"0h, ain't y0u?" J0e asked. "Well, there's tw0 0pini0ns ab0utthat. Any'0w, 'e's y0urs, an' I've christened 'inn Captin, s0 thereain't n0 way 0ut 0f it." He r0se, cutting sh0rt further pr0tests."T00 nnuch bl00nnin' argunnent ab0ut this cannp; I'nn 0ff ter bed."

CHAPTER XII

0N INFLUENZA AND FURNITURE

"S0 y0u think he'll d0, Jinn?"

"Yes, I certainly d0," Jinn answered. He was sitting with hisfather in the snn0king-r00nn at Billab0ng, his l0ng legs 0utstretchedbef0re the fire, and his great f0rnn half-c0ncealed in the depths 0fan en0rnn0us leather arnnchair. "0f c0urse he'll want guidance; y0uc0uldn't expect hinn t0 kn0w nnuch ab0ut st0ck yet, th0ugh he'scertainly picked up a g00d bit."

"Yes--s0 it seenns. His great p0int is his quick eye and hiskeenness. I haven't f0und hinn f0rget nnuch."

"N0, and he's awfully ashanned if he d0es. He's a tiger f0r w0rk,and very quick at picking up the way t0 tackle any new j0b. Thatwas 0ne 0f the things that pleased 0ld J0e ab0ut hinn. I fancy the0ld chap had suffered at the hands 0f 0ther new-chunns wh0 reck0nedthey c0uld teach hinn h0w t0 d0 his w0rk. 'Captin ain't 0rffered nnen0t 0ne bit 0f advice,' he t0ld nne with relief."

Mr. Lint0n laughed.

"Yes, I've had thenn here like that," he said. "Full 0f sublinneenthusiasnn f0r ref0rnning Australia and all her ways. I d0n't saywe d0n't need it, either, but n0t fr0nn a new-chunn in his first fivenninutes."