"Nor are he and Holmes the only pair of 'em."
"You'll lose without that pair, though," ventured Dave. "And
it must shake the confidence of your men, too, for you've come
here without your two best men."
"Of course, we have to manage our own affairs," interposed one
of the cadets.
"Gentlemen," spoke up Dave quickly, "of course, you have to manage
your own problems, and no one else is fitted to do so. If I've
gone too far in what might have seemed like criticism, then I
beg you to forget it. I don't want to be suspected of any disagreeable
intent. If I spoke almost bitterly it was because Prescott is
my very dear friend. I have another, and a real grievance---I
wanted to test myself out today against Dick Prescott, as any
two friends may contest to vanquish one another on the field of
sports."
"No one had any thought, I am sure, Mr. Darrin, of accusing you
of wishing to be disagreeable," spoke up Cadet Fields. "We believe
you to be a prince of good and true fellows; in fact, we accept
you at the full estimate of the Brigade of Midshipmen. Wade in
and beat us to-day, if you can---but you can't Prescott or no
Prescott."
"Better run inside and tog!" called Wolgast from a distance.
"You'll excuse us now, won't you?" asked Dave. "Come along, Danny
boy."
As the two midshipmen lifted their caps and hastened away, Fields
gazed after them speculatively:
"There goes the Navy's strength in to-day's game," he announced.
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