Pennington flushed deeply, for a moment, then put out his own hand, giving Dave's a hearty, straightforward grasp.
"I was the first to imply the charge," broke in Farley quickly. "I withdraw it, and apologize to both of you."
There was more handshaking.
During the next few days, while Darry and Pen did not become by any means intimate, they no longer made any effort to avoid each other, but spoke frankly when they met.
The remaining days of the voyage passed uneventfully enough, except for a great amount of hard work that the middies performed as usual.
On the twenty-second of August they entered Chesapeake Bay. Once well inside, they came to anchor. There was considerable practice with the sub-caliber and other smaller guns. On the twenty-ninth of August the battleship fleet returned to the familiar waters around Annapolis. The day after that the young men disembarked.
Then came a hurried skeltering, for the first, second and third classmen were entitled to leave during the month of September.
CHAPTER XII
BACK IN THE HOME TOWN
Back in the old, well-known streets of their home town, Gridley!
Dave and Dan, enjoying every minute of their month's leave, had already greeted their parents, and had told them much of their life as midshipmen.