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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36500-8.txt b/36500-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1ba73c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/36500-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9643 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dispatch-Riders, by Percy F. Westerman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dispatch-Riders + The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists in the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Illustrator: F. Gillett + +Release Date: June 23, 2011 [EBook #36500] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISPATCH-RIDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Dust cover art] + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + +[Frontispiece: "OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" _Page_ 202. +_Frontispiece_] + + + + +The + +Dispatch-Riders + + + The Adventures of Two British + Motor-cyclists in the Great War + + + +BY + +PERCY F. WESTERMAN + +Author of "Rivals of the Reef" "The Sea-girt Fortress" &c. &c. + + + +_Illustrated by F. Gillett_ + + + +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + +LONDON AND GLASGOW + +1915 + + + + + By Percy F. Westerman + + The Red Pirate. + The Call of the Sea. + Standish of the Air Police. + Sleuths of the Air. + The Black Hawk. + Andy All-Alone. + The Westow Talisman. + The White Arab. + The Buccaneers of Boya. + Rounding up the Raider. + Captain Fosdyke's Gold. + In Defiance of the Ban. + The Senior Cadet. + The Amir's Ruby. + The Secret of the Plateau. + Leslie Dexter, Cadet. + All Hands to the Boats. + A Mystery of the Broads. + Rivals of the Reef. + A Shanghai Adventure. + The Junior Cadet. + Captain Starlight. + The Sea-Girt Fortress. + On the Wings of the Wind. + Captain Blundell's Treasure. + The Third Officer. + Unconquered Wings. + The Riddle of the Air. + Chums of the "Golden Vanity". + Clipped Wings. + Rocks Ahead! + King for a Month. + The Disappearing Dhow. + The Luck of the "Golden Dawn". + The Salving of the "Fusi Yama". + Winning his Wings. + A Lively Bit of the Front. + The Good Ship "Golden Effort". + East in the "Golden Gain". + The Quest of the "Golden Hope". + Sea Scouts Abroad. + Sea Scouts Up-Channel. + The Wireless Officer. + A Lad of Grit. + The Submarine Hunters. + Sea Scouts All. + The Thick of the Fray at Zeebrugge. + A Sub and a Submarine. + Under the White Ensign. + With Beatty off Jutland. + The Dispatch Riders. + + + + +_Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ + + + + +Contents + + CHAP. + + I. THE COMING STORM + II. A BREAK-DOWN + III. MAJOR RÉSIMONT + IV. ENLISTED + V. A BAPTISM OF FIRE + VI. A VAIN ASSAULT + VII. DISABLING A TAUBE + VIII. IN BRITISH UNIFORMS + IX. A MIDNIGHT RETIREMENT + X. THE UHLAN PATROL + XI. THE RAID ON TONGRES + XII. THE MAIL ESCORT + XIII. SEPARATED + XIV. A FRIEND IN NEED + XV. CAPTURED + XVI. ENTOMBED + XVII. THE WAY OUT + XVIII. THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES + XIX. ARRESTED AS SPIES + XX. STRANDED IN BRUSSELS + XXI. DENOUNCED + XXII. THE SACK OF LOUVAIN + XXIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XXIV. ACROSS THE FRONTIER + XXV. THELMA EVEREST + XXVI. SELF-ACCUSED + XXVII. WITH THE NAVAL BRIGADE AT ANTWERP + XXVIII. WHEN THE CITY FELL + XXIX. ON THE NORTH SEA + XXX. THE VICTORIOUS WHITE ENSIGN + + + + +Illustrations + + +"OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... +THEN CRASH! + +KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR + + + + +THE DISPATCH-RIDERS + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Coming Storm + +"Let's make for Liége," exclaimed Kenneth Everest. + +"What's that?" asked his chum, Rollo Harrington. "Liége? What on +earth possesses you to suggest Liége? A crowded manufacturing town, +with narrow streets and horrible _pavé_. I thought we decided to fight +shy of heavy traffic?" + +The two speakers were seated at an open window of the Hôtel Doré, in +the picturesque town of Dinant. In front of them flowed the Meuse; its +placid water rippled with craft of varying sizes. Huge barges, towed +by snorting tugs, were laboriously passing along the busy international +waterway that serves an empire, a kingdom, and a republic. On the +remote bank, and to the right of a bridge, were the quaint red-tiled +houses of the town, above which rose the fantastic, pinnacled tower of +the thirteenth-century church of Notre Dame, in turn overshadowed by +the frowning limestone crag on which stands the citadel. + +Kenneth was a well-set-up English youth of seventeen. He was tall for +his age, and withal broad-shouldered and well-knit. His features were +dark, his skin burnt a deep tan by reason of more than a nodding +acquaintance with an open-air life. In character and action he was +impulsive. He had the happy knack of making up his mind on the spur of +the moment, and yet at the same time forming a fairly sound judgment. +He was quick, too, with his fingers, having been gifted with a keen, +mechanical turn of mind. + +Rollo Barrington, who was his companion's junior by the space of three +days, was rather the reverse of his versatile friend. He was shorter +in height by a good four inches; he was slightly built, although he +possessed an unlooked-for reserve of physical strength and endurance. +He was fresh-complexioned, with blue eyes and wavy chestnut hair. + +If Kenneth acted upon impulse, Rollo went by rule of thumb. He was +cool and calculating when occasion served; but when in the company of +his chum he was generally content to allow his will to be dominated by +the impetuous Everest. + +Both lads were at St. Cyprian's--a public school of note in the Home +Counties. The vacation started about the middle of July, and it was +the custom for the senior members to put in a fortnight's camp with the +Officers' Training Corps during the latter part of that month. + +At the time this story opens--the first day of August, 1914--the two +chums were on a motor-cycling tour through Northern France and Belgium. +The parents of neither had offered any objection when their respective +sons announced their intention of wandering through the high-roads and +by-roads of that part of the Continent. + +Kenneth had sprung the suggestion upon his father like the proverbial +bombshell; and Mr. Everest, who was largely responsible for his son's +impetuosity, merely acquiesced by observing: "You lucky young dog! I +didn't have the chance when I was your age. Well, I hope you'll have a +good time." + +On his part Rollo had broached the subject with his customary +deliberation, and Colonel Barrington had not only given his consent, +but had gone to the extreme toil of producing maps and a Baedeker, and +had mapped out a route--to which neither of the lads had adhered. The +Colonel also realized that there was a considerable amount of +self-education to be derived from the tour. There was nothing like +travel, he declared, to expand the mind; following up this statement by +the practical action of "forking out", thereby relieving his son of any +fear of pecuniary embarrassment. + +Both lads rode identically similar motor-cycles--tourist models, of 3-½ +horse-power, fitted with three-speed hubs. But again the difference in +character manifested itself in the care of their respective steeds. + +Rollo had been a motor-cyclist ever since he was fourteen--as soon as +he was qualified in point of age to obtain a driver's licence. The +close attention he bestowed upon his motor-bike never varied; he kept +it as clean as he did in the first few days after taking over his new +purchase. He had thoroughly mastered its peculiarities, and studied +both the theory and practice of its mechanism. + +Kenneth Everest had first bestrode the saddle of a motor-cycle a week +before their Continental tour began. No doubt his experience as a +"push-cyclist" helped him considerably; he quickly mastered the use of +the various controls, without troubling to find out "how it worked". +With his companion's knowledge at his back he felt quite at ease, +since, in the event of any mechanical break-down, Rollo would point out +the fault, and Kenneth's ready fingers would either do or undo the rest. + +But so far, with the exception of a few tyre troubles, both +motor-cyclists had done remarkably well. Landing at Havre, they had +pushed on, following the route taken by the English army that had won +Agincourt. This, by the by, was Rollo's suggestion. From the site of +the historic battle-field they had sped eastward, through Arras, St. +Quentin, and Mézières. Here, finding themselves in the valley of the +Meuse, they had turned northward, and passing through the French +frontier fortress of Givet, entered Belgium, spending the first night +on Belgian soil in picturesque Dinant. + +Hitherto they had overcome the initial difficulty that confronts +British road users in France--the fact that all traffic keeps, or is +supposed to keep, to the right. They had endured the horrible and +seemingly never-ending cobbles or _pavé_. The language presented +little difficulty, for Kenneth, prior to having joined St. Cyprian's, +had been educated in Paris; and although his Parisian accent differed +somewhat from the patois of the Ardennes, he had very little trouble in +making himself understood. Rollo, too, was a fairly proficient French +linguist, since, in view of his future military career, he had applied +himself with his usual diligence to the study of the language. + +"I say, what's this wheeze about Liége?" persisted Harrington. +"There's something in the wind, old chap." + +"It's not exactly Liége I want to see," replied Kenneth, "although it's +a fine, interesting old place, with a history. Fact is, my sister +Thelma is at a boarding-school at Visé--that's only a few miles farther +on--and we might just as well look her up." + +"By Jove! I ought to have remembered. I knew she was somewhere in +Belgium. Let me see, she's your youngest sister?" + +"Twelve months my junior," replied Kenneth, "and a jolly good pal she +is, too. It's rather rough luck on her. The pater's just off on that +Mediterranean trip, so she hasn't been able to go home for the +holidays. We'll just cheer her up a bit." + +Rollo gave a final glance at the map before folding it and placing it +in his pocket. In response to a summons, the garçon produced the bill +and gratefully accepted the modest tip that Everest bestowed upon him +with becoming public schoolboy dignity. + +This done, the two lads took their travelling cases and made their way +to the hotel garage, where their motor-cycles had been placed under +lock and key, out of the reach of sundry inquisitive and mischievous +Belgian gamins. + +"Hello! What's the excitement?" asked Kenneth, pointing to a crowd of +gesticulating townsfolk gathered round a notice that had just been +pasted to a wall. + +"Ask me another," rejoined his companion. "A circus or something of +the sort about to turn up, I suppose. If you're curious I'll hang on +here while you go and find out." + +Kenneth was off like a shot. Half-way across the bridge that here +spans the Meuse he nearly collided with the proprietor of the Hôtel +Doré. The man's face was red with excitement. + +"Quel dommage!" he exclaimed, in reply to the lad's unspoken question. +"The Government has ordered the army to mobilize. What +inconsideration! Jules, Michel, Georges, and Étienne--all will have to +go. I shall be left without a single garçon. And the busy season +approaches also." + +"Why is the army to be mobilized, then?" + +"Ciel! I know not. We Belgians do not require soldiers. We are men +of peace. Has not our neutrality been guaranteed by our neighbours? +And, notwithstanding, the Government must have men to vie with the +French _piou-piou_, give them rifles, and put them in uniforms at the +expense of the community. It is inconceivable!" + +The proprietor, unable to contain his feelings, rushed back to the +hotel, while Kenneth, still wishing to satisfy his curiosity by ocular +demonstration, made his way to the edge of the semicircular crowd of +excited townsfolk. + +The proclamation, dated the 31st day of July, was an order for partial +mobilization, calling up the First Division of the Reserves. No reason +was given, and the lack of it, rather than the fact that the order had +to be obeyed, was the subject of general comment. From the nature of +the conversation the lad gathered that military service was not +regarded by the Belgians in anything approaching a tolerant spirit. + +"Nothing much; only a mobilization," announced Everest in reply to his +companion's enquiry. "Let's make a move. We may see something of the +Belgian troops. It would be rather interesting to see how they take to +playing at soldiering." + +"Why playing?" asked Rollo as he proceeded to secure his valise to the +carrier. + +"What else would you expect from Belgians?" rejoined Kenneth. "Even +old Gallipot--or whatever the hotel proprietor's name is--was grumbling +about the uselessness of the business, and most of those johnnies over +there are of the same opinion. No, Rollo, take my word for it, the +Belgians are not a fighting race. Let me see--didn't they skedaddle at +Waterloo and almost let our fellows down?" + +"They may have done," remarked Rollo. "But that's nearly a century +old. Ready?" + +With half-closed throttles, and tyres sufficiently soft to absorb most +of the shocks, the young tourists bumped over the _pavé_, swung round, +and soon settled down to a modest fifteen miles an hour along the Namur +road. + +For the best part of the journey the Meuse, with its limestone crags +and dense foliage, was within a few yards on their right, while trees +on either side of the road afforded a pleasant shade from the fierce +rays of the sun. The dust, too, rose in dense clouds whenever, as +frequently happened, a motor-car tore past, or a flock of frightened +sheep scampered madly all across the road. At Namur their wishes +regarding the Belgian troops were gratified. The narrow street swarmed +with soldiers and civil guards. There were men with head-dresses +resembling the busbies of the British guardsmen, leading teams of dogs +harnessed to light quick-firing "Berthier" guns; infantry who, in spite +of the broiling heat, wore heavy greatcoats; cavalry whose mounts were +powerful enough to evoke the admiration of the critical Kenneth. + +"I wonder what all this fuss is about," he exclaimed. + +Before Rollo could furnish any remark a little Belgian officer accosted +them. + +"You gentlemen are English, without doubt?" + +"We are." + +"It then is well," continued the officer, speaking in English with +considerable fluency. "You have not heard, eh? The news--the grave +news?" + +"No, monsieur." + +"Germany has declared war upon the Russians." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A Break-down + +"Is that so?" asked Kenneth. "Then I hope to goodness the Russians +will give the Germans a thundering good licking. But why are your +troops mobilizing?" + +The Belgian officer replied by producing a newspaper and pointing to a +heavy-leaded column. + +"You understand our language?" he asked. + +The report, though a piece of journalistic conjecture, afterwards +proved to be very near to the mark. It was to the effect that Germany +had declared war against Russia and also France, and that her troops +were already pouring over the respective frontiers. To take all +necessary precautions the King of the Belgians had ordered a +mobilization, and had appealed to King George to assist him in +preserving the integrity of his small kingdom. + +"You'll notice it says that it is reported," observed the cautious +Rollo. "By Jove, if it is true, the Kaiser will have a handful. But, +monsieur, surely Belgium will be out of it? Her integrity is protected +by treaties." + +The Belgian officer shrugged his shoulders. + +"Let us hope so," he remarked. "We Belgians have little faith in the +honour of a German. Therefore, we arm. Where do you propose to go?" + +"To Liége, monsieur." + +"Then do not go. It is not advisable. If you take my advice you +return to England as soon as possible. Perhaps, soon, you come back +again with a brave English army." + +"Whatever is the fellow aiming at?" asked Kenneth, after the officer +was out of ear-shot. "It's all so very mysterious about nothing." + +"Do you call war between Germany and France and Russia nothing, old +fellow?" + +"I wasn't referring to that," replied Kenneth. "Of course it is. The +Russians will simply walk over Prussia while the Germans are trying to +batter the French frontier forts. No; what I meant is, why should we +be balked in going to Liége? We'll go, and risk it--though I don't +believe there is any risk. If there is, so much the better for us." + +"Perhaps that Belgian officer knows more than he told us." + +"Or else less. I'll tell you what, Rollo. We'll see what's doing at +Liége; then, if there's time, we'll run back almost to the French +frontier and see what the excitement is like there. Let's make another +start." + +The suggestion was quickly put into practice, but progress was tedious +and slow. The highway between Namur and Liége was crowded with +traffic. Military wagons, both motor-driven and drawn by horses and +mules, seemed an unending stream. The rattling of the huge +motor-lorries prevented the chauffeurs from hearing any sounds beyond +the pulsations of their engines. In vain the two English lads sounded +their horns. It was invariably a case of throwing out the clutch and +waiting for a favourable moment to dash past, often with a bare yard +between the off-side wheel of the powerful lorries and the deep ditch +by the side of the road. + +There were thousands of troops, too, with their supply-carts; swarms of +peasants driving cattle into the fortresses; motor-cars, motor-cycles, +and ordinary cycles galore, till Rollo remarked, during one of the +enforced halts, that it was ten times worse than Barnet Hill on fair +night. + +At length, after taking two hours to traverse fifteen miles, the lads +came in sight of the town of Huy. Here the traffic lessened slightly, +and Kenneth called for an increased speed. + +Suddenly Rollo saw his companion's cycle slip from under him. It was +all he could do to avoid coming into collision with the prostrate +mount. When he pulled up and dismounted, Kenneth was regaining his +feet. + +"Hurt?" asked Barrington laconically, yet with considerable anxiety. + +"Not a bit," replied Kenneth cheerfully. "Only barked my knuckles. +Get up, you brute!" + +The last remark was addressed to the motor-cycle, which was lying on +its side across a rounded stone embedded in the ground on the edge of +the footpath. Kenneth found, for the first time, that it required a +fair amount of physical energy to restore a fallen motorcycle to its +normal position. + +Thrice he tried a running start, but without success. The motor +refused to fire. + +"Jack it up on its stand," suggested Rollo. "Inject a little petrol +into the compression tap and have another shot." + +Kenneth promptly acted upon this advice, but still without satisfactory +result. By this time Rollo had placed his cycle on its stand and was +ready to give assistance. + +"There's no spark," he announced after testing the plug. "I hope it +isn't the magneto." + +With the usual perversity of things in general and motor-cycles in +particular, it was the magneto that was out of action. The round stone +on which the cycle had fallen had given the delicate mechanism a nasty +blow. + +"This job's beyond me," declared Rollo. "We must see what can be done +in the next town. Thank goodness it isn't far. Off with the belt and +push her; I won't risk towing you with this traffic about." + +Already the disabled motor-cycle was surrounded by a crowd of peasants +and soldiers, all of whom offered advice; but, as the majority of the +onlookers were Walloons, their Flemish tongue was not understood by the +two English lads. + +At length Kenneth managed to get into conversation with a +French-speaking corporal, and from him learnt that there was an +efficient motor-repairer in Huy, whose place of business faced the +market square. + +It was exhausting work pushing the two motor-bicycles along the +undulating, rough cobbled road in the fierce glare of the August sun. +The crowd followed. + +About a quarter of a mile farther along the road a chasseur passed. +Reining in his horse he addressed the corporal. + +"What, then, has happened, Pierre?" + +The Belgian non-com. shrugged his shoulders. + +"Only two German tourists, Gaston," he replied. "They have had an +accident." + +"German!" exclaimed Kenneth indignantly. "You are wrong. We are +English." + +"Can Monsieur produce proof?" asked the corporal. + +Fortunately both lads possessed _permits de circulation_--documents +issued to foreign tourists on entering French territory, and which they +had not given up at the _douane_ at Givet. On each document was pasted +a photograph of the bearer and particulars of his name, nationality, +occupation, and place of abode. + +In less than a minute the indifferent demeanour of the crowd underwent +a complete change. Amid shouts of "Vivent les Anglais!" several of the +Belgians took possession of the two motor-cycles, and, in spite of +frequent wobblings, pushed them right into the town. + +Here another set-back greeted the tourists. The repairer gravely +informed them that a new magneto was absolutely necessary, and since he +had not one in stock he would be obliged to send to Brussels for it. + +Under the circumstances an enforced stay would have to be made at Huy, +so the lads booked a room at a modest but cheerful-looking hotel. The +town and environs seemed delightfully picturesque, and, although +Kenneth chafed under the delay, both lads eventually admitted they +might have been hung up in many a worse place than Huy. + +The next day, Sunday, they were awakened early by a clamour in the +street, and found that newsvendors were doing a roaring trade. The +papers were full of sensational reports, and although definite news was +not forthcoming, it was quite evident that the war clouds were rapidly +gathering. + +Rollo, the cautious, suggested the abandonment of the Liége trip and a +hasty return home, but Kenneth set his face against any such proposal. + +"Look here," he said, "if there's any truth in this report, and England +does chip in, we will do no good by returning home. The powers that be +have decided that we are not yet of an age to take up a commission, +although I flatter myself that we are both better men than Tompkins, +late of the Upper Sixth, who was gazetted to a line regiment a week +before the holidays, you'll remember. If there is a dust-up we'll try +our luck with the French. They don't object to fellows of sixteen, so +long as they are keen. Take the case of Lord Kitchener, for instance. +He served as a cadet in the war of '70 and '71." + +"Don't be in such a violent hurry, old man. Stick to our original +programme and go to Liége, if you will. It may be necessary for us to +look after your sister, you know." + +"I don't think so; I firmly believe that Belgium will be left out of +the business. This scare will be over in a few days. The pen is +mightier than the sword, you know, so Germany will respect her plighted +word to preserve the neutrality of both Holland and Belgium." + +It was nearly noon on Monday morning when the lads wended their way to +the motor-repairer's. Outside the burgomaster's house a huge crowd had +gathered. The chief magistrate was making ready to read a document. +It was a copy of the momentous ultimatum from the bully of Europe to +one of the smallest of her neighbours: a peremptory demand that the +Belgian Government should allow the legions of the Kaiser to pass +through Belgium in order to attack the least-defended frontier of +France, and threatening to make war upon the little buffer State should +she refuse. + +A dead silence greeted the burgomaster's announcement. The news, +though not unexpected, was astounding. + +Again he spoke: + +"Fellow-townsmen! I can assure you that the spirit of independence +lives amongst us. We will resist to the death this outrageous demand. +Nor are we without powerful friends. Listen to the words of an appeal +of our heroic Sovereign to the King of England: 'Remembering the +numerous proofs of your Majesty's friendship and that of your +predecessors, and the friendly attitude of England in 1870, and the +proof of friendship you have just given us again, I make a supreme +appeal to the diplomatic intervention of your Majesty's Government to +safeguard the integrity of Belgium." + +"And what is the reply of the King of England?" shouted a voice. + +"If it has been received it has not up to the present been communicated +to me," replied the chief magistrate pompously. "Rest assured that I, +your burgomaster, will not be tardy in keeping the worthy burgesses +fully posted with the latest news from the capital. If any of you +still have faith in German promises, let me inform you it is definitely +established that the German troops have already invaded the independent +Grand Duchy of Luxemburg." + +The burgomaster withdrew, leaving the townsfolk to shout "Down with +Germany!" "Long live England!" and cheer madly for their young king, +who was yet to display proof of his personal courage. + +"It's getting serious," admitted Kenneth as the chums resumed their +way. "I don't mind owning I was wrong in my opinion of German honesty. +If they don't draw the line at Luxemburg they evidently won't at +Belgium. Rollo, my boy, it's a mortal cert that Great Britain will be +scrapping with Germany in less than a week." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Major Résimont + +"I vote we get off this main road with its wretched _pavé_," exclaimed +Rollo prior to resuming their ride on the following day. "There's a +road shown on the map which ought to be a jolly sight better. At any +rate we'll miss most of the heavy traffic." + +"Right-o," assented Kenneth; "anything so long as we can have a +speed-burst. I'm tired of crawling along at ten miles an hour." + +The road, which turned out to be little better than a cart-track, led a +considerable distance from the left bank of the Meuse, and with the +exception of an occasional farm wagon laden with hay, very little +traffic was met with. + +At the end of an hour's steady riding, the lads found themselves at the +junction of two forked roads, where, contrary to the usual custom, +there was no signpost to indicate the direction. On either side was a +steep bank. + +"Now, which way?" asked Rollo. "Neither of the roads looks +particularly inviting." + +"It's one of the sunken roads of Belgium, I suppose," said Kenneth. +"We'll climb up this bank. Perhaps we shall be able to see where we +are. It will be awkward for our bikes if a motor-car comes tearing +along." + +The incline was nearly fifteen feet in height and fairly steep. When +the lads reached the summit they found, to their surprise, that they +were on a slightly undulating grass field liberally guarded with barbed +wire. About four hundred yards off was a rounded hillock. Even as the +two looked they saw a huge cylindrical turret, from which projected the +muzzle of a large gun, rise from the ground. For a few seconds the +giant weapon moved horizontally and vertically, as if seeking a target, +then as swiftly as it had appeared it disappeared into the ground. + +"I say, we've stumbled across one of the frontier forts," exclaimed +Kenneth. "Let's go a bit closer and have a look. I'd like to find out +how they work." + +"Thanks, I'm not having any," objected Rollo. "There's too much barbed +wire knocking about. Besides, there are our bikes." + +"We needn't wriggle under the wire, this road on our right evidently +leads to the fort. We'll get a bit closer; but hold on a minute, we'll +see if that gun pops up again." + +They waited for at least five minutes, but without the expected result. +As they turned to retrace their steps, they were confronted by a tall +Belgian soldier wearing the blue uniform of the artillery. + +"C'est défendu: marchez!" he ordered sternly. + +"All right, monsieur," replied Kenneth. "We've lost our way. Which is +the Liége road?" + +"You are foreigners," exclaimed the soldier, bringing his bayonet to +the "ready". + +"Yes, English." + +"You must come with me." + +"We have motor-bicycles." + +"No matter. They will be attended to. Forward!" + +Realizing the uselessness of attempting to argue the point the lads +obeyed, the soldier following three paces in the rear with his rifle +and bayonet at the slope. + +After covering a distance of about a hundred yards between the edge of +the barbed-wire entanglements and the dip formed by the sunken road, +the arrested lads found themselves in the presence of a corporal and a +file of men. + +"You must be taken before the major. I am sorry, but these are my +orders," declared the corporal civilly, after ascertaining that the two +chums were English. "No doubt you will be permitted to go with but +little delay." + +"Will our motor-bicycles be all right?" asked Rollo anxiously. "We +left them a little way down the lane." + +"I will send a man to look after them," was the reply. "We must take +you into Fort Loncine, and you must be blindfolded. These are my +orders whenever we find strangers in the vicinity of the defences." + +"Very well," replied Kenneth with as good a grace as he could command, +at the same time producing his handkerchief. + +Guided by soldiers, the two blindfolded youths were led into the fort. +Kenneth kept count of the number of paces before crossing the +drawbridge; they totalled four hundred and eighty-five, which, allowing +thirty inches for his long stride, meant that the glacis, or level +grassy ground surrounding the fort, was a little over four hundred +yards in breadth. + +When the handkerchiefs were removed from their eyes the lads found +themselves in a large vaulted room lighted by electricity. On three +sides were several low-arched doorways, on the fourth a fairly broad +gateway through which they had been brought. Although it was +impossible to see straight into the open air, a distant glimpse of +diffused daylight showed that this entrance communicated either with +the glacis or else an enclosed portion of the fort that was exposed to +the rays of the sun. + +Seated on benches or lolling against the walls were quite a hundred +soldiers, yet the place was by no means crowded. Beyond looking with +evident curiosity at the two lads under arrest, they took no further +interest in them. + +Presently a sergeant approached and questioned the guards concerning +their prisoners. + +"English? Perhaps they are sent ... but, no; they are but youths. +Bring them along. I will inform Major Résimont." + +The sergeant knocked at one of the doors, and in reply to a muffled +"Entrez!" he passed through. The lads noticed that the door was of +steel, and required considerable effort on the part of the +non-commissioned officer to open it. + +"Englishmen found in the vicinity of the fort, mon major," announced +the sergeant, saluting and standing stiffly at attention. + +"Let them enter. Ah, my young friends, this, then, is the manner in +which you come to Liége?" + +The two chums could well express astonishment, for their questioner was +none other than the officer who in Namur had advised them to abandon +their proposed visit to the Birmingham of Belgium. + +"Well, what have you to say?" proceeded the major. + +"We lost our way and scrambled on to the bank to see where we were. We +happened to catch sight of one of the guns, with disappearing +mountings, and we were curious to see what happened," replied Kenneth. + +"Your curiosity might lead you into trouble," said the Belgian officer +gravely. "How am I to know that you are not German spies?" + +Kenneth bridled indignantly. + +"We give you our word that we are not." + +"Your word will hardly do, monsieur, at a time like this. Can you +produce proofs? Have you anyone in the district who can identify you?" + +The lads produced their permits. + +"This will hardly do," continued the major as he scanned Kenneth's +document. "These are only too easy to obtain. Ha! Your name is +Barrington?" he asked, turning to the owner of that patronymic. + +"Yes, sir," replied Rollo. "My father is a retired colonel in the +British army." + +"His Christian name?" + +Rollo told him. + +"Then I know your father; not intimately, perhaps, yet I am acquainted +with him. I met him at your great manoeuvres at Aldershot, to which I +was sent as attaché in 1904. But, tell me, why are you both so anxious +to go to Liége?" + +"My sister is at a boarding-school near Visé," replied Kenneth. "I +want to see her, as she is not returning home for the holidays." + +"She is at the institution of Madame de la Barre?" + +"Yes, sir; how did you know that?" asked Kenneth eagerly. + +"I have the pleasure of Mademoiselle Everest's acquaintance," replied +the major with a deep bow. "In fact, she is a great friend of my +daughter, Yvonne. You are free to depart, messieurs, but perhaps you +will do me a favour. Convey my compliments to Madame de la Barre, and +say that it is advisable that she should remove her school from Visé as +soon as possible. Should you find it inconvenient to take your sister +to England, please inform her that she may find a temporary home with +Yvonne at my house in the Rue de la Tribune in Brussels." + +"That we will gladly do, and let you know the result." + +Major Résimont smiled. + +"My duty prevents me from being my own messenger," he said. "I was on +the point of sending one of my men with a letter, but you will, +according to your English proverb, kill two birds with one stone. +To-night, if you wish to see me, I hope to be at the Café Royal, in the +Rue Breidel at Liége, from eight till eleven. Will you, before you +depart, honour me by taking a glass of wine?" + +"What do you think of the situation, sir?" asked Rollo. + +Major Résimont shook his head. + +"Serious," he said solemnly. "At any moment these pigs of Prussians +may cross the frontier. Only one thing will hold them back: the fear +of your English fleet. You are fortunate, you English, in having the +sea around your country, yet I think you do not give sufficient thought +towards the significance of the fact." + +"But Great Britain has not declared war on Germany." + +"No, not yet, but perhaps soon. Your country would do incalculable +service to France and Belgium simply by holding the sea; yet in +addition she has generously pledged herself to send almost the whole of +her army to Belgium if the Germans attack us. Then the rest will be a +question of time. We in Liége will do our utmost to keep the invaders +at bay until your brave army arrives. Then, with the French, to say +nothing of the Russians on the east, Germany will be assailed and +conquered, and the vile spectre of Teutonic militarism will be for ever +laid low." + +The Belgian major spoke with conviction. His earnestness in the hope +of British aid was intense. + +"And we are ready," continued the major. "Already the bridges across +the Meuse are mined; our armoured forts will defy the heaviest of the +German artillery. We will keep the Germans at bay for a month if need +be. Meanwhile you two messieurs journey through Belgium as calmly as +if you were on an English country road. You English are brave, but you +are enigmas. But take this and show it if you are challenged," and he +wrote out a pass on an official form. + +The major accompanied his involuntary guests as far as the edge of the +glacis. This time they were not blindfolded; yet there was very little +to be seen, except to the practised eye of a trained man. There were +mountings for quick-firing guns, and just discernible above the turf +the rounded tops of the steel cupolas. Beyond that the fort looked +nothing more than an earthworked enclosure. + +Somewhat to the lads' astonishment they found their motor-cycles placed +on a trolley. The Belgian soldiers, not understanding the action of +the exhaust lever, had been unable to wheel the heavy mounts; and since +their orders had to be obeyed, they had first resorted to the toilsome +task of carrying the mounts. This, owing to the heat of the day and +the thickness of their clothing, was eventually abandoned, and a +trolley procured. + +"You have a clear road," announced Major Résimont. "When you re-enter +the lane, keep to the left; that will bring you speedily upon the +highway. Au revoir, messieurs!" + +Somewhat to the wonderment of the Belgian soldiers, who could not +understand how the unwieldy machines could be moved by manual power, +the lads took a running start. Both engines fired easily, and soon the +tourists were speeding along through the outskirts of the city of Liége. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Enlisted + +"Madame de la Barre presents her compliments, but regrets that the +regulations of her establishment do not permit her pupils to receive +visits except during certain hours," announced a stern-faced Flemish +woman in broken French. + +Kenneth glanced at his companion, + +"What's to be done now?" he asked. + +"Give her Major Résimont's message. Say it's very urgent," advised +Rollo. + +The lads, curbing their impatience, waited for another ten minutes +outside the lofty blank wall surrounding the boarding-school. The air +was sultry, and the glare from the whitewashed walls was almost +blinding. The _pavé_ seemed to throw out a stifling heat. The village +street was practically deserted, but in the neighbouring fields a row +of peasant women were bending over their monotonous task of pulling +vegetables. Farther away some cows were lying down under the scant +shade afforded by a few gaunt trees. Otherwise the landscape was +devoid of life. + +Presently a woman passed, leading a little girl by the hand. She was a +buxom, comely peasant, the child bright-faced and apparently +well-cared-for. They were laughing and chattering. Then a man on a +dog-drawn cart came down the street. The animals, their tongues +protruding and their sides heaving with the heat, were moving at a +leisurely pace. The man made no attempt to hurry them. He was smiling +contentedly, and called out a cheery greeting in Flemish to the patient +audience before the gate of Madame de la Barre. A little way down the +street he halted his team and entered a cottage. He was lame, hence he +had not been called up on mobilization. + +Presently the maid-servant reappeared. + +"Madame thanks Monsieur the Major, but at present sees no reason for +taking his advice. Should war be declared she will take necessary +steps to safeguard her pupils. If Mademoiselle Résimont is to be sent +to her home at Brussels, no doubt Monsieur the Major will communicate +in writing with Madame. If Monsieur Everest desires to see his sister +he can do so in the presence of Madame at eleven o'clock to-morrow." + +Having delivered this ultimatum, the maid shut the door and shot the +massive bolts. + +"Done this time!" ejaculated Kenneth. "Let's get back to Liége. +There'll be plenty to see." + +The lads set off at a rapid pace in spite of the heat. They were on +foot, having placed their motor-cycles in the village of Argenteau. + +By the time they regained Argenteau a change had come over the little +hamlet. A detachment of engineers was in possession. The men, +discarding their heavy greatcoats, were busily engaged in throwing up +earthworks, while almost within arm's-length their rifles were piled, +each weapon with its bayonet fixed. + +"Halte-là!" The tip of a bayonet presented within a couple of inches +of Rollo's chest brought both lads to a sudden stop. "Qui v'là?" + +The production of the pass with which Major Résimont had provided them +was sufficient, and without further hindrance the two friends gained +the inn. + +As they passed under the archway they found that their beloved +motor-cycles had vanished. + +"Pardon, messieurs!" exclaimed the landlord on catching sight of the +two lads. "It was not my fault, I assure you. It is the order of the +Government. They have taken away all the horses, all the carts----" + +"And our motor-cycles?" + +"Hélas, messieurs, it is a fact. Nevertheless, the Government will +pay----" + +"Where are they taken to?" asked Kenneth. + +"They were placed in a transport wagon, monsieur. It left in the +direction of Liége not fifteen minutes ago." + +"Let's hurry and catch it up," suggested Rollo. "It's daylight +robbery. I believe that rascally innkeeper has played a trick on us." + +Alternately running and walking, the English lads kept up a rapid pace +along the road that followed the right bank of the Meuse between +Argenteau and Liége. Mile after mile they went, without a sign of a +transport wagon. Troops there were in plenty, all carrying entrenching +tools in addition to arms. Yet, in spite of these warlike movements, +the women were toiling unconcernedly in the fields, either indifferent +to the danger that threatened them, or else basking in the confidence +of the ability of the Belgian troops and their allies to thrust back +the approaching tide of invasion. + +At the village of Wandre Rollo gave vent to a shout of delight. +Standing outside an inn was an army wagon, and under its tilt, in +company with a medley of other articles, were their motor-cycles. + +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Rollo. + +"I vote we take them and make off as hard as we can," suggested +Kenneth. "The soldiers in charge are evidently after more official +loot." + +"Won't do," replied the cautious Rollo. "Ten to one we would +hopelessly damage the bikes getting them off the wagon. The best we +can do is to tackle the fellow in charge." + +"The fellow in charge" turned out to be a phlegmatic Walloon corporal. +When appealed to he replied that he was acting under the orders of his +lieutenant, and that he must account for all the articles on his list +upon his return to Liége. The production of Major Résimont's pass did +not save the situation, although the Belgian's demeanour thawed +considerably. + +"Nevertheless, if messieurs are English, perhaps they would like to +ride on the wagon. At Liége, no doubt, all will be set right," he +added. + +It was, fortunately, the last of that particular corporal's work, and +he was at liberty to return without delay. A sapper drove, the +corporal sitting beside him on the box seat. On the tail-board, with +their backs against their precious motor-cycles, sat the two lads, +another sapper keeping them company. + +As the cart jolted through the village of Jupille there came a dull +rumbling, like that of distant thunder. + +"Guns!" exclaimed Rollo. + +"Thunder, I think," declared his chum. + +The Belgian soldier, when questioned, merely remarked in matter-of-fact +tones: + +"We are blowing up the bridges, monsieur." + +The work of demolition had already begun. The Belgian troops, with +commendable forethought, had destroyed four bridges across the Meuse in +order to delay the momentarily expected German advance. Yet, on either +side of the sluggish river, peasants were unconcernedly toiling in the +fields. + +As the wagon passed the loftily-situated and obsolete fort of La +Chatreuse a round of cheering could be heard from the city of Liége. +Presently the strains of "La Brabançonne"--the Belgian National +Anthem--could be distinguished above the din. + +The sapper began to grow excited. + +"All is well, messieurs," he exclaimed. "We are now ready for these +Prussians. Our Third Division has arrived." + +Presently the head of the column of blue-greatcoated troops swung +blithely along the road to take up positions in the newly-constructed +trenches between Fort de Barchon and Fort de Fléron. The men marched +well, although covered with dust from head to foot; for during the +previous forty-eight hours they had, by forced marches, covered more +than eighty miles from Diest to their allotted positions at Liége. +Yet, for some unaccountable reason, these troops went into what was +soon to be the firing-line in blue tunics with white facings, which +would offer a conspicuous target to their foes. + +It was late in the afternoon when the cart drew up in a large open +space by the side of the Church of St. Jacques. The square was crowded +with all kinds of military transport and commissariat wagons. Officers +were shouting orders, men were rushing hither and thither, motors were +popping, horses neighing. + +The corporal in charge of the wagon descended and stood rigidly at +attention. For quite a quarter of an hour he remained in this +attitude, without any of the officers approaching to give him further +directions. The crowd of wagons became more congested, till Kenneth +and Rollo realized that, should they regain possession of their mounts, +there would be great difficulty in wheeling them out of the press. + +Suddenly Kenneth gripped his friend's shoulder and pointed in the +direction of a group of officers. + +"There's Major Résimont!" he exclaimed. "He'll get us out of the fix." + +"Ah! You have got yourselves in a difficulty again, that I can see," +declared the genial Major. "What, then, is the trouble?" + +Briefly Kenneth described the commandeering of their motor-cycles. + +"I am indeed most busy," said Major Résimont, and the perspiration on +his face did not belie this statement. "Nevertheless, come with me, +and we will find the Quartermaster of the Commissariat." + +He led the lads at a rapid pace through several crowded thoroughfares. +At one point the press was so great as to impede their progress. The +Liégeois were shouting and cheering, cries of "Vive la Belgique!" and +"Vive l'Angleterre!" predominating. Outside a large building a Union +Jack and the Belgian tricolour had been hoisted side by side. A +telegraphic communication had just been received that Great Britain had +declared war on Germany. + +"Ah! I thought it," chuckled the Major. "Now the Prussians will get +the right-about. My friends, the Germans are also now your enemies," +and he shook Kenneth and Rollo by the hand. "What will you do? Return +to England and join the army?" + +"We are not old enough for commissions, sir," replied Kenneth; then on +the spur of the moment he added: "Couldn't we be attached to the +Belgian army as dispatch-riders?" + +Rollo almost gasped at his chum's impetuosity, but loyalty to his chum +and a desire to do something against the oppressor of Europe checked +his inclination to counsel caution. + +"We will see," said the Major gravely. "It is good to see such a +spirit amongst Englishmen to come to the aid of our brave Belgians. +You are resolute?" + +"Rather!" declared Kenneth stoutly; and Rollo likewise signified his +willingness. + +The Quartermaster having been found at his office, Major Résimont soon +obtained the requisite order for the release of the Englishmen's +motor-cycles. + +"Now, this way!" he exclaimed. + +Five minutes' brisk walk brought them to the door of a large building +at which were stationed two soldiers in the uniform of the Grenadiers. +These stood stiffly at attention as the Major entered, drawing +themselves up with an alertness that was almost entirely lacking in +most of the men of the line regiments. + +Giving his name to a staff officer, the Major had to wait in an +ante-room, with at least a dozen other officers, mostly of brevet rank. +At length his turn came, for business was being carried out with +dispatch. + +"Monsieur le Major Résimont, mon Général," announced a junior officer, +as he opened the door and motioned for the Belgian Major and his two +companions to enter. + +Seated at a table was a man in the undress uniform of the Belgian +staff. He was sparely built, although from his attitude it was +impossible to judge his height. His features were sallow, one might +almost say cadaverous, with a bright tinge of red upon his prominent +cheek-bones. Heavily-bushed eyebrows overhung a pair of deep-set eyes +that seemed hawk-like in their intensity. His closely-cropped hair was +iron-grey. A slightly drooping moustache hid a resolute mouth. + +The two English lads were in the presence of a man whose name, hitherto +practically unknown outside his own country, was soon to be on the lips +of everyone who was likely to hear of the gallant stand of +Liége--General Albert Leman. + +A quick vertical motion of the General's right hand--he was a man of +few words--was the signal for Major Résimont to make known his business. + +"I have here two Englishmen, mon Général," began the Major. "They are +desirous of entering our army as motor-cyclist dispatch-riders." + +Without a moment's delay the General asked: "Can they read a map?" + +Kenneth and Rollo both replied that they could. + +"Good!" exclaimed General Leman; then, turning to his secretary, he +added: "Make out an order for these gentlemen to be attached to the 9th +regiment of the line--your company, Major?" + +"If you please, sir." + +"Here, then, is the order," continued the General after a brief +instant, during which the secretary had been writing as hard as he +possibly could. "They can be sworn in as soon as an opportunity +occurs. I wish you good day." + +That was all. The whole business was over in less than five minutes. +Not a word of thanks or encouragement to the two British volunteers. A +chill had descended upon their ardour. + +"The General--he is magnificent," said their companion as they gained +the street. "Down to the humblest private we swear by him. One has to +earn praise from the General before it is bestowed: it is our General's +way. He is a man of few words, but his heart is in the right place. +Now go and demand your motor-cycles and proceed to Fort de Barchon. I +will meet you there and see you are attested." + +With that the Major hurried off, and the two lads hastened to take +possession of their own property. + +"Fancy Great Britain being at war with Germany at last!" exclaimed +Kenneth. "We can hardly realize it, although most people have been +talking about it for years. Perhaps even now our fleet is giving the +Germans a good hiding. The rotten part about our job is that we may +not be able to get news of how things are going on at home." + +Therein Kenneth was right. The news they received was mostly rumour. +In fact, the statement they had just heard, that Great Britain had +declared war, was premature. An ultimatum had been sent to Berlin +stating that, unless Belgian neutrality were respected, hostilities +would commence at midnight. The Liégeois had anticipated the hour, and +so had the Germans, for already their mine-layers were at work in the +North Sea. + +An hour later, just as the sun was sinking behind the smoke-enshrouded +city of Liége, Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington were enlisted as +volunteer dispatch-riders in the 9th regiment of the line of the +Belgian army. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A Baptism of Fire + +At eight o'clock on the following morning the motorcyclist +section--nine in number--was paraded in front of the orderly-room of +Fort de Barchon. Already the bulk of the regiments had marched out to +take up a position in the trenches between the fortifications and the +right bank of the Meuse. + +The two English lads had been served out with a dark-blue uniform, with +heavy boots and brown gaiters, and had been armed with a Belgian +service revolver--a .45-bore, made by the famous firm of Cockerill of +Seraing. + +Already they had been instructed in its use, and had--thanks to their +cadet training--met with the approval of their musketry instructor. +Their motor-cycles had also been subjected to a critical inspection. +The officer--who in civil life had been in the motor industry at +Liége--had to report, in spite of slight professional jealousy, that +the English motor-cycles were fit for service, and almost equal to +those owned by the other members of the dispatch-riding section. + +One by one the men were called into the orderly-room, where they +received instructions and dispatches, till only Kenneth and Rollo +remained. + +"Private Ever-r-rest and Private Bar-r-rington," shouted the +orderly-room sergeant, sounding his r's like the roll of a drum. + +Within they found Major Résimont, and, as befitting their relative +rank, the lads saluted and stood at attention. + +"Deliver this to Captain Leboeuf at Visé," ordered the Major. "In view +of the German advance, he is to cross the river and impede the enemy as +much as possible, retiring upon Fort de Pontisse if in danger of being +outflanked." Then dropping the official voice, he added in English, +"Since Madame de la Barre would pay no heed to my request, it is +necessary for strategic reasons to occupy her house. You may now have +an opportunity of seeing your sister, Monsieur Everest. There are, I +believe, only our pupils there during the holidays. Captain Leboeuf +will arrange for them to be sent into Maastricht by train, or by a +carriage if railway communication is interrupted. They can then +proceed to Brussels in the ordinary way. You might give this to +Mademoiselle Yvonne for incidental expenses for herself and her friend, +your sister," and the Major handed Kenneth a packet containing a sheaf +of notes. + +"Be cautious," he added. "The Germans have already advanced upon +Lembourg." + +The lads saluted and withdrew. A minute later they were dashing over +the drawbridge, bound on their first duty as dispatch-riders in the +Belgian army, though with a semi-official motive. + +Away on their right came the rapid booming of light artillery fire. +Beyond the woods of Verviers a thick cloud of black smoke rose sullenly +in the heavy air. + +Their route lay along a fairly level road bounded on each side by tall +trees. In the centre was a strip of _pavé_, but between it and the +ditch on either hand was a dusty path which afforded good going. The +cyclists were soon touching thirty miles an hour, the rapid beats of +their engines drowning the noise of the distant cannonade. + +Once they had to slow down in order to allow a cart to draw up on one +side. The floor of the cart was covered with straw, and on the straw +lay some strange objects. The lads did not realize what these burdens +were. They were new to the game of war, but not for long. + +Presently they noticed a group of soldiers approaching. Thrice the +lads sounded their horns without effect. Again they had to slow down. + +"Good heavens! Look!" ejaculated Kenneth. + +The men were limping painfully. One had his arm thrown around a +comrade's neck, and his head falling limply upon the other's shoulder. +Another, his head bound by a blood-stained scarf, was using the butt of +his rifle as a crutch. + +"There's been an action already," said Rollo. + +"Yes, and on the Visé road," added his companion. "Let's push on. I +hope we are not too late." + +During the slowing-down process the thunder of the guns became horribly +distinct. There was terrific firing in the direction of Argenteau. +More, there were heavy Belgian losses, for the men they had just passed +were but the van of a ghastly procession of wounded. + +At Argenteau a body of reserves was in possession of the village. +Barricades had been hastily constructed, walls of buildings loopholed, +and barbed-wire entanglements placed across the road. + +"Halte-là!" + +Rollo came to a standstill with the point of a Belgian bayonet within a +couple of inches of his chest. Kenneth, who was twenty yards in the +rear, almost as promptly alighted. + +"Qui v'là?" demanded the sentry. + +"Dispatches for Captain Leboeuf," replied Kenneth. + +The man recovered his arms. + +"May you have the good fortune to find him!" said he. "Our troops have +been compelled to fall back in the face of superior numbers. Turn to +the right, then take the first road to the left. It will bring you +back to the Visé road." + +Following the sentry's direction the lads found that the route was +still open, although soldiers and peasants were standing ready to +barricade that exit. + +A couple of miles farther on the motor-cyclists reached the +firing-line--a comparatively weak detachment of infantry holding a +hastily-constructed trench. + +Overhead the shrapnel was flying, the iron hail for the most part +bursting harmlessly in the rear. On the left the great guns of Fort de +Pontisse were shelling the dense masses of German troops as they vainly +sought to cross the Meuse. + +A shell, happily without exploding, struck the pave five yards from the +spot where Kenneth dismounted, burying itself in a hole at least two +feet in depth. + +"Into the ditch with the bikes," shouted Kenneth; and having assisted +Rollo to place his steed in a place of comparative safety, he returned, +and, helped by his companion, managed to shelter his own cycle. + +"What's to be done now?" asked Rollo. + +"See if the Captain is with these men. We must hasten: it will be a +jolly sight safer in the trench." + +Abandoning their motor-cycles, the two lads made their way along the +ditch, which fortunately ran with considerable obliquity to the +direction of the fire of the German artillery. + +At length they reached the trench where the Belgian infantry, taking +admirable cover, were replying steadily to the hail of ill-directed +rifle bullets. The only unwounded officer was a slim young +lieutenant--a mere boy. + +"We have dispatches for Captain Leboeuf, sir," announced Kenneth. "He +was in charge of an outpost at Visé." + +"Visé is all aflame," replied the officer. "No doubt the Captain has +crossed the Meuse. But we are about to retire, so look to yourselves. +The enemy is threatening our right flank, otherwise we might hold this +trench for another twenty-four hours." + +"Any orders, sir, before we return to Fort de Barchon?" + +"Yes; ride as quickly as you can to Saint André. The rest of our +company is there. Tell the officer in command that I am retiring, and +that unless he falls back he is in danger of being cut off. You +understand? Good, now----" + +The lieutenant's instructions ended in a faint shriek. His hands flew +to his chest, and he pitched forward on his face. + +A grizzled colour-sergeant instantly took command. + +"Retire by sections!" he shouted. "Steady, men, no hurry. Keep them +back as long as you can." + +The caution was in vain. While the untried troops were lining the +trench and replying to the German fire, all went well; but at the order +to retire, men broke and ran for their lives. Heedless of the cover +afforded by the ditch, they swarmed along the road in the direction of +Argenteau, shrapnel and bullet accounting for half their numbers. Only +the sergeant, two corporals, and the British dispatch-riders remained. + +The Germans, advancing in close formation, were now eight hundred yards +off. + +Without a word the Belgian sergeant crawled along the trench, picking +up the rifles and caps of the slain and placing them at intervals along +the top of the mound; while the rest, including Kenneth and Rollo, who +had taken possession of a couple of abandoned rifles, maintained a +rapid magazine fire at the approaching troops. + +"Each for himself, mes enfants," said the veteran at length. "One at a +time and trust to luck." + +With that a corporal cast aside his greatcoat and heavy knapsack. He +was about to make a plunge through the zone of hissing bullets when +Kenneth stopped him. + +"There's a ditch farther along," he announced. "We came that way." + +The man hesitated, then, communicated the news to his sergeant. + +"Come then, mes braves," exclaimed the veteran. + +One by one, crawling along the ditch the five made their way, till they +gained the comparative shelter afforded by the walls of a ruined +cottage. Proof against bullets, the house had been practically +demolished by shell-fire. + +"We must go back and get our bikes," declared Kenneth. "It's fairly +safe. Those fellows are apparently directing their fire against those +caps and rifles showing above the trench." + +They found their steeds uninjured. In record time they were in the +saddle and tearing along the avenue, which here and there was dotted +with dead Belgians. The wounded had evidently been carried off by +their comrades. + +As they passed the ruined cottage where they had parted from the three +soldiers the latter were no longer to be seen, but a hoarse cry of "A +moi, camarades!" caused Rollo to turn. He alone caught the appeal, for +Kenneth had secured a slight start and the noise of his engine had +drowned the shout for aid. + +"Hold on!" shouted Rollo; but Kenneth, unaware of the call, was out of +ear-shot, and doing a good thirty or forty miles an hour. + +Leaving his engine still running, Rollo dismounted and made his way +towards the building. Shots were whistling overhead. He crouched as +he hastened, for he had not yet acquired the contempt for the screech +of a bullet that the old soldier has, knowing that with the whizzing of +the missile that particular danger has passed. + +Lying against the bullet-spattered wall was the old sergeant. A +fragment of shrapnel, rebounding from the masonry, had fractured his +left ankle. + +There was no time for first-aid. The Germans were now within three +hundred yards of the abandoned trench. Throwing his arms round the +sergeant's body, Rollo lifted him from the ground, then kneeling, he +managed to transfer him across his back. Fortunately the wounded man +was not very heavy, and the lad, staggering under his burden, carried +him to the place where he had left his motor-cycle. + +Just then came the rapid pop-pop of another motor-bike. Kenneth, +having discovered that his chum was no longer in his company, had +returned. + +"Give me a push off, old man," panted Rollo, as he set his burden +across the carrier and stood astride his steed. + +In went the clutch; Kenneth, running by the side of the cycle for a few +yards, steadied the wounded sergeant, who was clinging desperately to +the young dispatch-rider. + +"All right, let go!" shouted Rollo. + +The bike wobbled dangerously under the unusual burden. The sergeant's +grip wellnigh destroyed the lad's power of command on the steering. +The _zipp_ of a bullet did much to add to the difficulty, and +momentarily Rollo thought that nothing could save him from toppling +into the ditch. + +"Let go my arms and catch hold of my waist," he shouted desperately. +The sergeant fortunately understood and obeyed; the motor-cycle began +to recover its balance, and as Rollo opened the throttle and increased +speed it settled down to its normal condition. + +On either side the trees seemed to slip past like the spokes of a +wheel; the pace was terrific, and although the wounded man must have +been suffering agonies, not a groan came from his lips. + +Presently Kenneth rode up alongside, for they were out of range and the +road was no longer encumbered with the fallen. Five minutes later the +two lads dismounted at the barricade of Argenteau. + +Here ready arms relieved Rollo of his burden; soldiers assisted in +lifting the cycles over the barrier. As they did so one of them +pointed to one of the tool-bag panniers on Rollo's cycle. It was +pierced by a bullet. + +"Where are you going to?" demanded a major. + +"To Saint André, to warn a half-company of the 9th regiment to retire, +sir." + +"It is unnecessary. The men have already rejoined. Return to Fort de +Barchon and say that if need be we can still hold the enemy in check, +but that we are losing heavily." + +Soon they were back again at Argenteau, with instructions for the +remains of the badly-mauled regiment to fall back upon the lines of +defence prepared between the two forts in the north-eastern side of the +circle surrounding Liége. + +The invaders had been delayed sufficiently to allow General Leman to +complete his dispositions. They were yet to learn that even the +much-vaunted German infantry could not afford to despise the gallant +Belgians. + +"It's a jolly sight better than Rugby, anyway," declared Kenneth, as at +the end of their first day on active service they returned to their +quarters at Fort de Barchon. + +But Rollo did not reply. He was thinking of the bullet hole in the +pannier of his cycle. It had been a narrow squeak. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A Vain Assault + +"I say, how about your sister, old man?" asked Rollo. + +"She's all right," replied Kenneth optimistically. "These Germans +don't make war on women and girls. Besides, Madame de la Barre +doubtless dropped a little of her standoffishness directly she heard +the sound of firing. I'm pretty sure they are now either safe in Dutch +territory or else on their way to Brussels." + +"If I had a sister I would be a jolly sight more anxious about her than +you are," persisted Rollo. + +"Now, how can I help it? Besides, you don't know Thelma. She +wouldn't, under the circumstances, wait for Madame to give her +permission to clear out, and, since Yvonne is her special friend, +she'll look after the Major's daughter as well. I'm sorry we haven't +come across Major Résimont since our return." + +"He must feel a bit anxious," remarked Rollo. + +"About the money he entrusted us with?" laughed Kenneth. "Well, I +admit that it was a bit of a risk, for we might have been bowled over +by one of those German shells. Ah! there's another!" + +The two dispatch-riders were under cover at Fort de Barchon, enjoying a +hasty meal after their return from their fruitless errand. It was late +in the day, and many hours had elapsed since they had had anything to +eat. It was a kind of preliminary to the period of short rations +through which they were to pass. + +The German artillery was furtively shelling the Liége forts as a +prelude to the general bombardment that was to take place as soon as +the shades of night began to fall. + +General von Emmich had brought up a force of 88,000 men against the +23,000 Belgian troops manning the Liége defences; but, owing to the +difficulty of transporting his heavy guns, the German commander decided +to open a furious cannonade with his light field artillery, and to +follow up with an assault by means of dense masses of troops. + +Soon the cannonade became general, the heaviest of the hostile fire +being directed upon Forts d'Évegnée and de Fléron, while Fort de +Barchon came in for a hot bombardment. + +It was by no means a one-sided encounter. The Belgian infantry, lying +snugly sheltered either in the trenches or in the bomb-proof galleries +of the forts, were for the time being inactive. The Belgian gunners, +however, worked their guns in the armoured cupolas with skill, bravery, +and precision, and at the end of two hours' bombardment the forts were +practically intact. + +Kenneth and Rollo, in the galleries of Fort de Barchon, could feel the +concussion of the revolving guns and the detonations of the exploding +German shells, although they were, like the rest of the infantry, in +ignorance of what was taking place. The inaction was far more +nerve-racking than actual exposure with the chance of getting in a shot. + +Suddenly above the roar of the artillery came a bugle-call, followed by +excited shouts of "Aux armes!" Instantly there was a wild rush to man +the parapets on the inner face of the glacis. + +"Come along, old man!" exclaimed Kenneth. "We may as well have a look +in." + +Snatching up a rifle and making sure that the magazine was charged, he +dashed out of the gallery, Rollo following hard on his heels. + +A weird sight met their eyes. The blackness of the night was pierced +by the dazzling rays of powerful searchlights and punctuated by the +rapid flashes from the heavy ordnance. The thunder of the guns was +ear-splitting, the crash of the exploding projectiles appalling, yet +the attention of the two lads was directed towards the scene that lay +before them. + +All along the parapet, protected by sandbags, were the Belgian +infantry, ready, with their rifles sighted to 800 yards, to open fire +at the word of command. Beyond the turf of the glacis, where almost +every blade of grass stood up under the sweeping rays of the +searchlights as if made of gleaming silver, were dense masses of +grey-coated, spike-helmeted Germans. + +On they came as steadily as if on parade, while between the rapid +crashes of the artillery could be distinguished the harsh voices of the +men as they sang "Deutschland über Alles" and the "Wacht am Rhein". +The only relief to those grey-clad battalions was the glitter of the +forest of bayonets. + +If numbers could annihilate, the fate of the comparative handful of +Belgians was sealed; but von Emmich had, like many another man, +underrated the courage of the plucky little Belgians. + +The Germans were now within the danger-zone of shell-fire. Shrapnel +tore ghastly lanes through their serried ranks, but other men were +instantly forthcoming to fill up the gaps. On and on they came till +they reached the outer edge of the glacis. Here the huge fortress-guns +in the armoured cupolas could not be sufficiently depressed to do them +harm. + +The crackle of the Belgian musketry added to the din. The men, firing +steadily, swept away hundreds of their Teutonic foes, but the ant-like +swarm of ferocious humanity still swept onwards. + +Kenneth and Rollo were firing away as hard as they could thrust home +the bolts of the rifles and press trigger. The hostile gun-fire had +now ceased, lest German should fall by German shell. The infantry, +firing with the butts of their rifles at the hip, let loose a terrific +volley. The air was torn by the _zipp_ of the bullets, but for the +most part the hail of missiles either flew high or harmlessly expended +itself in the soft earth. Now, in spite of the withering fire, the +foremost of the German stormers were almost up to the parapet of the +outer defences. Victory seemed within their grasp. Their shouts +redoubled. Drunk with the apparent success of their suicidal tactics, +they rushed to overwhelm the slender line of Belgian riflemen. + +Through the rapidly-drifting clouds of smoke--for there was a strong +wind blowing athwart the line of attack--the two British lads could +clearly see the features of the exultant foes, as they recklessly +plunged straight into the dazzling rays of the searchlight. + +Mechanically Kenneth began to wonder what would happen next, for it +seemed imminent that bayonet would cross bayonet, and that the handful +of Belgian infantry would be cut off to the last man. + +Then, even as he faced the enemy, the dense masses of Germans seemed to +melt away. They fell, not in sixes and sevens, but in scores and +hundreds, till a barricade of dead prevented the massacre of the +living. The Belgians had machine-guns in readiness to take up the work +that the heavier weapons had been obliged to suspend. + +The commandant of the 9th regiment of the line saw his chance. The +rattle of the Berthier machine-guns ceased as if by magic, and the +shout was heard "A la baïonnette!" + +Instantly the active Belgians swarmed over the glacis and threw +themselves upon the demoralized foe. The repulse of the Germans became +a rout. + +Carried away by the enthusiasm of the charge, the British +dispatch-riders tore along with their Belgian comrades, Kenneth with +rifle and bayonet, while Rollo was brandishing his Mauser and using the +butt-end like an exaggerated hockey-stick. + +Just in front of them was a little Belgian officer who, on the point of +cutting down a burly German major, had arrested the fatal stroke upon +the latter crying out for quarter. The German, who had been beaten to +the ground, tendered his sword, and the Belgian, casting it aside, +rushed on to continue the counter-charge. + +Before he had taken two strides he fell, hit in the ankle, and Kenneth, +who was following, promptly tripped across his body. + +The sight of his chum pitching on his face caused Rollo's heart to jump +into his mouth. He stopped, and to his great relief Kenneth regained +his feet. The Belgian also attempted to rise, but could only raise +himself to the extent of his outstretched arms. + +Rollo was on the point of going to assist his chum, who was directing +his attention to the wounded Belgian officer, when he saw the German +major stealthily produce his revolver and take aim at the man who had +spared his life. + +Perhaps it was well for the ungrateful major that Rollo was a keen +footballer. Forgetting that he held a clubbed rifle in his hand the +lad took a flying kick; his boot caught the German major on the wrist, +and the revolver, exploding harmlessly, went spinning a dozen paces +away. + +Standing over the recreant officer Rollo swung the butt of his rifle. +The German howled for mercy. + +"Hold hard, old man!" shouted Kenneth, grasping his chum by the +shoulder. He could scarcely credit his senses, seeing the usually +deliberate and self-possessed Rollo about to kill a defenceless German +officer. + +"That brute was about to shoot down a fellow who had given him +quarter," hissed Rollo: "that captain over there, the one sitting up +with a wounded leg." + +"We'll collar the cad in any case," declared Kenneth, for the Belgian +troops were now being recalled. The attack had been repulsed, but the +defenders were too wary to risk being caught out in the open. + +Drawing his revolver Rollo ordered the German to rise. The Major +apparently did not understand French, for he only cried the more. + +"Get up instantly," exclaimed Rollo in English. + +The German looked at his captor in surprise. His appeals for mercy +ceased. He stood up. + +"I surrender," he said in the same language. + +With one of the British lads on either side the prisoner was urged +onwards at a rapid pace, surrounded by swarms of exultant Belgians, +many of whom were limping or nursing their wounded arms. Others were +supporting or carrying those of their comrades who were more seriously +hurt, yet all were uplifted by their enthusiasm at the thought of +having vanquished von Emmich's hordes. + +Upon gaining the shelter of Fort de Barchon the British lads handed +their prisoner over to the charge of a corporal and a file of men. It +was well for the German that his captors refrained from giving the +Belgian soldiers an account of the circumstances under which he had +been made prisoner. + +The German major seemed dazed. He could not understand how he had been +captured by Englishmen; for it had been given out to the troops of von +Emmich's division that Great Britain had decided to remain neutral. +Her attitude had been gained by a promise on the part of the German +Government that only the French and Belgian colonies should be annexed, +and that no permanent occupation of these two countries was +contemplated. And now he had been informed that Great Britain and her +vast empire beyond the seas had fallen into line to aid right against +might. The news troubled him beyond measure--far more than the +probability of what the result of his treacherous act would be; for he +was a Teuton imbued with the belief that all is fair in war, and that +treaties and conventions are alike mere matters of form. + +"Ah! you have been in the fight," exclaimed Major Résimont. "That +should not be. Dispatch-riders are required for other things." + +Kenneth and Rollo saluted. + +"Couldn't help it," explained Kenneth. "When the men charged we simply +had to go. It was splendid." + +"You think so? So do we," said the Major proudly. "We have taught the +Bosches a lesson; we have shown them that Belgians can fight. We must +hold them in front of the Liége forts for a few days, and then the +French and the English armies will be here. A matter of three days, +perhaps, and then, _pouf!_ they blow the Kaiser and his armies upon the +bayonets of the Russians. It is good to think that the English are so +close." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Disabling a Taube + +"Here is the money and the letter you entrusted us with, sir," said +Kenneth. "We couldn't get within five miles of Visé." + +"The place is burned to the ground, I hear," announced Major Résimont. +"Those Prussians are like devils, they spare neither man, woman, nor +child. Liége is filled with terrible stories brought by the peasants +who escaped. I could, alas! gather no definite tidings of my daughter +or of her friend your sister, Monsieur Everest. One thing is certain. +They left before the German shells began to fall in Visé, but whither, +I know not. Let us hope they went to Maastricht." + +It was now early morning. The bombardment, which had ceased during the +futile assault, was now being renewed, although the fire lacked the +fierceness that characterized the beginning of the siege of Liége. + +The Belgian reply, too, had almost ceased, for so rapidly had the big +guns been served that they had become overheated. Moreover--a further +proof of German methods--the ordnance supplied by Krupp's to the +Belgian Government before the war was obviously inferior in workmanship +and material, and in consequence had rapidly deteriorated. + +The two British dispatch-riders had run across Major Résimont in one of +the vaulted galleries. He looked tired and worried: tired owing to the +fact that he had been for seventeen hours on duty in the trenches or in +the fort; worried by reason of anxiety for his daughter. Yet he was +willing and anxious to face the Germans at any time they should take it +into their heads to attempt another assault. + +"If I were you I would take the chance to get a few hours' sleep," he +advised as he bade the lads au revoir. "Remember what I said the next +time there is an attack: a dispatch-rider's duty is not in the +firing-line. His work lies in another sphere, equally hazardous and +equally important." + +"Jolly good advice about getting some sleep, at all events," remarked +Kenneth, after the Major had gone. "I vote we turn in. I had no idea +I was so horribly sleepy until just now." + +"Guns or no guns, I think I can do my share of sleep," agreed Rollo. +"Let us put the scheme into practice." + +Just then the heavy armoured door of the gallery was thrown open, and +an authoritative voice shouted: + +"Dispatch-riders! Are there any dispatch-riders here?" + +"Here, sir," replied the lads promptly. + +"Ah! The English motor-cyclists," exclaimed the Belgian--a staff +officer. "Do you know the headquarters offices in the Palace of +Justice in Liége?" + +"Yes, sir," was again the reply. + +"Good! Take this paper--you!" (pointing to Kenneth)--"and deliver it +into the hands of Commandant Fleurus at all costs, and await his +commands. Your comrade will accompany you, so that should you meet +with any mishap he is to take the paper from you and proceed. You +understand? Good! Now, away!" + +"A good spin will be almost as refreshing as a few hours' sleep, +Rollo," said Kenneth, as the two chums made their way to the place +where their motor-cycles were stored, protected by three feet of +concrete and six feet of earth from hostile shells. + +"With plenty of excitement thrown in," added Rollo. "We'll have a +difficulty to dodge those shells as we get clear of the fort, I'm +thinking." + +"Rush it and trust to luck. We'll do it all right," declared Kenneth +optimistically, as he hurriedly overhauled his cycle and proceeded to +warm up the engine. + +It was a tricky business getting out of the fort, for the sunken lane +that wound through the extensive glacis was littered with debris of +exploded shells. There were deep holes in several places, while at +various points the effect of the German projectiles was evident by the +fact that the approach to the fort was choked by landslides. Thrice +the lads had to dismount and push their cycles over obstacles, to the +accompaniment of the dull crash of the shells, some of which burst +unpleasantly near. + +All the while, although not a defender was visible, the armoured +cupolas were appearing and disappearing with the regularity of +clockwork, sending out their iron hail upon the pontoons which the +German engineers were constructing to replace the broken bridges at +Visé and Argenteau. + +"All out!" exclaimed Rollo as they reached the open road. + +With throttle well open and spark advanced, both motor-cycles bounded +forward. The pace was terrific. At times the riders were almost +jerked from the saddles as their steeds leapt across the irregularities +on the surface of the _pavé_. The lads could no longer hear the +thunder of the guns: it was drowned by the roar of their exhausts. The +wind shrieked past their ears, grit flew in showers, a cloud of dust +followed in their wake. Suddenly they saw a large silvery-grey object +swoop down about a quarter of a mile ahead, close to the outskirts of +the village of Jupille, which had been abandoned by the terrified +inhabitants. The riders recognized it as one of the German Taubes that +had been aggressively active during the operations by locating the +position of the Belgian trenches. + +The monoplane was in difficulties. It took all the skill of the pilot +to prevent it from making a nose-end dive to earth. With superb +presence of mind he managed to restore the disturbed equilibrium and to +bring the Taube to rest without much damage. + +Bringing his motor-cycle to a halt, Kenneth dismounted and placed his +mount on its stand. Rollo did likewise. + +"What's the game?" he asked as his companion unfastened the flap of his +holster. + +"We'll collar those fellows," declared Kenneth resolutely "They must +not get away." + +"But the dispatch?" + +"This is more important, I guess. See, those fellows are already +setting things to rights. Before any of the Belgian vedettes can come +up they will be off again." + +Kenneth was right in his surmise. There were no troops within a mile +of the place. The two men who formed the crew of the monoplane were +feverishly tackling the work of making good the damage. One of the +wires actuating the elevating gear had been cut through by a chance +Belgian bullet--one amongst a thousand more that had been fired at the +troublesome Taube. + +"Surrender!" shouted Kenneth, advancing to within fifty feet of the +aviators and levelling his revolver. Rollo, cooler than his companion, +steadied the barrel of his heavy pistol in the crook of his arm. + +The pilot had been so engrossed in his work that he had not noticed the +arrival of the lads. At the sound of Kenneth's voice he had just +completed the joining up of the severed wire. He made a rush to the +propeller and began to swing it in order to start the engine. + +This was more than Kenneth had bargained for. It seemed too much like +shooting down a man in cold blood. He need not have been so +chivalrous, for the next instant a bullet tore through his hair and +sent his cap a couple of yards away. The observer of the Taube had, at +the first alarm, flung himself upon the ground and had fired at the lad +with a rifle. + +Before the man could thrust home a fresh cartridge Kenneth was snug +behind a rise in the ground. Rollo, twenty paces to the right, had +likewise taken cover. + +The powerful motor was now working. The propeller blades glittered +like a circle of light as they revolved with a terrific buzz. The +draught of the propeller threw up a cloud of dust as high as a +three-storied house. Through the haze thus caused the lads could +distinguish the forms of the aviators as they scrambled into their +seats. + +Both dispatch-riders emptied the contents of their revolvers, perhaps a +little wildly, but the result was none the less disastrous to the +Taube. There was a blinding flash, a report, and a rush of air that +drove the dust-cloud in all directions. One of the bullets had pierced +the petrol-tank, and a spark had done the rest. + +In an instant the Taube was enveloped in flame. The pilot, his hands +held to his face, was stumbling blindly away from the inferno, his +clothes burning furiously. The observer ran for nearly twenty yards, +spun round thrice, and collapsed. + +Rollo was the one in this instance to take the initiative. He ran to +the pilot, tripped him up, and began to heap handfuls of dust upon his +burning clothing. By Kenneth's aid the flames were extinguished, but +by this time the unfortunate German was unconscious. + +As for the observer, he was found severely wounded, one of the heavy +revolver bullets having passed completely through his shoulder. + +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Rollo, as the lads ejected the expended +ammunition and reloaded their revolvers. + +"Carry on with the dispatch, of course," replied Kenneth. "We can do +no more here. Hello! Here are the Belgian cavalry." + +Up rode a patrol of lancers. Dismounting, and leaving their horses in +charge of one-third of their number, the men advanced. The officer in +charge took in the situation at a glance, for the twelve empty revolver +cartridges on the ground told their own tale. + +"You had better proceed; enough time has already been wasted," he said, +when he learnt the mission of the dispatch-riders. "We will attend to +these." + +"That's a nasty knock," observed Rollo ruefully, as they hurried back +to their motor-cycles. + +"H'm, yes," admitted his companion reluctantly. "Perhaps the chap was +a bit nettled because his men didn't bag the Taube." + +But as they rode past the scene of their exploit the Captain called his +men to attention--a tribute to the resource and daring of the British +lads. Already the Belgian cavalrymen had shown signs of their +humanity, for by means of their lances two stretchers had been +improvised, and the wounded aviators were on the way to one of the +hospitals in the beleaguered city. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +In British Uniforms + +Shells were intermittently dropping upon the houses and in the streets +as Kenneth and Rollo entered the apparently deserted city of Liége. +The majority of the inhabitants, their numbers augmented by hundreds of +terrified refugees from the surrounding villages, had taken refuge in +cellars, while crowds, under the mistaken belief in the immunity of the +churches from shell-fire, had sought doubtful shelter in the sacred +edifices. Others, again, fearful at the threat of von Emmich to begin +a general bombardment upon the city unless the forts surrendered--a +threat that the gallant General Leman treated with contempt--were +boarding the last trains to leave Liége. + +The day was excessively hot and close. The wind that had blown +strongly during the preceding night had dropped. Several of the houses +had taken fire, and the pungent smell of smoke filled the air. +Frequently, before the dispatch-riders reached their destination, they +were compelled to slacken pace, owing to the clouds of smoke that +drifted slowly across the almost deserted streets. + +They found the commandant, with several of his staff, calmly engaged in +his work, and heedless of the fact that several shells had already +burst in front of the Palace of Justice in which he had taken up his +quarters. + +Commandant Fleurus was a short, stocky man of about fifty, and rather +inclined to corpulence. His head was as bald as an egg, with the +exception of a ring of jet-black hair like a monkish tonsure. His eyes +were small, resembling black beads, and rapid in their movements. + +He was writing when Kenneth was shown in. Without moving his head, +which was slightly inclined, he fixed the dispatch-rider with his +piercing stare. + +"Message, sir, from Major le Tourneur." + +The commandant took the letter and, with a swift movement, tore open +the flap of the envelope. + +"This is marked 7.15 a.m.!" he exclaimed. "It's now a quarter to nine. +Why this delay?" + +"We--that is, my comrade--crippled a Taube, sir." + +"Crippled a Taube? What, pray, has a dispatch-rider to do with +Taubes?" demanded Commandante Fleurus sternly. "Do you know that it is +your duty to deliver messages at all costs, and in the least possible +time, regardless of Taubes, Zeppelins, and the German Emperor himself?" + +Kenneth did not reply. The fiery nature of the little Belgian +literally consumed him. He had, however, the good sense to see that +the rebuke was merited. + +"Well, sir, what have you to say?" + +"It was an error of judgment, sir, which I regret," said Kenneth. "We +crippled the Taube as it was on the point of rising. Otherwise----" + +"Were there no troops available?" + +"Some lancers arrived while the Taube was burning." + +The commandant turned and took hold of a telephone that stood on the +table at his side. + +"Send Captain Planchenoît to me," he ordered; then, leaning back in his +chair, he again fixed the British lad with his beady eyes. + +It was quite two minutes before the captain appeared, and the time +seemed like two hours to the crestfallen Kenneth. He had yet to learn +the lesson that cast-iron discipline demands, and it seemed galling +that his part in crippling one of the aerial spies should be +practically ignored by the man who ought to have gone into ecstasies +over the news. + +Presently Captain Planchenoît entered, clicked his heels and saluted, +then waited his superior officer's pleasure. The captain was a +smart-looking man of more than average height, with a pleasant, open +countenance. He was on the intelligence staff, attached to the brigade +that had been hurriedly brought up from Diest. + +"Any information respecting the destruction of one of the enemy's +aeroplanes?" demanded the commandant. + +"Yes, mon commandant. It descended near the village of Jupille. +Before our lancers could approach it took fire. Our men found both +pilot and observer wounded and brought them back. The captain of the +troop reported that the Taube was set on fire by the pistol-shots of +two dispatch-riders." + +"At any risk to themselves?" + +"I know not, sir." + +"At any risk?" repeated Commandant Fleurus, shifting his glance from +Captain Planchenoît to Kenneth. + +In reply the lad removed his Belgian military cap and pointed to the +double hole made by the German observer's bullet. + +To Kenneth's surprise the commandant leant back in his chair and gave +vent to a hearty laugh. Then he stood up and grasped the hand of the +astonished youth. + +"Go, bring in your compatriot," he exclaimed. + +"What's the game, old man?" asked Rollo, who was cooling his heels in +the corridor. + +"Goodness knows! I can't make the little commandant out. He's an +enigma. I've had a gruelling. Come along." + +Kenneth jerked out his sentences awkwardly, then, catching hold of his +chum's arm, led him into the commandant's presence. + +"Captain Planchenoît," said the latter, after returning Rollo's salute. +"You applied for two additional dispatch-riders, I believe?" + +"That is so, mon commandant," replied the captain. + +"Good! Now listen to this, you brave Englishmen. This is the dispatch +you brought. It is from Major Résimont: 'In reply to your request for +dispatch-riders I send you two English motor-cyclists, MM. Kenneth +Everest and Rollo Barrington. From what I already know of them they +are courageous and resolute, and their services are likely to be of +more use in the operations before Brussels than within the fortress of +Barchon. More so in view of the possible early appearance of the +English forces who are to co-operate with the Belgian armies in the +field.'" + +"It is very good of Major Résimont to speak so well of us," said +Kenneth. "Of course we must go where we are ordered, and that +willingly; but we should be sorry to part from Major Résimont and the +9th Regiment of the Line." + +"It does not necessarily mean severing your connection with your old +regiment--if old I might term it," declared the commandant. "In strict +confidence I may tell you--I know that English gentlemen are always +honourable--that perhaps before to-morrow we must abandon the city to +the invaders. Our numbers are insufficient to hold the trenches +linking the chain of forts. We must concentrate our armies to the west +of Liége, leaving the forts to hold out until the English and French +armies arrive. It is a sad thing to have to abandon such a city as +this to the ruthless Germans, but sacrifices must be made for the +honour of our country. Captain Planchenoît will give you instruction +where to proceed." + +Just at that moment an orderly-sergeant entered the room, his face +purple with excitement. + +"Sir," he announced, "four English officers are without. They have +arrived from Ostend by motor-car and desire to see the General Leman." + +Commandant Fleurus took the pieces of pasteboard the sergeant held in +his hand, and passed them on first to Kenneth and then to Rollo. + +"See if you know any of these gentlemen," he said. + +"Yes," replied Rollo. "I know Major Athol Duncan-Dean of the Duke of +Cornwall's Light Infantry. Hello! What's the meaning of this?" he +added in his native tongue. + +"Jolly rummy, anyhow," commented Kenneth, for in the word "Cornwall's" +the apostrophe was after the "s". + +"And Major Duncan-Dean is too mighty particular to pass a mistake on +his visiting-card like that," added Rollo. + +"Perhaps he lost his own and had them printed in Belgium, and didn't +notice the mistake until it was too late." + +"I'll mention it to the commandant. It's fishy." + +"Since you know the officer, Monsieur Barrington," said the commandant, +when Kenneth had explained the nature of the error, "perhaps you will +go with this sergeant. Present my compliments, and say that the +General Leman is at Fort de Loncin, and that I, Commandant Fleurus, +will be pleased to receive the English officers in his absence. But, +listen; if by any chance the Major Duncan-Dean is not the one you know, +say that the General will receive presently, ask them to wait, and +return immediately to me." + +Escorted by the sergeant, Rollo was taken to a room where four +officers, correctly dressed in British field-service uniform, were +seated. One glance was sufficient. None of them bore any resemblance +to the Major Duncan-Dean whom the lad knew well. There was only one +major of that name in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, and he was +a fairly frequent visitor at Colonel Barrington's house, especially +during the shooting season. + +Rollo delivered the commandant's message in English, explaining that he +was British but attached to the Belgian army, and that he was a son of +Colonel Barrington of Holmfrith, near Truro. + +There was no sign of recognition on the part of the supposed Major +Duncan-Dean; instead, an awkward silence prevailed. None of the four +officers seemed at all anxious to reply. They all looked disappointed +and embarrassed. + +"Our message is of great importance and for only the ears of General +Leman," said one of them at last. "We will not trouble the commandant +except to give us permits to enter Fort Loncin and to telephone to the +General that we are about to arrive." + +Suddenly a hand grasped Rollo's shoulder in a vice-like grip, and the +muzzle of a revolver was clapped against his temple. + +"One sound and you are dead!" exclaimed a stern voice. + +The lad was already convinced that the so-called British army officers +were Germans in disguise. Not only was he sure that the pseudo Major +Duncan-Dean was an impostor; the peculiar phraseology of the man who +had replied to the commandant's message confirmed his conclusions. To +crown everything, there was the conviction carried by the muzzle of +that revolver. + +Rollo spent a nasty minute. His mind was working furiously, weighing +up the factors of the situation. To raise the alarm meant death to +himself; to fail to do so might result in the cold-blooded massacre of +Commandant Fleurus and several of the staff; while, with the +head-quarters telephone at their disposal, the four Germans might play +havoc with the plans of the Belgian Commander-in-Chief. + +The Germans were talking rapidly in a low tone. The one who held Rollo +prisoner still kept the revolver against the lad's temple; the rest had +each drawn an automatic pistol, and were evidently about to force their +way into the presence of the commandant. + +"I'll wait till those fellows go out into the corridor," thought the +lad, "then I'll try the effect of a sudden blow in this gentleman's +wind. It may do the trick; if not, my number's up. Anyway, it's +better than being snuffed out without making an attempt to fight for +it." + +Although he kept as quiet as he possibly could, Rollo could feel his +heart thumping violently, while his temples throbbed until the muzzle +of the German's revolver seemed to be beating a tattoo. + +"Keep steady!" hissed his captor. "This pistol has hair-trigger. +Might go off if you shake." + +It was on the tip of Rollo's tongue to reply that he was not shaking by +reason of fear; but realizing that such a statement might put the +German additionally upon his guard, the lad kept silent. + +Presently one of the conspirators replaced his revolver, and with his +free hand grasped the handle of the door. The other two stood behind, +ready to sally forth on their murderous and treacherous work. + +Rollo mentally pulled himself together. Another ten or twenty seconds +would decide the fate of his plan--and of himself. + +Suddenly the subdued daylight of the room was pierced by a dozen +simultaneous flashes. The rattle of musketry sounded like the +discharge of a twenty-one-inch howitzer. The place was filled with the +haze of smokeless powder. + +Instinctively the lad ducked. There was a tremendous crash above his +head. A thousand lights danced before his eyes, and he lost +consciousness. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A Midnight Retirement + +When Rollo opened his eyes he found himself lying in the open air. He +was in one of the courtyards of the Palace of Justice. The thunder of +the bombardment still roared. The noise of the guns recalled his +scattered thoughts to the event that had almost cost him his life. + +A Belgian army doctor was kneeling by his side, while Kenneth supported +his head. Around him stood a number of soldiers, some of whom had +paused in the act of cleaning their rifles in order to watch their +English comrade's return to consciousness. + +"Hello, Kenneth!" exclaimed Rollo, somewhat vacantly. "What has +happened? Ah, I know--those Germans!" + +"They won't trouble us again, old man," replied Kenneth. "You're in +luck again. It was your suspicions that put the commandant on his +guard. But I'll tell you more about it later on." + +"You must not unduly excite your friend," cautioned the doctor. "He +has no bodily injury, but his nerves are stricken. He must rest until +to-morrow. I will have him taken into a safe cellar, where he need +fear nothing from those German shells." + +"Won't you come with me, Kenneth?" asked Rollo. + +"Sorry, old man, but I'm warned for duty at five o'clock--seventeen +hours, they call it. All being well, I'll look you up in the morning." + +"See that my bike is all right." + +"Rather!" replied Kenneth cheerily. "Don't worry about it. I'll look +after it." + +Later on in the evening Rollo heard of the circumstances under which +the supposed British officers were shot down. + +The room in which they had been asked to wait was, years ago, used as a +place of observation for prisoners awaiting trial. The carved oak +panelling terminated about six inches from the heavily-raftered +ceiling. At one end was a space between two parallel massive beams, +through which, from a gallery without, it was possible to observe all +that was taking place, although the watchers were themselves unseen. + +Upon his attention being called to the error on the pseudo British +major's visiting-card, the commandant's suspicions were aroused. As +soon as Rollo was dispatched with his message, a file of skilled +riflemen ascended the observation gallery. Noiselessly they took up +their positions, and having witnessed the holding up of their British +comrade, they delivered a volley that instantly exterminated the +treacherous Germans. + +Rollo had, indeed, a narrow escape, for his captor in falling had +convulsively pressed the trigger of his revolver. The bullet missed +the lad's head by a couple of inches, but the blast from the muzzle had +scorched his temple. + +Barrington was in the midst of a deep slumber, in spite of the thunder +of the guns, when he was awakened by someone shaking him by the +shoulder. + +"What's up?" he asked sleepily, for at the moment he fancied himself +back at St. Cyprian's. By the feeble glimmer of a candle-lantern he +saw his chum. + +"Sorry to disturb you, old man," said Kenneth apologetically, "but if +you don't want to find yourself a prisoner in the hands of the Germans +you must make a move. The bulk of the Belgian infantry is evacuating +the town. The mayor is going to surrender Liége at noon, I believe." + +"The forts haven't fallen?" asked Rollo, springing out of bed, only to +discover how shaky he felt. + +"Not a bit of it," replied Kenneth confidently. "They'll hold out for +months, I expect. No, it is only on account of the damage to the +public buildings and private property that Liége is to be given up. I +don't think it will be of much use to the Germans. They'll have +considerable difficulty to pass between the forts. They say the +Germans have had another nasty reverse, and that they asked for an +armistice in order to bury their dead. Our fellows have refused; they +are beginning to sum up the cultured Teuton at his true price. But how +do you feel?" + +"Pretty fit, though a bit rocky," admitted Rollo. "Where are the +bikes?" + +"We'll have to wheel them. I've taken off the belts. Orders have been +given for the troops intended for the field to withdraw as quietly as +possible, you know. Come along." + +Rollo had now thrown on his clothes, his chum assisting him to buckle +on the belt to which was attached his revolver holster. Together they +left the vaulted cellar and gained the street. It was a perfectly dark +night. The stars were obscured, the air was misty and hot. Away to +the north, south, and east the sky was illuminated by the +lightning-like glare of the heavy guns as the forts exchanged a hot +fire with the German field artillery. + +"Can you manage it?" asked Kenneth anxiously, as Rollo wheeled his +deliberately crippled motor into the street. + +"Rather," replied his companion with forced determination. "I'm not +keen on leaving my jigger for a rascally Prussian to smash. I'm jolly +glad we are still attached to the 9th Regiment of the Line. We may see +more of Major Résimont. He's quite a decent sort." + +"And Captain Planchenoît is a brick," added Kenneth. "I've been +talking to some of the men in his company. They swear by him; but he's +awfully keen on discipline, they say, and gets plenty of work out of +his men." + +The dispatch-riders found the regiment drawn up in column of fours in a +narrow street behind the Church of St. Jacques. In this dense +formation the men would have suffered severely had a shell fallen in +their ranks; but owing to the fact that the Germans were hoping to take +early possession of the city, their gunners no longer dropped +projectiles into Liége, devoting their attention to the stubborn forts +that had already thrown the imperial time-table into confusion. + +Although the Belgian troops were no longer elated, they were far from +being downcast. They realized that strategic reasons necessitated the +evacuation of the city. They hoped that the forts could hold out. +Already they had proved themselves equal man for man to the vaunted +soldiers of the Kaiser. Their object was now to contest every yard of +the way to Brussels, their determination being strengthened by the +widespread belief that the pick of the English army would speedily be +fighting by their side. + +Several of the men of the 9th Regiment bore evidences of the hard part +they had taken in the repulse of the initial German attacks. Many had +bandages round their heads; others had their hands swathed in linen, +while a few limped badly; yet one and all showed resolute courage that +augured ill for any Prussian regiment which should happen to cross +steel with the valiant defenders of the cockpit of Europe. + +Presently the Colonel gave an order. The men unfixed bayonets and +sloped arms. In the centre of the column the lads could see the cased +colours round which a fierce struggle had taken place during the +preceding day. Then, at the word of command, the regiment swung +briskly along the narrow street. + +Kenneth and Rollo found themselves with two other dispatch-riders at +the rear of the column. The other motor-cyclists had gone on a journey +that knows no return. There was also a detachment of twenty cyclists +belonging to the regiment, but most of these silent scouts were far +afield, making certain that the line of retreat was in no danger of +being ambushed by the wily Uhlans. + +The route lay between Forts de Hollogne and de Flémalle, through +tortuous by-lanes. Over and over again the column was obliged to halt +owing to the congestion of the roads, for twenty thousand Belgian +troops--field artillery, cavalry, and infantry--were evacuating the +doomed city that night. + +Before they were clear of the environs of Liége, Rollo began to feel +the effects of his adventure with the German officers. The sweat +poured from him as he gamely pushed his unwieldy motor-cycle. +Anxiously Kenneth watched him, unable to give assistance save by a few +words of encouragement. Every time there was a halt Rollo leant across +the saddle, welcoming the rest, yet dreading the exertion required to +resume the tortuous march. To lag behind was to risk capture, for +small parties of Uhlans were known to have penetrated into the villages +of Hollogne and Montegnée, which lay between the as yet unconquered +forts and the city of Liége; otherwise he would have fallen out, waited +till dawn, and then cycled to overtake the regiment. + +During one of these short, unavoidable, halts a voice came through the +darkness. + +"Monsieur Everest--is Monsieur Everest there?" + +"Here I am, sir," replied Kenneth, recognizing the voice as that of +Captain Planchenoît. + +"Ah, good! I wish to enquire after your English comrade." + +"He is here, sir." + +"Ah, again good! I thought he would be unfit to move." + +"He's not very much up to the mark, sir." + +The captain flashed an electric torch upon the motor-cyclists. + +"Ciel! you are indeed right, Monsieur Everest. I will see to matters. +Private Roulaix," he added, addressing a Belgian who was walking his +"push-bike", "place your bicycle in the first wagon that passes. Say +that I, Captain Planchenoît, orders it. Then relieve your English +comrade of his motor-cycle. Monsieur Barrington, as soon as Private +Roulaix returns I will take you to one of the wagons. You are not, at +present, fit to walk, still less to push that motor-cycle." + +For the rest of that night Kenneth was without the company of his chum. +As the grey dawn began to break, he too felt that he was nearly done +up, but still the steady retreat continued. + +It was not until six o'clock in the morning that the 9th Regiment of +the Line was ordered to bivouac outside the village of Omal. Here +trenches were dug, barbed-wire entanglements set up, barns and cottages +loopholed and placed in a state of defence in order to keep in check +the German hordes until the expected aid was forthcoming. + +For the next twenty-four hours the 9th Regiment was inactive, as far as +actual fighting was concerned. With the rest of the mobile Belgian +forces, the men were enjoying a well-earned respite and improving their +position. + +Although Rollo still remained off duty, Kenneth, with the rest of the +motor dispatch-riders, had plenty to do. Frequently the lad had to +ride off at full speed to carry orders to bands of armed civilians to +cease firing upon Belgian airmen; for these plucky air-scouts were so +harried by the fire of their undisciplined fellow-countrymen that it is +not to be wondered at that after a time they declined to fly at all. + +Kenneth had just returned from one of these errands when the Colonel of +the regiment sent for him. + +"You know the way to Tongres?" he asked. + +"Yes, sir," replied the lad promptly, for although he had never been +there, a close study of the map had enabled him to fix its position in +his mind. + +"Then bear a verbal message to General Féchard. Say that in view of an +impending strong attack upon our position reinforcements are urgently +requested to hold the village of Omal. Mitrailleuses are particularly +desirable. Is that clear? Then repeat the message." + +Kenneth did so satisfactorily. The Colonel nodded approval. + +"Now go," said he. "As quickly as you can, for the situation is +critical." