“As to that, sir,” Darrin replied, “I long ago resolved not to take any chances whatever of breaking any disciplinary requirements that would bring me demerits.  I am working hard to get through the academic requirements, sir, and I don’t intend to pass the mental ordeals here and then find that I can’t keep on as a midshipman just because I have too many demerits against me.  I think, sir, you may feel assured I shall not allow myself to do anything that would bring me under discipline.”

“Your resolution was and is a most excellent one, Mr. Darrin,” replied the O.C.  “Mr. Dalzell, do you share Mr. Darrin’s determination as to keeping out of trouble in Annapolis this evening?”

“Emphatically, sir.”

“Then the desired permission is granted.  You will enter proper report as to the time of leaving and returning.”

Thanking the O.C. and saluting, Dave and Dan hastened back to Joyce.

“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?”

“We can’t do much, except what we came out to do,” Dave reminded Joyce.  “We can just walk about and stretch our legs, look in at a few store windows and make a few trifling purchases that won’t exhaust our small store of pocket money.”

“Exciting prospect!” remarked Joyce.

“Well, what ails you?” demanded Dalzell with unusual quietness.  “What do you want to do?  Something that will get us into big trouble with the O.C. and the com.?”

“Joyce can’t tell you what he longs for, for he doesn’t know himself,” explained Dave.

“But I know.  He wants to do something irregular; anything that is slightly in breach of the regulations—­something that will get him hauled up before the O.C. and the pap.”