No. 99,109, R/M Carr
"You can't," said Dick. "For one thing, you are tied to your job; for another, you are not old enough."
"I'll have a jolly good shot at it anyhow," declared Malcolm resolutely. "Plenty of chaps have gone to the front at sixteen or seventeen. Ted Mostyn, for example; he's only eighteen, and he's back with two buckshees (wounds) already."
"Kia ora, then, old chap," exclaimed Selwyn. "I hope you'll pull it off."
Both lads set to work to fit the new inner tube and replace juggernaut's front off-side wheel. This task completed, Malcolm washed the dirt and grease from his hands, saddled his horse, and set off for the office of Mr. Hughes, the Head of the Wairakato Survey.
"Morning, Malcolm!" was that worthy's genial greeting. "Where's Selwyn? Coming along, is he? That's good. I wanted to see you about that section of pipe-line that has been giving trouble. Did you bring your rough book?"
Not until the matter of the survey had been gone thoroughly into did young Carr tackle his principal.
"I want to know," he began, straight to the point, "I if you could release me at noon."
"Certainly!" was the ready response. "The work is well in hand, and I believe you haven't had leave for some months."
"For the duration of the war, I mean," continued Malcolm.