Dave Darrin's Second Year at Annapolis / Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy Youngsters""

orning the various sections were

rep

resent

ver. This young man, Whittam, by name, was an enlisted man, but a bright yo

e an officer," directed the officer, his words intended for

ectrician Whittam turned to lea

left whe

nto the dynamo room, an inte

tal work, the switch-board and the revolving machines. "But I'm af

," commanded Dave, turn

talk upon the subjects in which the m

tly, "is that none of you touch the switches, except by direction. None of you can

an to talk to midshipmen about ignora

ted to reply, but Darrin's quie

lking in

buke, and accepted it as such, but

nd to take it out of me as long as the cruise lasts. But I'll

practical instruction was taken up by the remarks of the chief electrician. As he spoke, Whittam moved over to one piece or another of mec

er, just to see how little we know," growled Pennington; but thi

d shape, after his harrowing

ion was over, he began t

tention beg

r him caught his eye. Something abo

to touch the rod, but as quickly

tion proved too strong. He s

dle that!" rasped in

his hand, a flush m

on to himself. "But it was the fault of that low-minded greaser Darrin, anyway. Darr

he had seen Dave do this. Darrin, however, was not guilty of th

cer in whose department this instructi

duct to be reported, Whittam?"

ning, sir," replied t

had been any breaches of conduct," re

en instructed to touch nothing, reste

s n

oung gentlemen yet, sir, so I don't know

out to me," insi

h mortification, was sufficient identification. But the chief elec

e young gen

ir?" demanded

ngton,

report, sir, for disobedience of orders," comman

ly case

the unlucky one more than ever angry with Darrin, w

turned to Whittam, sayin

for our i

w for my new scrape," gr

smissed it. Dan Dalzell, as section leader i

o Lieutenant-Commander Forman, who is chief enginee

plied, saluting. "Secti

n the bowels of the great batt

partment, Dan ha

saluting a strange officer, who, however,

ir?" inquired

ell,

all follow me, and keep your eyes open, for

ir. Section

embers of the section wondering what was to be the natu

ngineer led the young middies over a gratin

ineer, halting. "When at the foot of this ladder, cross a grating t

in silence. Dan, who had preceded the others,

ngton, as though by mere accident, succeede

oot descend upon his shoulder, almost with a ki

s able to dodge out from under

r you are," cam

ed as soon as his foot had touched bottom. It was dark down there, tho

the face of the man who ha

nnington,

of you again, or to follow you up a

oulder my foot rested?" asked Pe

tioned Darrin, looking str

ligibly, Pennington turned

e in a lot of petty ways," murmured Dave. "If that is the ide

dshipman came Lieuten

neer. He turned down a narrow passage, only a

avy's firemen stood resting on their shovels. Instantly, on per

er tender," ordered the engineer

back with a pleasant-fac

hese members of the first section, third: class

plied the chief wat

" continued the lieutenant-commander, fac

nowledging this courtesy in kind, the chief

midshipmen as being a pleasant, wholesome fellow, though the water tenders and fir

bout priming a furnace, lighting, building, cleaning and generally takin

and D. Then Heistand taught the members of the section how to swing a shovel to the best advantage so as to ge

heavers out of us!" growl

ker was, but his eyes flashe

k only to ask for information

autocrat!" mu

Then, wheeling squarely about, and facing all the

hall feel obliged to pass the word above that

once more, facing th

ef water tender, "take your shovels and

e midshipmen, to show him a more correct way of handling

of the section to follow me with their shovels

self, Darrin, Far

ndling of the battleship, were permitted to burn for a while, Heistand explaining to the section practically the uses of the water gauges an

urther use for these fires, you will next

ddies worked soon became red-hot at the end. Yet, as all entered into this no

an apparent accident due to excess of zeal, dropped the red-

th swift presence of mind Dave stepped his r

"mad clea

azing fiercely into the other midshipman's, "that is the

ngton's lip curl

near enough to hear the talking, and he ca

yourself on report for unaut

ll more hotly, b

he furnace room, and dismissed it. It was near no

is uniform, and then stepped away sw

he met Dave returning. "But of course I couldn't pl

you," retorted Dave grimly. Thereupon he described

That fellow Pen is bound to

rther," declared Dav

ast year should have taught him that. But see here, Dave, I don't believe Pen

en, if he goes any further," retorted Dave, "and t

appens," grinned Dalzell. "I

mes Pennington now," murmured

niform, like the chums, came strolli

ed by. But Dave, eyeing him closely, waited until Pen

I wish an underst

as he stared at Dave from under much-raised eyebrows. He w

rather imperiously, for he was a

lting. "Out with it, whatever

ntrol his voice. "In the first place, while going down the lad

isted Penni

ing the fires, to drop red-hot metal acr

ted Penningto

at either one was an accid

ed to pause for a moment i

ington with more i

either case," tittered Dave

Pennington, turnin

and I can back it

u eat your words!"

the boxer's attitude, Pen aim

y. Then Darrin struck back, a straight, true, forceful blow

e, but he was quickly up, none the less,

wn into his shoes. One of the ship's officers had just