Dave Darrin's Second Year at Annapolis: Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters"Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
General
Dave Darrin's Second Year at Annapolis: Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval Academy "Youngsters"
Hancock, H. Irving (Harrie Irving)
United States Naval Academy -- Juvenile fiction
It was on the second trip of one of the launches that Dave, Dan and
Farley made their get away. These three chums had agreed to stick
together during the day. They landed at the Great Western Docks, to find
themselves surrounded by eager British cabbies.
"Are we going to take a cab and get more quickly and intelligently to
the best part of the town to see?" asked Farley.
"I don't vote for it," replied Darrin. "We have only five dollars apiece
for each of the two days we're to be ashore. I move that we put in the
forenoon, anyway, in prowling about the town for ourselves. We'll learn
more than we would by riding."
"Come on, then," approved Dan.
Plymouth is an old-fashioned English seaport that has been rather famous
ever since the thirteenth century. Many parts of the town, including
whole streets, look as though the houses had been built since that time.
This is especially true of many of the streets near the water front.
For two hours the three middies roamed through the streets, often
meeting fellow classmen. Wherever the young midshipmen went many of the
English workmen and shopkeepers raised their hats in friendly salute of
the American uniform.
"We don't seem to run across Pen's gang anywhere," remarked Farley at
last.
"Oh, no," smiled Dave. "That's a capitalistic crowd. They'll hit only
the high spots."
Nevertheless, these three poor-in-purse midshipmen enjoyed themselves
hugely in seeing the quaint old town. At noon they found a real old
English chop house, where they enjoyed a famous meal.
"I wish we could slip some of these little mutton pies back with us!"
sighed Dan wistfully.
In the afternoon the three chums saw the newer market place, where all
three bought small souvenirs for their mothers at home. Darrin also
secured a little remembrance present for his sweetheart, Belle Meade.
The guild hall and some of the other famous buildings were visited.
Later in the afternoon Dave began to inspect his watch every two or
three minutes.
"No need for us to worry, with Dave's eye glued to his watch," laughed
Dan.
"Come on, fellows," summoned Darrin finally. "We haven't more than time
now to make the dock and get back to supper formation."
"Take a cab?" asked Farley. "You know, we've found that they're vastly
cheaper than American cabs."
"No-o-o, not for me," decided Dave. "We'll need the rest of our shore
money to-morrow, and our legs are good and sturdy."
Yet even careful Dave, as it turned out, had allowed no more than time.
The chums reached the dock in time to see the launches half way between
the fleet and shore. Some forty other midshipmen stood waiting on the
dock.
Among these were Pennington and his party, all looking highly satisfied
with their day's sport, as indeed they were.
Pennington's eyes gleamed when he caught sight of Darrin, Dalzell and
Farley--for Pen had a scheme of his own in mind.
Not far from Pennington stood a little Englishman with keen eyes and a
jovial face. Pen stepped over to him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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