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The Uhlan Patrol + +Rollo was standing by his chum's motor-cycle when Kenneth left the +Colonel's quarters--a cottage standing well apart from the rest of the +village. + +"Thought you'd be off somewhere when the Colonel sent for you, old +man," he said. "Well, I could go with you, but I feel absolutely +rotten. Look here," and Barrington opened his coat and displayed the +tops of two soda-water bottles, "I managed to get hold of these. Take +one." + +"No, thanks," replied Kenneth. "You want them a jolly sight more than +I do." + +"But you must," persisted Rollo. "It's fearfully hot to-day. Besides, +I think I can get hold of some more." + +"All right," agreed his chum reluctantly, and taking one of the bottles +he placed it in the outside breast-pocket of his coat, resolving to +restore it intact upon his return. + +The request of the Colonel of the 9th Regiment was most essential. To +the north of Omal was a gap of nearly two miles in the Belgian line, as +a portion of one of the brigades had failed to take up its allotted +position. Omal was a salient angle in the defenders' formation, and +should the village be carried by the Germans the Belgian army would be +split asunder by the wedge-like advance of their far more numerous foes. + +Although the country was fairly open Kenneth rode cautiously. It was a +nerve-racking ordeal, since every bush or tree might be affording +concealment to the Uhlans, who were known to have already penetrated +far into the country. Almost as dangerous were the Belgian guerrillas, +who often fired indiscriminately upon any man in a uniform that they +failed to recognize. + +But beyond being twice stopped by Belgian patrols and made to produce +his military pass, Kenneth reached his destination without being +molested. He delivered his message, receiving a reply that a +machine-gun detachment would be sent off as quickly as possible, and +set off on his return journey. + +Perhaps the fact that he had but recently passed along the same road +without difficulty made him slightly reckless. He increased his speed +till the motor-cycle was travelling at nearly forty miles an hour. + +Soon he came to a straight, narrow road lined with gaunt trees--one of +the avenues that are a common feature in the eastern part of Belgium. +Suddenly he gave a gasp of surprise. A horseman had just appeared at +the farthermost end of the avenue. At first the lad took him to be one +of the Belgian lancers, whose similarity to the German Uhlans was +somewhat pronounced, but a rapidly nearing view assured him that the +man was one of the enemy. + +Another Uhlan joined the first. They both lowered their lances and +waited. + +Kenneth slipped out his clutch and applied both brakes. The +motor-cycle came quickly to a stop, the engine running furiously, while +the open "cut-out" emitted a rapid succession of sharp reports like the +detonations of a Maxim-gun. + +There was yet time to turn his cycle, remount, and escape by the way he +had come, he reasoned; but, even as he was in the act of facing about, +he made the additionally disconcerting discovery that his retreat was +cut off. Five or six Uhlans had evidently been in ambush, and, having +allowed the solitary dispatch-rider to pass them, were waiting to +assist in his capture. The ditch and the trees formed an impassable +barrier for the heavy motor-cycle; while without it flight was almost +out of the question, when it was the case of a man on foot pursued by +the fleet Uhlan horses. + +For one brief instant the thought of surrendering tamely flashed +through the lad's mind. He bore no written dispatch; his capture would +result in no important information being gained by the enemy. It +seemed the easiest solution to the problem. + +"I'm dashed if I do," ejaculated Kenneth, banishing the temptation +almost as soon as it suggested itself. "Here goes; it's neck or +nothing." + +He was back in the saddle in double-quick time. With the clutch in and +the engine barking furiously he tore towards the two Uhlans, who were +sitting on their horses at a distance of about fifty yards from each +other. + +Kenneth drew his revolver. With his right hand thus occupied, throttle +and air lever had to take care of themselves. At thirty miles an hour +he tore towards the nearmost of his antagonists. + +The Uhlan lowered his lance-point. He was trembling to such an extent +that the glittering point was describing erratic curves in the +sunlight. His resolution had vanished at the sight of the +rapidly-approaching motor-cycle. His horse began to rear, alarmed by +the loud and rapid pulsations of the engine. + +Kenneth's hopes rose. He saw the possibility of being able to slip +past the plunging, terrified animal, and in order to improve his +chances he let fly a couple of shots, both of which missed their mark. + +No longer was the long lance a menace. The Uhlan's whole efforts were +centred in trying to keep his seat, while the now maddened animal +snorted and plunged in a most frantic manner. + +Still grasping his revolver, although he made no further attempt to use +it, the young dispatch-rider placed his wrist upon the right +handle-grip in order to steady the steering. He shut his jaw tightly. +The critical moment was nigh. + +Suddenly the horse backed, barring the narrow path to safety. Kenneth +saw in the fraction of a second that a collision was inevitable. He +had a momentary glimpse of the Uhlan's panic-stricken face, his staring +eyes and wide-open mouth--then crash! + +[Illustration: KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S +PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... THEN CRASH!] + +Hardly knowing whether he was injured or not, Kenneth scrambled to his +feet. His motor-cycle was on its side within a yard of the prostrate +and still kicking horse. His revolver had vanished. In his fall it +had flown from his grasp into the ditch. The Uhlan lay upon the ground +motionless--whether killed or merely stunned the lad knew not; nor had +he an opportunity to ascertain, for in front of him was another German, +and four hundred yards behind him the five or six who had cut off his +retreat. + +The man in front had succeeded in regaining control over his less +startled horse and, lance in rest, bore down upon the defenceless +motor-cyclist. + +Hardly knowing how he did it, Kenneth cleared the ditch and sought a +temporary refuge behind a tree. He realized that the respite would be +but a brief one, for on the approach of the rest of the patrol his +"number would be up". Infuriated by the mishap to their comrade, the +savage Uhlans, whose chief mission it was to strike terror into the +inhabitants of a conquered district, would not be likely to give +quarter. + +Suddenly Kenneth's hand came in contact with the soda-water bottle that +Rollo had pressed upon him. He drew it from his pocket, and as the +Uhlan rode up to the edge of the ditch he dashed it to the ground at +the feet of the restless horse. + +The result exceeded the lad's wildest expectations, for the bottle +broke with a report almost equal to that of a small shell. Fragments +of glass flew in all directions. The horse reared, maddened by the +slight wounds caused by the sharp pieces of the broken bottle. Its +rider, quite as terrified, formed but one conclusion, that the +desperate Belgian (as he took Kenneth to be) was armed with bombs. +Spurring his horse he rode for dear life towards his comrades, who, +rendered cautious at the sight of two of their number being worsted, +hesitated to advance. + +Kenneth, too, was on the horns of a dilemma. To all appearances his +cycle was hopelessly damaged, and although the road was clear he stood +little chance of escaping from the rest of the Uhlans. To remain where +he was was equally hazardous. With his revolver in his possession he +would readily have made a brave stand, but the weapon was lying in five +feet of mud and water. + +Suddenly came the tap, tap, tap of a machine-gun. The rest of the +Uhlan patrol broke and fled across the fields, leaving two of their +number writhing on the ground. Another had his horse shot under him, +but, quite callous to their comrades' fate, the three remaining +fugitives never slackened rein, their sole thoughts being for their own +safety. + +Kenneth recrossed the ditch--far less agilely than he had a few moments +before, for his thigh was aching dully. He could see no signs of his +rescuers. The fire had evidently been a long-range one. + +He made his way to his motor-cycle. With considerable effort he raised +it and placed it on its stand. Upon examination he found that the +damage done was not so great as he fully expected. The actual +collision had smashed the lamp and bent the stem of the handle-bars, +but, thanks to the powerful springs, the front forks had stood the +severe strain of the impact. The controls were intact, while the only +other damage was that the left foot-rest was bent. In falling sideways +the weight of the cycle had been thrown upon this exposed part, which +had, to a great extent, saved the machine. + +At the second attempt the motor fired. The hind wheel revolved without +showing any signs of wobbling. The lad gave a whoop of delight; his +precious mount was still serviceable. + +He next directed his attention towards the Uhlan whom, in naval +parlance, he had "rammed". The fellow had been stunned by the fall +from his horse, but was on the point of regaining consciousness. + +"You look a tough customer, my friend," soliloquized the lad as he +looked upon the coarse, brutal features of his vanquished assailant. +"I think you will be quite capable of looking after yourself, without +requiring any attention from me. I'll take your helmet as a souvenir, +though; and, while I am about it, I think I'll stop you from doing +further mischief." + +With this Kenneth removed the Uhlan's sword, lance, and carbine. The +lance, being made of light steel, he broke into three pieces; the other +weapons and the German's ammunition he threw into the ditch to keep +company with his own revolver. + +While thus engaged the motor-cyclist perceived the approach of a body +of men accompanied by dogs. They were the Belgian machine-gun battery +whose fire had effectually routed the Uhlan patrol. + +"They'll be at Omal before me," thought Kenneth. "I suppose it would +be best to stop and explain matters; for if I made off they might take +it into their heads to pot me." + +"So you have settled with one of this scum," exclaimed the Belgian +major in charge of the detachment as he returned Kenneth's salute. "Ma +foi! I am of a mind to shoot him." + +"But he is a prisoner of war," expostulated the lad. + +The Belgian shrugged his shoulders. + +"You have but to go to that burning cottage"--he pointed to a building +about a mile and a half away--"to see what these wretches have been +doing. A whole family of inoffensive peasants shot--men, women, and +children. Yes, children," he added, noting the incredulous look on the +British lad's face. + +"However, we Belgians must set an example to those savages," continued +the officer. "We will at least take him with us, and put him on a fair +trial. But you are unarmed: how did you vanquish this fellow?" + +Kenneth told him. The Belgian major and those of his men who were +within ear-shot simply roared with laughter. + +"Charged his horse with your motor-cycle, and frightened away another +Uhlan with a soda-water bottle!" exclaimed the officer when he +recovered himself. "Excellent! It shows that these Germans are not a +quarter as formidable as they would have us believe. Were you hurt?" + +"Only bruised a little, sir. But, with your permission, I will go, or +your men will be with my regiment before I am." + +The lad ran his cycle and vaulted into the saddle. The motor ran as +well as before, and, beyond a slight difficulty in the steering, it was +none the worse for its rough handling. The damage to the lamp mattered +but little, as, by night, riding lights were forbidden, since they +might betray the rider to the enemy. + +Having reported the success of his mission and the approach of the +dog-drawn machine-gun detachment, Kenneth went to find his chum. + +Rollo was sitting, in company with others of the dispatch-rider +section, in a shelter made of branches of trees and rough thatch. + +"Hullo, old man!" he exclaimed. "What have you there--a Uhlan helmet? +And what's the matter with your bike?" + +Kenneth explained, and afterwards had to repeat his story in French for +the benefit of the others. + +"I will help you to straighten the handle-bars," volunteered one of the +Belgian cyclists, who was a motor-repairer by trade. "Meanwhile, if +you are desirous of sending that helmet to your friends in England, you +will do well to pack it up at once. There is a dispatch leaving for +Brussels within half an hour." + +"I wonder what the governor will say to this," observed Kenneth as he +directed the bulky package. "My first trophy! Goodness only knows +when we shall hear from home." + +The lads had already written to their respective parents informing them +of the drastic step they had taken, but, owing to the dislocation of +the postal service, no reply had been forthcoming, and they had hardly +expected one. + +It took two hours' hard work in the blazing sunshine for Kenneth and +his Belgian friend to set the motorcycle to rights. + +"If I hadn't been so inconsiderate as to throw that bottle of +soda-water away we might have had a decent drink," observed Kenneth as +he fanned his perspiring brow. + +"Never mind," rejoined Rollo. "You might have drunk it as soon as I +gave you the bottle; in which case I don't suppose you would have felt +the benefit of it now." + +"I don't suppose I would," agreed Kenneth grimly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Raid on Tongres + +During the next few days events moved rapidly, the Belgians having to +retire before vastly superior forces in point of numbers. + +It so happened that on the Sunday, the 9th of August, Kenneth and Rollo +were sent to Tongres with a message to the burgomaster, giving him +instructions as to the removal of the town treasury to a place of +greater safety. + +The place had little appearance of being in the war area when the two +lads rode into it. The Belgian troops had evacuated it on the previous +day, and since there were no signs of the invaders, the remaining +inhabitants were almost at their ease. Many of them, dressed in their +best, were on their way to church. + +Alighting outside the town hall, the two dispatch-riders enquired for +the chief magistrate, only to be informed that he was in another part +of the town on official business, but was expected back within an hour. + +"Is there no way of sending for him?" asked Rollo of the member of the +Civil Guard who had answered their summons. + +The man shook his head doubtfully. + +"It is just possible," he replied. "I will see my sergeant, and he +will doubtless give the necessary orders. Meanwhile messieurs might +like to rest at the inn? Immediately upon the burgomaster's return I +will see that you are informed." + +"Not a bad idea that," was Kenneth's comment. "We'll put up the bikes +and order a decent meal. Roughing it on active service is all very +fine, but there are times when one likes to have a slightly more +civilized table than that of mother earth. I wonder if we could get a +bath?" + +Everest's hopes were not to be realized, for, with many apologies, the +landlord informed the British lads that he had nothing in the way of +_déjeuner_. Bacon and eggs? No; he was without either. He might see +if his friend, Monsieur Jambonne, could oblige; but, in the meanwhile, +would messieurs care to sit in the _salle à manger_? _Café au lait_? +Yes; that would be ready in a few minutes. + +Selecting two comfortable chairs in front of the wide-open window, the +chums awaited the return of the burgomaster. There was plenty to be +seen, for the townsfolk were still streaming along the broad +thoroughfare, discoursing mainly upon the all-absorbing topic of the +war. + +All at once the people stopped. Some of them turned and fled; others +backed against the walls of the houses, or else took refuge in the +hastily-opened doors. + +"What's up now, I wonder?" asked Rollo, leaning out of the window only +to retire hastily. + +Trotting along the road was a squadron of German cavalry. The enemy +had made a totally unexpected raid upon the town of Tongres. + +"It won't do for us to be seen," exclaimed Kenneth, "especially in +uniform. And those fellows are particularly certain to make a bee-line +for the various inns as soon as they break ranks. Let's clear out." + +Just then up ran the landlord, who had taken the precaution of closing +and barring his doors, an example which many of his neighbours hastened +to follow. + +"Do not remain here, messieurs, I implore you," he began in rapid +sentences punctuated with excited gestures. "If the Bosches find men +in uniform in my house they will be furious with me." + +"All right," said Kenneth reassuringly. "If we can get our cycles out +by the back way we'll clear off and give the alarm. Two regiments +ought to be sufficient to trap these fellows." + +"It is impossible to escape, messieurs. The Germans are holding all +the approaches to the town." + +"Then what do you suggest?" asked Rollo calmly. + +"The roof, monsieur; thence you can make your way along by the parapets +of many houses, till you reach the roof of the _chapelle_. There you +ought to be safe, unless these rascals take it into their heads to burn +the town." + +"Very well; show us the way," agreed Rollo. "Only see if you can +manage to hide our motor-cycles." + +Having shown the lads the exit on to the roof, their host left them to +their own devices. It was a comparatively easy matter to creep along +the gutters, for they were hidden from observation by the parapets of +the various adjacent buildings. The only difficult part of the journey +was crossing the gap between the end house and the roof of the +_chapelle_--a distance of about five feet in width. Sixty feet below +there was a narrow alley, through which several terrified townsfolk +were hurrying, all too intent to gaze skywards as the lads made their +daring leap. + +"Now we're safe for the present," exclaimed Kenneth. "We can even look +over the parapet and see what's going on." + +"Right-o! only take your cap off. It might attract attention," +cautioned Rollo. "If we keep close to this pinnacle it ought to be as +safe as anything, unless some fool of a civilian starts taking +pot-shots at those fellows." + +From their lofty refuge the lads were enabled to observe the methods +adopted by the Germans in "holding-up" the town. With the cavalry were +four armoured motor-cars in which were mounted quick-firing guns. +These were stationed in the square so as to command the principal +approaches. Meanwhile most of the horsemen had dismounted, and had set +off on various prearranged missions. Some proceeded to the +post-office, where they destroyed the telephone and telegraph +instruments and, as was afterwards ascertained, seized the sum of +10,000 francs from the safe. Others tore up the railway lines at the +junction, thus interrupting communications with both Hasselt and St. +Trond. This work of destruction they took care to achieve without the +use of explosives, in order to avoid giving the alarm to the nearest +Belgian troops. + +Presently the lads saw a dignified man, whom they rightly concluded was +the burgomaster, being led to the town hall. Outside the building +floated the Belgian tricolour, and this his captors ordered him to haul +down. He refused; they threatened, but their threats failed to move +the stanch patriot. In the end, one of the Germans had to perform the +task; but the invaders made a counter-stroke by compelling the +burgomaster to hand over the keys of the town treasury. + +This done, the Germans ordered a meal to be provided, and this they +paid for out of the money they had taken from the authorities. Then, +having loaded their booty on a couple of commandeered wagons, they +prepared to evacuate the town. + +"Well, up to the present those fellows haven't done anything that any +combatant force wouldn't do," declared Rollo. "I suppose it is because +the townsfolk kept their heads and didn't start firing at them from the +houses." + +"Yes; but they're off. See, their vedettes are returning. I say, the +coast is clear; let's make a dash for it." + +"Easier said than done, old man," objected Rollo. "Jumping across a +five-foot gap is fairly easy when the landing-place is lower than the +kick-off spot. Returning is quite another matter." + +"There must be some way down from these leads," persisted Kenneth. +"Let's have a look round." + +Investigation showed that there was a means of communication between +the roof and the interior of the _chapelle_ by a small door in one of +the angle-turrets. The disconcerting part of the discovery lay in the +fact that the door was heavily bolted on the inside. + +"Why not try climbing down by means of the lightning-conductor?" +suggested Kenneth. "It's bound to be fairly strong, and we have our +motor-gloves to protect our hands." + +"Thanks, I'd rather try the jump," declared his companion. "But I'd +much rather try an easier method." + +"I'll tackle it, and then I can get into this building, ascend the +turret, and let you out." + +"No you don't," objected Rollo firmly. "If we cannot find a better +way, here we stop till the Germans are gone, and then we can shout for +assistance." + +But the restless Kenneth was far from remaining inactive. He continued +his investigations on the sides of the edifice away from the view of +the invaders. + +"I have it!" he exclaimed. "See that spout? It runs close to that +open window, you'll notice. If you can give me a hand I can lower +myself sufficiently to clear the bulging top of the spout, and the rest +will be easy." + +The scheme looked feasible, and Rollo made no further objection. It +was risky, of course, but with ordinary caution Kenneth could reach the +window after he had descended about ten feet of piping--which was +infinitely better than climbing down sixty feet or so of copper tape. + +Having secured a firm hold upon the spouting, Kenneth began to descend +hand-over-hand fashion, although he took care to let his weight act as +perpendicularly as possible, lest any outward thrust with his feet +might wrench the securing nails of the pipe from the cement. + +Without mishap he descended until he was almost on a level with the +open window, the iron casement frame of which swung outward. Then, to +his consternation, Kenneth found that he had miscalculated the +distance, and that the upper edge of the casement was six inches beyond +his reach. At the same moment he became aware of the effect of his +collision with the Uhlan. His limbs began to feel stiff and cramped. + +Frantically he began to clamber back to the parapet, but the effort was +too great. With a sickening shudder he felt the pipe working loose +from the wall. For the first time in his attempt he gave a downward +glance that wellnigh proved fatal. The pavement, fifty feet below, +exercised a horrible fascination. + +"What's wrong?" enquired Rollo anxiously, for he could see by his +chum's ashen-grey face that something was amiss. + +"Can't reach the window," gasped Kenneth. "I believe I've strained a +muscle, too. I must have a shot at climbing all the way down." + +"Hold hard a moment," exclaimed Rollo. "I'll half-close the window and +you might reach it." + +"Be quick, then," gasped his unfortunate comrade. "I can't hold on +much longer." + +At that moment he failed to see how Rollo could reach the casement, +although his chum's confident assertion cheered him. He knew by +experience that Rollo rarely suggested a plan without being able to +carry it through. + +Already Rollo was at work. Producing a length of stout string from his +pocket, he removed his boot. + +To this he attached the string, which was about four yards in length. +Leaning over the parapet he lowered his boot until it dangled an inch +or so before the iron rod that held the window open. A rapid upward +jerk and the casement was free to swing; a little skilful manoeuvring +and the weighted string drew the hitherto unattainable window frame +within Kenneth's reach. + +Perhaps the climber was over-anxious, and in consequence neglected to +observe the precautions he had hitherto taken, but as he swung off from +the pipe he gave a heavy jerk. With a loud crash about ten feet of the +spouting fell into the narrow lane. + +Fortunately the casement held, and white and well-nigh breathless, +Kenneth slipped through the open window just as three or four Germans, +alarmed by the clatter, rushed up to ascertain the cause of the uproar. + +"Steady!" cautioned Rollo as his chum opened the door of the turret. +"There are some Germans on the prowl. They seem a bit suspicious owing +to that iron-work falling." + +"They didn't spot you?" + +"No, I took good care of that." + +"Then we'll descend. This building is full of people; they think they +are safe, being in a place of worship. Poor creatures! they don't know +the Germans." + +"But the Germans haven't molested them." + +"There is no saying that they won't. Fortunately the people haven't +tried to shoot any of their unwelcome visitors. Come, we'll descend." + +As Kenneth had announced, the _chapelle_ was packed with terrified +townsfolk. Unnoticed, the lads made their way behind the altar, and +gained the vestry. Here a small door communicated with the alley. The +Germans, having discovered what had created the commotion, were +content; they had not troubled to find out the cause but had rejoined +their comrades in the market-place. The last of the pickets were +already back, and the raiders were on the point of retiring. + +Gaining the courtyard of the inn, the lads made sure that the German +cavalrymen had, no doubt reluctantly, ceased to pester the troubled +host with their attentions. + +"Your motor-cycles are safe, messieurs," announced the innkeeper. +"Ciel! Once those Bosches get wedded to the bottle----" and he threw +up his hands and raised his eyebrows with a gesture of utter dismay. + +Refusing any payment for his services, and charging only for the +coffee, the landlord escorted the two British dispatch-riders to yet +another door, opening into a deserted street. + +"Take the third turning to the right, messieurs," he directed; "it will +bring you on the high road. Yet I accept no responsibility; so take +care. The Uhlans--le diable les importe!--may be prowling about." + +Having walked their cycles till they felt fairly certain that the noise +of the engines would not reach the ears of the German raiders, the +dispatch-riders set off at a furious pace towards the position occupied +by their regiment. + +Suddenly Kenneth raised his hand, at the same time stopping his motor. +Rollo likewise dismounted. + +"Uhlans!" whispered Kenneth. + +A mile or so ahead were hundreds of cavalry, the men standing easy, +while the horses were picketed in lines. Apparently the enemy had +thrown a strong wedge far into the position held a few hours previously +by Belgian troops. + +"If those fellows are acting as supports to the crowd that entered +Tongres, we are nicely trapped, by Jove!" remarked Kenneth. "The best +thing we can do is to risk cutting across the fields, although, +frankly, I don't relish the idea of making towards that wooded +district. It is too jolly favourable for an ambush." + +"Half a minute," rejoined Rollo, unstrapping the case of his +binoculars. "Let's make sure. Kenneth, old man, it's all right. +These chaps are Belgian lancers." + +In his excitement Kenneth almost snatched the glasses from his chum. + +"You're right!" he exclaimed joyously, after a hasty view. "Let's push +on and tell them the position of affairs. They might be able to get a +little of their own back." + +Three minutes later the two dispatch-riders were making a brief yet +concise report to the Colonel commanding the Belgian cavalry. As soon +as they had finished, a bugle call, equivalent to the British "boot and +saddle", rang out, and the lancers were soon cantering along the +highway, followed by a mounted machine-gun section. + +"We may as well see the fun, considering what we've done in the +matter," said Kenneth, to which proposal Rollo raised no objections. +Following at a discreet distance, they waited until the lancers halted; +then, leaving their cycles by the side of a haystack, they overtook the +Belgian troops. + +Thanks to his intimate knowledge of the locality, the Colonel made his +dispositions skilfully. At this spot the road from Tongres to Liége +entered a shallow defile through which the returning Germans were +practically certain to pass. At a distance of two hundred yards on +either side of the road were clumps of trees and patches of thick +undergrowth, affording admirable cover for a considerable number of +troops. + +The machine-gun detachment was split up, an equal number of +mitrailleuses, screened with torn-up undergrowth, being placed on the +rising ground on each side of the road, their line of fire sweeping the +approach to the defile. With the guns were posted strong bodies of +dismounted lancers, armed with carbines. In a steep dip in the road, +the hollow of which was invisible beyond a distance of a hundred yards, +shallow trenches, sufficient to wreck the armoured motor-cars, were +dug, the excavated earth being carefully removed so as not to betray +the presence of these obstructions. + +The bulk of the lancers, posted out of sight, were ready at the word of +command to swoop down upon the rear of the German column and complete +the work of destruction that the quick-firers and the rifles might +leave undone. + +Hardly were these preparations made when the Belgian vedettes reported +the approach of the raiders from Tongres, and that the column was +preceded by four men forming an advance-guard. + +The Belgian Colonel gave vent to an exclamation of annoyance. He had +reckoned upon the Germans making use of their armoured motor-cars for +that purpose. Bagging these would be a material loss to the enemy, +whereas the capture of a few scouts would be of very little value, and +the main body would be warned. + +He immediately detached a dozen dismounted men, ordering them to lie in +ambush close to the road, and if possible to capture the scouts without +having recourse to the use of fire-arms. The men quickly took up their +positions in a ditch lined with tall grass, and so closely did they lie +concealed that they were invisible even to their comrades on the rising +ground behind them. + +Presently the German advance-guard entered the defile. They had dined +not wisely but too well, and, jubilant over the result of their +successful raid, were sadly lax in the exercise of their military +duties. Two of them had removed their helmets, which were dangling +from their saddles. All of them, almost overcome with wine and the +heat of the day, were drowsy. + +Suddenly the Belgian ambush sprang to their feet. The startled Germans +were confronted by a row of rifles, levelled from a distance that would +make a miss almost an impossibility. + +The lances fell from the nerveless hands of the astounded Teutons, and +with machine-like precision they raised their hands above their heads. +In quick time they were disarmed, secured, and led away to the rear of +the Belgian machine-guns. + +Barely was this done when two more troopers--the link between the +advance-guard and the main body--rode up, only to be captured and +secured as their predecessors had been. + +But, however lax the military discipline of the scouts, the commander +of the German troops was not to be caught napping so easily. Having +failed to receive a signal from the advance-guard that all was well, he +halted his men. + +The Belgian Colonel shrugged his shoulders. His keen insight told him +that the enemy was suspicious; yet, knowing that the German officers +were equipped with powerful field-glasses, he dared not order two of +his men to give the supposed signal to advance. + +"At what range is the head of yonder column?" he asked, addressing the +captain in charge of the mitrailleuse section. + +"Five hundred and fifty metres, Monsieur le Major." + +Thinking it better to open fire upon the Germans, who were as yet in +close formation, rather than wait for them to extend and take cover, +the Belgian commander was about to give the necessary order when the +four armoured motor-cars were observed to dash forward. + +They advanced in pairs, ten yards separating the first two, with an +interval of about a hundred yards between the second and third. The +third and last were the same distance apart as were the first and +second. + +To give the Belgians their due, although they had good cause to think +that their position had been divulged, they maintained perfect +discipline and kept admirable cover. + +Into the silent defile tore the first pair of cars, the gunners +training their quick-firers in readiness to greet a possible but as yet +unseen foe. Down into the hollow plunged the first car. Its front +wheels dropped into the pitfall, and the next instant it toppled +completely over. The second car tried in vain to pull up. The driver +tugged at the steering-wheel; the heavy vehicle swerved, crashed into +the wreckage of the first, and instantly burst into flame. + +The remaining cars, their occupants alarmed by the crash, halted. The +road was too narrow to turn; to back at any rate of speed was +impossible. + +The valley now echoed and re-echoed to the rattle of the mitrailleuses +and the sharp crackle of musketry. The armoured cars were swept by a +hail of bullets that killed or wounded every member of their crew, +while the German horsemen were greeted with a devastating fire that +threw them into disorder. Some attempted to advance against the unseen +foe, others threw themselves from their horses and, taking cover, +replied with a feeble and futile rifle-fire. The majority turned and +fled in spite of the threats and efforts of the officers. + +Taking advantage of the confusion of their foes, the Belgian mounted +lancers were ordered to charge. In grand style they cleared the +intervening ground, and, although several saddles were emptied, rode +dashingly through the broken ranks of the invaders. In ten minutes +they were in possession of the field, with the bulk of the money +captured at Tongres. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Captain Planchenoît when, an hour later, the two +British dispatch-riders reported themselves. "What is the adventure +this time? Have you delivered the message to the Burgomaster of +Tongres?" + +"No, sir," replied Kenneth. "We had no chance to do so. The Germans +have raided the town." + +"Peste!" exclaimed the Captain. "Have they burned the place? Did they +seize the treasury?" + +"They did little damage, sir. They took the money with them, but our +lancers ambushed them and recovered it." + +"Just like our intrepid cavalry," remarked the Captain complacently. +"Well, you may go, messieurs. I do not think you will be required any +more at present." + +But before the day was done both lads were required. An account of +their part in the successful counter-operations had been sent to the +Colonel of the 9th Regiment of the Line by the officer commanding the +Belgian lancers, and in front of their comrades Kenneth Everest and +Rollo Barrington were promoted to the rank of corporal. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Mail Escort + +During the next few days the Belgian field army had no respite. Landen +was occupied by the Germans on the 10th of August, and strong cavalry +screens of the enemy advanced along the Dutch border to within a few +miles of the capital. Other large bodies of cavalry threatened the +Belgian right wing, and in consequence a retirement of the small yet +determined army was necessary. + +Two days later the Belgians gained a brilliant success at Haelen, where +the Germans, incautiously attempting to force a passage of the River +Gethe, were driven back in disorder and with great loss. + +Of this action Kenneth Everest and his companion saw nothing, having +been sent on duty to the Belgian capital. + +In Brussels the lads remained two days, having to await a reply to the +dispatch they had brought. During their brief periods of leisure they +hastened to call at the house of Major Résimont in the Rue de la +Tribune, but the place was in charge of servants. No news was to be +obtained of Mademoiselle Yvonne Résimont or of Kenneth's sister. +Beyond the unauthenticated report that the two girls had left the +school at Visé a few hours before the commencement of the German +bombardment, all traces of them were lost. + +"Perhaps," suggested Rollo, "your sister went back to England and took +Yvonne with her. They say that numbers of refugees have passed through +Rotterdam on their way across the North Sea." + +"Possibly," agreed Kenneth. "In which case we are completely in the +dark until we are lucky enough to get letters from home." + +The inhabitants of Brussels were strangely calm. The fact that the +German invaders had gained a firm footing in their country did not +drive them into a panic. Possibly events of past history had taught +them to regard the overrunning of Belgium as a foregone conclusion when +the neighbouring Great Powers were at war. Above all, they continued +steadfastly to rely upon the prompt arrival of the British +Expeditionary Force, which, in conjunction with their own army and that +of the French nation, would quickly send the barbarous Teutons fleeing +for their lives across the Rhine. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Rollo. "The papers are out. Something important has +happened." + +The chums had retired early to bed in their modest lodgings of the Rue +Pontus, as they had been warned for duty at five on the following +morning. Their stock of money, although augmented by their scanty army +pay, was visibly dwindling; but after more than a week in bivouacs they +were grateful to sleep under a roof, undisturbed by the +nerve-shattering roar of hostile guns. + +"It can wait till to-morrow," said Kenneth with a prodigious yawn. "I +feel too jolly tired----" + +The next moment he was out of bed and making for the window, for above +the cheering on the Grands Boulevards came the oft-repeated cries of: +"The English Army in Belgium". + +Hastily scrambling into their clothes, the two excited lads made their +way into the street and through the swarm of wildly exuberant citizens. +After a struggle they succeeded, at the cost of a franc, in obtaining a +copy of one of the local papers, and bore it back to their room in +triumph. + +In huge letters were the words: "LES ANGLAIS SUR LE CONTINENT", the +report being taken from the French paper, _Le Journal_, dated Thursday, +the 13th August:-- + +"By our Special Correspondent.--For several days the valiant British +troops, who are to co-operate with our soldiers to repel the German +aggression in Belgium, have been crossing the Straits. Kept back at +first by the risks of a naval combat which the English fleet was +waiting to offer, in the North Sea, to the principal units of the enemy +marine, the disembarkation has now taken place in perfect order and +with surprising regularity. Up to the present the contingents sent +forward in the direction of Namur are considerable. + +"Under the favour of darkness and in great mystery the transports were +organized. During Saturday night, by small detachments all along the +Belgian coast from Ostend to Zeebrugge, the steamers chartered by the +British Admiralty disembarked at first a small army, which moved before +dawn to the position allotted to it. Farther south, that same night, +semaphores signalled the arrival of mysterious ships, which, after a +brief stay, returned towards English shores. On the following day, +too, at the same hour, similar operations and disembarkations took +place with such rapidity and such silence that the inhabitants saw +nothing." + +"Sounds promising," remarked Rollo thoughtfully. "But this is Friday. +Do you think it likely that our troops have been on Belgian soil for +nearly a week and this is the first we've heard of it?" + +"The Press Censor perhaps----" + +"Cannot gag the mouths of a million, old chap. However, I hope it's +true. Of course I know an army cannot be expected to land and proceed +straight to the front, but if they are to do anything they'll have to +jolly well hurry up." + +"Don't put a damper on the good news, old man." + +"All right, I won't, Kenneth; but, until I see a khaki regiment on +Belgian soil, I'm hanged if I will believe. Take me for a doubting +Thomas if you will. Anyway, I'm going to turn in again; we've to be up +early, you know." + +In spite of the deafening clamour without, the chums slept soundly +until the concièrge knocked loudly at the door to announce that it was +a quarter to five, and that the breakfast of messieurs les Anglais was +ready to be served as ordered. + +Upon arriving at the place indicated in their order, the two +dispatch-riders found that they were to be temporarily attached to the +mail escort. Letters and parcels for the troops in the field had +accumulated during the last three days to enormous proportions. Five +large motor-cars had been requisitioned to take this mass of +correspondence from the capital, the convoy being accompanied by a +patrol of lancers, cyclists, and motor-cyclists. + +"Wonder if there's anything for us in that lot?" hazarded Kenneth, as +four large wicker hampers addressed to the 9th Regiment of the Line +were unceremoniously dumped into a car. The correspondence had already +been passed by a Belgian censor, and the baskets had been secured by an +imposing wax seal. + +"Perhaps," replied Rollo. "At all events we'll keep a special eye on +the car. One never knows where to expect the unwelcome attentions of +those ubiquitous Uhlans, and it will never do to let them pry into the +family secrets of our comrades of the 9th." + +Through the flag-bedecked streets of Brussels the mail convoy made its +way. The route, as supplied to the officer in command, was a +circuitous one. Proceeding in an almost southerly direction, past the +villages of Waterloo, Genappe, and Quatre Bras, the mails for Namur and +the left flank of the Belgian field army were to be detached at the +village of Sombreffe. The remainder of the convoy was then to proceed +through Gembloux to Tirlemont, dropping the crates addressed to various +regiments at the nearest points to their ultimate destinations. + +The motor-cars set out at a rapid pace, so much so that by the time +they were clear of the Forest of Soignies, less than ten miles from the +capital, the horses and the cyclists were almost "done up". Either +speed or the force at the disposal of the convoy had to be sacrificed, +and after a hasty consultation with his subordinates, the officer in +charge decided upon the latter alternative. + +Accordingly the lancers were sent back, while a dozen of the cyclists +were ordered to leave their machines at a wayside inn and to ride on +the cars. From information received from various sources, there was +every reason to believe that that part of the country was free from the +attentions of the invaders, and no cause to doubt that the mail would +be delivered in safety and with celerity. Again the convoy was set in +motion, Kenneth and Rollo riding at a distance of about two hundred +yards ahead, for their wish to keep an eye on one particular car had +been abruptly nipped in the bud. + +"We've seen the field of Waterloo at all events," shouted Rollo, in +order to make himself heard above the noise of the motors. "But it's +under different circumstances from those we expected." + +They had had but a distant and momentary glimpse of the famous pyramid +of earth surmounted by the Lion of Belgium. The ground that, less than +a century before, was drenched with the blood of men of half a dozen +nationalities was again being prepared for a similar object on a vaster +scale. Belgian troops and peasants were busily engaged in digging +trenches; for here, according to the expectations of military experts, +was to be fought the decisive battle that was to save Brussels and +Belgium from the Teutonic invasion. + +At Quatre Bras the convoy struck the Namur road. A couple of miles +farther on Kenneth's keen eyes detected a movement towards their left +front. In double-quick time the lads dismounted and held up their +hands, a signal that brought the convoy to a standstill. + +"Cavalry, sir!" said Kenneth, pointing in the direction of a clump of +trees. + +"Our vedettes, without doubt," declared the Belgian officer, leisurely +unstrapping his field-glasses. Before he could get them to bear, +Kenneth was sweeping the country with his powerful binoculars. There +was no mistake: the cavalry were Uhlans. They had already spotted the +convoy, and were advancing at the trot to capture or destroy the +weakly-protected mail escort. + +Just then came a dull rumble at some distance to the rear of the line +of halted cars. The enemy had blown up the railway bridge on the line +between Charleroi and the north, thus cutting off the retreat of the +convoy. + +"Mon capitaine," exclaimed one of the cyclists who had been given a +place in one of the cars; "I know this part of the country well. A +kilometre farther on is a road to the right. It will bring us to +Ligny." + +The officer gave one glance towards the advancing Uhlans, now barely a +mile and a half away. + +"En avant!" he ordered. + +It was touch-and-go which would first reach the junction of the roads. +Only a momentary hesitation on the part of the Uhlans saved the +situation, for, seeing the convoy advance at full speed, they feared an +attack by the already dreaded motor-cars armed with mitrailleuses. + +But as the convoy swung round the sharp corner a hail of bullets came +from the carbines of the German cavalry; then, realizing that their +discretion had got the better of their valour, the Uhlans dashed in +pursuit. + +The Belgians cheered ironically. The idea of horses competing with +motor-cars seemed absurd. The latter covered three yards to the +Uhlans' one, and every moment the animals were becoming more and more +fatigued. + +Suddenly Rollo gave vent to a warning shout. Ahead was the village of +Ligny, but between the convoy and the nearest houses were dense masses +of cavalry. Their capture seemed inevitable. + +Again the motor-cars came to a halt. The Belgian captain saw that he +was in a trap. + +"Turn about!" he ordered. "We must charge these Prussians behind us. +It will be easier to force our way through a hundred than----" + +"Mon capitaine!" shouted an excited voice. + +The Belgian officer turned, almost angrily. + +"We are saved--regardez!" continued the speaker, pointing to the +railway line about three hundred yards to the right of the road. + +Making their way along the hollow by the side of the line were swarms +of men in blue coats, red trousers, and kepis. There was no mistaking +them: they were French troops. The cavalry, too, close to the village +of Ligny were French chasseurs. The long-expected aid had become an +accomplished fact. French armies were on Belgian soil. + +Already the Uhlans had perceived their peril. They turned and rode for +dear life. + +Up came a group of French officers. Gravely they exchanged salutes +with the commander of the convoy. + +"We hope to effect a junction with the Belgian army before nightfall, +monsieur," announced a colonel. "We have been instructed to occupy the +line Ligny-Tirlemont. It is to be hoped that these pigs of Prussians +have not tampered with the railway." + +"Unfortunately they have, sir," replied the Belgian captain. "Already +they have blown up a bridge on the Quatre Bras road." + +The Frenchman rapped out an oath. + +"More work for our engineers," he remarked. "Nevertheless, the +Prussians shall pay. We have them. With the English between Antwerp +and Louvain, and your army between Louvain and Tirlemont, these Germans +are in front of a wall that cannot be climbed. You say that part of +your convoy is destined for Namur? Send them on, monsieur. We hold +both banks of the Sambre. For the rest we cannot, unfortunately, offer +you any guarantees." + +Accordingly the convoy was split up, Kenneth and Rollo going with the +cars containing the mails for the Belgian troops at Tirlemont. + +"The papers were right after all, old man," remarked Kenneth. "Our +troops are in Belgium. Now, admit that your doubts were ill-founded." + +"I suppose so," admitted Rollo; "but all the same I should like to see +a khaki regiment, if only for the sake of ocular demonstration." + +Before four that afternoon the mail for the 9th Regiment of the Line +was safely delivered, and with the utmost dispatch the work of +distribution began. It seemed a fitting reward that Kenneth should +receive half a dozen letters, three of which, bearing different dates, +were from his father. Rollo had to be content with four. + +While the latter, with his usual deliberation, opened his +communications in the order of their postmarks, Kenneth impetuously +tore the envelope of his latest-dated one, and read as follows:-- + + +"DEAR KENNETH, + +"I wrote you at the Poste Restante at Liége, on the off-chance that you +might receive it on the eve of the declaration of war. From the +contents of your letter I have reason to believe that you did not. I +am naturally most anxious concerning Thelma. Up to the time of writing +I have had no tidings whatsoever, although I made enquiries of the +British Consuls at Antwerp, Rotterdam, and The Hague. + +"In my previous letters addressed to you at the Field Post Office of +the 9th Regiment of the Line, I expressed my fullest approval of the +step you have taken. In case you have not received my former letters I +must repeat these sentiments. You are doing your duty to your country +by serving under the Belgian flag as faithfully as if you were under +your own--for ours is a united cause. Perhaps more so, since you are +not yet of an age to accept a commission. Should you be in need of +funds, I have placed the sum of Fifty Pounds to your account in the +Credit Belgique at Brussels. + +"I am also sending you a batch of newspapers ["They have gone adrift," +thought Kenneth] which will be of interest to you. + +"I hear also that ... [Here was a long excision by the Censor.] + +"Once more, good luck. Do your duty manfully and fearlessly. Regards +to young Barrington. I made a point of seeing his father the other +day, and he is with me in my view of the step you two have taken. +Needless to say, my Mediterranean trip is off. There is other work +even for an old buffer such as I am. + +"Your affectionate father, + "THOMAS EVEREST." + + +"The pater's a brick," declared Kenneth, after he had finished wading +through his other correspondence; then, observing that Rollo was still +scanning his budget, he made his way across to the motor-cycles. In +his excitement he had forgotten to turn off the petrol tap of his +mount, and had just remembered the fact. + +On the way back he ran across Major Résimont, whom he had not seen +since the night of the evacuation of Liége. + +The Major greeted him warmly, congratulated him upon gaining his +stripes, and asked him how he had fared. + +"I have, unfortunately, bad news," said the Major sadly. "It would be +well to keep the information to yourself: the Liége forts have fallen, +and General Leman is a prisoner." + +"I thought they could hold out for months," Kenneth blurted out, his +sense of discretion overcome by the suddenness of the news. + +"We all thought so," rejoined Major Résimont quietly. "But those huge +German guns, they cracked the cupolas like nutshells, and killed or +wounded every man in the forts." + +"The French are here, though," announced Kenneth. "We came in touch +with them this morning." + +"I know," said the Belgian. "They have already succeeded in taking +Dinant. We have certain hopes in the French." + +"And the British troops are in Belgium." + +The Major shook his head. + +"See, sir," persisted Kenneth, producing the copy of the paper he had +purchased in Brussels. + +"I have already seen it," said Major Résimont; "it is only a rumour. +It is, moreover, false; there is not a single English regiment in +Belgium. Your country is, I fear, too late to save Brussels from the +invaders." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Separated + +Major Résimont's sentiments were shared by the majority of his +deep-thinking compatriots. The great faith in the prompt action of +Great Britain in sending a strong Expeditionary Force to Belgium had +received a severe set-back. Even yet the promised aid might be +forthcoming--but it would be too late to spare the greater portion of +the country, including the capital, from invasion. + +When the Major stated that the Belgians had "certain hopes" in the +French, he spoke with a justifiable sense of caution. He realized that +the object of throwing French troops into Belgium was not to stay the +threatened occupation of Brussels, but to avoid, if possible, the +disastrous results of the presence of a German army on French soil. In +short, Belgium was once more to be made the battle-ground between +French and German troops, provided the fortresses on the borders of +Alsace-Lorraine were strong enough to hold back the invaders in this +quarter. + +Unfortunately, in spite of the utmost efforts of the War Office, backed +by the whole-hearted support of a united Parliament, Great Britain was +just four days too late in the dispatch of her Expeditionary Force. +Yet the brave Belgians did not repine, nor did they relax for one +instant their opposition to the enormous and relentless masses of +Germans who were now pouring in through the strategic railways between +Aix-la-Chapelle and Liége. + +But the sacrifice of Belgium was not in vain. By the heroic resistance +of General Leman the clockwork regularity of the German time-table had +been thrown hopelessly out of gear. The stubborn defence of Liége had +delayed the Teuton advance to such an extent that France and England +were able to complete their respective mobilizations, and to thwart the +German Emperor's hopes of "rushing" Paris and thus forcing France to +conclude a humiliating and disastrous peace. + +"Corporal Everest!" + +"Sir?" + +"You are to take this dispatch to Major Foveneau, who is holding the +village of Cortenaeken. Your compatriot may accompany you. Exercise +particular care, for there are numerous Uhlan patrols in the +neighbourhood of Diest." + +It was on the second day after the British dispatch-riders' return with +the mail-escort. Captain Planchenoît, who had already fully recognized +the intrepidity and common sense of the two lads, had been instructed +by his Colonel to communicate with the isolated post of Cortenaeken, +and he could decide upon no fitter messengers than Kenneth Everest and +his friend Rollo Barrington. + +"You will observe that the dispatch is at present unsealed," continued +Captain Planchenoît. "You must commit the text to memory. Should you +be in danger of capture, destroy the dispatch at all costs. It is far +too important to risk being hidden, yet Major Foveneau must have, if +humanly possible, written orders." + +"Very good, sir," replied Kenneth, saluting. + +He then went off to find his chum, whom he found cleaning his mount. +Kenneth had given up cleaning his motor-cycle days ago; beyond +satisfying himself that it had plenty of oil and was in good running +order, he troubled nothing about its appearance. Both lads had, +moreover, wrapped the handle-bars in strips of brown linen, while the +remaining bright parts had been covered with dull-grey paint. + +"It's Cortenaeken this time," announced Kenneth. "Goodness knows how +we get to the place, for there doesn't seem to be a vestige of a road +leading to it, according to the map. Here's the dispatch--sounds +important, doesn't it? We have to commit the words to memory, in case +we have to destroy the paper." + +"The best thing we can do is to ride for Tirlemont and make enquiries +there," suggested Rollo, handing the dispatch back to his chum. "As +regards concealing the paper, we must place it somewhere where we can +get at it easily. I have it: we'll stow it in your petrol tank; the +stuff won't injure the paper or interfere with the writing, and if +things came to the worst, you can whip it out and set fire to it." + +Accordingly the dispatch, cleverly rolled, was placed inside the gauze +strainer to the patrol tank, and the metal cap replaced. Five minutes +later the two motor-cyclists were buzzing along the congested road at a +modest twenty miles an hour, dodging between the lumbering transport +wagons and the military vehicles with an agility that surprised +themselves. + +Presently, as they struck towards the rear of the long lines of troops, +the road became less encumbered and speed was materially increased. +Soon the pace reached nearly forty miles an hour, for the highway was +fairly broad, and ran as straight as a Roman road as far as the eye +could reach. + +"Puncture!" shouted Kenneth, as the front wheel of his cycle began to +slither and bump upon the _pavé_, the machine running nearly fifty +yards before he brought up and dismounted. + +A hasty examination showed that a rusty iron nail, quite six inches in +length, had penetrated the tread of the tyre, while to make matters +worse its point had worked out close to the rim. The offending piece +of metal, catching against the front forks, had already enlarged the +hole in the tread till it became a slit nearly half an inch in length. + +"Don't wait," he continued, as he unscrewed the cap of the petrol tank +and produced the dispatch. "Take this, and hurry on. I'll patch this +up and follow. If you can, wait for me at Cortenaeken till two +o'clock." + +"Right-o!" assented Rollo. "You can manage all right?" + +"I can't ask you to bear a hand if I don't," replied Kenneth. "I'll +make a job of it somehow. Good luck!" + +Rollo was off. Kenneth stood beside his crippled steed and watched his +friend's receding figure out of sight; then taking out his repair +outfit he began his task. It was a long job. The cover, being +practically a new one, was an obstinate one to remove. It had to be +patched with canvas, while the double puncture in the inner tube took a +considerable time to clean and prepare. + +While he was waiting for the solution to get "tacky", a peculiar +buzzing sound greeted his ears. + +"Aeroplanes!" he muttered. "Whose, I wonder?" + +He looked upwards. The sun shining in a cloudless sky dazzled his +vision. He put on his tinted goggles, which during the repair +operations he had removed. Then he saw, perhaps three thousand feet +above him, a large Zeppelin moving in a westerly direction. He watched +it with a sort of contemptuous interest. + +"The vaunted German terror of the air--perhaps!" he soliloquized. "I +wouldn't give much for its chances if even half a dozen aeroplanes +tackled it. Ah! Thinking better of it?" + +This last remark was uttered as the gigantic airship began to turn, +pitching as it did so like a lively ship in a sea-way. + +Bringing his binoculars to bear upon the Zeppelin, Kenneth watched its +undignified progress. Apparently it had encountered a strong +air-current that tended to drive it in a westerly direction. By the +aid of the glasses Kenneth could see that the immense fabric showed, in +spite of its supposed rigidity, a decided tendency to "whip" as it +swung broadside on to the direction of the wind. Then, steadying +itself on a course in exactly the opposite direction to that which it +had previously been following, the Zeppelin forged ahead, still +see-sawing ominously. + +Suddenly the bow portion dipped, then with ever-increasing velocity the +huge airship plunged earthwards. Its propeller ceased to revolve; from +the cars, ballast--not loose sand, but solid material--was thrown out +in the hope of checking the now terrific descent. Then it disappeared +from the motor-cyclist's view, beyond a slight ridge of hills about +five miles off. + +"That's done for it, thank goodness!" ejaculated Kenneth, as he +replaced his binoculars and reapplied himself to the repairs to the +tyre; "if it were not for this rotten puncture I'd slip over and have a +look at the remains. I hope the thing's fallen within the Belgian +lines. It will cheer the plucky beggars up a bit." + +It took him quite another half-hour to patch the torn canvas and coax +the stubborn cover back into its rim. Then, with a feeling of +gratification that he had overcome difficulties, he began to inflate +the tyre. + +"Almost hard enough," he said to himself, ceasing his efforts to prod +the rubber with his thumb. "I'll give it another dozen strokes just to +show there's no ill-feeling." + +Bang! With a report like the discharge of a small field-piece the tyre +collapsed. A portion of the inner tube had been nipped, with the +result that a gash four inches in length was demanding attention. + +"Confound it!" exclaimed Kenneth angrily. + +With the perspiration pouring off him, he again tackled the obstinate +cover with savage energy. This time the repair was a complicated one. +Three times the patch failed to hold, but finally, at the end of an +hour and a half's hard work, the tedious task was accomplished. + +At Tirlemont Kenneth made enquiries, and was given such minute +directions that before he had gone another five miles he was hopelessly +befogged. The roads were little better than narrow lanes; there were +no direction posts, and he had long forgotten whether he had to take +the first turning to the left and the third to the right, or the third +to the left and the first to the right. There were several isolated +cottages, but their inhabitants had fled. The whole district seemed +depopulated, for the great exodus to Brussels had begun. There was +plenty of evidence of the hurried flight of the civil population. +Articles of domestic use, found to be too heavy to carry far, had been +jettisoned by the roadside. Here and there was an abandoned cart, +still laden with the household goods of some unfortunate Belgian family. + +At length Kenneth found that the lane he was following came upon a +small stream. Here a bridge had recently been destroyed. Further +progress in that direction was impossible, unless he decided to abandon +his cycle and swim across the fifteen feet of water to the opposite +bank. Following the stream was a rough path, badly cut up by the +tracks of cattle. It was the only possible way unless he retraced his +route. + +Producing his military map Kenneth attempted to fix his position. He +could only come to the conclusion that the stream was the River Velp, +on which the hamlet of Cortenaeken stands. He was, he decided, about +ten miles from the village, which ought to be reached by following the +path he had struck. + +It was bad going. The deep ruts made riding a nerve-racking ordeal. +Here and there the path had slipped bodily into the reed-grown mud that +fringed the stream. Dismounts were frequent; speed was out of the +question. + +After a mile or so of this unsatisfactory mode of progression the path +ended abruptly, but here the stream was crossed by a narrow plank +bridge. On the opposite side, at about two hundred yards from the +bank, was a cottage, and--thanks be!--from the chimney a wreath of +faint blue smoke was rising. + +Kenneth dismounted, set his motor-cycle on its stand, and proceeded to +examine the apparently frail bridge. It sagged considerably under his +weight; what would it do with the additional weight of his mount? In +addition there was the transport problem. He could not carry the heavy +cycle; the plank was too narrow for him to attempt to ride across. Yet +he did not feel at all inclined to go back along that rutty path. + +"I'll give a few toots on the horn," he declared. "Perhaps the people +in the house will come out and bear a hand. Hullo! There's a punt +over there in the rushes. With assistance I could get my bike across +in that." + +The raucous blasts on the horn disturbed the quietude of the sylvan +scene, but without the desired result. He tried again, still without +success. + +"Perhaps these people have also cleared out in a hurry and left a fire +burning," he soliloquized. "Otherwise they must have heard the +explosions of the engine as I rode up. Well, here goes!" + +Crossing the stream he took his way to the spot where the punt was made +fast. Here, again, his hopes were dashed to the ground, for not only +was the flat-bottomed craft chained and padlocked to a massive post, +but it had a gaping hole at one end and was half-full of water. + +"It's only waste of time tramping across to that cottage," he said to +himself. "I'll have a shot at getting the bike across first, and make +enquiries later." + +With that he retraced his steps to where his cycle was standing on the +wrong side of the tantalizing stream. Throwing out the clutch and +standing astride the saddle, Kenneth walked his motor-cycle towards the +plank bridge; then shuffling very cautiously, he began the hazardous +crossing. + +At every step the soles of his boots were almost at the very edge of +the worn plank. As he approached the centre it creaked ominously, +while, to add to his difficulties, the motion of the water as it flowed +underneath tended to make him giddy. He dared not look up unless he +stopped, and that he was loath to do. One false step would send +himself and his motor-cycle into six or seven feet of mud and water. + +At length, safe and sound, Kenneth found himself on the farther bank. +Here a road, very little better than the one he had recently traversed, +led away from the house, the only visible approach to which was by +means of a stone stile and a footpath. + +Again leaving his cycle, the lad leapt over the low wall and hastened +towards the building. + +The door was wide open. Across the threshold lay the body of an old +man, with a ghastly wound in his head. Kenneth recoiled in horror; +then, thinking perhaps that the unfortunate farmer--for such he +was--might still be living, he again approached. + +Even in the attempt to move the man, he heard the sound of a heavy +snore, while, as if in answer to the noise, a horse began to neigh. + +"Germans!" ejaculated Kenneth. Once more he began to back, when, +recollecting that even the sound of his motor had not disturbed the +brutal slumberer, he drew his revolver and stepped across the threshold. + +Coming in from the brilliant sunshine the place seemed almost +pitch-dark, but in a few seconds the dispatch-rider's eyes grew +accustomed to the gloom. He found himself in what was at one time the +living-room of the farm. There was no hall or passage; the outer door +opened straight into it. + +The whole place was in a state of almost indescribable confusion. The +table had been overthrown, the chairs smashed--and smashed +deliberately, for no ordinary struggle would have resulted in such +complete demolition of the furniture. On the walls were a few cheap, +highly-coloured prints, slashed by a keen instrument, while the glass +was shattered to fragments. On the floor were the remains of broken +bottles and crockery. The cupboards had been ransacked, and their +contents hurled all over the room. Even the hearthstone had been +forced up; the despoilers had evidently thought that the thrifty farmer +had hidden a store of money beneath it. + +The rest of the rooms on the ground floor were in a similar state of +confusion. Kenneth set his jaw tightly. He no longer had any +inclination to beat a retreat. The sight of the foully-murdered +Belgian and his devastated home filled him with rage. + +Holding his revolver ready for instant action, the lad began to ascend +the stairs. They creaked horribly under his weight, but still the +sounds of drunken slumber continued. + +At the head of the stairs four rooms opened on to a fairly spacious +landing. Three of these were unoccupied by any living creature. In +one was a huddled-up form. + +"Brutes!" muttered the British lad. "No quarter!" + +He pushed open the door of the remaining bedroom, whence the porcine +grunts proceeded. Here were four men in the uniform of the dreaded +Uhlans. Three, fully dressed and wearing their heavy boots, were +sprawling in drunken slumber on the bed. They were nursing +partly-consumed wine bottles, while the bed-clothes and floor were +stained with the spilt liquid. + +The fourth Uhlan was sitting in a chair, with his head resting on his +chest. Across his forehead and over both ears was a blood-stained +bandage. The wound had but recently been inflicted, so the Belgian +farmer had apparently made a brave but unavailing stand in defence of +his home. On the floor by the Uhlan's side lay his sword; his carbine +was propped up against the arm of the chair. + +"The brutes!" ejaculated Kenneth again. "Hang it, I can't shoot these +fellows while they are asleep!" + +Just at that moment the wounded Uhlan opened his eyes and raised his +head. His brain had not been dulled by drink, for with a swift +movement he seized his carbine, at the same time shouting to his +comrades that the Belgians were upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A Friend in Need + +"Seems a bit low-down, but there was no other way as far as I could +see," commented Kenneth as he made his way down the stairs. + +It was a relief to get into the open air once more. Inserting four +fresh cartridges into the chambers of his revolver, he replaced the +weapon in his holster, and without giving another glance at the house +of death and destruction he made his way to the stables, where the +Uhlans' horses were tethered. He would not leave the helpless brutes +to be fastened up perhaps for days. They would at least have a chance +to eat and drink, for there was plenty of pasture and the river was +handy. + +Having given the animals their liberty, the lad remounted his cycle and +rode along the only possible route. By the position of the sun he knew +that he was going nearly due north, which was not in the direction he +supposed Cortenaeken to be. To add to the difficulties of the +situation there was the unpleasant fact that patrols of German cavalry +were already in the district. Where, then, was the Belgian force that +was supposed to be holding the district between Diest and Tirlemont? + +There were houses scattered about in plenty; some to all outward +appearance intact, others either burning furiously or reduced to four +smoke-blackened walls. + +After traversing about five miles of the indifferent lane, Kenneth +found himself on a broad highway, bordered on both sides with trees. +Here were civilians in throngs--men, women, and children--and a more +woebegone crowd the British lad had never before beheld. Most of them +were on foot, staggering under weighty bundles. Even the children had +their burdens, mostly domestic pets. There were fowls in crates, +rabbits, cats, and pigeons; masterless dogs tore frantically through +the sad procession; others, harnessed to small carts piled high with +goods and chattels, trotted docilely by the side of their masters. +There were large farm-carts, too, creaking under the weight of +furniture, on the top of which were perched refugees either too old or +too young to make the journey afoot. The men were stolid of feature, +but several of the women were crying; while with few exceptions the +children, unable to comprehend the real nature of their hurried exodus, +were laughing and chattering with excitement at their novel experience. + +Kenneth dismounted and stopped an old Belgian, who by his dress had +evidently been well-to-do. + +"Can you direct me to Cortenaeken, monsieur?" + +"To where Cortenaeken was," corrected the man. "It has been burnt by +the accursed Prussians." + +"And the troops? I have a message for Major Foveneau, who was holding +the village----" + +"You will not find a single Belgian there, monsieur--at least, not a +living one. They have been compelled to retire on Louvain." + +The Belgian courteously raised his hat and passed on hurriedly, for +while he was speaking came the distant intermittent reports of +rifle-firing. The whole procession of refugees quickened its pace. +The menace was too close to be ignored. + +Kenneth pulled out his map. He was now able to form a fairly accurate +idea of where he was. He had no desire to return. His anxiety +concerning his chum urged him to make his way as quickly as possible to +Louvain. There, at least, he might be able to gain information +concerning the British dispatch-rider who ought to have reported +himself to Major Foveneau. + +According to the map, Kenneth saw that there was a road to the left at +a mile or so from where he stood. It struck the village of Winghe St. +Georges, which was on the main road between Diest and Tirlemont and +slightly nearer to the latter town. + +Springing into the saddle Kenneth set off at a furious pace. Ahead, +but slightly to the right, was a dense column of smoke that marked the +site of the destroyed village of Cortenaeken. Farther away were more +pillars of black vapour, the handiwork of the vengeful invaders, whose +principle was to terrorize the luckless Belgians into a spirit of +non-resistance. + +The lad was heartily glad when he gained the branch road, since it led +away from the desolated area. But before he had gone very far he +became aware that he was crossing the tracks of a fighting force in +retreat. Over the fields on either side and across the road were +numerous deep ruts caused by wheels of artillery and service wagons. +Here and there were abandoned carts, while half-buried in a muddy ditch +was a field-piece with one wheel shattered. Its limber and several +either dead or wounded horses still in the traces had overturned on the +other side of the road. Yet, apart from the distant cannonade, there +were no sounds of actual combat. + +Kenneth was sorely tempted to follow the tracks of the retirement. It +would be hard going, he argued, but where a gun could go his +motor-cycle ought to be able to follow. But on further consideration +he decided to keep to the road, at least as far as Winghe St. Georges. + +Onwards he rode till he approached a ruined homestead. Four shattered +walls, two gaunt gables, and a few scorched rafters were all that +remained of the house. Surrounding it was a wall, broken in many +places. Abutting on the wall were several roofless sheds. + +"Halte-là!" exclaimed a voice. "There is danger ahead." + +Kenneth pulled up sharply and, dismounting, looked in the direction +from which the voice came. As he did so a man in the uniform of the +Belgian lancers came out of the ruined house. He had lost his helmet, +his coat was torn and covered with dust. Above his right knee was a +blood-stained bandage. He was supporting himself by means of a rifle, +using the weapon as a crutch with the butt under his armpit. + +"What has happened, comrade?" asked the lad. + +The soldier regarded him with evident suspicion. + +"You are not a Belgian," he said pointedly, "yet you are in the uniform +of our dispatch-riders." + +"Quite so," replied Kenneth, producing his identification card. "I am +a British subject in the Belgian service." + +"British?" repeated the man. "What, then, is British? In faith, I do +not know." + +"English, then." + +"Ah, English--good! Now I comprehend. But, monsieur, it is unsafe to +go farther. There are Germans in force a few kilometres along the +road. Their cavalry screens are thrown out over yonder. We had to +retire. To me it is amazing how you came so far without falling in +with the accursed Prussians." + +"I saw a few Uhlans," announced Kenneth. + +"Tête bleu! And what did they do?" + +"Very little as far as I was concerned," replied the lad. "They +murdered some civilians, so I shot them." + +The Belgian's eyes glistened. + +"You are a brave youth," he exclaimed. + +"I think not in this case," objected Kenneth. "They were half-drunk, +and had only just awoke. It seemed hardly fair play, yet----" + +"Do not apologize, monsieur," growled the lancer. "After what these +devils have done they have no right to expect any consideration. Over +there, for example--but come within. It is hazardous to remain in the +open. Perhaps, even now, we have been observed through some Prussian +field-glasses. Your bicycle? It will be of no further use. It is +better to destroy it and throw the remains into the ditch." + +Kenneth shook his head. + +"No fear," he objected resolutely. "I'd rather take my chances on the +road." + +"Impossible," declared the Belgian. "You would be shot before you went +another three kilometres. And if the Germans see your motor-cycle they +will be doubly suspicious and search the house." + +"I'll leave it for the time being in one of those sheds," suggested the +lad. "It won't be seen from the road." + +The Belgian, beyond muttering "imbecile" under his breath, made no +further objection. He even assisted Kenneth, as well as his wound +would permit, to lift the heavy mount over the rubble in the gap of the +outer wall. + +"This place will do," declared the lad as he reached the furthermost +shed. The roof and one angle of the brickwork had been demolished, but +the rest of the building was almost intact. Having removed the +sparking-plug, so as to render the cycle useless to the enemy in the +event of its discovery, Kenneth placed the cycle on its side and +covered it with a thick layer of damp and rotten straw. To all +appearance the interior of the shed was a farm refuse-heap. No +prowling German would be likely to want to use the straw for bedding or +any other purpose. + +"Come this way," said the Belgian, who, during the progress of +Kenneth's operations, had begun to alter his opinion as to the danger +of leaving the cycle as "incriminating evidence". "We will go to the +house. In the cellar we can rest and perhaps have food. Have you +anything to eat?" + +"Two rolls and some chocolate," replied Kenneth. "We will share that." + +"Good!" exclaimed the lancer, his eyes glistening at the prospect of +food. "But there are others--three comrades of mine. We have not +eaten anything to-day but raw turnips, and raw turnips are not very +sustaining food on which to make a cavalry charge. It was in front of +Cortenaeken that I got this," and he pointed to his wounded leg. + +"Yet it is nothing," he added lightly, "a mere scratch; but I repaid +the Prussian who gave it to me. Ah! This is what I require. I will +now be able to discard this rifle. My own carbine is within." + +He had stopped in the midst of his narrative, and was pointing to a +hay-rake that rested in a corner of the wall. + +"I will knock off the teeth and shorten the handle. Ciel! It will +make an excellent crutch. As for the rifle, I may safely throw it down +the well, unless you, monsieur, might care to have it. It may be +useful to you." + +"I have no cartridges." + +"We have enough--about four hundred between the four of us. +Nevertheless, you will have to clean the barrel carefully, for it is +caked with earth. If you fired it in that state, without doubt it +would do you more harm than the man at whom you pointed it. There, did +I not say so?" + +With a wave of his disengaged arm the Belgian indicated a cloud of dust +rising from the road. + +"We must hasten, yet be cautious," he continued. "That dust hides a +column of German infantry." + +Kenneth followed his new comrade into the house. The upper floor had +almost disappeared. The ground floor was littered with charred +fragments of rafters and boards, cakes of plaster and partly-burned +thatch, in addition to broken articles of furniture. The parting-walls +had been overthrown, so that the interior of the building presented the +appearance of an open space. + +Scrambling over the debris the wounded lancer made his way to a corner +of the tottering walls. He stooped painfully and with considerable +effort, and thrusting his fingers between the rubbish took hold of an +iron ring. At this he heaved, and lifted a large flap about six inches. + +"Assist me, monsieur," he said. "I am not quite so strong as I was +four hours ago." + +"One minute," exclaimed Kenneth. "I'll clear some of this rubbish +away." + +"Tiens!" ejaculated the Belgian. "Let it remain, for when we let the +flap fall it will spread and hide the cracks in the floor. No one will +then suspect that there is a cellar. Now, lift together.--Soyez +tranquille!" he shouted, to reassure his comrades in hiding. + +At a gesture from his newly-found friend, Kenneth descended the steep +wooden ladder till his feet touched the stone floor of the cellar. The +Belgian lancer followed more slowly, uttering maledictions under his +breath at every step. Another of the occupants of the cellar ascended, +and pulled the flap down with a resounding crash. The place seemed in +total darkness. + +"A new comrade--an Englishman in the service of our country," announced +the lancer; and Kenneth's hands were warmly grasped by his unseen hosts. + +After a while his eyes grew accustomed to the semi-gloom, for the +daylight filtered through a small irregular opening at one end of the +underground room. The Belgians present did not belong to the same +regiment. One was a corporal of infantry, another an artilleryman, the +third a Civil Guard, whose head-gear, somewhat resembling a bowler hat, +made him easily recognizable. Their rifles were resting against the +wall, their cartridge pouches and heavy packs had been thrown on the +floor, and by their sides were some partly-consumed slices of turnip. + +Kenneth promptly shared his rations, which were ravenously eaten by the +half-famished men. The corporal, having swallowed his portion of roll +and chocolate, took up his position at the opening through which the +daylight could be seen. + +"They come!" he announced. "The pigs! Look!" + +The rest of the men made their way to the post of observation. The +cellar was of brick, with massive oaken rafters overhead and a stone +floor. At one end was a flight of stone steps that at one time +communicated with the outside of the house. A fall of brick-work had +almost entirely closed this exit, leaving a space about two inches in +height and a little more than a foot in width between the top of the +debris and the underside of the arch. The aperture was thus broad +enough to afford an outlook for two persons without the faintest risk +of discovery. + +The corporal, as observation man, remained at his post, the others +taking turn to gaze upon the approaching regiment of their hated foes. + +The German troops had evidently gone through a rough experience. They +looked utterly done up. Most of them were in their shirt-sleeves, +their coats and accoutrements hanging from their rifles. Several were +without caps, and many had been wounded. In spite of the sweltering +heat they marched in close column, wellnigh choked with dust, and only +kept at a brisk pace by the unsympathetic orders and threats of their +officers. + +As the head of the column approached, several men were ordered to +double up to the ruined house. Already the German commander had good +reason to dread the fury of the Belgian civil population, and every +house on the line of march was searched for possible snipers before the +regiment was allowed to march past it. + +Kenneth could hear the Prussians' boots crunching on the rubble +overhead, and their guttural shouts as they reported that the building +was untenanted. + +Then the column was again set in motion, and as the troops marched +stolidly by, Kenneth saw that in their midst were about twenty peasants +of both sexes. + +The Belgian corporal rapped out an oath. + +"The cowards!" he hissed. "They will use these people--countrymen--to +screen their advance. They did so at Haelen and Landen. I would +gladly bring down that red-faced Colonel but for the fact that those +peasants would be instantly massacred." + +Reluctantly the man closed the safety-catch of his rifle. The impulse +to shoot had been tantalizing. Only his concern for his luckless +fellow-countrymen had prevented the Belgian from sending a bullet +through the Prussian officer's heart. Ignorant of his escape the +Colonel rode past, followed by the rest of the regiment, for, from +motives of extraordinary caution, he was in the centre of the column. + +Another and yet another grey-clad regiment tramped past. With feelings +akin to consternation, Kenneth realized that a considerable portion of +the German army was now between him and his regiment. And Rollo--what +had become of him? + +Several hours passed. The Belgians, unable to control their natural +vivacity, chattered gaily, relating their individual adventures, and +closely questioning Kenneth as to his views on British aid for the +sorely-harassed country. Occasionally, when their look-out reported +fresh troops in sight, they would relapse into silence. The +artilleryman jotted down in a pocket-book particulars and estimated +numbers of all the German regiments that passed along the road, +remarking that to-morrow, perhaps, the information might be useful to +his officers. + +About five in the afternoon the stream slackened, and half an hour +later there were no signs of the invaders. The Belgians discussed the +possibility of making a dash for their own lines, and eventually +decided to attempt to put their plan into execution shortly after +midnight. Even the wounded lancer expressed his confidence in his +ability to keep up with his comrades. + +"And will you accompany us?" he asked, addressing his British comrade. + +"There's my motor-cycle," said Kenneth tentatively. + +"Pouf! It is of no consequence. Let it remain; there are others to be +obtained. It is useless to attempt to take it with you. The roads are +unsafe, while in the open the ditches are too wide to take it across." + +Still Kenneth hesitated. He had no doubt that the Belgian spoke +truthfully, and that he could obtain another mount at head-quarters; +but it would not be the same cycle, to which he was greatly attached. + +While the wounded lancer was still endeavouring to persuade Kenneth to +make the attempt on foot, the corporal, from the post of observation, +reported that a patrol of Uhlans was approaching. + +"There are but seven," he announced, "and they have a prisoner with +them. Shall we----?" and he significantly tapped his rifle. + +After a short interval one of the Belgians stood aside to allow Kenneth +to look at the approaching patrol. They were riding their horses at a +walking pace, their long lances being stepped in "buckets" behind their +backs. Most of them were smoking large curved pipes. + +Suddenly Kenneth uttered a half-stifled shout of surprise, for the +prisoner was his chum, Rollo Barrington. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Captured + +On parting with his comrade on the road to Cortenaeken, Rollo rode at a +great pace towards his goal. He was to a certain extent fortunate in +finding people at the various branch roads to give him directions; and +in less than an hour from the time of parting company with Kenneth he +was in sight of the hamlet where he hoped to meet Major Foveneau. + +The place seemed deserted. Perhaps, he thought, the Belgian troops +were entrenched on the other side of the slightly rising ground. At a +great distance off he could hear the rumble of guns in action. +Evidently there were two separate battles in progress. From the +direction of one cannonade it seemed as if the rival forces were +engaged in the district through which he had so recently ridden, yet he +could have sworn that he had not seen either a single Belgian or German +soldier. + +Suddenly, as he glanced to the left, Rollo's heart gave a tremendous +thump. He had already ridden more than half-way past the rear of a +masked German battery. There were perhaps a dozen guns placed in +position behind a ridge. The weapons were trained for high-angle +firing, while, to render them invisible from Belgian aircraft, they +were screened by branches of trees. By the side of each field-piece +was an armoured ammunition cart. The body of the vehicle was upturned +to a perpendicular position, the shells being kept in place by a +"pigeon-hole" arrangement. The gunners were "standing easy", while, +from the tip of a neighbouring haystack, a number of officers were +observing the Belgian position through their field-glasses. + +Hearing the sound of the motor-cycle, several of the men turned and +looked at the dispatch-rider, but they made no attempt to stop him. +Evidently they thought he was one of their cyclists, for Rollo's +uniform was smothered in grey dust, so that there was no perceptible +difference between him and a motor-cyclist attached to the invading +army. + +Fortunately Rollo kept his head. Without slackening his speed he +continued on his way until he was within two hundred yards of the +nearest house in the village. Here he dismounted and began to rack his +brains as to the best course to pursue. + +He had fallen into a trap. Cortenaeken had been taken and was now in +the possession of the enemy. He could see that several of the +buildings were damaged by shell-fire. Unknown to himself he had ridden +through the advanced German lines without any suspicion that thousands +of men were concealed in the fields and thickets on either side of the +road. The German left flank had been thrown forward a considerable +distance, and their motor-scouts had been constantly in touch with the +centre. Thus, by a pure fluke, Rollo had ridden through with a German +motor-cyclist ten minutes ahead of him and another five minutes behind. + +"I'll destroy the dispatch at once," decided the lad. "After that I'll +try and ride back by the way I came. So here goes!" + +He drew the petrol-soaked paper from the tank, and carried it to a dry +ditch by the side of the road. The dispatch flared as soon as Rollo +struck a match and set light to it. Its destruction was rapid and +complete. + +Before he could regain his mount a motor-cyclist dashed up. As he +approached he slackened speed, gripped the exhaust-lifter, and took +advantage of the consequent reduction of sound to shout something in +German. Rollo shook his head; his knowledge of German was too +elementary for him to reply, but he gathered that the man was asking +whether he required any assistance. + +Then, to the lad's consternation, the German dispatch-rider stopped, +dismounted, and walked towards him. + +"There's only one thing I can do---I must pretend I'm deaf and +dumb--temporary effect of the concussion of a shell, although I can't +show a wound," thought Rollo. "It wouldn't be cricket to shoot the +chap, especially as he stopped in all good faith. Well, here goes!" + +Opening his mouth and working his chin like a gasping cod-fish, the lad +awaited with considerable misgivings the result of his experiment. + +The German was a round-faced, fair-haired fellow of about twenty--a +student fresh from college. He looked quite sympathetic, and when +Rollo explained by means of signs that there was something wrong with +the electric ignition of his cycle, his face lighted up. Strolling up +to the British lad's mount, he proceeded in quite a natural way to +examine the sparking-plug, and, for the benefit of the supposed +distressed rider, he made a pantomimic display of rubbing it with +emery-cloth. + +This done, he walked across to the spot where he had left his own +cycle, still holding the plug in his hand. + +"He's going to clean the blessed thing for me," thought Rollo, "and +it's in perfect order, too." + +But the next moment his amusement was changed to consternation, for, +leaping into his saddle, the German made off at full speed, leaving +Rollo with a motor-cycle that was now out of action with a vengeance. + +Rollo was not left long in doubt as to the fellow's intentions. Soon +he reappeared from the village accompanied by a patrol of Uhlans. The +British-made motor-cycle had aroused his suspicions, and a closer +inspection of Rollo's dust-covered uniform had confirmed them. + +"The brute!" ejaculated Rollo. "At all events those fellows won't make +use of my cycle." + +With a quick movement he unscrewed the cap of the petrol tank, and +threw his highly-prized mount on its side. Then, striking a match and +deliberately waiting till it was well alight, he threw it into the +escaping spirit. With a flash and a roar the petrol caught, and in an +instant the cycle was enveloped in flames. + +Rollo did not wait to see the end of his act of destruction. Taking to +his heels he ran towards a wood about a couple of furlongs from the +road. The hoarse shouts of the pursuing Uhlans rang in his ears as he +fled, while a bullet, missing him handsomely, whizzed ten feet above +his head. + +Another shot followed with no better result. It was not the rifles of +the pursuing horsemen that he feared; it was their obvious superiority +in speed. + +He could hear the thud of the horses' hoofs in the soft ground growing +momentarily louder and louder. Only twenty yards more, and the Uhlans +would be balked by the dense foliage. Ahead was a ditch, six feet in +width, with a fairly high bank on the opposite side. In his heated +imagination the fugitive could almost feel the points of those ugly +lances thrust into his back. + +With a stupendous effort he leapt, alighting on the other side of the +ditch on his hands and knees. The Germans, fearing to risk the jump, +began to rein in their horses. For the time being he had won. + +Rollo staggered to his feet and clambered up the bank, when to his +horror he found himself confronted by a dozen levelled rifles. It was +a case of "out of the frying-pan into the fire" with a vengeance. + +Had there been a ghost of a chance to break away Rollo would have +seized it, but there was none. He raised both hands above his head. + +The next instant he was held by two powerful soldiers, while others, +with a dexterity acquired by much practice, searched him. Not only was +he stripped, and the lining of his coat ripped open, but his boots were +removed and the soles cut through, in case a hidden dispatch might be +found. They even forced open his mouth to make certain he was not +swallowing any document; and they took good care to retain the letters +he had received from home. + +Finding nothing of the nature they suspected, the sergeant in charge of +the men gruffly ordered him in very imperfect French to dress. Then, +escorted by four men, and followed by the patrol of Uhlans and the +motor-cyclist who had raised the alarm, Rollo was taken into the +village and brought before a group of officers. + +"Ah, Englishman! We have caught you, then," exclaimed one of the +Prussian officers. + +Rollo looked straight at him. The German was in the uniform of the +line. His head was swathed in surgical bandages, but there was enough +of his face left exposed to give the British lad a clue to the identity +of the speaker. He was the major who had treacherously attempted to +shoot the Belgian officer by whom he had been given quarter, on the +occasion of the night attack upon Fort de Barchon. On the fall of the +Liége fortresses the Prussian had been released by his comrades, and in +spite of his wound was once more at the front. + +For the next ten minutes Rollo was closely questioned. He replied only +when he felt fairly certain that there was no harm in so doing; but, +when pressed to give information respecting the Belgian forces, he +resolutely refused. + +The German officers swore, and threatened him. + +"You cannot make me disclose information," declared Rollo. "It is +against the rules of war to coerce a prisoner." + +A chorus of loud jeering laughter greeted this statement. + +"My young friend," quoth the Major when the mirth had subsided, "you do +not understand. When Germany makes war she makes war: there are no +half-measures. Why should we, the greatest nation upon earth, be bound +by rules and regulations laid down by a self-constituted peace +party--the Geneva Convention?" + +"But Germany was a party to it." + +"Because at the time it suited her purpose. It is no use arguing, +young Englishman. The point is, do you answer all our questions, or +must we exercise pressure? Bear in mind that if you give false +information, which we are certain to find out, you will be shot." + +Rollo felt far from comfortable. His faith in the traditions of war, +in which he had been versed by his father, was ruthlessly destroyed by +the cold-blooded declaration of his captor. It was as well that he was +given to pondering rather than to forming a hasty and impulsive +resolution, otherwise he might have told the German major to do his +worst. Under similar circumstances the impetuous Kenneth might have +sealed his own death-warrant; but Rollo remembered that a still tongue +makes a wise head. + +Fortunately at this juncture an orderly knocked at the door. In +response to an ungracious permission to enter he strode stiffly into +the room, clicked his heels, and saluted. + +"What is it?" demanded the Major. + +The soldier handed his officer a sealed dispatch. The German broke the +flap of the envelope with a violent movement of his thick fingers. It +was characteristic of him and his profession: the use of brute force, +even when dealing with the frailest thing that balked him. + +His brows darkened. With an oath he tossed the document to his brother +officers. They, too, swore. The news was not at all reassuring. + +"Sergeant!" roared the Major. "Tell one of your men to have the +swiftest motor-car he can find brought here at once. Those Belgian +brutes have been causing trouble near Tirlemont. Then pick out a +reliable patrol to escort this prisoner to Tirlemont, where I will deal +with him in due course." + +The sergeant saluted, and ran as hard as he could to execute his +superior's commands. Rollo was removed in charge of the guards, until +the arrival of the Uhlans detailed to act as his escort. Then, having +made arrangements with his brother officers for the hurrying up of the +regiment to repel the new phase of the Belgian offensive, the Major +entered the waiting car and was whirled off along the Tirlemont road. + +Rollo smiled grimly as he noted the numbers of the Uhlan escort. + +"Seven of them: they are not going to take much risk of my giving them +the slip," he thought. "All the same I'll keep my eyes well open, and +if there is the faintest possible chance I'll take it. Anything is +better than being threatened by that brute of a Prussian major. I wish +I had knocked him over the head that night." + +After traversing about two miles of the road the Uhlans relaxed their +vigilance. No longer did they carry their lances across the +saddle-bow, ready to transfix their prisoner at the first sign of +trouble. Out came their pipes, and, under the soothing influence of +the tobacco, the Uhlans attempted a conversation in broken French with +their youthful charge. It was not a pleasant subject, for, with grim +vividness, they impressed upon the lad the fact that they had already +seen more than twenty summary executions, and judging by the manner in +which the prisoners met their fate, the process was sharp and +practically painless. But they could not understand why Herr Major had +gone to the trouble to have the prisoner sent after him to Tirlemont, +instead of having him put out of the way without further delay. + +A mounted scout came galloping along the dusty road. The corporal in +charge of the Uhlans stopped him to ask whether there were any Belgian +troops in the district. Receiving a negative reply, the Uhlan grunted +that it was just as well, as he had no desire to be shot at by those +troublesome rascals. + +"It is as safe as in the Unter den Linden," added the scout. "There is +not an armed Belgian within ten miles of you. Our 43rd and 62nd Line +Regiments have just gone forward. You might almost see the rear-guard; +so keep up a brave heart, comrade." + +The corporal growled at this joking advice, yet in his own mind he felt +greatly relieved. After all there was no hurry to reach Tirlemont. If +the patrol arrived before sunset, it was more than likely they would be +ordered to perform another and more hazardous service. + +"We'll halt at that farm-house," he said to his men. "There may be +something worth finding. Two of you will be sufficient to keep an eye +on the prisoner. He doesn't seem as if he will give trouble." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Entombed + +"Ciel! What has hit you?" asked the Belgian corporal, regarding +Kenneth with evident alarm. + +"I am all right," replied the lad; "but those Uhlans have captured my +friend--the English motor-cyclist I told you about." + +"Get your rifles, comrades," ordered the corporal. "Louis, since you +are wounded, remain at this loop-hole." + +The lancer, struggling into his cartridge-belt, made his way to the +observation post; while Kenneth and the rest of the Belgians pushed +back the trap-door and took cover on the ground floor of the +partly-demolished house. There was plenty of time, for the Uhlans were +proceeding at a leisurely pace. + +"It is safe to fire," continued the corporal, having satisfied himself +on all sides that there were no other German troops within sight. "I +will take the leading Bosche on the right; Gaston, the one by his side +will make a broad mark, since you are not a first-class shot. You, +Étienne, cover the Uhlans on the prisoner's left; and you, monsieur, +try your luck on that fellow in the rear. The rest we must polish off +with the second round: none must escape, or we are undone. Now, +monsieur, when I give the word, shout to your friend and tell him to +fall to the ground. Even a hulking German will not stop a bullet, and +I am sure your friend would not like a second-hand piece of lead." + +Slowly the seconds seemed to pass. The Belgians, with their rifles +resting on the broken brickwork and their fingers lightly touching +their sensitive triggers, were ready for their prey. Admirably +concealed, they were still further favoured by the light, for the +setting sun shone full in the faces of the unsuspecting Uhlans. + +"Now, monsieur!" hissed the corporal. + +"Rollo!" shouted Kenneth. "Lie down!" + +For once, at least, Rollo acted promptly. He threw himself on the road +so swiftly that the horse of the Uhlan behind him reared. The German +corporal, although he could not understand what was said, suspected the +truth. + +A word of command was on his lips, when he tumbled from the saddle with +a bullet through his brain. Two more Germans shared the fate of their +non-commissioned officer; but the fellow at whom Gaston had aimed came +off lightly, with a neatly-drilled hole through his bridle-arm. + +Two more, dismounting and taking cover behind their horses, attempted +to use their carbines; while the seventh, seized with a panic, wheeled, +and galloped as hard as he could from the scene. + +Again the Belgian rifles rang out. The fugitive horse stumbled and +fell, throwing its rider with a sickening thud upon the hard road. +From the semi-underground retreat the Belgian corporal's rifle flashed, +and one of the dismounted Uhlans dropped, while his horse, wounded in +the neck by the same bullet that had killed his master, reared, and +plunged upon Rollo as he lay upon the ground. + +The other dismounted German, seeing the fate of his comrades, attempted +to remount, but he too fell, shot through the heart. + +In the midst of the confusion the wounded Uhlan set spurs to his steed +and, bending over the animal's neck, tore down the road. + +"Drop him: if he gets away we are as good as done for!" shouted the +Belgian corporal. + +Shot after shot whistled after the fugitive. Once he was seen to give +a spasmodic movement and then again to drop over the horse's neck. +Still the terrified animal tore onwards, and at length was out of sight. + +"Quel dommage!" ejaculated the corporal. "The rascal has got away." + +"He'll drop. I'll swear that he was badly hit," said Étienne, the +artilleryman. + +"We are not to know that," grumbled the corporal; "at least, not at +present. Quick, there! We must remove all traces of the affair, and +trust to luck that the fellow will be able to tell no tales." + +Resting their rifles against the wall, Kenneth and his Belgian comrades +ran into the road. They found Rollo little the worse for his +experiences, beyond a bruised ankle caused by a kick from the +struggling horse. + +"Congratulations after. Work first," exclaimed the corporal. +"Together, comrades!" + +The corpses of the Uhlans and their horses were dragged across the +highway and thrown into the broad ditch, where in the now gathering +twilight they would escape observation, while dust was thrown upon the +traces of the encounter. + +"Now to the cellar!" exclaimed the corporal. "Nevertheless, I will +remain without for a time. I am not at all satisfied. The escape of +that wounded Uhlan troubles me, so I will keep watch from without." + +"He received his quietus, never fear," declared Gaston. "He will tell +no tales." + +"If your opinion is not more true than your aim--" began the corporal +meaningly. "But we must hope that it is so. All the same I will keep +watch." + +The rest of his comrades regained their underground retreat, leaving +the trap-door open in order that the corporal could descend without +delay. Rollo was this time the centre of attraction, and the rescued +lad had to give a long and detailed account of his adventures in the +hands of the Germans. + +"Your foot is hurting you," observed Kenneth, noticing that Rollo was +wincing towards the close of his narrative. "Take off your boot and +let me see what is wrong." + +Examination showed that Rollo's leg was badly bruised from the ankle to +the knee; in addition there were slight abrasions. + +"It's lucky you didn't get a direct kick from that horse," continued +Kenneth. "I'll bring some water and bathe it. I'm sorry we haven't +any first-aid stuff with us." + +With that Kenneth reascended the ladder, and made his way to a well +that was situated about ten paces from where the back door of the house +used to be. It was now nearly dark. The Belgian keeping his solitary +vigil was hardly visible in the gloom. + +The lad raised the heavy iron bucket, emptied about half the contents +away, and was about to return to the cellar when the corporal gripped +him by the shoulders. + +"Regardez bien!" he whispered, pointing along the road that led to +Cortenaeken. + +"German cavalry!" exclaimed Kenneth. + +"Would that it were!" said the Belgian. "Then we might see some fun. +They are artillery. Ten thousand plagues on the clumsiness of Gaston! +By missing that fellow, he allowed him to bring this hornets' nest +about our ears. To the cellar! We cannot fight, we must hide and +trust to luck." + +Quickly the cellar-flap was shut, and in total darkness the six men +waited for the opening of the German guns. + +An appalling crash, followed by the rumbling of fallen bricks, +announced that the first shell had hit the building. Mortar dropped +from the arched roof of their underground retreat. The Belgians +chuckled. + +"Let the rascals waste their shells," declared Étienne. "They will +want them badly before the war is over." + +"Did you bring the water?" asked Rollo. + +"Rather! I am not such an ass as to forget about you, old man," +replied Kenneth. "Can you limp as far as the end of the cellar? +There's a bench or something of the kind. It will be better than +sitting on the cold stones." + +Carefully and deliberately Kenneth bathed his chum's injured leg, while +without the deafening crashes continued at rapid intervals. + +"There can't be much of the house left," observed Rollo. "It wasn't +much of a show when I first saw it. By the by, where is your bike?" + +"Under some damp straw in an outhouse. It ought to be well out of the +bursting area of those shells. At any rate----" + +A vivid flash of light filled the cellar. There was a terrific roar, +followed by an avalanche of bricks and stones. Kenneth, who was +kneeling by his chum, was thrown violently against Rollo, and the two, +deafened by the concussion, found themselves gasping for breath amid +the sulphurous fumes that wafted around them. + +A shell, crashing through the cellar-flap, had burst in the underground +refuge. The luckless Belgians were literally blown to atoms. Kenneth +and Rollo had escaped almost by a miracle, only to be confronted by a +new danger. They were buried alive, and in peril of suffocation from +the noxious gases of the burst projectile. + +Kenneth staggered to his feet. His head came in contact with an +immense slab of stone. He stretched out his arms, to find that his +hands touched a shaking mass of brickwork on both sides. + +"We're trapped!" he whispered. "If those brutes fire again, the rest +of the cellar will cave in on top of us I wonder how the other fellows +got on." + +He called the Belgians by name, at first softly, then gradually raising +his voice, but no reply came through the intervening barrier of debris. + +The firing had now ceased. The last shell--the most destructive of +all--had reduced the farm-house to a heap of ruins. Above ground, +hardly one brick or stone adhered to another, while beneath the mound +of ruins the two British lads were entombed, and apparently doomed to a +lingering death. