"You just keep your eye on me, Dan! Do you see me shaking? Do
you hear my voice falter? See me burning any blue lights?

"Perhaps, Dave, you don't take the whole business as much to heart
as I do," continued Dan Dalzell almost tremulously. "Why, Great
Scott, if they drop me at the Naval Academy, I'll be the bluest
fellow you ever saw! But maybe you won't care, Dave, whether
you are dropped or not."

"Won't I?" grumbled Darrin. "The Navy is the only thing in life
that I care about!"

"Then aren't you nervous, just now?" demanded Dan.

"If I am, I'm not making a show of myself," retorted Darrin.

"But are you nervous?" begged Dan.

"No!" roared Dave, and then he allowed a grin to creep over his face.

"Oh, go ahead and say so tonight," jeered Dan. "Tomorrow, if
you have the good luck to get sworn in, you'll have to quit fibbing
and begin practicing at telling the truth. A midshipman at the
Naval Academy, I understand, is kicked out of the service if he
tells lies."

"Not quite--only in case he gets caught," laughed Dave Darrin.

"But really, about being nervous--"