By way of simple dissipation the three midshipmen went to a drug store, enjoying themselves with ice cream sodas. Soon after they found themselves in a Main Street bookstore, looking over post cards. They could, however, find no new ones, and so left without buying.
"And there's the theatre right over there!" sighed Joyce.
"It would be against our word as midshipmen and gentlemen to visit it," Dave urged. "Come on, Joyce; we'll turn into one of the very quiet side streets and stroll along. Then we'll be out of temptation."
Accordingly they went to one of the all but deserted side streets of the better sort.
"There's a comrade ahead of us," said Dave in an undertone presently, as he made out the uniform half a block away.
Hardly had he spoken when a door opened and a young man in evening clothes came lightly down the steps. At once the unknown midshipman wheeled and sprang at the young civilian. There was a swift interchange of blows, over almost as soon as it started, for the unknown midshipman speedily knocked down the man he had assaulted. Nor did the civilian get up at once. Instead, he bawled lustily for help.
Joyce made a move to spring forward, but Dave caught him by the arm.
"Don't get forward, Joyce. If you do, you'll probably recognize the midshipman. Then you'll have to report his name."
Answering the calls for help five other young men ran out of the same house. The midshipman disdained to flee and stood his ground.
"We'll teach you!" snarled one of the newly arrived civilians, raising his cane as though to bring it down on the midshipman's shoulders.