Dave Darrins First Year at Annapolis | Page 6

Bancroft Hall, there to turn to their left and inquire
again their way to the commandant's office.
"You see," lectured Dave pleasantly, as the chums plodded along one
of the walks, "you have already received your first lesson. You
answered the superintendent's aide without saying 'sir.' You'll have to
work out of this freshness."
"That wasn't freshness; it was ignorance," protested Dalzell. "Don't you
worry, Dave; I shall soon get the Naval trotting gait to such an extent
that I shall be saying 'sir' at every other word."
This declaration was more prophetic than Dalzell could guess at that
moment.
Each lad had a queer feeling at heart as he began to climb the long
series of white steps that lead to the main entrance to Bancroft Hall.
What would be the outcome? Were they hence-forth to find this huge
pile "home" for four years to come? Would they, through all after life,
look back upon this great government training school as their alma
mater? It all seemed to depend, now, on the verdict of the examining
Naval surgeons!
But there was little time for thought. Once inside, they were ushered,
by a white-gloved midshipman, into the office of Commander Jephson,
commandant of midshipmen.

That gentleman, also in uniform, as were all Navy officers on duty at
the Academy, looked briefly as the two young men stood before him.
"Candidates, gentlemen?"
"Yes, sir," replied Dave.
"Your orders?"
Each young man handed over the slip given him by the aide.
Commander Jephson scanned each sheet closely, then made some
entries on a set of papers of his own.
Next the commandant touched a button on his desk. Almost
immediately footsteps were heard outside. Another white-gloved
midshipman entered, raising his hand smartly to his cap in salute. This
salute the commandant acknowledged in kind.
"Mr. Salisbury, conduct Candidates Darrin and Dalzell outside.
Ascertain how soon the surgeons will be ready to examine them, and
conduct the candidates to the Board Room at the time assigned for their
examination."
"Very good, sir," replied Midshipman Salisbury, in measured tones.
Again the inter-change of salutes, after which Midshipman Salisbury
led Dave and Dan to an outer office.
"Wait here," directed the midshipman briefly, "I'll let you know when
it's time to go to the Board Room."
Five minutes later the midshipman again approached them.
By this time there were seven more candidates in the room. The aide to
the superintendent and the commandant were passing the young men
quickly through the mill.
"Mr. Darrin, Mr. Dalzell!" called the midshipman master of ceremonies.
As Dave and Dan started to their feet their conductor added:

"Follow me to the Board Room."
Down the corridor and into the Board Room the two chums were led.
There, awaiting them, they found three Naval medical officers, all in
their proper uniform and one of them seated at a desk.
"Strip, with the least delay possible," ordered the senior surgeon.
In a very short space of time Dave and Dan stood forth, minus clothes
and, it must be confessed, both very nervous as to what these medical
men might or might not find.
Thorough, indeed, was the examination, which began with the heart.
But it went much further, including the hair, scalp, eyes, teeth, the
condition of the tonsils, the appearance of the tongue, and so on, by
regular stages, down to the soles of their feet.
"If there's a square quarter of an inch these fellows have missed, I didn't
notice it," muttered Dan to himself.
"You may dress, Mr. Darrin," announced the senior surgeon, and Dave
went to the chair on which his clothing lay.
"Mr. Dalzell, come here a moment"
Dan began to feel queer. What had they missed? On what point was his
physical condition doubtful?
"Open your mouth," directed one of the surgeons.
Then followed some more exploration of his teeth.
"Oh," murmured Dan, when the medical men gave him a rest for a
moment. "It's only my teeth, eh? That's not a vitally important point, is
it, sir?"
"We reject candidates for what might seem very slight defects of the
teeth," replied the senior surgeon, with emphasis. "Open your mouth
again."

The cold ooze stood out on Dan's brow this time. Joke as he might, he
did not want to be dropped out of the Navy. Were these medical
officers going to find, in his mouth, the clue his disqualification?
"Hm!" said the senior surgeon, watching while another medical officer
did the probing and the holding of the dental mirrors.
That "hm!" sent a cold chill of dread coursing down young Daniel's
spine.
"Your teeth just about pass," remarked the senior officer. "You may
dress, Mr. Dalzell."
It was not long before Dave and Dan both had their clothing on. As
Dan was finishing, Dave turned to the