CHAPTER XLVI.
A FORCED RESIGNATION.
The second year began with Mark Merrill in the lead for honors.
He had not only won a badge for a gallant act at sea, but he had received “honorable mention” for his services as pilot under circumstances where only skill and nerve alone could have saved the cruiser from a very dangerous position.
Then, too, he held the honors of his class for the first year, and that was in his favor.
He had enemies, of course—what really good fellow has not?—yet he was generally popular, and the officers all liked him.
Scott Clemmons was still distantly polite, and his clique of toadies imbibed his manner toward Mark Merrill.
But of their treatment Mark was severely indifferent.
Scott Clemmons had given out that he meant to win the honors of his second year.
He had thrown this challenge, or rather defiance, in the face of Merrill, and at once he set about his task to win.
But those who made the situation a study were convinced that Scott Clemmons would never stand number one, though he had a strong chance for position number two.