The others, except Dan, started briskly for the entrance. As for
Dalzell, he brought up the rear, grumbling:
"All right; you fellows go on out and see whether you see him. If you don't, then I'm going to report myself at hospital without delay. Really, I can't swear that I saw—-it."
But at that moment the object of Dan's alarm reached one of the doors of the entrance of Bancroft Hall and stepped briskly inside.
This new-comer's glance fell upon the knot of midshipmen, and he glanced at them inquiringly, as though to see whether these young men intended to salute him.
Surely enough, the newcomer was decidedly boyish-looking, yet he wore the fatigue uniform and insignia of a lieutenant of the United States Navy. If he were masquerading, here was a dangerous place into which to carry his antics.
The five midshipmen brought their right hands hesitatingly to the visors of their uniform caps. The very youthful lieutenant smartly returned their salutes, half smiled, then turned, in search of the officer in charge.
"Scoot! Skip! Let's escape!" whispered Dan hoarsely, and all five midshipmen were speedily out in the open.
"Now, did you fellows really see—-it—-or did I have a delusion that I saw you all salute when I did?"
"I saw it," rejoined Farley, "and I claim it, if no one else wants it."
"The service is going to the dogs," growled Page, "when they give away a lieutenant's uniform with a pound of tea!"