Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/300

 was a marked increase in patriotic fervor, or, at least, in the expression of it. It was generally conceded now that the Kaiser's day was about over! Even Ferris, although critical of several features about the new craft, was heard to remark that he guessed "the Limies couldn't show anything better." Nelson got ashore in the afternoon and met Tip and was secretly very proud when Tip went into raptures over the new destroyers and sighed for the command of one of them.

The second event arrived some twenty minutes later and left Nelson momentarily breathless. He and Tip were on the way to Police Headquarters for a chat with the sergeant, who had become quite a crony when, turning a corner, they ran plump into a broad-shouldered American Jackie, who emitted a blood-curdling yell and rushed upon them. Tip squared off, resolved to sell his life dearly, but Nelson, after a moment's stupefaction, began to yell too, and the bystanders were treated to the sight of two hitherto apparently sane young sailors locked in each other's arms and doing a sort of bear dance about the pavement.

Tip retired to a position of safety and grinned sympathetically and counted "One, two, three! One, two, three! Swing!" until, laughing breathlessly, the two broke apart and became coherent. 275