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The Way Out + +For nearly a quarter of an hour, though it seemed like a long-drawn +night, Kenneth and Rollo remained silent. Gradually the air became +purer as the fumes escaped through the crevices in the brickwork. It +was the darkness they dreaded most--a darkness that could almost be +felt. It seemed to have weight, to press upon their eyes. + +"I wish I had a match," whispered Kenneth. + +Rollo felt in his pockets. It was, as he expected, a vain quest, for +when in the hands of the Germans he had been rigorously searched, and +every article in his possession had been confiscated. + +"This is the limit," said Kenneth dolorously. "I'd much rather be shot +in action. Here we may be snuffed out and no one will be a bit the +wiser. We may not be found for years, perhaps never." + +"Oh, shut up!" exclaimed his companion. "It's bad enough without +rubbing it in." + +"I wasn't." + +"Yes, you were; but, I say, don't let us start quarrelling. The +question is----" + +"Hist!" whispered Kenneth. "I hear voices." + +The lad was right. Almost above their heads heavy boots were stumbling +over the debris, while the muffled sounds of guttural voices were borne +to the ears of the two prisoners. The Germans were searching the ruins. + +"I vote we shout. They'll dig us out," suggested Kenneth. + +"I vote we don't," objected Rollo sturdily. "See, the gleam of a +lantern is showing through a crack or a hole in the brickwork, so it +can't be so very thick. We may be able to tunnel our way out when they +clear off. If we gave ourselves up, ten to one they would shoot us for +giving them all this trouble." + +It was that small glimmer of light that raised their hopes, without +which they would, through sheer panic, have called frantically to their +foes for aid, without considering the consequences. + +For perhaps an hour the Germans continued their search, until, +discovering the passage of the final and fatal shell, they removed +sufficient of the debris to enable them to descend to the cellar. The +entombment of the two lads now proved to be a blessing in disguise, +for, screened from observation by the mound of rubble, their retreat +was unsuspected by the searchers. + +Having found sufficient evidence to satisfy themselves that the +Belgians who had ambushed the Uhlan patrol were themselves slain, the +Germans concluded their investigations and went away. + +For another long period the lads remained silent, until they felt +convinced that once more they were free from the unwelcome attentions +of the German troops. Then Rollo broke the silence. + +"I'm jolly thirsty," he remarked. + +"So am I," declared Kenneth. "There's some water in the bucket. We +needn't be too particular. I dipped my handkerchief in it, but it was +fairly clean." + +"I'm ready to mop water out of a ditch," said Rollo. + +Kenneth groped for the bucket. It was within six inches of his foot +and standing upright, but it was empty. A fragment of shell had torn a +hole through it close to the bottom. Not a drop of liquid was left. + +"We've had a jolly narrow squeak," said Kenneth. "After that it would +be hard lines if we were knocked out in the last lap. I don't think we +shall be. Suppose we start tunnelling." + +"Steady on, old man! We ought to wait till it gets light. Then we +will be able to see what we are doing," expostulated his companion. + +"I can feel." + +"Yes, perhaps; but by dislodging part of the rubble you may cause a +sort of landslide and bury us completely. I vote we exercise just a +little more patience." + +They had been conversing in whispers, lest the sound of their voices +might be heard by a sentry, for it was quite possible that the Germans +might think they had not accounted for the whole garrison of the ruined +farmhouse. They had good reason to believe that the British +dispatch-rider had taken refuge there; the only chance was that they +might have come to the conclusion that Rollo was one of the +unrecognizable victims of the deadly shell. + +Slowly the hours of darkness passed, the silence broken only at +intervals by the dull grinding of the subsiding debris and by a +desultory, whispered conversation between the lads. Then Kenneth +became aware that he could indistinctly discern his companion's face +The long-hoped-for dawn had come at last. + +In another half-hour it was light enough to form a fairly accurate idea +of the state of affairs. The prisoners were in a triangular-shaped +space, two sides consisting of the adjoining walls of the cellar. The +third was composed of a bank of broken bricks and stones, diminishing +in thickness as it grew in height. Overhead a part of the vaulted roof +had fallen, but the brickwork remained cemented together, forming a +shield from the rubble above it. But for this mass of brickwork the +lads would have been crushed to death by the immense weight of the +ruined walls of the farm-house. + +Between the topmost bricks and the overhead protection quite a strong +light penetrated into the cavity where they crouched. The early +morning sun was shining directly upon the heap of debris. + +"I think we can shift this stuff," remarked Kenneth, cautiously feeling +a loose brickbat. + +"All right, carry on," replied Rollo. "Only be careful to test each +piece of rubble before you remove it. If we cannot make a hole through +in that direction we must try cutting through the existing wall. It +will be a tough job, but you have your knife." + +"I hope we won't have to do that. The cement is as hard as iron. It +would take us a week. Let's hope for the best." + +Proceeding very cautiously, Kenneth removed enough of the debris to +disclose an opening sufficiently large to thrust his head through. +Upon attempting to enlarge the hole the mass began to slide; the +overhead slab of brickwork rumbled. + +"Steady on!" cautioned Rollo in alarm. "The whole show's caving in." + +"It won't any more," declared Kenneth after a brief investigation. +"See that wedge-shaped brick? It's acting as a keystone of an arch. +All we have to do is to remove the rubbish from the lower part of the +hole and squeeze out sideways." + +In another half-hour the gap through the mound of rubble was enlarged +to roughly eighteen inches wide and two feet in height. To all +appearances the danger of further subsidence was past. + +"I'll go first, old man," said Kenneth. "Then, if I get through all +right, I can give you a hand. Think you'll manage it with that leg of +yours?" + +"I hardly feel it," replied Rollo, which was indeed no exaggeration. +Keeping fairly still in that confined space, he had not tried the +injured ankle. But, almost as soon as he made the declaration, he +became aware of a throbbing pain from his hip downwards. In spite of +Kenneth's attention to the sprained ankle on the previous night, the +limb had swollen to an alarming extent. + +Rollo made no mention of this to his comrade. He shut his jaw tightly +and endured the pain. + +With the utmost caution Kenneth began to wriggle through the narrow +tunnel, using one outstretched arm to pull himself over the rough +brickwork. The other arm he had to keep close to his side, and even +thus it was a tight squeeze. Before his head emerged from the opening +he stuck--and stuck fast. He felt as if he were suffocating; he was +assailed by the horrible dread that the rubble was slowly yet surely +subsiding. He wanted to struggle madly and desperately; to shout for +aid. He was momentarily panic-stricken. + +Controlling himself by a strong effort, Kenneth ceased to waste his +strength in a useless attempt to drag himself from that horrible +passage. With the sweat pouring from him he kept quiet, filling his +lungs with the cool morning air from without. + +"What have you stopped for?" asked Rollo anxiously. + +"Can't help it," was the muffled reply. "Give my legs a shove, old +man." + +This Rollo did effectively by applying his back to the soles of his +companion's feet. Keeping absolutely rigid, Kenneth found himself +being pushed slowly yet gradually towards freedom. His head +emerged--then his shoulders. He could now draw up his left arm and +assist in the nerve-racking operation. Wellnigh breathless, bruised +and scraped, covered with dirt and dust, and with his clothing rent in +several places, he gained the open air. + +Kenneth had already had sufficient military experience to learn the +value of concealment. Without attempting to stand he made a careful +survey of his surroundings. He was in a bowl-like depression enclosed +on all sides by irregular hummocks of pulverized brickwork, tiles, and +charred timbers. + +With a sigh of relief the lad realized that there were no Germans in +sight. The attacking party had not thought fit to leave a picket in +charge of the ruins of the farm-house. To all appearances the two +comrades were the only living persons for miles around. + +"I'll get the rope from the well and give you a pull out," announced +Kenneth upon returning to the mouth of the tunnel. "It will be a +fairly easy job." + +"Don't be long, then," said Rollo anxiously. + +"I won't," replied the lad encouragingly, and without further delay he +hastened towards the well. It was no longer there. Only a deep cavity +partly filled with rubbish marked its site. A shell had exploded close +to it, causing the walls to cave in, and throwing out enough earth to +leave a pit three yards in diameter. The windlass and the rope had +vanished utterly. + +"That's done it!" exclaimed Kenneth; then a brilliant idea flashing +across his mind, he bent his back and ran across to the +partly-demolished outhouse where he had hidden his motor-cycle. + +With a shout of satisfaction he found the machine exactly as he had +left it. The Germans had visited the adjoining shed, for several +bundles of fresh straw had been removed. Wisps of straw were scattered +on the ground, but the rotten material which Kenneth had thrown over +his mount had been considered unworthy of the spoilers' attention. + +Deftly Kenneth removed the belt from the cycle and doubled back to the +tunnel. + +"You've been a time!" exclaimed Rollo with evident relief. "I thought +you'd tumbled into the well or had been collared by the enemy." + +"Neither, thanks, old man. The well's gone to blazes and the rope as +well, but this belt will answer our purpose. Hang on with both hands, +turn over on your side, sprained foot uppermost, and say when you're +ready." + +Upon receiving the signal Kenneth began to haul. To his great surprise +Rollo was pulled through the narrow opening with very little +difficulty. Once more they were free; but they were not yet out of the +wood. Between them and the Belgian army lay the lines of a vigilant +and wary foe. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Through the Enemy's Lines + +"Everything's all clear, as far as I can see," reported Kenneth. "The +question is, how are we to rejoin our regiment?" + +"I can foot it," declared Rollo. + +"But not ten miles. Your ankle would give out before you walked a +hundred yards. What I vote we do is that I ride the bike and take you +on the carrier." + +Rollo shook his head. + +"Too jolly conspicuous," he protested. "One fellow might stand the +ghost of a chance, but two----" + +Kenneth turned over the question in his mind for a few moments. To +remain where they were was impracticable. They would be starving +before many more hours had passed. + +"Tell you what!" he exclaimed as an idea flashed through his brain. +"We'll rig ourselves out in German uniforms----" + +"And get shot as spies if we're collared! No, thanks, Kenneth. If we +are to be plugged I'd rather be in Belgian uniform, since a British one +is at present out of the question." + +"It's a risk, I admit. Everything is, under existing circumstances. +If we are spotted, then there's an end to it and us; otherwise we stand +a better chance by masquerading in these fellows' clothes." + +"But if we are challenged? We couldn't reply in German." + +"You're meeting trouble half-way." + +"I like to go into the pros and cons," declared Rollo. "If you can +convince me that your scheme is a sound one, I'm on; otherwise--dead +off. For one thing, where are the German uniforms?" + +"You've forgotten the Uhlans we slung into the ditch." + +Rollo shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. + +"I draw the line at donning the saturated uniform of a dead Uhlan." + +"Come, don't be squeamish. If you are never asked to do a worse thing +than that in the course of your natural, then you are a lucky +individual. You'll find it's like taking a header into the sea on a +gusty summer's day. The wind makes you shiver, and you think twice +about it, but once you are in the water it's comparatively warm." + +"You haven't got over the language difficulty." + +"Yes, I have; at least I think so. If we meet any patrols, you must +pretend to be half-dead----" + +"I guess I shall be dead entirely if we do." + +"Badly wounded, then. I'll bandage you up, and at the same time put a +scarf round my jaw." + +"What for?" + +"Haven't you any imagination, old man? Why, to make out I've been +wounded in the mouth and am unable to speak a word." + +"You may think me an obstinate mule, Kenneth," said his comrade, "but +why should two wounded men be trying to make their way to the front? +Naturally they would be making tracks to the nearest field hospital." + +"You've done me there," declared Kenneth. "But I can't see how we can +go direct towards the German lines. Whether we go to the right or left +the road runs nearly parallel to the enemy's front." + +"Perhaps we may as well risk it," decided Rollo. "I believe I noticed +a plank across the ditch about a mile along the road. The question is +whether the bike will stand it over the rough ground." + +"She will--she'll tackle anything within reason," said Kenneth +optimistically. "So let's make a move." + +Overcoming their natural repugnance, the two lads recovered the bodies +of a couple of Uhlans from the muddy ditch and proceeded to strip them +of their uniforms. These they wrung out, and placed on the broken +brickwork to dry. + +"I say!" suddenly exclaimed Rollo. "How about these boots with spurs? +Do Uhlans ever ride motor-bikes?" + +"Rather! They've a couple of motor-cyclists to each troop. All we +have to do is to knock off the spurs, and there you are!" + +As soon as the two lads had completed their change of uniforms they +made a final reconnaissance. Finding the road clear of troops, Kenneth +started the engine and stood astride the saddle, while Rollo took up +his position on the carrier. + +They looked a pair of bedraggled scarecrows. The Uhlan uniforms were +wet and plastered with mud. Rollo's forehead was bound round with a +grimy scarf, while, to give a most realistic touch, Kenneth had tied +the blood-stained handkerchief that had been applied to his chum's +ankle round the lower part of his face, completely covering his mouth. + +"Ready?" asked Kenneth in muffled tones. Receiving an affirmative +reply from his companion, he slipped in the clutch and away the cycle +glided. + +"Here's trouble!" the lad thought before many yards of road had been +traversed, for ahead was a rapidly-nearing cloud of dust that evidently +betokened the approach of cavalry or horse artillery. + +"Troops of sorts coming," he informed his companion. + +"Thanks, quite comfortable," was Rollo's inconsequential reply; for the +handkerchief round Kenneth's mouth, the noise of the engine, and the +rush of air as the motor-cycle tore along prevented the passenger from +hearing the information given, while Rollo was unable to look ahead. + +"Germans in sight!" yelled Kenneth. + +This time Rollo understood. Resisting the temptation to look over his +companion's shoulder, he drooped his head, as becoming the rôle of a +badly-wounded man. + +The on-coming troops turned out to be neither cavalry nor artillery, +but a motor section, including a machine-gun mounted on an armoured +side-car. Fortunately the pace as Rollo and Kenneth tore past was such +that recognition or detection was out of the question. + +"Here we are," announced Rollo a few seconds later. + +Kenneth quickly pulled up. As he did so he gave a hurried look around. +There were no signs of more Germans, while the motor-cyclist detachment +was almost out of sight. + +The plank across the ditch was about nine inches wide. In places it +was worn to such an extent that there were holes in the wood. Kenneth +eyed it with obvious distrust, yet it seemed the only likely means of +gaining the open country beyond, across which a footpath promised +fairly easy going. + +"I didn't know that it was so rotten as that," said Rollo +apologetically. "I don't know whether it will bear the weight of the +bike." + +"We'll risk it anyhow," declared Kenneth. "Can you put your foot to +the ground without much pain? You can? Good! Steady the jigger a +second." + +Unhesitatingly Kenneth jumped into the ditch. He sank above his ankles +in mud, with the water up to his thighs, yet he was able to keep the +motor-cycle in an upright position while Rollo, steadying himself by +means of the saddle, pushed it along the creaking plank. + +"That looks bad," commented Kenneth, pointing to a small object lying +on the ground. It was a brass button from the tunic of a Prussian +soldier. Some of the enemy had passed that way, and were consequently +between the lads and the Belgian lines. + +"We may find a gap," declared Rollo, for by this time he was +whole-heartedly devoted to the carrying out of his comrade's plans. +"If it comes to the pinch we will have to abandon the bike." + +"Steady, old man!" said Kenneth in mock reproof. "Because you lost +your motor-cycle there is no reason why you should suggest my doing +likewise. Now, jump up." + +Kenneth maintained a moderate pace, keeping a bright look-out for any +indications of the invaders. Judging by the state of the path and the +ground for a few yards on either side, a regiment had recently passed +that way, marching in fours. That meant that they were some distance +from the supposed firing-line, otherwise the men would have advanced in +open order. From the north came the distant rumble of guns. An action +was in progress in the neighbourhood of Diest and Aerschot. + +"Look out!" suddenly exclaimed Rollo. "There's a Taube." + +"Where?" enquired his companion, slipping the handkerchief from over +his mouth. + +"Right behind us, and coming this way. I believe it's going to land." + +"The rotter!" ejaculated Kenneth. "I wonder if they have spotted us, +and are suspicious." + +There was no time to say more, for the aeroplane was now passing +overhead at an altitude of about two hundred feet. The motor had been +switched off, and the Taube was vol-planing towards the earth. + +It descended clumsily, striking the ground with a terrific bump that +demolished the wheels and landing-skids. Directly the Taube came to +rest, the pilot alighted and waved frantically to the two supposed +Uhlan motor-cyclists. + +"I'll have to go," mumbled Kenneth, who had readjusted his bandage. +"You stay here. Now, steady--let me help you. Remember you are badly +wounded, yet you want to skip like a superanimated gazelle. That's +better; let your arms trail helplessly." + +Having placed Rollo in a dry, shallow ditch by the side of the path, +Kenneth walked quickly towards the disabled Taube. Outwardly he was +cool enough, but his heart was beating rapidly. + +At ten paces from the observer he stopped, clicked his heels, and +saluted in correct German fashion. + +The flying-officer spoke rapidly, at the same time pointing in a +westerly direction. Kenneth knew not a word of what he said, but +replied by nodding his head and indicating his bandaged jaw. + +The German scowled, then, turning to the pilot, spoke a few quick +sentences. Kenneth's hand wandered to the butt-end of his revolver. +It imparted a feeling of comparative security. Then, recollecting his +rôle, he pulled himself together and stood rigidly at attention, at the +same time ready, at the first sign of suspicion on the part of the +airmen, to draw his weapon and blaze away. + +Presently the pilot produced some sheets of paper and a buff calico +envelope. The observer scribbled a few lines, sealed the missive, and +held it towards the pseudo Uhlan. + +Although Kenneth could not understand the other's words, their meaning +was clear enough. He had been peremptorily told to make tracks and +deliver the message somewhere towards the west, where the German lines +were. With another salute he wheeled, and returned to his companion. +Not daring to speak a word, he assisted Rollo to his seat on the +carrier and set the motor in action. + +"We're in luck, old man," said Kenneth, when they were well out of +sight of the disabled Taube. "If we are spotted by any patrols this +letter will pass us through. It's evidently a report to the colonel of +one of the regiments in the fighting-line." + +"Don't you think you had better drop me?" + +"Drop you--what on earth for?" + +"You might get through as a German dispatch-rider; but with a supposed +wounded man going towards the firing-line? Looks a bit suspicious, eh?" + +"No fear; we'll stick together. If one gets through, the other must; +otherwise we'll both go under. Hello! Here's a road." + +It was a sharp corner as they swung from the path to the highway. +Kenneth wisely slowed down, and found himself almost in collision with +a German patrol. + +The men were evidently exhausted. Two were standing in the centre of +the road, and leaning heavily upon their rifles. Half a dozen more, +having discarded their rolled coats and cumbersome knapsacks, were +reclining on a bank. The two faced about on hearing the approach of +the motor. The others sprang to their feet and seized their rifles. + +Producing the buff envelope Kenneth waved it frantically, at the same +time increasing speed. The Germans stood back, the sergeant grunting a +few words as the two lads flashed by. No bullets whistled past them; +the aviator's dispatch had proved a safe passport. + +For the next two miles they were continually passing troops, some going +in the same direction, accompanied by heavily-laden supply wagons; +others, wounded in action, painfully making their way towards the +nearest field hospital. + +The action, whatever the result might be, was no longer in this part of +the field of operations. Ahead were the bivouacs of the Germans +holding the line of front. The air was thick with the smoke of their +campfires. Right and left, as far as the eye could see, were masses of +grey-coated men, without a sign of a gap through which the British lads +could make a dash for freedom. + +Two hundred yards to the left of the road was a battery, the guns of +which were admirably concealed from view from the front by a bank of +earth on which were stuck branches of trees. The muzzles of the +artillery were pointing at an angle of thirty degrees, so that they +must have been shelling a Belgian position at a range of about five +miles. Since the guns were now silent, Kenneth could only reiterate +his belief that the heroic Belgians had had to retire in the face of +overwhelming numbers, and that a distance of at least seven miles lay +between the two lads and their friends. + +After passing numerous detachments of troops without alarming incident, +the confidence of Kenneth and his companion grew stronger; but they had +a nasty shock when they were peremptorily challenged by a picket and +ordered to halt. The sight of half a dozen levelled bayonets left no +doubt as to the demands of the sergeant in charge of the party. + +Kenneth brought the motor-cycle to a dead-stop, keeping his saddle and +supporting the machine by placing his feet on the ground. Rollo, too, +made no attempt to dismount, but, clinging to his companion, drooped +his head with well-feigned exhaustion. + +Pointing to the bandage over his jaw, Kenneth produced the official +document. The sergeant took it, read the inscription, and pointed to a +turning on the right. That, the lads knew, ran parallel to the German +front. + +Meanwhile one of the soldiers stooped and peered into Rollo's face. +Then he said something to the sergeant, who signified assent. The +private began to lift Rollo from his perch--not with any degree of +violence, but carefully, as if actuated by feelings of compassion, +addressing him as _kamerade_. + +Rollo hung on tightly. Kenneth turned his head and expostulated in +dumb show. The private again appealed to his sergeant, at the same +time pointing to a Red Cross motor-wagon that was standing at some +distance off. + +With a jerk of his head the sergeant bade the man desist. After all, +it was not his business. If the wounded Uhlan preferred to be jolted +about on a motorcycle rather than be properly attended to in an +ambulance cart, it was his affair. + +Not to be outdone, the private gave Rollo a drink from his +water-bottle. Then, having returned the envelope to Kenneth and given +him elaborate directions, made fairly clear by many movements of his +hand, the sergeant allowed the two lads to proceed. + +To continue along the road would arouse immediate suspicion. +Accordingly Kenneth turned off and followed the route indicated by the +German. Here, although there were plenty of troops moving up and down, +most of the traffic was across the road between the bivouacs of the +advance lines and the supports. Men were hurrying, each with a set +purpose, and the two supposed wounded lads attracted but little notice. + +The road they were now following was gradually converging upon the line +of resting troops. Unless it made a bend to the right it would cut +through the mass of German soldiery. And perhaps the officer whose +name was on the envelope might be within close distance. His +acquaintance neither Kenneth nor Rollo had the faintest desire to make. + +So suddenly that Kenneth almost overshot it, a narrow lane, running at +right angles to the direction in which they were travelling, came into +view. It separated two infantry regiments, while at the cross-roads +two machine-guns commanded the approach from the westward. + +In an instant Kenneth made up his mind. Round swung the motor-bike, +grazing one of the machine-guns by a bare inch; then, at full speed, +Kenneth began his hazardous dash for safety. He had not ignored the +risk, but there was a chance of success. The lane wound considerably, +and, before the machine-guns could open fire, the fugitives would be +screened by a bend of the tree-lined avenue. + +A dozen voices shouted to him to stop. A bullet whistled high above +the heads of the fugitives. A soldier, more alert than his comrades, +had let loose a hasty, ill-aimed shot. Other bullets followed, some +hitting the ground, others zipping overhead; but to Kenneth's relief +there was no tap-tap of the deadly machine-guns. + +"An outpost, by Jove!" muttered Kenneth. + +He had not reckoned upon this. A quarter of a mile in advance of the +line of bivouacs were a dozen infantrymen, lying hidden in a copse. +Hearing the rifle-firing they started to their feet. + +Kenneth never attempted to slacken his pace. He realized that +everything depended upon speed. Before the outposts could solve the +mystery of two men in Uhlan uniforms tearing towards them, the +motor-cycle with its double burden was upon them. They gave back. One +man attempted to lunge with his bayonet, but the tip of the steel +flashed a good hair's breadth behind Rollo's back. + +A ragged, ill-aimed volley was the parting salute. The two British +lads were through the enemy's lines. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Arrested as Spies + +"We're safe for the present," remarked Kenneth, after the two fugitives +had placed a distance of at least four miles between them and the +outlying German post. "I didn't mention it before, but the belt is +slipping horribly. The strain has stretched it a lot; so we may as +well shorten the rubber." + +"By Jove, it is slack!" exclaimed Rollo, testing the "give" of the +belt. "It's a wonder it didn't let us down badly. It's a funny thing, +old man, but I've often noticed that if we expect a lot of trouble we +get through without hardly any bother. The last lap, when we rushed +the German lines, was as easy as ABC." + +"Yes," assented his companion. "I've noticed that too. It's the +unexpected trifle that often leads to greater difficulties. Got your +knife handy? Oh, I suppose the Germans took a fancy to that too. Can +you get mine from my pocket? That's right, cut the belt through at an +inch from the end." + +The motor-cyclists had halted in the midst of a war-devastated area. +Farm houses and buildings were numerous, but in almost every case they +had suffered severely from shell-fire. Not a living creature, besides +themselves, was in sight. Here and there were corpses of the gallant +defenders of Belgium, some in uniforms, some in civilian attire. These +men, shot whilst in the act of retiring under a terrific artillery +fire, had been left where they fell, showing how heavy had been the +German attack; for in most cases the plucky Belgians contrived to carry +off those of their comrades who had died for their country. + +Close to the spot where Kenneth and his companion had stopped was a +large farm wagon piled high with furniture. Yoked to it were the +bodies of two oxen, while a short distance away lay a dead peasant--an +old man. The wagon, on which the refugee had been attempting to remove +his goods and chattels from his threatened homestead, had fallen an +easy target to the German guns. + +A gnawing hunger compelled the British lads to examine the +shell-riddled contents of the wagon in the hope of finding food. But +in this they were disappointed. Not so much as a scrap of anything to +eat was to be found. + +Both lads were parched, Kenneth especially so. Even Rollo had almost +forgotten the refreshing taste of the water given him by the German +private. Yet, even in the pangs of a burning thirst, they could not +bring themselves to drink of the stagnant water in the ditches by the +roadside. + +The repair completed, the motor-cyclists remounted. They were most +eager to push on, even for the sake of obtaining drink, food, and rest. +It could only be a matter of a few short, easy miles before they would +be safe for the time being in the country still held by their friends, +the Belgian troops. + +"She's pulling splendidly now," announced Kenneth, referring to the +transmission of power from the engine to the driving-wheel. Both lads +had now discarded the bandages over their bogus wounds, and +conversation was a fairly easy matter. + +Hardly were the words out of his mouth when the motor began to falter. +Then it "picked up", ran for about a quarter of a minute and slowed +down again, finally coming to a dead-stop. + +"No petrol," announced Rollo ruefully. "The tank is empty." + +"Rot!" ejaculated his companion incredulously. "It was full when we +started, and I'll swear we've done nothing like sixty miles on it yet." + +Kenneth examined the gauge, then turned to his chum. + +"Sorry, old man," he said. "I'm wrong. The stuff's all gone." + +Further examination revealed the unpleasant fact that there was a small +leak between the piping and the carburettor. Unnoticed, a quantity of +the petrol had run to waste. + +"It's a case of push," continued Kenneth. "How's your foot? Fit for a +tramp? If not, you may as well get on the saddle and I'll run you +along." + +Although young Barrington's ankle was paining considerably, he sturdily +refused to take advantage of his companion's offer. From experience he +knew that pushing a motor was no light task. Kenneth might be capable +of giving him a lift, but Rollo would not trespass upon his friend's +generous conduct to that extent. + +On and on they plodded, Rollo resting one hand on the saddle and +striving to conceal his limp. Presently a practically ruined village +came in sight. Not only had it been heavily bombarded, but subsequent +fires had increased the work of destruction. Thick columns of smoke +were rising high into the sultry air, while above the roar of the +flames could be heard the excited tones of human voices. + +"The villagers are trying to save the little that remains of their +homes," said Kenneth. "They'll be able to give us some information as +to where we can pick up the Belgian troops. Perhaps, though I doubt +it, we may be also able to procure petrol." + +Suddenly a peasant, who was standing about a hundred yards in front of +the nearest house, took to his heels and ran, shouting as he went. +Before he gained the village, spurts of dull flame burst from behind a +heap of debris piled across the road, and half a dozen bullets _zipped_ +past the two lads. + +"Lie down!" exclaimed Kenneth, stopping only to place his precious +motor-cycle behind a tree by the side of a ditch, before he followed +the prompt example of his companion. "Those fellows have mistaken us +for Uhlans. I don't wonder at it, now I come to think about it." + +Although sheltered by a mound by the side of the ditch, their place of +concealment was known to the peasants. The latter kept up quite a hot +fire from antiquated muskets and sporting-guns. Shots whizzed +overhead, and showers of pellets fell all around the two lads. + +"Can't blame them," said Rollo. "Let's hoist the white flag; it's no +disgrace in this case." + +Kenneth produced a very discoloured pocket-handkerchief. At one time +it had been a white one, but owing to the various uses to which it had +been put its colour resembled that tint which the French, with a +reason, call "isabelle". For want of a staff he was obliged to hold it +by his uplifted arm. In return he received a couple of pellets from a +"twelve-bore", which, fortunately, only inflicted two punctured wounds +in his skin. + +"I'm not a rabbit," muttered Kenneth, and he continued to wave the +"white flag". + +Presently the firing ceased, and a swarm of men, accompanied by several +shrieking women, bore down upon the two supposed Uhlans. + +"We're friends!" shouted Kenneth. "We're English. We've escaped from +the Prussians." + +He might just as well have attempted to stem a torrent with a feather. +The villagers saw only the hated uniforms of their merciless +oppressors. They had no cause to grant quarter to Uhlans, for Uhlans +were brutal and murderous to all with whom they came in contact when on +their dreaded raids. + +"A mort! A bas!" rose from the mob like the growling of a pack of +half-famished animals. The two British lads were in dire peril of +being torn limb from limb. + +"A bas les Prussiens! Nous sommes Anglais," shouted Kenneth again, +folding his arms and trying his level best to appear calm. + +A stick, hurled by a woman's hand, missed his head and struck him +heavily upon the shoulder. At almost the same time Rollo was hit by a +broken brick, the missile striking him in the ribs. + +"Tenez!" thundered an authoritative voice. "Let us show these vile +Uhlans that Belgians are civilized. We will give them a fair trial, +and shoot them afterwards." + +"Anything for a respite," thought Kenneth. Even in this moment of +peril the Belgian speaker's idea of a fair trial tickled his sense of +humour. + +The man who had intervened was a short, thickset fellow, with lowering +eyebrows and a crop of closely-cut hair. He was dressed in black, +while round his waist was a shawl, evidently intended for a badge of +office. He had donned it in such a hurry that the loops of the bows +had come undone and were trailing in the dust. + +Grasped by a dozen toil-hardened hands, and surrounded by the rest of +the survivors of the justly exasperated inhabitants, the two lads were +hurried towards the village. + +"I wish we had kept on our uniforms under these, old man," said Rollo. +"We've nothing to prove our identity." + +"They're speaking in German. That proves their guilt," announced one +of their captors. + +Neither Kenneth nor Rollo attempted to deny the statement--somewhat +unwisely, for their unsophisticated guards took silence as an +expression of assent to the accusation. + +The military passes provided by the Belgian Government had been +destroyed--Rollo's, when captured at Cortenaeken; Kenneth's, when the +lads made their hitherto beneficial exchange of uniforms. As Rollo had +remarked, they possessed nothing that they could produce to prove their +identity. + +Happening to look over his shoulder, Kenneth saw a peasant kicking his +motor-cycle. Unable to wheel it, since its owner had slipped in the +clutch previous to placing it under cover, the Belgian was venting his +annoyance upon the machine. + +"Stop!" shouted Kenneth. "That's an English motor-cycle. Would you do +harm to anything made by your friends the English?" + +He used the word "English" advisedly, for experience had taught him +that the term "British" is hardly known to the peasantry of Belgium. +Even the educated classes make use of the expression "English" more +frequently than "British". + +"Aye; do not injure it, Henri," called out the man who evidently held +the office of Mayor. "When the English soldiers arrive to help us to +drive back the Bosches it may be useful to them. Parbleu! It is +useless to us." + +In front of the ruined church the villagers held a most informal trial +upon their captives. From the Belgians' point of view the evidence was +absolutely conclusive against the prisoners. They were in German +uniforms. + +In vain the lads mentioned the names of Major Résimont, Captain +Planchenoît, and other officers of the 9th Regiment of the Line. The +peasants knew nothing of them; besides, they declared, it was an easy +matter to invent names. Again, the prisoners spoke French with a +foreign accent; they had been caught whilst coming from the direction +of the German lines. They were, no doubt, scouts of the Uhlan patrol, +bent upon completing the work of massacre and destruction that the guns +had begun against the unresisting village. + +"Hang them: powder is too good to waste upon canaille such as these," +suggested one of the peasants. + +"Yes, hang them," agreed another. "I'll do the job. 'Twill be but a +slight revenge for my murdered wife and children. Let the Uhlans see, +when next they come, that we, too, can be terrible." + +The Major nodded his head approvingly. A man shuffled forward with a +coil of rope. + +"One moment," exclaimed Kenneth, who even in this moment of peril did +not lose his head. "If we are to die, cannot we have the service of a +priest?" + +It was a faint chance. A representative of the Church would +undoubtedly have great influence with his flock. He would, more than +likely, listen impartially to the story of the two condemned prisoners. + +"A priest?" echoed one of the peasants mockingly. "Is it likely that +Germans who have purposely shattered God's house can hope for +absolution from a priest?" + +"Besides, we have not a priest," added another. "Monsieur le curé was +wounded early in the day. He was taken to Louvain." + +"Hurry with the execution, camarades," said the Mayor. "Time is +precious. At any moment a strong body of these Uhlans may be upon us. +Prepared, we may bring down a few and sell our lives dearly--but this +is not being prepared." + +Kenneth shivered when he felt the contact of the rope round his neck. +He glanced at his companion. Rollo's face was red with suppressed +fury. He looked as if he were on the point of breaking loose and +making a desperate bid for freedom. It was the injustice of the whole +business, not the fear of death, that agitated him. + +"Let's have a slap at them," said Rollo in a low tone. "If we get a +dose of lead it will be better than a rope. Quickly, before they begin +to tie our hands. Ready?" + +"Aye," replied Kenneth calmly. + +"One moment! You mark time with that fellow with the scar over his +eye. We'll keep together as long as we can. I hardly feel my +ankle----" + +He stopped. His ready ear detected the clatter of horses' hoofs. The +peasants heard it too. In evident alarm they gripped their antiquated +fire-arms. The fellow with the rope let the noose fall from his hands +and made a rush for his musket. + +"It is well, camarades," shouted the Mayor. "They are our soldiers." + +Down the main street of the ruined village rode a troop of Belgian +lancers, followed by a motor-car on which was mounted an automatic gun. +Seeing two men in Uhlan uniforms surrounded by a mob of angry peasants, +the officer in charge ordered his men to halt, and rode up to ascertain +the cause of the commotion. + +As he did so, Kenneth recognized him as one of the officers who took +part in trapping the Uhlans after their raid on Tongres. + +"A nous, mon capitaine!" he said in a loud, clear voice. + +"What have we here?" exclaimed the officer in astonishment; then +recalling Kenneth's features he continued: "The English soldier in +Uhlan uniform! What is the meaning of it all?" + +In as few words as possible Kenneth related the circumstances that led +to their present condition. + +When he had finished, the captain turned to the leading villager. + +"Monsieur le maire," he said. "I will be answerable for these two +Englishmen. Believe me, in your zeal for your country's good you have +slightly overstepped the bounds. Fortunately there is no real harm +done, and messieurs les Anglais will no doubt forgive an unintentional +injury." + +The Mayor, who had meanwhile readjusted his sash, saluted the lancer +captain, then held out his hand to Kenneth. + +"Pardon, camarade," he said. + +Now that the danger was over, both lads felt able to accept the deep +apologies of the peasants. The latter had been labouring under a +genuine grievance, and their somewhat high-handed action would admit of +an excuse. They were quaking in their shoes lest their former +prisoners should take steps to secure their punishment; but finding +themselves magnanimously treated, they responded with three hurrahs for +England and the two men who had come from that country to aid stricken +Belgium in her troubles. + +"Now what do you propose doing?" asked the Captain. "As for us, we +must push on. We have an important reconnaissance to make." + +"We want to rejoin our regiment--the 9th of the Line, sir," replied +Kenneth. + +The officer smiled grimly. + +"I regret, messieurs, that I cannot help you in that direction," he +said. "Perhaps the best thing you can do is to make your way to +Brussels, and there await news of your regiment. Should anyone +question you, say that I--Captain Doublebois--have instructed you. Is +there anything else?" + +"We've run short of petrol, sir," announced Rollo, pointing in the +direction of the motor-cycle, the handlebars of which were just visible +above the edge of the ditch. + +"Parbleu! Petrol is now as precious as one's life-blood. +Nevertheless, I think we may be able to spare you a litre. Corporal +Fougette," he shouted, addressing the non-commissioned officer in +charge of the motor machine-gun, "measure out a litre of petrol for +these messieurs--good measure, not a drop more or less." + +The Captain stood by while Kenneth brought up the cycle and had the +petrol poured into the tank. + +"Now, messieurs," he continued, "this will suffice to take you as far +as our nearest depot. After that, proceed to Brussels. I'll warrant +you'll be in need of a rest, but there will be plenty to occupy your +minds, or my name is not Captain Raoul Doublebois. But take my advice, +messieurs, and get rid of those accursed uniforms!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Stranded in Brussels + +It was late in the day when Kenneth and Rollo having partaken of a +plain but satisfying meal on the way, arrived in Belgium's capital. + +The streets were crowded with refugees from the war-inundated +districts. Throngs of pale-faced women and children, for the most part +unnaturally apathetic, stood in mute despair around the country carts +piled high with their belongings. Many of them had seen their houses +torn by shot and shell, their neighbours slain by the German guns. +Rendered homeless, they had fled to Brussels; their villages might be +overrun and occupied by the invaders, but the capital--never! The +Allies would never permit that. + +Old men related the tales of their grandsires, how, almost a hundred +years ago, England saved Brussels from the invader. History would, +they felt convinced, repeat itself. So in their thousands the refugees +poured into the already congested streets of the city. + +Kenneth and his companion were indeed fortunate in securing the room +they had occupied during their previous stay in the Belgian capital. +Quickly divesting themselves of the civilian garb that they had managed +to procure, they threw themselves into bed and slept like logs until +nine the next morning. + +When Rollo attempted to rise he found that his ankle had swollen to +such an extent that it was almost a matter of impossibility to set foot +to ground. The excitement and continual movement of the previous day +had tended to make him forget the injury, but once his boot was removed +and the limb allowed to rest, inflammation and consequent enlargement +of the joint were the result. + +"Take it easy, old man," suggested Kenneth. "When we've had breakfast +I'll saunter out and see how things are progressing. Let me see, +what's the programme? New uniforms; money--we have about ten centimes +between the pair of us. It's lucky the pater placed that fifty pounds +to my credit in the bank. The trouble is, how am I to prove my +identity? Then there's Thelma. Perhaps Major Résimont's family has +returned to the Rue de la Tribune, so I'll find out. I'll be gone some +little time, old man." + +"I don't mind," replied Rollo. "Before you go, you might get hold of a +paper." + +The cost of their simple breakfast was an "eye-opener". Already famine +prices were being asked in the overcrowded city. Somewhat shamefacedly +Kenneth had to explain the reason for his pecuniary embarrassment; but +to his surprise the short, podgy woman who corresponded to the British +landlady expressed her willingness to wait until messieurs les Anglais +were accommodated. + +"Perhaps, although I trust not, I may have to entertain Prussians," she +added. "Then I know it is hopeless to expect payment." + +Having had breakfast, Kenneth went out. He had put on an overcoat, +lent by his obliging hostess, in order to conceal the nondescript +garments he had obtained as civilian clothes. + +The crowded streets were strangely quiet. Beyond the occasional crying +of a child or the barking of some of the numerous dogs, there was +little sound from the listless throng. + +When Kenneth was last in Brussels the people were vociferously +discussing the situation, especially the momentarily expected arrival +of the British Expeditionary Force. Now hope seemed dead. No longer +was there any talk of foreign aid. People began to accept as a matter +of course the fact that their city would be handed over to the Germans +without opposition. Already the seat of government had been removed to +Antwerp. The Civil Guards, who had at first commenced to erect +barricades on the roads approaching from the eastward, had been ordered +to remove the obstructions and to disarm themselves. In order to spare +their city from sack and destruction, the Bruxellois had decided to +admit the Huns without opposition. + +Before Kenneth had gone very far his progress was barred by a vast +concourse of people. Civil Guards were forcing a way through the +throng, to allow the passing of a Red Cross convoy. There were thirty +wagons, all filled to their utmost capacity, for the most part with +mangled specimens of humanity. For every soldier wounded by a +rifle-bullet there were, roughly, twenty-nine maimed by shell-fire. + +Another battle had just taken place, with the now usual result. The +Belgians, utterly outnumbered and outranged, had been compelled to fall +back in spite of a determined and vigorous defence. Of their army a +portion had retreated towards Ostend, while the greater part had +retired to the shelter of the vast and supposedly impregnable fortress +of Antwerp. + +As soon as the convoy had passed, Kenneth hurried to the military +depot. He found the place locked up. Not a soldier was to be seen. +Enquiries brought the information that, regarding the fall of Brussels +as inevitable, the authorities had transferred practically the whole of +the military stores to Antwerp and Bruges. + +"You want a uniform?" repeated the old citizen to whom Kenneth had +announced his requirements. "Ma foi! Your only chance, unless you get +a discarded uniform from the hospital (and there, alas! there are +many), is to follow the army to Antwerp. But you are not a Belgian?" + +"No, English," replied Kenneth. "And I must remain in Brussels for a +few days." + +"Then, mon garçon, put the idea of a uniform out of your head whilst +you are here. Otherwise, when the Bosches arrive---- Ah, mon Dieu, +they are barbarians!" + +"Perhaps the old chap is right," thought Kenneth as he resumed his way. +"I cannot desert Rollo, and if I were to be found in Belgian uniform it +would mean at least a trip across the Rhine and confinement in a +barbed-wire compound till the end of the war. Now for the Credit +Belgique." + +Upon arriving at the bank the lad had another setback. The premises +were closed; all the windows were heavily shuttered, whilst on the door +was a notice, printed in French and Flemish, to the effect that the +whole of the bullion and specie had been taken over by the Government, +and that the bonds had been sent to London for security until Belgium +was free from the invading German armies. + +"Bang goes my fifty pounds!" thought Kenneth. "We'll have to exist on +our corporal's pay--one franc fifty centimes a week, if we can get it." + +From the bank Kenneth made his way to the Rue de la Tribune. Here most +of the shops were shut and every other private house deserted. At the +house owned by the Résimont family there was no sign of occupation. +One of the windows on the ground floor had been broken. Through the +empty window-frame a curtain fluttered idly in the breeze. Already it +was frayed by the action of the wind. Obviously the damage had been +going on for some considerable time, without any attempt to prevent it. + +Hoping against hope, Kenneth hammered at the knocker, but the door +remained unanswered. + +From the doorway of a tobacconist's shop opposite, the portly, +well-groomed proprietor appeared. Raising a jewel-bedecked hand, he +beckoned to the shabby youth standing on the Résimonts' doorstep. + +"Monsieur requires----?" he asked, raising his eyebrows to complete his +question. + +"I wish to see Madame Résimont, monsieur." + +"Madame set out soon after the war broke out. Whither I know not. But +Monsieur is not Belgian?" + +"No, English," replied Kenneth promptly, at the same time wondering why +two people had asked that question that morning. It was a shock to his +self-confidence, for he was beginning to pride himself upon his perfect +French accent. + +"You live in the city?" + +"For a few days, monsieur." + +"Good! Perchance I may hear news of madame. If you will let me have +your address, I will in that case let you know." Kenneth furnished the +desired information, and, having thanked the tobacconist, began to +retrace his steps. As he did so he glanced at the name over the shop. +In brass letters were the words "Au bon fumeur--Jules de la Paix ". + +The worthy Jules did not wait until Kenneth was out of sight. Tripping +back into the shop, he grabbed an envelope from the counter and wrote +the name and address which he had obtained. + +"English. Spy undoubtedly," he muttered gleefully. "In another two +days that will be worth much to me." + +For Jules de la Paix was Belgian only as far as his assumed name went. +In reality he was a Prussian, a native of Charlottenburg, and a spy in +the pay of the German Government. For over twenty years he had been in +business as a tobacconist in the Rue de la Tribune, fostered by +Teutonic subsidies, waiting for the expected day when the Kaiser's +grey-clad legions were to strike at France through the supposedly +inviolate territory of Belgium. + +"I'll call at the post office," decided Kenneth. "I don't suppose it +will be of any use, but on the off-chance there may be letters waiting +for Rollo or me. There's no harm in trying." + +In blissful ignorance of the danger that overshadowed him, Kenneth made +his way through the crowd invading the post office. It was nearly +forty minutes before his turn came. In reply to his request, a +hopelessly overworked clerk went to a pigeonhole and removed a pile of +envelopes. + +"Nothing, Monsieur Everest," he announced, after a perfunctory glance +at the various addresses. "Nor is there anything for Monsieur +Barrington." + +"Hullo, Everest, old boy! What on earth are you doing here?" exclaimed +a voice in Kenneth's ear. + +Turning, the lad found himself confronted by a tall, erect Englishman, +whose features were partly concealed by the turned-down brim of a soft +felt hat. + +"I'm afraid I don't---- Why, it's Dacres!" + +"Right, old boy! But you haven't answered my question. What are you +doing in Brussels at this lively moment?" + +Dick Dacres was an old St. Cyprian's boy. He was Kenneth's senior by +several years, having left the Upper Sixth while young Everest was +still in the Third. Kenneth ought to have recognized him sooner, for +he had been Dacres's fag for one term. + +"Let's get out of this crush," continued Dacres, grasping his old +schoolfellow by the arm. Once clear of the crowd he noticed for the +first time the lad's shabby clothes, but with inborn courtesy he +refrained from passing any remark that might cause any confusion on the +part of young Everest. "I'm out here on service; can't give you any +particulars. What are you doing here?" + +"I'm with Barrington--you remember him? We're corporals of the 9th +Regiment of the Line--motor-cyclist section." + +"Indeed! Where is Barrington?" + +"In bed with a sprained ankle. Would you like to see him? It isn't +very far." + +Dacres glanced at his watch. + +"I should, only I can't stop very long. I have an appointment with +the----" He broke off suddenly. + +"You're not in uniform, I see." + +"No; we had to discard ours. I have been trying to get a fresh +equipment, but it seems hopeless in this place." + +"Fire away and let's have your yarn," said Dacres encouragingly, as +they walked side by side along one of the fairly-unfrequented streets +running parallel with the Rue de la Tribune. + +Before they reached the modest lodging Dacres had skilfully extracted +the main thread of his late college-chums' adventures. + +"Then you're temporarily on the rocks," he observed. + +"I didn't say so," expostulated Kenneth. + +"My dear man, I know you didn't, but I can put two and two together. +It's a delicate subject, Everest, and I'm afraid I'm rather a blunt +sort of chap, so excuse me. You're on your beam-ends?" + +"Unfortunately, yes," admitted Kenneth. "The pater sent a draft to the +Credit Belgique, but before I could draw on it the bank's been +transferred. But it will be all right soon, I expect." + +"Very well then, until things get a bit straight, let me give you a +leg-up. Don't be uppish, old man. Remember we're Britons in a strange +land. Luckily I'm fairly flush." + +So saying, Dacres produced his purse, and extracting five twenty-franc +pieces forced them into Kenneth's hand, abruptly checking the lad's +mingled protestations and thanks. + +"Rollo, old man, I've brought someone to see you," announced his +comrade, as he opened the door of the room in which Rollo was lying in +bed. + +"Hulloa, Barrington!" + +"Hulloa, Dacres!" + +That was the prosaic greeting, nothing more and nothing less; yet there +was a wealth of cordial surprise in the interchange of exclamations. + +The time Dacres had at his disposal was only too short. He was, he +explained, a sub-lieutenant in one of the recently-raised naval +brigades, and had accompanied an officer of rank upon an important +mission to Belgium. More he was unable to say. He had already been to +Ostend, and was now about to proceed to Antwerp. + +"We're returning home to-night," he concluded. "If you like to entrust +me with a letter, I'll see that it's posted safely the moment I set +foot ashore in England. If I've time I'll look your people up and let +them know you're doing your little bit. It all depends upon whether I +can get leave, but we are hard at it whipping recruits into shape." + +"Awfully decent chap," commented Kenneth, when Dick Dacres had taken +his departure. "He would insist upon lending me a hundred francs. +Otherwise, old man, we would be on the rocks--absolutely. I've drawn +three blanks--no uniforms obtainable, no tidings of the Résimont +family, and no letters from home. I think we ought to hang on here a +little while until your ankle's fit. We may see the beastly Germans +marching through the city, for the burgomaster has gone, so I hear, to +obtain terms of capitulation." + +"Where are the Belgian troops?" + +"Mostly in Antwerp." + +"Then if I were you, I'd make tracks for Antwerp while there's time." + +"Are you fit, then?" + +"I wasn't referring to myself. This ankle will keep me here some days +longer, I'm afraid. But you go, and if I have a ghost of a chance I'll +find you again within a week." + +Kenneth shook his head. + +"Can't be done," he declared. "I mean to stand by you till you're well +again. It would be interesting to watch how those Germans behave in +Brussels." + +"It's risky," remarked Rollo. + +"So is everything connected with this business, old man. Besides, we +are acting under the orders of Captain Doublebois, so that settles it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Denounced + +The morning of the 20th August--a fateful day in the history of +Belgium--dawned, accompanied by a drizzling rain. The sky seemed to be +shedding tears of sympathy at the impending fate of Brussels, for, +according to the terms of the agreement made between the German +commander, Sixtus von Arnim, and the Belgian burgomaster, the invading +troops were to march in unopposed. + +When the triumphant Prussians entered Paris after the siege of 1870, +their pageant-like progress was witnessed only by a few exasperated +Parisians from behind the shuttered windows of their houses. The +streets along the line of route were practically deserted. Had the +Bruxellois adopted a similar plan, much of the effect of the gaudy +display of Germany in arms would have been thrown away. + +But the citizens of Brussels acted otherwise. In spite of their fear +and trembling they assembled in vast, silent throngs. Curiosity had +got the better of their national pride. Those who had good reason to +doubt the plighted word of a Prussian took courage at the high-spirited +yet conciliatory proclamation of the debonair M. Max, the burgomaster: + +"As long as I live, or am a free agent, I shall endeavour to protect +the rights and dignity of my fellow-citizens. I pray you, therefore, +to make my task easier by refraining from all acts of hostility against +the German soldiery. Citizens, befall what may, listen to your +burgomaster. He will not betray you. Long live Belgium, free and +independent! Long live Brussels!" + +Accordingly the citizens, amongst whom were few able-bodied men, +assembled in crowds ten or twelve deep along the principal +thoroughfares. Amongst them was Kenneth Everest, who, in his civilian +garb, attracted no attention from those who stood near him. Since a +dignified silence seemed to brood over the humiliated Belgians, Kenneth +had no occasion to speak, and thus disclose his nationality. He knew, +by reports from his hostess, that there were spies innumerable mingled +with the throng; but he was unaware that he was already marked for +denunciation to the German authorities as soon as the Prussian rule was +established in Belgium's capital. + +Presently a wave of dull expectancy swept through the heavy-hearted +populace. It was now early in the afternoon. From the south-east and +east came the faint discord of military bands playing one against the +other. Louder and louder grew the noise, till the strident tones of +"Deutschland über Alles", played by the leading regimental band, +drowned the chaotic blare of the next. + +Craning his neck in order to obtain a clear view through the forest of +dripping umbrellas--for the rain was now falling steadily--Kenneth +could discern the head of the procession--a general, swarthy and heavy +jowled, who scowled under his heavy eyebrows at the crowd as he rode +by. He was the personification of German brute force, a stiffly-rigid +figure in grey. He reminded Kenneth of a cast-iron equestrian statue +smothered in grey paint. + +In close formation came the various regiments of the invaders, men +whose fresh uniforms and faultless equipment gave the appearance of +troops straight from their regimental depots rather than war-worn +veterans. And this, in fact, was the case. The men who had learned to +respect the courage and determination of the hitherto despised Belgian +troops had not been permitted to engage in the triumphal pageant +through the surrendered city. Others of the almost innumerable +Teutonic legions had been sent forward to impress the remaining +inhabitants of Brussels. + +Suddenly a guttural order rang out. As one man the grey-clad ranks +broke into the machine-like goose-step. Possibly this spectacular +display was meant to seal the impression upon the onlookers. If so, +those responsible for the order were grievously mistaken. Regarding +the action as one of insulting triumph, the Belgians strengthened their +resolutions to impress on their absent troops the necessity of +resisting to the last cartridge. + +With the troops came large transport sections, motor machine-guns, +batteries, and siege-trains. During that memorable afternoon nearly +fifty thousand German troops poured into the city. They were resolved +to hold and bleed the luckless citizens to the last gold piece--an +indemnity for non-resistance. + +"So they're here?" asked Rollo of his companion upon the latter's +return. "I heard the din and the terrific discord of their brass +bands. Have they done any damage?" + +"Not as far as I could see. It is too early to come to any conclusion. +At any rate, we'll lie low for a few days. I don't suppose they'll +trouble us. How's the ankle?" + +For the whole of the next day Kenneth remained indoors with his +partly-crippled companion. Perhaps the most galling part of his +detention was the total absence of news from without, for none of the +papers were permitted to appear. + +Small detachments of Germans patrolled the side streets, and, generally +speaking, order was well maintained. The conquerors evidently wished +to impress the citizens of Brussels with their magnanimous conduct; +but, with the record of their deeds against the unresisting villages of +the provinces of Liége and Brabant, the Germans made very little +headway in gaining the goodwill of the inhabitants. + +About nine on the following morning the lads heard a furious hammering +on the street door of the house. They exchanged enquiring glances. +Kenneth rushed to the latticed window, opened it cautiously, and looked +down into the narrow street. + +Standing outside the house were a dozen Prussian infantrymen. A +sergeant was about to hammer again upon the door. Beside him stood a +lieutenant, drawn sword in hand. A crowd of inquisitive civilians +stood at a respectful distance; while, from the windows of the houses +on the opposite side of the street, the frightened inhabitants peeped +timorously at the display of armed force outside the dwelling of the +highly-respected Madame Hirondelle. + +"What's up?" asked Rollo. + +"Prussians. They're after us, old man." + +"Nonsense! Why should they be?" + +"Someone's given us away," declared Kenneth savagely. He realized that +they were trapped. There was no means of escape along the roofs of the +adjoining houses, no place in which to hide without being easily and +ignominiously hauled out. Even had there been a chance of getting +clear, Rollo's injured ankle had to be taken into consideration. + +They heard the door being opened; the harsh voice of the German +lieutenant interrogating Madame Hirondelle in execrable French; then +the tramp of heavy boots as the file of soldiers entered the house and +began to ascend the stairs. + +Rollo sat up in bed. His companion stood by the side of the alcove, +gripping the back of a chair. + +Then came a heavy knock at the door of the room, as a harsh voice +shouted: + +"Englischemans, surrender; if not, we shoots!" + +Then the door was pushed open a little way, and a spiked helmet thrust +forward on the muzzle of a rifle. Finding that this emblem of German +militarism was not the object of an attack, the lieutenant plucked up +courage and dashed into the room, brandishing his sword and revolver +like an eighteenth-century melodramatic pirate. + +After him crowded the sergeant and most of the men, two privates being +left to guard Madame Hirondelle, in order that she would not be able to +communicate with the supposed spies. + +Kenneth was roughly seized by the throat. His hands were grasped and +tied behind his back. The sergeant then proceeded to ransack his +pockets, without discovering any documents, incriminating or otherwise. +The unexpended portion of Dick Dacres's loan was taken possession of by +the lieutenant, whose avidity in grabbing the money seemed to suggest +that there was but slight possibility of it finding its way into the +coffers of the Imperial treasury. + +Meanwhile Rollo had been ordered to get out of bed. His clothes, after +being searched and examined, were handed to him. + +Other German soldiers were busily engaged in ransacking the room. The +bed was uncovered, the mattress cut open in the vain hope of finding +incriminating evidence; the contents of cupboards and drawers were +turned out upon the floor, the Prussians taking care to retain +"souvenirs" of their exploit as they did so. + +Greatly to his disgust and disappointment, the lieutenant's efforts to +obtain proofs of the supposed spies' guilt were fruitless. + +He gave an order. Soldiers surrounding the two lads urged them through +the door and down the narrow stairs. Determined to make a good haul, +the officer ordered the arrest of Madame Hirondelle, the concierge, and +the two maid-servants; then, with much sabre-rattling, he led the +prisoners through the streets. + +A quarter of an hour later Kenneth found himself alone in a gloomy +cell. The prospect was not a pleasing one. Even with a clear +conscience as far as the charge of espionage went, the lad realized the +terrible position in which he and Rollo were placed. + +They were British subjects; they were not in uniform; they had no +documents to prove the truth of their statement that they were +corporals in the Belgian army. There was no one, excepting the +thoroughly-terrified Madame Hirondelle, to speak a word in their favour. + +For half an hour he paced the limited expanse of floor, pondering over +the difficulties of the situation. Then, without any thought of +attempting an escape, he began examining the walls and floor of his +cell. The place was roughly twenty feet in length and nine in breadth. +The walls were of brick, set in hard, black cement. They had, at some +previous time, been coated with yellow limewash, but most of the colour +had been worn off. The floor was paved with irregular stone slabs. +Eight feet from the ground was a small unglazed window, with two rusty +and slender vertical bars. Opposite the window was the door of +worm-eaten oak. + +The floor was half a dozen steps lower than the level of the ground +without. A sentry was posted outside the window. Although standing +erect, the only part of him visible from within was from his knees to +his belt, so Kenneth knew that on that side the ground was about five +or six feet above the floor of his cell. + +It also appeared likely that the room was not generally used as a place +of confinement. It had no furniture. On the stone floor were wisps of +straw and hay. It might, but for the steps from the doorway, have been +used as a stable. + +"The Germans don't surely mean to keep me in this rotten hole," thought +Kenneth. "It isn't fit for a dog." + +Slowly the morning passed. At noon the sentry without was relieved. +The sergeant's guard made no attempt to look through the window. The +new sentry seemed ignorant of the presence of the English lad. There +he stood, as rigid as a statue, while the minutes ran into hours. Not +once did the grey-coated soldier "walk his beat". No one passed by. +The sentry was to all intents and purposes posted in a totally +unnecessary position. + +Just as the clocks chimed the hour of two, the door of the cell was +opened and a sergeant and file of Prussian infantrymen entered. +Silently the non-commissioned officer pointed to the open door. +Preceded and followed by the soldiers, Kenneth set out to be tried for +his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Sack of Louvain + +Passing along several gloomy passages and ascending two flights of +stairs, Kenneth was ushered into a large, well-lighted room overlooking +the city square. From without came the noise and bustle of hundreds of +troops. Several regiments, having recently arrived, were partaking of +a meal in the open, the food being cooked in large portable kitchens, +the smoke from which drifted in through the open windows of the room. + +Seated at a massive oak desk was an officer in the uniform of the +German General Staff. Behind him stood a major and two captains. At a +writing desk against the wall, facing the windows, sat a military +clerk. The soldiers of Kenneth's escort lined up behind him, the +sergeant standing rigidly at attention on his right. Of Rollo there +were no signs. + +For some moments Colonel von Koenik, the president of the court, +regarded the lad before him with a fixed glare. Kenneth met the +president's gaze unflinchingly, yet he realized that there was a menace +in the German's manner. It was a hatred of England and of all men and +things English. + +Finding that he could not browbeat the prisoner, von Koenik rasped out +a few words to the major who stood behind him. With a stiff salute the +latter advanced to the side of the president's desk. + +"What is your name, prisoner?" he asked in fairly good English, +although there was a tendency to substitute the letter "b" for "p" in +most of his words. + +Kenneth told him. The major referred to a paper that he held in his +hand. + +"You are English? What are you doing in Brussels?" + +"I am a soldier in the Belgian service." + +"In the Belgian service perhaps; but a soldier--no, never." + +"Pardon me, sir," protested Kenneth; "I am a corporal of the 9th +Regiment of the Line." + +The Major waved his hand contemptuously. + +"You are not--what you call it?--ah!--bluffing an English magistrate +this time. You have a Prussian officer to deal with. If what you say +is true, why are you not in uniform? Where are your identity papers? +Say rather that you are in the employ of that arch-plotter Grey; tell +us exactly the truth, then perhaps we will be merciful." + +"Of what offence am I accused, sir?" + +"Espionage--surely you know that without asking an unnecessary +question." + +"It is not true. I have never attempted to spy. Who, sir, is my +accuser?" + +"It is undesirable to mention names. Our informant states that you +have been several days in Brussels, always in civilian clothes. You +frequented public buildings; you were seen watching the arrival of our +troops." + +"That I admit," said Kenneth. "There was no secrecy about the +ceremonial parade of the German army through the streets." + +"Then perhaps you would tell your friends in England how the victorious +Germans will march through London, hein?" asked the Major mockingly. + +"I'm afraid they won't," retorted Kenneth, throwing discretion to the +winds. "Your troops have to reckon first with our army and then with +our fleet." + +"Your army? Faint-hearted mercenaries. Englishman, in less than a +fortnight our troops will march right through the English and their +friends the French, and be in Paris. After that, London." + +"No fear!" ejaculated Kenneth. + +The German major shrugged his shoulders. + +"It is wasting the time of the court," he remarked. "To return to the +business in hand. You, an Englishman, have been caught red-handed. +You admit you are interested in military matters, although your claim +to be a corporal in the Belgian army does not hold. Again, you admit +that you took up arms against us?" + +"Certainly--as a soldier, and strictly in accordance with the code of +war." + +"Your code is not our code," sneered the Major. He then turned and +addressed the president. Colonel von Koenik inclined his head, and +gave an order to the sergeant of the guard. + +Three men filed out, returning after a brief interval with Rollo. +Limping badly, young Barrington was marched across the room and placed +by the side of his chum. + +The president stood up and removed his helmet. The other officers also +uncovered. + +"Accused," he said, speaking in English, "you are found guilty on a +charge of espionage. The sentence is death." + +Von Koenik sat down and resumed his head-dress. He scanned the faces +of the two lads, as if to detect signs of fear. But there were none. +Beyond an almost imperceptible tightening of the lips, the young +Britons received the grim intelligence unflinchingly. + +"But on account of your youth I am going to make what you English call +a sporting offer. You"--addressing Rollo--"expressed an opinion that +our armies would never reach Paris." + +"I did," replied Rollo, whose examination had been concluded before +Kenneth had been brought before the court. + +"And you also"--to Kenneth--"made a similar rash statement." + +"Not rash, sir; but a candid statement." + +"Very good. You will both find that you are in error. Now, this is my +offer. You will not be shot straight away. You will be kept in close +confinement. As soon as Paris is taken--as it will be in about a +fortnight--your sentence will be put into execution. If within thirty +days from now our armies should by some unprecedented accident fail to +reach Paris, your lives will be spared and your sentences commuted to +ten years' imprisonment in a fortress. You comprehend?" + +Von Koenik broke off to exchange a few words in German with the major. +Then he resumed: + +"Major Hoffmann here will be answerable for your custody. So long as +you give no trouble, and make no attempt to escape--such attempt will +be bound to be a failure, let me add--you will be treated with as much +consideration as it is possible to accord to convicted spies." + +Again the president conferred with the major. Then, stiffly saluting, +Major Hoffmann gave an order. The soldiers closed around the two +prisoners. + +With their heads held erect, Kenneth and Rollo were about to be marched +from the presence of the grim Colonel von Koenik, when the latter +rapped the desk with an ivory mallet. + +"Of course," he added, "when our armies enter Paris--about the 1st of +September--you will accept the decree of fate? Perhaps. But it is not +pleasant to be confronted by the muzzles of a dozen rifles of a +firing-party. There is one more chance. If you give us true and full +information concerning certain points which will be raised later, the +full penalty will be mitigated. You understand?" + +Both Kenneth and Rollo began to protest, but von Koenik silenced them. + +"You English are too fond of acting and thinking rashly on the spur of +the moment," he exclaimed. "Think it over--carefully. It is worth +your calm deliberation." + +On being removed from the court, Kenneth and Rollo were placed in the +same cell--the room in which the former had been kept pending his +appearance at the farcical trial. + +Colonel von Koenik had no intention of carrying his threat into +execution. He was one of those men who are firm believers in the +application of methods of tyranny to gain their ends. Kenneth Everest +had been denounced as a spy by the tobacconist of the Rue de la +Tribune--himself a German secret agent. The information had to be +acted upon, and Rollo, living in the same house as the accused, had +also been arrested. + +Von Koenik would not condemn a prisoner without conclusive evidence. +He was convinced, mainly on the testimony of Madame Hirondelle, that +neither Kenneth nor Rollo was a spy; at the same time they were +Englishmen, and that was sufficient to merit their detention. Again, +by intimidation or cajoling they might be able to furnish valuable +information to the German authorities. Since the informal sentence of +death did not move the accused to beg for mercy, a slower and +constantly terrifying method must be applied. + +The firm expressions on the forthcoming failure on the part of the +Germans to enter Paris--an expression that both lads made independently +of each other--gave von Koenik an idea. On his part he was absolutely +certain that no mortal power could arrest the victorious march of the +Kaiser's legions; and such was his obsession that he imagined both +Kenneth and Rollo could have no inmost doubts on the matter. By +proposing a "sporting offer", von Koenik knew that his methods to +terrorize would have time to work and undermine the resolution of the +English lads. In a very few days, he decided, they would be willing to +save themselves from a haunting dread by offering the information he +desired. + +It was by no means a new experiment on the part of Colonel von Koenik. +During his tenure of office in command of a line regiment in an +Alsatian town, he had frequently terrorized civilians who had fallen +under his displeasure, by the application of methods based upon the +legendary sword of Damocles. Hitherto this form of the tyranny of the +Mailed Fist had been most successful; but it was different in the case +of Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington. + +"What was that swashbuckler driving at, I wonder?" asked Rollo, when +the two chums found themselves alone in their cell. "Do you think that +he really intends to have us shot?" + +"I should say yes; only I don't understand why the sentence was not +carried out at once. It is a low-down trick keeping us on tenterhooks; +but from what we have already seen and heard, these Germans--the +Prussians especially--do not draw the line at anything." + +"Anyhow, the fellow thinks he's on a dead cert. on the Paris trip. I +don't; so if he's as good as his word on the month's grace we'll escape +the firing-party. As for the ten years, that's nothing. We'll be +liberated at the end of the war." + +"Unless we 'break bounds' at the first opportunity," added Kenneth. +"We both seem to have been born under a lucky star, and having given +those fellows the slip once, there is no reason why we shouldn't be +equally successful the next time." + +The two following days the lads passed in uneventful captivity in the +cell. Straw had been provided for bedding, while their meals consisted +of rye bread and water, and, once a day, a bowl of soup. For half an +hour they were allowed to take exercise in an enclosed courtyard, four +soldiers, carrying loaded rifles, having been told off to prevent any +attempt at escape. + +On the morning of Tuesday, the 25th of August, the prisoners were +ordered to leave their cell. Guided by the same four soldiers, they +were marched into the courtyard, where a dozen Belgian civilians were +formed up under an armed guard. In a doorway opening into the +quadrangle stood Major Hoffmann, watching the proceedings with a +supercilious air. + +"Are they going to shoot the crowd of us?" whispered Kenneth; but +before Rollo could reply, a sergeant gave the speaker a violent blow +and sternly ordered him in French to be silent. + +The names of the prisoners were then called out, each man having to +answer to his name. This done, the sergeant in charge took the list to +Major Hoffmann, who initialled the document and returned it. + +Then the large gates at one end of the courtyard were thrown open, and +the prisoners, surrounded by their armed guards, were ordered to march. + +Along the Chaussée de Louvain--one of the principal thoroughfares of +Brussels--the melancholy procession passed. There were crowds of +people about in addition to the numerous German troops. The citizens +regarded their compatriots under arrest with suppressed feelings. They +were afraid to make any demonstration of sympathy. The iron heel of +Germany had crushed the spirit out of the Belgians who still remained +in the fallen capital. + +"Do you know where they are taking us to?" asked Kenneth of the +prisoner marching next to him, evidently a well-to-do business man +before the great calamity that had overtaken him. + +"They say to Germany, there to work in the fields and help to feed our +enemies," replied the man. "At all events, we have to march to Louvain +and be entrained there." + +Kenneth's great fear was that Rollo would be unable to stand the strain +of the long march. His ankle had improved, but he still limped +slightly. + +"I'm all right," replied Rollo cheerily, in response to his chum's +anxious enquiry. "It's better than being cooped up in that rotten +hole. Besides," he added in a whisper, "we may get a chance of giving +them the slip." + +So far the information given by the Belgian seemed to be correct. The +prisoners were trudging along the highway leading to Louvain. Beyond +that point, railway communication was now possible; for with their +advance upon Brussels the German engineers had lost no time in +repairing the lines and erecting temporary bridges in place of those +sacrificed by the Belgians in their efforts to impede the enemy's +advance. + +At twelve o'clock the prisoners reached the village of Cortenburg, +about half-way between the capital and Louvain. Here they were halted, +and driven into a church. For food and drink they had to depend upon +the charity of the villagers, who, notwithstanding the fact that they +had been despoiled by the invaders, gave the famished and travel-worn +men bread and milk. + +For three hours Kenneth and his companions in adversity were kept under +lock and key, while their escort, having obtained copious quantities of +wine, were becoming boisterously merry. When, at length, the order was +given to resume the march, some of the soldiers were so drunk that they +could not stand. The sergeant thereupon ordered the villagers to +provide two carts, and in these, lying on bundles of straw, the +besotted men followed their comrades. + +Before the prisoners had covered a mile beyond Cortenburg an open +motor-car dashed past. In spite of its great speed both Kenneth and +Rollo recognized its occupants. They were Colonel von Koenik and Major +Hoffmann. + +"They don't mean to get out of touch with us, old man," remarked +Kenneth, after the car had disappeared in a cloud of dust. "I suppose +they'll go on by train to whatever distance we are bound for. I'll +warrant they'll be waiting at Louvain." + +"I wish I had the chance of bagging that motor-car," said Rollo. "It's +a beauty. We'd be in Antwerp in less than an hour." + +"Instead of which we're tramping along, with a dozen of more or less +intoxicated soldiers to keep an eye on us," added Kenneth. "I believe +if we made a bolt for it they would be too tipsy to aim properly." + +"It's too risky," declared Rollo. "There are hundreds of German troops +scattered all over this part of the country. Besides, if we did get +away, the other prisoners would get a rough time. What's that?" + +"Rifle-firing," replied Kenneth, as the rattle of musketry could be +faintly heard, the sounds coming from the north. + +"A battle before Antwerp, probably," suggested Rollo. "The Germans +will have a stiff task if----" + +A vicious box on the ear from the nearest soldier brought the +conversation to a sudden close. The fellow who dealt the blow grinned +with intense satisfaction at his deed. The next instant Rollo's fist +shot out straight from the shoulder, and the German dropped like a log. +He was too drunk to feel the blow, so he sat on the road, his rifle on +the ground, holding his jaw with both hands and bawling in pot-valiant +style. + +Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, two of the Belgian +prisoners made a dash for liberty. One was the man to whom Kenneth had +spoken--a short, stout, apoplectic individual; the other a tall, lean +fellow who had the appearance of a trained athlete. + +Before the astonished Germans could level their rifles both men had got +across a wide ditch, and had placed a hundred yards of marshy ground +between them and their late captors. Then half a dozen rifles rang +out, but the fugitives held on, the taller one having established a +lead of twenty yards. They were making for a wood, not more than a +quarter of a mile off. + +Again and again the Germans fired. The lads could see some of the +bullets kicking up spurts of dirt a long way wide of their mark; others +must have sung harmlessly overhead. + +Suddenly the short man stopped. He could run no farther. He called to +his companion; but the latter, taking no heed, did not slacken his +swift pace. The corpulent fugitive looked over his shoulder, and +seeing that some of the Germans had attempted pursuit, began to walk +after his compatriot. The fact that the soldiers had missed him at +short range had given him confidence. Presently the tall Belgian +gained the outskirts of the wood. Here he stopped, and waved his arms +with a contemptuous gesture at the German soldiers. It was his +undoing, for by sheer chance a bullet struck him in the head. He +pitched on his face and lay motionless. + +The other man, alternately walking and running, got clear away. + +The English lads now had their turn. They were kicked, prodded with +rifle-butts, and repeatedly struck by the fists of the infuriated, +half-drunken soldiers, till the sergeant, fearing that he might get +into serious trouble if Colonel von Koenik's special prisoners were +much injured, ordered his men to desist. Two of them were sent to +bring the body of the foolhardy Belgian. Dead or alive the whole of +the prisoners had to be accounted for, and the fact that one was +missing caused the sergeant considerable misgivings. + +Meanwhile the sound of distant firing still continued. If anything it +seemed nearer. The German escort began to hurry their prisoners along. + +A mile or so farther on they reached a small village. Here most of the +inhabitants had left, but a few gazed timorously upon the grey-coated +soldiers from the upper windows of their houses. + +The sergeant gave the order to halt, then spoke hurriedly to two of his +men who were not so intoxicated as the rest. These two walked up to a +door and knocked. Receiving no reply, they shattered the woodwork with +their rifles and entered the house. In less than a minute they +reappeared, dragging between them a peasant so old and feeble that he +could hardly walk. Him they bundled into the cart beside the body of +the dead Belgian, and the convoy resumed its way. + +"The brutes!" ejaculated Kenneth. "I see their game. They're going to +palm off that poor peasant as the man that escaped." + +"It seems like it," agreed Rollo; "but what will happen when they read +the roll-call? It will give the show away." + +"Trust those fellows for carrying out a dirty piece of work. Hist!" + +The lads relapsed into silence. They did not want a repetition of the +scene when their last conversation was interrupted. Already they were +bruised from head to foot. + +Shortly before six in the evening the prisoners reached the outskirts +of Louvain. The town, the principal seat of learning of Belgium, was, +of course, in the hands of the Germans; but hitherto they had refrained +from any vandalism. According to their usual procedure they had +terrorized the inhabitants, who still remained in fear and trembling. +Everywhere were placards in French and Flemish, warning the townsfolk +that any act of hostility towards the German troops would result in +severe penalties. With the examples of the fate of other towns and +villages--where the luckless inhabitants, in defence of their lives and +homes, had ventured to resist the invaders and had been ruthlessly +massacred--the people of Louvain had rigidly abstained from any action +that could be regarded as aggressive to German authority. On their +part the invaders behaved fairly well, and confidence was beginning to +be restored amongst the Belgians who still remained in Louvain. + +Suddenly a shot rang out, quickly followed by others. Bullets +screeched over the heads of the prisoners and their German guards. In +a few moments all was confusion. The prisoners flung themselves on the +ground to escape the deadly missiles. Some of the escort followed +their example. Others, kneeling behind the two wagons that brought up +the rear of the procession, returned the fire. + +"Good!" ejaculated Kenneth. "Louvain has been recaptured. That +accounts for the firing we heard this afternoon." + +"I trust so," replied Rollo. "There's one fellow down--another rascal +the less." + +It was the German who had received a taste of a British fist. Rendered +incautious in his maudlin state, he had recklessly exposed himself. A +bullet passing through his chest laid him dead on the spot. Another +German was leaning against the wheel of a wagon, with his hand clapped +to his right shoulder. + +Just then the sergeant caught sight of the troops who were blazing away +at his party. With a succession of oaths he bade his men cease fire. +Here was another blunder. The Germans were firing at each other. + +At length the exchange of shots ceased. A Prussian officer, +accompanied by half a dozen of his men, advanced to meet the prisoners +and their escort. His face was purple with fury. For ten minutes he +bullied and browbeat the luckless sergeant, whose men had not been +responsible for opening fire. Then other officers--members of the +staff--hurried up, and a hasty consultation followed. + +Presently Colonel von Koenik tore up in his motorcar. He was +accompanied by another staff-officer, Major von Manteuffel, whose name +was presently to be execrated throughout the civilized world. + +Von Manteuffel was in a high pitch of nervous excitement. Evidently he +was trying to fix the blame upon the men escorting the Belgian +prisoners, while von Koenik, cool and calculating, championed their +cause. + +Kenneth and Rollo watched the scene with well-concealed satisfaction. +The mere fact that some small portion of the mechanism of the Mailed +Fist had gone wrong elated them. It was an insight into the blustering +methods of German military organization; but they had yet to learn that +the Bullies of Europe had a drastic remedy for their errors, whereby +the penalty fell upon the weak and helpless. + +Von Koenik gave an order, the sergeant bundled Rollo and Kenneth into +an isolated house situated about half a kilometre from the town. What +befell the Belgian prisoners the lads never knew, but from the window +in the upper room in which they were confined, the British youths could +command a fairly-extensive view of Louvain and the road which +approached it. + +Two German soldiers were locked in the room, but they offered no +objection when Kenneth and Rollo went to the window. + +Above the tiled roofs of the houses, the ancient and venerable church +of St. Pierre shot up like an island in the centre of a lake. Other +buildings--churches, the Hôtel de Ville, and the university--were +slightly less conspicuous, yet clearly discernible above the expanse of +houses. Along the road were hundreds of grey-coated troops, while a +small black patch in that long-drawn-out riband of silver-grey +indicated the position of the way-worn band of Belgian prisoners, who +were now almost within the limits of the town. + +While the British lads were at the window, then German guards produced +from their knapsacks some pieces of roll, sausages, and a bottle of +wine. Soon the room was filled with the disagreeable sounds of +Teutonic mastication, which, unless one has had the misfortune to hear +it, cannot satisfactorily be described. Kenneth and Rollo, thanking +their lucky stars that they were not compelled to witness the +performance, remained at the window. + +Suddenly, just as the town clocks were chiming the hour of six, a +succession of shots rang out. + +"Good!" ejaculated Kenneth. "The Belgians are driving home an attack." + +The two Germans gave not the slightest hint of alarm, but stolidly +continued their meal. Their indifference caused the lads to wonder. +It was not a conflict between two armed forces, but a massacre! It was +the commencement of what was, in the words of the Prime Minister of +Great Britain, "the greatest crime against civilization and culture +since the Thirty Years' War". + +Fortunately Kenneth and his companion were spared the horrors of having +to witness the indiscriminate shooting of luckless civilians, but, from +their coign of vantage, they were spectators of the scene of +destruction that followed. + +Tall, lurid flames burst forth from the centre of the town of Louvain. +Gradually the ever-widening circle of fire spread till the bulk of the +houses was one vast holocaust. + +Throughout that terrible night the lads remained at the window, +watching the progress of the conflagration and listening to the shrieks +of panic and terror from the brutally-maltreated inhabitants. + +That was von Manteuffel's method of covering up the blunder made by his +half-drunken troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A Bolt from the Blue + +At seven the following morning the two guards were relieved. During +the night they had been stolidly indifferent to everything that was +taking place. They permitted their prisoners liberty of action within +the limits of the room, but they maintained a ceaseless vigilance, +keeping their loaded rifles within arm's-length the whole of the time. + +The new guards were men of a different stamp. Their first act upon +being left with their charges was to compel the lads to leave the +window and take up a position in one corner of the room. At the first +attempt at conversation between the two chums the Germans would shout +threats which, although unintelligible as words, left no doubt as to +their significance. + +An hour later a very meagre repast was brought in for the prisoners, +the soldiers making a thorough examination of the food before the lads +were allowed to partake of it. This was a precautionary measure, lest +some communication might have been secreted; but the fact that their +food had been coarsely handled by the Germans did not make it any the +more appetizing. Nevertheless Kenneth and his companion, now almost +famished, attacked the meal with avidity. + +Just before noon a motor-car drew up outside the house. The guards +sprang to their feet, adjusted the straps of their equipment, seized +their rifles, and drew themselves up as stiff as ramrods. The expected +arrival they knew to be a person of consequence. + +It was Colonel von Koenik. He was civil, almost apologetic, to the +English prisoners. + +"I trust that you were not disturbed by last night's business," he +remarked. "There was a serious riot amongst the Belgian townsfolk. +Our troops were treacherously attacked, and in self-defence they were +compelled to fire some of the houses. Unfortunately the flames spread +considerably, in spite of our efforts to the contrary. + +"If you wish to write to your friends in England," he continued, "you +are at liberty to do so, and I will see that the letters are forwarded +to Holland. Paper and writing materials will be provided. You will +understand that all communications must be left unsealed." + +He paused for a moment, then in more deliberate tones said: + +"It would doubtless be interesting to your fellow-countrymen if you +mentioned last night's riot. Englishmen are supposed to pride +themselves upon their love of fair play. Our act of +necessary--absolutely necessary--self-defence will certainly be +distorted by these Belgians. The written evidence of two Englishmen +such as yourselves will do much to remove a wrong impression. +Meanwhile, until writing materials can be produced, you are at liberty +to take exercise in the garden." + +"What is that fellow driving at?" asked Rollo, when the two chums, +still watched by their guards, found themselves in a secluded garden +enclosed on three sides by a high brick wall. "There's something +behind his eagerness for us to write home." + +"We'll take the chance anyway," replied Kenneth; "only I vote we make +no mention of last night's affair. Of course his version might be +right, but I doubt it." + +Accordingly the prisoners spent half an hour in writing to their +respective parents. The epistles were couched in guarded terms. There +was nothing to indicate that they had been harshly treated; no mention +of the manner of their arrest. Nor was there a word about the +destructive fire in Louvain. + +When the Colonel reappeared the unsealed envelopes were handed to him. +Without a word or a gesture he read them through, then wrote something +on the envelopes. + +"These are in order, gentlemen," he remarked. "You may now seal them, +and they will be carefully forwarded." + +But months later the chums learnt that the letters had never been +delivered. There was a good reason, for von Koenik took the first +opportunity of destroying them. + +"There is some news for you," remarked the Colonel. "Yesterday our +armies occupied Namur. The forts were helpless against our wonderful +siege guns. Our Zeppelins have destroyed nearly the whole of Antwerp; +our fleet has signally defeated the British in the North Sea. Your +flagship, the _Iron Duke_, is sunk, together with seven Dreadnoughts. +Jellicoe is slain, and the rest of the English fleet is bottled up in +the Forth. Your little army in Belgium is already on the retreat; it +will be hopelessly smashed before it reaches Maubeuge. Our troops will +be in Paris within a week--and then?" + +The Colonel paused, expecting to see dismay painted on the faces of his +listeners. Instead, Kenneth coolly raised his eyebrows. + +"Indeed?" he drawled. "Do you, Herr Colonel, really believe all that?" + +Von Koenik suppressed a gesture of annoyance. + +"Certainly," he replied. "It is in our official reports. If you +possessed sufficient culture to be in a position to read and speak our +language, you could see it with your own eyes. We are winning +everywhere. Now, perhaps, to save further unpleasantness you will tell +me the actual reason why you were in the Belgian service?" + +"Merely our inclination to help in a just cause. We happened to be on +the spot, the opportunity occurred, and we took it." + +The Colonel bit his lips. He was confident that the prisoners were +actually persons of military importance, sent over to Belgium by the +British Government, and possessing valuable information concerning the +Allies' plan of campaign. He considered it well worth his while to +cajole or threaten them into surrendering their secret, but, up to the +present, he was forced to admit that his attempts had met with very +little success. + +Apart from the lax code of German military morals his procedure had +been extremely irregular. The so-called trial was before an illegally +constituted court. The proper authorities had not been informed of the +Englishmen's arrest, trial, and sentence. Yet he considered that he +was furthering the interests of the Kaiser and the German nation by +wresting the secret of the object of the lads' presence in Belgium from +them by the likeliest methods at his disposal. + +Colonel von Koenik was on his way to take up a staff appointment at +Verviers, a strategically important Belgian town on the German +frontier, and a few miles from Liége, and on the direct railway line +between that city and Aix-la-Chapelle. Here he could keep his +prisoners in safety, relying upon the wearing-down tactics, backed by +the threat of what would happen when the victorious Germans entered +Paris, to compel the two Englishmen to surrender their supposed +important secret. + +It was not until after dark that same day that Kenneth and Rollo were +conveyed in a closed carriage to the railway station at Louvain. Von +Koenik was greatly anxious to conceal from them the stupendous amount +of wanton damage done to the town. So far he succeeded; and, in +partial ignorance of the fate of Louvain and the actual causes that led +to its sack and destruction, the lads were escorted to a troop-train +which was about to return to Aix, laden with wounded German soldiers +whose fighting days were over. + +For the next ten or twelve days Kenneth and Rollo existed in a state of +rigorous captivity. They were placed in a small store-room of the +commissariat department at Verviers. A sentry was posted without, but +otherwise their privacy was not intruded upon except when a soldier +brought their meals. + +This man, a corporal of the Landwehr, was a grey-haired fellow nearly +sixty years of age. A great portion of his life had been spent in +England. Von Koenik had detailed him to attend upon the prisoners in +order that he might communicate to them the progress of the victorious +Germans towards Paris. + +Max--for that was the corporal's name--was admirably adapted to the +purpose. He could speak English with tolerable fluency; he implicitly +believed all the stories that had been told him of the wide-world +German success, and, believing, he retailed the information with such +bland fidelity that at first his listeners had to think that he really +was speaking the truth. + +He was also genuinely attentive to his charges, and before long Kenneth +and Rollo appreciated his visits although they did not welcome the news +he brought. + +"Ach, you English boys!" he would exclaim. They were always addressed +as "English boys" by Corporal Max, somewhat to their chagrin. "Ach! +It has been a bad day for your little army. Much more bad than +yesterday. To-day the remains of the English army, it has fled towards +Paris. Our Taubes have almost nearly the city destroyed by bombs." + +The next day Max would appear with the tidings that General French was +still running away. Vast numbers of English and French prisoners had +been taken. The German losses had been insignificant. + +This was followed by a lurid description of the retreat of the Allies +across the Marne and then over the Aisne. + +"Paris, too, is in panic. The French Government, it has run away to +the south of France. And our navy, it is great. Yesterday a sea +battle took place. The Admiral Jellicoe's flagship the _Iron Duke_ was +sunk by our submarines----" + +"Hold on!" exclaimed Kenneth. "Colonel von Koenik told us that the +_Iron Duke_ was sunk more than a fortnight ago." + +Max shrugged his shoulders. + +"You English are so deceitful. Ach! They must have given to another +ship the same name. Dover is in flames, and London bombarded has been +by our Zeppelins. Ireland is revolted, and the Irish have proclaimed +our Kaiser as King----" + +"Steady, Max!" exclaimed Rollo expostulatingly. + +"But it is so," protested the corporal. + +The next day Max's report was one of indefinite progress. During the +three following he made no mention of the brilliant feats of German +arms. Kenneth rallied him on this point. + +"How far are the Germans from Paris to-day, Max?" + +For the first time Max showed signs of irritability. By accident he +had seen in Colonel von Koenik's quarters a report of the check of the +German armies' progress, and of their eastward movement. Following +this came the news of von Kluck's defeat and disorderly retirement +across the Marne. Too stupidly honest to keep the news to himself, +Corporal Max blurted out the information that the advance upon Paris +had been temporarily abandoned. + +"If it were not for the treacherous English," he added--"they are +always meddling with other nations' business--we would have walked +through the French and in Paris have been. Peace would be forced upon +the French, and then I could return home to my wife." + +"But you told us that the British army was practically annihilated, +Max," exclaimed Kenneth gleefully. + +"You English boys, I tell you word for word what was told me," +protested Max in high dudgeon. "If you mock, then no more will I say." + +"Can we see Colonel von Koenik, Max?" + +The corporal looked at Kenneth in astonishment. + +"You have no complaint against me?" he asked. + +"Not in the least," replied Kenneth affably. "But we should very much +like to see the Colonel." + +Max delivered the message, but von Koenik did not put in an appearance. +Incidentally he discovered that the corporal had let out the momentous +news of von Kluck's defeat, and Max had a very warm quarter of an hour +in consequence. As a result, a surly Prussian was given the work of +looking after the two English prisoners, and Max passed out of the +lads' knowledge. + +September had well advanced. Kenneth and Rollo still existed in +captivity, without the faintest opportunity of effecting their escape. +Had there been the slightest chance of breaking out of their prison +they would have taken it, but the vigilance of the sentries posted +outside the place seemed untiring. + +About the twentieth of the month--the lads had lost all accurate idea +of the date--there were signs of more than usual activity in Verviers. +A cavalry brigade had arrived, accompanied by a huge transport column. + +From the solitary window of their room the prisoners were able to +witness many of the movements of the troops. The square in front of +the range of stores was packed with transport wagons, both motor and +horse. The horses were picketed in lines between the regular rows of +vehicles. The drivers stood by their charges, instead of being +billeted on the inhabitants. Everything pointed to a hurriedly resumed +journey. + +Presently Kenneth and his chum noticed that the Germans were deeply +interested in something above and beyond the storehouse in which the +lads were quartered. + +A few men would point skywards, others would follow their example, till +every soldier in the square was gazing in the air. Then above the hum +of suppressed excitement came the unmistakable buzz of an aerial +propeller. + +"Air-craft!" ejaculated Kenneth. + +"Taubes, most likely," added his companion; "otherwise the troops would +be blazing away instead of merely looking on." