"Thanks, old bird!" exclaimed the pilot of the disabled machine, taking advantage of the car being at a standstill, and alighting agilely. "Good of you to bring me home, you blinking Samaritan. See you later in the mess. I'll be on the look-out for you."
Derek signed to the driver to keep the car stationary, then, when the stranger was out of earshot:
"Who is that officer, sentry?"
"Dunno, sir," replied the man. "We gets such a lot o' new officers 'ere it's no tellin' who's who."
"Thank you," replied the Lieutenant. "Carry on, driver."
Arriving at the orderly-room, Derek handed over his documents, and waited until the C. O. had drafted a reply and had passed it on to be typewritten. By the time the official reply was in order, nearly half an hour had gone.
This part of the business completed, Derek was free to commence his return journey. Instead, he strolled into the officers' mess, where he was not surprised to find that the man he had befriended was not present.
He looked round to see if he knew any of the crowd of flying-men. To his satisfaction he recognized a pilot who had been with him at Averleigh.
"Hallo, Canterbury!" he exclaimed. "So you're out here?"
"And well I know it, you old merchant," replied the Lieutenant, shaking Derek's hand. "Had quite a sticky time ever since I joined the squadron. Well, how goes it? Anything I can do?"