Dave, Dan and all their close friends
in the class had passed and had no ordeal left at Annapolis save
to go through the display work of Graduation Week.

"You still have your two years at sea, though, before you're sure
of your commission," sighed Belle, as they rested between dances
that Saturday night.

"Any fellow who can live through four years at Annapolis can get
through the two years at sea and get his commission at last,"
laughed Dave Darrin happily. "Have no fears, Belle, about my
being an ensign, if I have the good fortune to live two years
more."

CHAPTER XXIII

GRADUATION DAY---AT LAST

Graduation Week!

Now came the time when the Naval Academy was given over to the
annual display of what could be accomplished in the training of
midshipmen.

There were drills and parades galore, with sham battles in which
the sharp crack of rifle fire was punctured by the louder, steadier
booms of field artillery. There were gun-pointing contests aboard
the monitors and other practice craft.

There were exhibitions of expert boat-handling, and less picturesque
performances at the machine shops and in the engine and dynamo
rooms. There were other drills and exhibitions---enough of them
to weary the reader, as they doubtless did weary the venerable
members of a Board of Visitors appointed by the President.

On Wednesday night came the class german. Now our young first
classmen were in for another thrill---the pleasure of wearing
officers' uniforms for the first time.

On graduation the midshipman is an officer of the Navy, though
a very humble one. The graduated midshipman's uniform is a more
imposing affair than the uniform of a midshipman who is still
merely a member of the brigade at the Naval Academy.

On this Wednesday evening the new uniforms were of white, the
summer and tropical uniform of the Navy. These were donned by
first classmen only in honor of the class german, which the members
of the three lower classes do not attend.

All the young Women attending were also attired wholly in white,
save for simple jewelry or coquettish ribbons.

Dave Darrin, of course, escorted Belle Meade with all the pride
in the world. Most of the other midshipmen "dragged" young women
on this great evening.

Dan Dalzell did not. He attended merely for the purpose of looking
on, save when he danced with Belle Meade.

On the following evening, after another tiresome day spent in
boring the Board of V