"He is on the _Cassandra_, and in this medley of ships no one seems to know where his is anchored," the man was saying. "Dear me," sighed the lady. "To think that our boy should be so near and that we should not be able to see him! It’s dreadful!" "But we must find him," the man declared reassuringly. "Surely there is some way of reaching the ship?" "They tell me no one is allowed on board; and when the battalion disembarks they will be marched away. What shall we do?" she cried in great distress. Reggy’s impulsive heart was touched. He approached them and respectfully saluted. "A thousand pardons, sir," he said, "for breaking in upon a private conversation, but I couldn’t help overhearing your words. Can I be of any assistance to you?" "It is very kind of you, indeed," the man answered in a rich voice of unusual gentility. "Perhaps you can help us. My son is aboard the _Cassandra_. We haven’t seen him since he went to Canada four years ago. He is only a Tommy, so cannot come ashore, and it seems impossible to get into communication with him." "What luck!" Reggy exclaimed. "His ship and ours are anchored side by side; so close, in fact, that we have a connecting gang-way." "Oh, do you think we could get out to him?" the mother asked anxiously. "We have no permit to visit the ships." "If you can get authority to enter the dockyards, I’ll see what I can do to get you aboard to-morrow noon," Reggy answered. "I’ll meet you at the quay." "God bless you!" exclaimed the lady, with tears in her eyes. The following day, true to his word, Reggy, with a written permit in his pocket, ushered Mr. and Mrs. Hargreaves aboard the ship. "You will stay and lunch with me," said Reggy. "I’ll get your boy across, and we’ll all lunch together." "But I was under the impression that Tommies were not allowed to dine with officers," protested Mr. Hargreaves. "The deuce! I’d forgotten all about that," Reggy exclaimed, as he scratched his head perplexedly. "Ah, I have it," he ejaculated a moment later; "he shall be an officer during the meal. I’ll lend him a tunic. No one else on board will know." "But I don’t wish you to get yourself into trouble," Mr. Hargreaves remonstrated. Reggy laughed. "I love such trouble," he cried, "and the risk fascinates me. I’ll be back in a moment." And he dashed off in his impetuous way. In a short time he returned, bringing with him a handsome but much embarrassed youth, wearing a captain’s uniform. But the sight which met his eyes banished all thought of clothes. "Mother! Father!" he cried; and in a moment was clasped in his mother’s arms, while tears of joy she didn’t strive to hide rolled down her cheeks. The old gentleman turned his head aside to hide his own emotion, and Reggy, feeling _de trop_, slipped quietly away.