OINT SERIES." Dave Darrin and
Dan Dalzell were nominated as midshipmen to the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis, and all that befell them there is set forth in
the "ANNAPOLIS SERIES." The great things that happened to Tom Reade
and Harry Hazelton are told in the volumes of the "YOUNG ENGINEERS
SERIES." Dick Prescott's and Greg Holmes' adventures in the Army,
after graduation from West Point, are set forth in the volumes of the
"BOYS OF THE ARMY SERIES."

The "DAVE DARRIN SERIES" is devoted to the lives of Dave Darrin and
Dan Dalzell as naval officers, after their graduation from the Naval
Academy. We now find them serving as ensigns, this being the lowest
rank among commissioned officers of the United States Navy.

The first volume of this series, published under the title, "DAVE
DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ," tells the story of Dave's and Dan's initial
active service in the United States Navy. That our two young ensigns
took an exciting part in the fighting there is known to all our
readers.

For some time after the taking of Vera Cruz by the United States
forces and the arrival of Regular Army regiments, Dave and Dan
continued to serve with constant credit aboard the "Long Island,"
stationed at Vera Cruz. Then followed their detachment from the "Long
Island," and their return to the United States. They were then ordered
to duty with the Mediterranean Squadron, aboard the flagship "Hudson."
We already know what befell them on their arrival at their first port
of call, the British fortress of Gibraltar, and in the quaint old
Moorish city of the same name, which stands between the fortress and
the harbor.

* * * * *

Dan soon took his leave of his chum, going to his own quarters for a
short sleep before going on duty at eight bells in the morning. Dave,
having opportunity to sleep until shortly before breakfast, sat for
some minutes pondering over his strange meeting with Mr. Green Hat,
whom he now knew as Emil Gortchky, a notorious international spy.

Still puzzling, Darrin turned out the light and dropped into his
berth. Once there the habit of the service came strongly upon him. He
was between the sheets to sleep, so, with a final sigh, he shut out
thoughts of Mr. Green Hat, of the admiral's remarks, and of the whole
train of events of the evening. Within a hundred and twenty seconds he
was sound asleep. It was an orderly going the rounds in the early
morning who spoke to Ensign Da