Dave Darrins Third Year at Annapolis | Page 5

think we girls are afraid," broke in Belle with spirit.
"I'm well aware that you're not afraid," Darrin replied turning and
looking at her. "But I'm afraid, Belle of what I might think of myself
afterwards, if I were a party to taking you out in this boat when the
river is running so much to whitecaps."
"Do you think the boat is one of the kind that will turn turtle and sink
the crowd?" demanded Tom Foss, flushing in turn. "I tell you, Darrin,
the craft is as tight and sound, and as manageable, as any boat of her
length to be found anywhere on fresh water."
"She is a fine boat," Dave assented; "but I don't feel like being
responsible for what may happen to the young lady who is more
especially under my escort and care. There's too big a chance of danger
this afternoon, Foss."
"Pooh, Mr. Sailor!" laughed Ella Wright. "I'll show you that some folks
who don't know what Annapolis looks like are not frightened by toy
waves."

Miss Ella thereupon stepped into the launch and seated herself. Miss
Susie followed.
"Aren't you people going?" asked Ab Canty.
"I'm not going if Dave considers it so unwise that he'd be worried about
our safety," Belle answered promptly.
"Going, Laura?" called Foss.
"No, though I thank you," Miss Bentley replied. "If Mr. Darrin objects
on the score of safety I'm not going to torment him by disregarding his
opinion."
"I'm of about the same opinion as Darrin, if anyone cares to know,"
broke in Dan Dalzell.
Tom Foss looked at the other half of his party quizzically, then called
to Canty.
"Cast off, Ab. Ha, ha! I never thought to see United States sailors and
embryo Naval officers so much afraid of a little tossing water."
Chug-chug! Ella and Susie were laughing a bit teasingly as the motor
started and the little craft darted away from the float and took to the
waves beyond.
Dave did not answer. Instead, he gripped Dan's nearer wrist, muttering:
"Don't you say it, Danny!"
"Say what?"
"Whatever hot words were coming to your lips. As long as we feel that
we're right in not risking Belle and Laura, never mind what the others
think and say."
"This breeze is so fine," suggested Laura, "what do you say if we seat
ourselves here and watch the river for a while?"

Accordingly the four young people seated themselves. The launch was
the only craft in sight that was away from her moorings. A sailboat and
three canoes lay tied to the lee side of the float, that is the off-side from
the weather. Even they rocked a good deal.
"What kind of weather is coming?" asked Belle.
"It's going to be pretty squally, in all probability," spoke up
Midshipman Dan. "Do you see the big puffs of wind in the clouds
yonder?"
"It must take a sailor to see that sort of thing," remarked Belle. "What I
see in the cloud looks like big, fluffy masses of cotton, streaked with
something darker."
"That's the wind," nodded Dave Darrin. "Now, girls, I don't want you to
think me a muff. That wind may swerve, and not come this way,
although in all probability the wind will get this way and the water will
be rougher. If it does get rougher on the river, and if we had taken you
two out, and the boat had capsized, then by some chance we might not
have been able to get you to shore. What would your folks then say to
us if we had had the miserable luck to survive you?"
"You did just right," Laura declared promptly. "To tell the truth, I didn't
want to disappoint either of you boys this afternoon, but I didn't believe
the wind was quiet enough for boating on the river. But mother
reminded me that I was going with two young men who had been
trained as sailors, and that I ought to be as safe as I would in the home
parlor."
"Well, aren't you?" smiled Belle Meade.
"Did you really want to go out on the river, Belle?" Dave asked.
"Not when you don't believe it to be safe."
"I suppose Foss will be joking around town about our being afraid of
the water," muttered; Dan.

"What do you care!" asked Dave quietly. "You're responsible to the
United States Government--not to a few private citizens on the streets
of Gridley."
"You'll take us out on the water before your leave is over, won't you?"
urged Belle.
"A dozen of times, if you care to go," Dave; replied quickly.
"In a sailboat?" quizzed Belle. "It must; be great fun to sail, and I've
never been in a sailboat."
"I'd rather take you out in a good, solid rowboat," Dave