West Point had gone down in a memorable, stinging defeat.

The Navy had triumphed, ten to two.
What a crash came from the Naval Academy Band! Yet the Military Academy Band, catching the spirit and the tune, joined in, and both bands blared forth, the musicians making themselves heard faintly through all the tempest of huzzas.
Dave Darrin smiled faintly as he hurried away from the field.
All his personal interest in football had vanished.

He had played his last game of football and was glad that the Navy had won; that was about all.
Yet he was not listless---far from it.

On the contrary Dave fairly ran to dressing quarters, hustled under a shower and then began to towel and dress.
For out in the audience, well he knew, had sat Belle Meade and her mother.
"Darry, you're a wonder!" cried Wolgast.

"Every time to-day we called upon you you were ready with the push." But Dave, rushing through his dressing, barely heard this and other praise that was showered on him.
"I'll get along before assembly time, Davy," whispered Dan Dalzell.
"Come along now," Dave called back.
"Oh, no! I know that you and Belle want some time to yourselves," murmured Dalzell wisely.