"In the first place, while going down the ladders to the furnaces this morning, you stepped on my shoulder." "Well!" insisted Pennington coldly.
"The second thing you did was, when hauling the fires, to drop red-hot metal across one of my shoes, setting it on fire." "Well ?" insisted Pennington more coldly.
"If you mean to contend that either one was an accident," resumed Dave, "then--" But he found himself obliged to pause for a moment in order to steady his voice.
"Well ?" asked Pennington with more insolence than ever.
"If you make such pretense in either case," tittered Dave Darrin, "then you're a liar!" "Fellow!" sputtered Pennington, turning white with anger.
"I mean what I say, and I can back it up," muttered Darrin.
"Then I'll make you eat your words!" roared Pennington.
Clenching his fists and with the boxer's attitude, Pen aimed two swift blows at Darrin.
Neither blow reached, however, for Dave dodged out of the way.

Then Darrin struck back, a straight, true, forceful blow that landed on the other midshipman's nose, knocking him down.
Pennington staggered somewhat when he rose, but he was quickly up, none the less, and ready for anything that might happen.
All of a sudden Dan Dalzell felt his own heart going down into his shoes.

One of the ship's officers had just entered the passageway, in time to see what was going on..