Introduction
Reading edition
This is the fourth and last book of the "Annapolis Series." It has been the purpose of the author faithfully to portray the conditions in which our midshipmen live at the Naval Academy. The training given at Annapolis is regulated by the needs of the Fleet, and the Naval Academy in all of its departments is entirely directed and controlled by seagoing naval officers. After the Fleet's world-encircling cruise, many of the officers attached to it were sent to the Naval Academy to instruct midshipmen in navigation and electricity and gunnery and seamanship.
In the navy it is believed that the officer who is fresh from drilling a twelve-inch turret or a battery of broadside guns at record and battle target practice, should be well qualified to initiate midshipmen in the beginnings of naval gunnery. It is for this reason that the training at Annapolis reflects the needs of the Fleet, and every officer on duty there has either seen recent sea service or is looking forward to an early sea assignment.
Stonewell and Robert Drake by name never existed, but the same thoughts and ambitions that animate them have animated many hundreds of midshipmen; and incidents similar to those described have happened countless times. From this point of view these stories are true stories. The names of their chief characters may be found in no navy list, but the truth of the Annapolis books does not depend upon that. Stonewell and Robert Drake have actually lived many times, and to-day are living at Annapolis.
The author hopes he has presented in this book and its three predecessors, "An Annapolis Plebe," "An Annapolis Youngster," and "An Annapolis Second Classman," a fair picture of the life of American midshipmen; and not only of the naval atmosphere which surrounds them, but of that inner life which for the time dominates their relations to each other and to the institution made famous as the alma mater of many names illustrious in naval history.
Edward L. Beach, Lieutenant-Commander, U.S. Navy.
Contents
I.Glassfell, Drake and Stonewell9
II.The Commandant of Midshipmen22
III.A Happy Surprise36
IV.Academy Life Begins46
V.A Mysterious Cry61
VI.The Gates Forward Pass77
VII.The West Point Game88
VIII."The Man Wore a Slouch Hat"101
IX.Robert Gets Bad News111
X.Robert Gets Good News124
XI."Three Groans for the Superintendent"133
XII.Robert Makes a Discovery142
XIII.Harry Blunt is Rebuffed155
XIV.A Mystery Solved166
XV.Stonewell Receives a Letter181
XVI.Bligh Makes a Friend194
XVII.An Ill-Favored, Red-Bearded Rogue205
XVIII.An Old Colored Man is in Trouble217
XIX.The Kidnappers227
XX.Six-Pounder Target Practice237
XXI.A Good Shot with the Six-Pounder255
XXII.Grice Appears Again265
XXIII.Robert Resigns275
XXIV.It Was Stonewell287
XXV.John 15:13298
XXVI.Commander Dalton Becomes Angry305
XXVII.Robert Finally Answers320
XXVIII."Bligh, Bligh, Bligh!"334
XXIX.The End of a Long Day343
XXX.Graduation350
Illustrations
PAGE
He Glanced at the Written OrderFrontispiece
Around the End68
The Stranger Threw off His Hat152
He Half Arose From His Seat200
He Saw Two Dark Figures273
"That Will Do, Gentlemen"296
It Must Have Been a Very Pretty Speech354