“What form does their tougeness take?” Dan wanted to know.

“They have not yet learned the respect that is due to upper classmen, sir.”

“And especially to third classmen?” inquired Dan, now without the flicker of a smile.

“They are especially touge, sir, with third classmen.”

“And you are showing them the error of their ways?”

“We are trying to do so, sir.”

“I thought so, from the noise we heard,” pursued Dalzell.

“If you have any better ways, Mr. Dalzell, we shall be glad to profit from your riper experience, sir,” suggested Midshipman Eaton.

“No; I’ve forgotten almost everything that I ever knew in that line,” remarked Dan.

“Mr. Darrin, sir?” suggested Eaton, turning to the other second classman present.

“I have nothing to suggest,” replied Dave slowly, “unless—­” Then he paused.

“Unless—­sir?” followed up Midshipman Eaton.

“No; I won’t say it.  It might give offense,” Darrin responded.

“Have no fear of that, Mr. Darrin,” urged Eaton.

“All I was going to suggest, Eaton, was that this is the month of March.”

“Yes, sir?” inquired Eaton wonderingly.

“When Dalzell and I were fourth classmen we weren’t troubled at all by the youngsters after Christmas.  Last year, Eaton, our class didn’t bother yours at any later date, either.”

Some of the youngsters present began to look embarrassed, though Dave’s tone had been quiet and free from rebuke.

“But, sir, don’t imagine that we’re doing anything to the plebes for our own amusement,” protested Eaton.  “This is the only pair of the fourth class left that need any attention from our class.  These two young misters are the tougest lot we’ve had to deal with.  In fact, sir, they’re ratey!”

“Still,” rejoined Dan Dalzell, “I think you are keeping it up pretty late in the year, even if they are ratey.”

A midshipman who is “ratey,” as has been explained in an earlier volume, is a much greater offender than a midshipman who is merely touge.  For a ratey fourth classman makes the foolish blunder of considering himself as good as an upper classman.

“Of course,” suggested Dan, making haste to smooth over any astonishment that his own and his chum’s remarks might have caused, “we don’t propose to instruct the members of the third class in the way they shall perform their duties toward the members of the fourth.  Don’t let us interfere with you, Mr. Eaton.”

“By no means,” murmured Dave Darrin, smiling.  “We don’t wish to intrude.”

“But wait just one moment gentlemen,” begged Eaton.  “We want you to see for yourselves how effectively we are smoothing the touge creases out of these baby midshipmen.”

During the discussion Flint and Austin had been standing at one side of the room, looking decidedly sheepish.  Both had their blouses off, though neither had been required to take off his collar.  The trousers of the two fourth classmen were rather liberally overlaid with dust, showing that they must have been performing some rough stunts on the floor.