Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service | Page 5

from
Spain, guns could be mounted on those heights that would dominate the
harbor of Gibraltar. None the less, as long as war exists and the huge
stone height of Gibraltar remains, the impression of strong military
force will abide with the rock.
Down at the mole a British sentry stopped the trio. Near him stood a
corporal and three other soldiers.
"American officers and a friend," replied Ensign Darrin, when halted
by this sentry. Then the trio advanced when ordered. Lieutenant Totten,
from the 'Hudson,' stepped forward, peered at Darrin and Dalzell, and
said to the corporal:
"I recognize these gentlemen as officers of ours."
"And the friend?" inquired the corporal.
"The friend is an American citizen who has business with Admiral
Timworth," Dave stated.
"Then it is all right," Lieutenant Totten assured the corporal.
Whereupon the British corporal permitted Cushing to step out on the
mole with his companions, Darrin and Dalzell.

"Which is the flagship launch?" asked Darrin.
"The rearmost," answered Lieutenant Totten. "Ours is the only launch
here. The two other launches belong to the warships of other powers."
Cushing, while this brief conversation was going on, had walked
rapidly along the mole until he reached the farthest launch.
"I want you!" he shouted, bending over suddenly.
He had found and seized by the coat collar the man with the green hat.
Dave and Dan rushed to the spot, hardly knowing what they could do,
as they did not want to see the representative of the American State
Department lack for backing.
"Pull Cushing away from that fellow," ordered Totten.
"Is that an official order?" Dave flashed back, in a whisper.
"It is," nodded Totten, and faded back into the blackness of the night.
Dave bounded forward. He saw that the launch was one belonging to
some liner or merchant ship in the harbor. Three or four men belonging
in that launch had leaped to the rescue of Mr. Green Hat. Dave, with
one tug, tore Cushing away.
Mr. Green Hat fell back in the launch. Two sailors belonging to that
craft cast off the lines at bow and stern, and the launch glided out into
the harbor.
"Why didn't you help me, instead of putting the double cross on me?"
Cushing demanded, angrily.
"I had my reasons," Ensign Darrin replied, briefly.
"They must have been good ones," muttered Cushing.
"All aboard for the flagship!" announced Lieutenant Totten, in a quiet

tone.
"Come along, if you're going out with us," Darrin urged Cushing.
The passengers for the flagship launch were speedily aboard. Other
officers were there who had been ashore for the evening.
As the launch was cast off she glided almost noiselessly across the
smooth water of the harbor, followed closely by the shifting rays of a
British searchlight on shore. Ever since the great European war had
started searchlights stationed on shore had followed the movements of
every craft in the harbor at night. Beyond, the flagship's few lights
glowed brightly. In a few minutes the party was alongside.
Dave and Dan, after saluting the officer of the deck, and reporting their
presence on board, went at once to Dave's quarters.
"There was a good deal of a mix-up, somewhere," Dan announced, at
once. "Why should Totten order you to drag Cushing away from Mr.
Green Hat, when that rascal had robbed Cushing of valuable
government papers?"
"It's too big a puzzle for me," Ensign Darrin admitted, promptly. "But
Lieutenant Totten is my superior officer, and the responsibility belongs
to him."
For a few minutes the two chums chatted. Dalzell was about to say
good night and go to his own quarters, when an orderly rapped at the
door, then entered, saluting.
"The admiral's compliments, gentlemen," said the messenger. "The
admiral wishes to see Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell at once."
"Our compliments, and we will report at once," Dave answered. Both
young officers were now in uniform, for Dan had left his in Dave's
quarters before going ashore, and the chums had changed their clothes
while chatting. It now remained only for Dave to reach for his sword
and fasten it on, then draw on white gloves, while Dalzell went to his

quarters, next door, and did the same.
"What can be in the wind?" whispered Dan. "This is the first time that
Admiral Timworth has ever expressed any desire to see us. Can it be
that we bungled in some way with the Cushing business?"
"I'm not going to waste any time in guessing," replied Ensign Darrin, as
they stepped briskly along, "when I'm going to have the answer
presented to me so soon."
Then they halted before the entrance to the admiral's quarters, to learn
if it would be agreeable for the admiral to receive them at once.
CHAPTER II
DAN'S THIRTY-THREE-DOLLAR GUESS
As the