It was good luck on my part that I was able to be of service to you." "Good luck, eh ?" retorted Midshipman Trotter.

"Third class men, fall in!" As the "youngsters" lined up Mr.Trotter, standing at the right of the line, asked coaxingly: "Mister, will you be condescending enough to pass down the line and shake hands with each of us ?" Flushing modestly, but grinning, Dave did as asked--or directed.
"Mister," continued Midshipman Trotter impressively, "we find ourselves very close to being 'spoons on' you." For a youngster to be "spoons on" a new fourth classman means for the former to treat the latter very nearly as though he were a human being.
"Now, you green dandelions may go," suggested Mr.Trotter, turning to the four "visiting" plebes.
As soon as this had come about Trotter turned to Dave Darrin.
"Mister, we humble representatives of the third class are going to show you the only sign of appreciation within our power.

We are going to invite you to stroll down the deck and visit us in our steerage.

Your roommate is invited to join us." Dave and Dan promptly accepted, with becoming appreciation.

All of the youngsters escorted Dave and Dan down the corridor to Midshipman Trotter's room.
In the course of the next hour the youngsters told these new midshipmen much about the life at the Naval Academy that it would otherwise have taken the two plebes long to have found out for themselves.
They were initiated into much of the slang language that the older midshipmen use when conversing together.