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the scene underwent a +complete change. Horses plunged and reared, some falling and kicking +madly on the ground. Men ran hither and thither, seeking shelter, +while several of them pitched upon their faces. Yet not a sound was +heard of an explosion. A mysterious and silent death was stalking +amidst the German transport. Overhead the drone of the propeller +increased, yet the aeroplane was invisible from the lads' outlook. + +Something struck the stones of the courtyard a few feet from their +window. It was a small featherless steel arrow, one of thousands that +a French aviator had let loose upon the astonished and terrified +Germans. + +Simultaneously there was a crash in the room. Turning, the occupants +made the discovery that three of the darts had completely penetrated +the tiles of the roof and had buried themselves three inches deep in +the oaken floor. + +"Keep close to the wall," exclaimed Kenneth; "it is the safest place." + +"It's all over now," announced Rollo after a brief interval. "There +she goes!" + +He pointed to a monoplane gliding gracefully at an altitude of about +five hundred feet. He could just distinguish a tricolour painted on +each tip of the main plane. A desultory but increasing rifle-fire +announced its departure, and, unruffled, the air-craft sailed serenely +out of sight. + +"Pretty effective weapon," remarked Kenneth, vainly endeavouring to +wrench one of the darts from the floor. "They must hit with terrific +force. I wonder how they were discharged?" + +"Simply dropped by the hundred, I should imagine," replied Rollo. "The +force of gravity is sufficient to give them a tremendous velocity after +dropping a few hundred feet. I guess they've knocked these fellows' +time-table out." + +The drivers and several cavalrymen had now emerged from their +hiding-places, and were carrying their less-fortunate comrades from the +scene. A few of the latter were moaning, but most of them had been +slain outright. The "flechettes", or steel darts, had in several cases +struck their victims on the head, and had passed completely through +their bodies. In addition to about thirty casualties, nearly a hundred +horses were either killed on the spot or were so badly injured that +they had to be dispatched. Several of the motor-wagons, too, were +temporarily disabled by the terrible missiles. Clearly it was out of +the question that the convoy could proceed that day. + +Darkness set in. The work of repairing the damaged vehicles still +proceeded briskly by the aid of the powerful acetylene lamps fixed upon +the parapets of the surrounding buildings. Fresh animals were being +brought up to take the horse-wagons away, in order to make room for the +artificers to proceed with their work. The square echoed and re-echoed +to the clanging of hammers and the rasping of saws, and the guttural +exclamations of the workmen. + +Kenneth and Rollo had no thoughts of going to bed. Usually, as soon as +it was dark they would throw themselves upon their straw mattresses, +for lights were not allowed them. But now the excitement, increased by +contrast to their monotonous existence, banished all idea of sleep. + +Crash! A blaze of vivid light that out-brillianced the concentrated +glare of the lamps flashed skywards, followed almost immediately by a +deafening report. Windows were shattered, tiles flew from the roofs. +The walls of the room in which the two lads were standing shook +violently. + +"A shell!" exclaimed Rollo. + +"A bomb!" corrected Kenneth, for in the brief lull that followed could +be heard the noise of an air-craft. Either the same or another French +airman was honouring the Germans at Verviers with a second visit. + +Twenty seconds later another explosion occurred at the back of the +building. With a terrific crash one of the outer walls was blown in; a +portion of the roof collapsed; the floor, partially ripped up, swayed +like the deck of a vessel in the trough of an angry sea. + +Kenneth found himself on the floor, rendered temporarily deaf and +covered with fragments of plaster and broken tiles, and smothered in +dust. + +Staggering to his feet he groped for his companion, for the place was +in total darkness, the force of the detonation having extinguished all +the lamps in the vicinity. His hand came in contact with Rollo's hair. + +"Steady on, old man; don't scalp me," expostulated Barrington. + +"What do you say?" asked his companion. Rollo repeated the protest, +shouting in order to enable Kenneth to hear what he said. + +"Hurt?" + +"Not a bit of it; but we may be if we hang on here." + +Another fall of rafters and tiles confirmed the speaker's surmise; +then, as the cloud of acrid smoke and dust slowly dispersed, they could +see a patch of starlight where a few moments before had been a blank +wall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Across the Frontier + +Kenneth regained his feet. + +"Let's shift," he said. + +"Where?" + +"Anywhere. Be steady; mind where you tread, and look out for +brick-bats falling on your head." + +The caution was well needed. Stumbling over the mass of shattered +brickwork, the lads passed through the jagged gap and gained an open +space to the rear of a long range of storehouses. Even as they did so +another bomb exploded, this time some distance off, though the +concussion was sufficient to complete the destruction of the room in +which they had been but a few moments previously. + +Not only in the square but all over the town a state of panic existed. +The terrified horses stampeded; the German troops, temporarily thrown +into disorder, ran for shelter; while those of the civil population who +did not take refuge in their cellars poured out into the streets and +fled towards the open country. + +"Rollo, old man, let's make a dash for it." + +The idea of taking advantage of the air raid in order to effect their +escape had not until that moment entered Kenneth's head. Both he and +Rollo, temporarily dazed by the explosion, had thought only of getting +clear of the subsiding building. + +Everything was in their favour. Scaling a low brick wall, they found +themselves in the company of about forty panic-stricken inhabitants. +In the confusion no one noticed the two hatless lads, for before they +had gone fifty yards they ran past a squad of German troops, who, under +the threats of their officers, were engaged in coupling up a hose to +play upon a fire kindled by the explosion of one of the destructive +missiles. + +"Keep with the crowd," advised Rollo. "We're safe enough. The +monoplane has made off by this time." + +The street emerged into a wide thoroughfare, where the throng of people +was greatly increased; but after a while, finding that there were no +more detonations, the crowd began to thin, many of the townsfolk +returning to their homes. A few, however, numbering perhaps forty, +unable to control their fear, ran blindly towards the open country, and +with them went the two British lads. + +"It's about time we struck a line for ourselves," whispered Kenneth. + +"Not yet; we'll stick to the main road," said his companion. "These +people know their way; we don't, and it's no fun blundering across +ditches and marshy fields on a night like this. I wish we had our +coats." + +"Being without them is an inducement to keep on the move," remarked +Everest. "If we have to stand about or hide anywhere it will be a +numbing business. The question is, what's our plan?" + +"Keep as far as possible in a northerly or northwesterly direction +after we find ourselves alone. That ought to land us in Dutch +territory before morning. It's only a matter of twenty miles." + +"And if we are held up?" + +"Then we must hide during the day. It wouldn't be worth a dog's chance +to fall in with any Germans." + +The lads had been conversing in French, lest their whispers should be +overheard by the hurrying crowd. Amongst that number of Belgians there +might be a spy, and the incautious use of English would be fatal to the +enterprise. But before two miles had been traversed the two British +lads were alone. The rest of the crowd, finding that the explosions +had entirely ceased, had either retraced their steps or had awaited +possible developments. + +Taking their direction by means of the position of the North Star, for +the night was now quite cloudless, the fugitives pushed on. They had +no fear of pursuit, since, by the demolition of their place of +detention, the German authorities were bound to come to the conclusion +that their prisoners had been buried under the ruins. + +It was too hazardous to attempt to follow the road farther. From their +local knowledge the lads knew that it led to Julimont and Visé, and +that the valley of the Meuse, especially on the Dutch frontier, would +be strictly guarded. + +"Railway ahead!" whispered Kenneth. + +Outlined against the starry sky was a low embankment, fringed with the +characteristic telegraph poles of the Belgian state railways. Directly +in their path was a culvert, on the top of which were the silhouetted +figures of three greatcoated soldiers. On the other side of the +embankment a fire was burning brightly, its glare alone betraying its +position. + +The fugitives promptly retraced their steps for nearly two hundred +yards, then striking off at right angles kept parallel to, and at a +fairly safe distance from, the railway line. + +"We'll have to cross that line," whispered Kenneth. "It runs between +Liége and Aix, I believe." + +"Let's hope the whole extent of it isn't guarded." + +"Only the bridge and culverts; but you can take it for granted that +they patrol between the various posts of sentries. Carry on, old man; +another half a mile and we'll try again." + +A short distance farther the fugitives encountered the main road from +Liége to the German town of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was quite deserted, +but beyond it they had to turn slightly to the right to avoid the +railway, which ran in a north-easterly direction. + +"Why not have a shot at it?" asked Kenneth. + +"Not yet. It will run in a northerly direction again. I noticed that +in the map. We must cross, if possible, somewhere to the south of +Aubel. It is still early in the evening. The nearer midnight we make +the attempt the better." + +It was now bitterly cold. A hard frost made the ground like iron. +Since it was too hazardous to proceed at a rapid pace, the lads felt +the piercing air accordingly. With their shoulders hunched and their +ungloved hands thrust deeply into their pockets, they kept on, +shivering in spite of the fact that in the excitement of regaining +their liberty--temporarily, at any rate--their nerves were a-tingle and +the blood surged rapidly through their veins. + +"What's that ahead?" whispered Kenneth. "Men?" + +The lads peered through the darkness. Fifty yards ahead were several +upright objects at regular intervals, looking exactly like an extended +line of soldiers. + +"Germans!" whispered Rollo. "Lie down." + +They threw themselves upon the frozen ground and kept the objects under +observation. Before long the effect of their recumbent positions in +contact with the earth became painful. Rollo got to his knees. + +"I'll go a little nearer," he whispered. "You stay here. They don't +seem to be moving." + +"I'll come too," whispered Kenneth in reply. + +"No, you don't. One might escape notice where two might not. I'll be +very cautious." + +Kenneth remained. He could just discern the form of his chum as he +slowly and carefully approached the line of mysterious objects. +Presently he saw Rollo regain his feet and walk towards him. + +"It's all right," announced Harrington. "They are a row of alders." + +His companion arose, slowly and stiffly. He had to swing his arms +vigorously for some minutes to warm his chilled body. + +"Let's get on," he said. + +"Getting on" was not an easy matter, for upon arriving at the row of +trees the lads found that they lined the bank of a sluggish stream, too +broad to leap across and too deep to wade. Already thin ice had formed +upon its surface. Swimming under these conditions might be performed, +but the undertaking required a lot of pluck on a night like this. +Furthermore, there was the after-effect to take into consideration. + +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Kenneth. For once, at least, he +realized that his impetuosity failed him, and that he must rely upon +the calmer, deliberate, and perhaps over-cautious counsels of his chum. + +"Cross dry-shod," replied Rollo. "We must follow the bank up-stream +until we find a means of crossing. Not a recognized bridge--that would +almost to a certainty be guarded--but a plank thrown across for the use +of some farmer. It's no use wasting time here." + +He stopped suddenly. From behind the shelter of one of the trees a +tall, dark figure advanced swiftly and unhesitatingly. + +The fugitives' first impulse was to take to their heels, but before +they had recovered sufficiently from their surprise a voice exclaimed: + +"What cheer, mates! What might you be doing here?" + +Arrested by the sound of an unmistakable English voice, the lads held +their ground. Kenneth, with studious politeness, said: "We are pleased +to make your acquaintance," and then felt inclined, in spite of his +physical discomforts, to laugh at the absurdity of his remark. + +The man held out his hand. Kenneth grabbed it cordially. As he did so +he noticed that the stranger was dressed almost in rags. He wore a +battered slouch hat, a cloak that reached to his knees, and trousers so +short in the leg that there was a gap between the foot of them and his +grey socks. On his feet he wore a pair of sabots. + +"What might you be doing here?" he repeated. + +"Trying to regain our regiment," replied Rollo. + +"Same here. What's yours?" + +"The 9th Regiment of the Line." + +The man glanced suspiciously at his informant. + +"Never heard of it," he declared. "Mine's the Northumberland +Fusiliers--'Quo Fata Vocant' is our motto, and strikes me Fate has led +me a pretty dance. The 9th Regiment of the Line?" + +"Of the Belgian army," explained Kenneth, for the man's declaration +sounded like a challenge. "We're British volunteer +dispatch-riders--corporals." + +"Same here; I'm a corporal, unless I'm officially dead. But that's +neither here nor there. Question is, where am I?" + +"In Belgium, not so very far from Liége." + +"That's a blessing. It's a relief to know I'm not on rotten German +soil. But it's a long, long way to Tipperary." + +"What do you mean?" asked Kenneth in astonishment. + +The Northumberland Fusilier also betrayed surprise. + +"You've not heard that song? Well, where have you been to? But let's +be on the move. It's cold enough, in all conscience, without standing +still to be frozen. Where are you making for?" + +"The Dutch frontier--it's only about five or six miles off," replied +Rollo. + +"Not this child," declared the man vehemently. "So we part company, +chums." + +"Why?" asked Kenneth. + +"I'm trying to rejoin my regiment. As for being interned in Holland, +I'm not having any." + +"You won't be interned; you're in mufti. Have you any idea how far +you'll have to tramp? Across Belgium and a part of France--every mile +of the way held by the enemy. Where are the British now?" + +"Pushing the Germans back from Paris, chum; that's what they were doing +when I got copped." + +"We were told that the British army was annihilated." + +"Some rotten German yarn," exclaimed the corporal contemptuously. +"Take it from me, as one who knows, the Germans have bitten off more +than they can chew. But is that right that the Dutchmen won't keep us +till the end of the war?" + +"Certainly, provided you are not in uniform." + +"That settles it, then," declared the man. "By the right--slow march. +There's a plank bridge a little way farther up-stream." + +This obstacle having been surmounted, the three fugitives made in a +northerly direction. Only once in half an hour did the Northumberland +Fusilier break the silence. + +"Got any tommy?" he asked. "Any grub?" + +"Not a crumb." + +"Rough luck! I haven't had a bite for sixteen hours or more, and my +belt's in the last notch." + +"How far have you come?" asked Rollo. + +"Goodness only knows. Aching's the name of the show." + +"Aching?" repeated Kenneth in perplexity. + +"Yes, Aching," replied the man vehemently. "A fitting name, too. +A-a-c-h-e-n, it's spelt, so there!" + +The lads understood. He had spelt the German name for the town of +Aix-la-Chapelle. His progress, then, had been very slow--sixteen hours +to cover about twelve miles. + +"That's Aubel," whispered Kenneth, pointing to a group of houses +showing up against the sky. "We must cross the line here." + +A hurried consultation followed, in which it was decided that Kenneth +should take the lead, the others following at twenty paces interval. + +As they approached the line of telegraph posts Kenneth made his way +ahead and dropped on his hands and knees. In this position he covered +the hundred yards that separated him from the railway. He listened. +There was no mistaking the sound he heard. The noise of heavily-nailed +boots treading slowly upon the frosty permanent-way was drawing nearer. + +The lad crawled back to his chum, and both threw themselves flat upon +the ground. The Northumberland man did likewise. + +Presently two greatcoated figures came into view; German soldiers with +rifles on their shoulders. The pale light glinted on the fixed +bayonets. When opposite the spot where the fugitives were hiding, the +guards stopped, grounded their weapons, and swung their arms. In spite +of their heavy coats they were chilled to the bone. + +The Germans showed no haste in proceeding on their patrol. To the +shivering Englishmen it seemed as if they were deliberately prolonging +their stay. + +In spite of his frantic efforts the Northumberland Fusilier gave vent +to a half-smothered cough. Almost simultaneously the Germans recovered +their arms and fired in the direction of the hiding trio. + +Suppressing an insane desire to break away and run for dear life, the +three lay still. If the patrol had heard any suspicious sound they did +not act further upon it, for after a few more minutes they sloped arms +and tramped stolidly in the direction of Aubel. + +Once again Kenneth crawled towards the railway. The way was now clear. +Without being challenged he crossed the rails, and dropped down the +embankment beyond. Here he was speedily joined by his companions. + +A little later, to their consternation, clouds began to gather. It was +no longer possible to follow a course by the stars. It became darker, +and prominent objects could not be distinguished. All around there +were untilled fields, as like each other as peas in a pod. + +Half an hour's wandering convinced the fugitives that they were +hopelessly out of their bearings, for the wind had fallen utterly, and +even that means of keeping a rough course failed them. + +"Ten to one we're walking in a big circle," declared Rollo. "The best +thing we can do is to slow down till dawn." + +"Another seven hours," objected the Fusilier. "We'll be dead with cold +by that time. Let's step out and trust to luck." + +"There's a barn or something, right ahead," announced Kenneth after +they had traversed two fields. "I vote we make for that and take +shelter." + +The building was a detached one. Closer investigation showed that it +was deserted. The door had been wrenched from its hinges and lay about +five yards from the wall. In one angle of the brickwork was a gaping +hole. The walls had been loopholed for rifle-fire, but the thatched +roof was practically intact. + +"Steady!" cautioned the British corporal. "There might be somebody +inside." + +He led the way, shuffling noiselessly with his feet and holding his arm +in a position of defence. Having completed a tour of the interior, he +announced that it was safe to enter. + +The floor was dry, but destitute of hay or straw. Taking off his +peasant's cloak the corporal spread it upon the ground, and on it the +three huddled together for mutual warmth. Already Kenneth and Rollo +were weak with hunger, cold, and fatigue. Their companion's chief +regret was that he had no tobacco. Hunger, although severe, was with +him a secondary consideration. + +In this position they remained in a semi-dazed condition until the +Northumberland man announced that dawn was breaking. + +With difficulty regaining their feet, the two lads moved their cramped +limbs till they were conscious of the sense of touch. Then out into +the bitterly cold air they went. + +"That's our course," said the corporal. "This time of year the sun +rises in the north-east, so this is about north." + +"Then it's exactly the opposite direction to which we were going last +night," remarked Rollo. "You can tell that by the position of the +barn." + +"Yes, we must have been circling," agreed Kenneth. "We may yet be +miles from the frontier." + +On and on they trudged, guided by the gleam of light that was gradually +growing in intensity. Detached farm-houses were now visible, affording +landmarks which, although serviceable, had to be avoided. + +"I'd do a burglaring job without a moment's hesitation," declared the +corporal, "only it's too jolly risky. Liberty isn't worth chucking +away for the sake of a chunk of bread; at least, I don't think so. Yet +dozens of Germans have given themselves up to our chaps because they +felt a bit hungry." + +His companions agreed, but half-heartedly. Hunger, the ally of +despair, was pressing them hard. They missed the plain but substantial +meals that their captors had provided them with at Verviers. + +Suddenly, from behind them, came a hoarse shout. + +Turning, the three fugitives saw, to their consternation, that about a +dozen German soldiers were following them and were now about four +hundred yards behind. + +"Cut for it!" exclaimed the corporal. + +They broke into a steady run. The action was a relief after hours of +slow trudging and sleepless, comfortless rest. Their pursuers also +increased their pace, shouting for them to stop. + +"We're holding our own," exclaimed Kenneth after a while. + +"Can't keep it up, though," panted the corporal, who, to give himself +greater freedom, had discarded his cloak. "But why don't the beggars +fire?" + +It seemed remarkable that their pursuers made no attempt to use their +rifles. Some had already given up the chase, but others held on, +streaming out into an irregular procession. + +Ahead was a broad ditch. Kenneth, who was leading, braced himself to +plunge through the coating of ice, but instead his feet slipped and he +rolled sideways to the farthermost bank. His companions crossed more +easily, for owing to the severe frost the water was covered with two +inches of ice. + +Rollo and the corporal assisted Everest to his feet. He was unhurt, +but wellnigh breathless. During this episode the leading Germans were +within fifty yards of them; but unaccountably they slackened their +pace, stopping at the edge of the frozen ditch and shouting frantically +at the fugitives. + +"That's done it!" exclaimed the Fusilier. + +In extended order a number of soldiers, some mounted, emerged from the +shelter of a row of trees on the opposite side of the field, and stood +waiting to receive the exhausted Englishmen. Escape was impossible. +There was no cover either to the right or the left. Behind them were +their pursuers; in front the troops, including cavalry. + +"We've had a run for our money," remarked the corporal, as he raised +his arms above his head in token of surrender. His companions noticed +that, in spite of his dejection, the man never blamed them for +suggesting a course that ended in recapture. + +The Germans behind them still made no further attempt to advance. They +stood in a row at the edge of the ditch, bawling unintelligibly. + +"Hurrah!" suddenly shouted Kenneth. + +His companions looked at him in amazement. + +"We're all right," he continued. "We've crossed the frontier. These +fellows are Dutch soldiers." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Thelma Everest + +The detention of Rollo Barrington and Kenneth Everest on Dutch soil was +of comparatively short duration. Well before the end of September they +were allowed to recross the frontier within a few miles of the strong +fortress of Antwerp. + +The Northumberland Fusilier--his companions in peril never learnt his +name--did not accompany them. At the first available opportunity he +got into communication with a British Consul, and, through that +official's instrumentality, was sent back to England. Here he reported +himself at the nearest regimental depot, and, greatly to his +satisfaction, was again sent across the Channel to rejoin his +comrades-in-arms. + +Upon gaining Dutch territory, almost the first act of Kenneth and Rollo +was to communicate the news of their safety to their anxious parents, +at the same time stating their intention of proceeding to Antwerp to +continue their work as dispatch-riders to the Belgian forces. + +Upon arriving at the great Belgian fortress the lads found, to their +huge satisfaction, that the 9th Regiment of the Line--or rather the +remains of it--formed part of the garrison, their duty being to man the +trenches between Fort de Wavre Ste Catherine and Fort de Waelhem--posts +that, owing to their strategical position, seemed likely to bear the +brunt of the threatened German attack. + +"Dieu soit loué!" exclaimed Major Planchenoît. He was captain no +longer, having gained well-merited promotion. "It is messieurs the +English dispatch-riders. What has befallen you?" + +As briefly as possible Kenneth related their adventures from the time +of their ill-starred ride to Cortenaeken. + +"And now we wish to report ourselves again for duty, sir," concluded +Everest. "Ought we to see Major Résimont?" + +Major Planchenoît shook his head sadly. + +"My gallant comrade, alas! has been severely wounded. There is, +however, one consolation; he is safe in England, enjoying the +hospitality of your incomparable fellow-countrymen. If we had not an +assured refuge in England, where would we be? But, messieurs, it will +be necessary to provide you with uniforms and equipment. I will give +you an order for the Quartermaster. When you are fitted out, report +yourselves at the divisional staff office." + +Obtaining new uniforms was out of the question: there were none to be +had. So, in place of their motor-cyclists' kit, the lads had to be +content with second-hand infantryman's uniform--heavy blue coat, loose +trousers tucked into black-leather gaiters, and a blue, peakless cap +similar to the British "pill-box" of half a century ago, but worn +squarely on the head instead of being perched at a rakish angle. To +render their head-gear more conspicuous it was adorned by a band of +dark-red cloth. + +The Quartermaster was deeply apologetic. + +"But, after all, messieurs," he added, "a uniform is a uniform all the +world over. It entitles, or should entitle, its wearer to the +courtesies of war." + +The lads agreed on this point, although they realized that the heavy +clothing was not at all suitable for dispatch-riding, where agility on +the part of the cyclist and a near approach of invisibility in the +matter of his uniform were essential conditions to efficiency. + +Nor were revolvers served out to them. Instead, they were given Mauser +rifles and short bayonets, the ammunition for the former being kept +loosely in two large black-leather pouches attached to the belt. + +"As regards your motor-cycles," continued the Quartermaster, "you may +choose for yourselves. Believe me, we have a large and varied +assortment." + +As soon as Kenneth and Rollo had donned their cumbersome uniforms and +equipment they were handed over to the care of a sergeant, who was told +to escort them to the store where the reserve motor-transport vehicles +were kept. This building, formerly a brewery, stood at a distance of +two miles from the advanced line of trenches, and on the banks of the +River Nethe. + +In the brewery yard were nearly two hundred motor-cars and lorries +arranged in various grades of efficiency; while in the cellars were +rows and rows of motor-cycles and ordinary bicycles in all sorts of +conditions. + +"Voilà, messieurs!" exclaimed the sergeant with a comprehensive wave of +the hand. + +In spite of the fact that the lads were but corporals the sergeant +invariably addressed them as "messieurs". From the staff officers +downwards, all with whom the British lads came in contact paid this +courteous tribute to their devotion to Belgium's cause. + +Kenneth and Rollo were some time making their selection. They realized +that their lives might depend upon the reliability of their mounts. +Finally they decided upon two motor-cycles of British make, very +similar to their own, although of an earlier pattern. Examination +showed that the tyres were in excellent condition, and that with a +slight overhauling the machines ought to prove most serviceable. + +There was petrol in abundance, more than was likely to be required +during the impending operations around Antwerp. Having filled up the +tanks of their motor-cycles, the lads started back to the lines, the +sergeant being perched upon the carrier of Rollo's mount. + +The English lads were warmly welcomed by their new comrades of the +motor section. Not one of the Belgian dispatch-riders who had taken +part in the operations between Liége and Brussels was left. All of +them had either been killed or wounded in the execution of their duty. +Of the seven motor-cyclists now serving, one was in civil life an +advocate, two were diamond merchants, a fourth a professor of +languages, and the others railway mechanics. Yet, in spite of the +great variations of social grades, the men were excellent comrades, +united by a common cause. + +There were twenty ordinary cyclists as well, while the section also +manned an armoured motor-car mounting a machine-gun. This travelling +fortress had already gained a reputation as a hard nut for the Germans +to crack. Up to the present they had not succeeded, while the +machine-gun had accounted for several of the invaders. + +Kenneth and Rollo were not allowed to be idle. Eager to get to work +again, they were taken in hand by a captain, who by the aid of a map +pointed out the position of the various forts forming the outer and +inner lines of defences. The lads had also to memorize the principal +roads of communication between the city and the advanced works, as well +as the chief thoroughfares and public buildings of Antwerp itself. +Until they had a fair topographical knowledge they could be of little +use as dispatch-riders, but, owing to the comparatively narrow limits +of the Belgian forces, this information could be mastered after a brief +concentrated effort. + +Major Planchenoît took good care to put the rejoined dispatch-riders to +a practical test. Although glad of the help of the two British +subjects, he was not an officer likely to employ them on important work +until they knew the locality. Of their courage and sagacity he already +had proof, but these qualifications were almost of a negligible +quantity unless they knew the "lay of the land". + +Next morning the lads had their instructions. + +"You will proceed with the dispatch to the officer commanding the +outpost at Lierre," ordered Major Planchenoît. "This done, go on to +Vremde. There you will find a detachment of the regiment. This packet +is for the company officer. This done, proceed to the city, seek +Commandant Fleurus, and deliver this dispatch. Await further +instructions from him, and report to me." + +Kenneth and Rollo saluted, and hastened to the shed where their +motor-cycles were stored. As they were giving them a final overhaul, +Private Labori--formerly a diamond merchant and now a +dispatch-rider--hailed them. + +"Are you going into the city, camarades? You are? Good! Bring me +some cigars, and I will be eternally indebted to you. I smoked my last +yesterday, and without cigars I am as a man doomed to perdition. Of +your charity, camarades, do me this favour." + +Private Labori pressed a ten-franc piece into Kenneth's hand, and with +a hurried expression of gratitude returned to his task of peeling +potatoes for the midday meal. + +"He's taken it for granted that we get the cigars," remarked Kenneth. +"I suppose it would not be a breach of discipline to get them." + +"Almost like old times," declared Rollo, as the riders sped side by +side over the tree-lined road. "Pity we haven't our own motor-bikes, +though." + +He spoke with the same sort of affection as the huntsman has for his +favourite horse, but Kenneth was more practical and unimaginative. + +"We're lucky to be riding at all," he said. "After all, this jigger +gets along pretty well. We're doing a good twenty-five." + +The three dispatches were delivered in quick time. Commandant Fleurus +greeted the lads warmly, and questioned them at great length on the +subject of their adventures. + +"It is not possible to give you a reply at once," he said at the close +of the interview. "Come back at three o'clock, and the dispatch for +Major Planchenoît will be handed you. Meanwhile it will not be +necessary for you to return to Wavre Ste Catherine. You are at liberty +to amuse yourselves until the hour named." + +"Jolly considerate of him," remarked Kenneth after the lads had +withdrawn from the Commandant's presence. "We'll put up the bikes and +have a stroll round. It wouldn't be half a bad idea to call at the +post office. There may be something for us, but we had better not +reckon too much on it." + +They were not disappointed, for on making application at the post +office they were each handed quite a bulky packet of correspondence. +There were letters from their respective parents and relatives, and a +number from old school chums. These had been written when a part of +their adventures in Belgium had been related by their proud parents to +the head of St. Cyprian's. He, in turn, had passed on the news to the +rest of the school, and the result was a swarm of congratulatory +letters, sent to Mr. Everest and Colonel Harrington, who, upon +receiving news of their sons' safety, had promptly forwarded the batch +of correspondence. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Kenneth, "the pater's written to say that Thelma +is a nurse in one of the hospitals here--St. Nicholas is the name. He +wants me to keep an eye on her, so to speak, and pack her off to +England if there's danger of the city being taken by the enemy." + +"Let's find out where St. Nicholas Hospital is, and go there at once," +suggested Rollo. "Only I hope we'll have better luck than when we +tried to see your sister at Madame de la Barre's." + +"We do look like a couple of brigands," said Kenneth as they hurried +through the crowded streets; for their uniforms were far from being +smart, while their rifles slung across their backs gave them a truly +ferocious appearance. + +"Think so?" asked Rollo with considerable misgivings. "Then I think +I'll wait outside, if you don't mind." + +"Nonsense, man," rejoined his companion heartily. "We're like the rest +of the troops. It's an honour to wear a Belgian uniform, after what +these fellows have done to delay the German advance and to upset the +Kaiser's time-table. Only I'll bet that Thelma doesn't know me." + +Kenneth was wrong in his surmise, for on calling at the hospital, +Thelma happened to be passing through the hall. She recognized her +brother at once, but he hardly knew the tall, graceful girl in the neat +and becoming nurse's uniform as his sister. + +"So you are my brother's chum," she remarked quite unaffectedly when +Kenneth had introduced the bashful Rollo. "I've heard a lot about you +from Kenneth when you were at St. Cyprian's, you know. And now you are +soldiers fighting for brave little Belgium." + +"And what are you doing here?" asked Kenneth with a display of +fraternal authority. "There are at least three British hospitals in +Antwerp, I believe. I wonder why you didn't join one of these." + +"I wonder why you didn't join the British army instead of enlisting in +the Belgian one," retorted Thelma in mock reproof. + +"For one thing, we weren't old enough," explained her brother. "For +another, we saw most of the fun before our troops landed in France. +It's been a rotten time, but it's well worth it." + +"Yes, I am glad you were able to do your bit," agreed Thelma. "And now +I'll tell you why I'm here. My friend Yvonne Résimont and I both +entered as nurses, so as to be together." + +"Yvonne Résimont here?" asked Kenneth. + +"Yes--do you know her?" + +"No; but I might have done, had Madame de la Barre not been so +confoundedly pigheaded. But it's not too late now," he added. + +Thelma laughed. + +"I'll find her," she said. + +"One moment," exclaimed Rollo, who had hitherto held his tongue but had +made good use of his eyes. "Does Mademoiselle Résimont know about her +father?" + +"No; she has not heard anything of or from him for weeks. He is not +dead?" + +"Badly wounded, and now somewhere in England. I don't know where; but +perhaps Major Planchenoît could give further particulars. And Madame +Résimont?" + +"She is in Holland--at Bergen-op-Zoom. The doctors ordered her to go, +otherwise she would have remained here and helped with the wounded. +I'll find Yvonne." + +In less than a minute Thelma Everest returned, accompanied by her +Belgian chum. + +Yvonne Résimont was a girl of medium height and well-proportioned. Her +features were dark and clear, her hair of a deep brown. +Notwithstanding the grimness of her surroundings she had a natural +vivacity that could not fail to charm all with whom she came in contact. + +"You, then, are Kenneth," she exclaimed in good English, with a slight +foreign accent. "I know much about you from Thelma, but I did not +expect to see you in the uniform of our brave Belgians." + +Kenneth coloured slightly. + +"I wish to goodness the uniform were a little better fitting," he +thought; but it would not have mattered in the slightest degree. +Yvonne was a patriot to her finger-tips. Every man in the uniform of +her beloved country was to her a hero. The uniform, ill-fitting or +otherwise, was in her eyes an emblem of right against might. + +"Tell me, Kenneth," she continued, using his Christian name quite as a +matter of course. It was excusable, since Thelma had never spoken of +her brother by any other name, and Kenneth had not the faintest +objection. "Tell me, how came you to be fighting with us in Belgian +uniform?" + +"Time, old man," announced Rollo, for during the animated conversation +the minutes fled with astonishing rapidity. "It's nearly three +o'clock." + +"You'll both come to see us again whenever you have the chance, won't +you?" asked Thelma, as the two chums bade the girls farewell. "For the +next ten days we are on night duty, so you can call at any hour between +eight and eight." + +"And if we are asleep," added Yvonne, "tell them to awaken us. I will +not be cross at being disturbed, and I do not think Thelma will be." + +"Ripping girl, your sister, old man," remarked Rollo enthusiastically, +as the twain hurried towards the staff office. + +"Is she?" asked Kenneth absent-mindedly. He was thinking deeply of +someone else. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Self-accused + +"We've a few minutes to spare," observed Kenneth, "so I'll get those +cigars for Private Labori. There's a swagger shop just across the +road." + +In spite of the threatened bombardment of Antwerp the population was +calm. It was a case of "business as usual". The cafés and shops were +doing a good trade; the price of provisions, notwithstanding the great +influx of refugees, was but a little above the normal. Were it not for +the military element in the street, and the occasional visit of a +Zeppelin or hostile aeroplane, it would have been difficult to realize +that the city was almost within range of the German siege guns, and +that day by day those guns were slowly yet steadily advancing. + +Kenneth entered the tobacconist's first. As he did so he momentarily +forgot that he carried his rifle across his back. In passing through +the narrow doorway the muzzle of the weapon struck the plate-glass +window of the porch and cracked it. + +Alarmed by the crash the shopkeeper rushed out, but before Kenneth +could offer any apologies the man gave a howl of terror. + +"Mercy, monsieur Englishman!" he exclaimed. "Indeed I could not help +it. Von Koenik compelled me to disclose your name." + +Kenneth, ever quick-witted, grasped the situation instantly. The +tobacconist was none other than the spy who, under the name of Jules de +la Paix, kept a similar establishment at Brussels. There his dirty +work had been completed; at Antwerp it was just beginning. + +The fellow had also recognized Kenneth as the Englishman he had basely +denounced to his paymasters, the Germans. Seeing him in uniform and +armed, with a fully-accoutred companion, the spy jumped at the hasty +and erroneous conclusion that Kenneth had discovered his duplicity and +had come to arrest him. + +His panic at seeing the man whom he supposed to be dead amounted to a +superstitious terror. Hardly knowing what he said, he let fall the +damning admission that he was at least partly responsible for Kenneth's +arrest at Brussels. + +"You are my prisoner!" exclaimed Kenneth sternly. + +Momentarily recovering his courage, the fellow drew back. His hand +flew to his pocket, but before he could produce a concealed weapon the +British lad grasped him by both arms. + +Meanwhile Rollo, guessing by the crash of the broken glass that +something was amiss, had sauntered leisurely into the shop, fully +expecting to hear his chum apologizing profusely to the tobacconist for +his clumsiness. To his surprise, he found Kenneth and the shopkeeper +swaying to and fro in a desperate struggle. Chairs had been +overturned, cases of pipes and packets of tobacco were being thrown in +all directions. + +In spite of being encumbered with his rifle and kit, Kenneth succeeded +in throwing the spy to the floor and kneeling on his chest. + +[Illustration: KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR] + +"Get a strap, a rope, or something, old man," he exclaimed +breathlessly. "We've collared a spy." + +Rollo obeyed. It was one of those rare instances when he acted on the +spur of his chum's orders and argued the situation afterwards. He +could not understand how Kenneth had effected the capture without any +previous warning. To him, a lad brought up in a country where law and +order moves with slow and majestic deliberation, it looked like a case +of illegal arrest. Nevertheless he found a length of packing-cord, and +deftly secured the arms of the now exhausted spy, tying them at the +wrists behind his back. + +The two female assistants--Belgian girls--had fled screaming at the +commencement of the struggle. Two or three customers at the other end +of the long shop had watched the scene without attempting to interfere; +but directly the shopkeeper was secured they rushed into the street, +yelling that a spy had been captured. + +The utterance of the word "Espion" was sufficient instantly to attract +a huge crowd. Civil Guards and soldiers found their way through the +press, and kept the curious onlookers from the door. + +"Who denounces the accused?" demanded a sergeant of the Civil Guard. + +"I do," promptly responded Kenneth, at the same time producing his +identity papers. + +The sergeant glanced at the documents, and entered Kenneth's name in a +book. + +"You must come with me," he added; "you and your witnesses." + +"Sorry I cannot," said Kenneth. + +The sergeant pricked up his ears. + +"I order you," he declared. + +"Tell me where you are taking the prisoner, and we will be there as +soon as possible. At three o'clock I have an appointment with +Commandant Fleurus, and it is nearly that hour now." + +The sergeant acquiesced, but took the precaution of discreetly sending +a couple of men to watch the movements of the two corporals in Belgian +uniform who were stated to be English. Experience had taught him that +there were such things as forged documents, and that Germans had +masqueraded as English officers and men. + +"You are slightly after time," was Commandant Fleurus's remark as the +dispatch-riders presented themselves. + +"We arrested a spy, sir," announced Kenneth. "He gave himself away." + +"How was that?" asked the Commandant. + +Kenneth reported the details, and how Jules de la Paix had rashly +declared that he was compelled to denounce the English lads to von +Koenik at Brussels. + +"Good!" ejaculated Commandant Fleurus. "It is indeed a fine service to +trap such carrion. We have suffered greatly from these pests, but I +fear one the less will make but little difference. Antwerp shelters a +horde of them. But here is your dispatch. See, I have endorsed it: +'Bearers detained upon special service'." + +By the time that Kenneth and Rollo arrived at the head-quarters of the +Civil Guard a court martial had already been constituted. The presence +of the principal witnesses made it possible for the trial to open. + +The proceedings were brief, but with every semblance of fairness. The +accused, having had time to consider his position, tried to deny his +statements; but there were several witnesses who had overheard the +prisoner's terrified confession to Kenneth. + +Members of the Civil Guard reported that they had searched the +accused's premises. In a garret with a well-concealed trap-door they +discovered a powerful wireless installation, the aerials being hidden +from outside view by being placed between two rows of chimney-pots. In +the garret were also found plans and documents of great official value, +besides a copy of a code, several flash-lights, and arms and +ammunition. On the face of this evidence the prisoner was doomed. + +In addition the Civil Guards discovered that at the end of the garden +was a shed abutting on a canal that communicated with the Scheldt. In +this shed was a large sea-going motor-boat, painted a dark-grey, and +completely equipped for a voyage. It was presumed that, should the spy +find himself compelled to leave Antwerp hurriedly, this craft would +enable him to reach Dutch territory, whence he could easily regain the +ground held by the invaders. + +Within an hour from the opening of the Court the spy was condemned to +be shot, and the sentence was put into execution forthwith. + +"A rotten business," remarked Kenneth as the two lads rode towards +Wavre Ste Catherine. "I feel as if I have that fellow's blood on my +head." + +"He jolly well deserved what he got," rejoined Rollo. + +"Undoubtedly; but, all the same, I wish I hadn't a hand in it. +Trapping spies is hardly a soldier's game. What I should like to have +done would be to have given him a thundering good hiding." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +With the Naval Brigade at Antwerp + +Fort de Wavre Ste Catherine had fallen. Unable to fire an effective +shot in reply to the terrible bombardment of the formidable German +28-cm. shells, the strongest of the outer line of Antwerp defences +suffered the same fate as the steel-clad cupolas of Liége. + +Antwerp was doomed. The Belgians themselves realized the fact. Their +one hope was that the German infantry would attempt to rush the +trenches. Then it would be proved again that the Belgian infantryman +was as good as or better than his Teutonic foe. + +Nevertheless, driven from the outer forts on the southern side of the +defences, the garrison was not dismayed. In spite of the fact that by +their resistance Antwerp itself would presumably suffer at the hands of +the Germanic hordes, the Belgians knew that their sacrifice would not +be in vain. To take the city a huge force of Germans would be +required--and that force was badly needed elsewhere. Day by day, hour +by hour, the British and French allied forces were extending their left +wing from the Aisne to the Belgian frontier, circumventing all the +efforts on the part of their foes to turn their flank. The "holding +up" of the German besiegers of Antwerp was sufficient to enable the +Allies firmly to establish their threatened left flank upon the coast +of the North Sea. + +One by one the outer forts fell. A shell demolished the waterworks and +threatened the city's water supply. Back fell the Belgians, +reluctantly relaxing their hold upon the trenches, in which they were +subjected to a heavy fire without even so much as a glimpse of a +hostile grey-coat. + +During these momentous days Kenneth and Rollo were busily employed +conveying important messages under fire. It was a matter of +impossibility for them not to realize the hopelessness of the position, +but they did not relax their efforts on that account. The Belgians +were not fighting with their backs to a wall. Behind them lay the +neutral territory of Holland. At any given time they could evacuate +the city and allow themselves to be interned; but this they would not +do until they received news that their allies were firmly established +in their proposed position. + +On the second day of October preparations were made for the Government +to abandon Antwerp, when suddenly the exodus came to a standstill. The +word flew from mouth to mouth that a strong British force was to be +thrown into Antwerp, and, with the aid of the Belgian army, to raise +the siege and turn the enemy's flank. + +"That's good news," remarked Kenneth; but Rollo was far from optimistic. + +"We've heard such a lot of this sort of talk before, old man," he said. +"Until I see a British regiment in Antwerp I'll have my doubts." + +Early on the morning of the 4th, the lads were roused from their +slumbers by a roar of cheering. Emerging from their shell-proof +shelter, they were surprised and delighted to find that rumour had +merged into fact. Surging along towards the trenches in the direction +of Lierre were hundreds of men dressed in the well-known British naval +uniform. As yet they were not under shellfire, for the German guns +were devoting their energies towards the works at Lierre, and the +hostile air-craft had not noted the approach of British reinforcements. + +Presently the bluejackets halted and piled arms. It was their last +breathing-space before they dashed into the shell-swept trenches. + +"Let's go and see them," suggested Rollo; and his companion agreeing, +the two chums hurried towards the resting bluejackets, who were +surrounded by hundreds of their Belgian allies, for the present off +duty from the firing-line. + +"I wonder how we manage to spare this crowd of sailors," remarked +Kenneth as they made their way towards their fellow-countrymen. "I +should have thought that every man would be wanted for service with the +fleet." + +"At any rate, they're here," said Rollo; "and there are fellows in +khaki coming along the Lierre road, if I'm not much mistaken." + +The lads stood watching the sailors for some time. Their insular +reserve kept them from immediately entering into conversation, although +they were filled with impatience to know what had happened. + +For the most part the bluejackets were young men of good physique. +They lacked the bronzed appearance of seamen who have braved the +breezes of the five oceans. Many of them were pale, not with +apprehension, but with a consciousness that they had before them a +stern task that would tax their energies and courage, for they were +going under fire for the first time. + +Presently one of the bluejackets strolled up to the spot where Kenneth +and his chum were standing. + +"Est-ce--est-ce que vous--oh, hang it! what's the French for----" he +began. + +"Try English, old man; it will be a jolly sight easier for you," said +Kenneth, laughing. + +"Why, you're British, and in Belgian get-up!" exclaimed the bluejacket +in surprise. "What are you doing here, I should like to know?" + +"Exactly the same question we want to ask you," replied Kenneth. +"We're dispatch-riders in the Belgian service. We heard that British +troops were to be sent here, but we didn't expect sailors." + +"Nor are we," replied the other. "Candidly we're not, although we are +the Collingwood Battalion of the Naval Brigade." + +"Never heard of it before," remarked Rollo. + +"You haven't? Have you heard of Kitchener's army, then?" + +The lads shook their heads. + +"Then you are behind the times. Whatever have you been doing with +yourselves? I'll tell you. As soon as war broke out Kitchener asked +for half a million men. He got them right enough. In addition they +started Naval Brigades. It was a good wheeze, for a lot of fellows +joined for the sake of wearing a naval uniform instead of khaki, +although there was no intention of using us at sea--at least, not at +present. Two months ago I was an actor. To quote the words of the +immortal _Pinafore_: 'I never was upon the sea'." + +"'What, never?'" queried Rollo, continuing the words of the song. + +"'Well--hardly ever'. Fact is that until I left Walmer to cross the +Channel my longest trip was from Portsmouth to Ryde. I was beastly +sea-sick crossing, but I'm jolly glad I'm here. We stand a chance of +doing a bit before Kitchener's army gets a sniff of a look-in. We'll +do our little bit, never fear. Well, so long; hope to see you again." + +The division was falling in, preparatory to advancing in open order +towards the trenches facing the River Nethe, close to the village of +Lierre. Steadfastly, and with the quiet courage that distinguishes +Britons under fire, the lads of the Naval Brigade marched into the zone +of danger to attempt to stem the advance of the German hordes upon the +city of Antwerp. + +"Ah, messieurs!" exclaimed Major Planchenoît, as the dispatch-riders +reported themselves for orders. He was in high spirits, for, like the +rest of the Belgian troops, he was greatly cheered by the fact that the +long-promised aid was at last forthcoming. "Ah, messieurs! to-day you +will report yourselves at Lierre. You will be of service as +interpreters, for your gallant fellow-countrymen do not seem +particularly well acquainted with our language." + +It was hot work making their way to the trenches, for already the +Germans had renewed their destructive fire. Briton and Belgian, lying +side by side in the hastily-constructed shelters, were subjected to a +galling shrapnel fire without being able to make an adequate reply. +From the rear, two British heavy naval guns were resolutely hurtling +shells towards the invisible German battery; but of what use were two +against so many? + +Manfully the untried men of the Naval Brigade took their gruelling. It +was one of the hardest tasks that men, going for the first time into +action, had to endure: to be subjected to a tremendous bombardment +without being able to fire a shot in return. Nevertheless they stuck +it grimly, waiting and praying that they might have a chance of meeting +the German infantry on anything like level terms. + +That chance came at last. At night the German artillery-fire +slackened. Pouring onwards in dense masses came the grey-uniformed +legions, intent upon forcing the passage of the River Nethe in the +neighbourhood of Lierre. + +Already the British Marines had blown up the bridge, while across the +main street of the shell-wrecked village a strong barricade of carts +faced with sandbags had been constructed. Working desperately, the +German engineers succeeded in throwing pontoons across the stagnant +river. With shouts of "Deutschland über Alles" the infantry poured +across, greeted by a withering fire from Briton and Belgian. + +The Naval Brigade's rifle-firing was as steady as that of a veteran +battalion. Maxims added to the general clatter. All along the +trenches flashed the deadly spurts of fire from the small-arms. The +German infantry, swept away like chaff, failed to make good the +position: the Briton proved a better man than the vaunted Teuton. Then +came the recurrence of the deadly shrapnel. The Belgian infantry on +the right were compelled to retire, and into the position they vacated +poured other German regiments, covered by a fierce artillery fire that +was impartial as to whether it struck friend or foe. + +It was now that the Naval Brigade failed to come up to the standard of +thoroughly trained and seasoned troops. Having repelled the attack +upon their immediate front, they could not easily be induced to retire. +The desire to "stop and have another shot at the beggars" was uppermost +in the minds of these stalwart youths. They failed to realize that +with the Allied line pressed they were in danger of being enfiladed. +But reluctantly and doggedly they eventually fell back within the +shelter of the inner line of forts. + +For the next two days the German heavy guns pounded the weak line of +defence. Inexplicably, although the city was well within range, no +projectiles fell in Antwerp. Perhaps it was because the invaders hoped +to take a practically undamaged port. + +Meanwhile the Belgian army, with the British Naval Brigade, was being +withdrawn from Antwerp. Further resistance was hopeless, while by this +time the Anglo-French armies were in their allotted positions according +to General Joffre's plan. All that remained to be done in Antwerp was +to destroy everything likely to be of military value to the enemy, and +extricate the defenders from what promised to be a veritable trap. + +In vain, during the night of the retirement, Kenneth and Rollo sought +to regain their regiment. Whither the 9th of the Line had gone no one +seemed to know. Some had it that the devoted regiment had perished +almost to a man in the trenches; others that it was on its way to +Ostend; others that it had crossed the frontier into Holland. + +"Now what's to be done?" asked Rollo. + +"Find the girls, if they haven't already left, and get them to a place +of safety," replied Kenneth grimly. "We can do no more at present for +Belgium; we must look after ourselves and our friends. Lead on: to the +St. Nicholas Hospital." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +When the City Fell + +Shells were beginning to fall upon the roofs of the houses when the +lads entered the devoted city. The bulk of the population had already +fled. A seemingly never-ending procession of tired, hungry, and +despondent refugees poured along the dusty road leading to +Bergen-op-Zoom. Others, debarred from taking train owing to Germans +having occupied St. Nicholas Station, were making their way by +circuitous routes towards Ostend. More were embarking upon craft of +all sorts and sizes, whose masters were only too willing to give their +suffering countrymen a passage either to the nearest Dutch port or +across the North Sea to the shores of hospitable England. + +Night had now fallen. It was by no means cold, the frosty nights of +mid-September having given place to an autumnal heat-wave. There was +little or no wind. The dense smoke from the burning petrol-tanks, +which the Belgians had fired rather than let the precious spirit fall +into the hands of the enemy, rose straight in the air. Elsewhere other +smaller columns of smoke marked the localities where the German +incendiary shells had fired portions of the city. + +In one of the principal squares, swarms of ragamuffins, acting under +the orders of the military, were taking a hideous delight in their work +of destruction; for they were busily engaged in smashing costly +motor-cars and lorries to useless fragments. Nothing that could be of +use to the enemy was permitted to be left intact. + +From the direction of the river came the sounds of muffled explosions +as the Belgians methodically proceeded to cripple the engines of a +fleet of merchant shipping, and to sink lighters filled with stone and +concrete to block up the entrances to the various docks. + +The Germans were about to take Antwerp--but they were to find in it +another Moscow, as Napoleon found it. + +Keeping to the almost deserted side streets, Kenneth and Rollo hurried +towards the Hospital of St. Nicholas. Their motor-cycles had gone, +being destroyed in the retirement of the 9th Regiment of the Line from +the fire-swept trenches. + +"What's the programme?" asked Rollo. "What do you propose to do if we +find the girls?" + +"Clear out," replied Kenneth promptly. "The train service is done; I'm +not anxious to enter Holland and cool my heels till the end of this +business. We can't expect the girls to tramp twenty miles, with the +possibility of being cut off by the enemy; and carts are apparently out +of the question. There remains the sea." + +"Yes, we may be able to get a passage on a fishing-boat." + +"That's not my plan. Do you remember the motor-launch in the shed at +the end of Jules de la Paix's garden?" + +"Can't see how that can help us," objected Rollo. "We haven't a crew." + +"If we can get the motor to start, the worst of the difficulty is +over," declared Kenneth. "At the trial, you'll recollect, the sergeant +of the Civil Guard reported that the craft was provisioned and ready +for sea. He was ordered to refrain from damaging the vessel." + +"She may have disappeared." + +"We'll soon see." + +Kenneth led the way along a dark, deserted alley, till he came to a +wall on the top of which was a formidable array of broken glass. This +wall marked the side boundary to the spy's premises. + +"A tough nut to crack," remarked Rollo, as he noticed for the first +time the jagged glass gleaming in the red glare of the burning houses. + +"We'll come across a door, unless I'm much mistaken---- Hullo! that's +a nasty one," said Kenneth. + +A shower of shrapnel, rattling on the roofs and shattering the windows +of some houses in the street they had just left, occasioned this +exclamation; for the Germans were mostly using shells of this variety, +to terrify the inhabitants rather than to cause great material damage. + +"Quite near enough," rejoined Rollo coolly. "Here's the door." + +The lads tried it. It was locked and bolted. The stout oaken +framework resisted their efforts to burst it open with their shoulders. + +Kenneth unslung his rifle. One shot amidst that chaos of terrific +detonations would be practically inaudible, and even if it were heard +there were none sufficiently curious to ascertain the reason. + +The heavy lock was not proof against the high-velocity bullet. A +second shot demolished the bolt. The gate creaked on its hinges. + +Passing along the garden path amidst autumn flowers mown down by the +explosion of shells, several of which had fallen close to the house, +the lads arrived at the boat-house. The windows were shattered; there +was a gaping hole in the roof. Kenneth began to entertain grave doubts +as to whether the motor-boat had escaped damage. + +"She's there, right enough," he announced, as he peered through one of +the broken windows and saw the grey-painted outlines of the craft +within. "The door's locked. I'll try another shot." + +"Steady on, man!" cautioned his companion. "Mind you don't bore a hole +through the boat as well. See, here is a crowbar, or something like +it. We'll prise the door open." + +They seized the bar and forced the pointed end between the door and the +jamb. + +"Now!" exclaimed Kenneth. + +At that very moment, before the lads could exert any pressure upon the +crowbar, a blinding flash came from overhead, immediately followed by a +terrific detonation. Splinters, broken glass, tiles, clods of earth +and leaves flew in all directions, while a pungent cloud of smoke +enveloped everything. + +For nearly ten seconds the two chums held on to the crowbar, then +Kenneth spoke. + +"I'm hit, confound it!" he exclaimed. "It's not much, though." + +He relaxed his grasp of the iron bar as he spoke, and reeled slightly. +Rollo held out his hand to steady him, and perceived for the first time +that it was wet with blood and practically devoid of the sense of +feeling. + +"What! You hit too?" asked Kenneth, pulling himself together on seeing +the dark stain on his companion's wrist. + +"Yes; a shrapnel ball clean through my right wrist," announced Rollo, +"It doesn't hurt much." + +"And I've a bullet through the palm of my left hand," added Kenneth, +displaying a small punctured wound about two inches from the base of +the little finger. "It might have been worse. We'll tie our +handkerchiefs over the wounds; that will do all right for the time. +Now for the door. The sooner we open it the better. Buck up, man; the +girls must be terribly anxious." + +Thus exhorted, although feeling giddy from the effects of the shock, +Rollo grasped the crowbar with his unwounded hand. Kenneth bore +against the lever with all his might, and with a crash the door flew +open. + +The motor-boat was on a cradle, just clear of the water. It was now +half-tide and on the ebb. A hasty examination failed to reveal signs +of structural damage to the little craft, although the scuttle-glasses +of the cabin were all either cracked or completely demolished. The +craft was fully equipped, but the provisions had vanished. Doubtless +they had been removed by the Civil Guards at or after the arrest of the +spy. + +"Let's launch her, then we can see if she leaks," exclaimed Kenneth. +He was feverishly working against time. His energy seemed +inexhaustible. "There's the windlass; let her go gently." + +Down glided the boat into the sullen waters of the canal. Kenneth +leapt on board and secured her along-side, then lifted the floor-boards +over the well. + +"She's making a few drops," he announced. "I think it's only because +she has been hauled up in the dry for some time. By the time we get +the girls down she'll take up." + +Rollo offered no remark. In his mind there were doubts as to whether +Thelma Everest and Yvonne Résimont were still in the hospital; if they +were, would they abandon their duties? But he followed his chum, +nursing his wounded hand, wincing at every step he took as the pain +shot through the nerves of his arm. + +Kenneth strode on, indifferent to his injuries. Hardly a word passed +between them as they hurried along the alley and into the smoke-filled +streets. There were still a few persons about, mostly men of the +criminal class, who seized the opportunity for indiscriminate looting. +Here and there were the corpses of fugitives, stricken down in their +final mad rush for the safety that was denied them. The air was filled +with the crash of exploding shells and the clatter of broken glass, to +the accompaniment of the distant booming of the hostile guns. + +Closely followed by his companion, Kenneth dashed up the steps of the +hospital. The door was wide open. A portion of the facade of the +portico had been shattered by a shell. Hardly a window remained intact +in the building. + +A nurse, her face serenely peaceful in spite of the scene of +destruction around her, came forward. + +"You men are wounded? Come this way; we will speedily attend to your +hurts." + +Kenneth shook his head. + +"Our wounds are slight," he protested. "I have come for my sister, +Thelma Everest, and her friend, Mademoiselle Résimont--if they can be +spared," he added, for the sight of this woman calmly on duty caused +him to take a different view of the reason lot his sister's presence in +the hospital. + +"They can be spared," replied the nurse. "Already we have sent the +least serious cases away, and have dismissed the younger nurses. +Mademoiselle Everest and her friend refused to take advantage of the +permission. They were expecting you, and you have not failed them, I +see. I will inform them." + +Quickly Thelma and Yvonne appeared, heavily cloaked, and carrying +handbags, in readiness for their flight. + +"We would not have gone, Kenneth," said his sister, "only there is no +more work for us to do. But is it not already too late to leave the +city? We were told that the bridge of boats had been destroyed, and +that all communication with outside is interrupted. Four of our nurses +left by the last train that got away from here." + +"We'll manage that all right," declared Kenneth stoutly, although in +his mind he dreaded taking the girls on the journey along the +shell-endangered streets. + +"We are ready," said Thelma simply; then, having taken a hasty yet +tender farewell of the head nursing sister, the girls accompanied the +two lads into the now deserted thoroughfare. + +Unhurt, although several highly-charged projectiles burst above the +roofs on either side of the road, the four refugees gained the +boat-house of the late spy. No more shells had fallen there in the +interval. The boat had made but half an inch of water, and this could +easily be got under by means of the pump. The fuel tanks were filled +with petrol; there were a dozen intact tins in the after locker. + +For provisions each lad had a couple of long rolls of bread in his +haversack. Thelma had brought biscuits and butter; Yvonne had provided +a tin of ground coffee and condensed milk--a meagre fare on which to +essay a voyage across the North Sea, but enough to hazard the journey +without fear of actual starvation. + +Kenneth was by no means a novice in seamanship, On more than one +vacation he had spent part of the time in motor-boating in Southampton +Water, where a cousin of his kept a high-powered craft. After very +little delay he succeeded in finding the position of the various +switches and taps. At the third attempt the engine fired. The +propeller blades, set at the neutral, churned the water. The motor +purred rhythmically, as a well-conducted motor should. + +"Cast off there, for'ard!" ordered Kenneth, addressing Rollo, who had +taken up his post in the bows. "Thelma, undo that rope, quickly now!" + +It was no time for courtesies. Kenneth was skipper, and his crew had +to be told peremptorily; it was his notion of showing authority. + +Swiftly gathering stern-way the boat glided away from the staging; +then, with a jerk as the propeller began to churn ahead, the little +craft headed towards the Scheldt and the North Sea. + +Kenneth's was by no means an easy task. Having the use of only one +arm, he was severely handicapped. Steering by means of a wheel is far +from satisfactory when literally "single-handed", while the intricacies +of the canal required a certain amount of quickness with the helm. +Twice the boat nearly collided with the partly submerged hulls of +destroyed barges. The canal was now little better than a ditch, for +the tide had already fallen twelve feet out of sixteen. One +satisfaction Kenneth had: there were no lock-gates to negotiate. The +falling tide told him that. + +"Something ahead!" shouted Rollo. "Wreckage, I think." + +His chum immediately throttled down, keeping his unwounded hand on the +reversing lever. By the lurid glare in the sky he could discern the +obstruction: the shattered timbers of the lock-gates. Would there be +enough water to clear the sill of the basin? If not, they would have +to remain for hours, in danger of the falling shells, until the tide +rose sufficiently to float the boat over the barrier. + +Kenneth prudently stopped the engine. He would not risk losing the +blades of the propeller. Slowly and with bare steerage-way the boat +glided towards the ruined gates. Her bows passed the gaunt timbers, +then, with a horrid grinding noise, she hung up by the stern. + +"Get for'ard, all hands!" shouted Kenneth. "We may be able to jump her +over." + +The four members of the crew made their way to the bows. Regardless of +their injuries the two lads heaved and pushed with the boat-hooks. +They could hear the keel grate on the stone-work. The tide was still +falling. + +A shell, fortunately without exploding, dropped into the water twenty +yards astern, throwing a shower of spray over the boat and her crew. + +Kenneth glanced at the girls. By the glare of the burning city he +could see that their faces were calm. Either they were ignorant of +their narrow escape or quite unperturbed by their hazardous position. + +"All together; push for all you are worth!" exclaimed Kenneth +desperately. + +Inch by inch the boat was urged onwards, till with a sudden jerk it +dropped across the sill into deep water. Rollo, faint with pain, sat +limply in the for'ard well; then, concealing his injuries, he assisted +the girls to the doubtful shelter of the cabin. + +Kenneth, too, was in a sorry plight. Setting his teeth tightly he +restarted the engine; then, taking up his post at the wheel, he guided +the swift little craft towards the centre of the River Scheldt. + +In spite of the still pressing danger the crew were enthralled by the +scene that presented itself to their gaze. Antwerp was in the throes +of its death-struggle. Dominating the houses on the river bank rose +the spire of the cathedral, its delicate tracery silhouetted clearly +against the dull red glare of the burning oil-tanks. Overhead the +thick pall of smoke had spread far and wide, its lower edges tinted +blood-red by the blaze of the numerous fires. High above the roofs +were the rapid, seemingly interminable brilliant flashes of the +exploding shells, while away to the southward the sky was stabbed by +the incessant lightning-like glare of the bombarding guns. + +Antwerp had fallen. Belgium as a country had practically ceased to +exist; Belgium as a nation, still undaunted, had made a supreme +sacrifice. She had saved Europe--and Europe's task was clear. Not +until the brave little nation was rehabilitated, and the German menace +crushed once and for all time, could the Allies hope to lay down the +sword that they had been reluctantly compelled to unsheathe. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +On the North Sea + +The crew of the motor-boat had no great difficulty in finding their way +down the river. The glare on the water, and on the underside of the +enormous expanse of smoke overhead, enabled them to see objects ahead +with comparative ease. The actual channel was well defined, at first +by several barges still at anchor in the stream, and later by hundreds +of small craft making their way to safety. + +Those who depended mainly upon sail to propel them were quickly +overtaken, for the night was particularly windless and their brown +canvas hung idly from the yards. Satisfied with having got beyond the +danger zone, the crews of these fishing-vessels were content to drift, +save for the occasional assistance of their heavy sweeps. The decks +were literally packed with refugees, who, glad to have escaped with +their lives, exhibited an uncanny calmness. + +Reach after reach of the river was passed, as the motor-boat, gradually +working up power, increased her speed. Astern, the funereal pile of +Antwerp glowed red; it seemed as if the crew could never get beyond +sight of it. The spire of the cathedral had vanished beneath the +horizon, but the smoke from the burning city still hung overhead. + +The four occupants of the motor-boat had made their way aft. The +girls, refusing to go into the cabin, sat on one side of the cockpit, +their eyes fixed upon the glare of the fallen port. Rollo, holding his +wounded wrist, shut his jaw tightly and endured the pain. Since his +chum made no complaint of his injuries, Rollo grimly decided to keep +the fact that he was wounded from the others. Kenneth, steadying the +steering-wheel with his right hand, had almost forgotten the unpleasant +attention of the shrapnel bullet. The sense of responsibility +outweighed all other considerations. + +"We're across the frontier now," he announced, as the little craft +curtsied to the slight undulations of the comparatively wide expanse of +the West Scheldt. "Now, girls, which shall it be? Shall I land you on +Dutch territory, or will you risk crossing the North Sea?" + +Thelma's was a prompt answer. + +"We'll stay with you, boys." + +"Will it be very rough?" asked Yvonne. She had faced the dangers of +the bombardment bravely, but the perils of a voyage upon the open sea +in a small, partly-decked craft gave her misgivings that the presence +of her companions failed to keep in check. + +"Smooth as a mill-pond," declared Kenneth optimistically. "There's no +wind. We'll have plenty of company on the way, I fancy; and what is +more, the British navy has complete control of this part of the North +Sea. We are doing fifteen knots, I think; that's a little over +seventeen miles an hour. We ought to be in sight of the Kentish coast +a couple of hours after sunrise." + +"Then I am satisfied," declared Yvonne. + +"That's good! Now, girls, how about a cup of coffee? I can't make it, +so perhaps you'll do a good turn. Rollo will light the cabin light and +show you where the fresh water is stored." + +As soon as his three companions had withdrawn to the cabin Kenneth +closed the door. The gleam from within dazzled his eyes, and, with so +much traffic about, that would never do. The motor-boat was running +without navigation lights. If there were any "steaming" lamps on board +he had failed to notice them. But the rule of the road seemed to be +sadly neglected that fateful night. There were vessels of all sizes +and rigs making for safety, and not one-tenth of their number showed +the regulation red and green lights. + +Left to himself, Kenneth began to realize once more that his hand was +throbbing. The flow of blood had entirely ceased, and a dry, burning +pain succeeded the comparative ease of the wound while it bled freely. +He was desperately hungry and thirsty. For forty-eight hours he had +been on short commons. The reaction of the days and nights of +strenuous activity was beginning to tell. + +The motor-boat, gliding swiftly through the water, had now outstripped +all the fishing luggers. Ahead were three or four steamers making to +the westward. Others, shaping a course for Ostend, had swung away to +the port hand. + +"Rollo!" sang out his chum sharply. "Come and take the helm for a +minute." + +"I was just coming," answered Rollo as he emerged from the cabin. +"There's coffee waiting for you. And the girls have made a rattling +good job of my wrist," he added, pointing to a neatly-bandaged arm in a +sling. + +"Follow that vessel," ordered Kenneth, pointing to a steamer a couple +of miles ahead, her stern-light showing brightly in the clear starlit +night. "If you overhaul her, or if there's anything likely to be +dangerous, give me the word." + +"One minute," protested Rollo. "The spray's dashing in through the +broken scuttles. I'll try and fix up the strip of canvas. It's long +enough to go right round." + +Kenneth waited until his chum had completed the necessary and +self-imposed task. Being able to use only one hand, it was a +difficult, not to say dangerous, business securing the canvas round the +raised cabin-top, for the boat was now jumping considerably. + +"That's done it!" ejaculated Rollo. "Now, old man, down you go. I'll +keep her going somehow." + +"You have been a time, Kenneth," exclaimed his sister reproachfully. +"Your coffee is getting cold. Why, what's the matter?" + +She broke off her reproaches in alarm, for Kenneth's face was grey and +drawn in the light of the cabin-lamp. + +"Only my hand," announced her brother, with a feeble, ill-disguised +attempt at unconcern as he withdrew the badly-bandaged member from the +flap of his coat. + +"What! Are we still under fire?" + +"No; this occurred five or six hours ago. It's a clean wound." + +Gently the two girls attended to the injury. The handkerchief had to +be soaked before it could be withdrawn from the wound. In five minutes +the now experienced young nurses had washed the place with antiseptic +and had bound it with lint. + +"Right as anything now," declared Kenneth. "I'll have my coffee and +get on deck again." + +"You had far better rest," replied his sister; "and Rollo, too, is +steering; in spite of his wounded wrist. I'll go and take the wheel; +it won't be the first time." + +Kenneth gave in without a protest. He was "about done". Obediently he +stretched himself upon one of the cushions of the bunk and closed his +eyes. + +Bidding Yvonne keep a watch on the patient, Thelma donned her cloak and +went out into the cockpit. + +Rollo, too, offered no objections to being relieved of his duty. The +vibration of the wheel, almost unnoticeable under ordinary +circumstances, was causing his wrist intense pain. He handed Thelma +the charge of the helm, told her what course to take, and sat down, +admiring, in spite of his physical anguish, the alert, self-possessed +girl as she toyed with the spokes of the wheel with the ease of a +practised helmsman. + +"We're up to that vessel, Rollo," she reported, after an hour had +passed. Owing to her superior speed the motor-boat had rapidly gained +upon the lumbering ten-knot tramp which was now a couple of cables +distant on the port hand. + +Her companion bestirred himself and went into the cabin. + +"I wouldn't wake Kenneth," he said as he reappeared. "Yvonne tells me +he's quite done up." + +"I wonder you're not, too." + +"I'll make up for it when we get ashore, never fear," declared Rollo. +"But the point is, we've got to steer a course. Here's the compass, +but it's almost like Greek to me. I suppose if we keep due west we'll +do something? There are such things as variation and deviation, but, +although I did have a chance, I never troubled to understand them. I +wish I had, now." + +Providentially, for it was now close on high water, the little craft +crossed the dangerous sand-banks that encumber the Scheldt entrance +without any of her crew realizing the risk they were running. Once +they encountered "overfalls" of rather broken water on the tail of a +bank; but, with nothing worse than a couple of waves breaking inboard, +the motor-boat gained the comparatively smooth water beyond. + +Grey dawn was now breaking. All around was an unbroken expanse of sea +and sky. Not a vessel or a buoy of any description was in sight. For +the first time Rollo was able to form some idea of the vastness of the +North Sea. + +Bestirring himself, he examined the petrol-gauge and the quantity of +oil in the automatic lubricator reservoirs. The consumption of both +had not been excessive, and the motor was running like clockwork. + +"It's getting very misty," said Thelma. + +"By Jove, it is!" assented her companion. "I hope it won't come on any +thicker. Are you cold? Let me take the wheel again." + +The girl shook her head. + +"I'm quite all right," she declared. "I am enjoying it. How much +farther is it, do you think?" + +It was Rollo's turn to shake his head. He did not know, and he was too +candid to pretend that he did. + +"We ought to be meeting shipping in and out of the Thames estuary +shortly," he said. "I suppose our merchant vessels sail as freely as +they did before the war? Hello! There's something coming up astern." + +He pointed to a faint blurr of smoke about three miles away and dead in +the wake of the motor-boat. + +"Something fairly fast to be able to overtake us," remarked Thelma. +"Is there a telescope on board?" + +"I'll see," answered Rollo. + +Again he entered the cabin. Kenneth was still sound asleep. Yvonne +was seated on the opposite bunk, watching him as zealously as a +vigilant sentry. + +"What are you looking for, Rollo?" she whispered. + +"A telescope." + +She arose and, steadying herself by means of the cabin table, made her +way to the for'ard bulkhead. Drawing back a curtain, she took down the +required article from a rack. + +"It is a nurse's duty to become quickly acquainted with her +surroundings," she said with a smile, as she handed Rollo the telescope. + +The lad returned to the cockpit. Standing with his back against the +after bulkhead of the cabin he raised the telescope. It was some time, +owing to the motion of the boat, before he could get the instrument to +bear. + +"I must rouse Kenneth," he said calmly. + +"Why?" asked Thelma. "Tell me: is there anything wrong? I will not be +frightened." + +"There is, I fear," he answered. "Unless I am very much mistaken, +yonder craft is a German torpedo-boat, and she is standing in pursuit +of us." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +The Victorious White Ensign + +"Kenneth, old man, wake up!" + +Everest opened his eyes listlessly. Aroused in the midst of the sleep +of utter exhaustion, he did not at once realize his surroundings. + +"What's up?" he asked drowsily, with a suspicion of resentment in his +voice. + +"Come out into the cockpit," said Rollo. "I want you to see if we are +on the right course. We passed the tramp steamer some time ago." + +"Then why didn't you call me?" demanded Kenneth, displaying +considerable alacrity, and making a dash for the cabin door. + +"Stay here a little longer, Yvonne," said Rollo to the Belgian girl as +she began to follow her patient. The lad's chief anxiety was to keep +her in ignorance of the new danger that threatened them. + +"Right as rain," announced Kenneth, glancing at the compass. + +"Look astern, old man," said his chum in a low voice. "I didn't want +to alarm Yvonne. Thelma knows, though. That torpedo-boat coming up +hand over fist is a German." + +"Never!" ejaculated Kenneth. The idea of a war vessel flying the +Kaiser's black-cross ensign on the high seas seemed incredible. + +"Fact," rejoined Rollo. "Take this telescope." + +"You're right, by Jove!" exclaimed Kenneth after a brief survey. "We +must carry on as long as we can. If they fire at us we must stop, for +the sake of the girls." + +The motor was running at its utmost possible number of revolutions, yet +the boat was no match for the grey-painted craft now a mile and a half +astern. + +The German torpedo-boat made no sign of firing; she merely hung on +doggedly in the wake of the motor-craft, slowly yet surely diminishing +the distance between them. The haze had now lifted considerably, so +that the range of vision extended for quite five miles. All around, +save for the pursuing craft, the horizon was unbroken. + +"Perhaps those chaps think that their rotten spy, Jules de la Paix, is +on board," suggested Rollo. "They may have a prearranged plan to pick +him up at sea." + +"Should hardly think so," replied Kenneth. "It would have been easier +for him to have run across to Dutch territory, if he hadn't the heart +to remain at Antwerp during the bombardment. If that's whom they're +after they'll be jolly disappointed." + +"They'll spot our uniforms, if they haven't already done so," said +Rollo. "I wish the beggars would be stopped by a submarine." + +Kenneth did not reply. Seized by an inspiration, he grasped one of the +two boat-hooks on deck, released it from its lashings, and tossed it +overboard. + +"What have you done that for?" asked his chum. + +Kenneth pointed to the staff of the boat-hook. Weighted down by the +gun-metal head, it was bobbing up and down in a vertical position some +yards astern. + +"That may give them a bit of a shock," he explained. "They may think +it's a periscope of a submarine." + +"It's much too small." + +"Not when there are no means of comparing it with anything else. Look +at it now. You couldn't say with certainty within a hundred yards how +far it is away. Anyhow, we'll chance it." + +The German torpedo-boat had hoisted four signal-flags to her +cross-yards. They were blowing out in a fore-and-aft direction. + +"Can't make them out," declared Kenneth, "and wouldn't understand them +if I did. Now, watch." + +Suddenly two spurts of flame burst from the deck of the pursuing boat. +Shells from her three-pounder quick-firers pitched a short distance on +her starboard side. Simultaneously the torpedo-boat swung round. +Travelling at twenty-seven knots, the sudden porting of her helm caused +her to heel outwards till her deck was almost awash. + +"By Jove, she's rammed our boat-hook!" shouted Kenneth +enthusiastically. "If ever she gets back to port, won't she pitch a +yarn about ramming and sinking a British submarine!" + +The lad was not wrong in his surmise, for the torpedo-boat slowed down +and made a complete circle, steaming over the spot where she imagined +the periscope to have been. Luckily the ruse was not discovered, for a +chance shot had shattered the boat-hook staff and had sent the weighted +end to the bottom; while, on the other hand, the motor-boat had gained +at least two miles on her pursuer. + +"It's worth while throwing our remaining boat-hook overboard," said +Rollo. "I don't suppose we'll want it in any case." + +The German torpedo-boat had now resumed the pursuit. Obviously fearing +the presence of other submarines she kept a zigzag course, altering her +helm every five minutes in order to confuse the aim of a possible +torpedo-gunner. Consequently, although she still overhauled her +quarry, the distance between them lessened with perceptible slowness. + +Ten minutes from the time of resuming her course the torpedo-boat fired +her bow gun. The plugged shell, purposely aimed wide, threw up a +column of spray a hundred yards from the motor-boat's port quarter. + +The lads exchanged glances. Kenneth leant forward and switched off the +ignition. + +"Hard lines!" he ejaculated. "If it weren't for the girls----" + +While the boat still carried way he put the helm hard over, until her +bows pointed in the direction of her captor. Dejectedly the crew +awaited the arrival of the torpedo-boat, wondering what course the +Germans would pursue. + +"Look!" exclaimed Thelma, excitedly pointing to the hostile craft. + +The sight that met their gaze was an inspiring one. From somewhere at +a great distance away a shell had hurtled through the air. Striking +the water within twenty yards of its objective, the missile had +ricochetted, and had shattered the torpedo-boat's foremost funnel. + +Another and another followed in quick succession, both bursting over +the deck of the doomed vessel. + +The Germans replied, firing with great vigour, but the crew of the +motor-boat could form no idea of what they were firing at or the result +of their efforts. In five minutes the torpedo-boat was badly holed +for'ard and making water fast. + +"The cowardly skunks!" exclaimed Kenneth, frantically restarting the +motor. The epithet was justifiable, for the commander of the +torpedo-boat was endeavouring to use the little motor-boat as a screen +from her enemy's fire. + +Owing to the already crippled condition of the German craft, Kenneth +could easily out-manoeuvre her. In spite of the risk of a shell from +the exasperated Teuton, he kept his vessel about half a mile from the +torpedo-boat and awaited the inevitable ending. + +It was not long in coming. Torn by the well-aimed shells, her mast, +funnels, and deck fittings swept clean away, the torpedo-boat settled +down. From amidships a cloud of black smoke, tinged with lurid flames, +soared skywards. Men were pouring up from the engine-room and throwing +themselves into the sea. + +The other craft had ceased firing. She was coming up quickly, and +could now be distinguished as a British E-class destroyer. + +Suddenly the doomed vessel gave a roll to starboard, flung her stern in +the air, and with her triple propellers racing madly, disappeared from +sight, leaving a heavy pall of smoke to mark the spot when she sank. + +"We must pick up those fellows," announced Kenneth, pointing to about +twenty heads bobbing in the water. "I'll slow down as close as I can. +Mind your wrist, Rollo." + +Three minutes later all the crew of the motor-boat were busily engaged +in hauling half-drowned, and for the most part wounded, German seamen +into their craft, till eleven men, the sole survivors of the luckless +torpedo-boat, were rescued. + +"You Belgians?" asked one, in broken French, when he saw the lads' +uniforms. "Good! We surrender to you." + +"You'll be transferred to that vessel," said Kenneth, pointing to the +now close British destroyer. + +"No, they will shoot us," exclaimed the terrified man. + +"Nonsense!" replied Kenneth. "British seamen are not like----" He was +on the point of saying "Germans", but pulled himself up and added +"pirates". + +Nevertheless the German seamen were not easily reassured. Their +officers had impressed upon them that the British navy took no +prisoners, and they firmly believed it. + +"Motor-boat ahoy! What craft is that?" sang out a lieutenant, as the +British destroyer reversed her engines and came to a standstill at her +own length from the little vessel. It was a grand, inspiring sight to +the refugees to see the White Ensign floating proudly from the +mast-heads of the destroyer. Practically untouched in her duel with +her antagonist, she looked as spick and span as when she first +commissioned at Chatham Dockyard, only a week previously. + +"We're British in the Belgian service: refugees from Antwerp," replied +Kenneth. + +"We thought you were one of our Motor-boat Reserve craft in +difficulties," said the officer. "Luckily we heard the firing, and +closed to investigate. We'll take charge of your prisoners; can you +run alongside?" + +Stalwart bluejackets, stripped to their singlets, and grimy stokers +crowded to the stanchion rails to watch the transhipment of the +captured Germans. + +"Do you want a passage back to Sheerness?" asked the lieutenant. + +"If you wouldn't mind taking my sister and her friend," replied +Kenneth, "we'll stick to the motor-boat." + +"But you're both wounded," exclaimed the officer. "Come aboard, all of +you. We'll make you as comfortable as we can, considering we are +cleared for action." + +"But the boat?" protested Kenneth; for, having carried them so far, it +seemed hard lines that she would have to be abandoned. + +"Don't worry about that," said the lieutenant. "I'll put an artificer +and a couple of men aboard, and let them run her into the Medway." + +The genial officer courteously assisted Thelma and Yvonne over the +side. Rollo followed with a fair amount of agility, considering his +disabled wrist. Lastly Kenneth left his first command. + +As he gained the corticened decks of the destroyer he pulled himself up +and thankfully saluted the diminutive quarter-deck, on which floated +the White Ensign--the emblem of freedom. Then a grey mist swam before +his eyes and he felt himself falling. + + * * * * * + +Two days later there was a happy reunion at an hotel at Sheerness. +Summoned by telegraph, all the members of the Barrington and Everest +families who were not employed on active service hastened to welcome +home their young heroes. With them came Major Résimont, now well on +the road to recovery, and for the time being a guest of Mr. Everest. + +"I should think you lads have had enough of this terrible war," +remarked Mrs. Everest at the conclusion of their narrative. + +"We've only seen the beginning," declared Kenneth gravely. "As soon as +this little hurt of mine has healed, I want to go back." + +"And I too," added Rollo. + +Colonel Barrington flushed with pride. + +"Of course," he said, "it ought to be a fairly simple matter, +considering your experience, to get a commission. It is merely a case +of applying to the War Office." + +"And undergoing six months' training at home, pater?" + +"Presumably." + +"By that time the war may be over," said Kenneth. "In any case we will +be out of it for six months. What do you say, Rollo?" + +"We've put our hand to the plough, old man. I vote, as soon as we are +able, we rejoin our old regiment. The 9th of the Line is now between +Ostend and Nieuport, sir?" + +"I believe so," replied Major Résimont. + +"Then that settles it, unless our people raise serious objection," +declared Kenneth resolutely. "As long as we have health and strength +we will take our places with our comrades of the 9th, until Belgium is +freed from the grey-clad troops of Germany." + + + + + + +BLACKIE'S STORIES OF SCHOOL LIFE + +_Illustrated. In attractive wrapper_ + + +By RICHARD BIRD + + Trouble at Wyndham. + Boys of Dyall's House. + Captain of Keynes. + Dawson's Score. + Thanks to Rugger. + The Moreleigh Mascot. + Carton's Cap. + Play the Game, Torbury! + The Big Five at Ellerby. + Touch and Go. + + +By ALFRED JUDD + + Forrester's Fag. + Derry of Dunn's House. + + +By R. A. H. GOODYEAR + + Tom at Tollbar School. + Forge of Foxenby. + + +By WALTER RHOADES + + Jimmy Cranston's Crony. + The Whip Hand. + Two Scapegraces. + + + George Goes One Better. Jeffrey Havilton. + Godfrey Gets There. Arthur O. Cooke. + On the Ball. Sydney Horler. + George Pulls It Off. Jeffrey Havilton. + Planter Dick. Arthur O. Cooke. + Barnston's Big Year. Michael Poole. + Harold Comes to School. Jeffrey Havilton. + Out of School. Jeffrey Havilton. + The Captain of Stannard's. Michael Poole. + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS + +_Crown 8vo. Illustrated_ + + Sleuths of the Air. Percy F. Westerman. + On Secret Service. Ralph Arnold. + Binkie of IIIB. Evelyn Smith. + A Madcap Brownie. Sibyl B. Owsley. + Septima at School. Evelyn Smith. + The Corsair of the Skies. Guy Vercoe. + Seven Sisters at Queen Anne's. Evelyn Smith. + Hope's Tryst. Bessie Marchant. + Held at Ransom. Bessie Marchant. + Smuggler's Luck. Frank Charleston. + Dispatch Riders. Percy F. Westerman. + The Little Betty Wilkinson. Evelyn Smith. + The Disappearing Dhow. Percy F. Westerman. + The Good Ship "Golden Effort". Percy F. Westerman. + Barbara at School. Josephine Elder. + Biddy and Quilla. Evelyn Smith. + A Lively Bit of the Front. Percy F. Westerman. + Pam and the Countess. E. E. Cowper. + Rounding Up the Raider. F. Bayford Harrison. + A Lad of Grit. Percy F. Westerman. + The Liveliest Term at Templeton. Richard Bird. + Dr. Jolliffe's Boys. Lewis Hough. + + +_Printed in Great Britain_ + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Dispatch-Riders, by Percy F. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/36500-8.zip b/36500-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b50cd1 --- /dev/null +++ b/36500-8.zip diff --git a/36500-h.zip b/36500-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4f1656f --- /dev/null +++ b/36500-h.zip diff --git a/36500-h/36500-h.htm b/36500-h/36500-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..81a5358 --- /dev/null +++ b/36500-h/36500-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14062 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Dispatch Riders, by Percy F. Westerman +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +P.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +P.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +P.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +P.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 50%; + text-align: center } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +P.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +H4.h4center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dispatch-Riders, by Percy F. Westerman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dispatch-Riders + The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists in the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Illustrator: F. Gillett + +Release Date: June 23, 2011 [EBook #36500] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISPATCH-RIDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-dust"></A> +<CENTER> +<A HREF="images/img-dust.jpg"> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-dust.jpg" ALT="Dust cover art" BORDER=""> +</A> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER=""> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="img-front"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-front.jpg" ALT=""OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" <I>Page</I> 202. <I>Frontispiece</I>" BORDER="2"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center"> +"OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" <A HREF="#P202"><I>Page</I> 202</A>. <I>Frontispiece</I> +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t1"> +The +<BR> +Dispatch-Riders +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +The Adventures of Two British<BR> +Motor-cyclists in the Great War<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t4"> +BY +</P> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +PERCY F. WESTERMAN +</P> + +<P CLASS="t4"> +Author of "Rivals of the Reef" <BR> +"The Sea-girt Fortress" &c. &c. +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +<I>Illustrated by F. Gillett</I> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED +<BR> +LONDON AND GLASGOW +<BR> +1915 +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +By Percy F. Westerman<BR> +<BR> +The Red Pirate.<BR> +The Call of the Sea.<BR> +Standish of the Air Police.<BR> +Sleuths of the Air.<BR> +The Black Hawk.<BR> +Andy All-Alone.<BR> +The Westow Talisman.<BR> +The White Arab.<BR> +The Buccaneers of Boya.<BR> +Rounding up the Raider.<BR> +Captain Fosdyke's Gold.<BR> +In Defiance of the Ban.<BR> +The Senior Cadet.<BR> +The Amir's Ruby.<BR> +The Secret of the Plateau.<BR> +Leslie Dexter, Cadet.<BR> +All Hands to the Boats.<BR> +A Mystery of the Broads.<BR> +Rivals of the Reef.<BR> +A Shanghai Adventure.<BR> +The Junior Cadet.<BR> +Captain Starlight.<BR> +The Sea-Girt Fortress.<BR> +On the Wings of the Wind.<BR> +Captain Blundell's Treasure.<BR> +The Third Officer.<BR> +Unconquered Wings.<BR> +The Riddle of the Air.<BR> +Chums of the "Golden Vanity".<BR> +Clipped Wings.<BR> +Rocks Ahead!<BR> +King for a Month.<BR> +The Disappearing Dhow.<BR> +The Luck of the "Golden Dawn".<BR> +The Salving of the "Fusi Yama".<BR> +Winning his Wings.<BR> +A Lively Bit of the Front.<BR> +The Good Ship "Golden Effort".<BR> +East in the "Golden Gain".<BR> +The Quest of the "Golden Hope".<BR> +Sea Scouts Abroad.<BR> +Sea Scouts Up-Channel.<BR> +The Wireless Officer.<BR> +A Lad of Grit.<BR> +The Submarine Hunters.<BR> +Sea Scouts All.<BR> +The Thick of the Fray at Zeebrugge.<BR> +A Sub and a Submarine.<BR> +Under the White Ensign.<BR> +With Beatty off Jutland.<BR> +The Dispatch Riders.<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t4"> +<I>Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow</I> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +Contents +</P> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">CHAP.</TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">THE COMING STORM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">A BREAK-DOWN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">MAJOR RÉSIMONT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">ENLISTED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">A BAPTISM OF FIRE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">A VAIN ASSAULT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">DISABLING A TAUBE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">IN BRITISH UNIFORMS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">A MIDNIGHT RETIREMENT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">THE UHLAN PATROL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">THE RAID ON TONGRES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">THE MAIL ESCORT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">SEPARATED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">A FRIEND IN NEED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">CAPTURED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">ENTOMBED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">THE WAY OUT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">ARRESTED AS SPIES</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">STRANDED IN BRUSSELS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">DENOUNCED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">THE SACK OF LOUVAIN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">A BOLT FROM THE BLUE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">ACROSS THE FRONTIER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap25">THELMA EVEREST</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap26">SELF-ACCUSED</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap27">WITH THE NAVAL BRIGADE AT ANTWERP</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap28">WHEN THE CITY FELL</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap29">ON THE NORTH SEA</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap30">THE VICTORIOUS WHITE ENSIGN</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +Illustrations +</P> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-front"> +"OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" . . . . . . . . . <I>Frontispiece</I> +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-080"> +KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... +THEN CRASH! +</A> +</H4> + +<H4> +<A HREF="#img-256"> +KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR +</A> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +THE DISPATCH-RIDERS +</H2> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Coming Storm +</H3> + +<P> +"Let's make for Liége," exclaimed Kenneth Everest. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that?" asked his chum, Rollo Harrington. "Liége? What on +earth possesses you to suggest Liége? A crowded manufacturing town, +with narrow streets and horrible <I>pavé</I>. I thought we decided to fight +shy of heavy traffic?" +</P> + +<P> +The two speakers were seated at an open window of the Hôtel Doré, in +the picturesque town of Dinant. In front of them flowed the Meuse; its +placid water rippled with craft of varying sizes. Huge barges, towed +by snorting tugs, were laboriously passing along the busy international +waterway that serves an empire, a kingdom, and a republic. On the +remote bank, and to the right of a bridge, were the quaint red-tiled +houses of the town, above which rose the fantastic, pinnacled tower of +the thirteenth-century church of Notre Dame, in turn overshadowed by +the frowning limestone crag on which stands the citadel. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was a well-set-up English youth of seventeen. He was tall for +his age, and withal broad-shouldered and well-knit. His features were +dark, his skin burnt a deep tan by reason of more than a nodding +acquaintance with an open-air life. In character and action he was +impulsive. He had the happy knack of making up his mind on the spur of +the moment, and yet at the same time forming a fairly sound judgment. +He was quick, too, with his fingers, having been gifted with a keen, +mechanical turn of mind. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo Barrington, who was his companion's junior by the space of three +days, was rather the reverse of his versatile friend. He was shorter +in height by a good four inches; he was slightly built, although he +possessed an unlooked-for reserve of physical strength and endurance. +He was fresh-complexioned, with blue eyes and wavy chestnut hair. +</P> + +<P> +If Kenneth acted upon impulse, Rollo went by rule of thumb. He was +cool and calculating when occasion served; but when in the company of +his chum he was generally content to allow his will to be dominated by +the impetuous Everest. +</P> + +<P> +Both lads were at St. Cyprian's—a public school of note in the Home +Counties. The vacation started about the middle of July, and it was +the custom for the senior members to put in a fortnight's camp with the +Officers' Training Corps during the latter part of that month. +</P> + +<P> +At the time this story opens—the first day of August, 1914—the two +chums were on a motor-cycling tour through Northern France and Belgium. +The parents of neither had offered any objection when their respective +sons announced their intention of wandering through the high-roads and +by-roads of that part of the Continent. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth had sprung the suggestion upon his father like the proverbial +bombshell; and Mr. Everest, who was largely responsible for his son's +impetuosity, merely acquiesced by observing: "You lucky young dog! I +didn't have the chance when I was your age. Well, I hope you'll have a +good time." +</P> + +<P> +On his part Rollo had broached the subject with his customary +deliberation, and Colonel Barrington had not only given his consent, +but had gone to the extreme toil of producing maps and a Baedeker, and +had mapped out a route—to which neither of the lads had adhered. The +Colonel also realized that there was a considerable amount of +self-education to be derived from the tour. There was nothing like +travel, he declared, to expand the mind; following up this statement by +the practical action of "forking out", thereby relieving his son of any +fear of pecuniary embarrassment. +</P> + +<P> +Both lads rode identically similar motor-cycles—tourist models, of 3-½ +horse-power, fitted with three-speed hubs. But again the difference in +character manifested itself in the care of their respective steeds. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo had been a motor-cyclist ever since he was fourteen—as soon as +he was qualified in point of age to obtain a driver's licence. The +close attention he bestowed upon his motor-bike never varied; he kept +it as clean as he did in the first few days after taking over his new +purchase. He had thoroughly mastered its peculiarities, and studied +both the theory and practice of its mechanism. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth Everest had first bestrode the saddle of a motor-cycle a week +before their Continental tour began. No doubt his experience as a +"push-cyclist" helped him considerably; he quickly mastered the use of +the various controls, without troubling to find out "how it worked". +With his companion's knowledge at his back he felt quite at ease, +since, in the event of any mechanical break-down, Rollo would point out +the fault, and Kenneth's ready fingers would either do or undo the rest. +</P> + +<P> +But so far, with the exception of a few tyre troubles, both +motor-cyclists had done remarkably well. Landing at Havre, they had +pushed on, following the route taken by the English army that had won +Agincourt. This, by the by, was Rollo's suggestion. From the site of +the historic battle-field they had sped eastward, through Arras, St. +Quentin, and Mézières. Here, finding themselves in the valley of the +Meuse, they had turned northward, and passing through the French +frontier fortress of Givet, entered Belgium, spending the first night +on Belgian soil in picturesque Dinant. +</P> + +<P> +Hitherto they had overcome the initial difficulty that confronts +British road users in France—the fact that all traffic keeps, or is +supposed to keep, to the right. They had endured the horrible and +seemingly never-ending cobbles or <I>pavé</I>. The language presented +little difficulty, for Kenneth, prior to having joined St. Cyprian's, +had been educated in Paris; and although his Parisian accent differed +somewhat from the patois of the Ardennes, he had very little trouble in +making himself understood. Rollo, too, was a fairly proficient French +linguist, since, in view of his future military career, he had applied +himself with his usual diligence to the study of the language. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, what's this wheeze about Liége?" persisted Harrington. +"There's something in the wind, old chap." +</P> + +<P> +"It's not exactly Liége I want to see," replied Kenneth, "although it's +a fine, interesting old place, with a history. Fact is, my sister +Thelma is at a boarding-school at Visé—that's only a few miles farther +on—and we might just as well look her up." +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove! I ought to have remembered. I knew she was somewhere in +Belgium. Let me see, she's your youngest sister?" +</P> + +<P> +"Twelve months my junior," replied Kenneth, "and a jolly good pal she +is, too. It's rather rough luck on her. The pater's just off on that +Mediterranean trip, so she hasn't been able to go home for the +holidays. We'll just cheer her up a bit." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo gave a final glance at the map before folding it and placing it +in his pocket. In response to a summons, the garçon produced the bill +and gratefully accepted the modest tip that Everest bestowed upon him +with becoming public schoolboy dignity. +</P> + +<P> +This done, the two lads took their travelling cases and made their way +to the hotel garage, where their motor-cycles had been placed under +lock and key, out of the reach of sundry inquisitive and mischievous +Belgian gamins. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello! What's the excitement?" asked Kenneth, pointing to a crowd of +gesticulating townsfolk gathered round a notice that had just been +pasted to a wall. +</P> + +<P> +"Ask me another," rejoined his companion. "A circus or something of +the sort about to turn up, I suppose. If you're curious I'll hang on +here while you go and find out." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was off like a shot. Half-way across the bridge that here +spans the Meuse he nearly collided with the proprietor of the Hôtel +Doré. The man's face was red with excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"Quel dommage!" he exclaimed, in reply to the lad's unspoken question. +"The Government has ordered the army to mobilize. What +inconsideration! Jules, Michel, Georges, and Étienne—all will have to +go. I shall be left without a single garçon. And the busy season +approaches also." +</P> + +<P> +"Why is the army to be mobilized, then?" +</P> + +<P> +"Ciel! I know not. We Belgians do not require soldiers. We are men +of peace. Has not our neutrality been guaranteed by our neighbours? +And, notwithstanding, the Government must have men to vie with the +French <I>piou-piou</I>, give them rifles, and put them in uniforms at the +expense of the community. It is inconceivable!" +</P> + +<P> +The proprietor, unable to contain his feelings, rushed back to the +hotel, while Kenneth, still wishing to satisfy his curiosity by ocular +demonstration, made his way to the edge of the semicircular crowd of +excited townsfolk. +</P> + +<P> +The proclamation, dated the 31st day of July, was an order for partial +mobilization, calling up the First Division of the Reserves. No reason +was given, and the lack of it, rather than the fact that the order had +to be obeyed, was the subject of general comment. From the nature of +the conversation the lad gathered that military service was not +regarded by the Belgians in anything approaching a tolerant spirit. