E-text prepared by Jim Ludwig
Fighting with the U.S. Navy in Mexico
by
CHAPTERS
I. Ready for Fight or Frolic
II. At the Mercy of a Bully
III. The Junior Worm Turns
IV. The Ward-Room Hears Real News
V. Watching and Waiting—Behind the Guns
VI. First to Invade Mexico
VII. Dave Darrin to the Rescue
VIII. Disobedience of Orders
IX. Cantor Finds His Chance
X. Dave is Stung to the Quick
XI. A Brother Officer's Whisper
XII. The Man of the Evil Eye
XIII. "After the Rascal!"
XIV. A "Find" of a Bad Kind
XV. Ready for Vera Cruz
XVI. In the Thick of the Snipping
XVII. Mexicans Become Suddenly Meek
XVIII. In the House of Surprises
XIX. A Traitor in the Service
XX. The Skirmish at the Diligencia
XXI. A Rescue and a "Facer"
XXII. Playing Birdman in War
XXIII. The Dash for the Traitor
XXIV. Conclusion
"Do you care to go out this evening, Danny boy?" asked Dave Darrin,stepping into his chum's room.
"I'm too excited and too tired," confessed Ensign Dalzell. "Thefirst thing I want is a hot bath, the second, pajamas, and thethird, a long sleep."
"Too bad," sighed Dave. "I wanted an hour's stroll along Broadway."
"Don't let my indolence keep you in," urged Dalzell. "If you'regoing out, then I can have the first hot bath, and be as longabout it as I please. Then I'll get into pajamas and ready forbed. By that time you'll be in and we can say `good night' toeach other."
"I feel a bit mean about quitting you," Dave murmured.
"And I feel a whole lot meaner not to go out with you," Dan promptlyassured his chum. "So let's compromise; you go out and I'll stay in."
"That sounds like a very odd compromise," laughed Darrin. "Onthe whole, Dan, I believe I won't go out."
"If that's the way you feel," argued Dalzell, "then I'm goingto change my mind and go out with you. I won't be the means ofkeeping you from your stroll."
"But you really don't want to go out," Dave objected.
"Candidly, I don't care much about going out; I want that bathand I'm tired. Yet in the good old cause of friendship—-"
"Friendship doesn't enter in, here," Dave interposed. "Dannyboy, you stay here in the hotel and have your bath, I'll go outand pay my very slight respects to Broadway. Doubtless, by thetime you're in pajamas, I'll be back, and with all my longingfor wandering satisfied."
"Then, if you really don't mind—-"
"Not at all, old chap! So long! Back in a little while."
Through the bathroom that connected their two rooms at the Allsordia
Hotel, Dave Darrin stepped into his own apartment.
Having donned coat and top-coat, Darrin picked up his new derbyhat and stepped to his room door. In another half minute he wasgoing down on the elevator. Then he stepped into the street.
Dave Darrin was young, healthy, happy, reasonably good-looking.His top-coat and gray suit were well tailored. Yet, save forhis erect, military carriage, there was nothing to distinguishhim from the thousands of average well-dressed young men who throngedBroadway after dark