Darrin

“ You don't think of calling Mister Darrin out again, do you?" demanded Tyson, with a gasp.
"Yes; if he can be made to fight fair!" snarled Farley.
"He fought fairly this time, mister," replied Second Class Man Tyson, almost with heat. "You're a fast, heavy and hard scrapper for your age, mister, but the other man simply out-pointed you all through the game. If you call him out again, and he meets you, he can kill you if he sees fit." ”

“ In the collision Page had been hit glancingly on the head by the gaff of the falling mainsail.
Page heard Dave's query with a muddled mind. All he grasped was that Darrin was doubtful of his ability to keep them both up.
In an agony of unreasoning, stupefied dread, Midshipman Page swiftly wound both arms around Dave Darrin.
"Here!" commanded the young captain the crew. "Don't do that!"
But Page either did not hear or did not heed. His arms clung more desperately around Dave, binding one of the latter's arms to his body.
"He'll drown both of us!" ”

“ There was a new look in Darrin's usually patient eyes. It was a look Farley hadn't seen there before, and it warned the hot-headed midshipman that he was in danger of going too far.
"Oh, fudge on you, Darrin!" jeered Farley, turning on his heel.
"Going to be with us, Dalzell?
"No," replied Dan promptly. "I never travel with the enemies of my friends." ”

“ Darrin," announced the commandant, "from experience and observation, through a rather long life in the Navy, I am able to state that the kind of courage which enables a man go down in drowning with a comrade, sooner than leave the comrade to his fate, is the highest type of courage known among brave men!"
"You must have been aware, Mr. Darrin," added Lieutenant Edgecombe, "that you were taking at least ninety-nine chances in a hundred of offering up your life." ”

“ Before that assortment of blows Dave Darrin was forced to resort to footwork.
"Stand up and fight!" jeered Farley harshly as he wheeled and wheeled, still throwing out his hammer blows. "Don't play sneak on the field!" ”

“ Dave Darrin, followed by a junior officer, went forward to another, still smaller room, where he gazed down with heaving breast at the forms of the seamen who had given up their lives under the Stars and Stripes in the gallant work of that night.
Over the face of each dead man lay a cloth. Each cloth was removed in turn by a sailor as Darrin passed along.
"A good fighting man and a great romp on shore," said Dave, looking down at the face of one man. "One of the best fellows we ever had on any ship I've ever served on," he said, glancing at another face. ”

“ Midshipman Edgerton, looking very much puzzled, stepped over to Dave Darrin's corner.
"Darrin," began the referee in a friendly tone, "Tread doesn't like the idea of fighting you again to-night."
"Didn't he say he would?" demanded Darrin.
"Yes; but of course, but—"
"I hold him to his word, Mr. Edgerton."
"But of all the crazy—"
"I have my own reasons, sir," Darrin interposed quietly. "I think it very likely, too, that Mr. Treadwell will comprehend my reasons."
"But he doesn't like the idea of fighting an already half-whipped man."
"Will it get on his nerves and unsteady him?" ”

“ Dave Darrin neatly fitted this at the top of the outlines of a figure under the bed clothing.
Under the full light the doughface looked ghostly. In a dimmer light it would do very well.
"Thank you a thousand times, fellows," trembled Dave Darrin. "Now hustle to your own quarters before the first stroke of taps sounds."
The two useful visitors were gone like a flash. Ere they had quite closed the door, Dave Darrin was removing his own uniform and hanging up trousers and blouse. Next off came the underclothing and on went pajamas. ”

“ A blow with the butt of Darrin’s revolver laid the scoundrel flat.
On to the gate dashed Dave, just as an exultant yell outside told him that the yellow multitude was about to rush in.
Slam up against the gate rushed Ensign Dave, the force of his body sending the two halves shut.
Outside the tumult increased, as scores of yellow shoulders were hurled against the barrier.
“Help! Here! Quick!” roared Darrin.
Above the tumult his voice carried hardly any distance.
The pressure of the Chinese outside must finally overcome his straining muscles as he struggled to keep the gate closed. ”

“ As for Dave Darrin and Dan, their life, since leaving the High School, and casting their lot with the Navy, has been fully told in the two preceding volumes of the present series, "DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT AKNAPOLIS" and "DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS."
"Well, I'll meet Dick and Greg this coming Thanksgiving, at any rate," predicted Midshipman Darrin. "You know what happens the Saturday after Thanksgiving on Franklin Field, don't you, Belle?"
"You young men of Annapolis and West Point play football, don't you!" asked Belle.
"Do we?" demanded Dave, his eyes aglow with enthusiasm. ”