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing much; only a mobilization," announced Everest in reply to his +companion's enquiry. "Let's make a move. We may see something of the +Belgian troops. It would be rather interesting to see how they take to +playing at soldiering." +</P> + +<P> +"Why playing?" asked Rollo as he proceeded to secure his valise to the +carrier. +</P> + +<P> +"What else would you expect from Belgians?" rejoined Kenneth. "Even +old Gallipot—or whatever the hotel proprietor's name is—was grumbling +about the uselessness of the business, and most of those johnnies over +there are of the same opinion. No, Rollo, take my word for it, the +Belgians are not a fighting race. Let me see—didn't they skedaddle at +Waterloo and almost let our fellows down?" +</P> + +<P> +"They may have done," remarked Rollo. "But that's nearly a century +old. Ready?" +</P> + +<P> +With half-closed throttles, and tyres sufficiently soft to absorb most +of the shocks, the young tourists bumped over the <I>pavé</I>, swung round, +and soon settled down to a modest fifteen miles an hour along the Namur +road. +</P> + +<P> +For the best part of the journey the Meuse, with its limestone crags +and dense foliage, was within a few yards on their right, while trees +on either side of the road afforded a pleasant shade from the fierce +rays of the sun. The dust, too, rose in dense clouds whenever, as +frequently happened, a motor-car tore past, or a flock of frightened +sheep scampered madly all across the road. At Namur their wishes +regarding the Belgian troops were gratified. The narrow street swarmed +with soldiers and civil guards. There were men with head-dresses +resembling the busbies of the British guardsmen, leading teams of dogs +harnessed to light quick-firing "Berthier" guns; infantry who, in spite +of the broiling heat, wore heavy greatcoats; cavalry whose mounts were +powerful enough to evoke the admiration of the critical Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what all this fuss is about," he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +Before Rollo could furnish any remark a little Belgian officer accosted +them. +</P> + +<P> +"You gentlemen are English, without doubt?" +</P> + +<P> +"We are." +</P> + +<P> +"It then is well," continued the officer, speaking in English with +considerable fluency. "You have not heard, eh? The news—the grave +news?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, monsieur." +</P> + +<P> +"Germany has declared war upon the Russians." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Break-down +</H3> + +<P> +"Is that so?" asked Kenneth. "Then I hope to goodness the Russians +will give the Germans a thundering good licking. But why are your +troops mobilizing?" +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian officer replied by producing a newspaper and pointing to a +heavy-leaded column. +</P> + +<P> +"You understand our language?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +The report, though a piece of journalistic conjecture, afterwards +proved to be very near to the mark. It was to the effect that Germany +had declared war against Russia and also France, and that her troops +were already pouring over the respective frontiers. To take all +necessary precautions the King of the Belgians had ordered a +mobilization, and had appealed to King George to assist him in +preserving the integrity of his small kingdom. +</P> + +<P> +"You'll notice it says that it is reported," observed the cautious +Rollo. "By Jove, if it is true, the Kaiser will have a handful. But, +monsieur, surely Belgium will be out of it? Her integrity is protected +by treaties." +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian officer shrugged his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us hope so," he remarked. "We Belgians have little faith in the +honour of a German. Therefore, we arm. Where do you propose to go?" +</P> + +<P> +"To Liége, monsieur." +</P> + +<P> +"Then do not go. It is not advisable. If you take my advice you +return to England as soon as possible. Perhaps, soon, you come back +again with a brave English army." +</P> + +<P> +"Whatever is the fellow aiming at?" asked Kenneth, after the officer +was out of ear-shot. "It's all so very mysterious about nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you call war between Germany and France and Russia nothing, old +fellow?" +</P> + +<P> +"I wasn't referring to that," replied Kenneth. "Of course it is. The +Russians will simply walk over Prussia while the Germans are trying to +batter the French frontier forts. No; what I meant is, why should we +be balked in going to Liége? We'll go, and risk it—though I don't +believe there is any risk. If there is, so much the better for us." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps that Belgian officer knows more than he told us." +</P> + +<P> +"Or else less. I'll tell you what, Rollo. We'll see what's doing at +Liége; then, if there's time, we'll run back almost to the French +frontier and see what the excitement is like there. Let's make another +start." +</P> + +<P> +The suggestion was quickly put into practice, but progress was tedious +and slow. The highway between Namur and Liége was crowded with +traffic. Military wagons, both motor-driven and drawn by horses and +mules, seemed an unending stream. The rattling of the huge +motor-lorries prevented the chauffeurs from hearing any sounds beyond +the pulsations of their engines. In vain the two English lads sounded +their horns. It was invariably a case of throwing out the clutch and +waiting for a favourable moment to dash past, often with a bare yard +between the off-side wheel of the powerful lorries and the deep ditch +by the side of the road. +</P> + +<P> +There were thousands of troops, too, with their supply-carts; swarms of +peasants driving cattle into the fortresses; motor-cars, motor-cycles, +and ordinary cycles galore, till Rollo remarked, during one of the +enforced halts, that it was ten times worse than Barnet Hill on fair +night. +</P> + +<P> +At length, after taking two hours to traverse fifteen miles, the lads +came in sight of the town of Huy. Here the traffic lessened slightly, +and Kenneth called for an increased speed. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Rollo saw his companion's cycle slip from under him. It was +all he could do to avoid coming into collision with the prostrate +mount. When he pulled up and dismounted, Kenneth was regaining his +feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurt?" asked Barrington laconically, yet with considerable anxiety. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit," replied Kenneth cheerfully. "Only barked my knuckles. +Get up, you brute!" +</P> + +<P> +The last remark was addressed to the motor-cycle, which was lying on +its side across a rounded stone embedded in the ground on the edge of +the footpath. Kenneth found, for the first time, that it required a +fair amount of physical energy to restore a fallen motorcycle to its +normal position. +</P> + +<P> +Thrice he tried a running start, but without success. The motor +refused to fire. +</P> + +<P> +"Jack it up on its stand," suggested Rollo. "Inject a little petrol +into the compression tap and have another shot." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth promptly acted upon this advice, but still without satisfactory +result. By this time Rollo had placed his cycle on its stand and was +ready to give assistance. +</P> + +<P> +"There's no spark," he announced after testing the plug. "I hope it +isn't the magneto." +</P> + +<P> +With the usual perversity of things in general and motor-cycles in +particular, it was the magneto that was out of action. The round stone +on which the cycle had fallen had given the delicate mechanism a nasty +blow. +</P> + +<P> +"This job's beyond me," declared Rollo. "We must see what can be done +in the next town. Thank goodness it isn't far. Off with the belt and +push her; I won't risk towing you with this traffic about." +</P> + +<P> +Already the disabled motor-cycle was surrounded by a crowd of peasants +and soldiers, all of whom offered advice; but, as the majority of the +onlookers were Walloons, their Flemish tongue was not understood by the +two English lads. +</P> + +<P> +At length Kenneth managed to get into conversation with a +French-speaking corporal, and from him learnt that there was an +efficient motor-repairer in Huy, whose place of business faced the +market square. +</P> + +<P> +It was exhausting work pushing the two motor-bicycles along the +undulating, rough cobbled road in the fierce glare of the August sun. +The crowd followed. +</P> + +<P> +About a quarter of a mile farther along the road a chasseur passed. +Reining in his horse he addressed the corporal. +</P> + +<P> +"What, then, has happened, Pierre?" +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian non-com. shrugged his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Only two German tourists, Gaston," he replied. "They have had an +accident." +</P> + +<P> +"German!" exclaimed Kenneth indignantly. "You are wrong. We are +English." +</P> + +<P> +"Can Monsieur produce proof?" asked the corporal. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately both lads possessed <I>permits de circulation</I>—documents +issued to foreign tourists on entering French territory, and which they +had not given up at the <I>douane</I> at Givet. On each document was pasted +a photograph of the bearer and particulars of his name, nationality, +occupation, and place of abode. +</P> + +<P> +In less than a minute the indifferent demeanour of the crowd underwent +a complete change. Amid shouts of "Vivent les Anglais!" several of the +Belgians took possession of the two motor-cycles, and, in spite of +frequent wobblings, pushed them right into the town. +</P> + +<P> +Here another set-back greeted the tourists. The repairer gravely +informed them that a new magneto was absolutely necessary, and since he +had not one in stock he would be obliged to send to Brussels for it. +</P> + +<P> +Under the circumstances an enforced stay would have to be made at Huy, +so the lads booked a room at a modest but cheerful-looking hotel. The +town and environs seemed delightfully picturesque, and, although +Kenneth chafed under the delay, both lads eventually admitted they +might have been hung up in many a worse place than Huy. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, Sunday, they were awakened early by a clamour in the +street, and found that newsvendors were doing a roaring trade. The +papers were full of sensational reports, and although definite news was +not forthcoming, it was quite evident that the war clouds were rapidly +gathering. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo, the cautious, suggested the abandonment of the Liége trip and a +hasty return home, but Kenneth set his face against any such proposal. +</P> + +<P> +"Look here," he said, "if there's any truth in this report, and England +does chip in, we will do no good by returning home. The powers that be +have decided that we are not yet of an age to take up a commission, +although I flatter myself that we are both better men than Tompkins, +late of the Upper Sixth, who was gazetted to a line regiment a week +before the holidays, you'll remember. If there is a dust-up we'll try +our luck with the French. They don't object to fellows of sixteen, so +long as they are keen. Take the case of Lord Kitchener, for instance. +He served as a cadet in the war of '70 and '71." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be in such a violent hurry, old man. Stick to our original +programme and go to Liége, if you will. It may be necessary for us to +look after your sister, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't think so; I firmly believe that Belgium will be left out of +the business. This scare will be over in a few days. The pen is +mightier than the sword, you know, so Germany will respect her plighted +word to preserve the neutrality of both Holland and Belgium." +</P> + +<P> +It was nearly noon on Monday morning when the lads wended their way to +the motor-repairer's. Outside the burgomaster's house a huge crowd had +gathered. The chief magistrate was making ready to read a document. +It was a copy of the momentous ultimatum from the bully of Europe to +one of the smallest of her neighbours: a peremptory demand that the +Belgian Government should allow the legions of the Kaiser to pass +through Belgium in order to attack the least-defended frontier of +France, and threatening to make war upon the little buffer State should +she refuse. +</P> + +<P> +A dead silence greeted the burgomaster's announcement. The news, +though not unexpected, was astounding. +</P> + +<P> +Again he spoke: +</P> + +<P> +"Fellow-townsmen! I can assure you that the spirit of independence +lives amongst us. We will resist to the death this outrageous demand. +Nor are we without powerful friends. Listen to the words of an appeal +of our heroic Sovereign to the King of England: 'Remembering the +numerous proofs of your Majesty's friendship and that of your +predecessors, and the friendly attitude of England in 1870, and the +proof of friendship you have just given us again, I make a supreme +appeal to the diplomatic intervention of your Majesty's Government to +safeguard the integrity of Belgium." +</P> + +<P> +"And what is the reply of the King of England?" shouted a voice. +</P> + +<P> +"If it has been received it has not up to the present been communicated +to me," replied the chief magistrate pompously. "Rest assured that I, +your burgomaster, will not be tardy in keeping the worthy burgesses +fully posted with the latest news from the capital. If any of you +still have faith in German promises, let me inform you it is definitely +established that the German troops have already invaded the independent +Grand Duchy of Luxemburg." +</P> + +<P> +The burgomaster withdrew, leaving the townsfolk to shout "Down with +Germany!" "Long live England!" and cheer madly for their young king, +who was yet to display proof of his personal courage. +</P> + +<P> +"It's getting serious," admitted Kenneth as the chums resumed their +way. "I don't mind owning I was wrong in my opinion of German honesty. +If they don't draw the line at Luxemburg they evidently won't at +Belgium. Rollo, my boy, it's a mortal cert that Great Britain will be +scrapping with Germany in less than a week." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Major Résimont +</H3> + +<P> +"I vote we get off this main road with its wretched <I>pavé</I>," exclaimed +Rollo prior to resuming their ride on the following day. "There's a +road shown on the map which ought to be a jolly sight better. At any +rate we'll miss most of the heavy traffic." +</P> + +<P> +"Right-o," assented Kenneth; "anything so long as we can have a +speed-burst. I'm tired of crawling along at ten miles an hour." +</P> + +<P> +The road, which turned out to be little better than a cart-track, led a +considerable distance from the left bank of the Meuse, and with the +exception of an occasional farm wagon laden with hay, very little +traffic was met with. +</P> + +<P> +At the end of an hour's steady riding, the lads found themselves at the +junction of two forked roads, where, contrary to the usual custom, +there was no signpost to indicate the direction. On either side was a +steep bank. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, which way?" asked Rollo. "Neither of the roads looks +particularly inviting." +</P> + +<P> +"It's one of the sunken roads of Belgium, I suppose," said Kenneth. +"We'll climb up this bank. Perhaps we shall be able to see where we +are. It will be awkward for our bikes if a motor-car comes tearing +along." +</P> + +<P> +The incline was nearly fifteen feet in height and fairly steep. When +the lads reached the summit they found, to their surprise, that they +were on a slightly undulating grass field liberally guarded with barbed +wire. About four hundred yards off was a rounded hillock. Even as the +two looked they saw a huge cylindrical turret, from which projected the +muzzle of a large gun, rise from the ground. For a few seconds the +giant weapon moved horizontally and vertically, as if seeking a target, +then as swiftly as it had appeared it disappeared into the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"I say, we've stumbled across one of the frontier forts," exclaimed +Kenneth. "Let's go a bit closer and have a look. I'd like to find out +how they work." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, I'm not having any," objected Rollo. "There's too much barbed +wire knocking about. Besides, there are our bikes." +</P> + +<P> +"We needn't wriggle under the wire, this road on our right evidently +leads to the fort. We'll get a bit closer; but hold on a minute, we'll +see if that gun pops up again." +</P> + +<P> +They waited for at least five minutes, but without the expected result. +As they turned to retrace their steps, they were confronted by a tall +Belgian soldier wearing the blue uniform of the artillery. +</P> + +<P> +"C'est défendu: marchez!" he ordered sternly. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, monsieur," replied Kenneth. "We've lost our way. Which is +the Liége road?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are foreigners," exclaimed the soldier, bringing his bayonet to +the "ready". +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, English." +</P> + +<P> +"You must come with me." +</P> + +<P> +"We have motor-bicycles." +</P> + +<P> +"No matter. They will be attended to. Forward!" +</P> + +<P> +Realizing the uselessness of attempting to argue the point the lads +obeyed, the soldier following three paces in the rear with his rifle +and bayonet at the slope. +</P> + +<P> +After covering a distance of about a hundred yards between the edge of +the barbed-wire entanglements and the dip formed by the sunken road, +the arrested lads found themselves in the presence of a corporal and a +file of men. +</P> + +<P> +"You must be taken before the major. I am sorry, but these are my +orders," declared the corporal civilly, after ascertaining that the two +chums were English. "No doubt you will be permitted to go with but +little delay." +</P> + +<P> +"Will our motor-bicycles be all right?" asked Rollo anxiously. "We +left them a little way down the lane." +</P> + +<P> +"I will send a man to look after them," was the reply. "We must take +you into Fort Loncine, and you must be blindfolded. These are my +orders whenever we find strangers in the vicinity of the defences." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," replied Kenneth with as good a grace as he could command, +at the same time producing his handkerchief. +</P> + +<P> +Guided by soldiers, the two blindfolded youths were led into the fort. +Kenneth kept count of the number of paces before crossing the +drawbridge; they totalled four hundred and eighty-five, which, allowing +thirty inches for his long stride, meant that the glacis, or level +grassy ground surrounding the fort, was a little over four hundred +yards in breadth. +</P> + +<P> +When the handkerchiefs were removed from their eyes the lads found +themselves in a large vaulted room lighted by electricity. On three +sides were several low-arched doorways, on the fourth a fairly broad +gateway through which they had been brought. Although it was +impossible to see straight into the open air, a distant glimpse of +diffused daylight showed that this entrance communicated either with +the glacis or else an enclosed portion of the fort that was exposed to +the rays of the sun. +</P> + +<P> +Seated on benches or lolling against the walls were quite a hundred +soldiers, yet the place was by no means crowded. Beyond looking with +evident curiosity at the two lads under arrest, they took no further +interest in them. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a sergeant approached and questioned the guards concerning +their prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +"English? Perhaps they are sent ... but, no; they are but youths. +Bring them along. I will inform Major Résimont." +</P> + +<P> +The sergeant knocked at one of the doors, and in reply to a muffled +"Entrez!" he passed through. The lads noticed that the door was of +steel, and required considerable effort on the part of the +non-commissioned officer to open it. +</P> + +<P> +"Englishmen found in the vicinity of the fort, mon major," announced +the sergeant, saluting and standing stiffly at attention. +</P> + +<P> +"Let them enter. Ah, my young friends, this, then, is the manner in +which you come to Liége?" +</P> + +<P> +The two chums could well express astonishment, for their questioner was +none other than the officer who in Namur had advised them to abandon +their proposed visit to the Birmingham of Belgium. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what have you to say?" proceeded the major. +</P> + +<P> +"We lost our way and scrambled on to the bank to see where we were. We +happened to catch sight of one of the guns, with disappearing +mountings, and we were curious to see what happened," replied Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Your curiosity might lead you into trouble," said the Belgian officer +gravely. "How am I to know that you are not German spies?" +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth bridled indignantly. +</P> + +<P> +"We give you our word that we are not." +</P> + +<P> +"Your word will hardly do, monsieur, at a time like this. Can you +produce proofs? Have you anyone in the district who can identify you?" +</P> + +<P> +The lads produced their permits. +</P> + +<P> +"This will hardly do," continued the major as he scanned Kenneth's +document. "These are only too easy to obtain. Ha! Your name is +Barrington?" he asked, turning to the owner of that patronymic. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied Rollo. "My father is a retired colonel in the +British army." +</P> + +<P> +"His Christian name?" +</P> + +<P> +Rollo told him. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I know your father; not intimately, perhaps, yet I am acquainted +with him. I met him at your great manoeuvres at Aldershot, to which I +was sent as attaché in 1904. But, tell me, why are you both so anxious +to go to Liége?" +</P> + +<P> +"My sister is at a boarding-school near Visé," replied Kenneth. "I +want to see her, as she is not returning home for the holidays." +</P> + +<P> +"She is at the institution of Madame de la Barre?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir; how did you know that?" asked Kenneth eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"I have the pleasure of Mademoiselle Everest's acquaintance," replied +the major with a deep bow. "In fact, she is a great friend of my +daughter, Yvonne. You are free to depart, messieurs, but perhaps you +will do me a favour. Convey my compliments to Madame de la Barre, and +say that it is advisable that she should remove her school from Visé as +soon as possible. Should you find it inconvenient to take your sister +to England, please inform her that she may find a temporary home with +Yvonne at my house in the Rue de la Tribune in Brussels." +</P> + +<P> +"That we will gladly do, and let you know the result." +</P> + +<P> +Major Résimont smiled. +</P> + +<P> +"My duty prevents me from being my own messenger," he said. "I was on +the point of sending one of my men with a letter, but you will, +according to your English proverb, kill two birds with one stone. +To-night, if you wish to see me, I hope to be at the Café Royal, in the +Rue Breidel at Liége, from eight till eleven. Will you, before you +depart, honour me by taking a glass of wine?" +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think of the situation, sir?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +Major Résimont shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Serious," he said solemnly. "At any moment these pigs of Prussians +may cross the frontier. Only one thing will hold them back: the fear +of your English fleet. You are fortunate, you English, in having the +sea around your country, yet I think you do not give sufficient thought +towards the significance of the fact." +</P> + +<P> +"But Great Britain has not declared war on Germany." +</P> + +<P> +"No, not yet, but perhaps soon. Your country would do incalculable +service to France and Belgium simply by holding the sea; yet in +addition she has generously pledged herself to send almost the whole of +her army to Belgium if the Germans attack us. Then the rest will be a +question of time. We in Liége will do our utmost to keep the invaders +at bay until your brave army arrives. Then, with the French, to say +nothing of the Russians on the east, Germany will be assailed and +conquered, and the vile spectre of Teutonic militarism will be for ever +laid low." +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian major spoke with conviction. His earnestness in the hope +of British aid was intense. +</P> + +<P> +"And we are ready," continued the major. "Already the bridges across +the Meuse are mined; our armoured forts will defy the heaviest of the +German artillery. We will keep the Germans at bay for a month if need +be. Meanwhile you two messieurs journey through Belgium as calmly as +if you were on an English country road. You English are brave, but you +are enigmas. But take this and show it if you are challenged," and he +wrote out a pass on an official form. +</P> + +<P> +The major accompanied his involuntary guests as far as the edge of the +glacis. This time they were not blindfolded; yet there was very little +to be seen, except to the practised eye of a trained man. There were +mountings for quick-firing guns, and just discernible above the turf +the rounded tops of the steel cupolas. Beyond that the fort looked +nothing more than an earthworked enclosure. +</P> + +<P> +Somewhat to the lads' astonishment they found their motor-cycles placed +on a trolley. The Belgian soldiers, not understanding the action of +the exhaust lever, had been unable to wheel the heavy mounts; and since +their orders had to be obeyed, they had first resorted to the toilsome +task of carrying the mounts. This, owing to the heat of the day and +the thickness of their clothing, was eventually abandoned, and a +trolley procured. +</P> + +<P> +"You have a clear road," announced Major Résimont. "When you re-enter +the lane, keep to the left; that will bring you speedily upon the +highway. Au revoir, messieurs!" +</P> + +<P> +Somewhat to the wonderment of the Belgian soldiers, who could not +understand how the unwieldy machines could be moved by manual power, +the lads took a running start. Both engines fired easily, and soon the +tourists were speeding along through the outskirts of the city of Liége. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Enlisted +</H3> + +<P> +"Madame de la Barre presents her compliments, but regrets that the +regulations of her establishment do not permit her pupils to receive +visits except during certain hours," announced a stern-faced Flemish +woman in broken French. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth glanced at his companion, +</P> + +<P> +"What's to be done now?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Give her Major Résimont's message. Say it's very urgent," advised +Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +The lads, curbing their impatience, waited for another ten minutes +outside the lofty blank wall surrounding the boarding-school. The air +was sultry, and the glare from the whitewashed walls was almost +blinding. The <I>pavé</I> seemed to throw out a stifling heat. The village +street was practically deserted, but in the neighbouring fields a row +of peasant women were bending over their monotonous task of pulling +vegetables. Farther away some cows were lying down under the scant +shade afforded by a few gaunt trees. Otherwise the landscape was +devoid of life. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a woman passed, leading a little girl by the hand. She was a +buxom, comely peasant, the child bright-faced and apparently +well-cared-for. They were laughing and chattering. Then a man on a +dog-drawn cart came down the street. The animals, their tongues +protruding and their sides heaving with the heat, were moving at a +leisurely pace. The man made no attempt to hurry them. He was smiling +contentedly, and called out a cheery greeting in Flemish to the patient +audience before the gate of Madame de la Barre. A little way down the +street he halted his team and entered a cottage. He was lame, hence he +had not been called up on mobilization. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the maid-servant reappeared. +</P> + +<P> +"Madame thanks Monsieur the Major, but at present sees no reason for +taking his advice. Should war be declared she will take necessary +steps to safeguard her pupils. If Mademoiselle Résimont is to be sent +to her home at Brussels, no doubt Monsieur the Major will communicate +in writing with Madame. If Monsieur Everest desires to see his sister +he can do so in the presence of Madame at eleven o'clock to-morrow." +</P> + +<P> +Having delivered this ultimatum, the maid shut the door and shot the +massive bolts. +</P> + +<P> +"Done this time!" ejaculated Kenneth. "Let's get back to Liége. +There'll be plenty to see." +</P> + +<P> +The lads set off at a rapid pace in spite of the heat. They were on +foot, having placed their motor-cycles in the village of Argenteau. +</P> + +<P> +By the time they regained Argenteau a change had come over the little +hamlet. A detachment of engineers was in possession. The men, +discarding their heavy greatcoats, were busily engaged in throwing up +earthworks, while almost within arm's-length their rifles were piled, +each weapon with its bayonet fixed. +</P> + +<P> +"Halte-là!" The tip of a bayonet presented within a couple of inches +of Rollo's chest brought both lads to a sudden stop. "Qui v'là?" +</P> + +<P> +The production of the pass with which Major Résimont had provided them +was sufficient, and without further hindrance the two friends gained +the inn. +</P> + +<P> +As they passed under the archway they found that their beloved +motor-cycles had vanished. +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon, messieurs!" exclaimed the landlord on catching sight of the +two lads. "It was not my fault, I assure you. It is the order of the +Government. They have taken away all the horses, all the carts——" +</P> + +<P> +"And our motor-cycles?" +</P> + +<P> +"Hélas, messieurs, it is a fact. Nevertheless, the Government will +pay——" +</P> + +<P> +"Where are they taken to?" asked Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"They were placed in a transport wagon, monsieur. It left in the +direction of Liége not fifteen minutes ago." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's hurry and catch it up," suggested Rollo. "It's daylight +robbery. I believe that rascally innkeeper has played a trick on us." +</P> + +<P> +Alternately running and walking, the English lads kept up a rapid pace +along the road that followed the right bank of the Meuse between +Argenteau and Liége. Mile after mile they went, without a sign of a +transport wagon. Troops there were in plenty, all carrying entrenching +tools in addition to arms. Yet, in spite of these warlike movements, +the women were toiling unconcernedly in the fields, either indifferent +to the danger that threatened them, or else basking in the confidence +of the ability of the Belgian troops and their allies to thrust back +the approaching tide of invasion. +</P> + +<P> +At the village of Wandre Rollo gave vent to a shout of delight. +Standing outside an inn was an army wagon, and under its tilt, in +company with a medley of other articles, were their motor-cycles. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"I vote we take them and make off as hard as we can," suggested +Kenneth. "The soldiers in charge are evidently after more official +loot." +</P> + +<P> +"Won't do," replied the cautious Rollo. "Ten to one we would +hopelessly damage the bikes getting them off the wagon. The best we +can do is to tackle the fellow in charge." +</P> + +<P> +"The fellow in charge" turned out to be a phlegmatic Walloon corporal. +When appealed to he replied that he was acting under the orders of his +lieutenant, and that he must account for all the articles on his list +upon his return to Liége. The production of Major Résimont's pass did +not save the situation, although the Belgian's demeanour thawed +considerably. +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless, if messieurs are English, perhaps they would like to +ride on the wagon. At Liége, no doubt, all will be set right," he +added. +</P> + +<P> +It was, fortunately, the last of that particular corporal's work, and +he was at liberty to return without delay. A sapper drove, the +corporal sitting beside him on the box seat. On the tail-board, with +their backs against their precious motor-cycles, sat the two lads, +another sapper keeping them company. +</P> + +<P> +As the cart jolted through the village of Jupille there came a dull +rumbling, like that of distant thunder. +</P> + +<P> +"Guns!" exclaimed Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Thunder, I think," declared his chum. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian soldier, when questioned, merely remarked in matter-of-fact +tones: +</P> + +<P> +"We are blowing up the bridges, monsieur." +</P> + +<P> +The work of demolition had already begun. The Belgian troops, with +commendable forethought, had destroyed four bridges across the Meuse in +order to delay the momentarily expected German advance. Yet, on either +side of the sluggish river, peasants were unconcernedly toiling in the +fields. +</P> + +<P> +As the wagon passed the loftily-situated and obsolete fort of La +Chatreuse a round of cheering could be heard from the city of Liége. +Presently the strains of "La Brabançonne"—the Belgian National +Anthem—could be distinguished above the din. +</P> + +<P> +The sapper began to grow excited. +</P> + +<P> +"All is well, messieurs," he exclaimed. "We are now ready for these +Prussians. Our Third Division has arrived." +</P> + +<P> +Presently the head of the column of blue-greatcoated troops swung +blithely along the road to take up positions in the newly-constructed +trenches between Fort de Barchon and Fort de Fléron. The men marched +well, although covered with dust from head to foot; for during the +previous forty-eight hours they had, by forced marches, covered more +than eighty miles from Diest to their allotted positions at Liége. +Yet, for some unaccountable reason, these troops went into what was +soon to be the firing-line in blue tunics with white facings, which +would offer a conspicuous target to their foes. +</P> + +<P> +It was late in the afternoon when the cart drew up in a large open +space by the side of the Church of St. Jacques. The square was crowded +with all kinds of military transport and commissariat wagons. Officers +were shouting orders, men were rushing hither and thither, motors were +popping, horses neighing. +</P> + +<P> +The corporal in charge of the wagon descended and stood rigidly at +attention. For quite a quarter of an hour he remained in this +attitude, without any of the officers approaching to give him further +directions. The crowd of wagons became more congested, till Kenneth +and Rollo realized that, should they regain possession of their mounts, +there would be great difficulty in wheeling them out of the press. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Kenneth gripped his friend's shoulder and pointed in the +direction of a group of officers. +</P> + +<P> +"There's Major Résimont!" he exclaimed. "He'll get us out of the fix." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! You have got yourselves in a difficulty again, that I can see," +declared the genial Major. "What, then, is the trouble?" +</P> + +<P> +Briefly Kenneth described the commandeering of their motor-cycles. +</P> + +<P> +"I am indeed most busy," said Major Résimont, and the perspiration on +his face did not belie this statement. "Nevertheless, come with me, +and we will find the Quartermaster of the Commissariat." +</P> + +<P> +He led the lads at a rapid pace through several crowded thoroughfares. +At one point the press was so great as to impede their progress. The +Liégeois were shouting and cheering, cries of "Vive la Belgique!" and +"Vive l'Angleterre!" predominating. Outside a large building a Union +Jack and the Belgian tricolour had been hoisted side by side. A +telegraphic communication had just been received that Great Britain had +declared war on Germany. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! I thought it," chuckled the Major. "Now the Prussians will get +the right-about. My friends, the Germans are also now your enemies," +and he shook Kenneth and Rollo by the hand. "What will you do? Return +to England and join the army?" +</P> + +<P> +"We are not old enough for commissions, sir," replied Kenneth; then on +the spur of the moment he added: "Couldn't we be attached to the +Belgian army as dispatch-riders?" +</P> + +<P> +Rollo almost gasped at his chum's impetuosity, but loyalty to his chum +and a desire to do something against the oppressor of Europe checked +his inclination to counsel caution. +</P> + +<P> +"We will see," said the Major gravely. "It is good to see such a +spirit amongst Englishmen to come to the aid of our brave Belgians. +You are resolute?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rather!" declared Kenneth stoutly; and Rollo likewise signified his +willingness. +</P> + +<P> +The Quartermaster having been found at his office, Major Résimont soon +obtained the requisite order for the release of the Englishmen's +motor-cycles. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, this way!" he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +Five minutes' brisk walk brought them to the door of a large building +at which were stationed two soldiers in the uniform of the Grenadiers. +These stood stiffly at attention as the Major entered, drawing +themselves up with an alertness that was almost entirely lacking in +most of the men of the line regiments. +</P> + +<P> +Giving his name to a staff officer, the Major had to wait in an +ante-room, with at least a dozen other officers, mostly of brevet rank. +At length his turn came, for business was being carried out with +dispatch. +</P> + +<P> +"Monsieur le Major Résimont, mon Général," announced a junior officer, +as he opened the door and motioned for the Belgian Major and his two +companions to enter. +</P> + +<P> +Seated at a table was a man in the undress uniform of the Belgian +staff. He was sparely built, although from his attitude it was +impossible to judge his height. His features were sallow, one might +almost say cadaverous, with a bright tinge of red upon his prominent +cheek-bones. Heavily-bushed eyebrows overhung a pair of deep-set eyes +that seemed hawk-like in their intensity. His closely-cropped hair was +iron-grey. A slightly drooping moustache hid a resolute mouth. +</P> + +<P> +The two English lads were in the presence of a man whose name, hitherto +practically unknown outside his own country, was soon to be on the lips +of everyone who was likely to hear of the gallant stand of +Liége—General Albert Leman. +</P> + +<P> +A quick vertical motion of the General's right hand—he was a man of +few words—was the signal for Major Résimont to make known his business. +</P> + +<P> +"I have here two Englishmen, mon Général," began the Major. "They are +desirous of entering our army as motor-cyclist dispatch-riders." +</P> + +<P> +Without a moment's delay the General asked: "Can they read a map?" +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo both replied that they could. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed General Leman; then, turning to his secretary, he +added: "Make out an order for these gentlemen to be attached to the 9th +regiment of the line—your company, Major?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Here, then, is the order," continued the General after a brief +instant, during which the secretary had been writing as hard as he +possibly could. "They can be sworn in as soon as an opportunity +occurs. I wish you good day." +</P> + +<P> +That was all. The whole business was over in less than five minutes. +Not a word of thanks or encouragement to the two British volunteers. A +chill had descended upon their ardour. +</P> + +<P> +"The General—he is magnificent," said their companion as they gained +the street. "Down to the humblest private we swear by him. One has to +earn praise from the General before it is bestowed: it is our General's +way. He is a man of few words, but his heart is in the right place. +Now go and demand your motor-cycles and proceed to Fort de Barchon. I +will meet you there and see you are attested." +</P> + +<P> +With that the Major hurried off, and the two lads hastened to take +possession of their own property. +</P> + +<P> +"Fancy Great Britain being at war with Germany at last!" exclaimed +Kenneth. "We can hardly realize it, although most people have been +talking about it for years. Perhaps even now our fleet is giving the +Germans a good hiding. The rotten part about our job is that we may +not be able to get news of how things are going on at home." +</P> + +<P> +Therein Kenneth was right. The news they received was mostly rumour. +In fact, the statement they had just heard, that Great Britain had +declared war, was premature. An ultimatum had been sent to Berlin +stating that, unless Belgian neutrality were respected, hostilities +would commence at midnight. The Liégeois had anticipated the hour, and +so had the Germans, for already their mine-layers were at work in the +North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +An hour later, just as the sun was sinking behind the smoke-enshrouded +city of Liége, Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington were enlisted as +volunteer dispatch-riders in the 9th regiment of the line of the +Belgian army. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Baptism of Fire +</H3> + +<P> +At eight o'clock on the following morning the motorcyclist +section—nine in number—was paraded in front of the orderly-room of +Fort de Barchon. Already the bulk of the regiments had marched out to +take up a position in the trenches between the fortifications and the +right bank of the Meuse. +</P> + +<P> +The two English lads had been served out with a dark-blue uniform, with +heavy boots and brown gaiters, and had been armed with a Belgian +service revolver—a .45-bore, made by the famous firm of Cockerill of +Seraing. +</P> + +<P> +Already they had been instructed in its use, and had—thanks to their +cadet training—met with the approval of their musketry instructor. +Their motor-cycles had also been subjected to a critical inspection. +The officer—who in civil life had been in the motor industry at +Liége—had to report, in spite of slight professional jealousy, that +the English motor-cycles were fit for service, and almost equal to +those owned by the other members of the dispatch-riding section. +</P> + +<P> +One by one the men were called into the orderly-room, where they +received instructions and dispatches, till only Kenneth and Rollo +remained. +</P> + +<P> +"Private Ever-r-rest and Private Bar-r-rington," shouted the +orderly-room sergeant, sounding his r's like the roll of a drum. +</P> + +<P> +Within they found Major Résimont, and, as befitting their relative +rank, the lads saluted and stood at attention. +</P> + +<P> +"Deliver this to Captain Leboeuf at Visé," ordered the Major. "In view +of the German advance, he is to cross the river and impede the enemy as +much as possible, retiring upon Fort de Pontisse if in danger of being +outflanked." Then dropping the official voice, he added in English, +"Since Madame de la Barre would pay no heed to my request, it is +necessary for strategic reasons to occupy her house. You may now have +an opportunity of seeing your sister, Monsieur Everest. There are, I +believe, only our pupils there during the holidays. Captain Leboeuf +will arrange for them to be sent into Maastricht by train, or by a +carriage if railway communication is interrupted. They can then +proceed to Brussels in the ordinary way. You might give this to +Mademoiselle Yvonne for incidental expenses for herself and her friend, +your sister," and the Major handed Kenneth a packet containing a sheaf +of notes. +</P> + +<P> +"Be cautious," he added. "The Germans have already advanced upon +Lembourg." +</P> + +<P> +The lads saluted and withdrew. A minute later they were dashing over +the drawbridge, bound on their first duty as dispatch-riders in the +Belgian army, though with a semi-official motive. +</P> + +<P> +Away on their right came the rapid booming of light artillery fire. +Beyond the woods of Verviers a thick cloud of black smoke rose sullenly +in the heavy air. +</P> + +<P> +Their route lay along a fairly level road bounded on each side by tall +trees. In the centre was a strip of <I>pavé</I>, but between it and the +ditch on either hand was a dusty path which afforded good going. The +cyclists were soon touching thirty miles an hour, the rapid beats of +their engines drowning the noise of the distant cannonade. +</P> + +<P> +Once they had to slow down in order to allow a cart to draw up on one +side. The floor of the cart was covered with straw, and on the straw +lay some strange objects. The lads did not realize what these burdens +were. They were new to the game of war, but not for long. +</P> + +<P> +Presently they noticed a group of soldiers approaching. Thrice the +lads sounded their horns without effect. Again they had to slow down. +</P> + +<P> +"Good heavens! Look!" ejaculated Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +The men were limping painfully. One had his arm thrown around a +comrade's neck, and his head falling limply upon the other's shoulder. +Another, his head bound by a blood-stained scarf, was using the butt of +his rifle as a crutch. +</P> + +<P> +"There's been an action already," said Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, and on the Visé road," added his companion. "Let's push on. I +hope we are not too late." +</P> + +<P> +During the slowing-down process the thunder of the guns became horribly +distinct. There was terrific firing in the direction of Argenteau. +More, there were heavy Belgian losses, for the men they had just passed +were but the van of a ghastly procession of wounded. +</P> + +<P> +At Argenteau a body of reserves was in possession of the village. +Barricades had been hastily constructed, walls of buildings loopholed, +and barbed-wire entanglements placed across the road. +</P> + +<P> +"Halte-là!" +</P> + +<P> +Rollo came to a standstill with the point of a Belgian bayonet within a +couple of inches of his chest. Kenneth, who was twenty yards in the +rear, almost as promptly alighted. +</P> + +<P> +"Qui v'là?" demanded the sentry. +</P> + +<P> +"Dispatches for Captain Leboeuf," replied Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +The man recovered his arms. +</P> + +<P> +"May you have the good fortune to find him!" said he. "Our troops have +been compelled to fall back in the face of superior numbers. Turn to +the right, then take the first road to the left. It will bring you +back to the Visé road." +</P> + +<P> +Following the sentry's direction the lads found that the route was +still open, although soldiers and peasants were standing ready to +barricade that exit. +</P> + +<P> +A couple of miles farther on the motor-cyclists reached the +firing-line—a comparatively weak detachment of infantry holding a +hastily-constructed trench. +</P> + +<P> +Overhead the shrapnel was flying, the iron hail for the most part +bursting harmlessly in the rear. On the left the great guns of Fort de +Pontisse were shelling the dense masses of German troops as they vainly +sought to cross the Meuse. +</P> + +<P> +A shell, happily without exploding, struck the pave five yards from the +spot where Kenneth dismounted, burying itself in a hole at least two +feet in depth. +</P> + +<P> +"Into the ditch with the bikes," shouted Kenneth; and having assisted +Rollo to place his steed in a place of comparative safety, he returned, +and, helped by his companion, managed to shelter his own cycle. +</P> + +<P> +"What's to be done now?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"See if the Captain is with these men. We must hasten: it will be a +jolly sight safer in the trench." +</P> + +<P> +Abandoning their motor-cycles, the two lads made their way along the +ditch, which fortunately ran with considerable obliquity to the +direction of the fire of the German artillery. +</P> + +<P> +At length they reached the trench where the Belgian infantry, taking +admirable cover, were replying steadily to the hail of ill-directed +rifle bullets. The only unwounded officer was a slim young +lieutenant—a mere boy. +</P> + +<P> +"We have dispatches for Captain Leboeuf, sir," announced Kenneth. "He +was in charge of an outpost at Visé." +</P> + +<P> +"Visé is all aflame," replied the officer. "No doubt the Captain has +crossed the Meuse. But we are about to retire, so look to yourselves. +The enemy is threatening our right flank, otherwise we might hold this +trench for another twenty-four hours." +</P> + +<P> +"Any orders, sir, before we return to Fort de Barchon?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; ride as quickly as you can to Saint André. The rest of our +company is there. Tell the officer in command that I am retiring, and +that unless he falls back he is in danger of being cut off. You +understand? Good, now——" +</P> + +<P> +The lieutenant's instructions ended in a faint shriek. His hands flew +to his chest, and he pitched forward on his face. +</P> + +<P> +A grizzled colour-sergeant instantly took command. +</P> + +<P> +"Retire by sections!" he shouted. "Steady, men, no hurry. Keep them +back as long as you can." +</P> + +<P> +The caution was in vain. While the untried troops were lining the +trench and replying to the German fire, all went well; but at the order +to retire, men broke and ran for their lives. Heedless of the cover +afforded by the ditch, they swarmed along the road in the direction of +Argenteau, shrapnel and bullet accounting for half their numbers. Only +the sergeant, two corporals, and the British dispatch-riders remained. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans, advancing in close formation, were now eight hundred yards +off. +</P> + +<P> +Without a word the Belgian sergeant crawled along the trench, picking +up the rifles and caps of the slain and placing them at intervals along +the top of the mound; while the rest, including Kenneth and Rollo, who +had taken possession of a couple of abandoned rifles, maintained a +rapid magazine fire at the approaching troops. +</P> + +<P> +"Each for himself, mes enfants," said the veteran at length. "One at a +time and trust to luck." +</P> + +<P> +With that a corporal cast aside his greatcoat and heavy knapsack. He +was about to make a plunge through the zone of hissing bullets when +Kenneth stopped him. +</P> + +<P> +"There's a ditch farther along," he announced. "We came that way." +</P> + +<P> +The man hesitated, then, communicated the news to his sergeant. +</P> + +<P> +"Come then, mes braves," exclaimed the veteran. +</P> + +<P> +One by one, crawling along the ditch the five made their way, till they +gained the comparative shelter afforded by the walls of a ruined +cottage. Proof against bullets, the house had been practically +demolished by shell-fire. +</P> + +<P> +"We must go back and get our bikes," declared Kenneth. "It's fairly +safe. Those fellows are apparently directing their fire against those +caps and rifles showing above the trench." +</P> + +<P> +They found their steeds uninjured. In record time they were in the +saddle and tearing along the avenue, which here and there was dotted +with dead Belgians. The wounded had evidently been carried off by +their comrades. +</P> + +<P> +As they passed the ruined cottage where they had parted from the three +soldiers the latter were no longer to be seen, but a hoarse cry of "A +moi, camarades!" caused Rollo to turn. He alone caught the appeal, for +Kenneth had secured a slight start and the noise of his engine had +drowned the shout for aid. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on!" shouted Rollo; but Kenneth, unaware of the call, was out of +ear-shot, and doing a good thirty or forty miles an hour. +</P> + +<P> +Leaving his engine still running, Rollo dismounted and made his way +towards the building. Shots were whistling overhead. He crouched as +he hastened, for he had not yet acquired the contempt for the screech +of a bullet that the old soldier has, knowing that with the whizzing of +the missile that particular danger has passed. +</P> + +<P> +Lying against the bullet-spattered wall was the old sergeant. A +fragment of shrapnel, rebounding from the masonry, had fractured his +left ankle. +</P> + +<P> +There was no time for first-aid. The Germans were now within three +hundred yards of the abandoned trench. Throwing his arms round the +sergeant's body, Rollo lifted him from the ground, then kneeling, he +managed to transfer him across his back. Fortunately the wounded man +was not very heavy, and the lad, staggering under his burden, carried +him to the place where he had left his motor-cycle. +</P> + +<P> +Just then came the rapid pop-pop of another motor-bike. Kenneth, +having discovered that his chum was no longer in his company, had +returned. +</P> + +<P> +"Give me a push off, old man," panted Rollo, as he set his burden +across the carrier and stood astride his steed. +</P> + +<P> +In went the clutch; Kenneth, running by the side of the cycle for a few +yards, steadied the wounded sergeant, who was clinging desperately to +the young dispatch-rider. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, let go!" shouted Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +The bike wobbled dangerously under the unusual burden. The sergeant's +grip wellnigh destroyed the lad's power of command on the steering. +The <I>zipp</I> of a bullet did much to add to the difficulty, and +momentarily Rollo thought that nothing could save him from toppling +into the ditch. +</P> + +<P> +"Let go my arms and catch hold of my waist," he shouted desperately. +The sergeant fortunately understood and obeyed; the motor-cycle began +to recover its balance, and as Rollo opened the throttle and increased +speed it settled down to its normal condition. +</P> + +<P> +On either side the trees seemed to slip past like the spokes of a +wheel; the pace was terrific, and although the wounded man must have +been suffering agonies, not a groan came from his lips. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Kenneth rode up alongside, for they were out of range and the +road was no longer encumbered with the fallen. Five minutes later the +two lads dismounted at the barricade of Argenteau. +</P> + +<P> +Here ready arms relieved Rollo of his burden; soldiers assisted in +lifting the cycles over the barrier. As they did so one of them +pointed to one of the tool-bag panniers on Rollo's cycle. It was +pierced by a bullet. +</P> + +<P> +"Where are you going to?" demanded a major. +</P> + +<P> +"To Saint André, to warn a half-company of the 9th regiment to retire, +sir." +</P> + +<P> +"It is unnecessary. The men have already rejoined. Return to Fort de +Barchon and say that if need be we can still hold the enemy in check, +but that we are losing heavily." +</P> + +<P> +Soon they were back again at Argenteau, with instructions for the +remains of the badly-mauled regiment to fall back upon the lines of +defence prepared between the two forts in the north-eastern side of the +circle surrounding Liége. +</P> + +<P> +The invaders had been delayed sufficiently to allow General Leman to +complete his dispositions. They were yet to learn that even the +much-vaunted German infantry could not afford to despise the gallant +Belgians. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a jolly sight better than Rugby, anyway," declared Kenneth, as at +the end of their first day on active service they returned to their +quarters at Fort de Barchon. +</P> + +<P> +But Rollo did not reply. He was thinking of the bullet hole in the +pannier of his cycle. It had been a narrow squeak. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Vain Assault +</H3> + +<P> +"I say, how about your sister, old man?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"She's all right," replied Kenneth optimistically. "These Germans +don't make war on women and girls. Besides, Madame de la Barre +doubtless dropped a little of her standoffishness directly she heard +the sound of firing. I'm pretty sure they are now either safe in Dutch +territory or else on their way to Brussels." +</P> + +<P> +"If I had a sister I would be a jolly sight more anxious about her than +you are," persisted Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, how can I help it? Besides, you don't know Thelma. She +wouldn't, under the circumstances, wait for Madame to give her +permission to clear out, and, since Yvonne is her special friend, +she'll look after the Major's daughter as well. I'm sorry we haven't +come across Major Résimont since our return." +</P> + +<P> +"He must feel a bit anxious," remarked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"About the money he entrusted us with?" laughed Kenneth. "Well, I +admit that it was a bit of a risk, for we might have been bowled over +by one of those German shells. Ah! there's another!" +</P> + +<P> +The two dispatch-riders were under cover at Fort de Barchon, enjoying a +hasty meal after their return from their fruitless errand. It was late +in the day, and many hours had elapsed since they had had anything to +eat. It was a kind of preliminary to the period of short rations +through which they were to pass. +</P> + +<P> +The German artillery was furtively shelling the Liége forts as a +prelude to the general bombardment that was to take place as soon as +the shades of night began to fall. +</P> + +<P> +General von Emmich had brought up a force of 88,000 men against the +23,000 Belgian troops manning the Liége defences; but, owing to the +difficulty of transporting his heavy guns, the German commander decided +to open a furious cannonade with his light field artillery, and to +follow up with an assault by means of dense masses of troops. +</P> + +<P> +Soon the cannonade became general, the heaviest of the hostile fire +being directed upon Forts d'Évegnée and de Fléron, while Fort de +Barchon came in for a hot bombardment. +</P> + +<P> +It was by no means a one-sided encounter. The Belgian infantry, lying +snugly sheltered either in the trenches or in the bomb-proof galleries +of the forts, were for the time being inactive. The Belgian gunners, +however, worked their guns in the armoured cupolas with skill, bravery, +and precision, and at the end of two hours' bombardment the forts were +practically intact. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo, in the galleries of Fort de Barchon, could feel the +concussion of the revolving guns and the detonations of the exploding +German shells, although they were, like the rest of the infantry, in +ignorance of what was taking place. The inaction was far more +nerve-racking than actual exposure with the chance of getting in a shot. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly above the roar of the artillery came a bugle-call, followed by +excited shouts of "Aux armes!" Instantly there was a wild rush to man +the parapets on the inner face of the glacis. +</P> + +<P> +"Come along, old man!" exclaimed Kenneth. "We may as well have a look +in." +</P> + +<P> +Snatching up a rifle and making sure that the magazine was charged, he +dashed out of the gallery, Rollo following hard on his heels. +</P> + +<P> +A weird sight met their eyes. The blackness of the night was pierced +by the dazzling rays of powerful searchlights and punctuated by the +rapid flashes from the heavy ordnance. The thunder of the guns was +ear-splitting, the crash of the exploding projectiles appalling, yet +the attention of the two lads was directed towards the scene that lay +before them. +</P> + +<P> +All along the parapet, protected by sandbags, were the Belgian +infantry, ready, with their rifles sighted to 800 yards, to open fire +at the word of command. Beyond the turf of the glacis, where almost +every blade of grass stood up under the sweeping rays of the +searchlights as if made of gleaming silver, were dense masses of +grey-coated, spike-helmeted Germans. +</P> + +<P> +On they came as steadily as if on parade, while between the rapid +crashes of the artillery could be distinguished the harsh voices of the +men as they sang "Deutschland über Alles" and the "Wacht am Rhein". +The only relief to those grey-clad battalions was the glitter of the +forest of bayonets. +</P> + +<P> +If numbers could annihilate, the fate of the comparative handful of +Belgians was sealed; but von Emmich had, like many another man, +underrated the courage of the plucky little Belgians. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans were now within the danger-zone of shell-fire. Shrapnel +tore ghastly lanes through their serried ranks, but other men were +instantly forthcoming to fill up the gaps. On and on they came till +they reached the outer edge of the glacis. Here the huge fortress-guns +in the armoured cupolas could not be sufficiently depressed to do them +harm. +</P> + +<P> +The crackle of the Belgian musketry added to the din. The men, firing +steadily, swept away hundreds of their Teutonic foes, but the ant-like +swarm of ferocious humanity still swept onwards. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo were firing away as hard as they could thrust home +the bolts of the rifles and press trigger. The hostile gun-fire had +now ceased, lest German should fall by German shell. The infantry, +firing with the butts of their rifles at the hip, let loose a terrific +volley. The air was torn by the <I>zipp</I> of the bullets, but for the +most part the hail of missiles either flew high or harmlessly expended +itself in the soft earth. Now, in spite of the withering fire, the +foremost of the German stormers were almost up to the parapet of the +outer defences. Victory seemed within their grasp. Their shouts +redoubled. Drunk with the apparent success of their suicidal tactics, +they rushed to overwhelm the slender line of Belgian riflemen. +</P> + +<P> +Through the rapidly-drifting clouds of smoke—for there was a strong +wind blowing athwart the line of attack—the two British lads could +clearly see the features of the exultant foes, as they recklessly +plunged straight into the dazzling rays of the searchlight. +</P> + +<P> +Mechanically Kenneth began to wonder what would happen next, for it +seemed imminent that bayonet would cross bayonet, and that the handful +of Belgian infantry would be cut off to the last man. +</P> + +<P> +Then, even as he faced the enemy, the dense masses of Germans seemed to +melt away. They fell, not in sixes and sevens, but in scores and +hundreds, till a barricade of dead prevented the massacre of the +living. The Belgians had machine-guns in readiness to take up the work +that the heavier weapons had been obliged to suspend. +</P> + +<P> +The commandant of the 9th regiment of the line saw his chance. The +rattle of the Berthier machine-guns ceased as if by magic, and the +shout was heard "A la baïonnette!" +</P> + +<P> +Instantly the active Belgians swarmed over the glacis and threw +themselves upon the demoralized foe. The repulse of the Germans became +a rout. +</P> + +<P> +Carried away by the enthusiasm of the charge, the British +dispatch-riders tore along with their Belgian comrades, Kenneth with +rifle and bayonet, while Rollo was brandishing his Mauser and using the +butt-end like an exaggerated hockey-stick. +</P> + +<P> +Just in front of them was a little Belgian officer who, on the point of +cutting down a burly German major, had arrested the fatal stroke upon +the latter crying out for quarter. The German, who had been beaten to +the ground, tendered his sword, and the Belgian, casting it aside, +rushed on to continue the counter-charge. +</P> + +<P> +Before he had taken two strides he fell, hit in the ankle, and Kenneth, +who was following, promptly tripped across his body. +</P> + +<P> +The sight of his chum pitching on his face caused Rollo's heart to jump +into his mouth. He stopped, and to his great relief Kenneth regained +his feet. The Belgian also attempted to rise, but could only raise +himself to the extent of his outstretched arms. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo was on the point of going to assist his chum, who was directing +his attention to the wounded Belgian officer, when he saw the German +major stealthily produce his revolver and take aim at the man who had +spared his life. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps it was well for the ungrateful major that Rollo was a keen +footballer. Forgetting that he held a clubbed rifle in his hand the +lad took a flying kick; his boot caught the German major on the wrist, +and the revolver, exploding harmlessly, went spinning a dozen paces +away. +</P> + +<P> +Standing over the recreant officer Rollo swung the butt of his rifle. +The German howled for mercy. +</P> + +<P> +"Hold hard, old man!" shouted Kenneth, grasping his chum by the +shoulder. He could scarcely credit his senses, seeing the usually +deliberate and self-possessed Rollo about to kill a defenceless German +officer. +</P> + +<P> +"That brute was about to shoot down a fellow who had given him +quarter," hissed Rollo: "that captain over there, the one sitting up +with a wounded leg." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll collar the cad in any case," declared Kenneth, for the Belgian +troops were now being recalled. The attack had been repulsed, but the +defenders were too wary to risk being caught out in the open. +</P> + +<P> +Drawing his revolver Rollo ordered the German to rise. The Major +apparently did not understand French, for he only cried the more. +</P> + +<P> +"Get up instantly," exclaimed Rollo in English. +</P> + +<P> +The German looked at his captor in surprise. His appeals for mercy +ceased. He stood up. +</P> + +<P> +"I surrender," he said in the same language. +</P> + +<P> +With one of the British lads on either side the prisoner was urged +onwards at a rapid pace, surrounded by swarms of exultant Belgians, +many of whom were limping or nursing their wounded arms. Others were +supporting or carrying those of their comrades who were more seriously +hurt, yet all were uplifted by their enthusiasm at the thought of +having vanquished von Emmich's hordes. +</P> + +<P> +Upon gaining the shelter of Fort de Barchon the British lads handed +their prisoner over to the charge of a corporal and a file of men. It +was well for the German that his captors refrained from giving the +Belgian soldiers an account of the circumstances under which he had +been made prisoner. +</P> + +<P> +The German major seemed dazed. He could not understand how he had been +captured by Englishmen; for it had been given out to the troops of von +Emmich's division that Great Britain had decided to remain neutral. +Her attitude had been gained by a promise on the part of the German +Government that only the French and Belgian colonies should be annexed, +and that no permanent occupation of these two countries was +contemplated. And now he had been informed that Great Britain and her +vast empire beyond the seas had fallen into line to aid right against +might. The news troubled him beyond measure—far more than the +probability of what the result of his treacherous act would be; for he +was a Teuton imbued with the belief that all is fair in war, and that +treaties and conventions are alike mere matters of form. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! you have been in the fight," exclaimed Major Résimont. "That +should not be. Dispatch-riders are required for other things." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo saluted. +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't help it," explained Kenneth. "When the men charged we simply +had to go. It was splendid." +</P> + +<P> +"You think so? So do we," said the Major proudly. "We have taught the +Bosches a lesson; we have shown them that Belgians can fight. We must +hold them in front of the Liége forts for a few days, and then the +French and the English armies will be here. A matter of three days, +perhaps, and then, <I>pouf!</I> they blow the Kaiser and his armies upon the +bayonets of the Russians. It is good to think that the English are so +close." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Disabling a Taube +</H3> + +<P> +"Here is the money and the letter you entrusted us with, sir," said +Kenneth. "We couldn't get within five miles of Visé." +</P> + +<P> +"The place is burned to the ground, I hear," announced Major Résimont. +"Those Prussians are like devils, they spare neither man, woman, nor +child. Liége is filled with terrible stories brought by the peasants +who escaped. I could, alas! gather no definite tidings of my daughter +or of her friend your sister, Monsieur Everest. One thing is certain. +They left before the German shells began to fall in Visé, but whither, +I know not. Let us hope they went to Maastricht." +</P> + +<P> +It was now early morning. The bombardment, which had ceased during the +futile assault, was now being renewed, although the fire lacked the +fierceness that characterized the beginning of the siege of Liége. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian reply, too, had almost ceased, for so rapidly had the big +guns been served that they had become overheated. Moreover—a further +proof of German methods—the ordnance supplied by Krupp's to the +Belgian Government before the war was obviously inferior in workmanship +and material, and in consequence had rapidly deteriorated. +</P> + +<P> +The two British dispatch-riders had run across Major Résimont in one of +the vaulted galleries. He looked tired and worried: tired owing to the +fact that he had been for seventeen hours on duty in the trenches or in +the fort; worried by reason of anxiety for his daughter. Yet he was +willing and anxious to face the Germans at any time they should take it +into their heads to attempt another assault. +</P> + +<P> +"If I were you I would take the chance to get a few hours' sleep," he +advised as he bade the lads au revoir. "Remember what I said the next +time there is an attack: a dispatch-rider's duty is not in the +firing-line. His work lies in another sphere, equally hazardous and +equally important." +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly good advice about getting some sleep, at all events," remarked +Kenneth, after the Major had gone. "I vote we turn in. I had no idea +I was so horribly sleepy until just now." +</P> + +<P> +"Guns or no guns, I think I can do my share of sleep," agreed Rollo. +"Let us put the scheme into practice." +</P> + +<P> +Just then the heavy armoured door of the gallery was thrown open, and +an authoritative voice shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"Dispatch-riders! Are there any dispatch-riders here?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here, sir," replied the lads promptly. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah! The English motor-cyclists," exclaimed the Belgian—a staff +officer. "Do you know the headquarters offices in the Palace of +Justice in Liége?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," was again the reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Good! Take this paper—you!" (pointing to Kenneth)—"and deliver it +into the hands of Commandant Fleurus at all costs, and await his +commands. Your comrade will accompany you, so that should you meet +with any mishap he is to take the paper from you and proceed. You +understand? Good! Now, away!" +</P> + +<P> +"A good spin will be almost as refreshing as a few hours' sleep, +Rollo," said Kenneth, as the two chums made their way to the place +where their motor-cycles were stored, protected by three feet of +concrete and six feet of earth from hostile shells. +</P> + +<P> +"With plenty of excitement thrown in," added Rollo. "We'll have a +difficulty to dodge those shells as we get clear of the fort, I'm +thinking." +</P> + +<P> +"Rush it and trust to luck. We'll do it all right," declared Kenneth +optimistically, as he hurriedly overhauled his cycle and proceeded to +warm up the engine. +</P> + +<P> +It was a tricky business getting out of the fort, for the sunken lane +that wound through the extensive glacis was littered with debris of +exploded shells. There were deep holes in several places, while at +various points the effect of the German projectiles was evident by the +fact that the approach to the fort was choked by landslides. Thrice +the lads had to dismount and push their cycles over obstacles, to the +accompaniment of the dull crash of the shells, some of which burst +unpleasantly near. +</P> + +<P> +All the while, although not a defender was visible, the armoured +cupolas were appearing and disappearing with the regularity of +clockwork, sending out their iron hail upon the pontoons which the +German engineers were constructing to replace the broken bridges at +Visé and Argenteau. +</P> + +<P> +"All out!" exclaimed Rollo as they reached the open road. +</P> + +<P> +With throttle well open and spark advanced, both motor-cycles bounded +forward. The pace was terrific. At times the riders were almost +jerked from the saddles as their steeds leapt across the irregularities +on the surface of the <I>pavé</I>. The lads could no longer hear the +thunder of the guns: it was drowned by the roar of their exhausts. The +wind shrieked past their ears, grit flew in showers, a cloud of dust +followed in their wake. Suddenly they saw a large silvery-grey object +swoop down about a quarter of a mile ahead, close to the outskirts of +the village of Jupille, which had been abandoned by the terrified +inhabitants. The riders recognized it as one of the German Taubes that +had been aggressively active during the operations by locating the +position of the Belgian trenches. +</P> + +<P> +The monoplane was in difficulties. It took all the skill of the pilot +to prevent it from making a nose-end dive to earth. With superb +presence of mind he managed to restore the disturbed equilibrium and to +bring the Taube to rest without much damage. +</P> + +<P> +Bringing his motor-cycle to a halt, Kenneth dismounted and placed his +mount on its stand. Rollo did likewise. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the game?" he asked as his companion unfastened the flap of his +holster. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll collar those fellows," declared Kenneth resolutely "They must +not get away." +</P> + +<P> +"But the dispatch?" +</P> + +<P> +"This is more important, I guess. See, those fellows are already +setting things to rights. Before any of the Belgian vedettes can come +up they will be off again." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was right in his surmise. There were no troops within a mile +of the place. The two men who formed the crew of the monoplane were +feverishly tackling the work of making good the damage. One of the +wires actuating the elevating gear had been cut through by a chance +Belgian bullet—one amongst a thousand more that had been fired at the +troublesome Taube. +</P> + +<P> +"Surrender!" shouted Kenneth, advancing to within fifty feet of the +aviators and levelling his revolver. Rollo, cooler than his companion, +steadied the barrel of his heavy pistol in the crook of his arm. +</P> + +<P> +The pilot had been so engrossed in his work that he had not noticed the +arrival of the lads. At the sound of Kenneth's voice he had just +completed the joining up of the severed wire. He made a rush to the +propeller and began to swing it in order to start the engine. +</P> + +<P> +This was more than Kenneth had bargained for. It seemed too much like +shooting down a man in cold blood. He need not have been so +chivalrous, for the next instant a bullet tore through his hair and +sent his cap a couple of yards away. The observer of the Taube had, at +the first alarm, flung himself upon the ground and had fired at the lad +with a rifle. +</P> + +<P> +Before the man could thrust home a fresh cartridge Kenneth was snug +behind a rise in the ground. Rollo, twenty paces to the right, had +likewise taken cover. +</P> + +<P> +The powerful motor was now working. The propeller blades glittered +like a circle of light as they revolved with a terrific buzz. The +draught of the propeller threw up a cloud of dust as high as a +three-storied house. Through the haze thus caused the lads could +distinguish the forms of the aviators as they scrambled into their +seats. +</P> + +<P> +Both dispatch-riders emptied the contents of their revolvers, perhaps a +little wildly, but the result was none the less disastrous to the +Taube. There was a blinding flash, a report, and a rush of air that +drove the dust-cloud in all directions. One of the bullets had pierced +the petrol-tank, and a spark had done the rest. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant the Taube was enveloped in flame. The pilot, his hands +held to his face, was stumbling blindly away from the inferno, his +clothes burning furiously. The observer ran for nearly twenty yards, +spun round thrice, and collapsed. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo was the one in this instance to take the initiative. He ran to +the pilot, tripped him up, and began to heap handfuls of dust upon his +burning clothing. By Kenneth's aid the flames were extinguished, but +by this time the unfortunate German was unconscious. +</P> + +<P> +As for the observer, he was found severely wounded, one of the heavy +revolver bullets having passed completely through his shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Rollo, as the lads ejected the expended +ammunition and reloaded their revolvers. +</P> + +<P> +"Carry on with the dispatch, of course," replied Kenneth. "We can do +no more here. Hello! Here are the Belgian cavalry." +</P> + +<P> +Up rode a patrol of lancers. Dismounting, and leaving their horses in +charge of one-third of their number, the men advanced. The officer in +charge took in the situation at a glance, for the twelve empty revolver +cartridges on the ground told their own tale. +</P> + +<P> +"You had better proceed; enough time has already been wasted," he said, +when he learnt the mission of the dispatch-riders. "We will attend to +these." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a nasty knock," observed Rollo ruefully, as they hurried back +to their motor-cycles. +</P> + +<P> +"H'm, yes," admitted his companion reluctantly. "Perhaps the chap was +a bit nettled because his men didn't bag the Taube." +</P> + +<P> +But as they rode past the scene of their exploit the Captain called his +men to attention—a tribute to the resource and daring of the British +lads. Already the Belgian cavalrymen had shown signs of their +humanity, for by means of their lances two stretchers had been +improvised, and the wounded aviators were on the way to one of the +hospitals in the beleaguered city. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +In British Uniforms +</H3> + +<P> +Shells were intermittently dropping upon the houses and in the streets +as Kenneth and Rollo entered the apparently deserted city of Liége. +The majority of the inhabitants, their numbers augmented by hundreds of +terrified refugees from the surrounding villages, had taken refuge in +cellars, while crowds, under the mistaken belief in the immunity of the +churches from shell-fire, had sought doubtful shelter in the sacred +edifices. Others, again, fearful at the threat of von Emmich to begin +a general bombardment upon the city unless the forts surrendered—a +threat that the gallant General Leman treated with contempt—were +boarding the last trains to leave Liége. +</P> + +<P> +The day was excessively hot and close. The wind that had blown +strongly during the preceding night had dropped. Several of the houses +had taken fire, and the pungent smell of smoke filled the air. +Frequently, before the dispatch-riders reached their destination, they +were compelled to slacken pace, owing to the clouds of smoke that +drifted slowly across the almost deserted streets. +</P> + +<P> +They found the commandant, with several of his staff, calmly engaged in +his work, and heedless of the fact that several shells had already +burst in front of the Palace of Justice in which he had taken up his +quarters. +</P> + +<P> +Commandant Fleurus was a short, stocky man of about fifty, and rather +inclined to corpulence. His head was as bald as an egg, with the +exception of a ring of jet-black hair like a monkish tonsure. His eyes +were small, resembling black beads, and rapid in their movements. +</P> + +<P> +He was writing when Kenneth was shown in. Without moving his head, +which was slightly inclined, he fixed the dispatch-rider with his +piercing stare. +</P> + +<P> +"Message, sir, from Major le Tourneur." +</P> + +<P> +The commandant took the letter and, with a swift movement, tore open +the flap of the envelope. +</P> + +<P> +"This is marked 7.15 a.m.!" he exclaimed. "It's now a quarter to nine. +Why this delay?" +</P> + +<P> +"We—that is, my comrade—crippled a Taube, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Crippled a Taube? What, pray, has a dispatch-rider to do with +Taubes?" demanded Commandante Fleurus sternly. "Do you know that it is +your duty to deliver messages at all costs, and in the least possible +time, regardless of Taubes, Zeppelins, and the German Emperor himself?" +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth did not reply. The fiery nature of the little Belgian +literally consumed him. He had, however, the good sense to see that +the rebuke was merited. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, sir, what have you to say?" +</P> + +<P> +"It was an error of judgment, sir, which I regret," said Kenneth. "We +crippled the Taube as it was on the point of rising. Otherwise——" +</P> + +<P> +"Were there no troops available?" +</P> + +<P> +"Some lancers arrived while the Taube was burning." +</P> + +<P> +The commandant turned and took hold of a telephone that stood on the +table at his side. +</P> + +<P> +"Send Captain Planchenoît to me," he ordered; then, leaning back in his +chair, he again fixed the British lad with his beady eyes. +</P> + +<P> +It was quite two minutes before the captain appeared, and the time +seemed like two hours to the crestfallen Kenneth. He had yet to learn +the lesson that cast-iron discipline demands, and it seemed galling +that his part in crippling one of the aerial spies should be +practically ignored by the man who ought to have gone into ecstasies +over the news. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Captain Planchenoît entered, clicked his heels and saluted, +then waited his superior officer's pleasure. The captain was a +smart-looking man of more than average height, with a pleasant, open +countenance. He was on the intelligence staff, attached to the brigade +that had been hurriedly brought up from Diest. +</P> + +<P> +"Any information respecting the destruction of one of the enemy's +aeroplanes?" demanded the commandant. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, mon commandant. It descended near the village of Jupille. +Before our lancers could approach it took fire. Our men found both +pilot and observer wounded and brought them back. The captain of the +troop reported that the Taube was set on fire by the pistol-shots of +two dispatch-riders." +</P> + +<P> +"At any risk to themselves?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know not, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"At any risk?" repeated Commandant Fleurus, shifting his glance from +Captain Planchenoît to Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +In reply the lad removed his Belgian military cap and pointed to the +double hole made by the German observer's bullet. +</P> + +<P> +To Kenneth's surprise the commandant leant back in his chair and gave +vent to a hearty laugh. Then he stood up and grasped the hand of the +astonished youth. +</P> + +<P> +"Go, bring in your compatriot," he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the game, old man?" asked Rollo, who was cooling his heels in +the corridor. +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness knows! I can't make the little commandant out. He's an +enigma. I've had a gruelling. Come along." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth jerked out his sentences awkwardly, then, catching hold of his +chum's arm, led him into the commandant's presence. +</P> + +<P> +"Captain Planchenoît," said the latter, after returning Rollo's salute. +"You applied for two additional dispatch-riders, I believe?" +</P> + +<P> +"That is so, mon commandant," replied the captain. +</P> + +<P> +"Good! Now listen to this, you brave Englishmen. This is the dispatch +you brought. It is from Major Résimont: 'In reply to your request for +dispatch-riders I send you two English motor-cyclists, MM. Kenneth +Everest and Rollo Barrington. From what I already know of them they +are courageous and resolute, and their services are likely to be of +more use in the operations before Brussels than within the fortress of +Barchon. More so in view of the possible early appearance of the +English forces who are to co-operate with the Belgian armies in the +field.'" +</P> + +<P> +"It is very good of Major Résimont to speak so well of us," said +Kenneth. "Of course we must go where we are ordered, and that +willingly; but we should be sorry to part from Major Résimont and the +9th Regiment of the Line." +</P> + +<P> +"It does not necessarily mean severing your connection with your old +regiment—if old I might term it," declared the commandant. "In strict +confidence I may tell you—I know that English gentlemen are always +honourable—that perhaps before to-morrow we must abandon the city to +the invaders. Our numbers are insufficient to hold the trenches +linking the chain of forts. We must concentrate our armies to the west +of Liége, leaving the forts to hold out until the English and French +armies arrive. It is a sad thing to have to abandon such a city as +this to the ruthless Germans, but sacrifices must be made for the +honour of our country. Captain Planchenoît will give you instruction +where to proceed." +</P> + +<P> +Just at that moment an orderly-sergeant entered the room, his face +purple with excitement. +</P> + +<P> +"Sir," he announced, "four English officers are without. They have +arrived from Ostend by motor-car and desire to see the General Leman." +</P> + +<P> +Commandant Fleurus took the pieces of pasteboard the sergeant held in +his hand, and passed them on first to Kenneth and then to Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"See if you know any of these gentlemen," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Rollo. "I know Major Athol Duncan-Dean of the Duke of +Cornwall's Light Infantry. Hello! What's the meaning of this?" he +added in his native tongue. +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly rummy, anyhow," commented Kenneth, for in the word "Cornwall's" +the apostrophe was after the "s". +</P> + +<P> +"And Major Duncan-Dean is too mighty particular to pass a mistake on +his visiting-card like that," added Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps he lost his own and had them printed in Belgium, and didn't +notice the mistake until it was too late." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll mention it to the commandant. It's fishy." +</P> + +<P> +"Since you know the officer, Monsieur Barrington," said the commandant, +when Kenneth had explained the nature of the error, "perhaps you will +go with this sergeant. Present my compliments, and say that the +General Leman is at Fort de Loncin, and that I, Commandant Fleurus, +will be pleased to receive the English officers in his absence. But, +listen; if by any chance the Major Duncan-Dean is not the one you know, +say that the General will receive presently, ask them to wait, and +return immediately to me." +</P> + +<P> +Escorted by the sergeant, Rollo was taken to a room where four +officers, correctly dressed in British field-service uniform, were +seated. One glance was sufficient. None of them bore any resemblance +to the Major Duncan-Dean whom the lad knew well. There was only one +major of that name in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, and he was +a fairly frequent visitor at Colonel Barrington's house, especially +during the shooting season. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo delivered the commandant's message in English, explaining that he +was British but attached to the Belgian army, and that he was a son of +Colonel Barrington of Holmfrith, near Truro. +</P> + +<P> +There was no sign of recognition on the part of the supposed Major +Duncan-Dean; instead, an awkward silence prevailed. None of the four +officers seemed at all anxious to reply. They all looked disappointed +and embarrassed. +</P> + +<P> +"Our message is of great importance and for only the ears of General +Leman," said one of them at last. "We will not trouble the commandant +except to give us permits to enter Fort Loncin and to telephone to the +General that we are about to arrive." +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a hand grasped Rollo's shoulder in a vice-like grip, and the +muzzle of a revolver was clapped against his temple. +</P> + +<P> +"One sound and you are dead!" exclaimed a stern voice. +</P> + +<P> +The lad was already convinced that the so-called British army officers +were Germans in disguise. Not only was he sure that the pseudo Major +Duncan-Dean was an impostor; the peculiar phraseology of the man who +had replied to the commandant's message confirmed his conclusions. To +crown everything, there was the conviction carried by the muzzle of +that revolver. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo spent a nasty minute. His mind was working furiously, weighing +up the factors of the situation. To raise the alarm meant death to +himself; to fail to do so might result in the cold-blooded massacre of +Commandant Fleurus and several of the staff; while, with the +head-quarters telephone at their disposal, the four Germans might play +havoc with the plans of the Belgian Commander-in-Chief. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans were talking rapidly in a low tone. The one who held Rollo +prisoner still kept the revolver against the lad's temple; the rest had +each drawn an automatic pistol, and were evidently about to force their +way into the presence of the commandant. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll wait till those fellows go out into the corridor," thought the +lad, "then I'll try the effect of a sudden blow in this gentleman's +wind. It may do the trick; if not, my number's up. Anyway, it's +better than being snuffed out without making an attempt to fight for +it." +</P> + +<P> +Although he kept as quiet as he possibly could, Rollo could feel his +heart thumping violently, while his temples throbbed until the muzzle +of the German's revolver seemed to be beating a tattoo. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep steady!" hissed his captor. "This pistol has hair-trigger. +Might go off if you shake." +</P> + +<P> +It was on the tip of Rollo's tongue to reply that he was not shaking by +reason of fear; but realizing that such a statement might put the +German additionally upon his guard, the lad kept silent. +</P> + +<P> +Presently one of the conspirators replaced his revolver, and with his +free hand grasped the handle of the door. The other two stood behind, +ready to sally forth on their murderous and treacherous work. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo mentally pulled himself together. Another ten or twenty seconds +would decide the fate of his plan—and of himself. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the subdued daylight of the room was pierced by a dozen +simultaneous flashes. The rattle of musketry sounded like the +discharge of a twenty-one-inch howitzer. The place was filled with the +haze of smokeless powder. +</P> + +<P> +Instinctively the lad ducked. There was a tremendous crash above his +head. A thousand lights danced before his eyes, and he lost +consciousness. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Midnight Retirement +</H3> + +<P> +When Rollo opened his eyes he found himself lying in the open air. He +was in one of the courtyards of the Palace of Justice. The thunder of +the bombardment still roared. The noise of the guns recalled his +scattered thoughts to the event that had almost cost him his life. +</P> + +<P> +A Belgian army doctor was kneeling by his side, while Kenneth supported +his head. Around him stood a number of soldiers, some of whom had +paused in the act of cleaning their rifles in order to watch their +English comrade's return to consciousness. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Kenneth!" exclaimed Rollo, somewhat vacantly. "What has +happened? Ah, I know—those Germans!" +</P> + +<P> +"They won't trouble us again, old man," replied Kenneth. "You're in +luck again. It was your suspicions that put the commandant on his +guard. But I'll tell you more about it later on." +</P> + +<P> +"You must not unduly excite your friend," cautioned the doctor. "He +has no bodily injury, but his nerves are stricken. He must rest until +to-morrow. I will have him taken into a safe cellar, where he need +fear nothing from those German shells." +</P> + +<P> +"Won't you come with me, Kenneth?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry, old man, but I'm warned for duty at five o'clock—seventeen +hours, they call it. All being well, I'll look you up in the morning." +</P> + +<P> +"See that my bike is all right." +</P> + +<P> +"Rather!" replied Kenneth cheerily. "Don't worry about it. I'll look +after it." +</P> + +<P> +Later on in the evening Rollo heard of the circumstances under which +the supposed British officers were shot down. +</P> + +<P> +The room in which they had been asked to wait was, years ago, used as a +place of observation for prisoners awaiting trial. The carved oak +panelling terminated about six inches from the heavily-raftered +ceiling. At one end was a space between two parallel massive beams, +through which, from a gallery without, it was possible to observe all +that was taking place, although the watchers were themselves unseen. +</P> + +<P> +Upon his attention being called to the error on the pseudo British +major's visiting-card, the commandant's suspicions were aroused. As +soon as Rollo was dispatched with his message, a file of skilled +riflemen ascended the observation gallery. Noiselessly they took up +their positions, and having witnessed the holding up of their British +comrade, they delivered a volley that instantly exterminated the +treacherous Germans. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo had, indeed, a narrow escape, for his captor in falling had +convulsively pressed the trigger of his revolver. The bullet missed +the lad's head by a couple of inches, but the blast from the muzzle had +scorched his temple. +</P> + +<P> +Barrington was in the midst of a deep slumber, in spite of the thunder +of the guns, when he was awakened by someone shaking him by the +shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up?" he asked sleepily, for at the moment he fancied himself +back at St. Cyprian's. By the feeble glimmer of a candle-lantern he +saw his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry to disturb you, old man," said Kenneth apologetically, "but if +you don't want to find yourself a prisoner in the hands of the Germans +you must make a move. The bulk of the Belgian infantry is evacuating +the town. The mayor is going to surrender Liége at noon, I believe." +</P> + +<P> +"The forts haven't fallen?" asked Rollo, springing out of bed, only to +discover how shaky he felt. +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it," replied Kenneth confidently. "They'll hold out for +months, I expect. No, it is only on account of the damage to the +public buildings and private property that Liége is to be given up. I +don't think it will be of much use to the Germans. They'll have +considerable difficulty to pass between the forts. They say the +Germans have had another nasty reverse, and that they asked for an +armistice in order to bury their dead. Our fellows have refused; they +are beginning to sum up the cultured Teuton at his true price. But how +do you feel?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty fit, though a bit rocky," admitted Rollo. "Where are the +bikes?" +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to wheel them. I've taken off the belts. Orders have been +given for the troops intended for the field to withdraw as quietly as +possible, you know. Come along." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo had now thrown on his clothes, his chum assisting him to buckle +on the belt to which was attached his revolver holster. Together they +left the vaulted cellar and gained the street. It was a perfectly dark +night. The stars were obscured, the air was misty and hot. Away to +the north, south, and east the sky was illuminated by the +lightning-like glare of the heavy guns as the forts exchanged a hot +fire with the German field artillery. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you manage it?" asked Kenneth anxiously, as Rollo wheeled his +deliberately crippled motor into the street. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather," replied his companion with forced determination. "I'm not +keen on leaving my jigger for a rascally Prussian to smash. I'm jolly +glad we are still attached to the 9th Regiment of the Line. We may see +more of Major Résimont. He's quite a decent sort." +</P> + +<P> +"And Captain Planchenoît is a brick," added Kenneth. "I've been +talking to some of the men in his company. They swear by him; but he's +awfully keen on discipline, they say, and gets plenty of work out of +his men." +</P> + +<P> +The dispatch-riders found the regiment drawn up in column of fours in a +narrow street behind the Church of St. Jacques. In this dense +formation the men would have suffered severely had a shell fallen in +their ranks; but owing to the fact that the Germans were hoping to take +early possession of the city, their gunners no longer dropped +projectiles into Liége, devoting their attention to the stubborn forts +that had already thrown the imperial time-table into confusion. +</P> + +<P> +Although the Belgian troops were no longer elated, they were far from +being downcast. They realized that strategic reasons necessitated the +evacuation of the city. They hoped that the forts could hold out. +Already they had proved themselves equal man for man to the vaunted +soldiers of the Kaiser. Their object was now to contest every yard of +the way to Brussels, their determination being strengthened by the +widespread belief that the pick of the English army would speedily be +fighting by their side. +</P> + +<P> +Several of the men of the 9th Regiment bore evidences of the hard part +they had taken in the repulse of the initial German attacks. Many had +bandages round their heads; others had their hands swathed in linen, +while a few limped badly; yet one and all showed resolute courage that +augured ill for any Prussian regiment which should happen to cross +steel with the valiant defenders of the cockpit of Europe. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the Colonel gave an order. The men unfixed bayonets and +sloped arms. In the centre of the column the lads could see the cased +colours round which a fierce struggle had taken place during the +preceding day. Then, at the word of command, the regiment swung +briskly along the narrow street. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo found themselves with two other dispatch-riders at +the rear of the column. The other motor-cyclists had gone on a journey +that knows no return. There was also a detachment of twenty cyclists +belonging to the regiment, but most of these silent scouts were far +afield, making certain that the line of retreat was in no danger of +being ambushed by the wily Uhlans. +</P> + +<P> +The route lay between Forts de Hollogne and de Flémalle, through +tortuous by-lanes. Over and over again the column was obliged to halt +owing to the congestion of the roads, for twenty thousand Belgian +troops—field artillery, cavalry, and infantry—were evacuating the +doomed city that night. +</P> + +<P> +Before they were clear of the environs of Liége, Rollo began to feel +the effects of his adventure with the German officers. The sweat +poured from him as he gamely pushed his unwieldy motor-cycle. +Anxiously Kenneth watched him, unable to give assistance save by a few +words of encouragement. Every time there was a halt Rollo leant across +the saddle, welcoming the rest, yet dreading the exertion required to +resume the tortuous march. To lag behind was to risk capture, for +small parties of Uhlans were known to have penetrated into the villages +of Hollogne and Montegnée, which lay between the as yet unconquered +forts and the city of Liége; otherwise he would have fallen out, waited +till dawn, and then cycled to overtake the regiment. +</P> + +<P> +During one of these short, unavoidable, halts a voice came through the +darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"Monsieur Everest—is Monsieur Everest there?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here I am, sir," replied Kenneth, recognizing the voice as that of +Captain Planchenoît. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, good! I wish to enquire after your English comrade." +</P> + +<P> +"He is here, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, again good! I thought he would be unfit to move." +</P> + +<P> +"He's not very much up to the mark, sir." +</P> + +<P> +The captain flashed an electric torch upon the motor-cyclists. +</P> + +<P> +"Ciel! you are indeed right, Monsieur Everest. I will see to matters. +Private Roulaix," he added, addressing a Belgian who was walking his +"push-bike", "place your bicycle in the first wagon that passes. Say +that I, Captain Planchenoît, orders it. Then relieve your English +comrade of his motor-cycle. Monsieur Barrington, as soon as Private +Roulaix returns I will take you to one of the wagons. You are not, at +present, fit to walk, still less to push that motor-cycle." +</P> + +<P> +For the rest of that night Kenneth was without the company of his chum. +As the grey dawn began to break, he too felt that he was nearly done +up, but still the steady retreat continued. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until six o'clock in the morning that the 9th Regiment of +the Line was ordered to bivouac outside the village of Omal. Here +trenches were dug, barbed-wire entanglements set up, barns and cottages +loopholed and placed in a state of defence in order to keep in check +the German hordes until the expected aid was forthcoming. +</P> + +<P> +For the next twenty-four hours the 9th Regiment was inactive, as far as +actual fighting was concerned. With the rest of the mobile Belgian +forces, the men were enjoying a well-earned respite and improving their +position. +</P> + +<P> +Although Rollo still remained off duty, Kenneth, with the rest of the +motor dispatch-riders, had plenty to do. Frequently the lad had to +ride off at full speed to carry orders to bands of armed civilians to +cease firing upon Belgian airmen; for these plucky air-scouts were so +harried by the fire of their undisciplined fellow-countrymen that it is +not to be wondered at that after a time they declined to fly at all. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth had just returned from one of these errands when the Colonel of +the regiment sent for him. +</P> + +<P> +"You know the way to Tongres?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," replied the lad promptly, for although he had never been +there, a close study of the map had enabled him to fix its position in +his mind. +</P> + +<P> +"Then bear a verbal message to General Féchard. Say that in view of an +impending strong attack upon our position reinforcements are urgently +requested to hold the village of Omal. Mitrailleuses are particularly +desirable. Is that clear? Then repeat the message." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth did so satisfactorily. The Colonel nodded approval. +</P> + +<P> +"Now go," said he. "As quickly as you can, for the situation is +critical." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Uhlan Patrol +</H3> + +<P> +Rollo was standing by his chum's motor-cycle when Kenneth left the +Colonel's quarters—a cottage standing well apart from the rest of the +village. +</P> + +<P> +"Thought you'd be off somewhere when the Colonel sent for you, old +man," he said. "Well, I could go with you, but I feel absolutely +rotten. Look here," and Barrington opened his coat and displayed the +tops of two soda-water bottles, "I managed to get hold of these. Take +one." +</P> + +<P> +"No, thanks," replied Kenneth. "You want them a jolly sight more than +I do." +</P> + +<P> +"But you must," persisted Rollo. "It's fearfully hot to-day. Besides, +I think I can get hold of some more." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," agreed his chum reluctantly, and taking one of the bottles +he placed it in the outside breast-pocket of his coat, resolving to +restore it intact upon his return. +</P> + +<P> +The request of the Colonel of the 9th Regiment was most essential. To +the north of Omal was a gap of nearly two miles in the Belgian line, as +a portion of one of the brigades had failed to take up its allotted +position. Omal was a salient angle in the defenders' formation, and +should the village be carried by the Germans the Belgian army would be +split asunder by the wedge-like advance of their far more numerous foes. +</P> + +<P> +Although the country was fairly open Kenneth rode cautiously. It was a +nerve-racking ordeal, since every bush or tree might be affording +concealment to the Uhlans, who were known to have already penetrated +far into the country. Almost as dangerous were the Belgian guerrillas, +who often fired indiscriminately upon any man in a uniform that they +failed to recognize. +</P> + +<P> +But beyond being twice stopped by Belgian patrols and made to produce +his military pass, Kenneth reached his destination without being +molested. He delivered his message, receiving a reply that a +machine-gun detachment would be sent off as quickly as possible, and +set off on his return journey. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps the fact that he had but recently passed along the same road +without difficulty made him slightly reckless. He increased his speed +till the motor-cycle was travelling at nearly forty miles an hour. +</P> + +<P> +Soon he came to a straight, narrow road lined with gaunt trees—one of +the avenues that are a common feature in the eastern part of Belgium. +Suddenly he gave a gasp of surprise. A horseman had just appeared at +the farthermost end of the avenue. At first the lad took him to be one +of the Belgian lancers, whose similarity to the German Uhlans was +somewhat pronounced, but a rapidly nearing view assured him that the +man was one of the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Another Uhlan joined the first. They both lowered their lances and +waited. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth slipped out his clutch and applied both brakes. The +motor-cycle came quickly to a stop, the engine running furiously, while +the open "cut-out" emitted a rapid succession of sharp reports like the +detonations of a Maxim-gun. +</P> + +<P> +There was yet time to turn his cycle, remount, and escape by the way he +had come, he reasoned; but, even as he was in the act of facing about, +he made the additionally disconcerting discovery that his retreat was +cut off. Five or six Uhlans had evidently been in ambush, and, having +allowed the solitary dispatch-rider to pass them, were waiting to +assist in his capture. The ditch and the trees formed an impassable +barrier for the heavy motor-cycle; while without it flight was almost +out of the question, when it was the case of a man on foot pursued by +the fleet Uhlan horses. +</P> + +<P> +For one brief instant the thought of surrendering tamely flashed +through the lad's mind. He bore no written dispatch; his capture would +result in no important information being gained by the enemy. It +seemed the easiest solution to the problem. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm dashed if I do," ejaculated Kenneth, banishing the temptation +almost as soon as it suggested itself. "Here goes; it's neck or +nothing." +</P> + +<P> +He was back in the saddle in double-quick time. With the clutch in and +the engine barking furiously he tore towards the two Uhlans, who were +sitting on their horses at a distance of about fifty yards from each +other. