yes, I know it," Dave replied quickly, "and I beg your pardon for having seemed to criticise the action of the Corps of Cadets. However, anything that unpleasantly affects Dick Prescott is a sore subject with me. Prescott is one of the best friends I have in the world."
"Why, I've heard something about that," replied Fields in a less constrained tone. "You and Mr. Prescott are old school cronies."