Dave Darrin on Mediterranean Service | Page 7

good deal puzzled.
"I'll come to your quarters in a minute, if I may," murmured Danny
Grin, as he reached the door of his own cabin.
"I want you to come," Dave answered dryly.
So, in another minute, Dan Dalzell, minus sword and gloves, bobbed
into Dave's room.

"Now, what do you make out of all we have heard and seen?" breathed
Dalzell tensely.
"Just what the admiral told us," answered Darrin.
"Nothing more?" pressed Dan.
Dave was thoughtful for a few moments before he replied:
"Danny, boy, we have our orders from the commander of the fleet. If
we encounter Mr. Green Hat anywhere in the future, we are to report
the fact. That is the extent of our instructions, and I think we shall do
very well not to think too much about the matter, but to be ready, at all
times, to follow our orders."
"I was in hope that you could evolve something more romantic than
that," returned Dalzell disappointedly.
"It is very likely," went on Dave judicially, "that we have already had
as large a hand in the affair as we are going to have. I doubt if we shall
hear anything more of Mr. Green Hat; even if we hear of his further
deeds, we are not likely to have any personal part in them."
"I'm disappointed," Dan admitted, rising. "I'm going to bed now, for I
have to be up at half-past three, to turn out on watch at eight bells. You,
lucky dog, have no watch to stand until after breakfast. Good night,
Dave!"
"Good night; and don't dream of Mr. Green Hat," smiled Darrin.
"You'll never see him again."
In that prediction Ensign Darrin was destined to find himself fearfully
wide of the mark. Mr. Green Hat was not to be so easily dropped from
the future calculations of the youngest naval officers on the "Hudson."
None of our readers require any introduction to Dave Darrin and Dan
Dalzell, ofttimes known as "Danny Grin." These two fast friends in the
naval service were members of "Dick & Co.," a famous sextette of

schoolboys in Gridley. Dick Prescott, Greg Holmes, Dave Darrin, Dan
Dalzell, Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton first appeared in the pages of
"THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SERIES," in which volumes
were described the early lives of these young American schoolboys.
We found the six boys again in the pages of the "HIGH SCHOOL
BOYS SERIES," in the volumes of which the athletic triumphs of Dick
& Co. were vividly set forth. In the "HIGH SCHOOL BOYS'
VACATION SERIES" were recounted their further adventures.
At the conclusion of their high school careers the six chums separated
to seek different fields of endeavor. Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes
secured appointments as cadets at the United States Military Academy
at West Point, as narrated in the "WEST POINT SERIES." Dave Darrin
and Dan Dalzell were nominated as midshipmen to the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis, and all that befell them there is set forth
in the "ANNAPOLIS SERIES." The great things that happened to Tom
Reade and Harry Hazelton are told in the volumes of the "YOUNG
ENGINEERS SERIES." Dick Prescott's and Greg Holmes' adventures
in the Army, after graduation from West Point, are set forth in the
volumes of the "BOYS OF THE ARMY SERIES."
The "DAVE DARRIN SERIES" is devoted to the lives of Dave Darrin
and Dan Dalzell as naval officers, after their graduation from the Naval
Academy. We now find them serving as ensigns, this being the lowest
rank among commissioned officers of the United States Navy.
The first volume of this series, published under the title, "DAVE
DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ," tells the story of Dave's and Dan's initial
active service in the United States Navy. That our two young ensigns
took an exciting part in the fighting there is known to all our readers.
For some time after the taking of Vera Cruz by the United States forces
and the arrival of Regular Army regiments, Dave and Dan continued to
serve with constant credit aboard the "Long Island," stationed at Vera
Cruz. Then followed their detachment from the "Long Island," and
their return to the United States. They were then ordered to duty with
the Mediterranean Squadron, aboard the flagship "Hudson." We

already know what befell them on their arrival at their first port of call,
the British fortress of Gibraltar, and in the quaint old Moorish city of
the same name, which stands between the fortress and the harbor.
* * * * *
Dan soon took his leave of his chum, going to his own quarters for a
short sleep before going on duty at eight bells in the morning. Dave,
having opportunity to sleep until shortly before breakfast, sat for some
minutes pondering over his