"Touge" is Annapolis slang for "fresh." It corresponds closely to the "b j" of West Point.

A sound as of protest came from behind a closed door at the further end of the deck.

"I hope our youngsters aren't going too far," Dave remarked, "youngster"

being the accepted term for the third cla.s.smen, and the same as "yearling" at West Point.

"Well, it's none of our business," replied Dan, with a shrug of his shoulders. "Study call will be along in fifteen minutes. Going to get an early start with the books to-night?"

"I guess that will be wise," Darrin nodded.

"It surely will."

The rest of the winter had gone along rather uneventfully, save for the inevitable, overpowering amount of grind through which a midshipman must pa.s.s. It was now spring, and midshipmen thoughts were divided between two topics--annual exams, and summer cruise.

Dan had started into the room, and Dave was about to follow, when he heard an unusually loud thud at the further end of the deck.

"Danny boy, the plebes must be getting it hard to-night."

"I'd like to see the fun," muttered Dalzell, his eyes snapping with mischief. "But it doesn't seem to be any of our business. Hazing work is left in charge of the youngster crowd."

"Yes; a second cla.s.sman shouldn't interfere," a.s.sented Dave. "Well, study for ours."

"I'm afraid I'm not as studious as I was a minute ago," contended Dan, with a grin.

Dave looked almost startled as he seized his chum by the arm.

"Inside with you, Danny boy!"

"Not under compulsion," laughed Midshipman Dalzell.

"I'll condescend to coaxing, then. But don't anger the youngsters by b.u.t.ting in."

"And why not? An upper cla.s.sman has a right to step in, if he wishes."

"It is, at least, against the rules of good taste to interfere,"

argued Darrin.

"Well, hang you, I don't want to interfere. All I want to do is to look on. Can't an upper cla.s.sman do that?"

"I won't," returned Dave.

Yet almost immediately he changed his mind, for two hard b.u.mps and a gust of laughter swept up the deck.

"They're making so much racket," murmured Dave, lingering by his own door, "that, the first thing we know, a duty officer will swoop down and rag the bunch."

"Let's go in, then, as grave and dignified second cla.s.smen, and warn the youngsters like daddies," proposed Dan, but his eyes were twinkling with the spirit of mischief.

A good deal against his own inclination Darrin allowed himself to be coaxed into the thing.

Nine youngsters were found in Midshipmen Flint and Austin's room when Dave and Dan entered after rapping.

"We're not intruding, I hope?" inquired Dalzell, with his most inviting grin.

"Not at all, gentlemen," responded Midshipman Eaton, of the third cla.s.s.

"These fourth cla.s.smen seemed unwontedly popular to-night,"

insinuated Dan.

"They've been most uncommonly touge all through the year, sir," replied Eaton, tacking on the "sir" in order to impress Midshipmen Flint and Austin with the tremendous dignity or all upper cla.s.smen.

"What form does their tougeness take?" Dan wanted to know.

"They have not yet learned the respect that is due to upper cla.s.smen, sir."

"And especially to third cla.s.smen?" inquired Dan, now without the flicker of a smile.

"They are especially touge, sir, with third cla.s.smen."

"And you are showing them the error of their ways?"

"We are trying to do so, sir."

"I thought so, from the noise we heard," pursued Dalzell.

"If you have any better ways, Mr. Dalzell, we shall be glad to profit from your riper experience, sir," suggested Midshipman Eaton.

"No; I've forgotten almost everything that I ever knew in that line,"

remarked Dan.

"Mr. Darrin, sir?" suggested Eaton, turning to the other second cla.s.sman present.

"I have nothing to suggest," replied Dave slowly, "unless--" Then he paused.

"Unless--sir?" followed up Midshipman Eaton.

"No; I won't say it. It might give offense," Darrin responded.

"Have no fear of that, Mr. Darrin," urged Eaton.

"All I was going to suggest, Eaton, was that this is the month of March."

"Yes, sir?" inquired Eaton wonderingly.

"When Dalzell and I were fourth cla.s.smen we weren't troubled at all by the youngsters after Christmas. Last year, Eaton, our cla.s.s didn't bother yours at any later date, either."

Some of the youngsters present began to look embarra.s.sed, though Dave's tone had been quiet and free from rebuke.

"But, sir, don't imagine that we're doing anything to the plebes for our own amus.e.m.e.nt," protested Eaton. "This is the only pair of the fourth cla.s.s left that need any attention from our cla.s.s. These two young misters are the tougest lot we've had to deal with. In fact, sir, they're ratey!"