Before January I shall be home again, looking for some sort of job." Before eight o'clock the following morning the class, after muster, broke into sections which marched away to recitation in math.
Dan Dalzell was now section leader of one group.

Dave marched in the ranks of a much lower section.
This morning the section with which Dave marched was one man short.
Not until the members had taken their seats, or places at the blackboards, did Darrin give heed enough to note that it was Farley who was absent.
The section leader, however, had reported that Mr.Farley was absent by permission of the head of the Department of Mathematics, "for purposes of study." Unusual as this excuse was the instructor had accepted it without making any inquiry.
If Farley was in his room for purposes of study, then what kind of "study" could it be?
For at that precise moment, Midshipman Farley was standing close to a tiny crack between the edge of his room door and the jamb.
He was "peeking" out attentively.
Curiously enough Midshipman Page, Farley's roommate, had also been excused from attending section work.

At this moment Mr.
Page sat tilted back in his chair, with his feet resting across the corner of the study table.
A most unmilitary pose for Mr.Page, to be sure.

Yet what need was there to fear report with roommate Farley thus industriously standing by the door?
So Mr.Page hummed softly to himself and stared out of the window.
Midshipman Farley remained by the door until he was becoming decidedly wearied of his occupation, and Page had several times shifted his feet.
Then, all of a sudden, Midshipman Farley turned with a low, sharp hiss.
"It ?" whispered Midshipman Page, rising swiftly.
"Yes," nodded Farley.
Midshipman Page walked swiftly out of the room, though his heels did not make as much noise as usual.
Just after Page had left the room Midshipman Farley stole along the corridor, halting before a door.
There he paused, as though on duty.

It was not long before his erect attitude was accounted for, for Lieutenant Nettleson, the officer in charge, came down into the corridor, followed by the cadet officer of the day.
Just a little way behind them walked Midshipman Page.
Farley stood quickly at attention, saluting the officer in charge, who returned the salute..