Instantly the middies came to the position of attention, looking straight ahead of them.
"Good evening, gentlemen," greeted the O.C. "Is anything unusual going on?"
"We have been discussing the football situation, sir," announced
Midshipman Hepson quite truthfully.
Had Hepson been asked if there had recently been a fight in progress he would have answered truthfully, but he did not feel called upon to volunteer damaging information.
"I thought I heard sounds as of some disturbance," remarked the O.C., looking at the young men rather sharply. "That is to say, I was under the impression that there had been some unusual agility in operation. I heard something that sounded like scuffling."
"Yes, sir," replied Mr. Hepson; "I think it very likely. The men on this deck, sir, can't think of anything in these days but line-ups and scrimmage tactics."
"It occurred to me," went on the O.C., "that there was some sound of scuffling in this room."
"There was, sir," admitted Midshipman Hepson candidly. "There was a species of scrimmage."
"Was it in connection with football?" inquired Lieutenant Cotton.
"Yes, sir,"—which answer, again, was wholly truthful.