"That's a swell hotel where they're going to put us up for four
years, isn't it?" demanded Dan.

"I fancy that we'll find it something more--or less--than a
hotel, before we're through it," was Dave's prophetic reply.

As, at this time in the morning, all of the enrolled midshipmen
were away at one form or another of drill or instruction, the
central grounds were so empty of human life that the onlooker
could form no idea of the immense, throbbing activity that was
going on here among the hundreds of midshipmen on duty.

"Here's some of our kind," spoke Dan, at last, as he espied more
than a dozen young men, in citizen's dress, strolling along under
the trees.

"I guess they're candidates, fast enough," nodded Darrin, after
briefly looking at the approaching group.

"Cheap-looking lot, most of them, aren't they?" asked Dalzell
cheerfully.

"Probably they're saying the same thing about us," chuckled Dave
dryly.

"Let 'em, then. Who cares?" muttered Dalzell.

"Dan, my boy, I reckon you'll need to put the soft pedal on your
critical tendencies," warned Dave. "And, if you want my friendly