From hundreds of men, lined up on the decks of the flagship, rose lusty cheers.
"Bully boy, Darrin!" shouted a group of officers from the quarter-deck.
"Ensign Darrin," cried Admiral Timworth, striding forth from his quarters and grasping the young ensign by the hand. "I offer you my heartiest congratulations! For reward you shall have anything within my power to grant."
"Sir, I know what I want most at present," Ensign Darrin replied, gravely.
"What?" asked the Admiral, quickly.
"A nap, a bath, clean clothing and a breakfast, sir."
"But later on, Mr. Darrin?"
"At Port Said, sir, I shall ask Captain Allen to grant me, if it does not interfere with duty, three days ashore to meet my wife, whom I expect to find there when the fleet arrives."
For, as readers of the Boys of the Army Series are aware, Dave and his High School sweetheart, Belle Meade, were wedded immediately at the end of some border troubles in which Dave and Dick Prescott were involved on the Mexican border.
Despite, or perhaps on account of, the stirring experiences through which he had passed, Darrin was asleep five minutes after his head touched the pillow.