t, uttering short and sharp shrieks of anguish lest he
should be forgotten. Geoffrey gave the order, "Halt!" and the Ark and
its bearers came to a standstill.

"Come along, kid," said the commanding officer. "You can be the
band." The procession was re-formed with Michael in the lead, tooting
proudly on an imaginary bugle. They disappeared within the house.

"They are growing so big and strong," said Mrs. Hunt thankfully.
"Michael can't wear any of the things that fitted Geoff at his age; as
for Alison, nothing seems to fit her for more than a month or two;
then she gracefully bursts out of her garments! As for Geoff----!
But he is getting really too independent: he went off by himself to
the village yesterday, and I found him playing football behind one of
the cottages with a lot of small boys."

"Oh--did you?" Norah said, looking a little worried. "We heard just
before I came over this morning that there is a case of fever in the
village--some travelling tinker-people seem to have brought it. Dad
said I must tell you we had better not let the children go down there
for the present."

"There were some gipsy-looking boys among the crowd that Geoff was
playing with," Mrs. Hunt said anxiously. "I do hope he hasn't run any
risk. He is wearing the same clothes, too--I'll take them off him,
and have them washed." She gathered up her sewing hurriedly. "But I
think Geoff is strong enough now to resist any germ."

"Oh, of course he is," Norah answered. "Still, it doesn't do any harm
to take precautions. I'll come and help you, Mrs. Hunt."

Geoffrey, congenially employed as a submarine commander about to
torpedo the Ark, was distinctly annoyed at being reduced to a mere
small boy, and an unclad one at that.

"I don't see why you want to undress me in the middle of the morning,"
he said, wriggling out of his blue jersey. "And it isn't washing-day,
either, and Alison and Michael'll go and sink the Ark without me if
you don't hurry."

"I won't let them, Geoff," Norah reassured him. "I'm an airship
commander cruising round over the submarine, and she doesn't dare to
show so much as the tip of her periscope. Of course, when her captain
comes back, he'll know what to do!"

"Rather!" said the Captain, wriggling this time in ecstasy. "I'll
just put up my anti-aircraft gun and blow the old airship to
smithereens."

Alison uttered a howl.

"_Won't_ have Norah made into smivvereens!"

"Don't you worry darli