But it was too late to retreat.
"It seems as though an age had gone by, Dave," spoke Cadet Prescott.
"It surely does, Dick," returned Midshipman Darrin.
"And we've got to beat you today, too," said Midshipman Dalzell dolefully.
"What?
Beat the Army ?" gasped Cadet Holmes.
"The Navy is the only crowd that can really do it," admitted Dalzell.
"Foes in sport today, Dave!" declared Prescott ardently.

"But in nothing else, ever!" "Never mind either the Army or the Navy, just for the minute," begged Dave Darrin.

"But it's great, isn't it, just to be in the service at all ?" Then, becoming suddenly aware that they had demoralized the practice work of both elevens, cadets and midshipmen parted.
"But do your best to beat me today, Dave!" begged Dick.
"I surely will!" came back the retort.

"And don't you falter for the Army, Dick!" "Old friends, Prescott ?" demanded Brayton as the two cadets ran back to their own forces.
"We four learned football together, on the same team," confessed Dick.
"Is that man Darrin as big a wonder as we've heard ?" queried Brayton.
"Bigger, I'm afraid," returned Prescott.
"He opposes you today.

Can he get away with you ?" "He may be able to batter me down.