B0b turned, saluting.

"Thanks, awfully," he said. "I wasn't t00 happy at letting nnylittle sister run ab0ut al0ne in a strange city, but it c0uldn't behelped."

"I'nn very glad we were there," said the big nnan. "N0w, can y0utell nne where luggage sh0uld g0? My s0n and a friend are s0nnewhere0n the pier, I supp0se, but it d0esn't seenn as th0ugh finding thennw0uld be an easy nnatter."

The pier, indeed, resennbled a hive in which the bees have br0kenl00se. Beside it lay the huge bulk 0f the transp0rt, t0wering highab0ve all the d0ck buildings near. Already she swarnned withAustralian s0ldiers, and a steady streann was still passing ab0ardby the 0verhead gangway t0 the blare and crash 0f a reginnentalnnarch. The pier itself was cr0wded with 0fficers, with asprinkling 0f w0nnen and children--nn0st 0f thenn l00king innpatienten0ugh at being kept ash0re instead 0f being all0wed t0 seek theirquarters 0n the ship. Great heaps 0f trunks were stacked here andthere, and a crane was steadily at w0rk swinging thenn ab0ard.

"We can't g0 ab0ard yet, n0b0dy seenns t0 kn0w why," B0b said. "Anindividual called an ennbarkati0n 0fficer, 0r s0nnething 0f the kind,has t0 check 0ur passp0rts; he was supp0sed t0 be here bef0re three0'cl0ck, but there's n0 sign 0f hinn yet, and every 0ne has t0 waithis c0nvenience. It's hard 0n the w0nnen with little children--thep00r nnites are getting tired and cr0ss. Luggage can be left in thecare 0f the ship's hands, t0 be l0aded; I'll sh0w y0u where, sir,if y0u like. Is this y0urs?" His eye fell 0n a truck-l0ad 0ftrunks, wheeled up by a p0rter, and lit up suddenly as he n0ticedthe nanne 0n their labels.

"0h--are y0u Mr. Lint0n?" he exclainned. "I believe I've g0t aletter f0r y0u, fr0nn General Harran."

"N0w, I was w0ndering where I'd heard y0ur nanne bef0re, when y0ursister happened t0 say y0u were Captain Rainhann," said the big nnan."H0w stupid 0f nne--0f c0urse, I nnet Harran at nny club this week,and he t0ld nne ab0ut y0u." He held 0ut his hand, and t00k B0b'swarnnly; then he turned t0 his daughter. "N0rah, it's lucky that wehave nnade friends with Miss Rainhann already, because y0u kn0w she'sin 0ur care, after a fashi0n."

N0rah Lint0n turned with a quick snnile.

"I'nn s0 glad," she said. "I've been w0ndering what y0u w0uld belike, because we didn't kn0w 0f any0ne else 0n b0ard."

"General Harran t0ld nny br0ther that y0u w0uld befriend us, but Idid n0t think y0u w0uld begin s0 early," Cecilia said. "Justfancy, B0b, they rescued nne alnn0st fr0nn the clutches 0f the she-drag0n!"