“So am I,” muttered Dan dryly.

“Darrin, you haven’t said whether you accept my apology,” Farley continued insistently.  “I’m mighty sorry for the whole thing, and I’m glad you thrashed me as you did when we met.  I richly deserved that for my hot-headedness.”

For just a moment Dave Darrin couldn’t speak, but he held out his hand.

“Thank you, old fellow,” cried Farley, grasping it.  “From now on I hope we shall trust each other and be friends always.”

Farley had been a good deal spoiled at home, and had a hasty, impetuous temper.  His career at Annapolis, however, was doing much to make a man of him in short time.

Several of the other midshipmen spoke, expressing their pleasure that the whole thing was cleared up, and that Dave had proved to be above suspicion.

“And now I’m off to find the other fellows who were with me that night,” continued Farley.  “I’ve told Page, already, but I’ve got to find Scully and Oates, Henkel and Brimmer and put them straight also.”

Five minutes later Farley was explaining to Midshipman Henkel.

“Well, you are the softy!” said Henkel, in a sneering tone.

“Why?” demanded Farley stiffly.

“To fall for a frame-up like that.”

“Do you mean that my cousin lied to me?”

“No; but Grierson certainly did.”

“Old man Grierson is no liar,” retorted Farley.  “He is one of most trusted employes in the yard.  He has caught many a midshipman, but Grierson is such a square old brick that the midshipmen of two generations love him.”

“You’re too easy for this rough world,” jeered Midshipman Henkel.

“Perhaps I am,” retorted Farley.  “But I’m going through it decently, anyway.”

“So you went and rubbed down Darrin’s ruffled fur as gently as you could,” continued Henkel.

“I went to him and apologized—­the only thing a man could do under the circumstances.”

“And now I suppose some of the fellows are trying to build up an altar to Darrin as the class idol?”

“I don’t know.  I hope so, for I’m convinced that Dave Darrin is as decent a fellow as ever signed papers at Annapolis.”

“Go on out and buy some incense to burn before Darrin,” laughed Henkel harshly.

Perhaps Mr. Henkel might not have been as flippant had he known that, all the time, Farley was studying him intently.

“So, in spite of all explanations, you still have no use for Darrin?” asked Midshipman Farley.

“I have just as much use for him as I have for any other big sneak,” retorted Mr. Henkel.  “He betrayed us to the watchman, and I don’t care what explanations are offered to show that he didn’t.”

“And you won’t be friendly with Darrin?” insisted Farley.

“I?” asked Henkel scornfully.  “Not for an instant!

“Well, I hardly believe that Darrin will care much,” replied Mr. Farley, turning on his heel and walking out of the room.