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Read Ebook: Dave Darrin's Fourth Year at Annapolis: Headed for Graduation and the Big Cruise by Hancock H Irving Harrie Irving
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Ebook has 1871 lines and 48784 words, and 38 pages
First Classman Dave Darrin, midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, did not finish what he was about to say.
While speaking he had closed the door behind him and had stepped into the quarters occupied jointly by himself and by Midshipman Daniel Dalzell, also of the first or upper class.
"Danny boy isn't here. Visiting, probably," mused Dave Darrin, after having glanced into the alcove bedroom at his right hand.
It was a Saturday night, early in October. The new academic year at the Naval Academy was but a week old. There being no "hop" that night the members of the brigade had their time to spend as they pleased. Some of the young men would need the time sadly to put in at their new studies. Dave, fortunately, did not feel under any necessity to spend his leisure in grinding over text-books.
Dave glanced at his study desk, though he barely saw the pile of text-books neatly piled up there.
"No letters to write tonight," he thought "I was going to loan Danny boy one of my two new novels. No matter; if he'd rather visit let him do so."
In the short interval of recreation that had followed the evening meal Dave had missed his home chum and roommate, but had thought nothing of it. Nor was Dave now really disappointed over the present prospect of having an hour or two by himself. He went to a one-shelf book rack high overhead and pulled down one of his two recent novels.
"If I want Danny boy at any time I fancy I have only to step as far as Page's room," mused Dave, as he seated himself by his desk.
Midshipman Farley's head was thrust inside.
"All alone, Darry?" called Mr. Farley.
"Yes," Dave answered, laying his novel aside after having thrust an envelope between pages to hold the place. "Come in, Farl."
"Where's Dalzell?" inquired Farley, after having closed the door behind him.
"Until this moment I thought that he was in your room."
"I haven't seen him all evening," Farley responded. "Page and I have been yawning ourselves to death."
"Danny boy is visiting some other crowd, then," guessed Darrin. "He will probably be along soon. Did you want to see him about anything in particular?"
"Oh, no. I came here to escape being bored to death by Page, and poor old Pagey has just fled to Wilson's room to escape being bored by me. What are these Saturday evenings for, anyway, when there's no way of spending them agreeably?"
"For a good many of the men, who want to get through," smiled Dave, "Saturday evening is a heaven-sent chance to do a little more studying against a blue next week. As for Danny boy, I imagine he must have carried his grin up to Wilson's room. Or, maybe, to Jetson's. Danny has plenty of harbors where he's welcome to cast his anchor."
"May I sit down?" queried Mr. Farley.
"Surely, Furl, and with my heartiest apologies for having been too dull to push a chair toward you."
"I can easily help myself," laughed the other midshipman, "since there's only one other chair in the room."
"What have you and Page been talking about tonight?" asked Dave.
"Why do you want to know?"
"So that I won't run the risk of boring you by talking oh the same subject."
"Well," confessed Midshipman Farley, "we've been talking about this season's football."
"Oh, dear!" sighed Darrin. "That's the only topic really worth talking about."
"Speaking of football," resumed Farley, "don't you believe that we have a stronger eleven than we had last year!"
"If we haven't we ought to walk the plank," retorted Dave. "You remember how the Army walloped us last year?"
"That was because the Army team had Prescott and Holmes on it," rejoined Farley quickly.
"Well, they'll have 'em this year, too, won't they?
"So Prescott and Holmes are to be out for the Army this year!"
"I haven't heard anything definite on that head," Dave answered. "But I take it as a matter of course that Prescott and Holmes will play once more with the Army. They're West Point men, and they know their duty."
"What wonders that pair are!" murmured Farley with reluctant admiration for the star players of the United States Military Academy. "Yet, after all, Darry, I can't for the life of me see where Prescott and Holmes are in any way superior to yourself and Dan Dalzell."
"But you won't let 'em do it this year, Darry!"
"Dan and I will do all we can to stop our oldtime chums, now of the Army," agreed Dave. "But they're a hard pair to beat. Any one who saw Prescott and Holmes play last year will agree that they're a hard pair of nuts for the Navy to crack."
"We've got to beat the Army this year," Farley protested plaintively.
"I certainly hope we shall do so."
"Darry, what is your candid opinion of Wolgast?"
"As a man?"
"You know better!"
"As a midshipman?"
"Darry, stop your nonsense! You know well enough that I'm asking your opinion of Wolgast as captain of the Navy eleven."
"He seems inclined to be fair and just to every member of the squad, so what more can you ask of him."
"But do you think he's any real good, Darry, as captain for the Navy?"
"I do."
"We ought to have had you for captain of the team, Darry," insisted Farley.
"So two or three other fellows thought," admitted Dave. "But I refused to take that post, as you know, and I'm glad I did."
"Oh, come, now!
"Oh, Mr. Modesty!"
"If we're of any use at all," pursued Darrin, "it's only on the flank. Now, where would the Navy be with a captain directing from the right or left flank."
"Darry, you funker, you could play center as well as Wolgast does."
"Farl, you're letting your prejudices spoil your eyesight."
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