He made a dive for one place and sat in it, never noting a thin stick in the corner, and he cleared out with enormous apologies when a perfectly groomed Major with an exceedingly pleasant manner mentioned that it was his seat, and carefully put the stick elsewhere as soon as Peter had gone.

Finally, at the end of a carriage, he descried a small door half open, and inside what looked like an empty seat.

He pulled it open, and discovered a small, select compartment with a centre table and three men about it, all making themselves very comfortable.
"I beg your pardon," said Peter, "but is there a place vacant for one ?" The three eyed him stonily, and he knew instinctively that he was again a fresher calling on the second year.

One, a Captain, raised his head to look at him better.

He was a man of light hair and blue, alert eyes, wearing a cap that, while not looking dissipated, somehow conveyed the impression that its owner knew all about things--a cap, too, that carried the Springbok device.