And now Dave bent over his chum, who, still unconscious, was breathing heavily.

“He’s in no immediate danger,” breathed Darrin, in great relief.  Then, hearing wheels, he stepped to the end of the alleyway.  As if in answer to his prayer the vehicle turned ont to be a cab, and without a fare.

“Driver, I need you here!” called Dave, and the cab rolled in at the curb.

“Follow me,” directed Darrin, leading the way up the alley

Catching sight of the prostrate midshipman the driver grinned.

“No, he’s not intoxicated!” flashed out Darrin half angrily.  “This is all a trick.  Help me lift him into your cab.  Then drive us to the best physician in the town.”

Dan was propped in place on the back seat, Darrin beside him.

“Give me the card of your stable, driver,” Dave requested.  “I haven’t money enough to pay you, but I’ll write and have my father send you the amount of your bill.”

“That’ll be all right, sir,” nodded the driver who knew the ways of midshipmen, and who also knew that such a “risk” was a safe one.

A few minutes later the cab stopped before the residence of Dr. Stewart.

“See if the doctor is in,” directed Darrin.

The physician was at home, and not engaged.  So Dave and the driver carried Dan into the medical man’s office.

“Too bad!” murmured the physician.  “Intoxicated, eh?

“No, sir,” responded Dave quietly, “and that’s one of the things I wish you to note positively, so that you can be prepared to certify if necessary.  This is the stuff, I believe, with which my friend was drugged.”

Dave passed over the vial Tony had handed him.  Dr. Stewart smelled the contents, then touched the bottle lightly to his tongue.  Next he stepped over to a cabinet, poured a small quantity of the liquid into a test tube and did some hurried experimenting.

“The regulation knockout drops,” he smiled grimly.  “Now, help me to take off your friend’s overcoat.  Whew!  There is the smell of alcohol here!

“Only on the overcoat, I guess, doctor,” suggested Dave.  “You don’t notice any on my friend’s breath, do you?

“No,” replied the doctor.

“There has been a plot on foot to make it appear that my friend had been indulging in liquor.  Doctor, I hope you can prove positively that such was not the case.”

“I shall have to pump the young man’s stomach out.  That is the first step in getting him back to consciousness.  That will also show convincingly whether he has been using alcoholic drinks.”

Within three minutes Dr. Stewart was positive that Dan had not been using strong drink.

Soon after Dan regained consciousness.  Dr. Stewart quickly gave him something to restore his faculties.

Catching sight of the office clock Dave broke in: 

“Doctor, if it is barely possible, we must be back for supper formation.  Can you fix it?”