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth drew his revolver. With his right hand thus occupied, throttle +and air lever had to take care of themselves. At thirty miles an hour +he tore towards the nearmost of his antagonists. +</P> + +<P> +The Uhlan lowered his lance-point. He was trembling to such an extent +that the glittering point was describing erratic curves in the +sunlight. His resolution had vanished at the sight of the +rapidly-approaching motor-cycle. His horse began to rear, alarmed by +the loud and rapid pulsations of the engine. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth's hopes rose. He saw the possibility of being able to slip +past the plunging, terrified animal, and in order to improve his +chances he let fly a couple of shots, both of which missed their mark. +</P> + +<P> +No longer was the long lance a menace. The Uhlan's whole efforts were +centred in trying to keep his seat, while the now maddened animal +snorted and plunged in a most frantic manner. +</P> + +<P> +Still grasping his revolver, although he made no further attempt to use +it, the young dispatch-rider placed his wrist upon the right +handle-grip in order to steady the steering. He shut his jaw tightly. +The critical moment was nigh. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the horse backed, barring the narrow path to safety. Kenneth +saw in the fraction of a second that a collision was inevitable. He +had a momentary glimpse of the Uhlan's panic-stricken face, his staring +eyes and wide-open mouth—then crash! +</P> + +<A NAME="img-080"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-080.jpg" ALT="KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... THEN CRASH!" BORDER="2"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center"> +KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... THEN CRASH! +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Hardly knowing whether he was injured or not, Kenneth scrambled to his +feet. His motor-cycle was on its side within a yard of the prostrate +and still kicking horse. His revolver had vanished. In his fall it +had flown from his grasp into the ditch. The Uhlan lay upon the ground +motionless—whether killed or merely stunned the lad knew not; nor had +he an opportunity to ascertain, for in front of him was another German, +and four hundred yards behind him the five or six who had cut off his +retreat. +</P> + +<P> +The man in front had succeeded in regaining control over his less +startled horse and, lance in rest, bore down upon the defenceless +motor-cyclist. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly knowing how he did it, Kenneth cleared the ditch and sought a +temporary refuge behind a tree. He realized that the respite would be +but a brief one, for on the approach of the rest of the patrol his +"number would be up". Infuriated by the mishap to their comrade, the +savage Uhlans, whose chief mission it was to strike terror into the +inhabitants of a conquered district, would not be likely to give +quarter. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Kenneth's hand came in contact with the soda-water bottle that +Rollo had pressed upon him. He drew it from his pocket, and as the +Uhlan rode up to the edge of the ditch he dashed it to the ground at +the feet of the restless horse. +</P> + +<P> +The result exceeded the lad's wildest expectations, for the bottle +broke with a report almost equal to that of a small shell. Fragments +of glass flew in all directions. The horse reared, maddened by the +slight wounds caused by the sharp pieces of the broken bottle. Its +rider, quite as terrified, formed but one conclusion, that the +desperate Belgian (as he took Kenneth to be) was armed with bombs. +Spurring his horse he rode for dear life towards his comrades, who, +rendered cautious at the sight of two of their number being worsted, +hesitated to advance. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth, too, was on the horns of a dilemma. To all appearances his +cycle was hopelessly damaged, and although the road was clear he stood +little chance of escaping from the rest of the Uhlans. To remain where +he was was equally hazardous. With his revolver in his possession he +would readily have made a brave stand, but the weapon was lying in five +feet of mud and water. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly came the tap, tap, tap of a machine-gun. The rest of the +Uhlan patrol broke and fled across the fields, leaving two of their +number writhing on the ground. Another had his horse shot under him, +but, quite callous to their comrades' fate, the three remaining +fugitives never slackened rein, their sole thoughts being for their own +safety. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth recrossed the ditch—far less agilely than he had a few moments +before, for his thigh was aching dully. He could see no signs of his +rescuers. The fire had evidently been a long-range one. +</P> + +<P> +He made his way to his motor-cycle. With considerable effort he raised +it and placed it on its stand. Upon examination he found that the +damage done was not so great as he fully expected. The actual +collision had smashed the lamp and bent the stem of the handle-bars, +but, thanks to the powerful springs, the front forks had stood the +severe strain of the impact. The controls were intact, while the only +other damage was that the left foot-rest was bent. In falling sideways +the weight of the cycle had been thrown upon this exposed part, which +had, to a great extent, saved the machine. +</P> + +<P> +At the second attempt the motor fired. The hind wheel revolved without +showing any signs of wobbling. The lad gave a whoop of delight; his +precious mount was still serviceable. +</P> + +<P> +He next directed his attention towards the Uhlan whom, in naval +parlance, he had "rammed". The fellow had been stunned by the fall +from his horse, but was on the point of regaining consciousness. +</P> + +<P> +"You look a tough customer, my friend," soliloquized the lad as he +looked upon the coarse, brutal features of his vanquished assailant. +"I think you will be quite capable of looking after yourself, without +requiring any attention from me. I'll take your helmet as a souvenir, +though; and, while I am about it, I think I'll stop you from doing +further mischief." +</P> + +<P> +With this Kenneth removed the Uhlan's sword, lance, and carbine. The +lance, being made of light steel, he broke into three pieces; the other +weapons and the German's ammunition he threw into the ditch to keep +company with his own revolver. +</P> + +<P> +While thus engaged the motor-cyclist perceived the approach of a body +of men accompanied by dogs. They were the Belgian machine-gun battery +whose fire had effectually routed the Uhlan patrol. +</P> + +<P> +"They'll be at Omal before me," thought Kenneth. "I suppose it would +be best to stop and explain matters; for if I made off they might take +it into their heads to pot me." +</P> + +<P> +"So you have settled with one of this scum," exclaimed the Belgian +major in charge of the detachment as he returned Kenneth's salute. "Ma +foi! I am of a mind to shoot him." +</P> + +<P> +"But he is a prisoner of war," expostulated the lad. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian shrugged his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"You have but to go to that burning cottage"—he pointed to a building +about a mile and a half away—"to see what these wretches have been +doing. A whole family of inoffensive peasants shot—men, women, and +children. Yes, children," he added, noting the incredulous look on the +British lad's face. +</P> + +<P> +"However, we Belgians must set an example to those savages," continued +the officer. "We will at least take him with us, and put him on a fair +trial. But you are unarmed: how did you vanquish this fellow?" +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth told him. The Belgian major and those of his men who were +within ear-shot simply roared with laughter. +</P> + +<P> +"Charged his horse with your motor-cycle, and frightened away another +Uhlan with a soda-water bottle!" exclaimed the officer when he +recovered himself. "Excellent! It shows that these Germans are not a +quarter as formidable as they would have us believe. Were you hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Only bruised a little, sir. But, with your permission, I will go, or +your men will be with my regiment before I am." +</P> + +<P> +The lad ran his cycle and vaulted into the saddle. The motor ran as +well as before, and, beyond a slight difficulty in the steering, it was +none the worse for its rough handling. The damage to the lamp mattered +but little, as, by night, riding lights were forbidden, since they +might betray the rider to the enemy. +</P> + +<P> +Having reported the success of his mission and the approach of the +dog-drawn machine-gun detachment, Kenneth went to find his chum. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo was sitting, in company with others of the dispatch-rider +section, in a shelter made of branches of trees and rough thatch. +</P> + +<P> +"Hullo, old man!" he exclaimed. "What have you there—a Uhlan helmet? +And what's the matter with your bike?" +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth explained, and afterwards had to repeat his story in French for +the benefit of the others. +</P> + +<P> +"I will help you to straighten the handle-bars," volunteered one of the +Belgian cyclists, who was a motor-repairer by trade. "Meanwhile, if +you are desirous of sending that helmet to your friends in England, you +will do well to pack it up at once. There is a dispatch leaving for +Brussels within half an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder what the governor will say to this," observed Kenneth as he +directed the bulky package. "My first trophy! Goodness only knows +when we shall hear from home." +</P> + +<P> +The lads had already written to their respective parents informing them +of the drastic step they had taken, but, owing to the dislocation of +the postal service, no reply had been forthcoming, and they had hardly +expected one. +</P> + +<P> +It took two hours' hard work in the blazing sunshine for Kenneth and +his Belgian friend to set the motorcycle to rights. +</P> + +<P> +"If I hadn't been so inconsiderate as to throw that bottle of +soda-water away we might have had a decent drink," observed Kenneth as +he fanned his perspiring brow. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," rejoined Rollo. "You might have drunk it as soon as I +gave you the bottle; in which case I don't suppose you would have felt +the benefit of it now." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't suppose I would," agreed Kenneth grimly. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Raid on Tongres +</H3> + +<P> +During the next few days events moved rapidly, the Belgians having to +retire before vastly superior forces in point of numbers. +</P> + +<P> +It so happened that on the Sunday, the 9th of August, Kenneth and Rollo +were sent to Tongres with a message to the burgomaster, giving him +instructions as to the removal of the town treasury to a place of +greater safety. +</P> + +<P> +The place had little appearance of being in the war area when the two +lads rode into it. The Belgian troops had evacuated it on the previous +day, and since there were no signs of the invaders, the remaining +inhabitants were almost at their ease. Many of them, dressed in their +best, were on their way to church. +</P> + +<P> +Alighting outside the town hall, the two dispatch-riders enquired for +the chief magistrate, only to be informed that he was in another part +of the town on official business, but was expected back within an hour. +</P> + +<P> +"Is there no way of sending for him?" asked Rollo of the member of the +Civil Guard who had answered their summons. +</P> + +<P> +The man shook his head doubtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"It is just possible," he replied. "I will see my sergeant, and he +will doubtless give the necessary orders. Meanwhile messieurs might +like to rest at the inn? Immediately upon the burgomaster's return I +will see that you are informed." +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bad idea that," was Kenneth's comment. "We'll put up the bikes +and order a decent meal. Roughing it on active service is all very +fine, but there are times when one likes to have a slightly more +civilized table than that of mother earth. I wonder if we could get a +bath?" +</P> + +<P> +Everest's hopes were not to be realized, for, with many apologies, the +landlord informed the British lads that he had nothing in the way of +<I>déjeuner</I>. Bacon and eggs? No; he was without either. He might see +if his friend, Monsieur Jambonne, could oblige; but, in the meanwhile, +would messieurs care to sit in the <I>salle à manger</I>? <I>Café au lait</I>? +Yes; that would be ready in a few minutes. +</P> + +<P> +Selecting two comfortable chairs in front of the wide-open window, the +chums awaited the return of the burgomaster. There was plenty to be +seen, for the townsfolk were still streaming along the broad +thoroughfare, discoursing mainly upon the all-absorbing topic of the +war. +</P> + +<P> +All at once the people stopped. Some of them turned and fled; others +backed against the walls of the houses, or else took refuge in the +hastily-opened doors. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up now, I wonder?" asked Rollo, leaning out of the window only +to retire hastily. +</P> + +<P> +Trotting along the road was a squadron of German cavalry. The enemy +had made a totally unexpected raid upon the town of Tongres. +</P> + +<P> +"It won't do for us to be seen," exclaimed Kenneth, "especially in +uniform. And those fellows are particularly certain to make a bee-line +for the various inns as soon as they break ranks. Let's clear out." +</P> + +<P> +Just then up ran the landlord, who had taken the precaution of closing +and barring his doors, an example which many of his neighbours hastened +to follow. +</P> + +<P> +"Do not remain here, messieurs, I implore you," he began in rapid +sentences punctuated with excited gestures. "If the Bosches find men +in uniform in my house they will be furious with me." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Kenneth reassuringly. "If we can get our cycles out +by the back way we'll clear off and give the alarm. Two regiments +ought to be sufficient to trap these fellows." +</P> + +<P> +"It is impossible to escape, messieurs. The Germans are holding all +the approaches to the town." +</P> + +<P> +"Then what do you suggest?" asked Rollo calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"The roof, monsieur; thence you can make your way along by the parapets +of many houses, till you reach the roof of the <I>chapelle</I>. There you +ought to be safe, unless these rascals take it into their heads to burn +the town." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; show us the way," agreed Rollo. "Only see if you can +manage to hide our motor-cycles." +</P> + +<P> +Having shown the lads the exit on to the roof, their host left them to +their own devices. It was a comparatively easy matter to creep along +the gutters, for they were hidden from observation by the parapets of +the various adjacent buildings. The only difficult part of the journey +was crossing the gap between the end house and the roof of the +<I>chapelle</I>—a distance of about five feet in width. Sixty feet below +there was a narrow alley, through which several terrified townsfolk +were hurrying, all too intent to gaze skywards as the lads made their +daring leap. +</P> + +<P> +"Now we're safe for the present," exclaimed Kenneth. "We can even look +over the parapet and see what's going on." +</P> + +<P> +"Right-o! only take your cap off. It might attract attention," +cautioned Rollo. "If we keep close to this pinnacle it ought to be as +safe as anything, unless some fool of a civilian starts taking +pot-shots at those fellows." +</P> + +<P> +From their lofty refuge the lads were enabled to observe the methods +adopted by the Germans in "holding-up" the town. With the cavalry were +four armoured motor-cars in which were mounted quick-firing guns. +These were stationed in the square so as to command the principal +approaches. Meanwhile most of the horsemen had dismounted, and had set +off on various prearranged missions. Some proceeded to the +post-office, where they destroyed the telephone and telegraph +instruments and, as was afterwards ascertained, seized the sum of +10,000 francs from the safe. Others tore up the railway lines at the +junction, thus interrupting communications with both Hasselt and St. +Trond. This work of destruction they took care to achieve without the +use of explosives, in order to avoid giving the alarm to the nearest +Belgian troops. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the lads saw a dignified man, whom they rightly concluded was +the burgomaster, being led to the town hall. Outside the building +floated the Belgian tricolour, and this his captors ordered him to haul +down. He refused; they threatened, but their threats failed to move +the stanch patriot. In the end, one of the Germans had to perform the +task; but the invaders made a counter-stroke by compelling the +burgomaster to hand over the keys of the town treasury. +</P> + +<P> +This done, the Germans ordered a meal to be provided, and this they +paid for out of the money they had taken from the authorities. Then, +having loaded their booty on a couple of commandeered wagons, they +prepared to evacuate the town. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, up to the present those fellows haven't done anything that any +combatant force wouldn't do," declared Rollo. "I suppose it is because +the townsfolk kept their heads and didn't start firing at them from the +houses." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; but they're off. See, their vedettes are returning. I say, the +coast is clear; let's make a dash for it." +</P> + +<P> +"Easier said than done, old man," objected Rollo. "Jumping across a +five-foot gap is fairly easy when the landing-place is lower than the +kick-off spot. Returning is quite another matter." +</P> + +<P> +"There must be some way down from these leads," persisted Kenneth. +"Let's have a look round." +</P> + +<P> +Investigation showed that there was a means of communication between +the roof and the interior of the <I>chapelle</I> by a small door in one of +the angle-turrets. The disconcerting part of the discovery lay in the +fact that the door was heavily bolted on the inside. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not try climbing down by means of the lightning-conductor?" +suggested Kenneth. "It's bound to be fairly strong, and we have our +motor-gloves to protect our hands." +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, I'd rather try the jump," declared his companion. "But I'd +much rather try an easier method." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll tackle it, and then I can get into this building, ascend the +turret, and let you out." +</P> + +<P> +"No you don't," objected Rollo firmly. "If we cannot find a better +way, here we stop till the Germans are gone, and then we can shout for +assistance." +</P> + +<P> +But the restless Kenneth was far from remaining inactive. He continued +his investigations on the sides of the edifice away from the view of +the invaders. +</P> + +<P> +"I have it!" he exclaimed. "See that spout? It runs close to that +open window, you'll notice. If you can give me a hand I can lower +myself sufficiently to clear the bulging top of the spout, and the rest +will be easy." +</P> + +<P> +The scheme looked feasible, and Rollo made no further objection. It +was risky, of course, but with ordinary caution Kenneth could reach the +window after he had descended about ten feet of piping—which was +infinitely better than climbing down sixty feet or so of copper tape. +</P> + +<P> +Having secured a firm hold upon the spouting, Kenneth began to descend +hand-over-hand fashion, although he took care to let his weight act as +perpendicularly as possible, lest any outward thrust with his feet +might wrench the securing nails of the pipe from the cement. +</P> + +<P> +Without mishap he descended until he was almost on a level with the +open window, the iron casement frame of which swung outward. Then, to +his consternation, Kenneth found that he had miscalculated the +distance, and that the upper edge of the casement was six inches beyond +his reach. At the same moment he became aware of the effect of his +collision with the Uhlan. His limbs began to feel stiff and cramped. +</P> + +<P> +Frantically he began to clamber back to the parapet, but the effort was +too great. With a sickening shudder he felt the pipe working loose +from the wall. For the first time in his attempt he gave a downward +glance that wellnigh proved fatal. The pavement, fifty feet below, +exercised a horrible fascination. +</P> + +<P> +"What's wrong?" enquired Rollo anxiously, for he could see by his +chum's ashen-grey face that something was amiss. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't reach the window," gasped Kenneth. "I believe I've strained a +muscle, too. I must have a shot at climbing all the way down." +</P> + +<P> +"Hold hard a moment," exclaimed Rollo. "I'll half-close the window and +you might reach it." +</P> + +<P> +"Be quick, then," gasped his unfortunate comrade. "I can't hold on +much longer." +</P> + +<P> +At that moment he failed to see how Rollo could reach the casement, +although his chum's confident assertion cheered him. He knew by +experience that Rollo rarely suggested a plan without being able to +carry it through. +</P> + +<P> +Already Rollo was at work. Producing a length of stout string from his +pocket, he removed his boot. +</P> + +<P> +To this he attached the string, which was about four yards in length. +Leaning over the parapet he lowered his boot until it dangled an inch +or so before the iron rod that held the window open. A rapid upward +jerk and the casement was free to swing; a little skilful manoeuvring +and the weighted string drew the hitherto unattainable window frame +within Kenneth's reach. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps the climber was over-anxious, and in consequence neglected to +observe the precautions he had hitherto taken, but as he swung off from +the pipe he gave a heavy jerk. With a loud crash about ten feet of the +spouting fell into the narrow lane. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately the casement held, and white and well-nigh breathless, +Kenneth slipped through the open window just as three or four Germans, +alarmed by the clatter, rushed up to ascertain the cause of the uproar. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady!" cautioned Rollo as his chum opened the door of the turret. +"There are some Germans on the prowl. They seem a bit suspicious owing +to that iron-work falling." +</P> + +<P> +"They didn't spot you?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, I took good care of that." +</P> + +<P> +"Then we'll descend. This building is full of people; they think they +are safe, being in a place of worship. Poor creatures! they don't know +the Germans." +</P> + +<P> +"But the Germans haven't molested them." +</P> + +<P> +"There is no saying that they won't. Fortunately the people haven't +tried to shoot any of their unwelcome visitors. Come, we'll descend." +</P> + +<P> +As Kenneth had announced, the <I>chapelle</I> was packed with terrified +townsfolk. Unnoticed, the lads made their way behind the altar, and +gained the vestry. Here a small door communicated with the alley. The +Germans, having discovered what had created the commotion, were +content; they had not troubled to find out the cause but had rejoined +their comrades in the market-place. The last of the pickets were +already back, and the raiders were on the point of retiring. +</P> + +<P> +Gaining the courtyard of the inn, the lads made sure that the German +cavalrymen had, no doubt reluctantly, ceased to pester the troubled +host with their attentions. +</P> + +<P> +"Your motor-cycles are safe, messieurs," announced the innkeeper. +"Ciel! Once those Bosches get wedded to the bottle——" and he threw +up his hands and raised his eyebrows with a gesture of utter dismay. +</P> + +<P> +Refusing any payment for his services, and charging only for the +coffee, the landlord escorted the two British dispatch-riders to yet +another door, opening into a deserted street. +</P> + +<P> +"Take the third turning to the right, messieurs," he directed; "it will +bring you on the high road. Yet I accept no responsibility; so take +care. The Uhlans—le diable les importe!—may be prowling about." +</P> + +<P> +Having walked their cycles till they felt fairly certain that the noise +of the engines would not reach the ears of the German raiders, the +dispatch-riders set off at a furious pace towards the position occupied +by their regiment. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Kenneth raised his hand, at the same time stopping his motor. +Rollo likewise dismounted. +</P> + +<P> +"Uhlans!" whispered Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +A mile or so ahead were hundreds of cavalry, the men standing easy, +while the horses were picketed in lines. Apparently the enemy had +thrown a strong wedge far into the position held a few hours previously +by Belgian troops. +</P> + +<P> +"If those fellows are acting as supports to the crowd that entered +Tongres, we are nicely trapped, by Jove!" remarked Kenneth. "The best +thing we can do is to risk cutting across the fields, although, +frankly, I don't relish the idea of making towards that wooded +district. It is too jolly favourable for an ambush." +</P> + +<P> +"Half a minute," rejoined Rollo, unstrapping the case of his +binoculars. "Let's make sure. Kenneth, old man, it's all right. +These chaps are Belgian lancers." +</P> + +<P> +In his excitement Kenneth almost snatched the glasses from his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"You're right!" he exclaimed joyously, after a hasty view. "Let's push +on and tell them the position of affairs. They might be able to get a +little of their own back." +</P> + +<P> +Three minutes later the two dispatch-riders were making a brief yet +concise report to the Colonel commanding the Belgian cavalry. As soon +as they had finished, a bugle call, equivalent to the British "boot and +saddle", rang out, and the lancers were soon cantering along the +highway, followed by a mounted machine-gun section. +</P> + +<P> +"We may as well see the fun, considering what we've done in the +matter," said Kenneth, to which proposal Rollo raised no objections. +Following at a discreet distance, they waited until the lancers halted; +then, leaving their cycles by the side of a haystack, they overtook the +Belgian troops. +</P> + +<P> +Thanks to his intimate knowledge of the locality, the Colonel made his +dispositions skilfully. At this spot the road from Tongres to Liége +entered a shallow defile through which the returning Germans were +practically certain to pass. At a distance of two hundred yards on +either side of the road were clumps of trees and patches of thick +undergrowth, affording admirable cover for a considerable number of +troops. +</P> + +<P> +The machine-gun detachment was split up, an equal number of +mitrailleuses, screened with torn-up undergrowth, being placed on the +rising ground on each side of the road, their line of fire sweeping the +approach to the defile. With the guns were posted strong bodies of +dismounted lancers, armed with carbines. In a steep dip in the road, +the hollow of which was invisible beyond a distance of a hundred yards, +shallow trenches, sufficient to wreck the armoured motor-cars, were +dug, the excavated earth being carefully removed so as not to betray +the presence of these obstructions. +</P> + +<P> +The bulk of the lancers, posted out of sight, were ready at the word of +command to swoop down upon the rear of the German column and complete +the work of destruction that the quick-firers and the rifles might +leave undone. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly were these preparations made when the Belgian vedettes reported +the approach of the raiders from Tongres, and that the column was +preceded by four men forming an advance-guard. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian Colonel gave vent to an exclamation of annoyance. He had +reckoned upon the Germans making use of their armoured motor-cars for +that purpose. Bagging these would be a material loss to the enemy, +whereas the capture of a few scouts would be of very little value, and +the main body would be warned. +</P> + +<P> +He immediately detached a dozen dismounted men, ordering them to lie in +ambush close to the road, and if possible to capture the scouts without +having recourse to the use of fire-arms. The men quickly took up their +positions in a ditch lined with tall grass, and so closely did they lie +concealed that they were invisible even to their comrades on the rising +ground behind them. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the German advance-guard entered the defile. They had dined +not wisely but too well, and, jubilant over the result of their +successful raid, were sadly lax in the exercise of their military +duties. Two of them had removed their helmets, which were dangling +from their saddles. All of them, almost overcome with wine and the +heat of the day, were drowsy. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the Belgian ambush sprang to their feet. The startled Germans +were confronted by a row of rifles, levelled from a distance that would +make a miss almost an impossibility. +</P> + +<P> +The lances fell from the nerveless hands of the astounded Teutons, and +with machine-like precision they raised their hands above their heads. +In quick time they were disarmed, secured, and led away to the rear of +the Belgian machine-guns. +</P> + +<P> +Barely was this done when two more troopers—the link between the +advance-guard and the main body—rode up, only to be captured and +secured as their predecessors had been. +</P> + +<P> +But, however lax the military discipline of the scouts, the commander +of the German troops was not to be caught napping so easily. Having +failed to receive a signal from the advance-guard that all was well, he +halted his men. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian Colonel shrugged his shoulders. His keen insight told him +that the enemy was suspicious; yet, knowing that the German officers +were equipped with powerful field-glasses, he dared not order two of +his men to give the supposed signal to advance. +</P> + +<P> +"At what range is the head of yonder column?" he asked, addressing the +captain in charge of the mitrailleuse section. +</P> + +<P> +"Five hundred and fifty metres, Monsieur le Major." +</P> + +<P> +Thinking it better to open fire upon the Germans, who were as yet in +close formation, rather than wait for them to extend and take cover, +the Belgian commander was about to give the necessary order when the +four armoured motor-cars were observed to dash forward. +</P> + +<P> +They advanced in pairs, ten yards separating the first two, with an +interval of about a hundred yards between the second and third. The +third and last were the same distance apart as were the first and +second. +</P> + +<P> +To give the Belgians their due, although they had good cause to think +that their position had been divulged, they maintained perfect +discipline and kept admirable cover. +</P> + +<P> +Into the silent defile tore the first pair of cars, the gunners +training their quick-firers in readiness to greet a possible but as yet +unseen foe. Down into the hollow plunged the first car. Its front +wheels dropped into the pitfall, and the next instant it toppled +completely over. The second car tried in vain to pull up. The driver +tugged at the steering-wheel; the heavy vehicle swerved, crashed into +the wreckage of the first, and instantly burst into flame. +</P> + +<P> +The remaining cars, their occupants alarmed by the crash, halted. The +road was too narrow to turn; to back at any rate of speed was +impossible. +</P> + +<P> +The valley now echoed and re-echoed to the rattle of the mitrailleuses +and the sharp crackle of musketry. The armoured cars were swept by a +hail of bullets that killed or wounded every member of their crew, +while the German horsemen were greeted with a devastating fire that +threw them into disorder. Some attempted to advance against the unseen +foe, others threw themselves from their horses and, taking cover, +replied with a feeble and futile rifle-fire. The majority turned and +fled in spite of the threats and efforts of the officers. +</P> + +<P> +Taking advantage of the confusion of their foes, the Belgian mounted +lancers were ordered to charge. In grand style they cleared the +intervening ground, and, although several saddles were emptied, rode +dashingly through the broken ranks of the invaders. In ten minutes +they were in possession of the field, with the bulk of the money +captured at Tongres. +</P> + +<P> +"Ha!" exclaimed Captain Planchenoît when, an hour later, the two +British dispatch-riders reported themselves. "What is the adventure +this time? Have you delivered the message to the Burgomaster of +Tongres?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," replied Kenneth. "We had no chance to do so. The Germans +have raided the town." +</P> + +<P> +"Peste!" exclaimed the Captain. "Have they burned the place? Did they +seize the treasury?" +</P> + +<P> +"They did little damage, sir. They took the money with them, but our +lancers ambushed them and recovered it." +</P> + +<P> +"Just like our intrepid cavalry," remarked the Captain complacently. +"Well, you may go, messieurs. I do not think you will be required any +more at present." +</P> + +<P> +But before the day was done both lads were required. An account of +their part in the successful counter-operations had been sent to the +Colonel of the 9th Regiment of the Line by the officer commanding the +Belgian lancers, and in front of their comrades Kenneth Everest and +Rollo Barrington were promoted to the rank of corporal. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Mail Escort +</H3> + +<P> +During the next few days the Belgian field army had no respite. Landen +was occupied by the Germans on the 10th of August, and strong cavalry +screens of the enemy advanced along the Dutch border to within a few +miles of the capital. Other large bodies of cavalry threatened the +Belgian right wing, and in consequence a retirement of the small yet +determined army was necessary. +</P> + +<P> +Two days later the Belgians gained a brilliant success at Haelen, where +the Germans, incautiously attempting to force a passage of the River +Gethe, were driven back in disorder and with great loss. +</P> + +<P> +Of this action Kenneth Everest and his companion saw nothing, having +been sent on duty to the Belgian capital. +</P> + +<P> +In Brussels the lads remained two days, having to await a reply to the +dispatch they had brought. During their brief periods of leisure they +hastened to call at the house of Major Résimont in the Rue de la +Tribune, but the place was in charge of servants. No news was to be +obtained of Mademoiselle Yvonne Résimont or of Kenneth's sister. +Beyond the unauthenticated report that the two girls had left the +school at Visé a few hours before the commencement of the German +bombardment, all traces of them were lost. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," suggested Rollo, "your sister went back to England and took +Yvonne with her. They say that numbers of refugees have passed through +Rotterdam on their way across the North Sea." +</P> + +<P> +"Possibly," agreed Kenneth. "In which case we are completely in the +dark until we are lucky enough to get letters from home." +</P> + +<P> +The inhabitants of Brussels were strangely calm. The fact that the +German invaders had gained a firm footing in their country did not +drive them into a panic. Possibly events of past history had taught +them to regard the overrunning of Belgium as a foregone conclusion when +the neighbouring Great Powers were at war. Above all, they continued +steadfastly to rely upon the prompt arrival of the British +Expeditionary Force, which, in conjunction with their own army and that +of the French nation, would quickly send the barbarous Teutons fleeing +for their lives across the Rhine. +</P> + +<P> +"Hark!" exclaimed Rollo. "The papers are out. Something important has +happened." +</P> + +<P> +The chums had retired early to bed in their modest lodgings of the Rue +Pontus, as they had been warned for duty at five on the following +morning. Their stock of money, although augmented by their scanty army +pay, was visibly dwindling; but after more than a week in bivouacs they +were grateful to sleep under a roof, undisturbed by the +nerve-shattering roar of hostile guns. +</P> + +<P> +"It can wait till to-morrow," said Kenneth with a prodigious yawn. "I +feel too jolly tired——" +</P> + +<P> +The next moment he was out of bed and making for the window, for above +the cheering on the Grands Boulevards came the oft-repeated cries of: +"The English Army in Belgium". +</P> + +<P> +Hastily scrambling into their clothes, the two excited lads made their +way into the street and through the swarm of wildly exuberant citizens. +After a struggle they succeeded, at the cost of a franc, in obtaining a +copy of one of the local papers, and bore it back to their room in +triumph. +</P> + +<P> +In huge letters were the words: "LES ANGLAIS SUR LE CONTINENT", the +report being taken from the French paper, <I>Le Journal</I>, dated Thursday, +the 13th August:— +</P> + +<P> +"By our Special Correspondent.—For several days the valiant British +troops, who are to co-operate with our soldiers to repel the German +aggression in Belgium, have been crossing the Straits. Kept back at +first by the risks of a naval combat which the English fleet was +waiting to offer, in the North Sea, to the principal units of the enemy +marine, the disembarkation has now taken place in perfect order and +with surprising regularity. Up to the present the contingents sent +forward in the direction of Namur are considerable. +</P> + +<P> +"Under the favour of darkness and in great mystery the transports were +organized. During Saturday night, by small detachments all along the +Belgian coast from Ostend to Zeebrugge, the steamers chartered by the +British Admiralty disembarked at first a small army, which moved before +dawn to the position allotted to it. Farther south, that same night, +semaphores signalled the arrival of mysterious ships, which, after a +brief stay, returned towards English shores. On the following day, +too, at the same hour, similar operations and disembarkations took +place with such rapidity and such silence that the inhabitants saw +nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Sounds promising," remarked Rollo thoughtfully. "But this is Friday. +Do you think it likely that our troops have been on Belgian soil for +nearly a week and this is the first we've heard of it?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Press Censor perhaps——" +</P> + +<P> +"Cannot gag the mouths of a million, old chap. However, I hope it's +true. Of course I know an army cannot be expected to land and proceed +straight to the front, but if they are to do anything they'll have to +jolly well hurry up." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't put a damper on the good news, old man." +</P> + +<P> +"All right, I won't, Kenneth; but, until I see a khaki regiment on +Belgian soil, I'm hanged if I will believe. Take me for a doubting +Thomas if you will. Anyway, I'm going to turn in again; we've to be up +early, you know." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the deafening clamour without, the chums slept soundly +until the concièrge knocked loudly at the door to announce that it was +a quarter to five, and that the breakfast of messieurs les Anglais was +ready to be served as ordered. +</P> + +<P> +Upon arriving at the place indicated in their order, the two +dispatch-riders found that they were to be temporarily attached to the +mail escort. Letters and parcels for the troops in the field had +accumulated during the last three days to enormous proportions. Five +large motor-cars had been requisitioned to take this mass of +correspondence from the capital, the convoy being accompanied by a +patrol of lancers, cyclists, and motor-cyclists. +</P> + +<P> +"Wonder if there's anything for us in that lot?" hazarded Kenneth, as +four large wicker hampers addressed to the 9th Regiment of the Line +were unceremoniously dumped into a car. The correspondence had already +been passed by a Belgian censor, and the baskets had been secured by an +imposing wax seal. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," replied Rollo. "At all events we'll keep a special eye on +the car. One never knows where to expect the unwelcome attentions of +those ubiquitous Uhlans, and it will never do to let them pry into the +family secrets of our comrades of the 9th." +</P> + +<P> +Through the flag-bedecked streets of Brussels the mail convoy made its +way. The route, as supplied to the officer in command, was a +circuitous one. Proceeding in an almost southerly direction, past the +villages of Waterloo, Genappe, and Quatre Bras, the mails for Namur and +the left flank of the Belgian field army were to be detached at the +village of Sombreffe. The remainder of the convoy was then to proceed +through Gembloux to Tirlemont, dropping the crates addressed to various +regiments at the nearest points to their ultimate destinations. +</P> + +<P> +The motor-cars set out at a rapid pace, so much so that by the time +they were clear of the Forest of Soignies, less than ten miles from the +capital, the horses and the cyclists were almost "done up". Either +speed or the force at the disposal of the convoy had to be sacrificed, +and after a hasty consultation with his subordinates, the officer in +charge decided upon the latter alternative. +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly the lancers were sent back, while a dozen of the cyclists +were ordered to leave their machines at a wayside inn and to ride on +the cars. From information received from various sources, there was +every reason to believe that that part of the country was free from the +attentions of the invaders, and no cause to doubt that the mail would +be delivered in safety and with celerity. Again the convoy was set in +motion, Kenneth and Rollo riding at a distance of about two hundred +yards ahead, for their wish to keep an eye on one particular car had +been abruptly nipped in the bud. +</P> + +<P> +"We've seen the field of Waterloo at all events," shouted Rollo, in +order to make himself heard above the noise of the motors. "But it's +under different circumstances from those we expected." +</P> + +<P> +They had had but a distant and momentary glimpse of the famous pyramid +of earth surmounted by the Lion of Belgium. The ground that, less than +a century before, was drenched with the blood of men of half a dozen +nationalities was again being prepared for a similar object on a vaster +scale. Belgian troops and peasants were busily engaged in digging +trenches; for here, according to the expectations of military experts, +was to be fought the decisive battle that was to save Brussels and +Belgium from the Teutonic invasion. +</P> + +<P> +At Quatre Bras the convoy struck the Namur road. A couple of miles +farther on Kenneth's keen eyes detected a movement towards their left +front. In double-quick time the lads dismounted and held up their +hands, a signal that brought the convoy to a standstill. +</P> + +<P> +"Cavalry, sir!" said Kenneth, pointing in the direction of a clump of +trees. +</P> + +<P> +"Our vedettes, without doubt," declared the Belgian officer, leisurely +unstrapping his field-glasses. Before he could get them to bear, +Kenneth was sweeping the country with his powerful binoculars. There +was no mistake: the cavalry were Uhlans. They had already spotted the +convoy, and were advancing at the trot to capture or destroy the +weakly-protected mail escort. +</P> + +<P> +Just then came a dull rumble at some distance to the rear of the line +of halted cars. The enemy had blown up the railway bridge on the line +between Charleroi and the north, thus cutting off the retreat of the +convoy. +</P> + +<P> +"Mon capitaine," exclaimed one of the cyclists who had been given a +place in one of the cars; "I know this part of the country well. A +kilometre farther on is a road to the right. It will bring us to +Ligny." +</P> + +<P> +The officer gave one glance towards the advancing Uhlans, now barely a +mile and a half away. +</P> + +<P> +"En avant!" he ordered. +</P> + +<P> +It was touch-and-go which would first reach the junction of the roads. +Only a momentary hesitation on the part of the Uhlans saved the +situation, for, seeing the convoy advance at full speed, they feared an +attack by the already dreaded motor-cars armed with mitrailleuses. +</P> + +<P> +But as the convoy swung round the sharp corner a hail of bullets came +from the carbines of the German cavalry; then, realizing that their +discretion had got the better of their valour, the Uhlans dashed in +pursuit. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgians cheered ironically. The idea of horses competing with +motor-cars seemed absurd. The latter covered three yards to the +Uhlans' one, and every moment the animals were becoming more and more +fatigued. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Rollo gave vent to a warning shout. Ahead was the village of +Ligny, but between the convoy and the nearest houses were dense masses +of cavalry. Their capture seemed inevitable. +</P> + +<P> +Again the motor-cars came to a halt. The Belgian captain saw that he +was in a trap. +</P> + +<P> +"Turn about!" he ordered. "We must charge these Prussians behind us. +It will be easier to force our way through a hundred than——" +</P> + +<P> +"Mon capitaine!" shouted an excited voice. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian officer turned, almost angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"We are saved—regardez!" continued the speaker, pointing to the +railway line about three hundred yards to the right of the road. +</P> + +<P> +Making their way along the hollow by the side of the line were swarms +of men in blue coats, red trousers, and kepis. There was no mistaking +them: they were French troops. The cavalry, too, close to the village +of Ligny were French chasseurs. The long-expected aid had become an +accomplished fact. French armies were on Belgian soil. +</P> + +<P> +Already the Uhlans had perceived their peril. They turned and rode for +dear life. +</P> + +<P> +Up came a group of French officers. Gravely they exchanged salutes +with the commander of the convoy. +</P> + +<P> +"We hope to effect a junction with the Belgian army before nightfall, +monsieur," announced a colonel. "We have been instructed to occupy the +line Ligny-Tirlemont. It is to be hoped that these pigs of Prussians +have not tampered with the railway." +</P> + +<P> +"Unfortunately they have, sir," replied the Belgian captain. "Already +they have blown up a bridge on the Quatre Bras road." +</P> + +<P> +The Frenchman rapped out an oath. +</P> + +<P> +"More work for our engineers," he remarked. "Nevertheless, the +Prussians shall pay. We have them. With the English between Antwerp +and Louvain, and your army between Louvain and Tirlemont, these Germans +are in front of a wall that cannot be climbed. You say that part of +your convoy is destined for Namur? Send them on, monsieur. We hold +both banks of the Sambre. For the rest we cannot, unfortunately, offer +you any guarantees." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly the convoy was split up, Kenneth and Rollo going with the +cars containing the mails for the Belgian troops at Tirlemont. +</P> + +<P> +"The papers were right after all, old man," remarked Kenneth. "Our +troops are in Belgium. Now, admit that your doubts were ill-founded." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so," admitted Rollo; "but all the same I should like to see +a khaki regiment, if only for the sake of ocular demonstration." +</P> + +<P> +Before four that afternoon the mail for the 9th Regiment of the Line +was safely delivered, and with the utmost dispatch the work of +distribution began. It seemed a fitting reward that Kenneth should +receive half a dozen letters, three of which, bearing different dates, +were from his father. Rollo had to be content with four. +</P> + +<P> +While the latter, with his usual deliberation, opened his +communications in the order of their postmarks, Kenneth impetuously +tore the envelope of his latest-dated one, and read as follows:— +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"DEAR KENNETH, +</P> + +<P> +"I wrote you at the Poste Restante at Liége, on the off-chance that you +might receive it on the eve of the declaration of war. From the +contents of your letter I have reason to believe that you did not. I +am naturally most anxious concerning Thelma. Up to the time of writing +I have had no tidings whatsoever, although I made enquiries of the +British Consuls at Antwerp, Rotterdam, and The Hague. +</P> + +<P> +"In my previous letters addressed to you at the Field Post Office of +the 9th Regiment of the Line, I expressed my fullest approval of the +step you have taken. In case you have not received my former letters I +must repeat these sentiments. You are doing your duty to your country +by serving under the Belgian flag as faithfully as if you were under +your own—for ours is a united cause. Perhaps more so, since you are +not yet of an age to accept a commission. Should you be in need of +funds, I have placed the sum of Fifty Pounds to your account in the +Credit Belgique at Brussels. +</P> + +<P> +"I am also sending you a batch of newspapers ["They have gone adrift," +thought Kenneth] which will be of interest to you. +</P> + +<P> +"I hear also that ... [Here was a long excision by the Censor.] +</P> + +<P> +"Once more, good luck. Do your duty manfully and fearlessly. Regards +to young Barrington. I made a point of seeing his father the other +day, and he is with me in my view of the step you two have taken. +Needless to say, my Mediterranean trip is off. There is other work +even for an old buffer such as I am. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +"Your affectionate father,<BR> + "THOMAS EVEREST."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"The pater's a brick," declared Kenneth, after he had finished wading +through his other correspondence; then, observing that Rollo was still +scanning his budget, he made his way across to the motor-cycles. In +his excitement he had forgotten to turn off the petrol tap of his +mount, and had just remembered the fact. +</P> + +<P> +On the way back he ran across Major Résimont, whom he had not seen +since the night of the evacuation of Liége. +</P> + +<P> +The Major greeted him warmly, congratulated him upon gaining his +stripes, and asked him how he had fared. +</P> + +<P> +"I have, unfortunately, bad news," said the Major sadly. "It would be +well to keep the information to yourself: the Liége forts have fallen, +and General Leman is a prisoner." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought they could hold out for months," Kenneth blurted out, his +sense of discretion overcome by the suddenness of the news. +</P> + +<P> +"We all thought so," rejoined Major Résimont quietly. "But those huge +German guns, they cracked the cupolas like nutshells, and killed or +wounded every man in the forts." +</P> + +<P> +"The French are here, though," announced Kenneth. "We came in touch +with them this morning." +</P> + +<P> +"I know," said the Belgian. "They have already succeeded in taking +Dinant. We have certain hopes in the French." +</P> + +<P> +"And the British troops are in Belgium." +</P> + +<P> +The Major shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"See, sir," persisted Kenneth, producing the copy of the paper he had +purchased in Brussels. +</P> + +<P> +"I have already seen it," said Major Résimont; "it is only a rumour. +It is, moreover, false; there is not a single English regiment in +Belgium. Your country is, I fear, too late to save Brussels from the +invaders." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Separated +</H3> + +<P> +Major Résimont's sentiments were shared by the majority of his +deep-thinking compatriots. The great faith in the prompt action of +Great Britain in sending a strong Expeditionary Force to Belgium had +received a severe set-back. Even yet the promised aid might be +forthcoming—but it would be too late to spare the greater portion of +the country, including the capital, from invasion. +</P> + +<P> +When the Major stated that the Belgians had "certain hopes" in the +French, he spoke with a justifiable sense of caution. He realized that +the object of throwing French troops into Belgium was not to stay the +threatened occupation of Brussels, but to avoid, if possible, the +disastrous results of the presence of a German army on French soil. In +short, Belgium was once more to be made the battle-ground between +French and German troops, provided the fortresses on the borders of +Alsace-Lorraine were strong enough to hold back the invaders in this +quarter. +</P> + +<P> +Unfortunately, in spite of the utmost efforts of the War Office, backed +by the whole-hearted support of a united Parliament, Great Britain was +just four days too late in the dispatch of her Expeditionary Force. +Yet the brave Belgians did not repine, nor did they relax for one +instant their opposition to the enormous and relentless masses of +Germans who were now pouring in through the strategic railways between +Aix-la-Chapelle and Liége. +</P> + +<P> +But the sacrifice of Belgium was not in vain. By the heroic resistance +of General Leman the clockwork regularity of the German time-table had +been thrown hopelessly out of gear. The stubborn defence of Liége had +delayed the Teuton advance to such an extent that France and England +were able to complete their respective mobilizations, and to thwart the +German Emperor's hopes of "rushing" Paris and thus forcing France to +conclude a humiliating and disastrous peace. +</P> + +<P> +"Corporal Everest!" +</P> + +<P> +"Sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are to take this dispatch to Major Foveneau, who is holding the +village of Cortenaeken. Your compatriot may accompany you. Exercise +particular care, for there are numerous Uhlan patrols in the +neighbourhood of Diest." +</P> + +<P> +It was on the second day after the British dispatch-riders' return with +the mail-escort. Captain Planchenoît, who had already fully recognized +the intrepidity and common sense of the two lads, had been instructed +by his Colonel to communicate with the isolated post of Cortenaeken, +and he could decide upon no fitter messengers than Kenneth Everest and +his friend Rollo Barrington. +</P> + +<P> +"You will observe that the dispatch is at present unsealed," continued +Captain Planchenoît. "You must commit the text to memory. Should you +be in danger of capture, destroy the dispatch at all costs. It is far +too important to risk being hidden, yet Major Foveneau must have, if +humanly possible, written orders." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good, sir," replied Kenneth, saluting. +</P> + +<P> +He then went off to find his chum, whom he found cleaning his mount. +Kenneth had given up cleaning his motor-cycle days ago; beyond +satisfying himself that it had plenty of oil and was in good running +order, he troubled nothing about its appearance. Both lads had, +moreover, wrapped the handle-bars in strips of brown linen, while the +remaining bright parts had been covered with dull-grey paint. +</P> + +<P> +"It's Cortenaeken this time," announced Kenneth. "Goodness knows how +we get to the place, for there doesn't seem to be a vestige of a road +leading to it, according to the map. Here's the dispatch—sounds +important, doesn't it? We have to commit the words to memory, in case +we have to destroy the paper." +</P> + +<P> +"The best thing we can do is to ride for Tirlemont and make enquiries +there," suggested Rollo, handing the dispatch back to his chum. "As +regards concealing the paper, we must place it somewhere where we can +get at it easily. I have it: we'll stow it in your petrol tank; the +stuff won't injure the paper or interfere with the writing, and if +things came to the worst, you can whip it out and set fire to it." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly the dispatch, cleverly rolled, was placed inside the gauze +strainer to the patrol tank, and the metal cap replaced. Five minutes +later the two motor-cyclists were buzzing along the congested road at a +modest twenty miles an hour, dodging between the lumbering transport +wagons and the military vehicles with an agility that surprised +themselves. +</P> + +<P> +Presently, as they struck towards the rear of the long lines of troops, +the road became less encumbered and speed was materially increased. +Soon the pace reached nearly forty miles an hour, for the highway was +fairly broad, and ran as straight as a Roman road as far as the eye +could reach. +</P> + +<P> +"Puncture!" shouted Kenneth, as the front wheel of his cycle began to +slither and bump upon the <I>pavé</I>, the machine running nearly fifty +yards before he brought up and dismounted. +</P> + +<P> +A hasty examination showed that a rusty iron nail, quite six inches in +length, had penetrated the tread of the tyre, while to make matters +worse its point had worked out close to the rim. The offending piece +of metal, catching against the front forks, had already enlarged the +hole in the tread till it became a slit nearly half an inch in length. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't wait," he continued, as he unscrewed the cap of the petrol tank +and produced the dispatch. "Take this, and hurry on. I'll patch this +up and follow. If you can, wait for me at Cortenaeken till two +o'clock." +</P> + +<P> +"Right-o!" assented Rollo. "You can manage all right?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can't ask you to bear a hand if I don't," replied Kenneth. "I'll +make a job of it somehow. Good luck!" +</P> + +<P> +Rollo was off. Kenneth stood beside his crippled steed and watched his +friend's receding figure out of sight; then taking out his repair +outfit he began his task. It was a long job. The cover, being +practically a new one, was an obstinate one to remove. It had to be +patched with canvas, while the double puncture in the inner tube took a +considerable time to clean and prepare. +</P> + +<P> +While he was waiting for the solution to get "tacky", a peculiar +buzzing sound greeted his ears. +</P> + +<P> +"Aeroplanes!" he muttered. "Whose, I wonder?" +</P> + +<P> +He looked upwards. The sun shining in a cloudless sky dazzled his +vision. He put on his tinted goggles, which during the repair +operations he had removed. Then he saw, perhaps three thousand feet +above him, a large Zeppelin moving in a westerly direction. He watched +it with a sort of contemptuous interest. +</P> + +<P> +"The vaunted German terror of the air—perhaps!" he soliloquized. "I +wouldn't give much for its chances if even half a dozen aeroplanes +tackled it. Ah! Thinking better of it?" +</P> + +<P> +This last remark was uttered as the gigantic airship began to turn, +pitching as it did so like a lively ship in a sea-way. +</P> + +<P> +Bringing his binoculars to bear upon the Zeppelin, Kenneth watched its +undignified progress. Apparently it had encountered a strong +air-current that tended to drive it in a westerly direction. By the +aid of the glasses Kenneth could see that the immense fabric showed, in +spite of its supposed rigidity, a decided tendency to "whip" as it +swung broadside on to the direction of the wind. Then, steadying +itself on a course in exactly the opposite direction to that which it +had previously been following, the Zeppelin forged ahead, still +see-sawing ominously. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the bow portion dipped, then with ever-increasing velocity the +huge airship plunged earthwards. Its propeller ceased to revolve; from +the cars, ballast—not loose sand, but solid material—was thrown out +in the hope of checking the now terrific descent. Then it disappeared +from the motor-cyclist's view, beyond a slight ridge of hills about +five miles off. +</P> + +<P> +"That's done for it, thank goodness!" ejaculated Kenneth, as he +replaced his binoculars and reapplied himself to the repairs to the +tyre; "if it were not for this rotten puncture I'd slip over and have a +look at the remains. I hope the thing's fallen within the Belgian +lines. It will cheer the plucky beggars up a bit." +</P> + +<P> +It took him quite another half-hour to patch the torn canvas and coax +the stubborn cover back into its rim. Then, with a feeling of +gratification that he had overcome difficulties, he began to inflate +the tyre. +</P> + +<P> +"Almost hard enough," he said to himself, ceasing his efforts to prod +the rubber with his thumb. "I'll give it another dozen strokes just to +show there's no ill-feeling." +</P> + +<P> +Bang! With a report like the discharge of a small field-piece the tyre +collapsed. A portion of the inner tube had been nipped, with the +result that a gash four inches in length was demanding attention. +</P> + +<P> +"Confound it!" exclaimed Kenneth angrily. +</P> + +<P> +With the perspiration pouring off him, he again tackled the obstinate +cover with savage energy. This time the repair was a complicated one. +Three times the patch failed to hold, but finally, at the end of an +hour and a half's hard work, the tedious task was accomplished. +</P> + +<P> +At Tirlemont Kenneth made enquiries, and was given such minute +directions that before he had gone another five miles he was hopelessly +befogged. The roads were little better than narrow lanes; there were +no direction posts, and he had long forgotten whether he had to take +the first turning to the left and the third to the right, or the third +to the left and the first to the right. There were several isolated +cottages, but their inhabitants had fled. The whole district seemed +depopulated, for the great exodus to Brussels had begun. There was +plenty of evidence of the hurried flight of the civil population. +Articles of domestic use, found to be too heavy to carry far, had been +jettisoned by the roadside. Here and there was an abandoned cart, +still laden with the household goods of some unfortunate Belgian family. +</P> + +<P> +At length Kenneth found that the lane he was following came upon a +small stream. Here a bridge had recently been destroyed. Further +progress in that direction was impossible, unless he decided to abandon +his cycle and swim across the fifteen feet of water to the opposite +bank. Following the stream was a rough path, badly cut up by the +tracks of cattle. It was the only possible way unless he retraced his +route. +</P> + +<P> +Producing his military map Kenneth attempted to fix his position. He +could only come to the conclusion that the stream was the River Velp, +on which the hamlet of Cortenaeken stands. He was, he decided, about +ten miles from the village, which ought to be reached by following the +path he had struck. +</P> + +<P> +It was bad going. The deep ruts made riding a nerve-racking ordeal. +Here and there the path had slipped bodily into the reed-grown mud that +fringed the stream. Dismounts were frequent; speed was out of the +question. +</P> + +<P> +After a mile or so of this unsatisfactory mode of progression the path +ended abruptly, but here the stream was crossed by a narrow plank +bridge. On the opposite side, at about two hundred yards from the +bank, was a cottage, and—thanks be!—from the chimney a wreath of +faint blue smoke was rising. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth dismounted, set his motor-cycle on its stand, and proceeded to +examine the apparently frail bridge. It sagged considerably under his +weight; what would it do with the additional weight of his mount? In +addition there was the transport problem. He could not carry the heavy +cycle; the plank was too narrow for him to attempt to ride across. Yet +he did not feel at all inclined to go back along that rutty path. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll give a few toots on the horn," he declared. "Perhaps the people +in the house will come out and bear a hand. Hullo! There's a punt +over there in the rushes. With assistance I could get my bike across +in that." +</P> + +<P> +The raucous blasts on the horn disturbed the quietude of the sylvan +scene, but without the desired result. He tried again, still without +success. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps these people have also cleared out in a hurry and left a fire +burning," he soliloquized. "Otherwise they must have heard the +explosions of the engine as I rode up. Well, here goes!" +</P> + +<P> +Crossing the stream he took his way to the spot where the punt was made +fast. Here, again, his hopes were dashed to the ground, for not only +was the flat-bottomed craft chained and padlocked to a massive post, +but it had a gaping hole at one end and was half-full of water. +</P> + +<P> +"It's only waste of time tramping across to that cottage," he said to +himself. "I'll have a shot at getting the bike across first, and make +enquiries later." +</P> + +<P> +With that he retraced his steps to where his cycle was standing on the +wrong side of the tantalizing stream. Throwing out the clutch and +standing astride the saddle, Kenneth walked his motor-cycle towards the +plank bridge; then shuffling very cautiously, he began the hazardous +crossing. +</P> + +<P> +At every step the soles of his boots were almost at the very edge of +the worn plank. As he approached the centre it creaked ominously, +while, to add to his difficulties, the motion of the water as it flowed +underneath tended to make him giddy. He dared not look up unless he +stopped, and that he was loath to do. One false step would send +himself and his motor-cycle into six or seven feet of mud and water. +</P> + +<P> +At length, safe and sound, Kenneth found himself on the farther bank. +Here a road, very little better than the one he had recently traversed, +led away from the house, the only visible approach to which was by +means of a stone stile and a footpath. +</P> + +<P> +Again leaving his cycle, the lad leapt over the low wall and hastened +towards the building. +</P> + +<P> +The door was wide open. Across the threshold lay the body of an old +man, with a ghastly wound in his head. Kenneth recoiled in horror; +then, thinking perhaps that the unfortunate farmer—for such he +was—might still be living, he again approached. +</P> + +<P> +Even in the attempt to move the man, he heard the sound of a heavy +snore, while, as if in answer to the noise, a horse began to neigh. +</P> + +<P> +"Germans!" ejaculated Kenneth. Once more he began to back, when, +recollecting that even the sound of his motor had not disturbed the +brutal slumberer, he drew his revolver and stepped across the threshold. +</P> + +<P> +Coming in from the brilliant sunshine the place seemed almost +pitch-dark, but in a few seconds the dispatch-rider's eyes grew +accustomed to the gloom. He found himself in what was at one time the +living-room of the farm. There was no hall or passage; the outer door +opened straight into it. +</P> + +<P> +The whole place was in a state of almost indescribable confusion. The +table had been overthrown, the chairs smashed—and smashed +deliberately, for no ordinary struggle would have resulted in such +complete demolition of the furniture. On the walls were a few cheap, +highly-coloured prints, slashed by a keen instrument, while the glass +was shattered to fragments. On the floor were the remains of broken +bottles and crockery. The cupboards had been ransacked, and their +contents hurled all over the room. Even the hearthstone had been +forced up; the despoilers had evidently thought that the thrifty farmer +had hidden a store of money beneath it. +</P> + +<P> +The rest of the rooms on the ground floor were in a similar state of +confusion. Kenneth set his jaw tightly. He no longer had any +inclination to beat a retreat. The sight of the foully-murdered +Belgian and his devastated home filled him with rage. +</P> + +<P> +Holding his revolver ready for instant action, the lad began to ascend +the stairs. They creaked horribly under his weight, but still the +sounds of drunken slumber continued. +</P> + +<P> +At the head of the stairs four rooms opened on to a fairly spacious +landing. Three of these were unoccupied by any living creature. In +one was a huddled-up form. +</P> + +<P> +"Brutes!" muttered the British lad. "No quarter!" +</P> + +<P> +He pushed open the door of the remaining bedroom, whence the porcine +grunts proceeded. Here were four men in the uniform of the dreaded +Uhlans. Three, fully dressed and wearing their heavy boots, were +sprawling in drunken slumber on the bed. They were nursing +partly-consumed wine bottles, while the bed-clothes and floor were +stained with the spilt liquid. +</P> + +<P> +The fourth Uhlan was sitting in a chair, with his head resting on his +chest. Across his forehead and over both ears was a blood-stained +bandage. The wound had but recently been inflicted, so the Belgian +farmer had apparently made a brave but unavailing stand in defence of +his home. On the floor by the Uhlan's side lay his sword; his carbine +was propped up against the arm of the chair. +</P> + +<P> +"The brutes!" ejaculated Kenneth again. "Hang it, I can't shoot these +fellows while they are asleep!" +</P> + +<P> +Just at that moment the wounded Uhlan opened his eyes and raised his +head. His brain had not been dulled by drink, for with a swift +movement he seized his carbine, at the same time shouting to his +comrades that the Belgians were upon them. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Friend in Need +</H3> + +<P> +"Seems a bit low-down, but there was no other way as far as I could +see," commented Kenneth as he made his way down the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +It was a relief to get into the open air once more. Inserting four +fresh cartridges into the chambers of his revolver, he replaced the +weapon in his holster, and without giving another glance at the house +of death and destruction he made his way to the stables, where the +Uhlans' horses were tethered. He would not leave the helpless brutes +to be fastened up perhaps for days. They would at least have a chance +to eat and drink, for there was plenty of pasture and the river was +handy. +</P> + +<P> +Having given the animals their liberty, the lad remounted his cycle and +rode along the only possible route. By the position of the sun he knew +that he was going nearly due north, which was not in the direction he +supposed Cortenaeken to be. To add to the difficulties of the +situation there was the unpleasant fact that patrols of German cavalry +were already in the district. Where, then, was the Belgian force that +was supposed to be holding the district between Diest and Tirlemont? +</P> + +<P> +There were houses scattered about in plenty; some to all outward +appearance intact, others either burning furiously or reduced to four +smoke-blackened walls. +</P> + +<P> +After traversing about five miles of the indifferent lane, Kenneth +found himself on a broad highway, bordered on both sides with trees. +Here were civilians in throngs—men, women, and children—and a more +woebegone crowd the British lad had never before beheld. Most of them +were on foot, staggering under weighty bundles. Even the children had +their burdens, mostly domestic pets. There were fowls in crates, +rabbits, cats, and pigeons; masterless dogs tore frantically through +the sad procession; others, harnessed to small carts piled high with +goods and chattels, trotted docilely by the side of their masters. +There were large farm-carts, too, creaking under the weight of +furniture, on the top of which were perched refugees either too old or +too young to make the journey afoot. The men were stolid of feature, +but several of the women were crying; while with few exceptions the +children, unable to comprehend the real nature of their hurried exodus, +were laughing and chattering with excitement at their novel experience. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth dismounted and stopped an old Belgian, who by his dress had +evidently been well-to-do. +</P> + +<P> +"Can you direct me to Cortenaeken, monsieur?" +</P> + +<P> +"To where Cortenaeken was," corrected the man. "It has been burnt by +the accursed Prussians." +</P> + +<P> +"And the troops? I have a message for Major Foveneau, who was holding +the village——" +</P> + +<P> +"You will not find a single Belgian there, monsieur—at least, not a +living one. They have been compelled to retire on Louvain." +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian courteously raised his hat and passed on hurriedly, for +while he was speaking came the distant intermittent reports of +rifle-firing. The whole procession of refugees quickened its pace. +The menace was too close to be ignored. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth pulled out his map. He was now able to form a fairly accurate +idea of where he was. He had no desire to return. His anxiety +concerning his chum urged him to make his way as quickly as possible to +Louvain. There, at least, he might be able to gain information +concerning the British dispatch-rider who ought to have reported +himself to Major Foveneau. +</P> + +<P> +According to the map, Kenneth saw that there was a road to the left at +a mile or so from where he stood. It struck the village of Winghe St. +Georges, which was on the main road between Diest and Tirlemont and +slightly nearer to the latter town. +</P> + +<P> +Springing into the saddle Kenneth set off at a furious pace. Ahead, +but slightly to the right, was a dense column of smoke that marked the +site of the destroyed village of Cortenaeken. Farther away were more +pillars of black vapour, the handiwork of the vengeful invaders, whose +principle was to terrorize the luckless Belgians into a spirit of +non-resistance. +</P> + +<P> +The lad was heartily glad when he gained the branch road, since it led +away from the desolated area. But before he had gone very far he +became aware that he was crossing the tracks of a fighting force in +retreat. Over the fields on either side and across the road were +numerous deep ruts caused by wheels of artillery and service wagons. +Here and there were abandoned carts, while half-buried in a muddy ditch +was a field-piece with one wheel shattered. Its limber and several +either dead or wounded horses still in the traces had overturned on the +other side of the road. Yet, apart from the distant cannonade, there +were no sounds of actual combat. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was sorely tempted to follow the tracks of the retirement. It +would be hard going, he argued, but where a gun could go his +motor-cycle ought to be able to follow. But on further consideration +he decided to keep to the road, at least as far as Winghe St. Georges. +</P> + +<P> +Onwards he rode till he approached a ruined homestead. Four shattered +walls, two gaunt gables, and a few scorched rafters were all that +remained of the house. Surrounding it was a wall, broken in many +places. Abutting on the wall were several roofless sheds. +</P> + +<P> +"Halte-là!" exclaimed a voice. "There is danger ahead." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth pulled up sharply and, dismounting, looked in the direction +from which the voice came. As he did so a man in the uniform of the +Belgian lancers came out of the ruined house. He had lost his helmet, +his coat was torn and covered with dust. Above his right knee was a +blood-stained bandage. He was supporting himself by means of a rifle, +using the weapon as a crutch with the butt under his armpit. +</P> + +<P> +"What has happened, comrade?" asked the lad. +</P> + +<P> +The soldier regarded him with evident suspicion. +</P> + +<P> +"You are not a Belgian," he said pointedly, "yet you are in the uniform +of our dispatch-riders." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite so," replied Kenneth, producing his identification card. "I am +a British subject in the Belgian service." +</P> + +<P> +"British?" repeated the man. "What, then, is British? In faith, I do +not know." +</P> + +<P> +"English, then." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, English—good! Now I comprehend. But, monsieur, it is unsafe to +go farther. There are Germans in force a few kilometres along the +road. Their cavalry screens are thrown out over yonder. We had to +retire. To me it is amazing how you came so far without falling in +with the accursed Prussians." +</P> + +<P> +"I saw a few Uhlans," announced Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Tête bleu! And what did they do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Very little as far as I was concerned," replied the lad. "They +murdered some civilians, so I shot them." +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian's eyes glistened. +</P> + +<P> +"You are a brave youth," he exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +"I think not in this case," objected Kenneth. "They were half-drunk, +and had only just awoke. It seemed hardly fair play, yet——" +</P> + +<P> +"Do not apologize, monsieur," growled the lancer. "After what these +devils have done they have no right to expect any consideration. Over +there, for example—but come within. It is hazardous to remain in the +open. Perhaps, even now, we have been observed through some Prussian +field-glasses. Your bicycle? It will be of no further use. It is +better to destroy it and throw the remains into the ditch." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"No fear," he objected resolutely. "I'd rather take my chances on the +road." +</P> + +<P> +"Impossible," declared the Belgian. "You would be shot before you went +another three kilometres. And if the Germans see your motor-cycle they +will be doubly suspicious and search the house." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll leave it for the time being in one of those sheds," suggested the +lad. "It won't be seen from the road." +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian, beyond muttering "imbecile" under his breath, made no +further objection. He even assisted Kenneth, as well as his wound +would permit, to lift the heavy mount over the rubble in the gap of the +outer wall. +</P> + +<P> +"This place will do," declared the lad as he reached the furthermost +shed. The roof and one angle of the brickwork had been demolished, but +the rest of the building was almost intact. Having removed the +sparking-plug, so as to render the cycle useless to the enemy in the +event of its discovery, Kenneth placed the cycle on its side and +covered it with a thick layer of damp and rotten straw. To all +appearance the interior of the shed was a farm refuse-heap. No +prowling German would be likely to want to use the straw for bedding or +any other purpose. +</P> + +<P> +"Come this way," said the Belgian, who, during the progress of +Kenneth's operations, had begun to alter his opinion as to the danger +of leaving the cycle as "incriminating evidence". "We will go to the +house. In the cellar we can rest and perhaps have food. Have you +anything to eat?" +</P> + +<P> +"Two rolls and some chocolate," replied Kenneth. "We will share that." +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" exclaimed the lancer, his eyes glistening at the prospect of +food. "But there are others—three comrades of mine. We have not +eaten anything to-day but raw turnips, and raw turnips are not very +sustaining food on which to make a cavalry charge. It was in front of +Cortenaeken that I got this," and he pointed to his wounded leg. +</P> + +<P> +"Yet it is nothing," he added lightly, "a mere scratch; but I repaid +the Prussian who gave it to me. Ah! This is what I require. I will +now be able to discard this rifle. My own carbine is within." +</P> + +<P> +He had stopped in the midst of his narrative, and was pointing to a +hay-rake that rested in a corner of the wall. +</P> + +<P> +"I will knock off the teeth and shorten the handle. Ciel! It will +make an excellent crutch. As for the rifle, I may safely throw it down +the well, unless you, monsieur, might care to have it. It may be +useful to you." +</P> + +<P> +"I have no cartridges." +</P> + +<P> +"We have enough—about four hundred between the four of us. +Nevertheless, you will have to clean the barrel carefully, for it is +caked with earth. If you fired it in that state, without doubt it +would do you more harm than the man at whom you pointed it. There, did +I not say so?" +</P> + +<P> +With a wave of his disengaged arm the Belgian indicated a cloud of dust +rising from the road. +</P> + +<P> +"We must hasten, yet be cautious," he continued. "That dust hides a +column of German infantry." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth followed his new comrade into the house. The upper floor had +almost disappeared. The ground floor was littered with charred +fragments of rafters and boards, cakes of plaster and partly-burned +thatch, in addition to broken articles of furniture. The parting-walls +had been overthrown, so that the interior of the building presented the +appearance of an open space. +</P> + +<P> +Scrambling over the debris the wounded lancer made his way to a corner +of the tottering walls. He stooped painfully and with considerable +effort, and thrusting his fingers between the rubbish took hold of an +iron ring. At this he heaved, and lifted a large flap about six inches. +</P> + +<P> +"Assist me, monsieur," he said. "I am not quite so strong as I was +four hours ago." +</P> + +<P> +"One minute," exclaimed Kenneth. "I'll clear some of this rubbish +away." +</P> + +<P> +"Tiens!" ejaculated the Belgian. "Let it remain, for when we let the +flap fall it will spread and hide the cracks in the floor. No one will +then suspect that there is a cellar. Now, lift together.—Soyez +tranquille!" he shouted, to reassure his comrades in hiding. +</P> + +<P> +At a gesture from his newly-found friend, Kenneth descended the steep +wooden ladder till his feet touched the stone floor of the cellar. The +Belgian lancer followed more slowly, uttering maledictions under his +breath at every step. Another of the occupants of the cellar ascended, +and pulled the flap down with a resounding crash. The place seemed in +total darkness. +</P> + +<P> +"A new comrade—an Englishman in the service of our country," announced +the lancer; and Kenneth's hands were warmly grasped by his unseen hosts. +</P> + +<P> +After a while his eyes grew accustomed to the semi-gloom, for the +daylight filtered through a small irregular opening at one end of the +underground room. The Belgians present did not belong to the same +regiment. One was a corporal of infantry, another an artilleryman, the +third a Civil Guard, whose head-gear, somewhat resembling a bowler hat, +made him easily recognizable. Their rifles were resting against the +wall, their cartridge pouches and heavy packs had been thrown on the +floor, and by their sides were some partly-consumed slices of turnip. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth promptly shared his rations, which were ravenously eaten by the +half-famished men. The corporal, having swallowed his portion of roll +and chocolate, took up his position at the opening through which the +daylight could be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"They come!" he announced. "The pigs! Look!" +</P> + +<P> +The rest of the men made their way to the post of observation. The +cellar was of brick, with massive oaken rafters overhead and a stone +floor. At one end was a flight of stone steps that at one time +communicated with the outside of the house. A fall of brick-work had +almost entirely closed this exit, leaving a space about two inches in +height and a little more than a foot in width between the top of the +debris and the underside of the arch. The aperture was thus broad +enough to afford an outlook for two persons without the faintest risk +of discovery. +</P> + +<P> +The corporal, as observation man, remained at his post, the others +taking turn to gaze upon the approaching regiment of their hated foes. +</P> + +<P> +The German troops had evidently gone through a rough experience. They +looked utterly done up. Most of them were in their shirt-sleeves, +their coats and accoutrements hanging from their rifles. Several were +without caps, and many had been wounded. In spite of the sweltering +heat they marched in close column, wellnigh choked with dust, and only +kept at a brisk pace by the unsympathetic orders and threats of their +officers. +</P> + +<P> +As the head of the column approached, several men were ordered to +double up to the ruined house. Already the German commander had good +reason to dread the fury of the Belgian civil population, and every +house on the line of march was searched for possible snipers before the +regiment was allowed to march past it. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth could hear the Prussians' boots crunching on the rubble +overhead, and their guttural shouts as they reported that the building +was untenanted. +</P> + +<P> +Then the column was again set in motion, and as the troops marched +stolidly by, Kenneth saw that in their midst were about twenty peasants +of both sexes. +</P> + +<P> +The Belgian corporal rapped out an oath. +</P> + +<P> +"The cowards!" he hissed. "They will use these people—countrymen—to +screen their advance. They did so at Haelen and Landen. I would +gladly bring down that red-faced Colonel but for the fact that those +peasants would be instantly massacred." +</P> + +<P> +Reluctantly the man closed the safety-catch of his rifle. The impulse +to shoot had been tantalizing. Only his concern for his luckless +fellow-countrymen had prevented the Belgian from sending a bullet +through the Prussian officer's heart. Ignorant of his escape the +Colonel rode past, followed by the rest of the regiment, for, from +motives of extraordinary caution, he was in the centre of the column. +</P> + +<P> +Another and yet another grey-clad regiment tramped past. With feelings +akin to consternation, Kenneth realized that a considerable portion of +the German army was now between him and his regiment. And Rollo—what +had become of him? +</P> + +<P> +Several hours passed. The Belgians, unable to control their natural +vivacity, chattered gaily, relating their individual adventures, and +closely questioning Kenneth as to his views on British aid for the +sorely-harassed country. Occasionally, when their look-out reported +fresh troops in sight, they would relapse into silence. The +artilleryman jotted down in a pocket-book particulars and estimated +numbers of all the German regiments that passed along the road, +remarking that to-morrow, perhaps, the information might be useful to +his officers. +</P> + +<P> +About five in the afternoon the stream slackened, and half an hour +later there were no signs of the invaders. The Belgians discussed the +possibility of making a dash for their own lines, and eventually +decided to attempt to put their plan into execution shortly after +midnight. Even the wounded lancer expressed his confidence in his +ability to keep up with his comrades. +</P> + +<P> +"And will you accompany us?" he asked, addressing his British comrade. +</P> + +<P> +"There's my motor-cycle," said Kenneth tentatively. +</P> + +<P> +"Pouf! It is of no consequence. Let it remain; there are others to be +obtained. It is useless to attempt to take it with you. The roads are +unsafe, while in the open the ditches are too wide to take it across." +</P> + +<P> +Still Kenneth hesitated. He had no doubt that the Belgian spoke +truthfully, and that he could obtain another mount at head-quarters; +but it would not be the same cycle, to which he was greatly attached. +</P> + +<P> +While the wounded lancer was still endeavouring to persuade Kenneth to +make the attempt on foot, the corporal, from the post of observation, +reported that a patrol of Uhlans was approaching. +</P> + +<P> +"There are but seven," he announced, "and they have a prisoner with +them. Shall we——?" and he significantly tapped his rifle. +</P> + +<P> +After a short interval one of the Belgians stood aside to allow Kenneth +to look at the approaching patrol. They were riding their horses at a +walking pace, their long lances being stepped in "buckets" behind their +backs. Most of them were smoking large curved pipes. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Kenneth uttered a half-stifled shout of surprise, for the +prisoner was his chum, Rollo Barrington. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Captured +</H3> + +<P> +On parting with his comrade on the road to Cortenaeken, Rollo rode at a +great pace towards his goal. He was to a certain extent fortunate in +finding people at the various branch roads to give him directions; and +in less than an hour from the time of parting company with Kenneth he +was in sight of the hamlet where he hoped to meet Major Foveneau. +</P> + +<P> +The place seemed deserted. Perhaps, he thought, the Belgian troops +were entrenched on the other side of the slightly rising ground. At a +great distance off he could hear the rumble of guns in action. +Evidently there were two separate battles in progress. From the +direction of one cannonade it seemed as if the rival forces were +engaged in the district through which he had so recently ridden, yet he +could have sworn that he had not seen either a single Belgian or German +soldier. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly, as he glanced to the left, Rollo's heart gave a tremendous +thump. He had already ridden more than half-way past the rear of a +masked German battery. There were perhaps a dozen guns placed in +position behind a ridge. The weapons were trained for high-angle +firing, while, to render them invisible from Belgian aircraft, they +were screened by branches of trees. By the side of each field-piece +was an armoured ammunition cart. The body of the vehicle was upturned +to a perpendicular position, the shells being kept in place by a +"pigeon-hole" arrangement. The gunners were "standing easy", while, +from the tip of a neighbouring haystack, a number of officers were +observing the Belgian position through their field-glasses. +</P> + +<P> +Hearing the sound of the motor-cycle, several of the men turned and +looked at the dispatch-rider, but they made no attempt to stop him. +Evidently they thought he was one of their cyclists, for Rollo's +uniform was smothered in grey dust, so that there was no perceptible +difference between him and a motor-cyclist attached to the invading +army. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately Rollo kept his head. Without slackening his speed he +continued on his way until he was within two hundred yards of the +nearest house in the village. Here he dismounted and began to rack his +brains as to the best course to pursue. +</P> + +<P> +He had fallen into a trap. Cortenaeken had been taken and was now in +the possession of the enemy. He could see that several of the +buildings were damaged by shell-fire. Unknown to himself he had ridden +through the advanced German lines without any suspicion that thousands +of men were concealed in the fields and thickets on either side of the +road. The German left flank had been thrown forward a considerable +distance, and their motor-scouts had been constantly in touch with the +centre. Thus, by a pure fluke, Rollo had ridden through with a German +motor-cyclist ten minutes ahead of him and another five minutes behind. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll destroy the dispatch at once," decided the lad. "After that I'll +try and ride back by the way I came. So here goes!" +</P> + +<P> +He drew the petrol-soaked paper from the tank, and carried it to a dry +ditch by the side of the road. The dispatch flared as soon as Rollo +struck a match and set light to it. Its destruction was rapid and +complete. +</P> + +<P> +Before he could regain his mount a motor-cyclist dashed up. As he +approached he slackened speed, gripped the exhaust-lifter, and took +advantage of the consequent reduction of sound to shout something in +German. Rollo shook his head; his knowledge of German was too +elementary for him to reply, but he gathered that the man was asking +whether he required any assistance. +</P> + +<P> +Then, to the lad's consternation, the German dispatch-rider stopped, +dismounted, and walked towards him. +</P> + +<P> +"There's only one thing I can do—-I must pretend I'm deaf and +dumb—temporary effect of the concussion of a shell, although I can't +show a wound," thought Rollo. "It wouldn't be cricket to shoot the +chap, especially as he stopped in all good faith. Well, here goes!" +</P> + +<P> +Opening his mouth and working his chin like a gasping cod-fish, the lad +awaited with considerable misgivings the result of his experiment. +</P> + +<P> +The German was a round-faced, fair-haired fellow of about twenty—a +student fresh from college. He looked quite sympathetic, and when +Rollo explained by means of signs that there was something wrong with +the electric ignition of his cycle, his face lighted up. Strolling up +to the British lad's mount, he proceeded in quite a natural way to +examine the sparking-plug, and, for the benefit of the supposed +distressed rider, he made a pantomimic display of rubbing it with +emery-cloth. +</P> + +<P> +This done, he walked across to the spot where he had left his own +cycle, still holding the plug in his hand. +</P> + +<P> +"He's going to clean the blessed thing for me," thought Rollo, "and +it's in perfect order, too." +</P> + +<P> +But the next moment his amusement was changed to consternation, for, +leaping into his saddle, the German made off at full speed, leaving +Rollo with a motor-cycle that was now out of action with a vengeance. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo was not left long in doubt as to the fellow's intentions. Soon +he reappeared from the village accompanied by a patrol of Uhlans. The +British-made motor-cycle had aroused his suspicions, and a closer +inspection of Rollo's dust-covered uniform had confirmed them. +</P> + +<P> +"The brute!" ejaculated Rollo. "At all events those fellows won't make +use of my cycle." +</P> + +<P> +With a quick movement he unscrewed the cap of the petrol tank, and +threw his highly-prized mount on its side. Then, striking a match and +deliberately waiting till it was well alight, he threw it into the +escaping spirit. With a flash and a roar the petrol caught, and in an +instant the cycle was enveloped in flames. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo did not wait to see the end of his act of destruction. Taking to +his heels he ran towards a wood about a couple of furlongs from the +road. The hoarse shouts of the pursuing Uhlans rang in his ears as he +fled, while a bullet, missing him handsomely, whizzed ten feet above +his head. +</P> + +<P> +Another shot followed with no better result. It was not the rifles of +the pursuing horsemen that he feared; it was their obvious superiority +in speed. +</P> + +<P> +He could hear the thud of the horses' hoofs in the soft ground growing +momentarily louder and louder. Only twenty yards more, and the Uhlans +would be balked by the dense foliage. Ahead was a ditch, six feet in +width, with a fairly high bank on the opposite side. In his heated +imagination the fugitive could almost feel the points of those ugly +lances thrust into his back. +</P> + +<P> +With a stupendous effort he leapt, alighting on the other side of the +ditch on his hands and knees. The Germans, fearing to risk the jump, +began to rein in their horses. For the time being he had won. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo staggered to his feet and clambered up the bank, when to his +horror he found himself confronted by a dozen levelled rifles. It was +a case of "out of the frying-pan into the fire" with a vengeance. +</P> + +<P> +Had there been a ghost of a chance to break away Rollo would have +seized it, but there was none. He raised both hands above his head. +</P> + +<P> +The next instant he was held by two powerful soldiers, while others, +with a dexterity acquired by much practice, searched him. Not only was +he stripped, and the lining of his coat ripped open, but his boots were +removed and the soles cut through, in case a hidden dispatch might be +found. They even forced open his mouth to make certain he was not +swallowing any document; and they took good care to retain the letters +he had received from home. +</P> + +<P> +Finding nothing of the nature they suspected, the sergeant in charge of +the men gruffly ordered him in very imperfect French to dress. Then, +escorted by four men, and followed by the patrol of Uhlans and the +motor-cyclist who had raised the alarm, Rollo was taken into the +village and brought before a group of officers. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, Englishman! We have caught you, then," exclaimed one of the +Prussian officers. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo looked straight at him. The German was in the uniform of the +line. His head was swathed in surgical bandages, but there was enough +of his face left exposed to give the British lad a clue to the identity +of the speaker. He was the major who had treacherously attempted to +shoot the Belgian officer by whom he had been given quarter, on the +occasion of the night attack upon Fort de Barchon. On the fall of the +Liége fortresses the Prussian had been released by his comrades, and in +spite of his wound was once more at the front. +</P> + +<P> +For the next ten minutes Rollo was closely questioned. He replied only +when he felt fairly certain that there was no harm in so doing; but, +when pressed to give information respecting the Belgian forces, he +resolutely refused. +</P> + +<P> +The German officers swore, and threatened him. +</P> + +<P> +"You cannot make me disclose information," declared Rollo. "It is +against the rules of war to coerce a prisoner." +</P> + +<P> +A chorus of loud jeering laughter greeted this statement. +</P> + +<P> +"My young friend," quoth the Major when the mirth had subsided, "you do +not understand. When Germany makes war she makes war: there are no +half-measures. Why should we, the greatest nation upon earth, be bound +by rules and regulations laid down by a self-constituted peace +party—the Geneva Convention?" +</P> + +<P> +"But Germany was a party to it." +</P> + +<P> +"Because at the time it suited her purpose. It is no use arguing, +young Englishman. The point is, do you answer all our questions, or +must we exercise pressure? Bear in mind that if you give false +information, which we are certain to find out, you will be shot." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo felt far from comfortable. His faith in the traditions of war, +in which he had been versed by his father, was ruthlessly destroyed by +the cold-blooded declaration of his captor. It was as well that he was +given to pondering rather than to forming a hasty and impulsive +resolution, otherwise he might have told the German major to do his +worst. Under similar circumstances the impetuous Kenneth might have +sealed his own death-warrant; but Rollo remembered that a still tongue +makes a wise head. +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately at this juncture an orderly knocked at the door. In +response to an ungracious permission to enter he strode stiffly into +the room, clicked his heels, and saluted. +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" demanded the Major. +</P> + +<P> +The soldier handed his officer a sealed dispatch. The German broke the +flap of the envelope with a violent movement of his thick fingers. It +was characteristic of him and his profession: the use of brute force, +even when dealing with the frailest thing that balked him. +</P> + +<P> +His brows darkened. With an oath he tossed the document to his brother +officers. They, too, swore. The news was not at all reassuring. +</P> + +<P> +"Sergeant!" roared the Major. "Tell one of your men to have the +swiftest motor-car he can find brought here at once. Those Belgian +brutes have been causing trouble near Tirlemont. Then pick out a +reliable patrol to escort this prisoner to Tirlemont, where I will deal +with him in due course." +</P> + +<P> +The sergeant saluted, and ran as hard as he could to execute his +superior's commands. Rollo was removed in charge of the guards, until +the arrival of the Uhlans detailed to act as his escort. Then, having +made arrangements with his brother officers for the hurrying up of the +regiment to repel the new phase of the Belgian offensive, the Major +entered the waiting car and was whirled off along the Tirlemont road. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo smiled grimly as he noted the numbers of the Uhlan escort. +</P> + +<P> +"Seven of them: they are not going to take much risk of my giving them +the slip," he thought. "All the same I'll keep my eyes well open, and +if there is the faintest possible chance I'll take it. Anything is +better than being threatened by that brute of a Prussian major. I wish +I had knocked him over the head that night." +</P> + +<P> +After traversing about two miles of the road the Uhlans relaxed their +vigilance. No longer did they carry their lances across the +saddle-bow, ready to transfix their prisoner at the first sign of +trouble. Out came their pipes, and, under the soothing influence of +the tobacco, the Uhlans attempted a conversation in broken French with +their youthful charge. It was not a pleasant subject, for, with grim +vividness, they impressed upon the lad the fact that they had already +seen more than twenty summary executions, and judging by the manner in +which the prisoners met their fate, the process was sharp and +practically painless. But they could not understand why Herr Major had +gone to the trouble to have the prisoner sent after him to Tirlemont, +instead of having him put out of the way without further delay. +</P> + +<P> +A mounted scout came galloping along the dusty road. The corporal in +charge of the Uhlans stopped him to ask whether there were any Belgian +troops in the district. Receiving a negative reply, the Uhlan grunted +that it was just as well, as he had no desire to be shot at by those +troublesome rascals. +</P> + +<P> +"It is as safe as in the Unter den Linden," added the scout. "There is +not an armed Belgian within ten miles of you. Our 43rd and 62nd Line +Regiments have just gone forward. You might almost see the rear-guard; +so keep up a brave heart, comrade." +</P> + +<P> +The corporal growled at this joking advice, yet in his own mind he felt +greatly relieved. After all there was no hurry to reach Tirlemont. If +the patrol arrived before sunset, it was more than likely they would be +ordered to perform another and more hazardous service. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll halt at that farm-house," he said to his men. "There may be +something worth finding. Two of you will be sufficient to keep an eye +on the prisoner. He doesn't seem as if he will give trouble." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Entombed +</H3> + +<P> +"Ciel! What has hit you?" asked the Belgian corporal, regarding +Kenneth with evident alarm. +</P> + +<P> +"I am all right," replied the lad; "but those Uhlans have captured my +friend—the English motor-cyclist I told you about." +</P> + +<P> +"Get your rifles, comrades," ordered the corporal. "Louis, since you +are wounded, remain at this loop-hole." +</P> + +<P> +The lancer, struggling into his cartridge-belt, made his way to the +observation post; while Kenneth and the rest of the Belgians pushed +back the trap-door and took cover on the ground floor of the +partly-demolished house. There was plenty of time, for the Uhlans were +proceeding at a leisurely pace. +</P> + +<P> +"It is safe to fire," continued the corporal, having satisfied himself +on all sides that there were no other German troops within sight. "I +will take the leading Bosche on the right; Gaston, the one by his side +will make a broad mark, since you are not a first-class shot. You, +Étienne, cover the Uhlans on the prisoner's left; and you, monsieur, +try your luck on that fellow in the rear. The rest we must polish off +with the second round: none must escape, or we are undone. Now, +monsieur, when I give the word, shout to your friend and tell him to +fall to the ground. Even a hulking German will not stop a bullet, and +I am sure your friend would not like a second-hand piece of lead." +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the seconds seemed to pass. The Belgians, with their rifles +resting on the broken brickwork and their fingers lightly touching +their sensitive triggers, were ready for their prey. Admirably +concealed, they were still further favoured by the light, for the +setting sun shone full in the faces of the unsuspecting Uhlans. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, monsieur!" hissed the corporal. +</P> + +<P> +"Rollo!" shouted Kenneth. "Lie down!" +</P> + +<P> +For once, at least, Rollo acted promptly. He threw himself on the road +so swiftly that the horse of the Uhlan behind him reared. The German +corporal, although he could not understand what was said, suspected the +truth. +</P> + +<P> +A word of command was on his lips, when he tumbled from the saddle with +a bullet through his brain. Two more Germans shared the fate of their +non-commissioned officer; but the fellow at whom Gaston had aimed came +off lightly, with a neatly-drilled hole through his bridle-arm. +</P> + +<P> +Two more, dismounting and taking cover behind their horses, attempted +to use their carbines; while the seventh, seized with a panic, wheeled, +and galloped as hard as he could from the scene. +</P> + +<P> +Again the Belgian rifles rang out. The fugitive horse stumbled and +fell, throwing its rider with a sickening thud upon the hard road. +From the semi-underground retreat the Belgian corporal's rifle flashed, +and one of the dismounted Uhlans dropped, while his horse, wounded in +the neck by the same bullet that had killed his master, reared, and +plunged upon Rollo as he lay upon the ground. +</P> + +<P> +The other dismounted German, seeing the fate of his comrades, attempted +to remount, but he too fell, shot through the heart. +</P> + +<P> +In the midst of the confusion the wounded Uhlan set spurs to his steed +and, bending over the animal's neck, tore down the road. +</P> + +<P> +"Drop him: if he gets away we are as good as done for!" shouted the +Belgian corporal. +</P> + +<P> +Shot after shot whistled after the fugitive. Once he was seen to give +a spasmodic movement and then again to drop over the horse's neck. +Still the terrified animal tore onwards, and at length was out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Quel dommage!" ejaculated the corporal. "The rascal has got away." +</P> + +<P> +"He'll drop. I'll swear that he was badly hit," said Étienne, the +artilleryman. +</P> + +<P> +"We are not to know that," grumbled the corporal; "at least, not at +present. Quick, there! We must remove all traces of the affair, and +trust to luck that the fellow will be able to tell no tales." +</P> + +<P> +Resting their rifles against the wall, Kenneth and his Belgian comrades +ran into the road. They found Rollo little the worse for his +experiences, beyond a bruised ankle caused by a kick from the +struggling horse. +</P> + +<P> +"Congratulations after. Work first," exclaimed the corporal. +"Together, comrades!" +</P> + +<P> +The corpses of the Uhlans and their horses were dragged across the +highway and thrown into the broad ditch, where in the now gathering +twilight they would escape observation, while dust was thrown upon the +traces of the encounter. +</P> + +<P> +"Now to the cellar!" exclaimed the corporal. "Nevertheless, I will +remain without for a time. I am not at all satisfied. The escape of +that wounded Uhlan troubles me, so I will keep watch from without." +</P> + +<P> +"He received his quietus, never fear," declared Gaston. "He will tell +no tales." +</P> + +<P> +"If your opinion is not more true than your aim—" began the corporal +meaningly. "But we must hope that it is so. All the same I will keep +watch." +</P> + +<P> +The rest of his comrades regained their underground retreat, leaving +the trap-door open in order that the corporal could descend without +delay. Rollo was this time the centre of attraction, and the rescued +lad had to give a long and detailed account of his adventures in the +hands of the Germans. +</P> + +<P> +"Your foot is hurting you," observed Kenneth, noticing that Rollo was +wincing towards the close of his narrative. "Take off your boot and +let me see what is wrong." +</P> + +<P> +Examination showed that Rollo's leg was badly bruised from the ankle to +the knee; in addition there were slight abrasions. +</P> + +<P> +"It's lucky you didn't get a direct kick from that horse," continued +Kenneth. "I'll bring some water and bathe it. I'm sorry we haven't +any first-aid stuff with us." +</P> + +<P> +With that Kenneth reascended the ladder, and made his way to a well +that was situated about ten paces from where the back door of the house +used to be. It was now nearly dark. The Belgian keeping his solitary +vigil was hardly visible in the gloom. +</P> + +<P> +The lad raised the heavy iron bucket, emptied about half the contents +away, and was about to return to the cellar when the corporal gripped +him by the shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"Regardez bien!" he whispered, pointing along the road that led to +Cortenaeken. +</P> + +<P> +"German cavalry!" exclaimed Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Would that it were!" said the Belgian. "Then we might see some fun. +They are artillery. Ten thousand plagues on the clumsiness of Gaston! +By missing that fellow, he allowed him to bring this hornets' nest +about our ears. To the cellar! We cannot fight, we must hide and +trust to luck." +</P> + +<P> +Quickly the cellar-flap was shut, and in total darkness the six men +waited for the opening of the German guns. +</P> + +<P> +An appalling crash, followed by the rumbling of fallen bricks, +announced that the first shell had hit the building. Mortar dropped +from the arched roof of their underground retreat. The Belgians +chuckled. +</P> + +<P> +"Let the rascals waste their shells," declared Étienne. "They will +want them badly before the war is over." