But it was a hopeless puzzle.
"Of course, Danny didn't hint that he was going to French it tonight," thought Dave bitterly.

"Good reason why, too! He knew that, if I got wind of his intention, I'd thrash him sooner than let him take such a chance.

Oh, Dan! Dan, you idiot! To take such a fool chance in your last year here, when detection probably means your being dropped from brigade, and your career ended!" For Dave Darrin knew the way of discipline officers too well to imagine that that one brief inspection of the room was positively all the look-in that would be offered that night.

Some discipline officers have a way of looking in often during the night.

Being themselves graduates of the Naval Academy, officers are sure to know that the inspection immediately after taps does not always suffice.