"Now to record!" Jed said cheerfully. "Then we can go home!"
"Sure thing!" Pete agreed.
They made their way toward the American flag that rose over a small land office, and stopped in their tracks.
There had been many people waiting to get into the post office and some of the stores, but they were as nothing compared to the throng here. They were nearly all men, with here and there a woman or girl. A soldier appeared in the doorway, called a number, and a man left the crowd to go into the land office. Beside the doorway stood another soldier by a sign: "Get Your Numbers Here."
"What's it all about?" Jed asked the man standing next to him.
"You must get a number," the man said, "then wait your turn."
They went to the soldier, who gave Pete number 828 and Jed 829.
"Can we get in soon?" Pete asked.
"You must wait until your number's called," said the soldier.
"How long will it take?" Pete inquired.