“ The pawnbrokers at Monte Carlo are robbers. The fellow would advance me only six thousand francs, whereas my husband paid a hundred thousand for that necklace."
A moment later the young woman was absorbed in the wild frenzy of play.
"And that attendant undoubtedly gets a handsome commission from the pawnbroker," murmured Darrin in his chum's ear. "Greed here is in the very air; none can escape it who lingers."
"How much have you lost, Darrin?" called a bantering voice in Dave's ear.
The speaker was Lieutenant Totten.
"About as much, I imagine, as you have, sir," was Darrin's smiling answer. ”

“ Dan Dalzell, who had been thunderstruck, and who was now full of questions, was being urged out of the room by Dave.
"So Darry converted you, did he?" laughed Joyce. "Bully for Darry. Why, that great and good fellow dared the class to send him to Coventry after it got through with you. He accused the class of kicking a man without giving that man a chance to get up on his feet."
"It's a good deal like Darrin," remarked Jetson, his eyes a trifle misty, "though it took me a thundering long time to realize that Darrin was really of that kind." ”

“ Suddenly Dave swung his right in on the point of Pen's chin with a force that jolted the larger midshipman. As part of the same movement, Darrin's left crashed against Pennington's nose.
Then, out of chivalry, Dave dropped back, to give Pen a few moments, in case he needed them, to get his wits back.
"Time!" roared Dawley, and Pennington's seconds pounced upon him and bore him away to his corner.
"Now I know how that fellow Darrin wins his fights," growled Pennington in an undertone. "He keeps on running away until he has the other man gasping for breath. Then Darrin jumps in and wins." ”

“ When he called, Brimmer always remained until the warning call just before taps.
"It took you a long while to find out that Dave Darrin is white enough to shake hands with," laughed Farley, one day.
"As I remember, it took you quite a little while, also, to find it out," laughed Brimmer. "I admit that I am slow at forming my friendships. But there's no mistake about Darrin, when you get to know him. He's about the finest fellow in the class." ”

“ As Dave shot forward, Jetson, too, smashed over the line, blocking the halfback who got in his way.
Straight over the line charged Dave Darrin, and laid the ball down.
Now the athletic field resounded with excited yells. Annapolis had seen "a new one," and it caught the popular fancy like lightning.
Back the pigskin was carried, and placed for the kick.
"You take it, Darry," called Wolgast. "You've earned it!"
"Take it yourself, Wolly," replied Dave Darrin. "This is your strong point." ”

“ Inside, Belle, the lacquer box in her hand, and supposing that it was a servant who had knocked, stepped over to open the door.
And there she stood in the doorway, the lacquer box in her hand, the medallion plainly showing.
The eyes of the three young officers immediately turned toward that priceless heirloom, not a betraying sign came to their faces.
“A thousand pardons, madam,” begged Toruma. “We have knocked at the wrong door. We sought the apartment of Mr. Darrin.”
“Then you have found the right door,” smiled Belle. “I am Mrs. Darrin. Unfortunately, my husband is out.” ”

“ In his haste to be punctual, Darrin forgot his sword and white gloves, which he had left in his own cabin on the way to duty between decks. Without these appurtenances of duty on the quarter-deck, Darrin made haste aft, found his division commander, saluted and reported his relief.
"Mr. Darrin," boomed Cantor, in a tone of high displeasure, "don't you know that an officer reporting to the quarter-deck when in any but dungaree clothes, should wear his gloves and sword. Go and get them, sir—-and don't keep me waiting beyond my watch time when I have shore leave!" ”

“ The young man's heroism at Annapolis, under the most exacting conditions, will surprise no one who knows either Mr. Darrin or the splendid traditions that he helped establish among the youth of his home town. In the years to come we may look confidently forward to hearing the name of Darrin as one of the most famous among the newer generation of the United States Navy. David Darrin will always be a hero—because he cannot help it."
As Dave, his face flushing more hotly than ever, read through these lines he was conscious of the jeering gaze of the upper class men. ”

