"Prescott isn't the only football player in the Army," returned
Cadet Fields. "Nor are he and Holmes the only pair of 'em."
"You'll lose without that pair, though," ventured Dave. "And it must shake the confidence of your men, too, for you've come here without your two best men."
"Of course, we have to manage our own affairs," interposed one of the cadets.
"Gentlemen," spoke up Dave quickly, "of course, you have to manage your own problems, and no one else is fitted to do so. If I've gone too far in what might have seemed like criticism, then I beg you to forget it. I don't want to be suspected of any disagreeable intent. If I spoke almost bitterly it was because Prescott is my very dear friend. I have another, and a real grievance—-I wanted to test myself out today against Dick Prescott, as any two friends may contest to vanquish one another on the field of sports."
"No one had any thought, I am sure, Mr. Darrin, of accusing you of wishing to be disagreeable," spoke up Cadet Fields. "We believe you to be a prince of good and true fellows; in fact, we accept you at the full estimate of the Brigade of Midshipmen. Wade in and beat us to-day, if you can—-but you can't Prescott or no Prescott."
"Better run inside and tog!" called Wolgast from a distance.
"You'll excuse us now, won't you?" asked Dave. "Come along, Danny boy."
As the two midshipmen lifted their caps and hastened away, Fields gazed after them speculatively:
"There goes the Navy's strength in to-day's game," he announced.
"I wonder if we have done Prescott any wrong?" said another cadet slowly.