Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz | Page 4

months after that the six were separated. The further
fortunes of Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes are then found in the
_"West Point Series,"_ while the careers of Darrin and Dalzell are set
forth in the _"Annapolis Series,"_ just as the adventures of Reade and
Hazelton are set forth in the _"Young Engineers Series."_
At Annapolis, Darrin and Dalzell went through stirring times, indeed,
as young midshipmen. Now, we again come upon them when they have

become commissioned officers in the Navy. They are now seen at the
outset of their careers as ensigns, ordered to duty aboard the
dreadnought "_Long Island_" in the latter part of March, 1914.
Certainly the times were favorable for them to see much of active naval
service, though as yet they could hardly more than guess the fact.
General Huerta, who had usurped the presidency of Mexico following
the death---as suspected, by assassination---of the former president
Madero---had not been recognized as president by the United States.
Some of Madero's friends and former followers, styling themselves the
"Constitutionalists" had taken to the field in rebellion against the
proclaimed authority of the dictator, Huerta. The two factions had long
fought fiercely, and between the two warring parties that had rapidly
reduced life in Mexico, to a state of anarchy, scores of Americans had
been executed through spite, as it was alleged, and American women
and children had also suffered at the hands of both factions.
Lives and property of citizens of European governments had been
sacrificed, and now these European governments looked askance at the
Washington government, which was expected to safeguard the rights of
foreigners in Mexico.
To the disappointment and even the resentment of a large part of the
people of the United States, the Washington government had moved
slowly, expressing its hope that right would triumph in Mexico without
outside armed interference.
This policy of the national administration had become known as
watchful waiting. Many approved of it; other Americans demanded a
policy of active intervention in Mexico to end the uncertainty and the
misery caused by the helpless of many nations, who were ground
between the opposing factions of revolution in Mexico.
With this brief explanation we will once more turn to the fortunes of
Ensigns Dave and Dan.
At 6.45 the next morning the telephone bell began to tinkle in Dave's

room. It continued to ring until Darrin rose, took down the receiver,
and expressed, to the clerk, on duty below, his thanks for having been
called.
"Turn out, Danny Grin!" Darry shouted from the bathroom. "Come,
now, sir! Show a foot! Show a foot, sir!"
Drowsily, Dalzell thrust one bare foot out from under the sheet.
"Are you awake in sea-going order, sir?" Dave asked, jovially.
"Aye, aye, sir."
"Then remain awake, Mr. Dalzell, until I have been through the
motions of a cold bath."
With that Darrin shut the door. From the bathroom came the sounds of
a shower, followed by much splashing.
"Turn out the port watch, Mr. Dalzell," came, presently, through the
closed bathroom door. "The bathroom watch is yours. Hose down, sir."
With that Dave stepped into his own room to dress. It was not long
before the two young naval officers left their rooms, each carrying a
suit case. To the top of each case was strapped a sword, emblem of
officer's rank, and encased in chamois-skin.
Going below, the pair breakfasted, glancing, in the meantime, over
morning newspapers.
Just before nine-thirty that same morning, our young naval officers,
bent on joining their ship, stepped along briskly through the Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
It was really an inspiring place. Sailors, marines and officers, too, were
in evidence.
In the machine shops and about the docks thousands of men were
performing what once would have passed for the work of giants. Huge

pieces of steel were being shaped; heavy drays carried these pieces of
steel; monster cranes hoisted them aboard ships lying at the docks or
standing shored up in the dry docks. There was noise in the air; the
spirit of work and accomplishment pervaded the place, for word had
come from Washington that many ships might soon be needed in
Mexican waters.
Eight dreadnoughts lay at their berths. Even as the boys crossed the
great yard a cruiser was being warped in, after an eighteen-thousand
mile voyage.
Alongside floating stages in the basins lay submarines and torpedo boat
destroyers. A naval collier was being coaled. A Navy launch was in
sight and coming closer, bearing a draft of marines bound for duty on
one of the battleships.
Every sight spoke proudly of the naval might of a great nation, yet that
might was not at all in proportion with the naval needs of such a vast
country.
"It does an American good, just to be in a place