Mark Merrill’s first act was to go at once to the officer of the day and report the occurrence at the gymnasium.

Accompanied by Cadet Captain Byrd Bascomb, Herbert Nazro and Winslow Dillingham, who were there to vouch for the affair as stated, the officer of the day suggested that the young cadet go immediately to the commandant, and he would give no order of arrest against Barney Breslin until he heard from headquarters.

It was decided then that Mark should go alone to the commandant and tell his story, while the three cadets whom he had as witnesses would hold themselves in readiness to be called upon for their version of the affair.

“There will be plenty more of us, Merrill, never fear, to report the affair as it occurred,” said Byrd Bascomb.

“Yes, all there knew that you were attacked by Breslin, which was reversing the old saying and adding injury to insult, to attempt to annihilate you after he had accused you of stealing; but, great Scott! what a knock-down you gave him,” said Nazro, while Dillingham responded:

“Oh, yes, Merrill can do it, as I have cause to remember—he tumbled me into the drink,” and all three laughed at the remembrance.

“It will go hard with Breslin even if he escapes arrest for stealing, for Clemmons gave him an awful ugly look when he saw that he was the thief—that it was his room mate who had robbed him,” said Dillingham.

So Mark wended his way to headquarters, and the commandant granting him an interview, he made a clean breast of the whole occurrence.

The commandant listened with an attention that revealed the deepest interest, for it was something so thoroughly out of the usual run for one who was to become an officer in the navy to be accused of theft.

Mischief untold, hazing, and even insubordination, might be charged against the jolly young tars, but anything against their honor was a stigma too serious to be lightly thought of.

At last the commandant spoke, and in a low, earnest tone:

“You requested Cadets Nazro and Dillingham to watch Breslin’s movements?”

“I did, sir, as his actions toward me were curious, and I caught him trying to slip something in my pocket. It was done so slyly that had I not been on the watch I would not have known it, but both Cadets Nazro and Dillingham saw him do it, and, of course, when I was challenged to do his feat I accepted and the coin rolled out.”

“Did he challenge you?”

“No, sir, Clemmons did.”

“And who accused you?”

“I continued my hand-walk around the track, sir, and Cadet Clemmons asked me to explain how it was I had his luck coin.”

“And your answer?”

“I told him that I had no claim to it, as Breslin had stolen it from him and slipped it into my pocket, a fact corroborated by Cadets Dillingham and Nazro.”

“And he attacked you?”

“Yes, sir, and I knocked him down.”

“And then?”

“He arose and rushed upon me again.”

“No one interfered?”

“Yes, sir; but his movements were very quick, and——”

“Contrary to his usual manner,” dryly said the commandant.

“As he rushed upon me a second time, sir, some one struck my hand upward, and he grasped me, so I had to throw him, and I did so with a force which I intended should prevent a continuance of the fracas.”

“Then you acted only in self-defense?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How many cadets were in the gymnasium at the time?”

“About one-third of the corps, I should say, sir.”

“Name others who were there?”

Mark did so, while the commandant jotted down the names, until he had fully a score on the list, men from the various classes, and some of them cadet officers, who had witnessed the affair.

Then, after a few moments of silence, the commandant said:

“Merrill, in what way have you ever offended Breslin?”

“I was not aware that I had done so, sir.”

“Yet he has never been friendly toward you?”

“No, sir.”

“You have done nothing to anger him?”

“I have seldom spoken to him, sir.”

“Did it ever strike you that he was one of your persecutors when the demerits rolled up against you in the earlier part of the year?”

“I have no evidence that he was.”

“And in what way have you wronged Clemmons?”

“I prefer not to speak of what occurred prior to my coming to the academy, sir.”

“You admit that there was trouble between you?”

“Yes, sir, we had some trouble one day.”

“I desire to hear your statement of it.”

“It was of little moment, sir; but one day I went up from my home to B—— to sell a toy ship I had made, to get money needed for my mother, who was ill. Clemmons and a few of his mates, in a spirit of amusement, set upon me, and my ship was broken. This angered me, and I used my fists, and we were arrested.”

“With what result?”

“A seaman had taken my part, and he was also arrested by the constable; but the judge made the lads pay me for my toy ship, and released the sailor and myself.”

“I am glad to see, Merrill, that you have told a very modest and uncompromising story of the affair, for I have here a letter from a witness, and he is not as lenient toward the lads who assailed you,” and in a quick glance at a letter which the commandant turned back over a file to find, Mark saw the name of “Jack Judson.”

Then the commandant continued:

“I have received several other letters from your old home, all of them compromising, but as they were anonymous I simply retain them for reference, as only a coward will refuse to put his name to an accusation against one he maligns. You can go to your quarters now, to await further orders.”

Mark saluted and departed from headquarters, when the commandant summoned an orderly and gave him the list of the cadets whose names he had taken down, ordering their presence before him.