Dave Darrins First Year at Annapolis

Dave Darrin's First Year at
Annapolis

The Project Gutenberg eBook, Dave Darrin's First Year at Annapolis,
by H. Irving Hancock
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Title: Dave Darrin's First Year at Annapolis
Author: H. Irving Hancock
Release Date: June 29, 2004 [eBook #12774]
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAVE
DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS***
E-text prepared by Jim Ludwig

DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS
Two Plebe Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy
by
H. IRVING HANCOCK

CONTENTS

CHAPTERS
I. Two Admirals in the Bud II. The First Day at the Naval Academy III.
A Taste of Hazing IV. The "Youngsters" Who Became "Spoons On" V.

Invited to Join the "Frenchers" VI. Dave Passes the Lie VII. On the
Field of the Code VIII. The Man Who Won IX. Dan Just Can't Help
Being "Touge" X. "Just For Exercise!" XI. Midshipman Henkel Does
Some Thinking XII. A Chronic Pap Frapper XIII. Midshipman Farley's
About-Face XIV. The Trap in Midshipman's Quarters XV. Air "The
Rogue's March" XVI. Brimmer Makes a New Friend XVII. Tony Baits
the Hook XVIII. In the Days of "Old Two-Five" XIX. The Collision of
the Chesapeake XX. In the Line of Duty XXI. Official and Other
Report XXII. The "Bazoo" makes Trouble XXIII. The Spectre at the
Fight Party XXIV. Conclusion

CHAPTER I
TWO ADMIRAL'S IN THE BUD
"Dave, I'm getting nervous!"
"Is that the best way you can find to enjoy yourself?" demanded the
taller boy.
"But I am, Dave--dreadfully nervous!" insisted Dan Dalzell positively.
"Well, you'll have to conceal it, then. The doctors at the United States
Naval Academy won't pass any nervous wrecks," laughed Dave Darrin.
"Don't you understand?" demanded Dan, in a hurt voice. "The nearer
we get to Annapolis the more nervous I'm getting."
"You'd better drop off, then," hinted Dave ironically, "and take the next
car back to Odenton and Baltimore. What earthly good would a Naval
officer be who was going to get nervous as soon as he came in sight of
an enemy?"
"But I wouldn't get nervous in the sight the enemy," flared up Dan
Dalzell.
"Then why get nervous about the folks down at the Naval Academy?
They all intend to be your friends!"

"I guess that is true," Dan went on. "Of course, back in April, we went
before the Civil Service Commission and took our academic
examinations. We passed, and haven't got that to go up against again."
"We passed the home medical examiner, too," retorted Dave. "In fact,
you might say that we passed the sawbones with honors.
"But that medical chap put in a long time listening at my chest,"
complained Dan Dalzell, who was undeniably fidgeting in his seat.
"Then, too, the civil service sawbones told me that, while he passed me,
as far as he was concerned, I'd have to stand the ordeal again before the
Naval surgeons at Annapolis."
"Well, he did just the same thing with me," rejoined Darrin. "You just
keep your eye on me, Dan! Do you see me shaking? Do you hear my
voice falter? See me burning any blue lights?
"Perhaps, Dave, you don't take the whole business as much to heart as I
do," continued Dan Dalzell almost tremulously. "Why, Great Scott, if
they drop me at the Naval Academy, I'll be the bluest fellow you ever
saw! But maybe you won't care, Dave, whether you are dropped or
not."
"Won't I?" grumbled Darrin. "The Navy is the only thing in life that I
care about!"
"Then aren't you nervous, just now?" demanded Dan.
"If I am, I'm not making a show of myself," retorted Darrin.
"But are you nervous?" begged Dan.
"No!" roared Dave, and then he allowed a grin to creep over his face.
"Oh, go ahead and say so tonight," jeered Dan. "Tomorrow, if you have
the good luck to get sworn in, you'll have to quit fibbing and begin
practicing at telling the truth. A midshipman at the Naval Academy, I
understand, is kicked out of the service if he tells lies."

"Not quite--only in case he gets caught," laughed Dave Darrin.
"But really, about being nervous--"
"Oh, forget that sort of nonsense, won't you, Dan, old fellow?" begged
his chum. "Just get your eye on the lovely country we're going
through."
It was just about the first of June. Our two young travelers had come by
train, from Baltimore to a little country junction. Thence they had
traveled, briefly, by trolley, to Odenton. There, after a wait of some