“ Dan was exuberant during the first hour of the journey, Dave unusually silent.
"You need a vast amount of cheering up, David, little giant!" exclaimed Dalzell.
"Oh, I guess not," smiled Dave Darrin quietly, adding to himself, under his breath:
"I carry my own good cheer with me, now."
Lightly his hand touched a breast pocket that carried the latest, sweetest likeness of Miss Belle Meade.
One journey by rail is much like another to the traveler who pays little heed to the scenery.
At the journey's end two well-rested midshipmen joined the throng of others at Crabtown. ”

“ Having just wronged all girls in his own estimation of them, Dan was now proceeding to do his own closest chum an injustice. For Dave Darrin was too thorough a gentleman to laugh over any unfortunate's discomfiture.
"What a lucky escape I had from getting better acquainted with that girl!" was Dalzell's next thought. "Why, with one as wholly deceitful as she is there can be no telling where it would all have ended. ”

“ Dave flushed. There was a momentary flash in his eyes. Dan, watching his chum covertly, was briefly certain that Darrin was going to balk. Perhaps he would even fight.
True hazing, however, does not aim at cruelty, but at teaching a new man to obey, no matter how absurd the order.
In another moment the grim lines around the corners of Dave's mouth softened to a grin.
"Wipe off that ha-ha look, mister!" warned Youngster Paulson. ”

“ Dave Darrin exclaimed, rising, as though to terminate the interview. "It seems to be a rule with you fellows, when you find yourselves facing death, to whine about the children you must leave behind to starve. Before you set out to murder me in an especially brutal manner, did you take the trouble to ask me whether I had any children who would starve? Did you ask Mr. and Mrs. Launce whether they had children that were not provided for? And what about that honest old sea-dog, Captain Kennor? ”

“ Dave Darrin retorted. "Fellows, I, for one, don't like to go after Mr. Clairy too hastily while we're all in doubt about the cause of it."
"We don't need to know the cause," stormed indignant Farley. "We know the results, and that's enough for us. I favor calling a class meeting to-morrow night."
"We can do just as much, and act just as intelligently, if we hold the class-meeting off for two or three nights," Midshipman Darrin maintained.
"Now, why on earth should we bold off that long?" insisted Fenwick. "We know, now, that Mr. Clairy has insulted eight members of our class. ”

“ Dave gazed meekly but inquiringly at the last speaker.
"You are trying to evade the fact that you are the real Darrin, the identical hero whom the 'Bazoo' so lovingly, so reverently describes. Deceit fills your system, mister! You will stand on your head long enough to let it run out of you."
Midshipman Paulson, though an inveterate "runner" of fourth class men, had some regard for the dangers of overstaying the visit, and kept his left eye on the time. ”

“ Since your governor has run away, you must go with me to the ramparts.”
“But I—I am not a fighting man,” protested Sin Foo, turning to a greenish hue, which in a Mongol, is equivalent to turning pale.
“I believe you,” assented Darrin. “And you won’t be very much of any sort of man, unless you make up your mind to do instantly what I wish of you. Come!”
Nodding to a sailor to escort the under secretary, Dave and two of his men brought up the rear and rushed out into the open. ”

“ These two midshipmen went to see Dan Dalzell.
"Wait until I send for Mr. Farley," proposed Dalzell. He soon had that midshipman, who was wholly willing to serve Darrin in any capacity.
"We're ready to have the fight this evening," proposed Midshipman Decker.
"We're not," retorted Dan, with vigor.
"Why not?"
"This forenoon Pennington deliberately stepped on Darrin's shoulder, with such force as to lame it a good deal," replied Dan. "Our man insists that he has a right to rest his shoulder, and to wait until to-morrow." ”

“ Seldom has a wish been more quickly gratified. For, just in the nick of time to avoid being reported, Midshipmen Darrin, Dalzell and Farley came into sight, falling into their respective places.
At that instant it was Midshipman Pennington's face, not Dave Darrin's, that was really worth studying. ”

“ Darrin who called?” asked Belle.
“We shall do ourselves the honor to see Mr. Darrin soon after he returns,” replied Lieutenant Toruma sweetly, in a voice in which there was no suspicion of menace.
“Who asks for me, gentlemen?” hailed a merry voice, as Ensign Dave Darrin rounded a turn in the corridor, and came upon the party. “Toruma? Katura? Hata? This is a pleasure.”
“We shall go to the main parlor below,” said Toruma courteously, taking the hand that Dave extended, as did the others. “May we hope to see you there, sir, at your own convenience?” ”