"Just as quick as I can. Come to report myself, but there's no one to report to."
"All at the front, I suppose. It's a great day this. We're shipping off loads of sick men as fast as we can fit them for the voyage. Our old friend Jolly's in Balaclava Bay. He'd be delighted to take you, I know, if you can fix matters up quickly here."
"Things any better than they used to be?"
"Oh, we're all learning by experience. Even the red-tape isn't as red as it used to be; it's not much more than pink now. We've got everything we need for the sick, anyway, and that's something. By the way, there was a man here inquiring for you a short time ago--came out on purpose, I believe, and brought a shipload of just the things we were needing most."
"Oh? Who was that?"
"A lean-faced chap--a parson, and better than most. What was his name now?--Earnest--Eager? that was it--Charles Eager."
"Eager? The dear old chap! Just like him! How long since?"
"Oh, months--four or five at least. Here's the Chief!"--as a thin, quiet-looking man with a tired face rode up with a couple of aides, saluted the little party, and went inside.
"Sick men first," said Jim; and McLean nodded, and went in.
He was back again in five minutes. "Come down to me at Balaclava as soon as you're ready," he said, "and I'll help you on. I'll have a word with Jolly too." And he sped away.