“I—­I had a bad fall, didn’t I?” he asked of the man nearest him.

“You’d have broken your neck, sir, if Mr. Darrin hadn’t jumped forward and broken the force of your fall.”

“I’d rather any other man had saved me,” muttered the sullen one, slowly aiding himself to sit up.  “How did Mr. Darrin do it?”

“Well, sir,” responded Bob, “he stopped you partly with his head, and it would have been broken, only he had his hands out and gripped you at the shoulders or trunk.  It may be that his head was split as it was, but I hardly think so.”

Two more liberal douses of water, and Dave, too, opened his eyes.

“Is Jetson all right?” was Darrin’s first question.

“Yes,” muttered Midshipman Jetson, “and thanks to you, as I understand it.”

“Oh, if you’re all right, then I’m glad,” responded Dave.  “Bob, have you time to help me to stand up?”

“How do you feel, sir?” asked Bob, after he had complied and stood supporting Midshipman Darrin on his feet.

“Just a bit dizzy, Bob; but that’ll pass off in a moment.  Jetson, I’m glad to see you alive.  Not badly jolted, I hope?”

Jim was now aiding Jetson to his feet.

“Do you want a surgeon, either of you?” asked Bob.

Both midshipmen shook their heads.

“I think I’ll go over to one of the side seats,” remarked Darrin, and Bob piloted him there, while Jim aided Jetson out to the shower room and locker.

Dave Darrin soon conquered the dizzy feeling enough to stand up and walk without assistance.

“I think I’ll go, now,” he told Bob.  “I don’t believe there is anything that I can do for Mr. Jetson.”

“There is, sir, if you don’t mind,” interposed Jim, striding up.  “Mr. Jetson has just asked if you mind waiting for him.”

“My compliments to Mr. Jetson, and I shall be glad to wait for him.”

The sulky midshipman soon hove in sight, having donned his uniform.  He came up to Dave looking decidedly embarrassed.

“Mr. Darrin, I fear I must thank you for having stopped my course to the floor,” admitted Jetson, with a sheepish grin.

“I won’t make it too hard to thank me,” replied Dave, with a smile.  “I’ll just say that you’re wholly welcome.”

“But if you hadn’t caught me in just the way that you did, your skull would have been smashed by the impact with my head.  You risked your life for me, Mr. Darrin.”

“I didn’t stop to think of that, at the time.  At any rate, risking one’s life goes with the Naval service, doesn’t it?”

“It was a splendid thing for you to do, Mr. Darrin!  May I walk along with you?”

Dave nodded.  It was dark, now, and that portion of the yard appeared clear of any moving beings but themselves.

“Darrin,” continued Jetson, “when you risked Coventry in the effort to save me from it, I thought you were posing, though for the life of me I couldn’t fathom your motive.  But the risk that you took this afternoon wasn’t in the line of posing.  Do you mind telling me why you did it?”