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you bring the water?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Rather! I am not such an ass as to forget about you, old man," +replied Kenneth. "Can you limp as far as the end of the cellar? +There's a bench or something of the kind. It will be better than +sitting on the cold stones." +</P> + +<P> +Carefully and deliberately Kenneth bathed his chum's injured leg, while +without the deafening crashes continued at rapid intervals. +</P> + +<P> +"There can't be much of the house left," observed Rollo. "It wasn't +much of a show when I first saw it. By the by, where is your bike?" +</P> + +<P> +"Under some damp straw in an outhouse. It ought to be well out of the +bursting area of those shells. At any rate——" +</P> + +<P> +A vivid flash of light filled the cellar. There was a terrific roar, +followed by an avalanche of bricks and stones. Kenneth, who was +kneeling by his chum, was thrown violently against Rollo, and the two, +deafened by the concussion, found themselves gasping for breath amid +the sulphurous fumes that wafted around them. +</P> + +<P> +A shell, crashing through the cellar-flap, had burst in the underground +refuge. The luckless Belgians were literally blown to atoms. Kenneth +and Rollo had escaped almost by a miracle, only to be confronted by a +new danger. They were buried alive, and in peril of suffocation from +the noxious gases of the burst projectile. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth staggered to his feet. His head came in contact with an +immense slab of stone. He stretched out his arms, to find that his +hands touched a shaking mass of brickwork on both sides. +</P> + +<P> +"We're trapped!" he whispered. "If those brutes fire again, the rest +of the cellar will cave in on top of us I wonder how the other fellows +got on." +</P> + +<P> +He called the Belgians by name, at first softly, then gradually raising +his voice, but no reply came through the intervening barrier of debris. +</P> + +<P> +The firing had now ceased. The last shell—the most destructive of +all—had reduced the farm-house to a heap of ruins. Above ground, +hardly one brick or stone adhered to another, while beneath the mound +of ruins the two British lads were entombed, and apparently doomed to a +lingering death. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Way Out +</H3> + +<P> +For nearly a quarter of an hour, though it seemed like a long-drawn +night, Kenneth and Rollo remained silent. Gradually the air became +purer as the fumes escaped through the crevices in the brickwork. It +was the darkness they dreaded most—a darkness that could almost be +felt. It seemed to have weight, to press upon their eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had a match," whispered Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo felt in his pockets. It was, as he expected, a vain quest, for +when in the hands of the Germans he had been rigorously searched, and +every article in his possession had been confiscated. +</P> + +<P> +"This is the limit," said Kenneth dolorously. "I'd much rather be shot +in action. Here we may be snuffed out and no one will be a bit the +wiser. We may not be found for years, perhaps never." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, shut up!" exclaimed his companion. "It's bad enough without +rubbing it in." +</P> + +<P> +"I wasn't." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, you were; but, I say, don't let us start quarrelling. The +question is——" +</P> + +<P> +"Hist!" whispered Kenneth. "I hear voices." +</P> + +<P> +The lad was right. Almost above their heads heavy boots were stumbling +over the debris, while the muffled sounds of guttural voices were borne +to the ears of the two prisoners. The Germans were searching the ruins. +</P> + +<P> +"I vote we shout. They'll dig us out," suggested Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"I vote we don't," objected Rollo sturdily. "See, the gleam of a +lantern is showing through a crack or a hole in the brickwork, so it +can't be so very thick. We may be able to tunnel our way out when they +clear off. If we gave ourselves up, ten to one they would shoot us for +giving them all this trouble." +</P> + +<P> +It was that small glimmer of light that raised their hopes, without +which they would, through sheer panic, have called frantically to their +foes for aid, without considering the consequences. +</P> + +<P> +For perhaps an hour the Germans continued their search, until, +discovering the passage of the final and fatal shell, they removed +sufficient of the debris to enable them to descend to the cellar. The +entombment of the two lads now proved to be a blessing in disguise, +for, screened from observation by the mound of rubble, their retreat +was unsuspected by the searchers. +</P> + +<P> +Having found sufficient evidence to satisfy themselves that the +Belgians who had ambushed the Uhlan patrol were themselves slain, the +Germans concluded their investigations and went away. +</P> + +<P> +For another long period the lads remained silent, until they felt +convinced that once more they were free from the unwelcome attentions +of the German troops. Then Rollo broke the silence. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm jolly thirsty," he remarked. +</P> + +<P> +"So am I," declared Kenneth. "There's some water in the bucket. We +needn't be too particular. I dipped my handkerchief in it, but it was +fairly clean." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm ready to mop water out of a ditch," said Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth groped for the bucket. It was within six inches of his foot +and standing upright, but it was empty. A fragment of shell had torn a +hole through it close to the bottom. Not a drop of liquid was left. +</P> + +<P> +"We've had a jolly narrow squeak," said Kenneth. "After that it would +be hard lines if we were knocked out in the last lap. I don't think we +shall be. Suppose we start tunnelling." +</P> + +<P> +"Steady on, old man! We ought to wait till it gets light. Then we +will be able to see what we are doing," expostulated his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"I can feel." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, perhaps; but by dislodging part of the rubble you may cause a +sort of landslide and bury us completely. I vote we exercise just a +little more patience." +</P> + +<P> +They had been conversing in whispers, lest the sound of their voices +might be heard by a sentry, for it was quite possible that the Germans +might think they had not accounted for the whole garrison of the ruined +farmhouse. They had good reason to believe that the British +dispatch-rider had taken refuge there; the only chance was that they +might have come to the conclusion that Rollo was one of the +unrecognizable victims of the deadly shell. +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the hours of darkness passed, the silence broken only at +intervals by the dull grinding of the subsiding debris and by a +desultory, whispered conversation between the lads. Then Kenneth +became aware that he could indistinctly discern his companion's face +The long-hoped-for dawn had come at last. +</P> + +<P> +In another half-hour it was light enough to form a fairly accurate idea +of the state of affairs. The prisoners were in a triangular-shaped +space, two sides consisting of the adjoining walls of the cellar. The +third was composed of a bank of broken bricks and stones, diminishing +in thickness as it grew in height. Overhead a part of the vaulted roof +had fallen, but the brickwork remained cemented together, forming a +shield from the rubble above it. But for this mass of brickwork the +lads would have been crushed to death by the immense weight of the +ruined walls of the farm-house. +</P> + +<P> +Between the topmost bricks and the overhead protection quite a strong +light penetrated into the cavity where they crouched. The early +morning sun was shining directly upon the heap of debris. +</P> + +<P> +"I think we can shift this stuff," remarked Kenneth, cautiously feeling +a loose brickbat. +</P> + +<P> +"All right, carry on," replied Rollo. "Only be careful to test each +piece of rubble before you remove it. If we cannot make a hole through +in that direction we must try cutting through the existing wall. It +will be a tough job, but you have your knife." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope we won't have to do that. The cement is as hard as iron. It +would take us a week. Let's hope for the best." +</P> + +<P> +Proceeding very cautiously, Kenneth removed enough of the debris to +disclose an opening sufficiently large to thrust his head through. +Upon attempting to enlarge the hole the mass began to slide; the +overhead slab of brickwork rumbled. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady on!" cautioned Rollo in alarm. "The whole show's caving in." +</P> + +<P> +"It won't any more," declared Kenneth after a brief investigation. +"See that wedge-shaped brick? It's acting as a keystone of an arch. +All we have to do is to remove the rubbish from the lower part of the +hole and squeeze out sideways." +</P> + +<P> +In another half-hour the gap through the mound of rubble was enlarged +to roughly eighteen inches wide and two feet in height. To all +appearances the danger of further subsidence was past. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go first, old man," said Kenneth. "Then, if I get through all +right, I can give you a hand. Think you'll manage it with that leg of +yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"I hardly feel it," replied Rollo, which was indeed no exaggeration. +Keeping fairly still in that confined space, he had not tried the +injured ankle. But, almost as soon as he made the declaration, he +became aware of a throbbing pain from his hip downwards. In spite of +Kenneth's attention to the sprained ankle on the previous night, the +limb had swollen to an alarming extent. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo made no mention of this to his comrade. He shut his jaw tightly +and endured the pain. +</P> + +<P> +With the utmost caution Kenneth began to wriggle through the narrow +tunnel, using one outstretched arm to pull himself over the rough +brickwork. The other arm he had to keep close to his side, and even +thus it was a tight squeeze. Before his head emerged from the opening +he stuck—and stuck fast. He felt as if he were suffocating; he was +assailed by the horrible dread that the rubble was slowly yet surely +subsiding. He wanted to struggle madly and desperately; to shout for +aid. He was momentarily panic-stricken. +</P> + +<P> +Controlling himself by a strong effort, Kenneth ceased to waste his +strength in a useless attempt to drag himself from that horrible +passage. With the sweat pouring from him he kept quiet, filling his +lungs with the cool morning air from without. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you stopped for?" asked Rollo anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't help it," was the muffled reply. "Give my legs a shove, old +man." +</P> + +<P> +This Rollo did effectively by applying his back to the soles of his +companion's feet. Keeping absolutely rigid, Kenneth found himself +being pushed slowly yet gradually towards freedom. His head +emerged—then his shoulders. He could now draw up his left arm and +assist in the nerve-racking operation. Wellnigh breathless, bruised +and scraped, covered with dirt and dust, and with his clothing rent in +several places, he gained the open air. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth had already had sufficient military experience to learn the +value of concealment. Without attempting to stand he made a careful +survey of his surroundings. He was in a bowl-like depression enclosed +on all sides by irregular hummocks of pulverized brickwork, tiles, and +charred timbers. +</P> + +<P> +With a sigh of relief the lad realized that there were no Germans in +sight. The attacking party had not thought fit to leave a picket in +charge of the ruins of the farm-house. To all appearances the two +comrades were the only living persons for miles around. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll get the rope from the well and give you a pull out," announced +Kenneth upon returning to the mouth of the tunnel. "It will be a +fairly easy job." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't be long, then," said Rollo anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"I won't," replied the lad encouragingly, and without further delay he +hastened towards the well. It was no longer there. Only a deep cavity +partly filled with rubbish marked its site. A shell had exploded close +to it, causing the walls to cave in, and throwing out enough earth to +leave a pit three yards in diameter. The windlass and the rope had +vanished utterly. +</P> + +<P> +"That's done it!" exclaimed Kenneth; then a brilliant idea flashing +across his mind, he bent his back and ran across to the +partly-demolished outhouse where he had hidden his motor-cycle. +</P> + +<P> +With a shout of satisfaction he found the machine exactly as he had +left it. The Germans had visited the adjoining shed, for several +bundles of fresh straw had been removed. Wisps of straw were scattered +on the ground, but the rotten material which Kenneth had thrown over +his mount had been considered unworthy of the spoilers' attention. +</P> + +<P> +Deftly Kenneth removed the belt from the cycle and doubled back to the +tunnel. +</P> + +<P> +"You've been a time!" exclaimed Rollo with evident relief. "I thought +you'd tumbled into the well or had been collared by the enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"Neither, thanks, old man. The well's gone to blazes and the rope as +well, but this belt will answer our purpose. Hang on with both hands, +turn over on your side, sprained foot uppermost, and say when you're +ready." +</P> + +<P> +Upon receiving the signal Kenneth began to haul. To his great surprise +Rollo was pulled through the narrow opening with very little +difficulty. Once more they were free; but they were not yet out of the +wood. Between them and the Belgian army lay the lines of a vigilant +and wary foe. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Through the Enemy's Lines +</H3> + +<P> +"Everything's all clear, as far as I can see," reported Kenneth. "The +question is, how are we to rejoin our regiment?" +</P> + +<P> +"I can foot it," declared Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"But not ten miles. Your ankle would give out before you walked a +hundred yards. What I vote we do is that I ride the bike and take you +on the carrier." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Too jolly conspicuous," he protested. "One fellow might stand the +ghost of a chance, but two——" +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth turned over the question in his mind for a few moments. To +remain where they were was impracticable. They would be starving +before many more hours had passed. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell you what!" he exclaimed as an idea flashed through his brain. +"We'll rig ourselves out in German uniforms——" +</P> + +<P> +"And get shot as spies if we're collared! No, thanks, Kenneth. If we +are to be plugged I'd rather be in Belgian uniform, since a British one +is at present out of the question." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a risk, I admit. Everything is, under existing circumstances. +If we are spotted, then there's an end to it and us; otherwise we stand +a better chance by masquerading in these fellows' clothes." +</P> + +<P> +"But if we are challenged? We couldn't reply in German." +</P> + +<P> +"You're meeting trouble half-way." +</P> + +<P> +"I like to go into the pros and cons," declared Rollo. "If you can +convince me that your scheme is a sound one, I'm on; otherwise—dead +off. For one thing, where are the German uniforms?" +</P> + +<P> +"You've forgotten the Uhlans we slung into the ditch." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. +</P> + +<P> +"I draw the line at donning the saturated uniform of a dead Uhlan." +</P> + +<P> +"Come, don't be squeamish. If you are never asked to do a worse thing +than that in the course of your natural, then you are a lucky +individual. You'll find it's like taking a header into the sea on a +gusty summer's day. The wind makes you shiver, and you think twice +about it, but once you are in the water it's comparatively warm." +</P> + +<P> +"You haven't got over the language difficulty." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I have; at least I think so. If we meet any patrols, you must +pretend to be half-dead——" +</P> + +<P> +"I guess I shall be dead entirely if we do." +</P> + +<P> +"Badly wounded, then. I'll bandage you up, and at the same time put a +scarf round my jaw." +</P> + +<P> +"What for?" +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't you any imagination, old man? Why, to make out I've been +wounded in the mouth and am unable to speak a word." +</P> + +<P> +"You may think me an obstinate mule, Kenneth," said his comrade, "but +why should two wounded men be trying to make their way to the front? +Naturally they would be making tracks to the nearest field hospital." +</P> + +<P> +"You've done me there," declared Kenneth. "But I can't see how we can +go direct towards the German lines. Whether we go to the right or left +the road runs nearly parallel to the enemy's front." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps we may as well risk it," decided Rollo. "I believe I noticed +a plank across the ditch about a mile along the road. The question is +whether the bike will stand it over the rough ground." +</P> + +<P> +"She will—she'll tackle anything within reason," said Kenneth +optimistically. "So let's make a move." +</P> + +<P> +Overcoming their natural repugnance, the two lads recovered the bodies +of a couple of Uhlans from the muddy ditch and proceeded to strip them +of their uniforms. These they wrung out, and placed on the broken +brickwork to dry. +</P> + +<P> +"I say!" suddenly exclaimed Rollo. "How about these boots with spurs? +Do Uhlans ever ride motor-bikes?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rather! They've a couple of motor-cyclists to each troop. All we +have to do is to knock off the spurs, and there you are!" +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the two lads had completed their change of uniforms they +made a final reconnaissance. Finding the road clear of troops, Kenneth +started the engine and stood astride the saddle, while Rollo took up +his position on the carrier. +</P> + +<P> +They looked a pair of bedraggled scarecrows. The Uhlan uniforms were +wet and plastered with mud. Rollo's forehead was bound round with a +grimy scarf, while, to give a most realistic touch, Kenneth had tied +the blood-stained handkerchief that had been applied to his chum's +ankle round the lower part of his face, completely covering his mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Ready?" asked Kenneth in muffled tones. Receiving an affirmative +reply from his companion, he slipped in the clutch and away the cycle +glided. +</P> + +<P> +"Here's trouble!" the lad thought before many yards of road had been +traversed, for ahead was a rapidly-nearing cloud of dust that evidently +betokened the approach of cavalry or horse artillery. +</P> + +<P> +"Troops of sorts coming," he informed his companion. +</P> + +<P> +"Thanks, quite comfortable," was Rollo's inconsequential reply; for the +handkerchief round Kenneth's mouth, the noise of the engine, and the +rush of air as the motor-cycle tore along prevented the passenger from +hearing the information given, while Rollo was unable to look ahead. +</P> + +<P> +"Germans in sight!" yelled Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +This time Rollo understood. Resisting the temptation to look over his +companion's shoulder, he drooped his head, as becoming the rôle of a +badly-wounded man. +</P> + +<P> +The on-coming troops turned out to be neither cavalry nor artillery, +but a motor section, including a machine-gun mounted on an armoured +side-car. Fortunately the pace as Rollo and Kenneth tore past was such +that recognition or detection was out of the question. +</P> + +<P> +"Here we are," announced Rollo a few seconds later. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth quickly pulled up. As he did so he gave a hurried look around. +There were no signs of more Germans, while the motor-cyclist detachment +was almost out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +The plank across the ditch was about nine inches wide. In places it +was worn to such an extent that there were holes in the wood. Kenneth +eyed it with obvious distrust, yet it seemed the only likely means of +gaining the open country beyond, across which a footpath promised +fairly easy going. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't know that it was so rotten as that," said Rollo +apologetically. "I don't know whether it will bear the weight of the +bike." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll risk it anyhow," declared Kenneth. "Can you put your foot to +the ground without much pain? You can? Good! Steady the jigger a +second." +</P> + +<P> +Unhesitatingly Kenneth jumped into the ditch. He sank above his ankles +in mud, with the water up to his thighs, yet he was able to keep the +motor-cycle in an upright position while Rollo, steadying himself by +means of the saddle, pushed it along the creaking plank. +</P> + +<P> +"That looks bad," commented Kenneth, pointing to a small object lying +on the ground. It was a brass button from the tunic of a Prussian +soldier. Some of the enemy had passed that way, and were consequently +between the lads and the Belgian lines. +</P> + +<P> +"We may find a gap," declared Rollo, for by this time he was +whole-heartedly devoted to the carrying out of his comrade's plans. +"If it comes to the pinch we will have to abandon the bike." +</P> + +<P> +"Steady, old man!" said Kenneth in mock reproof. "Because you lost +your motor-cycle there is no reason why you should suggest my doing +likewise. Now, jump up." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth maintained a moderate pace, keeping a bright look-out for any +indications of the invaders. Judging by the state of the path and the +ground for a few yards on either side, a regiment had recently passed +that way, marching in fours. That meant that they were some distance +from the supposed firing-line, otherwise the men would have advanced in +open order. From the north came the distant rumble of guns. An action +was in progress in the neighbourhood of Diest and Aerschot. +</P> + +<P> +"Look out!" suddenly exclaimed Rollo. "There's a Taube." +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" enquired his companion, slipping the handkerchief from over +his mouth. +</P> + +<P> +"Right behind us, and coming this way. I believe it's going to land." +</P> + +<P> +"The rotter!" ejaculated Kenneth. "I wonder if they have spotted us, +and are suspicious." +</P> + +<P> +There was no time to say more, for the aeroplane was now passing +overhead at an altitude of about two hundred feet. The motor had been +switched off, and the Taube was vol-planing towards the earth. +</P> + +<P> +It descended clumsily, striking the ground with a terrific bump that +demolished the wheels and landing-skids. Directly the Taube came to +rest, the pilot alighted and waved frantically to the two supposed +Uhlan motor-cyclists. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll have to go," mumbled Kenneth, who had readjusted his bandage. +"You stay here. Now, steady—let me help you. Remember you are badly +wounded, yet you want to skip like a superanimated gazelle. That's +better; let your arms trail helplessly." +</P> + +<P> +Having placed Rollo in a dry, shallow ditch by the side of the path, +Kenneth walked quickly towards the disabled Taube. Outwardly he was +cool enough, but his heart was beating rapidly. +</P> + +<P> +At ten paces from the observer he stopped, clicked his heels, and +saluted in correct German fashion. +</P> + +<P> +The flying-officer spoke rapidly, at the same time pointing in a +westerly direction. Kenneth knew not a word of what he said, but +replied by nodding his head and indicating his bandaged jaw. +</P> + +<P> +The German scowled, then, turning to the pilot, spoke a few quick +sentences. Kenneth's hand wandered to the butt-end of his revolver. +It imparted a feeling of comparative security. Then, recollecting his +rôle, he pulled himself together and stood rigidly at attention, at the +same time ready, at the first sign of suspicion on the part of the +airmen, to draw his weapon and blaze away. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the pilot produced some sheets of paper and a buff calico +envelope. The observer scribbled a few lines, sealed the missive, and +held it towards the pseudo Uhlan. +</P> + +<P> +Although Kenneth could not understand the other's words, their meaning +was clear enough. He had been peremptorily told to make tracks and +deliver the message somewhere towards the west, where the German lines +were. With another salute he wheeled, and returned to his companion. +Not daring to speak a word, he assisted Rollo to his seat on the +carrier and set the motor in action. +</P> + +<P> +"We're in luck, old man," said Kenneth, when they were well out of +sight of the disabled Taube. "If we are spotted by any patrols this +letter will pass us through. It's evidently a report to the colonel of +one of the regiments in the fighting-line." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you think you had better drop me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Drop you—what on earth for?" +</P> + +<P> +"You might get through as a German dispatch-rider; but with a supposed +wounded man going towards the firing-line? Looks a bit suspicious, eh?" +</P> + +<P> +"No fear; we'll stick together. If one gets through, the other must; +otherwise we'll both go under. Hello! Here's a road." +</P> + +<P> +It was a sharp corner as they swung from the path to the highway. +Kenneth wisely slowed down, and found himself almost in collision with +a German patrol. +</P> + +<P> +The men were evidently exhausted. Two were standing in the centre of +the road, and leaning heavily upon their rifles. Half a dozen more, +having discarded their rolled coats and cumbersome knapsacks, were +reclining on a bank. The two faced about on hearing the approach of +the motor. The others sprang to their feet and seized their rifles. +</P> + +<P> +Producing the buff envelope Kenneth waved it frantically, at the same +time increasing speed. The Germans stood back, the sergeant grunting a +few words as the two lads flashed by. No bullets whistled past them; +the aviator's dispatch had proved a safe passport. +</P> + +<P> +For the next two miles they were continually passing troops, some going +in the same direction, accompanied by heavily-laden supply wagons; +others, wounded in action, painfully making their way towards the +nearest field hospital. +</P> + +<P> +The action, whatever the result might be, was no longer in this part of +the field of operations. Ahead were the bivouacs of the Germans +holding the line of front. The air was thick with the smoke of their +campfires. Right and left, as far as the eye could see, were masses of +grey-coated men, without a sign of a gap through which the British lads +could make a dash for freedom. +</P> + +<P> +Two hundred yards to the left of the road was a battery, the guns of +which were admirably concealed from view from the front by a bank of +earth on which were stuck branches of trees. The muzzles of the +artillery were pointing at an angle of thirty degrees, so that they +must have been shelling a Belgian position at a range of about five +miles. Since the guns were now silent, Kenneth could only reiterate +his belief that the heroic Belgians had had to retire in the face of +overwhelming numbers, and that a distance of at least seven miles lay +between the two lads and their friends. +</P> + +<P> +After passing numerous detachments of troops without alarming incident, +the confidence of Kenneth and his companion grew stronger; but they had +a nasty shock when they were peremptorily challenged by a picket and +ordered to halt. The sight of half a dozen levelled bayonets left no +doubt as to the demands of the sergeant in charge of the party. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth brought the motor-cycle to a dead-stop, keeping his saddle and +supporting the machine by placing his feet on the ground. Rollo, too, +made no attempt to dismount, but, clinging to his companion, drooped +his head with well-feigned exhaustion. +</P> + +<P> +Pointing to the bandage over his jaw, Kenneth produced the official +document. The sergeant took it, read the inscription, and pointed to a +turning on the right. That, the lads knew, ran parallel to the German +front. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile one of the soldiers stooped and peered into Rollo's face. +Then he said something to the sergeant, who signified assent. The +private began to lift Rollo from his perch—not with any degree of +violence, but carefully, as if actuated by feelings of compassion, +addressing him as <I>kamerade</I>. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo hung on tightly. Kenneth turned his head and expostulated in +dumb show. The private again appealed to his sergeant, at the same +time pointing to a Red Cross motor-wagon that was standing at some +distance off. +</P> + +<P> +With a jerk of his head the sergeant bade the man desist. After all, +it was not his business. If the wounded Uhlan preferred to be jolted +about on a motorcycle rather than be properly attended to in an +ambulance cart, it was his affair. +</P> + +<P> +Not to be outdone, the private gave Rollo a drink from his +water-bottle. Then, having returned the envelope to Kenneth and given +him elaborate directions, made fairly clear by many movements of his +hand, the sergeant allowed the two lads to proceed. +</P> + +<P> +To continue along the road would arouse immediate suspicion. +Accordingly Kenneth turned off and followed the route indicated by the +German. Here, although there were plenty of troops moving up and down, +most of the traffic was across the road between the bivouacs of the +advance lines and the supports. Men were hurrying, each with a set +purpose, and the two supposed wounded lads attracted but little notice. +</P> + +<P> +The road they were now following was gradually converging upon the line +of resting troops. Unless it made a bend to the right it would cut +through the mass of German soldiery. And perhaps the officer whose +name was on the envelope might be within close distance. His +acquaintance neither Kenneth nor Rollo had the faintest desire to make. +</P> + +<P> +So suddenly that Kenneth almost overshot it, a narrow lane, running at +right angles to the direction in which they were travelling, came into +view. It separated two infantry regiments, while at the cross-roads +two machine-guns commanded the approach from the westward. +</P> + +<P> +In an instant Kenneth made up his mind. Round swung the motor-bike, +grazing one of the machine-guns by a bare inch; then, at full speed, +Kenneth began his hazardous dash for safety. He had not ignored the +risk, but there was a chance of success. The lane wound considerably, +and, before the machine-guns could open fire, the fugitives would be +screened by a bend of the tree-lined avenue. +</P> + +<P> +A dozen voices shouted to him to stop. A bullet whistled high above +the heads of the fugitives. A soldier, more alert than his comrades, +had let loose a hasty, ill-aimed shot. Other bullets followed, some +hitting the ground, others zipping overhead; but to Kenneth's relief +there was no tap-tap of the deadly machine-guns. +</P> + +<P> +"An outpost, by Jove!" muttered Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +He had not reckoned upon this. A quarter of a mile in advance of the +line of bivouacs were a dozen infantrymen, lying hidden in a copse. +Hearing the rifle-firing they started to their feet. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth never attempted to slacken his pace. He realized that +everything depended upon speed. Before the outposts could solve the +mystery of two men in Uhlan uniforms tearing towards them, the +motor-cycle with its double burden was upon them. They gave back. One +man attempted to lunge with his bayonet, but the tip of the steel +flashed a good hair's breadth behind Rollo's back. +</P> + +<P> +A ragged, ill-aimed volley was the parting salute. The two British +lads were through the enemy's lines. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Arrested as Spies +</H3> + +<P> +"We're safe for the present," remarked Kenneth, after the two fugitives +had placed a distance of at least four miles between them and the +outlying German post. "I didn't mention it before, but the belt is +slipping horribly. The strain has stretched it a lot; so we may as +well shorten the rubber." +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, it is slack!" exclaimed Rollo, testing the "give" of the +belt. "It's a wonder it didn't let us down badly. It's a funny thing, +old man, but I've often noticed that if we expect a lot of trouble we +get through without hardly any bother. The last lap, when we rushed +the German lines, was as easy as ABC." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," assented his companion. "I've noticed that too. It's the +unexpected trifle that often leads to greater difficulties. Got your +knife handy? Oh, I suppose the Germans took a fancy to that too. Can +you get mine from my pocket? That's right, cut the belt through at an +inch from the end." +</P> + +<P> +The motor-cyclists had halted in the midst of a war-devastated area. +Farm houses and buildings were numerous, but in almost every case they +had suffered severely from shell-fire. Not a living creature, besides +themselves, was in sight. Here and there were corpses of the gallant +defenders of Belgium, some in uniforms, some in civilian attire. These +men, shot whilst in the act of retiring under a terrific artillery +fire, had been left where they fell, showing how heavy had been the +German attack; for in most cases the plucky Belgians contrived to carry +off those of their comrades who had died for their country. +</P> + +<P> +Close to the spot where Kenneth and his companion had stopped was a +large farm wagon piled high with furniture. Yoked to it were the +bodies of two oxen, while a short distance away lay a dead peasant—an +old man. The wagon, on which the refugee had been attempting to remove +his goods and chattels from his threatened homestead, had fallen an +easy target to the German guns. +</P> + +<P> +A gnawing hunger compelled the British lads to examine the +shell-riddled contents of the wagon in the hope of finding food. But +in this they were disappointed. Not so much as a scrap of anything to +eat was to be found. +</P> + +<P> +Both lads were parched, Kenneth especially so. Even Rollo had almost +forgotten the refreshing taste of the water given him by the German +private. Yet, even in the pangs of a burning thirst, they could not +bring themselves to drink of the stagnant water in the ditches by the +roadside. +</P> + +<P> +The repair completed, the motor-cyclists remounted. They were most +eager to push on, even for the sake of obtaining drink, food, and rest. +It could only be a matter of a few short, easy miles before they would +be safe for the time being in the country still held by their friends, +the Belgian troops. +</P> + +<P> +"She's pulling splendidly now," announced Kenneth, referring to the +transmission of power from the engine to the driving-wheel. Both lads +had now discarded the bandages over their bogus wounds, and +conversation was a fairly easy matter. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly were the words out of his mouth when the motor began to falter. +Then it "picked up", ran for about a quarter of a minute and slowed +down again, finally coming to a dead-stop. +</P> + +<P> +"No petrol," announced Rollo ruefully. "The tank is empty." +</P> + +<P> +"Rot!" ejaculated his companion incredulously. "It was full when we +started, and I'll swear we've done nothing like sixty miles on it yet." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth examined the gauge, then turned to his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry, old man," he said. "I'm wrong. The stuff's all gone." +</P> + +<P> +Further examination revealed the unpleasant fact that there was a small +leak between the piping and the carburettor. Unnoticed, a quantity of +the petrol had run to waste. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a case of push," continued Kenneth. "How's your foot? Fit for a +tramp? If not, you may as well get on the saddle and I'll run you +along." +</P> + +<P> +Although young Barrington's ankle was paining considerably, he sturdily +refused to take advantage of his companion's offer. From experience he +knew that pushing a motor was no light task. Kenneth might be capable +of giving him a lift, but Rollo would not trespass upon his friend's +generous conduct to that extent. +</P> + +<P> +On and on they plodded, Rollo resting one hand on the saddle and +striving to conceal his limp. Presently a practically ruined village +came in sight. Not only had it been heavily bombarded, but subsequent +fires had increased the work of destruction. Thick columns of smoke +were rising high into the sultry air, while above the roar of the +flames could be heard the excited tones of human voices. +</P> + +<P> +"The villagers are trying to save the little that remains of their +homes," said Kenneth. "They'll be able to give us some information as +to where we can pick up the Belgian troops. Perhaps, though I doubt +it, we may be also able to procure petrol." +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a peasant, who was standing about a hundred yards in front of +the nearest house, took to his heels and ran, shouting as he went. +Before he gained the village, spurts of dull flame burst from behind a +heap of debris piled across the road, and half a dozen bullets <I>zipped</I> +past the two lads. +</P> + +<P> +"Lie down!" exclaimed Kenneth, stopping only to place his precious +motor-cycle behind a tree by the side of a ditch, before he followed +the prompt example of his companion. "Those fellows have mistaken us +for Uhlans. I don't wonder at it, now I come to think about it." +</P> + +<P> +Although sheltered by a mound by the side of the ditch, their place of +concealment was known to the peasants. The latter kept up quite a hot +fire from antiquated muskets and sporting-guns. Shots whizzed +overhead, and showers of pellets fell all around the two lads. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't blame them," said Rollo. "Let's hoist the white flag; it's no +disgrace in this case." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth produced a very discoloured pocket-handkerchief. At one time +it had been a white one, but owing to the various uses to which it had +been put its colour resembled that tint which the French, with a +reason, call "isabelle". For want of a staff he was obliged to hold it +by his uplifted arm. In return he received a couple of pellets from a +"twelve-bore", which, fortunately, only inflicted two punctured wounds +in his skin. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not a rabbit," muttered Kenneth, and he continued to wave the +"white flag". +</P> + +<P> +Presently the firing ceased, and a swarm of men, accompanied by several +shrieking women, bore down upon the two supposed Uhlans. +</P> + +<P> +"We're friends!" shouted Kenneth. "We're English. We've escaped from +the Prussians." +</P> + +<P> +He might just as well have attempted to stem a torrent with a feather. +The villagers saw only the hated uniforms of their merciless +oppressors. They had no cause to grant quarter to Uhlans, for Uhlans +were brutal and murderous to all with whom they came in contact when on +their dreaded raids. +</P> + +<P> +"A mort! A bas!" rose from the mob like the growling of a pack of +half-famished animals. The two British lads were in dire peril of +being torn limb from limb. +</P> + +<P> +"A bas les Prussiens! Nous sommes Anglais," shouted Kenneth again, +folding his arms and trying his level best to appear calm. +</P> + +<P> +A stick, hurled by a woman's hand, missed his head and struck him +heavily upon the shoulder. At almost the same time Rollo was hit by a +broken brick, the missile striking him in the ribs. +</P> + +<P> +"Tenez!" thundered an authoritative voice. "Let us show these vile +Uhlans that Belgians are civilized. We will give them a fair trial, +and shoot them afterwards." +</P> + +<P> +"Anything for a respite," thought Kenneth. Even in this moment of +peril the Belgian speaker's idea of a fair trial tickled his sense of +humour. +</P> + +<P> +The man who had intervened was a short, thickset fellow, with lowering +eyebrows and a crop of closely-cut hair. He was dressed in black, +while round his waist was a shawl, evidently intended for a badge of +office. He had donned it in such a hurry that the loops of the bows +had come undone and were trailing in the dust. +</P> + +<P> +Grasped by a dozen toil-hardened hands, and surrounded by the rest of +the survivors of the justly exasperated inhabitants, the two lads were +hurried towards the village. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish we had kept on our uniforms under these, old man," said Rollo. +"We've nothing to prove our identity." +</P> + +<P> +"They're speaking in German. That proves their guilt," announced one +of their captors. +</P> + +<P> +Neither Kenneth nor Rollo attempted to deny the statement—somewhat +unwisely, for their unsophisticated guards took silence as an +expression of assent to the accusation. +</P> + +<P> +The military passes provided by the Belgian Government had been +destroyed—Rollo's, when captured at Cortenaeken; Kenneth's, when the +lads made their hitherto beneficial exchange of uniforms. As Rollo had +remarked, they possessed nothing that they could produce to prove their +identity. +</P> + +<P> +Happening to look over his shoulder, Kenneth saw a peasant kicking his +motor-cycle. Unable to wheel it, since its owner had slipped in the +clutch previous to placing it under cover, the Belgian was venting his +annoyance upon the machine. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop!" shouted Kenneth. "That's an English motor-cycle. Would you do +harm to anything made by your friends the English?" +</P> + +<P> +He used the word "English" advisedly, for experience had taught him +that the term "British" is hardly known to the peasantry of Belgium. +Even the educated classes make use of the expression "English" more +frequently than "British". +</P> + +<P> +"Aye; do not injure it, Henri," called out the man who evidently held +the office of Mayor. "When the English soldiers arrive to help us to +drive back the Bosches it may be useful to them. Parbleu! It is +useless to us." +</P> + +<P> +In front of the ruined church the villagers held a most informal trial +upon their captives. From the Belgians' point of view the evidence was +absolutely conclusive against the prisoners. They were in German +uniforms. +</P> + +<P> +In vain the lads mentioned the names of Major Résimont, Captain +Planchenoît, and other officers of the 9th Regiment of the Line. The +peasants knew nothing of them; besides, they declared, it was an easy +matter to invent names. Again, the prisoners spoke French with a +foreign accent; they had been caught whilst coming from the direction +of the German lines. They were, no doubt, scouts of the Uhlan patrol, +bent upon completing the work of massacre and destruction that the guns +had begun against the unresisting village. +</P> + +<P> +"Hang them: powder is too good to waste upon canaille such as these," +suggested one of the peasants. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, hang them," agreed another. "I'll do the job. 'Twill be but a +slight revenge for my murdered wife and children. Let the Uhlans see, +when next they come, that we, too, can be terrible." +</P> + +<P> +The Major nodded his head approvingly. A man shuffled forward with a +coil of rope. +</P> + +<P> +"One moment," exclaimed Kenneth, who even in this moment of peril did +not lose his head. "If we are to die, cannot we have the service of a +priest?" +</P> + +<P> +It was a faint chance. A representative of the Church would +undoubtedly have great influence with his flock. He would, more than +likely, listen impartially to the story of the two condemned prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +"A priest?" echoed one of the peasants mockingly. "Is it likely that +Germans who have purposely shattered God's house can hope for +absolution from a priest?" +</P> + +<P> +"Besides, we have not a priest," added another. "Monsieur le curé was +wounded early in the day. He was taken to Louvain." +</P> + +<P> +"Hurry with the execution, camarades," said the Mayor. "Time is +precious. At any moment a strong body of these Uhlans may be upon us. +Prepared, we may bring down a few and sell our lives dearly—but this +is not being prepared." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth shivered when he felt the contact of the rope round his neck. +He glanced at his companion. Rollo's face was red with suppressed +fury. He looked as if he were on the point of breaking loose and +making a desperate bid for freedom. It was the injustice of the whole +business, not the fear of death, that agitated him. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's have a slap at them," said Rollo in a low tone. "If we get a +dose of lead it will be better than a rope. Quickly, before they begin +to tie our hands. Ready?" +</P> + +<P> +"Aye," replied Kenneth calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"One moment! You mark time with that fellow with the scar over his +eye. We'll keep together as long as we can. I hardly feel my +ankle——" +</P> + +<P> +He stopped. His ready ear detected the clatter of horses' hoofs. The +peasants heard it too. In evident alarm they gripped their antiquated +fire-arms. The fellow with the rope let the noose fall from his hands +and made a rush for his musket. +</P> + +<P> +"It is well, camarades," shouted the Mayor. "They are our soldiers." +</P> + +<P> +Down the main street of the ruined village rode a troop of Belgian +lancers, followed by a motor-car on which was mounted an automatic gun. +Seeing two men in Uhlan uniforms surrounded by a mob of angry peasants, +the officer in charge ordered his men to halt, and rode up to ascertain +the cause of the commotion. +</P> + +<P> +As he did so, Kenneth recognized him as one of the officers who took +part in trapping the Uhlans after their raid on Tongres. +</P> + +<P> +"A nous, mon capitaine!" he said in a loud, clear voice. +</P> + +<P> +"What have we here?" exclaimed the officer in astonishment; then +recalling Kenneth's features he continued: "The English soldier in +Uhlan uniform! What is the meaning of it all?" +</P> + +<P> +In as few words as possible Kenneth related the circumstances that led +to their present condition. +</P> + +<P> +When he had finished, the captain turned to the leading villager. +</P> + +<P> +"Monsieur le maire," he said. "I will be answerable for these two +Englishmen. Believe me, in your zeal for your country's good you have +slightly overstepped the bounds. Fortunately there is no real harm +done, and messieurs les Anglais will no doubt forgive an unintentional +injury." +</P> + +<P> +The Mayor, who had meanwhile readjusted his sash, saluted the lancer +captain, then held out his hand to Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon, camarade," he said. +</P> + +<P> +Now that the danger was over, both lads felt able to accept the deep +apologies of the peasants. The latter had been labouring under a +genuine grievance, and their somewhat high-handed action would admit of +an excuse. They were quaking in their shoes lest their former +prisoners should take steps to secure their punishment; but finding +themselves magnanimously treated, they responded with three hurrahs for +England and the two men who had come from that country to aid stricken +Belgium in her troubles. +</P> + +<P> +"Now what do you propose doing?" asked the Captain. "As for us, we +must push on. We have an important reconnaissance to make." +</P> + +<P> +"We want to rejoin our regiment—the 9th of the Line, sir," replied +Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +The officer smiled grimly. +</P> + +<P> +"I regret, messieurs, that I cannot help you in that direction," he +said. "Perhaps the best thing you can do is to make your way to +Brussels, and there await news of your regiment. Should anyone +question you, say that I—Captain Doublebois—have instructed you. Is +there anything else?" +</P> + +<P> +"We've run short of petrol, sir," announced Rollo, pointing in the +direction of the motor-cycle, the handlebars of which were just visible +above the edge of the ditch. +</P> + +<P> +"Parbleu! Petrol is now as precious as one's life-blood. +Nevertheless, I think we may be able to spare you a litre. Corporal +Fougette," he shouted, addressing the non-commissioned officer in +charge of the motor machine-gun, "measure out a litre of petrol for +these messieurs—good measure, not a drop more or less." +</P> + +<P> +The Captain stood by while Kenneth brought up the cycle and had the +petrol poured into the tank. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, messieurs," he continued, "this will suffice to take you as far +as our nearest depot. After that, proceed to Brussels. I'll warrant +you'll be in need of a rest, but there will be plenty to occupy your +minds, or my name is not Captain Raoul Doublebois. But take my advice, +messieurs, and get rid of those accursed uniforms!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Stranded in Brussels +</H3> + +<P> +It was late in the day when Kenneth and Rollo having partaken of a +plain but satisfying meal on the way, arrived in Belgium's capital. +</P> + +<P> +The streets were crowded with refugees from the war-inundated +districts. Throngs of pale-faced women and children, for the most part +unnaturally apathetic, stood in mute despair around the country carts +piled high with their belongings. Many of them had seen their houses +torn by shot and shell, their neighbours slain by the German guns. +Rendered homeless, they had fled to Brussels; their villages might be +overrun and occupied by the invaders, but the capital—never! The +Allies would never permit that. +</P> + +<P> +Old men related the tales of their grandsires, how, almost a hundred +years ago, England saved Brussels from the invader. History would, +they felt convinced, repeat itself. So in their thousands the refugees +poured into the already congested streets of the city. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and his companion were indeed fortunate in securing the room +they had occupied during their previous stay in the Belgian capital. +Quickly divesting themselves of the civilian garb that they had managed +to procure, they threw themselves into bed and slept like logs until +nine the next morning. +</P> + +<P> +When Rollo attempted to rise he found that his ankle had swollen to +such an extent that it was almost a matter of impossibility to set foot +to ground. The excitement and continual movement of the previous day +had tended to make him forget the injury, but once his boot was removed +and the limb allowed to rest, inflammation and consequent enlargement +of the joint were the result. +</P> + +<P> +"Take it easy, old man," suggested Kenneth. "When we've had breakfast +I'll saunter out and see how things are progressing. Let me see, +what's the programme? New uniforms; money—we have about ten centimes +between the pair of us. It's lucky the pater placed that fifty pounds +to my credit in the bank. The trouble is, how am I to prove my +identity? Then there's Thelma. Perhaps Major Résimont's family has +returned to the Rue de la Tribune, so I'll find out. I'll be gone some +little time, old man." +</P> + +<P> +"I don't mind," replied Rollo. "Before you go, you might get hold of a +paper." +</P> + +<P> +The cost of their simple breakfast was an "eye-opener". Already famine +prices were being asked in the overcrowded city. Somewhat shamefacedly +Kenneth had to explain the reason for his pecuniary embarrassment; but +to his surprise the short, podgy woman who corresponded to the British +landlady expressed her willingness to wait until messieurs les Anglais +were accommodated. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps, although I trust not, I may have to entertain Prussians," she +added. "Then I know it is hopeless to expect payment." +</P> + +<P> +Having had breakfast, Kenneth went out. He had put on an overcoat, +lent by his obliging hostess, in order to conceal the nondescript +garments he had obtained as civilian clothes. +</P> + +<P> +The crowded streets were strangely quiet. Beyond the occasional crying +of a child or the barking of some of the numerous dogs, there was +little sound from the listless throng. +</P> + +<P> +When Kenneth was last in Brussels the people were vociferously +discussing the situation, especially the momentarily expected arrival +of the British Expeditionary Force. Now hope seemed dead. No longer +was there any talk of foreign aid. People began to accept as a matter +of course the fact that their city would be handed over to the Germans +without opposition. Already the seat of government had been removed to +Antwerp. The Civil Guards, who had at first commenced to erect +barricades on the roads approaching from the eastward, had been ordered +to remove the obstructions and to disarm themselves. In order to spare +their city from sack and destruction, the Bruxellois had decided to +admit the Huns without opposition. +</P> + +<P> +Before Kenneth had gone very far his progress was barred by a vast +concourse of people. Civil Guards were forcing a way through the +throng, to allow the passing of a Red Cross convoy. There were thirty +wagons, all filled to their utmost capacity, for the most part with +mangled specimens of humanity. For every soldier wounded by a +rifle-bullet there were, roughly, twenty-nine maimed by shell-fire. +</P> + +<P> +Another battle had just taken place, with the now usual result. The +Belgians, utterly outnumbered and outranged, had been compelled to fall +back in spite of a determined and vigorous defence. Of their army a +portion had retreated towards Ostend, while the greater part had +retired to the shelter of the vast and supposedly impregnable fortress +of Antwerp. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as the convoy had passed, Kenneth hurried to the military +depot. He found the place locked up. Not a soldier was to be seen. +Enquiries brought the information that, regarding the fall of Brussels +as inevitable, the authorities had transferred practically the whole of +the military stores to Antwerp and Bruges. +</P> + +<P> +"You want a uniform?" repeated the old citizen to whom Kenneth had +announced his requirements. "Ma foi! Your only chance, unless you get +a discarded uniform from the hospital (and there, alas! there are +many), is to follow the army to Antwerp. But you are not a Belgian?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, English," replied Kenneth. "And I must remain in Brussels for a +few days." +</P> + +<P> +"Then, mon garçon, put the idea of a uniform out of your head whilst +you are here. Otherwise, when the Bosches arrive—— Ah, mon Dieu, +they are barbarians!" +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps the old chap is right," thought Kenneth as he resumed his way. +"I cannot desert Rollo, and if I were to be found in Belgian uniform it +would mean at least a trip across the Rhine and confinement in a +barbed-wire compound till the end of the war. Now for the Credit +Belgique." +</P> + +<P> +Upon arriving at the bank the lad had another setback. The premises +were closed; all the windows were heavily shuttered, whilst on the door +was a notice, printed in French and Flemish, to the effect that the +whole of the bullion and specie had been taken over by the Government, +and that the bonds had been sent to London for security until Belgium +was free from the invading German armies. +</P> + +<P> +"Bang goes my fifty pounds!" thought Kenneth. "We'll have to exist on +our corporal's pay—one franc fifty centimes a week, if we can get it." +</P> + +<P> +From the bank Kenneth made his way to the Rue de la Tribune. Here most +of the shops were shut and every other private house deserted. At the +house owned by the Résimont family there was no sign of occupation. +One of the windows on the ground floor had been broken. Through the +empty window-frame a curtain fluttered idly in the breeze. Already it +was frayed by the action of the wind. Obviously the damage had been +going on for some considerable time, without any attempt to prevent it. +</P> + +<P> +Hoping against hope, Kenneth hammered at the knocker, but the door +remained unanswered. +</P> + +<P> +From the doorway of a tobacconist's shop opposite, the portly, +well-groomed proprietor appeared. Raising a jewel-bedecked hand, he +beckoned to the shabby youth standing on the Résimonts' doorstep. +</P> + +<P> +"Monsieur requires——?" he asked, raising his eyebrows to complete his +question. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish to see Madame Résimont, monsieur." +</P> + +<P> +"Madame set out soon after the war broke out. Whither I know not. But +Monsieur is not Belgian?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, English," replied Kenneth promptly, at the same time wondering why +two people had asked that question that morning. It was a shock to his +self-confidence, for he was beginning to pride himself upon his perfect +French accent. +</P> + +<P> +"You live in the city?" +</P> + +<P> +"For a few days, monsieur." +</P> + +<P> +"Good! Perchance I may hear news of madame. If you will let me have +your address, I will in that case let you know." Kenneth furnished the +desired information, and, having thanked the tobacconist, began to +retrace his steps. As he did so he glanced at the name over the shop. +In brass letters were the words "Au bon fumeur—Jules de la Paix ". +</P> + +<P> +The worthy Jules did not wait until Kenneth was out of sight. Tripping +back into the shop, he grabbed an envelope from the counter and wrote +the name and address which he had obtained. +</P> + +<P> +"English. Spy undoubtedly," he muttered gleefully. "In another two +days that will be worth much to me." +</P> + +<P> +For Jules de la Paix was Belgian only as far as his assumed name went. +In reality he was a Prussian, a native of Charlottenburg, and a spy in +the pay of the German Government. For over twenty years he had been in +business as a tobacconist in the Rue de la Tribune, fostered by +Teutonic subsidies, waiting for the expected day when the Kaiser's +grey-clad legions were to strike at France through the supposedly +inviolate territory of Belgium. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll call at the post office," decided Kenneth. "I don't suppose it +will be of any use, but on the off-chance there may be letters waiting +for Rollo or me. There's no harm in trying." +</P> + +<P> +In blissful ignorance of the danger that overshadowed him, Kenneth made +his way through the crowd invading the post office. It was nearly +forty minutes before his turn came. In reply to his request, a +hopelessly overworked clerk went to a pigeonhole and removed a pile of +envelopes. +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing, Monsieur Everest," he announced, after a perfunctory glance +at the various addresses. "Nor is there anything for Monsieur +Barrington." +</P> + +<P> +"Hullo, Everest, old boy! What on earth are you doing here?" exclaimed +a voice in Kenneth's ear. +</P> + +<P> +Turning, the lad found himself confronted by a tall, erect Englishman, +whose features were partly concealed by the turned-down brim of a soft +felt hat. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid I don't—— Why, it's Dacres!" +</P> + +<P> +"Right, old boy! But you haven't answered my question. What are you +doing in Brussels at this lively moment?" +</P> + +<P> +Dick Dacres was an old St. Cyprian's boy. He was Kenneth's senior by +several years, having left the Upper Sixth while young Everest was +still in the Third. Kenneth ought to have recognized him sooner, for +he had been Dacres's fag for one term. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's get out of this crush," continued Dacres, grasping his old +schoolfellow by the arm. Once clear of the crowd he noticed for the +first time the lad's shabby clothes, but with inborn courtesy he +refrained from passing any remark that might cause any confusion on the +part of young Everest. "I'm out here on service; can't give you any +particulars. What are you doing here?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm with Barrington—you remember him? We're corporals of the 9th +Regiment of the Line—motor-cyclist section." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed! Where is Barrington?" +</P> + +<P> +"In bed with a sprained ankle. Would you like to see him? It isn't +very far." +</P> + +<P> +Dacres glanced at his watch. +</P> + +<P> +"I should, only I can't stop very long. I have an appointment with +the——" He broke off suddenly. +</P> + +<P> +"You're not in uniform, I see." +</P> + +<P> +"No; we had to discard ours. I have been trying to get a fresh +equipment, but it seems hopeless in this place." +</P> + +<P> +"Fire away and let's have your yarn," said Dacres encouragingly, as +they walked side by side along one of the fairly-unfrequented streets +running parallel with the Rue de la Tribune. +</P> + +<P> +Before they reached the modest lodging Dacres had skilfully extracted +the main thread of his late college-chums' adventures. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you're temporarily on the rocks," he observed. +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't say so," expostulated Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"My dear man, I know you didn't, but I can put two and two together. +It's a delicate subject, Everest, and I'm afraid I'm rather a blunt +sort of chap, so excuse me. You're on your beam-ends?" +</P> + +<P> +"Unfortunately, yes," admitted Kenneth. "The pater sent a draft to the +Credit Belgique, but before I could draw on it the bank's been +transferred. But it will be all right soon, I expect." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well then, until things get a bit straight, let me give you a +leg-up. Don't be uppish, old man. Remember we're Britons in a strange +land. Luckily I'm fairly flush." +</P> + +<P> +So saying, Dacres produced his purse, and extracting five twenty-franc +pieces forced them into Kenneth's hand, abruptly checking the lad's +mingled protestations and thanks. +</P> + +<P> +"Rollo, old man, I've brought someone to see you," announced his +comrade, as he opened the door of the room in which Rollo was lying in +bed. +</P> + +<P> +"Hulloa, Barrington!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hulloa, Dacres!" +</P> + +<P> +That was the prosaic greeting, nothing more and nothing less; yet there +was a wealth of cordial surprise in the interchange of exclamations. +</P> + +<P> +The time Dacres had at his disposal was only too short. He was, he +explained, a sub-lieutenant in one of the recently-raised naval +brigades, and had accompanied an officer of rank upon an important +mission to Belgium. More he was unable to say. He had already been to +Ostend, and was now about to proceed to Antwerp. +</P> + +<P> +"We're returning home to-night," he concluded. "If you like to entrust +me with a letter, I'll see that it's posted safely the moment I set +foot ashore in England. If I've time I'll look your people up and let +them know you're doing your little bit. It all depends upon whether I +can get leave, but we are hard at it whipping recruits into shape." +</P> + +<P> +"Awfully decent chap," commented Kenneth, when Dick Dacres had taken +his departure. "He would insist upon lending me a hundred francs. +Otherwise, old man, we would be on the rocks—absolutely. I've drawn +three blanks—no uniforms obtainable, no tidings of the Résimont +family, and no letters from home. I think we ought to hang on here a +little while until your ankle's fit. We may see the beastly Germans +marching through the city, for the burgomaster has gone, so I hear, to +obtain terms of capitulation." +</P> + +<P> +"Where are the Belgian troops?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mostly in Antwerp." +</P> + +<P> +"Then if I were you, I'd make tracks for Antwerp while there's time." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you fit, then?" +</P> + +<P> +"I wasn't referring to myself. This ankle will keep me here some days +longer, I'm afraid. But you go, and if I have a ghost of a chance I'll +find you again within a week." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't be done," he declared. "I mean to stand by you till you're well +again. It would be interesting to watch how those Germans behave in +Brussels." +</P> + +<P> +"It's risky," remarked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"So is everything connected with this business, old man. Besides, we +are acting under the orders of Captain Doublebois, so that settles it." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Denounced +</H3> + +<P> +The morning of the 20th August—a fateful day in the history of +Belgium—dawned, accompanied by a drizzling rain. The sky seemed to be +shedding tears of sympathy at the impending fate of Brussels, for, +according to the terms of the agreement made between the German +commander, Sixtus von Arnim, and the Belgian burgomaster, the invading +troops were to march in unopposed. +</P> + +<P> +When the triumphant Prussians entered Paris after the siege of 1870, +their pageant-like progress was witnessed only by a few exasperated +Parisians from behind the shuttered windows of their houses. The +streets along the line of route were practically deserted. Had the +Bruxellois adopted a similar plan, much of the effect of the gaudy +display of Germany in arms would have been thrown away. +</P> + +<P> +But the citizens of Brussels acted otherwise. In spite of their fear +and trembling they assembled in vast, silent throngs. Curiosity had +got the better of their national pride. Those who had good reason to +doubt the plighted word of a Prussian took courage at the high-spirited +yet conciliatory proclamation of the debonair M. Max, the burgomaster: +</P> + +<P> +"As long as I live, or am a free agent, I shall endeavour to protect +the rights and dignity of my fellow-citizens. I pray you, therefore, +to make my task easier by refraining from all acts of hostility against +the German soldiery. Citizens, befall what may, listen to your +burgomaster. He will not betray you. Long live Belgium, free and +independent! Long live Brussels!" +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly the citizens, amongst whom were few able-bodied men, +assembled in crowds ten or twelve deep along the principal +thoroughfares. Amongst them was Kenneth Everest, who, in his civilian +garb, attracted no attention from those who stood near him. Since a +dignified silence seemed to brood over the humiliated Belgians, Kenneth +had no occasion to speak, and thus disclose his nationality. He knew, +by reports from his hostess, that there were spies innumerable mingled +with the throng; but he was unaware that he was already marked for +denunciation to the German authorities as soon as the Prussian rule was +established in Belgium's capital. +</P> + +<P> +Presently a wave of dull expectancy swept through the heavy-hearted +populace. It was now early in the afternoon. From the south-east and +east came the faint discord of military bands playing one against the +other. Louder and louder grew the noise, till the strident tones of +"Deutschland über Alles", played by the leading regimental band, +drowned the chaotic blare of the next. +</P> + +<P> +Craning his neck in order to obtain a clear view through the forest of +dripping umbrellas—for the rain was now falling steadily—Kenneth +could discern the head of the procession—a general, swarthy and heavy +jowled, who scowled under his heavy eyebrows at the crowd as he rode +by. He was the personification of German brute force, a stiffly-rigid +figure in grey. He reminded Kenneth of a cast-iron equestrian statue +smothered in grey paint. +</P> + +<P> +In close formation came the various regiments of the invaders, men +whose fresh uniforms and faultless equipment gave the appearance of +troops straight from their regimental depots rather than war-worn +veterans. And this, in fact, was the case. The men who had learned to +respect the courage and determination of the hitherto despised Belgian +troops had not been permitted to engage in the triumphal pageant +through the surrendered city. Others of the almost innumerable +Teutonic legions had been sent forward to impress the remaining +inhabitants of Brussels. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a guttural order rang out. As one man the grey-clad ranks +broke into the machine-like goose-step. Possibly this spectacular +display was meant to seal the impression upon the onlookers. If so, +those responsible for the order were grievously mistaken. Regarding +the action as one of insulting triumph, the Belgians strengthened their +resolutions to impress on their absent troops the necessity of +resisting to the last cartridge. +</P> + +<P> +With the troops came large transport sections, motor machine-guns, +batteries, and siege-trains. During that memorable afternoon nearly +fifty thousand German troops poured into the city. They were resolved +to hold and bleed the luckless citizens to the last gold piece—an +indemnity for non-resistance. +</P> + +<P> +"So they're here?" asked Rollo of his companion upon the latter's +return. "I heard the din and the terrific discord of their brass +bands. Have they done any damage?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not as far as I could see. It is too early to come to any conclusion. +At any rate, we'll lie low for a few days. I don't suppose they'll +trouble us. How's the ankle?" +</P> + +<P> +For the whole of the next day Kenneth remained indoors with his +partly-crippled companion. Perhaps the most galling part of his +detention was the total absence of news from without, for none of the +papers were permitted to appear. +</P> + +<P> +Small detachments of Germans patrolled the side streets, and, generally +speaking, order was well maintained. The conquerors evidently wished +to impress the citizens of Brussels with their magnanimous conduct; +but, with the record of their deeds against the unresisting villages of +the provinces of Liége and Brabant, the Germans made very little +headway in gaining the goodwill of the inhabitants. +</P> + +<P> +About nine on the following morning the lads heard a furious hammering +on the street door of the house. They exchanged enquiring glances. +Kenneth rushed to the latticed window, opened it cautiously, and looked +down into the narrow street. +</P> + +<P> +Standing outside the house were a dozen Prussian infantrymen. A +sergeant was about to hammer again upon the door. Beside him stood a +lieutenant, drawn sword in hand. A crowd of inquisitive civilians +stood at a respectful distance; while, from the windows of the houses +on the opposite side of the street, the frightened inhabitants peeped +timorously at the display of armed force outside the dwelling of the +highly-respected Madame Hirondelle. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Prussians. They're after us, old man." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense! Why should they be?" +</P> + +<P> +"Someone's given us away," declared Kenneth savagely. He realized that +they were trapped. There was no means of escape along the roofs of the +adjoining houses, no place in which to hide without being easily and +ignominiously hauled out. Even had there been a chance of getting +clear, Rollo's injured ankle had to be taken into consideration. +</P> + +<P> +They heard the door being opened; the harsh voice of the German +lieutenant interrogating Madame Hirondelle in execrable French; then +the tramp of heavy boots as the file of soldiers entered the house and +began to ascend the stairs. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo sat up in bed. His companion stood by the side of the alcove, +gripping the back of a chair. +</P> + +<P> +Then came a heavy knock at the door of the room, as a harsh voice +shouted: +</P> + +<P> +"Englischemans, surrender; if not, we shoots!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the door was pushed open a little way, and a spiked helmet thrust +forward on the muzzle of a rifle. Finding that this emblem of German +militarism was not the object of an attack, the lieutenant plucked up +courage and dashed into the room, brandishing his sword and revolver +like an eighteenth-century melodramatic pirate. +</P> + +<P> +After him crowded the sergeant and most of the men, two privates being +left to guard Madame Hirondelle, in order that she would not be able to +communicate with the supposed spies. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was roughly seized by the throat. His hands were grasped and +tied behind his back. The sergeant then proceeded to ransack his +pockets, without discovering any documents, incriminating or otherwise. +The unexpended portion of Dick Dacres's loan was taken possession of by +the lieutenant, whose avidity in grabbing the money seemed to suggest +that there was but slight possibility of it finding its way into the +coffers of the Imperial treasury. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Rollo had been ordered to get out of bed. His clothes, after +being searched and examined, were handed to him. +</P> + +<P> +Other German soldiers were busily engaged in ransacking the room. The +bed was uncovered, the mattress cut open in the vain hope of finding +incriminating evidence; the contents of cupboards and drawers were +turned out upon the floor, the Prussians taking care to retain +"souvenirs" of their exploit as they did so. +</P> + +<P> +Greatly to his disgust and disappointment, the lieutenant's efforts to +obtain proofs of the supposed spies' guilt were fruitless. +</P> + +<P> +He gave an order. Soldiers surrounding the two lads urged them through +the door and down the narrow stairs. Determined to make a good haul, +the officer ordered the arrest of Madame Hirondelle, the concierge, and +the two maid-servants; then, with much sabre-rattling, he led the +prisoners through the streets. +</P> + +<P> +A quarter of an hour later Kenneth found himself alone in a gloomy +cell. The prospect was not a pleasing one. Even with a clear +conscience as far as the charge of espionage went, the lad realized the +terrible position in which he and Rollo were placed. +</P> + +<P> +They were British subjects; they were not in uniform; they had no +documents to prove the truth of their statement that they were +corporals in the Belgian army. There was no one, excepting the +thoroughly-terrified Madame Hirondelle, to speak a word in their favour. +</P> + +<P> +For half an hour he paced the limited expanse of floor, pondering over +the difficulties of the situation. Then, without any thought of +attempting an escape, he began examining the walls and floor of his +cell. The place was roughly twenty feet in length and nine in breadth. +The walls were of brick, set in hard, black cement. They had, at some +previous time, been coated with yellow limewash, but most of the colour +had been worn off. The floor was paved with irregular stone slabs. +Eight feet from the ground was a small unglazed window, with two rusty +and slender vertical bars. Opposite the window was the door of +worm-eaten oak. +</P> + +<P> +The floor was half a dozen steps lower than the level of the ground +without. A sentry was posted outside the window. Although standing +erect, the only part of him visible from within was from his knees to +his belt, so Kenneth knew that on that side the ground was about five +or six feet above the floor of his cell. +</P> + +<P> +It also appeared likely that the room was not generally used as a place +of confinement. It had no furniture. On the stone floor were wisps of +straw and hay. It might, but for the steps from the doorway, have been +used as a stable. +</P> + +<P> +"The Germans don't surely mean to keep me in this rotten hole," thought +Kenneth. "It isn't fit for a dog." +</P> + +<P> +Slowly the morning passed. At noon the sentry without was relieved. +The sergeant's guard made no attempt to look through the window. The +new sentry seemed ignorant of the presence of the English lad. There +he stood, as rigid as a statue, while the minutes ran into hours. Not +once did the grey-coated soldier "walk his beat". No one passed by. +The sentry was to all intents and purposes posted in a totally +unnecessary position. +</P> + +<P> +Just as the clocks chimed the hour of two, the door of the cell was +opened and a sergeant and file of Prussian infantrymen entered. +Silently the non-commissioned officer pointed to the open door. +Preceded and followed by the soldiers, Kenneth set out to be tried for +his life. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Sack of Louvain +</H3> + +<P> +Passing along several gloomy passages and ascending two flights of +stairs, Kenneth was ushered into a large, well-lighted room overlooking +the city square. From without came the noise and bustle of hundreds of +troops. Several regiments, having recently arrived, were partaking of +a meal in the open, the food being cooked in large portable kitchens, +the smoke from which drifted in through the open windows of the room. +</P> + +<P> +Seated at a massive oak desk was an officer in the uniform of the +German General Staff. Behind him stood a major and two captains. At a +writing desk against the wall, facing the windows, sat a military +clerk. The soldiers of Kenneth's escort lined up behind him, the +sergeant standing rigidly at attention on his right. Of Rollo there +were no signs. +</P> + +<P> +For some moments Colonel von Koenik, the president of the court, +regarded the lad before him with a fixed glare. Kenneth met the +president's gaze unflinchingly, yet he realized that there was a menace +in the German's manner. It was a hatred of England and of all men and +things English. +</P> + +<P> +Finding that he could not browbeat the prisoner, von Koenik rasped out +a few words to the major who stood behind him. With a stiff salute the +latter advanced to the side of the president's desk. +</P> + +<P> +"What is your name, prisoner?" he asked in fairly good English, +although there was a tendency to substitute the letter "b" for "p" in +most of his words. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth told him. The major referred to a paper that he held in his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"You are English? What are you doing in Brussels?" +</P> + +<P> +"I am a soldier in the Belgian service." +</P> + +<P> +"In the Belgian service perhaps; but a soldier—no, never." +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me, sir," protested Kenneth; "I am a corporal of the 9th +Regiment of the Line." +</P> + +<P> +The Major waved his hand contemptuously. +</P> + +<P> +"You are not—what you call it?—ah!—bluffing an English magistrate +this time. You have a Prussian officer to deal with. If what you say +is true, why are you not in uniform? Where are your identity papers? +Say rather that you are in the employ of that arch-plotter Grey; tell +us exactly the truth, then perhaps we will be merciful." +</P> + +<A NAME="P202"></A> + +<P> +"Of what offence am I accused, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"Espionage—surely you know that without asking an unnecessary +question." +</P> + +<P> +"It is not true. I have never attempted to spy. Who, sir, is my +accuser?" +</P> + +<P> +"It is undesirable to mention names. Our informant states that you +have been several days in Brussels, always in civilian clothes. You +frequented public buildings; you were seen watching the arrival of our +troops." +</P> + +<P> +"That I admit," said Kenneth. "There was no secrecy about the +ceremonial parade of the German army through the streets." +</P> + +<P> +"Then perhaps you would tell your friends in England how the victorious +Germans will march through London, hein?" asked the Major mockingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid they won't," retorted Kenneth, throwing discretion to the +winds. "Your troops have to reckon first with our army and then with +our fleet." +</P> + +<P> +"Your army? Faint-hearted mercenaries. Englishman, in less than a +fortnight our troops will march right through the English and their +friends the French, and be in Paris. After that, London." +</P> + +<P> +"No fear!" ejaculated Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +The German major shrugged his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"It is wasting the time of the court," he remarked. "To return to the +business in hand. You, an Englishman, have been caught red-handed. +You admit you are interested in military matters, although your claim +to be a corporal in the Belgian army does not hold. Again, you admit +that you took up arms against us?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly—as a soldier, and strictly in accordance with the code of +war." +</P> + +<P> +"Your code is not our code," sneered the Major. He then turned and +addressed the president. Colonel von Koenik inclined his head, and +gave an order to the sergeant of the guard. +</P> + +<P> +Three men filed out, returning after a brief interval with Rollo. +Limping badly, young Barrington was marched across the room and placed +by the side of his chum. +</P> + +<P> +The president stood up and removed his helmet. The other officers also +uncovered. +</P> + +<P> +"Accused," he said, speaking in English, "you are found guilty on a +charge of espionage. The sentence is death." +</P> + +<P> +Von Koenik sat down and resumed his head-dress. He scanned the faces +of the two lads, as if to detect signs of fear. But there were none. +Beyond an almost imperceptible tightening of the lips, the young +Britons received the grim intelligence unflinchingly. +</P> + +<P> +"But on account of your youth I am going to make what you English call +a sporting offer. You"—addressing Rollo—"expressed an opinion that +our armies would never reach Paris." +</P> + +<P> +"I did," replied Rollo, whose examination had been concluded before +Kenneth had been brought before the court. +</P> + +<P> +"And you also"—to Kenneth—"made a similar rash statement." +</P> + +<P> +"Not rash, sir; but a candid statement." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good. You will both find that you are in error. Now, this is my +offer. You will not be shot straight away. You will be kept in close +confinement. As soon as Paris is taken—as it will be in about a +fortnight—your sentence will be put into execution. If within thirty +days from now our armies should by some unprecedented accident fail to +reach Paris, your lives will be spared and your sentences commuted to +ten years' imprisonment in a fortress. You comprehend?" +</P> + +<P> +Von Koenik broke off to exchange a few words in German with the major. +Then he resumed: +</P> + +<P> +"Major Hoffmann here will be answerable for your custody. So long as +you give no trouble, and make no attempt to escape—such attempt will +be bound to be a failure, let me add—you will be treated with as much +consideration as it is possible to accord to convicted spies." +</P> + +<P> +Again the president conferred with the major. Then, stiffly saluting, +Major Hoffmann gave an order. The soldiers closed around the two +prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +With their heads held erect, Kenneth and Rollo were about to be marched +from the presence of the grim Colonel von Koenik, when the latter +rapped the desk with an ivory mallet. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," he added, "when our armies enter Paris—about the 1st of +September—you will accept the decree of fate? Perhaps. But it is not +pleasant to be confronted by the muzzles of a dozen rifles of a +firing-party. There is one more chance. If you give us true and full +information concerning certain points which will be raised later, the +full penalty will be mitigated. You understand?" +</P> + +<P> +Both Kenneth and Rollo began to protest, but von Koenik silenced them. +</P> + +<P> +"You English are too fond of acting and thinking rashly on the spur of +the moment," he exclaimed. "Think it over—carefully. It is worth +your calm deliberation." +</P> + +<P> +On being removed from the court, Kenneth and Rollo were placed in the +same cell—the room in which the former had been kept pending his +appearance at the farcical trial. +</P> + +<P> +Colonel von Koenik had no intention of carrying his threat into +execution. He was one of those men who are firm believers in the +application of methods of tyranny to gain their ends. Kenneth Everest +had been denounced as a spy by the tobacconist of the Rue de la +Tribune—himself a German secret agent. The information had to be +acted upon, and Rollo, living in the same house as the accused, had +also been arrested. +</P> + +<P> +Von Koenik would not condemn a prisoner without conclusive evidence. +He was convinced, mainly on the testimony of Madame Hirondelle, that +neither Kenneth nor Rollo was a spy; at the same time they were +Englishmen, and that was sufficient to merit their detention. Again, +by intimidation or cajoling they might be able to furnish valuable +information to the German authorities. Since the informal sentence of +death did not move the accused to beg for mercy, a slower and +constantly terrifying method must be applied. +</P> + +<P> +The firm expressions on the forthcoming failure on the part of the +Germans to enter Paris—an expression that both lads made independently +of each other—gave von Koenik an idea. On his part he was absolutely +certain that no mortal power could arrest the victorious march of the +Kaiser's legions; and such was his obsession that he imagined both +Kenneth and Rollo could have no inmost doubts on the matter. By +proposing a "sporting offer", von Koenik knew that his methods to +terrorize would have time to work and undermine the resolution of the +English lads. In a very few days, he decided, they would be willing to +save themselves from a haunting dread by offering the information he +desired. +</P> + +<P> +It was by no means a new experiment on the part of Colonel von Koenik. +During his tenure of office in command of a line regiment in an +Alsatian town, he had frequently terrorized civilians who had fallen +under his displeasure, by the application of methods based upon the +legendary sword of Damocles. Hitherto this form of the tyranny of the +Mailed Fist had been most successful; but it was different in the case +of Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington. +</P> + +<P> +"What was that swashbuckler driving at, I wonder?" asked Rollo, when +the two chums found themselves alone in their cell. "Do you think that +he really intends to have us shot?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should say yes; only I don't understand why the sentence was not +carried out at once. It is a low-down trick keeping us on tenterhooks; +but from what we have already seen and heard, these Germans—the +Prussians especially—do not draw the line at anything." +</P> + +<P> +"Anyhow, the fellow thinks he's on a dead cert. on the Paris trip. I +don't; so if he's as good as his word on the month's grace we'll escape +the firing-party. As for the ten years, that's nothing. We'll be +liberated at the end of the war." +</P> + +<P> +"Unless we 'break bounds' at the first opportunity," added Kenneth. +"We both seem to have been born under a lucky star, and having given +those fellows the slip once, there is no reason why we shouldn't be +equally successful the next time." +</P> + +<P> +The two following days the lads passed in uneventful captivity in the +cell. Straw had been provided for bedding, while their meals consisted +of rye bread and water, and, once a day, a bowl of soup. For half an +hour they were allowed to take exercise in an enclosed courtyard, four +soldiers, carrying loaded rifles, having been told off to prevent any +attempt at escape. +</P> + +<P> +On the morning of Tuesday, the 25th of August, the prisoners were +ordered to leave their cell. Guided by the same four soldiers, they +were marched into the courtyard, where a dozen Belgian civilians were +formed up under an armed guard. In a doorway opening into the +quadrangle stood Major Hoffmann, watching the proceedings with a +supercilious air. +</P> + +<P> +"Are they going to shoot the crowd of us?" whispered Kenneth; but +before Rollo could reply, a sergeant gave the speaker a violent blow +and sternly ordered him in French to be silent. +</P> + +<P> +The names of the prisoners were then called out, each man having to +answer to his name. This done, the sergeant in charge took the list to +Major Hoffmann, who initialled the document and returned it. +</P> + +<P> +Then the large gates at one end of the courtyard were thrown open, and +the prisoners, surrounded by their armed guards, were ordered to march. +</P> + +<P> +Along the Chaussée de Louvain—one of the principal thoroughfares of +Brussels—the melancholy procession passed. There were crowds of +people about in addition to the numerous German troops. The citizens +regarded their compatriots under arrest with suppressed feelings. They +were afraid to make any demonstration of sympathy. The iron heel of +Germany had crushed the spirit out of the Belgians who still remained +in the fallen capital. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know where they are taking us to?" asked Kenneth of the +prisoner marching next to him, evidently a well-to-do business man +before the great calamity that had overtaken him. +</P> + +<P> +"They say to Germany, there to work in the fields and help to feed our +enemies," replied the man. "At all events, we have to march to Louvain +and be entrained there." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth's great fear was that Rollo would be unable to stand the strain +of the long march. His ankle had improved, but he still limped +slightly. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm all right," replied Rollo cheerily, in response to his chum's +anxious enquiry. "It's better than being cooped up in that rotten +hole. Besides," he added in a whisper, "we may get a chance of giving +them the slip." +</P> + +<P> +So far the information given by the Belgian seemed to be correct. The +prisoners were trudging along the highway leading to Louvain. Beyond +that point, railway communication was now possible; for with their +advance upon Brussels the German engineers had lost no time in +repairing the lines and erecting temporary bridges in place of those +sacrificed by the Belgians in their efforts to impede the enemy's +advance. +</P> + +<P> +At twelve o'clock the prisoners reached the village of Cortenburg, +about half-way between the capital and Louvain. Here they were halted, +and driven into a church. For food and drink they had to depend upon +the charity of the villagers, who, notwithstanding the fact that they +had been despoiled by the invaders, gave the famished and travel-worn +men bread and milk. +</P> + +<P> +For three hours Kenneth and his companions in adversity were kept under +lock and key, while their escort, having obtained copious quantities of +wine, were becoming boisterously merry. When, at length, the order was +given to resume the march, some of the soldiers were so drunk that they +could not stand. The sergeant thereupon ordered the villagers to +provide two carts, and in these, lying on bundles of straw, the +besotted men followed their comrades. +</P> + +<P> +Before the prisoners had covered a mile beyond Cortenburg an open +motor-car dashed past. In spite of its great speed both Kenneth and +Rollo recognized its occupants. They were Colonel von Koenik and Major +Hoffmann. +</P> + +<P> +"They don't mean to get out of touch with us, old man," remarked +Kenneth, after the car had disappeared in a cloud of dust. "I suppose +they'll go on by train to whatever distance we are bound for. I'll +warrant they'll be waiting at Louvain." +</P> + +<P> +"I wish I had the chance of bagging that motor-car," said Rollo. "It's +a beauty. We'd be in Antwerp in less than an hour." +</P> + +<P> +"Instead of which we're tramping along, with a dozen of more or less +intoxicated soldiers to keep an eye on us," added Kenneth. "I believe +if we made a bolt for it they would be too tipsy to aim properly." +</P> + +<P> +"It's too risky," declared Rollo. "There are hundreds of German troops +scattered all over this part of the country. Besides, if we did get +away, the other prisoners would get a rough time. What's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Rifle-firing," replied Kenneth, as the rattle of musketry could be +faintly heard, the sounds coming from the north. +</P> + +<P> +"A battle before Antwerp, probably," suggested Rollo. "The Germans +will have a stiff task if——" +</P> + +<P> +A vicious box on the ear from the nearest soldier brought the +conversation to a sudden close. The fellow who dealt the blow grinned +with intense satisfaction at his deed. The next instant Rollo's fist +shot out straight from the shoulder, and the German dropped like a log. +He was too drunk to feel the blow, so he sat on the road, his rifle on +the ground, holding his jaw with both hands and bawling in pot-valiant +style. +</P> + +<P> +Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, two of the Belgian +prisoners made a dash for liberty. One was the man to whom Kenneth had +spoken—a short, stout, apoplectic individual; the other a tall, lean +fellow who had the appearance of a trained athlete. +</P> + +<P> +Before the astonished Germans could level their rifles both men had got +across a wide ditch, and had placed a hundred yards of marshy ground +between them and their late captors. Then half a dozen rifles rang +out, but the fugitives held on, the taller one having established a +lead of twenty yards. They were making for a wood, not more than a +quarter of a mile off. +</P> + +<P> +Again and again the Germans fired. The lads could see some of the +bullets kicking up spurts of dirt a long way wide of their mark; others +must have sung harmlessly overhead. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the short man stopped. He could run no farther. He called to +his companion; but the latter, taking no heed, did not slacken his +swift pace. The corpulent fugitive looked over his shoulder, and +seeing that some of the Germans had attempted pursuit, began to walk +after his compatriot. The fact that the soldiers had missed him at +short range had given him confidence. Presently the tall Belgian +gained the outskirts of the wood. Here he stopped, and waved his arms +with a contemptuous gesture at the German soldiers. It was his +undoing, for by sheer chance a bullet struck him in the head. He +pitched on his face and lay motionless. +</P> + +<P> +The other man, alternately walking and running, got clear away. +</P> + +<P> +The English lads now had their turn. They were kicked, prodded with +rifle-butts, and repeatedly struck by the fists of the infuriated, +half-drunken soldiers, till the sergeant, fearing that he might get +into serious trouble if Colonel von Koenik's special prisoners were +much injured, ordered his men to desist. Two of them were sent to +bring the body of the foolhardy Belgian. Dead or alive the whole of +the prisoners had to be accounted for, and the fact that one was +missing caused the sergeant considerable misgivings. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the sound of distant firing still continued. If anything it +seemed nearer. The German escort began to hurry their prisoners along. +</P> + +<P> +A mile or so farther on they reached a small village. Here most of the +inhabitants had left, but a few gazed timorously upon the grey-coated +soldiers from the upper windows of their houses. +</P> + +<P> +The sergeant gave the order to halt, then spoke hurriedly to two of his +men who were not so intoxicated as the rest. These two walked up to a +door and knocked. Receiving no reply, they shattered the woodwork with +their rifles and entered the house. In less than a minute they +reappeared, dragging between them a peasant so old and feeble that he +could hardly walk. Him they bundled into the cart beside the body of +the dead Belgian, and the convoy resumed its way. +</P> + +<P> +"The brutes!" ejaculated Kenneth. "I see their game. They're going to +palm off that poor peasant as the man that escaped." +</P> + +<P> +"It seems like it," agreed Rollo; "but what will happen when they read +the roll-call? It will give the show away." +</P> + +<P> +"Trust those fellows for carrying out a dirty piece of work. Hist!" +</P> + +<P> +The lads relapsed into silence. They did not want a repetition of the +scene when their last conversation was interrupted. Already they were +bruised from head to foot. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly before six in the evening the prisoners reached the outskirts +of Louvain. The town, the principal seat of learning of Belgium, was, +of course, in the hands of the Germans; but hitherto they had refrained +from any vandalism. According to their usual procedure they had +terrorized the inhabitants, who still remained in fear and trembling. +Everywhere were placards in French and Flemish, warning the townsfolk +that any act of hostility towards the German troops would result in +severe penalties. With the examples of the fate of other towns and +villages—where the luckless inhabitants, in defence of their lives and +homes, had ventured to resist the invaders and had been ruthlessly +massacred—the people of Louvain had rigidly abstained from any action +that could be regarded as aggressive to German authority. On their +part the invaders behaved fairly well, and confidence was beginning to +be restored amongst the Belgians who still remained in Louvain. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a shot rang out, quickly followed by others. Bullets +screeched over the heads of the prisoners and their German guards. In +a few moments all was confusion. The prisoners flung themselves on the +ground to escape the deadly missiles. Some of the escort followed +their example. Others, kneeling behind the two wagons that brought up +the rear of the procession, returned the fire. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" ejaculated Kenneth. "Louvain has been recaptured. That +accounts for the firing we heard this afternoon." +</P> + +<P> +"I trust so," replied Rollo. "There's one fellow down—another rascal +the less." +</P> + +<P> +It was the German who had received a taste of a British fist. Rendered +incautious in his maudlin state, he had recklessly exposed himself. A +bullet passing through his chest laid him dead on the spot. Another +German was leaning against the wheel of a wagon, with his hand clapped +to his right shoulder. +</P> + +<P> +Just then the sergeant caught sight of the troops who were blazing away +at his party. With a succession of oaths he bade his men cease fire. +Here was another blunder. The Germans were firing at each other. +</P> + +<P> +At length the exchange of shots ceased. A Prussian officer, +accompanied by half a dozen of his men, advanced to meet the prisoners +and their escort. His face was purple with fury. For ten minutes he +bullied and browbeat the luckless sergeant, whose men had not been +responsible for opening fire. Then other officers—members of the +staff—hurried up, and a hasty consultation followed. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Colonel von Koenik tore up in his motorcar. He was +accompanied by another staff-officer, Major von Manteuffel, whose name +was presently to be execrated throughout the civilized world. +</P> + +<P> +Von Manteuffel was in a high pitch of nervous excitement. Evidently he +was trying to fix the blame upon the men escorting the Belgian +prisoners, while von Koenik, cool and calculating, championed their +cause. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo watched the scene with well-concealed satisfaction. +The mere fact that some small portion of the mechanism of the Mailed +Fist had gone wrong elated them. It was an insight into the blustering +methods of German military organization; but they had yet to learn that +the Bullies of Europe had a drastic remedy for their errors, whereby +the penalty fell upon the weak and helpless. +</P> + +<P> +Von Koenik gave an order, the sergeant bundled Rollo and Kenneth into +an isolated house situated about half a kilometre from the town. What +befell the Belgian prisoners the lads never knew, but from the window +in the upper room in which they were confined, the British youths could +command a fairly-extensive view of Louvain and the road which +approached it. +</P> + +<P> +Two German soldiers were locked in the room, but they offered no +objection when Kenneth and Rollo went to the window. +</P> + +<P> +Above the tiled roofs of the houses, the ancient and venerable church +of St. Pierre shot up like an island in the centre of a lake. Other +buildings—churches, the Hôtel de Ville, and the university—were +slightly less conspicuous, yet clearly discernible above the expanse of +houses. Along the road were hundreds of grey-coated troops, while a +small black patch in that long-drawn-out riband of silver-grey +indicated the position of the way-worn band of Belgian prisoners, who +were now almost within the limits of the town. +</P> + +<P> +While the British lads were at the window, then German guards produced +from their knapsacks some pieces of roll, sausages, and a bottle of +wine. Soon the room was filled with the disagreeable sounds of +Teutonic mastication, which, unless one has had the misfortune to hear +it, cannot satisfactorily be described. Kenneth and Rollo, thanking +their lucky stars that they were not compelled to witness the +performance, remained at the window. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly, just as the town clocks were chiming the hour of six, a +succession of shots rang out. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" ejaculated Kenneth. "The Belgians are driving home an attack." +</P> + +<P> +The two Germans gave not the slightest hint of alarm, but stolidly +continued their meal. Their indifference caused the lads to wonder. +It was not a conflict between two armed forces, but a massacre! It was +the commencement of what was, in the words of the Prime Minister of +Great Britain, "the greatest crime against civilization and culture +since the Thirty Years' War". +</P> + +<P> +Fortunately Kenneth and his companion were spared the horrors of having +to witness the indiscriminate shooting of luckless civilians, but, from +their coign of vantage, they were spectators of the scene of +destruction that followed. +</P> + +<P> +Tall, lurid flames burst forth from the centre of the town of Louvain. +Gradually the ever-widening circle of fire spread till the bulk of the +houses was one vast holocaust. +</P> + +<P> +Throughout that terrible night the lads remained at the window, +watching the progress of the conflagration and listening to the shrieks +of panic and terror from the brutally-maltreated inhabitants. +</P> + +<P> +That was von Manteuffel's method of covering up the blunder made by his +half-drunken troops. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +A Bolt from the Blue +</H3> + +<P> +At seven the following morning the two guards were relieved. During +the night they had been stolidly indifferent to everything that was +taking place. They permitted their prisoners liberty of action within +the limits of the room, but they maintained a ceaseless vigilance, +keeping their loaded rifles within arm's-length the whole of the time. +</P> + +<P> +The new guards were men of a different stamp. Their first act upon +being left with their charges was to compel the lads to leave the +window and take up a position in one corner of the room. At the first +attempt at conversation between the two chums the Germans would shout +threats which, although unintelligible as words, left no doubt as to +their significance. +</P> + +<P> +An hour later a very meagre repast was brought in for the prisoners, +the soldiers making a thorough examination of the food before the lads +were allowed to partake of it. This was a precautionary measure, lest +some communication might have been secreted; but the fact that their +food had been coarsely handled by the Germans did not make it any the +more appetizing. Nevertheless Kenneth and his companion, now almost +famished, attacked the meal with avidity. +</P> + +<P> +Just before noon a motor-car drew up outside the house. The guards +sprang to their feet, adjusted the straps of their equipment, seized +their rifles, and drew themselves up as stiff as ramrods. The expected +arrival they knew to be a person of consequence. +</P> + +<P> +It was Colonel von Koenik. He was civil, almost apologetic, to the +English prisoners. +</P> + +<P> +"I trust that you were not disturbed by last night's business," he +remarked. "There was a serious riot amongst the Belgian townsfolk. +Our troops were treacherously attacked, and in self-defence they were +compelled to fire some of the houses. Unfortunately the flames spread +considerably, in spite of our efforts to the contrary. +</P> + +<P> +"If you wish to write to your friends in England," he continued, "you +are at liberty to do so, and I will see that the letters are forwarded +to Holland. Paper and writing materials will be provided. You will +understand that all communications must be left unsealed." +</P> + +<P> +He paused for a moment, then in more deliberate tones said: +</P> + +<P> +"It would doubtless be interesting to your fellow-countrymen if you +mentioned last night's riot. Englishmen are supposed to pride +themselves upon their love of fair play. Our act of +necessary—absolutely necessary—self-defence will certainly be +distorted by these Belgians. The written evidence of two Englishmen +such as yourselves will do much to remove a wrong impression. +Meanwhile, until writing materials can be produced, you are at liberty +to take exercise in the garden." +</P> + +<P> +"What is that fellow driving at?" asked Rollo, when the two chums, +still watched by their guards, found themselves in a secluded garden +enclosed on three sides by a high brick wall. "There's something +behind his eagerness for us to write home." