“Why not?”

“I—­I—­don’t feel well.  The drinking has made me feel sick.”

“Oh, nonsense!  Here, take this cigar and smoke up.  It will brace your nerves.  And you, Davis, have another glass of something to drink,” went on Lew Flapp, pouring out a glassful and handing it to the one addressed.

“Thank you, Flapp, but I don’t want any more,” answered Joe Davis.  He looked as ill at ease as did Harry Moss.

“Don’t you want to be sociable?” demanded the tall boy.

“It isn’t that, Flapp.  I—­I guess I’ve had enough already.”

“Oh, don’t be a sissy, Davis.  Here, I’ll drink with you, and then I’ll smoke a cigar with Moss.  If you are going to be men you want to start right in.  Eh, Rockley?”

“That’s right, Lew,” answered Rockley, as he lit a fresh cigar.

“What you need is another glass, Davis,” came from Pender.  “It will act as a bracer.  Just try it and see.”

“I—­I don’t want to get—­get—­” faltered Davis.

“Get what?”

“Intoxicated—­really I don’t—­”

“Who said anything about that?” demanded Lew Flapp in apparent anger.  “Don’t be a fool.  One more glass won’t hurt you.  Here, take it,” and he almost forced the liquor to Joe Davis’s lips.

But before he could accomplish his wicked design Dick Rover leaped quickly into the apartment and hurled the glass from the big boy’s hand.

“For shame, Flapp!” he cried.  “For shame!”

“And that’s what I say, too,” came from Powell, who was close behind Dick.

Every cadet in the room was astonished, and all leaped to their feet.

“What’s up?” cried Rockley.

“They have been spying on us!” came from Jackson.

“Talk about meanness!  This is the limit!” added Pender.

“I want you to leave Joe Davis and Harry Moss alone,” went on Dick, as calmly as he could.  “It’s an outrage to get them to drink and smoke against their will.”

“Are you two alone?” asked Lew Flapp, glancing nervously over the newcomers’ shoulders.

“We are.”

“What right had you to come here?”

“Well, we took the right.”

“Then you enjoy playing the spy?”

“No, Flapp,” said Dick boldly, “but I do enjoy doing Davis and Moss a favor.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that I am going to stand by them, so you shall not get them to drink any more or smoke.”

“Humph!  What right have you to interfere?”

“Maybe he’s going to squeal to the captain,” put in Jackson.

“If he does that I’ll punch his head for him!” roared Lew Flapp, who had been drinking just enough to make him ugly and unreasonable.

“I did not come here to squeal on anybody,” answered Dick.

“I know you did—­and I’m going to pound you well for it!” howled Lew Flapp, and on the instant he leaped forward and aimed a savage blow with his fist at Dick’s head.