Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz: Fighting with the U.S. Navy in Mexico

rn to ship on the record, then hurried to his own quarters, and with almost the speed of magic,

return the salute with which the young ensign gre

tenant Cantor stepped ov

rong start, and I see that y

arrin returned. "I could not consen

er," Cantor went on, in the same low tone, "

, being a man of honor, could stoop to making a false official report. Yet he instan

ntor continued, then, seeing the young ensign's fa

f me, Darrin, I shall do my best to see to i

returned, but he caught himself in

he watch. Trent and Dalzell

sion commander good night, Can

, hung up his cap, then sat down in his desk chair, leani

a dishonorable officer can render the life of his subordinate miserable. It ought not to be possible, and yet I don't see any way of preventing it. I wish I could talk with a gentleman like Lieutenant Trent, but he would onl

arrin hastily undressed and got into his berth. It

the executive officer on the virtue of punctuality in a naval officer. The offender t

ul officer will allow himself sufficient margin of time to make it m

ing in the doorway, his right hand drawn up in sa

sir; will the executive off

present--Lieutenant

g from his chair

nd reason at the request of a superior officer!" ground Cantor between hi

ared from their quarters and walked aft to where a group of the "Long Isla

d something!" exclaimed one

soon," asserted another offi

d officer, while severa

xico, are doing their best to make Mexico a hotbed of incurable anarchy. Scores of American citizens have been murdered ruthlessly, and American women have been roughly treated. British subjects have been shot without the shadow of an excuse, and other foreigners have been maltreated. This country claims to uphold the Monroe Doctrine, which prevents European nations from interfering with force in affairs on this co

s? What has there been in our conduct during the past three or four years to indicate

g a crisis. The United States will no longer be called a civilized and honorable nation if Army and Nav

d I have been put on the retired list as white-haired

sted Lieutenant Holto

thunder of our Ameri

me other port on the

xi

and Carranza and Villa, in the west and north of that country, had headed factions, neither of which seemed to care about Mexico's good name in the world at large. Maltreated Americans demanded punishment of the Mexican of

t table; then, on observing that the executive officer was not in his

tered with brisk stride, going to his plac

emen; the captain detained

were taken by the white-coated, noiseless Filipino servants. Whe

ll withdraw," he o

d the marine orderly on p

ly, you will chose the door from the outside, and r

y, who then followed the last attenda

ant communication. With his approval I am going to tell you something of what he said. In a word, then, this ship is ordered to

ervice. We are to carry all the large and small arms ammunition that we can stow away. We are to take

ded on board all the time. Unless for some extraordinary reason, shore leave will not be grant

ficers spoke at once, then subsided. Finally only the voi

ntitled to ask

ns that I may properly," s

ico, sir, in fightin

ready said will indicat

idge's

continued Denton, "which makes it

tive officer, "other than the usual daily outra

ned, which would make us sure that we are hea

as occurred to me that this ship, and others of the line, are being ordered to Mexico as a hint to Feder

e touched a button. The ward-room door was throw

l kinds, including small and large ammunition, was enough to satisfy these officers of the Navy that the government at Was

demanded Lieutenant Hol

n hoard the "Long Island." At the thought of active service

news we could possib

rning to

sting that we don't dare tackle them and stir up that Mexican hornet's nest. If we get a c

y duty" for that day. This meant that they would have no watch duty to stand, bu

zine, Darrin was ordered to report to Lieutenant Cantor to supervise the oiling of mec

ound an opportunity to speak aside with Dave. "Yo

" said Dav

bring you disgrace, instead of hono

you mea

ur enemy, and I am a

nant C

my orders, and I ma

ed only with an expressi

s, his eyes flashed back honest indignation a