"Not so difficult, was it?" demanded the Navy quarter-back.
"It was a whole lot better than planning to French the trip," retorted Darrin. "Now, we shall leave here to-night feeling perfectly safe as to our place on the pap."
"Pap" is the sheet on which the day's report of midshipmen conduct is kept.
"I'll admit that caution is sometimes worth while," laughed Joyce.
Soon after the call for supper formation sounded. The meal hour was a merry one that evening. The afternoon's game was naturally the main subject for conversation.
Dave naturally came in for much praise for the way he had saved the Navy game, but this flattery bored him. Darrin did not in the least imagine that he was a wonder on the gridiron. In fact, the game being past and won, he did not take any further interest in it. Such thought as he now gave to football concerned the games still to come.
Immediately after the meal the three midshipmen reported their departure into Annapolis. Then they went to the main gate, passed through and strolled on up Maryland Avenue into State Circle.
"I'm sorry we promised not to go to the theatre," murmured
Midshipman Joyce.
"I'm not," retorted Dave. "Without that promise we wouldn't have secured the leave."
"But what are we going to do," demanded the dissatisfied one, "now that we are outside the grounds?"