THE SPECTRE AT THE FIGHT PARTY "On your head, mister.

Now, let us have paragraph number four, with tragic, blank-verse effect." That was Jennison's command Brooks manifested a fondness for paragraph number one, to the air of "Yankee Doodle." Others dropped in on Dave, after release at 9.30, evenings, and called for other paragraph rendered in various ways.

He was also overhauled, out of doors, in the brief recreation period after dinner, and made to do various stunts with the unfortunate paragraphs from the "Bazoo." By the time the first week of this was over Dave Darrin wished most heartily that Mr.Pollock had never founded the Gridley "Blade." It is rare that second class men take any part in hazing; it is almost unheard of for a first class man to take any really active part in running a plebe.
Midshipman Henley, first class, proved an exception to this rule.
Regularly, once a day, he met Darrin and ordered him to sing paragraph number one to the tune of "Yankee Doodle." If Dave resented any part of the torment, he was especially annoyed by Henley's unusual conduct.
Naval needs brought a strange revenge.
Reports had reached the Navy Department from commanders of warships in commission that many of the graduates of the Naval Academy serving with the fleets did not possess sufficient knowledge of the command of boat crews.
In the past first class men had not been bothered with rowing drills, which they were supposed to have thoroughly mastered earlier in their course.
Acting on word from the Navy Department the superintendent of the Naval Academy had the first class men ordered out for rowing drills.

All who showed sufficient skill were released from such drills.

The others were sent to drill with the fourth class men.
Four of Dave's boat crew of fourth class men were transferred to another crew, their places being taken by four first class men who had been found sadly deficient in rowing drill.
"Will one of the first class men serve as crew captain, sir ?" asked Darrin.
"Certainly not," replied Lieutenant Edgecombe.