“But do you think he’s any real good, Darry, as captain for the Navy?”

“I do.”

“We ought to have had you for captain of the team, Darry,” insisted Farley.

“So two or three other fellows thought,” admitted Dave.  “But I refused to take that post, as you know, and I’m glad I did.”

“Oh, come, now!

“Yes; I’m glad I refused.   A captain should be in mid-field.   Now,
if Dalzell and I are any good at all on the gridiron-----”

“Oh, Mr. Modesty!”

“If we’re of any use at all,” pursued Darrin, “it’s only on the flank.  Now, where would the Navy be with a captain directing from the right or left flank.”

“Darry, you funker, you could play center as well as Wolgast does.”

“Farl, you’re letting your prejudices spoil your eyesight.”

“Oh, I’ve no prejudice at all against Wolgast,” Farley hastened to rejoin.  “Only I don’t consider him our strongest man for captain.  Now, Wolgast-----”

“Here!” called a laughing voice.  The door had opened, after a knock that Darrin had not noticed.

“Talking about me?” inquired Midshipman Wolgast pleasantly, as he stopped in the middle of the room.

Midshipman Farley was nothing at all on the order of the backbiter.  Service in the Brigade of Midshipmen for three years had taught him the virtue of direct truth.

“Yes, Wolly,” admitted Farley without embarrassment.  “I was criticizing your selection as captain of the eleven.”

“Nothing worse than that?” laughed First Classman Wolgast.

“I was saying—–­no offense, Wolly—–­that I didn’t consider you the right man to head the Navy eleven.”

Midshipman Wolgast stepped over to Farley, holding out his right hand.

“Shake, Farl!  I’m glad to find a man of brains on the eleven.  I know well enough that I’m not the right captain.  But we couldn’t make Darry accept the post.”

Midshipman Wolgast appeared anything but hurt by the direct candor with which he had been treated.  He now threw one leg over the corner of the study table, though he inquired: 

“Am I interrupting anything private?”

“Not in the least,” Dave assured him.

“Am I intruding in any way?”

“Not a bit of it,” Darrin answered heartily “We’re glad to have you here with us.”

“Surely,” nodded Farley.

“Now, then, as to my well known unfitness to command the Navy football team,” continued First Classman Wolgast, “do either of you see any faults in me that can be remedied?”

“I can’t,” Dave answered.  “I believe, Wolly, that you can lead the team as well as any other man in the squad.  On the whole, I believe you can lead a little better than any other man could do.”

“No help from your quarter, then, Darry,” sighed Midshipman Wolgast.  “Farl, help me out.  Tell me some way in which I can improve my fitness for the post of honor that has been thrust upon me.  I assure you I didn’t seek it.”