"You may dress, Mr. Darrin," announced the senior surgeon, and
Dave went to the chair on which his clothing lay.

"Mr. Dalzell, come here a moment"

Dan began to feel queer. What had they missed? On what point
was his physical condition doubtful?

"Open your mouth," directed one of the surgeons.

Then followed some more exploration of his teeth.

"Oh," murmured Dan, when the medical men gave him a rest for a
moment. "It's only my teeth, eh? That's not a vitally important
point, is it, sir?"

"We reject candidates for what might seem very slight defects
of the teeth," replied the senior surgeon, with emphasis. "Open
your mouth again."

The cold ooze stood out on Dan's brow this time. Joke as he might,
he did not want to be dropped out of the Navy. Were these medical
officers going to find, in his mouth, the clue his disqualification?

"Hm!" said the senior surgeon, watching while another medical
officer did the probing and the holding of the dental mirrors.

That "hm!" sent a cold chill of dread coursing down young Daniel's
spine.