"But then, you're always joking." "Perhaps I am joking," assented the officer in charge dryly, "but I never lose sight of the fact that our Navy has been built up, at huge expense, as a great fighting machine.

Now, Willow, it takes fighting men to run a fighting machine.

Of course, I'm terribly shocked to know that two midshipmen really had the grit to fight--but who were they! Mind you, I'm not asking you in an official way.

This question is purely personal--just between ourselves.

Who were the men?
And, especially, who was the fellow who lost the decision, and then had the utter effrontery to demand a second chance at once, only to win the second fight ?" "Darrin was the man who lost the first fight and won the second," replied Lieutenant Willow.
"Mr.Darrin?
One of our youngsters?
Yes; I think I know him.