"You see," Darrin went on very quietly, "I reported the joint at the police station, and Chow Hop threatened that, if I did, he'd tell all he knew about everybody. So you'd better be first——"
"You broke the game out to the police!" gasped Pennington, staring dumfoundedly at his comrade. "What on earth——"
"I did it because I had more than one satisfactory reason for considering it my duty," interposed Dave, speaking quietly though firmly.
"You—you—bag of wind!" exploded Midshipman Pennington.
"I'll accept your apology when you've had time to think it all over," replied Dave, with a smile, though there was a brief flash in his eyes.
"I'll make no apology to you—at any time, you—you—greaser!"
Marks for efficiency or good conduct, which increase a midshipman's standing, are called "grease-marks" or "grease" in midshipman slang. Hence a midshipman who is accused of currying favor with his officers in order to win "grease" is contemptuously termed a "greaser."
"I don't want to talk with you any more, Mr. Darrin," Pennington went on bitterly, "or walk with you, either. When I get over this toothache I'll call you out—you greaser!"
Burning with indignation, Midshipman Pennington fell back to walk with Hallam.