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll take the chance anyway," replied Kenneth; "only I vote we make +no mention of last night's affair. Of course his version might be +right, but I doubt it." +</P> + +<P> +Accordingly the prisoners spent half an hour in writing to their +respective parents. The epistles were couched in guarded terms. There +was nothing to indicate that they had been harshly treated; no mention +of the manner of their arrest. Nor was there a word about the +destructive fire in Louvain. +</P> + +<P> +When the Colonel reappeared the unsealed envelopes were handed to him. +Without a word or a gesture he read them through, then wrote something +on the envelopes. +</P> + +<P> +"These are in order, gentlemen," he remarked. "You may now seal them, +and they will be carefully forwarded." +</P> + +<P> +But months later the chums learnt that the letters had never been +delivered. There was a good reason, for von Koenik took the first +opportunity of destroying them. +</P> + +<P> +"There is some news for you," remarked the Colonel. "Yesterday our +armies occupied Namur. The forts were helpless against our wonderful +siege guns. Our Zeppelins have destroyed nearly the whole of Antwerp; +our fleet has signally defeated the British in the North Sea. Your +flagship, the <I>Iron Duke</I>, is sunk, together with seven Dreadnoughts. +Jellicoe is slain, and the rest of the English fleet is bottled up in +the Forth. Your little army in Belgium is already on the retreat; it +will be hopelessly smashed before it reaches Maubeuge. Our troops will +be in Paris within a week—and then?" +</P> + +<P> +The Colonel paused, expecting to see dismay painted on the faces of his +listeners. Instead, Kenneth coolly raised his eyebrows. +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed?" he drawled. "Do you, Herr Colonel, really believe all that?" +</P> + +<P> +Von Koenik suppressed a gesture of annoyance. +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," he replied. "It is in our official reports. If you +possessed sufficient culture to be in a position to read and speak our +language, you could see it with your own eyes. We are winning +everywhere. Now, perhaps, to save further unpleasantness you will tell +me the actual reason why you were in the Belgian service?" +</P> + +<P> +"Merely our inclination to help in a just cause. We happened to be on +the spot, the opportunity occurred, and we took it." +</P> + +<P> +The Colonel bit his lips. He was confident that the prisoners were +actually persons of military importance, sent over to Belgium by the +British Government, and possessing valuable information concerning the +Allies' plan of campaign. He considered it well worth his while to +cajole or threaten them into surrendering their secret, but, up to the +present, he was forced to admit that his attempts had met with very +little success. +</P> + +<P> +Apart from the lax code of German military morals his procedure had +been extremely irregular. The so-called trial was before an illegally +constituted court. The proper authorities had not been informed of the +Englishmen's arrest, trial, and sentence. Yet he considered that he +was furthering the interests of the Kaiser and the German nation by +wresting the secret of the object of the lads' presence in Belgium from +them by the likeliest methods at his disposal. +</P> + +<P> +Colonel von Koenik was on his way to take up a staff appointment at +Verviers, a strategically important Belgian town on the German +frontier, and a few miles from Liége, and on the direct railway line +between that city and Aix-la-Chapelle. Here he could keep his +prisoners in safety, relying upon the wearing-down tactics, backed by +the threat of what would happen when the victorious Germans entered +Paris, to compel the two Englishmen to surrender their supposed +important secret. +</P> + +<P> +It was not until after dark that same day that Kenneth and Rollo were +conveyed in a closed carriage to the railway station at Louvain. Von +Koenik was greatly anxious to conceal from them the stupendous amount +of wanton damage done to the town. So far he succeeded; and, in +partial ignorance of the fate of Louvain and the actual causes that led +to its sack and destruction, the lads were escorted to a troop-train +which was about to return to Aix, laden with wounded German soldiers +whose fighting days were over. +</P> + +<P> +For the next ten or twelve days Kenneth and Rollo existed in a state of +rigorous captivity. They were placed in a small store-room of the +commissariat department at Verviers. A sentry was posted without, but +otherwise their privacy was not intruded upon except when a soldier +brought their meals. +</P> + +<P> +This man, a corporal of the Landwehr, was a grey-haired fellow nearly +sixty years of age. A great portion of his life had been spent in +England. Von Koenik had detailed him to attend upon the prisoners in +order that he might communicate to them the progress of the victorious +Germans towards Paris. +</P> + +<P> +Max—for that was the corporal's name—was admirably adapted to the +purpose. He could speak English with tolerable fluency; he implicitly +believed all the stories that had been told him of the wide-world +German success, and, believing, he retailed the information with such +bland fidelity that at first his listeners had to think that he really +was speaking the truth. +</P> + +<P> +He was also genuinely attentive to his charges, and before long Kenneth +and Rollo appreciated his visits although they did not welcome the news +he brought. +</P> + +<P> +"Ach, you English boys!" he would exclaim. They were always addressed +as "English boys" by Corporal Max, somewhat to their chagrin. "Ach! +It has been a bad day for your little army. Much more bad than +yesterday. To-day the remains of the English army, it has fled towards +Paris. Our Taubes have almost nearly the city destroyed by bombs." +</P> + +<P> +The next day Max would appear with the tidings that General French was +still running away. Vast numbers of English and French prisoners had +been taken. The German losses had been insignificant. +</P> + +<P> +This was followed by a lurid description of the retreat of the Allies +across the Marne and then over the Aisne. +</P> + +<P> +"Paris, too, is in panic. The French Government, it has run away to +the south of France. And our navy, it is great. Yesterday a sea +battle took place. The Admiral Jellicoe's flagship the <I>Iron Duke</I> was +sunk by our submarines——" +</P> + +<P> +"Hold on!" exclaimed Kenneth. "Colonel von Koenik told us that the +<I>Iron Duke</I> was sunk more than a fortnight ago." +</P> + +<P> +Max shrugged his shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +"You English are so deceitful. Ach! They must have given to another +ship the same name. Dover is in flames, and London bombarded has been +by our Zeppelins. Ireland is revolted, and the Irish have proclaimed +our Kaiser as King——" +</P> + +<P> +"Steady, Max!" exclaimed Rollo expostulatingly. +</P> + +<P> +"But it is so," protested the corporal. +</P> + +<P> +The next day Max's report was one of indefinite progress. During the +three following he made no mention of the brilliant feats of German +arms. Kenneth rallied him on this point. +</P> + +<P> +"How far are the Germans from Paris to-day, Max?" +</P> + +<P> +For the first time Max showed signs of irritability. By accident he +had seen in Colonel von Koenik's quarters a report of the check of the +German armies' progress, and of their eastward movement. Following +this came the news of von Kluck's defeat and disorderly retirement +across the Marne. Too stupidly honest to keep the news to himself, +Corporal Max blurted out the information that the advance upon Paris +had been temporarily abandoned. +</P> + +<P> +"If it were not for the treacherous English," he added—"they are +always meddling with other nations' business—we would have walked +through the French and in Paris have been. Peace would be forced upon +the French, and then I could return home to my wife." +</P> + +<P> +"But you told us that the British army was practically annihilated, +Max," exclaimed Kenneth gleefully. +</P> + +<P> +"You English boys, I tell you word for word what was told me," +protested Max in high dudgeon. "If you mock, then no more will I say." +</P> + +<P> +"Can we see Colonel von Koenik, Max?" +</P> + +<P> +The corporal looked at Kenneth in astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"You have no complaint against me?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Not in the least," replied Kenneth affably. "But we should very much +like to see the Colonel." +</P> + +<P> +Max delivered the message, but von Koenik did not put in an appearance. +Incidentally he discovered that the corporal had let out the momentous +news of von Kluck's defeat, and Max had a very warm quarter of an hour +in consequence. As a result, a surly Prussian was given the work of +looking after the two English prisoners, and Max passed out of the +lads' knowledge. +</P> + +<P> +September had well advanced. Kenneth and Rollo still existed in +captivity, without the faintest opportunity of effecting their escape. +Had there been the slightest chance of breaking out of their prison +they would have taken it, but the vigilance of the sentries posted +outside the place seemed untiring. +</P> + +<P> +About the twentieth of the month—the lads had lost all accurate idea +of the date—there were signs of more than usual activity in Verviers. +A cavalry brigade had arrived, accompanied by a huge transport column. +</P> + +<P> +From the solitary window of their room the prisoners were able to +witness many of the movements of the troops. The square in front of +the range of stores was packed with transport wagons, both motor and +horse. The horses were picketed in lines between the regular rows of +vehicles. The drivers stood by their charges, instead of being +billeted on the inhabitants. Everything pointed to a hurriedly resumed +journey. +</P> + +<P> +Presently Kenneth and his chum noticed that the Germans were deeply +interested in something above and beyond the storehouse in which the +lads were quartered. +</P> + +<P> +A few men would point skywards, others would follow their example, till +every soldier in the square was gazing in the air. Then above the hum +of suppressed excitement came the unmistakable buzz of an aerial +propeller. +</P> + +<P> +"Air-craft!" ejaculated Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Taubes, most likely," added his companion; "otherwise the troops would +be blazing away instead of merely looking on." +</P> + +<P> +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the scene underwent a +complete change. Horses plunged and reared, some falling and kicking +madly on the ground. Men ran hither and thither, seeking shelter, +while several of them pitched upon their faces. Yet not a sound was +heard of an explosion. A mysterious and silent death was stalking +amidst the German transport. Overhead the drone of the propeller +increased, yet the aeroplane was invisible from the lads' outlook. +</P> + +<P> +Something struck the stones of the courtyard a few feet from their +window. It was a small featherless steel arrow, one of thousands that +a French aviator had let loose upon the astonished and terrified +Germans. +</P> + +<P> +Simultaneously there was a crash in the room. Turning, the occupants +made the discovery that three of the darts had completely penetrated +the tiles of the roof and had buried themselves three inches deep in +the oaken floor. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep close to the wall," exclaimed Kenneth; "it is the safest place." +</P> + +<P> +"It's all over now," announced Rollo after a brief interval. "There +she goes!" +</P> + +<P> +He pointed to a monoplane gliding gracefully at an altitude of about +five hundred feet. He could just distinguish a tricolour painted on +each tip of the main plane. A desultory but increasing rifle-fire +announced its departure, and, unruffled, the air-craft sailed serenely +out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +"Pretty effective weapon," remarked Kenneth, vainly endeavouring to +wrench one of the darts from the floor. "They must hit with terrific +force. I wonder how they were discharged?" +</P> + +<P> +"Simply dropped by the hundred, I should imagine," replied Rollo. "The +force of gravity is sufficient to give them a tremendous velocity after +dropping a few hundred feet. I guess they've knocked these fellows' +time-table out." +</P> + +<P> +The drivers and several cavalrymen had now emerged from their +hiding-places, and were carrying their less-fortunate comrades from the +scene. A few of the latter were moaning, but most of them had been +slain outright. The "flechettes", or steel darts, had in several cases +struck their victims on the head, and had passed completely through +their bodies. In addition to about thirty casualties, nearly a hundred +horses were either killed on the spot or were so badly injured that +they had to be dispatched. Several of the motor-wagons, too, were +temporarily disabled by the terrible missiles. Clearly it was out of +the question that the convoy could proceed that day. +</P> + +<P> +Darkness set in. The work of repairing the damaged vehicles still +proceeded briskly by the aid of the powerful acetylene lamps fixed upon +the parapets of the surrounding buildings. Fresh animals were being +brought up to take the horse-wagons away, in order to make room for the +artificers to proceed with their work. The square echoed and re-echoed +to the clanging of hammers and the rasping of saws, and the guttural +exclamations of the workmen. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo had no thoughts of going to bed. Usually, as soon as +it was dark they would throw themselves upon their straw mattresses, +for lights were not allowed them. But now the excitement, increased by +contrast to their monotonous existence, banished all idea of sleep. +</P> + +<P> +Crash! A blaze of vivid light that out-brillianced the concentrated +glare of the lamps flashed skywards, followed almost immediately by a +deafening report. Windows were shattered, tiles flew from the roofs. +The walls of the room in which the two lads were standing shook +violently. +</P> + +<P> +"A shell!" exclaimed Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"A bomb!" corrected Kenneth, for in the brief lull that followed could +be heard the noise of an air-craft. Either the same or another French +airman was honouring the Germans at Verviers with a second visit. +</P> + +<P> +Twenty seconds later another explosion occurred at the back of the +building. With a terrific crash one of the outer walls was blown in; a +portion of the roof collapsed; the floor, partially ripped up, swayed +like the deck of a vessel in the trough of an angry sea. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth found himself on the floor, rendered temporarily deaf and +covered with fragments of plaster and broken tiles, and smothered in +dust. +</P> + +<P> +Staggering to his feet he groped for his companion, for the place was +in total darkness, the force of the detonation having extinguished all +the lamps in the vicinity. His hand came in contact with Rollo's hair. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady on, old man; don't scalp me," expostulated Barrington. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you say?" asked his companion. Rollo repeated the protest, +shouting in order to enable Kenneth to hear what he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurt?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a bit of it; but we may be if we hang on here." +</P> + +<P> +Another fall of rafters and tiles confirmed the speaker's surmise; +then, as the cloud of acrid smoke and dust slowly dispersed, they could +see a patch of starlight where a few moments before had been a blank +wall. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Across the Frontier +</H3> + +<P> +Kenneth regained his feet. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's shift," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Where?" +</P> + +<P> +"Anywhere. Be steady; mind where you tread, and look out for +brick-bats falling on your head." +</P> + +<P> +The caution was well needed. Stumbling over the mass of shattered +brickwork, the lads passed through the jagged gap and gained an open +space to the rear of a long range of storehouses. Even as they did so +another bomb exploded, this time some distance off, though the +concussion was sufficient to complete the destruction of the room in +which they had been but a few moments previously. +</P> + +<P> +Not only in the square but all over the town a state of panic existed. +The terrified horses stampeded; the German troops, temporarily thrown +into disorder, ran for shelter; while those of the civil population who +did not take refuge in their cellars poured out into the streets and +fled towards the open country. +</P> + +<P> +"Rollo, old man, let's make a dash for it." +</P> + +<P> +The idea of taking advantage of the air raid in order to effect their +escape had not until that moment entered Kenneth's head. Both he and +Rollo, temporarily dazed by the explosion, had thought only of getting +clear of the subsiding building. +</P> + +<P> +Everything was in their favour. Scaling a low brick wall, they found +themselves in the company of about forty panic-stricken inhabitants. +In the confusion no one noticed the two hatless lads, for before they +had gone fifty yards they ran past a squad of German troops, who, under +the threats of their officers, were engaged in coupling up a hose to +play upon a fire kindled by the explosion of one of the destructive +missiles. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep with the crowd," advised Rollo. "We're safe enough. The +monoplane has made off by this time." +</P> + +<P> +The street emerged into a wide thoroughfare, where the throng of people +was greatly increased; but after a while, finding that there were no +more detonations, the crowd began to thin, many of the townsfolk +returning to their homes. A few, however, numbering perhaps forty, +unable to control their fear, ran blindly towards the open country, and +with them went the two British lads. +</P> + +<P> +"It's about time we struck a line for ourselves," whispered Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Not yet; we'll stick to the main road," said his companion. "These +people know their way; we don't, and it's no fun blundering across +ditches and marshy fields on a night like this. I wish we had our +coats." +</P> + +<P> +"Being without them is an inducement to keep on the move," remarked +Everest. "If we have to stand about or hide anywhere it will be a +numbing business. The question is, what's our plan?" +</P> + +<P> +"Keep as far as possible in a northerly or northwesterly direction +after we find ourselves alone. That ought to land us in Dutch +territory before morning. It's only a matter of twenty miles." +</P> + +<P> +"And if we are held up?" +</P> + +<P> +"Then we must hide during the day. It wouldn't be worth a dog's chance +to fall in with any Germans." +</P> + +<P> +The lads had been conversing in French, lest their whispers should be +overheard by the hurrying crowd. Amongst that number of Belgians there +might be a spy, and the incautious use of English would be fatal to the +enterprise. But before two miles had been traversed the two British +lads were alone. The rest of the crowd, finding that the explosions +had entirely ceased, had either retraced their steps or had awaited +possible developments. +</P> + +<P> +Taking their direction by means of the position of the North Star, for +the night was now quite cloudless, the fugitives pushed on. They had +no fear of pursuit, since, by the demolition of their place of +detention, the German authorities were bound to come to the conclusion +that their prisoners had been buried under the ruins. +</P> + +<P> +It was too hazardous to attempt to follow the road farther. From their +local knowledge the lads knew that it led to Julimont and Visé, and +that the valley of the Meuse, especially on the Dutch frontier, would +be strictly guarded. +</P> + +<P> +"Railway ahead!" whispered Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +Outlined against the starry sky was a low embankment, fringed with the +characteristic telegraph poles of the Belgian state railways. Directly +in their path was a culvert, on the top of which were the silhouetted +figures of three greatcoated soldiers. On the other side of the +embankment a fire was burning brightly, its glare alone betraying its +position. +</P> + +<P> +The fugitives promptly retraced their steps for nearly two hundred +yards, then striking off at right angles kept parallel to, and at a +fairly safe distance from, the railway line. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll have to cross that line," whispered Kenneth. "It runs between +Liége and Aix, I believe." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's hope the whole extent of it isn't guarded." +</P> + +<P> +"Only the bridge and culverts; but you can take it for granted that +they patrol between the various posts of sentries. Carry on, old man; +another half a mile and we'll try again." +</P> + +<P> +A short distance farther the fugitives encountered the main road from +Liége to the German town of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was quite deserted, +but beyond it they had to turn slightly to the right to avoid the +railway, which ran in a north-easterly direction. +</P> + +<P> +"Why not have a shot at it?" asked Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Not yet. It will run in a northerly direction again. I noticed that +in the map. We must cross, if possible, somewhere to the south of +Aubel. It is still early in the evening. The nearer midnight we make +the attempt the better." +</P> + +<P> +It was now bitterly cold. A hard frost made the ground like iron. +Since it was too hazardous to proceed at a rapid pace, the lads felt +the piercing air accordingly. With their shoulders hunched and their +ungloved hands thrust deeply into their pockets, they kept on, +shivering in spite of the fact that in the excitement of regaining +their liberty—temporarily, at any rate—their nerves were a-tingle and +the blood surged rapidly through their veins. +</P> + +<P> +"What's that ahead?" whispered Kenneth. "Men?" +</P> + +<P> +The lads peered through the darkness. Fifty yards ahead were several +upright objects at regular intervals, looking exactly like an extended +line of soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"Germans!" whispered Rollo. "Lie down." +</P> + +<P> +They threw themselves upon the frozen ground and kept the objects under +observation. Before long the effect of their recumbent positions in +contact with the earth became painful. Rollo got to his knees. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go a little nearer," he whispered. "You stay here. They don't +seem to be moving." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll come too," whispered Kenneth in reply. +</P> + +<P> +"No, you don't. One might escape notice where two might not. I'll be +very cautious." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth remained. He could just discern the form of his chum as he +slowly and carefully approached the line of mysterious objects. +Presently he saw Rollo regain his feet and walk towards him. +</P> + +<P> +"It's all right," announced Harrington. "They are a row of alders." +</P> + +<P> +His companion arose, slowly and stiffly. He had to swing his arms +vigorously for some minutes to warm his chilled body. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's get on," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Getting on" was not an easy matter, for upon arriving at the row of +trees the lads found that they lined the bank of a sluggish stream, too +broad to leap across and too deep to wade. Already thin ice had formed +upon its surface. Swimming under these conditions might be performed, +but the undertaking required a lot of pluck on a night like this. +Furthermore, there was the after-effect to take into consideration. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Kenneth. For once, at least, he +realized that his impetuosity failed him, and that he must rely upon +the calmer, deliberate, and perhaps over-cautious counsels of his chum. +</P> + +<P> +"Cross dry-shod," replied Rollo. "We must follow the bank up-stream +until we find a means of crossing. Not a recognized bridge—that would +almost to a certainty be guarded—but a plank thrown across for the use +of some farmer. It's no use wasting time here." +</P> + +<P> +He stopped suddenly. From behind the shelter of one of the trees a +tall, dark figure advanced swiftly and unhesitatingly. +</P> + +<P> +The fugitives' first impulse was to take to their heels, but before +they had recovered sufficiently from their surprise a voice exclaimed: +</P> + +<P> +"What cheer, mates! What might you be doing here?" +</P> + +<P> +Arrested by the sound of an unmistakable English voice, the lads held +their ground. Kenneth, with studious politeness, said: "We are pleased +to make your acquaintance," and then felt inclined, in spite of his +physical discomforts, to laugh at the absurdity of his remark. +</P> + +<P> +The man held out his hand. Kenneth grabbed it cordially. As he did so +he noticed that the stranger was dressed almost in rags. He wore a +battered slouch hat, a cloak that reached to his knees, and trousers so +short in the leg that there was a gap between the foot of them and his +grey socks. On his feet he wore a pair of sabots. +</P> + +<P> +"What might you be doing here?" he repeated. +</P> + +<P> +"Trying to regain our regiment," replied Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Same here. What's yours?" +</P> + +<P> +"The 9th Regiment of the Line." +</P> + +<P> +The man glanced suspiciously at his informant. +</P> + +<P> +"Never heard of it," he declared. "Mine's the Northumberland +Fusiliers—'Quo Fata Vocant' is our motto, and strikes me Fate has led +me a pretty dance. The 9th Regiment of the Line?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of the Belgian army," explained Kenneth, for the man's declaration +sounded like a challenge. "We're British volunteer +dispatch-riders—corporals." +</P> + +<P> +"Same here; I'm a corporal, unless I'm officially dead. But that's +neither here nor there. Question is, where am I?" +</P> + +<P> +"In Belgium, not so very far from Liége." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a blessing. It's a relief to know I'm not on rotten German +soil. But it's a long, long way to Tipperary." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you mean?" asked Kenneth in astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +The Northumberland Fusilier also betrayed surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"You've not heard that song? Well, where have you been to? But let's +be on the move. It's cold enough, in all conscience, without standing +still to be frozen. Where are you making for?" +</P> + +<P> +"The Dutch frontier—it's only about five or six miles off," replied +Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Not this child," declared the man vehemently. "So we part company, +chums." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm trying to rejoin my regiment. As for being interned in Holland, +I'm not having any." +</P> + +<P> +"You won't be interned; you're in mufti. Have you any idea how far +you'll have to tramp? Across Belgium and a part of France—every mile +of the way held by the enemy. Where are the British now?" +</P> + +<P> +"Pushing the Germans back from Paris, chum; that's what they were doing +when I got copped." +</P> + +<P> +"We were told that the British army was annihilated." +</P> + +<P> +"Some rotten German yarn," exclaimed the corporal contemptuously. +"Take it from me, as one who knows, the Germans have bitten off more +than they can chew. But is that right that the Dutchmen won't keep us +till the end of the war?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly, provided you are not in uniform." +</P> + +<P> +"That settles it, then," declared the man. "By the right—slow march. +There's a plank bridge a little way farther up-stream." +</P> + +<P> +This obstacle having been surmounted, the three fugitives made in a +northerly direction. Only once in half an hour did the Northumberland +Fusilier break the silence. +</P> + +<P> +"Got any tommy?" he asked. "Any grub?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not a crumb." +</P> + +<P> +"Rough luck! I haven't had a bite for sixteen hours or more, and my +belt's in the last notch." +</P> + +<P> +"How far have you come?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness only knows. Aching's the name of the show." +</P> + +<P> +"Aching?" repeated Kenneth in perplexity. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Aching," replied the man vehemently. "A fitting name, too. +A-a-c-h-e-n, it's spelt, so there!" +</P> + +<P> +The lads understood. He had spelt the German name for the town of +Aix-la-Chapelle. His progress, then, had been very slow—sixteen hours +to cover about twelve miles. +</P> + +<P> +"That's Aubel," whispered Kenneth, pointing to a group of houses +showing up against the sky. "We must cross the line here." +</P> + +<P> +A hurried consultation followed, in which it was decided that Kenneth +should take the lead, the others following at twenty paces interval. +</P> + +<P> +As they approached the line of telegraph posts Kenneth made his way +ahead and dropped on his hands and knees. In this position he covered +the hundred yards that separated him from the railway. He listened. +There was no mistaking the sound he heard. The noise of heavily-nailed +boots treading slowly upon the frosty permanent-way was drawing nearer. +</P> + +<P> +The lad crawled back to his chum, and both threw themselves flat upon +the ground. The Northumberland man did likewise. +</P> + +<P> +Presently two greatcoated figures came into view; German soldiers with +rifles on their shoulders. The pale light glinted on the fixed +bayonets. When opposite the spot where the fugitives were hiding, the +guards stopped, grounded their weapons, and swung their arms. In spite +of their heavy coats they were chilled to the bone. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans showed no haste in proceeding on their patrol. To the +shivering Englishmen it seemed as if they were deliberately prolonging +their stay. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of his frantic efforts the Northumberland Fusilier gave vent +to a half-smothered cough. Almost simultaneously the Germans recovered +their arms and fired in the direction of the hiding trio. +</P> + +<P> +Suppressing an insane desire to break away and run for dear life, the +three lay still. If the patrol had heard any suspicious sound they did +not act further upon it, for after a few more minutes they sloped arms +and tramped stolidly in the direction of Aubel. +</P> + +<P> +Once again Kenneth crawled towards the railway. The way was now clear. +Without being challenged he crossed the rails, and dropped down the +embankment beyond. Here he was speedily joined by his companions. +</P> + +<P> +A little later, to their consternation, clouds began to gather. It was +no longer possible to follow a course by the stars. It became darker, +and prominent objects could not be distinguished. All around there +were untilled fields, as like each other as peas in a pod. +</P> + +<P> +Half an hour's wandering convinced the fugitives that they were +hopelessly out of their bearings, for the wind had fallen utterly, and +even that means of keeping a rough course failed them. +</P> + +<P> +"Ten to one we're walking in a big circle," declared Rollo. "The best +thing we can do is to slow down till dawn." +</P> + +<P> +"Another seven hours," objected the Fusilier. "We'll be dead with cold +by that time. Let's step out and trust to luck." +</P> + +<P> +"There's a barn or something, right ahead," announced Kenneth after +they had traversed two fields. "I vote we make for that and take +shelter." +</P> + +<P> +The building was a detached one. Closer investigation showed that it +was deserted. The door had been wrenched from its hinges and lay about +five yards from the wall. In one angle of the brickwork was a gaping +hole. The walls had been loopholed for rifle-fire, but the thatched +roof was practically intact. +</P> + +<P> +"Steady!" cautioned the British corporal. "There might be somebody +inside." +</P> + +<P> +He led the way, shuffling noiselessly with his feet and holding his arm +in a position of defence. Having completed a tour of the interior, he +announced that it was safe to enter. +</P> + +<P> +The floor was dry, but destitute of hay or straw. Taking off his +peasant's cloak the corporal spread it upon the ground, and on it the +three huddled together for mutual warmth. Already Kenneth and Rollo +were weak with hunger, cold, and fatigue. Their companion's chief +regret was that he had no tobacco. Hunger, although severe, was with +him a secondary consideration. +</P> + +<P> +In this position they remained in a semi-dazed condition until the +Northumberland man announced that dawn was breaking. +</P> + +<P> +With difficulty regaining their feet, the two lads moved their cramped +limbs till they were conscious of the sense of touch. Then out into +the bitterly cold air they went. +</P> + +<P> +"That's our course," said the corporal. "This time of year the sun +rises in the north-east, so this is about north." +</P> + +<P> +"Then it's exactly the opposite direction to which we were going last +night," remarked Rollo. "You can tell that by the position of the +barn." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we must have been circling," agreed Kenneth. "We may yet be +miles from the frontier." +</P> + +<P> +On and on they trudged, guided by the gleam of light that was gradually +growing in intensity. Detached farm-houses were now visible, affording +landmarks which, although serviceable, had to be avoided. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd do a burglaring job without a moment's hesitation," declared the +corporal, "only it's too jolly risky. Liberty isn't worth chucking +away for the sake of a chunk of bread; at least, I don't think so. Yet +dozens of Germans have given themselves up to our chaps because they +felt a bit hungry." +</P> + +<P> +His companions agreed, but half-heartedly. Hunger, the ally of +despair, was pressing them hard. They missed the plain but substantial +meals that their captors had provided them with at Verviers. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly, from behind them, came a hoarse shout. +</P> + +<P> +Turning, the three fugitives saw, to their consternation, that about a +dozen German soldiers were following them and were now about four +hundred yards behind. +</P> + +<P> +"Cut for it!" exclaimed the corporal. +</P> + +<P> +They broke into a steady run. The action was a relief after hours of +slow trudging and sleepless, comfortless rest. Their pursuers also +increased their pace, shouting for them to stop. +</P> + +<P> +"We're holding our own," exclaimed Kenneth after a while. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't keep it up, though," panted the corporal, who, to give himself +greater freedom, had discarded his cloak. "But why don't the beggars +fire?" +</P> + +<P> +It seemed remarkable that their pursuers made no attempt to use their +rifles. Some had already given up the chase, but others held on, +streaming out into an irregular procession. +</P> + +<P> +Ahead was a broad ditch. Kenneth, who was leading, braced himself to +plunge through the coating of ice, but instead his feet slipped and he +rolled sideways to the farthermost bank. His companions crossed more +easily, for owing to the severe frost the water was covered with two +inches of ice. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo and the corporal assisted Everest to his feet. He was unhurt, +but wellnigh breathless. During this episode the leading Germans were +within fifty yards of them; but unaccountably they slackened their +pace, stopping at the edge of the frozen ditch and shouting frantically +at the fugitives. +</P> + +<P> +"That's done it!" exclaimed the Fusilier. +</P> + +<P> +In extended order a number of soldiers, some mounted, emerged from the +shelter of a row of trees on the opposite side of the field, and stood +waiting to receive the exhausted Englishmen. Escape was impossible. +There was no cover either to the right or the left. Behind them were +their pursuers; in front the troops, including cavalry. +</P> + +<P> +"We've had a run for our money," remarked the corporal, as he raised +his arms above his head in token of surrender. His companions noticed +that, in spite of his dejection, the man never blamed them for +suggesting a course that ended in recapture. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans behind them still made no further attempt to advance. They +stood in a row at the edge of the ditch, bawling unintelligibly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah!" suddenly shouted Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +His companions looked at him in amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"We're all right," he continued. "We've crossed the frontier. These +fellows are Dutch soldiers." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap25"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXV +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Thelma Everest +</H3> + +<P> +The detention of Rollo Barrington and Kenneth Everest on Dutch soil was +of comparatively short duration. Well before the end of September they +were allowed to recross the frontier within a few miles of the strong +fortress of Antwerp. +</P> + +<P> +The Northumberland Fusilier—his companions in peril never learnt his +name—did not accompany them. At the first available opportunity he +got into communication with a British Consul, and, through that +official's instrumentality, was sent back to England. Here he reported +himself at the nearest regimental depot, and, greatly to his +satisfaction, was again sent across the Channel to rejoin his +comrades-in-arms. +</P> + +<P> +Upon gaining Dutch territory, almost the first act of Kenneth and Rollo +was to communicate the news of their safety to their anxious parents, +at the same time stating their intention of proceeding to Antwerp to +continue their work as dispatch-riders to the Belgian forces. +</P> + +<P> +Upon arriving at the great Belgian fortress the lads found, to their +huge satisfaction, that the 9th Regiment of the Line—or rather the +remains of it—formed part of the garrison, their duty being to man the +trenches between Fort de Wavre Ste Catherine and Fort de Waelhem—posts +that, owing to their strategical position, seemed likely to bear the +brunt of the threatened German attack. +</P> + +<P> +"Dieu soit loué!" exclaimed Major Planchenoît. He was captain no +longer, having gained well-merited promotion. "It is messieurs the +English dispatch-riders. What has befallen you?" +</P> + +<P> +As briefly as possible Kenneth related their adventures from the time +of their ill-starred ride to Cortenaeken. +</P> + +<P> +"And now we wish to report ourselves again for duty, sir," concluded +Everest. "Ought we to see Major Résimont?" +</P> + +<P> +Major Planchenoît shook his head sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"My gallant comrade, alas! has been severely wounded. There is, +however, one consolation; he is safe in England, enjoying the +hospitality of your incomparable fellow-countrymen. If we had not an +assured refuge in England, where would we be? But, messieurs, it will +be necessary to provide you with uniforms and equipment. I will give +you an order for the Quartermaster. When you are fitted out, report +yourselves at the divisional staff office." +</P> + +<P> +Obtaining new uniforms was out of the question: there were none to be +had. So, in place of their motor-cyclists' kit, the lads had to be +content with second-hand infantryman's uniform—heavy blue coat, loose +trousers tucked into black-leather gaiters, and a blue, peakless cap +similar to the British "pill-box" of half a century ago, but worn +squarely on the head instead of being perched at a rakish angle. To +render their head-gear more conspicuous it was adorned by a band of +dark-red cloth. +</P> + +<P> +The Quartermaster was deeply apologetic. +</P> + +<P> +"But, after all, messieurs," he added, "a uniform is a uniform all the +world over. It entitles, or should entitle, its wearer to the +courtesies of war." +</P> + +<P> +The lads agreed on this point, although they realized that the heavy +clothing was not at all suitable for dispatch-riding, where agility on +the part of the cyclist and a near approach of invisibility in the +matter of his uniform were essential conditions to efficiency. +</P> + +<P> +Nor were revolvers served out to them. Instead, they were given Mauser +rifles and short bayonets, the ammunition for the former being kept +loosely in two large black-leather pouches attached to the belt. +</P> + +<P> +"As regards your motor-cycles," continued the Quartermaster, "you may +choose for yourselves. Believe me, we have a large and varied +assortment." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Kenneth and Rollo had donned their cumbersome uniforms and +equipment they were handed over to the care of a sergeant, who was told +to escort them to the store where the reserve motor-transport vehicles +were kept. This building, formerly a brewery, stood at a distance of +two miles from the advanced line of trenches, and on the banks of the +River Nethe. +</P> + +<P> +In the brewery yard were nearly two hundred motor-cars and lorries +arranged in various grades of efficiency; while in the cellars were +rows and rows of motor-cycles and ordinary bicycles in all sorts of +conditions. +</P> + +<P> +"Voilà, messieurs!" exclaimed the sergeant with a comprehensive wave of +the hand. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the fact that the lads were but corporals the sergeant +invariably addressed them as "messieurs". From the staff officers +downwards, all with whom the British lads came in contact paid this +courteous tribute to their devotion to Belgium's cause. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo were some time making their selection. They realized +that their lives might depend upon the reliability of their mounts. +Finally they decided upon two motor-cycles of British make, very +similar to their own, although of an earlier pattern. Examination +showed that the tyres were in excellent condition, and that with a +slight overhauling the machines ought to prove most serviceable. +</P> + +<P> +There was petrol in abundance, more than was likely to be required +during the impending operations around Antwerp. Having filled up the +tanks of their motor-cycles, the lads started back to the lines, the +sergeant being perched upon the carrier of Rollo's mount. +</P> + +<P> +The English lads were warmly welcomed by their new comrades of the +motor section. Not one of the Belgian dispatch-riders who had taken +part in the operations between Liége and Brussels was left. All of +them had either been killed or wounded in the execution of their duty. +Of the seven motor-cyclists now serving, one was in civil life an +advocate, two were diamond merchants, a fourth a professor of +languages, and the others railway mechanics. Yet, in spite of the +great variations of social grades, the men were excellent comrades, +united by a common cause. +</P> + +<P> +There were twenty ordinary cyclists as well, while the section also +manned an armoured motor-car mounting a machine-gun. This travelling +fortress had already gained a reputation as a hard nut for the Germans +to crack. Up to the present they had not succeeded, while the +machine-gun had accounted for several of the invaders. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo were not allowed to be idle. Eager to get to work +again, they were taken in hand by a captain, who by the aid of a map +pointed out the position of the various forts forming the outer and +inner lines of defences. The lads had also to memorize the principal +roads of communication between the city and the advanced works, as well +as the chief thoroughfares and public buildings of Antwerp itself. +Until they had a fair topographical knowledge they could be of little +use as dispatch-riders, but, owing to the comparatively narrow limits +of the Belgian forces, this information could be mastered after a brief +concentrated effort. +</P> + +<P> +Major Planchenoît took good care to put the rejoined dispatch-riders to +a practical test. Although glad of the help of the two British +subjects, he was not an officer likely to employ them on important work +until they knew the locality. Of their courage and sagacity he already +had proof, but these qualifications were almost of a negligible +quantity unless they knew the "lay of the land". +</P> + +<P> +Next morning the lads had their instructions. +</P> + +<P> +"You will proceed with the dispatch to the officer commanding the +outpost at Lierre," ordered Major Planchenoît. "This done, go on to +Vremde. There you will find a detachment of the regiment. This packet +is for the company officer. This done, proceed to the city, seek +Commandant Fleurus, and deliver this dispatch. Await further +instructions from him, and report to me." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth and Rollo saluted, and hastened to the shed where their +motor-cycles were stored. As they were giving them a final overhaul, +Private Labori—formerly a diamond merchant and now a +dispatch-rider—hailed them. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going into the city, camarades? You are? Good! Bring me +some cigars, and I will be eternally indebted to you. I smoked my last +yesterday, and without cigars I am as a man doomed to perdition. Of +your charity, camarades, do me this favour." +</P> + +<P> +Private Labori pressed a ten-franc piece into Kenneth's hand, and with +a hurried expression of gratitude returned to his task of peeling +potatoes for the midday meal. +</P> + +<P> +"He's taken it for granted that we get the cigars," remarked Kenneth. +"I suppose it would not be a breach of discipline to get them." +</P> + +<P> +"Almost like old times," declared Rollo, as the riders sped side by +side over the tree-lined road. "Pity we haven't our own motor-bikes, +though." +</P> + +<P> +He spoke with the same sort of affection as the huntsman has for his +favourite horse, but Kenneth was more practical and unimaginative. +</P> + +<P> +"We're lucky to be riding at all," he said. "After all, this jigger +gets along pretty well. We're doing a good twenty-five." +</P> + +<P> +The three dispatches were delivered in quick time. Commandant Fleurus +greeted the lads warmly, and questioned them at great length on the +subject of their adventures. +</P> + +<P> +"It is not possible to give you a reply at once," he said at the close +of the interview. "Come back at three o'clock, and the dispatch for +Major Planchenoît will be handed you. Meanwhile it will not be +necessary for you to return to Wavre Ste Catherine. You are at liberty +to amuse yourselves until the hour named." +</P> + +<P> +"Jolly considerate of him," remarked Kenneth after the lads had +withdrawn from the Commandant's presence. "We'll put up the bikes and +have a stroll round. It wouldn't be half a bad idea to call at the +post office. There may be something for us, but we had better not +reckon too much on it." +</P> + +<P> +They were not disappointed, for on making application at the post +office they were each handed quite a bulky packet of correspondence. +There were letters from their respective parents and relatives, and a +number from old school chums. These had been written when a part of +their adventures in Belgium had been related by their proud parents to +the head of St. Cyprian's. He, in turn, had passed on the news to the +rest of the school, and the result was a swarm of congratulatory +letters, sent to Mr. Everest and Colonel Harrington, who, upon +receiving news of their sons' safety, had promptly forwarded the batch +of correspondence. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove!" exclaimed Kenneth, "the pater's written to say that Thelma +is a nurse in one of the hospitals here—St. Nicholas is the name. He +wants me to keep an eye on her, so to speak, and pack her off to +England if there's danger of the city being taken by the enemy." +</P> + +<P> +"Let's find out where St. Nicholas Hospital is, and go there at once," +suggested Rollo. "Only I hope we'll have better luck than when we +tried to see your sister at Madame de la Barre's." +</P> + +<P> +"We do look like a couple of brigands," said Kenneth as they hurried +through the crowded streets; for their uniforms were far from being +smart, while their rifles slung across their backs gave them a truly +ferocious appearance. +</P> + +<P> +"Think so?" asked Rollo with considerable misgivings. "Then I think +I'll wait outside, if you don't mind." +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense, man," rejoined his companion heartily. "We're like the rest +of the troops. It's an honour to wear a Belgian uniform, after what +these fellows have done to delay the German advance and to upset the +Kaiser's time-table. Only I'll bet that Thelma doesn't know me." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was wrong in his surmise, for on calling at the hospital, +Thelma happened to be passing through the hall. She recognized her +brother at once, but he hardly knew the tall, graceful girl in the neat +and becoming nurse's uniform as his sister. +</P> + +<P> +"So you are my brother's chum," she remarked quite unaffectedly when +Kenneth had introduced the bashful Rollo. "I've heard a lot about you +from Kenneth when you were at St. Cyprian's, you know. And now you are +soldiers fighting for brave little Belgium." +</P> + +<P> +"And what are you doing here?" asked Kenneth with a display of +fraternal authority. "There are at least three British hospitals in +Antwerp, I believe. I wonder why you didn't join one of these." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder why you didn't join the British army instead of enlisting in +the Belgian one," retorted Thelma in mock reproof. +</P> + +<P> +"For one thing, we weren't old enough," explained her brother. "For +another, we saw most of the fun before our troops landed in France. +It's been a rotten time, but it's well worth it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, I am glad you were able to do your bit," agreed Thelma. "And now +I'll tell you why I'm here. My friend Yvonne Résimont and I both +entered as nurses, so as to be together." +</P> + +<P> +"Yvonne Résimont here?" asked Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes—do you know her?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; but I might have done, had Madame de la Barre not been so +confoundedly pigheaded. But it's not too late now," he added. +</P> + +<P> +Thelma laughed. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll find her," she said. +</P> + +<P> +"One moment," exclaimed Rollo, who had hitherto held his tongue but had +made good use of his eyes. "Does Mademoiselle Résimont know about her +father?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; she has not heard anything of or from him for weeks. He is not +dead?" +</P> + +<P> +"Badly wounded, and now somewhere in England. I don't know where; but +perhaps Major Planchenoît could give further particulars. And Madame +Résimont?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is in Holland—at Bergen-op-Zoom. The doctors ordered her to go, +otherwise she would have remained here and helped with the wounded. +I'll find Yvonne." +</P> + +<P> +In less than a minute Thelma Everest returned, accompanied by her +Belgian chum. +</P> + +<P> +Yvonne Résimont was a girl of medium height and well-proportioned. Her +features were dark and clear, her hair of a deep brown. +Notwithstanding the grimness of her surroundings she had a natural +vivacity that could not fail to charm all with whom she came in contact. +</P> + +<P> +"You, then, are Kenneth," she exclaimed in good English, with a slight +foreign accent. "I know much about you from Thelma, but I did not +expect to see you in the uniform of our brave Belgians." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth coloured slightly. +</P> + +<P> +"I wish to goodness the uniform were a little better fitting," he +thought; but it would not have mattered in the slightest degree. +Yvonne was a patriot to her finger-tips. Every man in the uniform of +her beloved country was to her a hero. The uniform, ill-fitting or +otherwise, was in her eyes an emblem of right against might. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me, Kenneth," she continued, using his Christian name quite as a +matter of course. It was excusable, since Thelma had never spoken of +her brother by any other name, and Kenneth had not the faintest +objection. "Tell me, how came you to be fighting with us in Belgian +uniform?" +</P> + +<P> +"Time, old man," announced Rollo, for during the animated conversation +the minutes fled with astonishing rapidity. "It's nearly three +o'clock." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll both come to see us again whenever you have the chance, won't +you?" asked Thelma, as the two chums bade the girls farewell. "For the +next ten days we are on night duty, so you can call at any hour between +eight and eight." +</P> + +<P> +"And if we are asleep," added Yvonne, "tell them to awaken us. I will +not be cross at being disturbed, and I do not think Thelma will be." +</P> + +<P> +"Ripping girl, your sister, old man," remarked Rollo enthusiastically, +as the twain hurried towards the staff office. +</P> + +<P> +"Is she?" asked Kenneth absent-mindedly. He was thinking deeply of +someone else. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap26"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVI +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Self-accused +</H3> + +<P> +"We've a few minutes to spare," observed Kenneth, "so I'll get those +cigars for Private Labori. There's a swagger shop just across the +road." +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the threatened bombardment of Antwerp the population was +calm. It was a case of "business as usual". The cafés and shops were +doing a good trade; the price of provisions, notwithstanding the great +influx of refugees, was but a little above the normal. Were it not for +the military element in the street, and the occasional visit of a +Zeppelin or hostile aeroplane, it would have been difficult to realize +that the city was almost within range of the German siege guns, and +that day by day those guns were slowly yet steadily advancing. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth entered the tobacconist's first. As he did so he momentarily +forgot that he carried his rifle across his back. In passing through +the narrow doorway the muzzle of the weapon struck the plate-glass +window of the porch and cracked it. +</P> + +<P> +Alarmed by the crash the shopkeeper rushed out, but before Kenneth +could offer any apologies the man gave a howl of terror. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy, monsieur Englishman!" he exclaimed. "Indeed I could not help +it. Von Koenik compelled me to disclose your name." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth, ever quick-witted, grasped the situation instantly. The +tobacconist was none other than the spy who, under the name of Jules de +la Paix, kept a similar establishment at Brussels. There his dirty +work had been completed; at Antwerp it was just beginning. +</P> + +<P> +The fellow had also recognized Kenneth as the Englishman he had basely +denounced to his paymasters, the Germans. Seeing him in uniform and +armed, with a fully-accoutred companion, the spy jumped at the hasty +and erroneous conclusion that Kenneth had discovered his duplicity and +had come to arrest him. +</P> + +<P> +His panic at seeing the man whom he supposed to be dead amounted to a +superstitious terror. Hardly knowing what he said, he let fall the +damning admission that he was at least partly responsible for Kenneth's +arrest at Brussels. +</P> + +<P> +"You are my prisoner!" exclaimed Kenneth sternly. +</P> + +<P> +Momentarily recovering his courage, the fellow drew back. His hand +flew to his pocket, but before he could produce a concealed weapon the +British lad grasped him by both arms. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile Rollo, guessing by the crash of the broken glass that +something was amiss, had sauntered leisurely into the shop, fully +expecting to hear his chum apologizing profusely to the tobacconist for +his clumsiness. To his surprise, he found Kenneth and the shopkeeper +swaying to and fro in a desperate struggle. Chairs had been +overturned, cases of pipes and packets of tobacco were being thrown in +all directions. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of being encumbered with his rifle and kit, Kenneth succeeded +in throwing the spy to the floor and kneeling on his chest. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-256"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-256.jpg" ALT="KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR" BORDER="2"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center"> +KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +"Get a strap, a rope, or something, old man," he exclaimed +breathlessly. "We've collared a spy." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo obeyed. It was one of those rare instances when he acted on the +spur of his chum's orders and argued the situation afterwards. He +could not understand how Kenneth had effected the capture without any +previous warning. To him, a lad brought up in a country where law and +order moves with slow and majestic deliberation, it looked like a case +of illegal arrest. Nevertheless he found a length of packing-cord, and +deftly secured the arms of the now exhausted spy, tying them at the +wrists behind his back. +</P> + +<P> +The two female assistants—Belgian girls—had fled screaming at the +commencement of the struggle. Two or three customers at the other end +of the long shop had watched the scene without attempting to interfere; +but directly the shopkeeper was secured they rushed into the street, +yelling that a spy had been captured. +</P> + +<P> +The utterance of the word "Espion" was sufficient instantly to attract +a huge crowd. Civil Guards and soldiers found their way through the +press, and kept the curious onlookers from the door. +</P> + +<P> +"Who denounces the accused?" demanded a sergeant of the Civil Guard. +</P> + +<P> +"I do," promptly responded Kenneth, at the same time producing his +identity papers. +</P> + +<P> +The sergeant glanced at the documents, and entered Kenneth's name in a +book. +</P> + +<P> +"You must come with me," he added; "you and your witnesses." +</P> + +<P> +"Sorry I cannot," said Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +The sergeant pricked up his ears. +</P> + +<P> +"I order you," he declared. +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me where you are taking the prisoner, and we will be there as +soon as possible. At three o'clock I have an appointment with +Commandant Fleurus, and it is nearly that hour now." +</P> + +<P> +The sergeant acquiesced, but took the precaution of discreetly sending +a couple of men to watch the movements of the two corporals in Belgian +uniform who were stated to be English. Experience had taught him that +there were such things as forged documents, and that Germans had +masqueraded as English officers and men. +</P> + +<P> +"You are slightly after time," was Commandant Fleurus's remark as the +dispatch-riders presented themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"We arrested a spy, sir," announced Kenneth. "He gave himself away." +</P> + +<P> +"How was that?" asked the Commandant. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth reported the details, and how Jules de la Paix had rashly +declared that he was compelled to denounce the English lads to von +Koenik at Brussels. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" ejaculated Commandant Fleurus. "It is indeed a fine service to +trap such carrion. We have suffered greatly from these pests, but I +fear one the less will make but little difference. Antwerp shelters a +horde of them. But here is your dispatch. See, I have endorsed it: +'Bearers detained upon special service'." +</P> + +<P> +By the time that Kenneth and Rollo arrived at the head-quarters of the +Civil Guard a court martial had already been constituted. The presence +of the principal witnesses made it possible for the trial to open. +</P> + +<P> +The proceedings were brief, but with every semblance of fairness. The +accused, having had time to consider his position, tried to deny his +statements; but there were several witnesses who had overheard the +prisoner's terrified confession to Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +Members of the Civil Guard reported that they had searched the +accused's premises. In a garret with a well-concealed trap-door they +discovered a powerful wireless installation, the aerials being hidden +from outside view by being placed between two rows of chimney-pots. In +the garret were also found plans and documents of great official value, +besides a copy of a code, several flash-lights, and arms and +ammunition. On the face of this evidence the prisoner was doomed. +</P> + +<P> +In addition the Civil Guards discovered that at the end of the garden +was a shed abutting on a canal that communicated with the Scheldt. In +this shed was a large sea-going motor-boat, painted a dark-grey, and +completely equipped for a voyage. It was presumed that, should the spy +find himself compelled to leave Antwerp hurriedly, this craft would +enable him to reach Dutch territory, whence he could easily regain the +ground held by the invaders. +</P> + +<P> +Within an hour from the opening of the Court the spy was condemned to +be shot, and the sentence was put into execution forthwith. +</P> + +<P> +"A rotten business," remarked Kenneth as the two lads rode towards +Wavre Ste Catherine. "I feel as if I have that fellow's blood on my +head." +</P> + +<P> +"He jolly well deserved what he got," rejoined Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Undoubtedly; but, all the same, I wish I hadn't a hand in it. +Trapping spies is hardly a soldier's game. What I should like to have +done would be to have given him a thundering good hiding." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap27"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +With the Naval Brigade at Antwerp +</H3> + +<P> +Fort de Wavre Ste Catherine had fallen. Unable to fire an effective +shot in reply to the terrible bombardment of the formidable German +28-cm. shells, the strongest of the outer line of Antwerp defences +suffered the same fate as the steel-clad cupolas of Liége. +</P> + +<P> +Antwerp was doomed. The Belgians themselves realized the fact. Their +one hope was that the German infantry would attempt to rush the +trenches. Then it would be proved again that the Belgian infantryman +was as good as or better than his Teutonic foe. +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless, driven from the outer forts on the southern side of the +defences, the garrison was not dismayed. In spite of the fact that by +their resistance Antwerp itself would presumably suffer at the hands of +the Germanic hordes, the Belgians knew that their sacrifice would not +be in vain. To take the city a huge force of Germans would be +required—and that force was badly needed elsewhere. Day by day, hour +by hour, the British and French allied forces were extending their left +wing from the Aisne to the Belgian frontier, circumventing all the +efforts on the part of their foes to turn their flank. The "holding +up" of the German besiegers of Antwerp was sufficient to enable the +Allies firmly to establish their threatened left flank upon the coast +of the North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +One by one the outer forts fell. A shell demolished the waterworks and +threatened the city's water supply. Back fell the Belgians, +reluctantly relaxing their hold upon the trenches, in which they were +subjected to a heavy fire without even so much as a glimpse of a +hostile grey-coat. +</P> + +<P> +During these momentous days Kenneth and Rollo were busily employed +conveying important messages under fire. It was a matter of +impossibility for them not to realize the hopelessness of the position, +but they did not relax their efforts on that account. The Belgians +were not fighting with their backs to a wall. Behind them lay the +neutral territory of Holland. At any given time they could evacuate +the city and allow themselves to be interned; but this they would not +do until they received news that their allies were firmly established +in their proposed position. +</P> + +<P> +On the second day of October preparations were made for the Government +to abandon Antwerp, when suddenly the exodus came to a standstill. The +word flew from mouth to mouth that a strong British force was to be +thrown into Antwerp, and, with the aid of the Belgian army, to raise +the siege and turn the enemy's flank. +</P> + +<P> +"That's good news," remarked Kenneth; but Rollo was far from optimistic. +</P> + +<P> +"We've heard such a lot of this sort of talk before, old man," he said. +"Until I see a British regiment in Antwerp I'll have my doubts." +</P> + +<P> +Early on the morning of the 4th, the lads were roused from their +slumbers by a roar of cheering. Emerging from their shell-proof +shelter, they were surprised and delighted to find that rumour had +merged into fact. Surging along towards the trenches in the direction +of Lierre were hundreds of men dressed in the well-known British naval +uniform. As yet they were not under shellfire, for the German guns +were devoting their energies towards the works at Lierre, and the +hostile air-craft had not noted the approach of British reinforcements. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the bluejackets halted and piled arms. It was their last +breathing-space before they dashed into the shell-swept trenches. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go and see them," suggested Rollo; and his companion agreeing, +the two chums hurried towards the resting bluejackets, who were +surrounded by hundreds of their Belgian allies, for the present off +duty from the firing-line. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder how we manage to spare this crowd of sailors," remarked +Kenneth as they made their way towards their fellow-countrymen. "I +should have thought that every man would be wanted for service with the +fleet." +</P> + +<P> +"At any rate, they're here," said Rollo; "and there are fellows in +khaki coming along the Lierre road, if I'm not much mistaken." +</P> + +<P> +The lads stood watching the sailors for some time. Their insular +reserve kept them from immediately entering into conversation, although +they were filled with impatience to know what had happened. +</P> + +<P> +For the most part the bluejackets were young men of good physique. +They lacked the bronzed appearance of seamen who have braved the +breezes of the five oceans. Many of them were pale, not with +apprehension, but with a consciousness that they had before them a +stern task that would tax their energies and courage, for they were +going under fire for the first time. +</P> + +<P> +Presently one of the bluejackets strolled up to the spot where Kenneth +and his chum were standing. +</P> + +<P> +"Est-ce—est-ce que vous—oh, hang it! what's the French for——" he +began. +</P> + +<P> +"Try English, old man; it will be a jolly sight easier for you," said +Kenneth, laughing. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, you're British, and in Belgian get-up!" exclaimed the bluejacket +in surprise. "What are you doing here, I should like to know?" +</P> + +<P> +"Exactly the same question we want to ask you," replied Kenneth. +"We're dispatch-riders in the Belgian service. We heard that British +troops were to be sent here, but we didn't expect sailors." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor are we," replied the other. "Candidly we're not, although we are +the Collingwood Battalion of the Naval Brigade." +</P> + +<P> +"Never heard of it before," remarked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"You haven't? Have you heard of Kitchener's army, then?" +</P> + +<P> +The lads shook their heads. +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are behind the times. Whatever have you been doing with +yourselves? I'll tell you. As soon as war broke out Kitchener asked +for half a million men. He got them right enough. In addition they +started Naval Brigades. It was a good wheeze, for a lot of fellows +joined for the sake of wearing a naval uniform instead of khaki, +although there was no intention of using us at sea—at least, not at +present. Two months ago I was an actor. To quote the words of the +immortal <I>Pinafore</I>: 'I never was upon the sea'." +</P> + +<P> +"'What, never?'" queried Rollo, continuing the words of the song. +</P> + +<P> +"'Well—hardly ever'. Fact is that until I left Walmer to cross the +Channel my longest trip was from Portsmouth to Ryde. I was beastly +sea-sick crossing, but I'm jolly glad I'm here. We stand a chance of +doing a bit before Kitchener's army gets a sniff of a look-in. We'll +do our little bit, never fear. Well, so long; hope to see you again." +</P> + +<P> +The division was falling in, preparatory to advancing in open order +towards the trenches facing the River Nethe, close to the village of +Lierre. Steadfastly, and with the quiet courage that distinguishes +Britons under fire, the lads of the Naval Brigade marched into the zone +of danger to attempt to stem the advance of the German hordes upon the +city of Antwerp. +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, messieurs!" exclaimed Major Planchenoît, as the dispatch-riders +reported themselves for orders. He was in high spirits, for, like the +rest of the Belgian troops, he was greatly cheered by the fact that the +long-promised aid was at last forthcoming. "Ah, messieurs! to-day you +will report yourselves at Lierre. You will be of service as +interpreters, for your gallant fellow-countrymen do not seem +particularly well acquainted with our language." +</P> + +<P> +It was hot work making their way to the trenches, for already the +Germans had renewed their destructive fire. Briton and Belgian, lying +side by side in the hastily-constructed shelters, were subjected to a +galling shrapnel fire without being able to make an adequate reply. +From the rear, two British heavy naval guns were resolutely hurtling +shells towards the invisible German battery; but of what use were two +against so many? +</P> + +<P> +Manfully the untried men of the Naval Brigade took their gruelling. It +was one of the hardest tasks that men, going for the first time into +action, had to endure: to be subjected to a tremendous bombardment +without being able to fire a shot in return. Nevertheless they stuck +it grimly, waiting and praying that they might have a chance of meeting +the German infantry on anything like level terms. +</P> + +<P> +That chance came at last. At night the German artillery-fire +slackened. Pouring onwards in dense masses came the grey-uniformed +legions, intent upon forcing the passage of the River Nethe in the +neighbourhood of Lierre. +</P> + +<P> +Already the British Marines had blown up the bridge, while across the +main street of the shell-wrecked village a strong barricade of carts +faced with sandbags had been constructed. Working desperately, the +German engineers succeeded in throwing pontoons across the stagnant +river. With shouts of "Deutschland über Alles" the infantry poured +across, greeted by a withering fire from Briton and Belgian. +</P> + +<P> +The Naval Brigade's rifle-firing was as steady as that of a veteran +battalion. Maxims added to the general clatter. All along the +trenches flashed the deadly spurts of fire from the small-arms. The +German infantry, swept away like chaff, failed to make good the +position: the Briton proved a better man than the vaunted Teuton. Then +came the recurrence of the deadly shrapnel. The Belgian infantry on +the right were compelled to retire, and into the position they vacated +poured other German regiments, covered by a fierce artillery fire that +was impartial as to whether it struck friend or foe. +</P> + +<P> +It was now that the Naval Brigade failed to come up to the standard of +thoroughly trained and seasoned troops. Having repelled the attack +upon their immediate front, they could not easily be induced to retire. +The desire to "stop and have another shot at the beggars" was uppermost +in the minds of these stalwart youths. They failed to realize that +with the Allied line pressed they were in danger of being enfiladed. +But reluctantly and doggedly they eventually fell back within the +shelter of the inner line of forts. +</P> + +<P> +For the next two days the German heavy guns pounded the weak line of +defence. Inexplicably, although the city was well within range, no +projectiles fell in Antwerp. Perhaps it was because the invaders hoped +to take a practically undamaged port. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile the Belgian army, with the British Naval Brigade, was being +withdrawn from Antwerp. Further resistance was hopeless, while by this +time the Anglo-French armies were in their allotted positions according +to General Joffre's plan. All that remained to be done in Antwerp was +to destroy everything likely to be of military value to the enemy, and +extricate the defenders from what promised to be a veritable trap. +</P> + +<P> +In vain, during the night of the retirement, Kenneth and Rollo sought +to regain their regiment. Whither the 9th of the Line had gone no one +seemed to know. Some had it that the devoted regiment had perished +almost to a man in the trenches; others that it was on its way to +Ostend; others that it had crossed the frontier into Holland. +</P> + +<P> +"Now what's to be done?" asked Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +"Find the girls, if they haven't already left, and get them to a place +of safety," replied Kenneth grimly. "We can do no more at present for +Belgium; we must look after ourselves and our friends. Lead on: to the +St. Nicholas Hospital." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap28"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXVIII +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +When the City Fell +</H3> + +<P> +Shells were beginning to fall upon the roofs of the houses when the +lads entered the devoted city. The bulk of the population had already +fled. A seemingly never-ending procession of tired, hungry, and +despondent refugees poured along the dusty road leading to +Bergen-op-Zoom. Others, debarred from taking train owing to Germans +having occupied St. Nicholas Station, were making their way by +circuitous routes towards Ostend. More were embarking upon craft of +all sorts and sizes, whose masters were only too willing to give their +suffering countrymen a passage either to the nearest Dutch port or +across the North Sea to the shores of hospitable England. +</P> + +<P> +Night had now fallen. It was by no means cold, the frosty nights of +mid-September having given place to an autumnal heat-wave. There was +little or no wind. The dense smoke from the burning petrol-tanks, +which the Belgians had fired rather than let the precious spirit fall +into the hands of the enemy, rose straight in the air. Elsewhere other +smaller columns of smoke marked the localities where the German +incendiary shells had fired portions of the city. +</P> + +<P> +In one of the principal squares, swarms of ragamuffins, acting under +the orders of the military, were taking a hideous delight in their work +of destruction; for they were busily engaged in smashing costly +motor-cars and lorries to useless fragments. Nothing that could be of +use to the enemy was permitted to be left intact. +</P> + +<P> +From the direction of the river came the sounds of muffled explosions +as the Belgians methodically proceeded to cripple the engines of a +fleet of merchant shipping, and to sink lighters filled with stone and +concrete to block up the entrances to the various docks. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans were about to take Antwerp—but they were to find in it +another Moscow, as Napoleon found it. +</P> + +<P> +Keeping to the almost deserted side streets, Kenneth and Rollo hurried +towards the Hospital of St. Nicholas. Their motor-cycles had gone, +being destroyed in the retirement of the 9th Regiment of the Line from +the fire-swept trenches. +</P> + +<P> +"What's the programme?" asked Rollo. "What do you propose to do if we +find the girls?" +</P> + +<P> +"Clear out," replied Kenneth promptly. "The train service is done; I'm +not anxious to enter Holland and cool my heels till the end of this +business. We can't expect the girls to tramp twenty miles, with the +possibility of being cut off by the enemy; and carts are apparently out +of the question. There remains the sea." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we may be able to get a passage on a fishing-boat." +</P> + +<P> +"That's not my plan. Do you remember the motor-launch in the shed at +the end of Jules de la Paix's garden?" +</P> + +<P> +"Can't see how that can help us," objected Rollo. "We haven't a crew." +</P> + +<P> +"If we can get the motor to start, the worst of the difficulty is +over," declared Kenneth. "At the trial, you'll recollect, the sergeant +of the Civil Guard reported that the craft was provisioned and ready +for sea. He was ordered to refrain from damaging the vessel." +</P> + +<P> +"She may have disappeared." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll soon see." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth led the way along a dark, deserted alley, till he came to a +wall on the top of which was a formidable array of broken glass. This +wall marked the side boundary to the spy's premises. +</P> + +<P> +"A tough nut to crack," remarked Rollo, as he noticed for the first +time the jagged glass gleaming in the red glare of the burning houses. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll come across a door, unless I'm much mistaken—— Hullo! that's +a nasty one," said Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +A shower of shrapnel, rattling on the roofs and shattering the windows +of some houses in the street they had just left, occasioned this +exclamation; for the Germans were mostly using shells of this variety, +to terrify the inhabitants rather than to cause great material damage. +</P> + +<P> +"Quite near enough," rejoined Rollo coolly. "Here's the door." +</P> + +<P> +The lads tried it. It was locked and bolted. The stout oaken +framework resisted their efforts to burst it open with their shoulders. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth unslung his rifle. One shot amidst that chaos of terrific +detonations would be practically inaudible, and even if it were heard +there were none sufficiently curious to ascertain the reason. +</P> + +<P> +The heavy lock was not proof against the high-velocity bullet. A +second shot demolished the bolt. The gate creaked on its hinges. +</P> + +<P> +Passing along the garden path amidst autumn flowers mown down by the +explosion of shells, several of which had fallen close to the house, +the lads arrived at the boat-house. The windows were shattered; there +was a gaping hole in the roof. Kenneth began to entertain grave doubts +as to whether the motor-boat had escaped damage. +</P> + +<P> +"She's there, right enough," he announced, as he peered through one of +the broken windows and saw the grey-painted outlines of the craft +within. "The door's locked. I'll try another shot." +</P> + +<P> +"Steady on, man!" cautioned his companion. "Mind you don't bore a hole +through the boat as well. See, here is a crowbar, or something like +it. We'll prise the door open." +</P> + +<P> +They seized the bar and forced the pointed end between the door and the +jamb. +</P> + +<P> +"Now!" exclaimed Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +At that very moment, before the lads could exert any pressure upon the +crowbar, a blinding flash came from overhead, immediately followed by a +terrific detonation. Splinters, broken glass, tiles, clods of earth +and leaves flew in all directions, while a pungent cloud of smoke +enveloped everything. +</P> + +<P> +For nearly ten seconds the two chums held on to the crowbar, then +Kenneth spoke. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm hit, confound it!" he exclaimed. "It's not much, though." +</P> + +<P> +He relaxed his grasp of the iron bar as he spoke, and reeled slightly. +Rollo held out his hand to steady him, and perceived for the first time +that it was wet with blood and practically devoid of the sense of +feeling. +</P> + +<P> +"What! You hit too?" asked Kenneth, pulling himself together on seeing +the dark stain on his companion's wrist. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; a shrapnel ball clean through my right wrist," announced Rollo, +"It doesn't hurt much." +</P> + +<P> +"And I've a bullet through the palm of my left hand," added Kenneth, +displaying a small punctured wound about two inches from the base of +the little finger. "It might have been worse. We'll tie our +handkerchiefs over the wounds; that will do all right for the time. +Now for the door. The sooner we open it the better. Buck up, man; the +girls must be terribly anxious." +</P> + +<P> +Thus exhorted, although feeling giddy from the effects of the shock, +Rollo grasped the crowbar with his unwounded hand. Kenneth bore +against the lever with all his might, and with a crash the door flew +open. +</P> + +<P> +The motor-boat was on a cradle, just clear of the water. It was now +half-tide and on the ebb. A hasty examination failed to reveal signs +of structural damage to the little craft, although the scuttle-glasses +of the cabin were all either cracked or completely demolished. The +craft was fully equipped, but the provisions had vanished. Doubtless +they had been removed by the Civil Guards at or after the arrest of the +spy. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's launch her, then we can see if she leaks," exclaimed Kenneth. +He was feverishly working against time. His energy seemed +inexhaustible. "There's the windlass; let her go gently." +</P> + +<P> +Down glided the boat into the sullen waters of the canal. Kenneth +leapt on board and secured her along-side, then lifted the floor-boards +over the well. +</P> + +<P> +"She's making a few drops," he announced. "I think it's only because +she has been hauled up in the dry for some time. By the time we get +the girls down she'll take up." +</P> + +<P> +Rollo offered no remark. In his mind there were doubts as to whether +Thelma Everest and Yvonne Résimont were still in the hospital; if they +were, would they abandon their duties? But he followed his chum, +nursing his wounded hand, wincing at every step he took as the pain +shot through the nerves of his arm. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth strode on, indifferent to his injuries. Hardly a word passed +between them as they hurried along the alley and into the smoke-filled +streets. There were still a few persons about, mostly men of the +criminal class, who seized the opportunity for indiscriminate looting. +Here and there were the corpses of fugitives, stricken down in their +final mad rush for the safety that was denied them. The air was filled +with the crash of exploding shells and the clatter of broken glass, to +the accompaniment of the distant booming of the hostile guns. +</P> + +<P> +Closely followed by his companion, Kenneth dashed up the steps of the +hospital. The door was wide open. A portion of the facade of the +portico had been shattered by a shell. Hardly a window remained intact +in the building. +</P> + +<P> +A nurse, her face serenely peaceful in spite of the scene of +destruction around her, came forward. +</P> + +<P> +"You men are wounded? Come this way; we will speedily attend to your +hurts." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth shook his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Our wounds are slight," he protested. "I have come for my sister, +Thelma Everest, and her friend, Mademoiselle Résimont—if they can be +spared," he added, for the sight of this woman calmly on duty caused +him to take a different view of the reason lot his sister's presence in +the hospital. +</P> + +<P> +"They can be spared," replied the nurse. "Already we have sent the +least serious cases away, and have dismissed the younger nurses. +Mademoiselle Everest and her friend refused to take advantage of the +permission. They were expecting you, and you have not failed them, I +see. I will inform them." +</P> + +<P> +Quickly Thelma and Yvonne appeared, heavily cloaked, and carrying +handbags, in readiness for their flight. +</P> + +<P> +"We would not have gone, Kenneth," said his sister, "only there is no +more work for us to do. But is it not already too late to leave the +city? We were told that the bridge of boats had been destroyed, and +that all communication with outside is interrupted. Four of our nurses +left by the last train that got away from here." +</P> + +<P> +"We'll manage that all right," declared Kenneth stoutly, although in +his mind he dreaded taking the girls on the journey along the +shell-endangered streets. +</P> + +<P> +"We are ready," said Thelma simply; then, having taken a hasty yet +tender farewell of the head nursing sister, the girls accompanied the +two lads into the now deserted thoroughfare. +</P> + +<P> +Unhurt, although several highly-charged projectiles burst above the +roofs on either side of the road, the four refugees gained the +boat-house of the late spy. No more shells had fallen there in the +interval. The boat had made but half an inch of water, and this could +easily be got under by means of the pump. The fuel tanks were filled +with petrol; there were a dozen intact tins in the after locker. +</P> + +<P> +For provisions each lad had a couple of long rolls of bread in his +haversack. Thelma had brought biscuits and butter; Yvonne had provided +a tin of ground coffee and condensed milk—a meagre fare on which to +essay a voyage across the North Sea, but enough to hazard the journey +without fear of actual starvation. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth was by no means a novice in seamanship, On more than one +vacation he had spent part of the time in motor-boating in Southampton +Water, where a cousin of his kept a high-powered craft. After very +little delay he succeeded in finding the position of the various +switches and taps. At the third attempt the engine fired. The +propeller blades, set at the neutral, churned the water. The motor +purred rhythmically, as a well-conducted motor should. +</P> + +<P> +"Cast off there, for'ard!" ordered Kenneth, addressing Rollo, who had +taken up his post in the bows. "Thelma, undo that rope, quickly now!" +</P> + +<P> +It was no time for courtesies. Kenneth was skipper, and his crew had +to be told peremptorily; it was his notion of showing authority. +</P> + +<P> +Swiftly gathering stern-way the boat glided away from the staging; +then, with a jerk as the propeller began to churn ahead, the little +craft headed towards the Scheldt and the North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth's was by no means an easy task. Having the use of only one +arm, he was severely handicapped. Steering by means of a wheel is far +from satisfactory when literally "single-handed", while the intricacies +of the canal required a certain amount of quickness with the helm. +Twice the boat nearly collided with the partly submerged hulls of +destroyed barges. The canal was now little better than a ditch, for +the tide had already fallen twelve feet out of sixteen. One +satisfaction Kenneth had: there were no lock-gates to negotiate. The +falling tide told him that. +</P> + +<P> +"Something ahead!" shouted Rollo. "Wreckage, I think." +</P> + +<P> +His chum immediately throttled down, keeping his unwounded hand on the +reversing lever. By the lurid glare in the sky he could discern the +obstruction: the shattered timbers of the lock-gates. Would there be +enough water to clear the sill of the basin? If not, they would have +to remain for hours, in danger of the falling shells, until the tide +rose sufficiently to float the boat over the barrier. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth prudently stopped the engine. He would not risk losing the +blades of the propeller. Slowly and with bare steerage-way the boat +glided towards the ruined gates. Her bows passed the gaunt timbers, +then, with a horrid grinding noise, she hung up by the stern. +</P> + +<P> +"Get for'ard, all hands!" shouted Kenneth. "We may be able to jump her +over." +</P> + +<P> +The four members of the crew made their way to the bows. Regardless of +their injuries the two lads heaved and pushed with the boat-hooks. +They could hear the keel grate on the stone-work. The tide was still +falling. +</P> + +<P> +A shell, fortunately without exploding, dropped into the water twenty +yards astern, throwing a shower of spray over the boat and her crew. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth glanced at the girls. By the glare of the burning city he +could see that their faces were calm. Either they were ignorant of +their narrow escape or quite unperturbed by their hazardous position. +</P> + +<P> +"All together; push for all you are worth!" exclaimed Kenneth +desperately. +</P> + +<P> +Inch by inch the boat was urged onwards, till with a sudden jerk it +dropped across the sill into deep water. Rollo, faint with pain, sat +limply in the for'ard well; then, concealing his injuries, he assisted +the girls to the doubtful shelter of the cabin. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth, too, was in a sorry plight. Setting his teeth tightly he +restarted the engine; then, taking up his post at the wheel, he guided +the swift little craft towards the centre of the River Scheldt. +</P> + +<P> +In spite of the still pressing danger the crew were enthralled by the +scene that presented itself to their gaze. Antwerp was in the throes +of its death-struggle. Dominating the houses on the river bank rose +the spire of the cathedral, its delicate tracery silhouetted clearly +against the dull red glare of the burning oil-tanks. Overhead the +thick pall of smoke had spread far and wide, its lower edges tinted +blood-red by the blaze of the numerous fires. High above the roofs +were the rapid, seemingly interminable brilliant flashes of the +exploding shells, while away to the southward the sky was stabbed by +the incessant lightning-like glare of the bombarding guns. +</P> + +<P> +Antwerp had fallen. Belgium as a country had practically ceased to +exist; Belgium as a nation, still undaunted, had made a supreme +sacrifice. She had saved Europe—and Europe's task was clear. Not +until the brave little nation was rehabilitated, and the German menace +crushed once and for all time, could the Allies hope to lay down the +sword that they had been reluctantly compelled to unsheathe. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap29"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXIX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +On the North Sea +</H3> + +<P> +The crew of the motor-boat had no great difficulty in finding their way +down the river. The glare on the water, and on the underside of the +enormous expanse of smoke overhead, enabled them to see objects ahead +with comparative ease. The actual channel was well defined, at first +by several barges still at anchor in the stream, and later by hundreds +of small craft making their way to safety. +</P> + +<P> +Those who depended mainly upon sail to propel them were quickly +overtaken, for the night was particularly windless and their brown +canvas hung idly from the yards. Satisfied with having got beyond the +danger zone, the crews of these fishing-vessels were content to drift, +save for the occasional assistance of their heavy sweeps. The decks +were literally packed with refugees, who, glad to have escaped with +their lives, exhibited an uncanny calmness. +</P> + +<P> +Reach after reach of the river was passed, as the motor-boat, gradually +working up power, increased her speed. Astern, the funereal pile of +Antwerp glowed red; it seemed as if the crew could never get beyond +sight of it. The spire of the cathedral had vanished beneath the +horizon, but the smoke from the burning city still hung overhead. +</P> + +<P> +The four occupants of the motor-boat had made their way aft. The +girls, refusing to go into the cabin, sat on one side of the cockpit, +their eyes fixed upon the glare of the fallen port. Rollo, holding his +wounded wrist, shut his jaw tightly and endured the pain. Since his +chum made no complaint of his injuries, Rollo grimly decided to keep +the fact that he was wounded from the others. Kenneth, steadying the +steering-wheel with his right hand, had almost forgotten the unpleasant +attention of the shrapnel bullet. The sense of responsibility +outweighed all other considerations. +</P> + +<P> +"We're across the frontier now," he announced, as the little craft +curtsied to the slight undulations of the comparatively wide expanse of +the West Scheldt. "Now, girls, which shall it be? Shall I land you on +Dutch territory, or will you risk crossing the North Sea?" +</P> + +<P> +Thelma's was a prompt answer. +</P> + +<P> +"We'll stay with you, boys." +</P> + +<P> +"Will it be very rough?" asked Yvonne. She had faced the dangers of +the bombardment bravely, but the perils of a voyage upon the open sea +in a small, partly-decked craft gave her misgivings that the presence +of her companions failed to keep in check. +</P> + +<P> +"Smooth as a mill-pond," declared Kenneth optimistically. "There's no +wind. We'll have plenty of company on the way, I fancy; and what is +more, the British navy has complete control of this part of the North +Sea. We are doing fifteen knots, I think; that's a little over +seventeen miles an hour. We ought to be in sight of the Kentish coast +a couple of hours after sunrise." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I am satisfied," declared Yvonne. +</P> + +<P> +"That's good! Now, girls, how about a cup of coffee? I can't make it, +so perhaps you'll do a good turn. Rollo will light the cabin light and +show you where the fresh water is stored." +</P> + +<P> +As soon as his three companions had withdrawn to the cabin Kenneth +closed the door. The gleam from within dazzled his eyes, and, with so +much traffic about, that would never do. The motor-boat was running +without navigation lights. If there were any "steaming" lamps on board +he had failed to notice them. But the rule of the road seemed to be +sadly neglected that fateful night. There were vessels of all sizes +and rigs making for safety, and not one-tenth of their number showed +the regulation red and green lights. +</P> + +<P> +Left to himself, Kenneth began to realize once more that his hand was +throbbing. The flow of blood had entirely ceased, and a dry, burning +pain succeeded the comparative ease of the wound while it bled freely. +He was desperately hungry and thirsty. For forty-eight hours he had +been on short commons. The reaction of the days and nights of +strenuous activity was beginning to tell. +</P> + +<P> +The motor-boat, gliding swiftly through the water, had now outstripped +all the fishing luggers. Ahead were three or four steamers making to +the westward. Others, shaping a course for Ostend, had swung away to +the port hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Rollo!" sang out his chum sharply. "Come and take the helm for a +minute." +</P> + +<P> +"I was just coming," answered Rollo as he emerged from the cabin. +"There's coffee waiting for you. And the girls have made a rattling +good job of my wrist," he added, pointing to a neatly-bandaged arm in a +sling. +</P> + +<P> +"Follow that vessel," ordered Kenneth, pointing to a steamer a couple +of miles ahead, her stern-light showing brightly in the clear starlit +night. "If you overhaul her, or if there's anything likely to be +dangerous, give me the word." +</P> + +<P> +"One minute," protested Rollo. "The spray's dashing in through the +broken scuttles. I'll try and fix up the strip of canvas. It's long +enough to go right round." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth waited until his chum had completed the necessary and +self-imposed task. Being able to use only one hand, it was a +difficult, not to say dangerous, business securing the canvas round the +raised cabin-top, for the boat was now jumping considerably. +</P> + +<P> +"That's done it!" ejaculated Rollo. "Now, old man, down you go. I'll +keep her going somehow." +</P> + +<P> +"You have been a time, Kenneth," exclaimed his sister reproachfully. +"Your coffee is getting cold. Why, what's the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +She broke off her reproaches in alarm, for Kenneth's face was grey and +drawn in the light of the cabin-lamp. +</P> + +<P> +"Only my hand," announced her brother, with a feeble, ill-disguised +attempt at unconcern as he withdrew the badly-bandaged member from the +flap of his coat. +</P> + +<P> +"What! Are we still under fire?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; this occurred five or six hours ago. It's a clean wound." +</P> + +<P> +Gently the two girls attended to the injury. The handkerchief had to +be soaked before it could be withdrawn from the wound. In five minutes +the now experienced young nurses had washed the place with antiseptic +and had bound it with lint. +</P> + +<P> +"Right as anything now," declared Kenneth. "I'll have my coffee and +get on deck again." +</P> + +<P> +"You had far better rest," replied his sister; "and Rollo, too, is +steering; in spite of his wounded wrist. I'll go and take the wheel; +it won't be the first time." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth gave in without a protest. He was "about done". Obediently he +stretched himself upon one of the cushions of the bunk and closed his +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Bidding Yvonne keep a watch on the patient, Thelma donned her cloak and +went out into the cockpit. +</P> + +<P> +Rollo, too, offered no objections to being relieved of his duty. The +vibration of the wheel, almost unnoticeable under ordinary +circumstances, was causing his wrist intense pain. He handed Thelma +the charge of the helm, told her what course to take, and sat down, +admiring, in spite of his physical anguish, the alert, self-possessed +girl as she toyed with the spokes of the wheel with the ease of a +practised helmsman. +</P> + +<P> +"We're up to that vessel, Rollo," she reported, after an hour had +passed. Owing to her superior speed the motor-boat had rapidly gained +upon the lumbering ten-knot tramp which was now a couple of cables +distant on the port hand. +</P> + +<P> +Her companion bestirred himself and went into the cabin. +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't wake Kenneth," he said as he reappeared. "Yvonne tells me +he's quite done up." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder you're not, too." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll make up for it when we get ashore, never fear," declared Rollo. +"But the point is, we've got to steer a course. Here's the compass, +but it's almost like Greek to me. I suppose if we keep due west we'll +do something? There are such things as variation and deviation, but, +although I did have a chance, I never troubled to understand them. I +wish I had, now." +</P> + +<P> +Providentially, for it was now close on high water, the little craft +crossed the dangerous sand-banks that encumber the Scheldt entrance +without any of her crew realizing the risk they were running. Once +they encountered "overfalls" of rather broken water on the tail of a +bank; but, with nothing worse than a couple of waves breaking inboard, +the motor-boat gained the comparatively smooth water beyond. +</P> + +<P> +Grey dawn was now breaking. All around was an unbroken expanse of sea +and sky. Not a vessel or a buoy of any description was in sight. For +the first time Rollo was able to form some idea of the vastness of the +North Sea. +</P> + +<P> +Bestirring himself, he examined the petrol-gauge and the quantity of +oil in the automatic lubricator reservoirs. The consumption of both +had not been excessive, and the motor was running like clockwork. +</P> + +<P> +"It's getting very misty," said Thelma. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, it is!" assented her companion. "I hope it won't come on any +thicker. Are you cold? Let me take the wheel again." +</P> + +<P> +The girl shook her head. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm quite all right," she declared. "I am enjoying it. How much +farther is it, do you think?" +</P> + +<P> +It was Rollo's turn to shake his head. He did not know, and he was too +candid to pretend that he did. +</P> + +<P> +"We ought to be meeting shipping in and out of the Thames estuary +shortly," he said. "I suppose our merchant vessels sail as freely as +they did before the war? Hello! There's something coming up astern." +</P> + +<P> +He pointed to a faint blurr of smoke about three miles away and dead in +the wake of the motor-boat. +</P> + +<P> +"Something fairly fast to be able to overtake us," remarked Thelma. +"Is there a telescope on board?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'll see," answered Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +Again he entered the cabin. Kenneth was still sound asleep. Yvonne +was seated on the opposite bunk, watching him as zealously as a +vigilant sentry. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you looking for, Rollo?" she whispered. +</P> + +<P> +"A telescope." +</P> + +<P> +She arose and, steadying herself by means of the cabin table, made her +way to the for'ard bulkhead. Drawing back a curtain, she took down the +required article from a rack. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a nurse's duty to become quickly acquainted with her +surroundings," she said with a smile, as she handed Rollo the telescope. +</P> + +<P> +The lad returned to the cockpit. Standing with his back against the +after bulkhead of the cabin he raised the telescope. It was some time, +owing to the motion of the boat, before he could get the instrument to +bear. +</P> + +<P> +"I must rouse Kenneth," he said calmly. +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Thelma. "Tell me: is there anything wrong? I will not be +frightened." +</P> + +<P> +"There is, I fear," he answered. "Unless I am very much mistaken, +yonder craft is a German torpedo-boat, and she is standing in pursuit +of us." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap30"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER XXX +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Victorious White Ensign +</H3> + +<P> +"Kenneth, old man, wake up!" +</P> + +<P> +Everest opened his eyes listlessly. Aroused in the midst of the sleep +of utter exhaustion, he did not at once realize his surroundings. +</P> + +<P> +"What's up?" he asked drowsily, with a suspicion of resentment in his +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Come out into the cockpit," said Rollo. "I want you to see if we are +on the right course. We passed the tramp steamer some time ago." +</P> + +<P> +"Then why didn't you call me?" demanded Kenneth, displaying +considerable alacrity, and making a dash for the cabin door. +</P> + +<P> +"Stay here a little longer, Yvonne," said Rollo to the Belgian girl as +she began to follow her patient. The lad's chief anxiety was to keep +her in ignorance of the new danger that threatened them. +</P> + +<P> +"Right as rain," announced Kenneth, glancing at the compass. +</P> + +<P> +"Look astern, old man," said his chum in a low voice. "I didn't want +to alarm Yvonne. Thelma knows, though. That torpedo-boat coming up +hand over fist is a German." +</P> + +<P> +"Never!" ejaculated Kenneth. The idea of a war vessel flying the +Kaiser's black-cross ensign on the high seas seemed incredible. +</P> + +<P> +"Fact," rejoined Rollo. "Take this telescope." +</P> + +<P> +"You're right, by Jove!" exclaimed Kenneth after a brief survey. "We +must carry on as long as we can. If they fire at us we must stop, for +the sake of the girls." +</P> + +<P> +The motor was running at its utmost possible number of revolutions, yet +the boat was no match for the grey-painted craft now a mile and a half +astern. +</P> + +<P> +The German torpedo-boat made no sign of firing; she merely hung on +doggedly in the wake of the motor-craft, slowly yet surely diminishing +the distance between them. The haze had now lifted considerably, so +that the range of vision extended for quite five miles. All around, +save for the pursuing craft, the horizon was unbroken. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps those chaps think that their rotten spy, Jules de la Paix, is +on board," suggested Rollo. "They may have a prearranged plan to pick +him up at sea." +</P> + +<P> +"Should hardly think so," replied Kenneth. "It would have been easier +for him to have run across to Dutch territory, if he hadn't the heart +to remain at Antwerp during the bombardment. If that's whom they're +after they'll be jolly disappointed." +</P> + +<P> +"They'll spot our uniforms, if they haven't already done so," said +Rollo. "I wish the beggars would be stopped by a submarine." +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth did not reply. Seized by an inspiration, he grasped one of the +two boat-hooks on deck, released it from its lashings, and tossed it +overboard. +</P> + +<P> +"What have you done that for?" asked his chum. +</P> + +<P> +Kenneth pointed to the staff of the boat-hook. Weighted down by the +gun-metal head, it was bobbing up and down in a vertical position some +yards astern. +</P> + +<P> +"That may give them a bit of a shock," he explained. "They may think +it's a periscope of a submarine." +</P> + +<P> +"It's much too small." +</P> + +<P> +"Not when there are no means of comparing it with anything else. Look +at it now. You couldn't say with certainty within a hundred yards how +far it is away. Anyhow, we'll chance it." +</P> + +<P> +The German torpedo-boat had hoisted four signal-flags to her +cross-yards. They were blowing out in a fore-and-aft direction. +</P> + +<P> +"Can't make them out," declared Kenneth, "and wouldn't understand them +if I did. Now, watch." +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly two spurts of flame burst from the deck of the pursuing boat. +Shells from her three-pounder quick-firers pitched a short distance on +her starboard side. Simultaneously the torpedo-boat swung round. +Travelling at twenty-seven knots, the sudden porting of her helm caused +her to heel outwards till her deck was almost awash. +</P> + +<P> +"By Jove, she's rammed our boat-hook!" shouted Kenneth +enthusiastically. "If ever she gets back to port, won't she pitch a +yarn about ramming and sinking a British submarine!" +</P> + +<P> +The lad was not wrong in his surmise, for the torpedo-boat slowed down +and made a complete circle, steaming over the spot where she imagined +the periscope to have been. Luckily the ruse was not discovered, for a +chance shot had shattered the boat-hook staff and had sent the weighted +end to the bottom; while, on the other hand, the motor-boat had gained +at least two miles on her pursuer. +</P> + +<P> +"It's worth while throwing our remaining boat-hook overboard," said +Rollo. "I don't suppose we'll want it in any case." +</P> + +<P> +The German torpedo-boat had now resumed the pursuit. Obviously fearing +the presence of other submarines she kept a zigzag course, altering her +helm every five minutes in order to confuse the aim of a possible +torpedo-gunner. Consequently, although she still overhauled her +quarry, the distance between them lessened with perceptible slowness. +</P> + +<P> +Ten minutes from the time of resuming her course the torpedo-boat fired +her bow gun. The plugged shell, purposely aimed wide, threw up a +column of spray a hundred yards from the motor-boat's port quarter. +</P> + +<P> +The lads exchanged glances. Kenneth leant forward and switched off the +ignition. +</P> + +<P> +"Hard lines!" he ejaculated. "If it weren't for the girls——" +</P> + +<P> +While the boat still carried way he put the helm hard over, until her +bows pointed in the direction of her captor. Dejectedly the crew +awaited the arrival of the torpedo-boat, wondering what course the +Germans would pursue. +</P> + +<P> +"Look!" exclaimed Thelma, excitedly pointing to the hostile craft. +</P> + +<P> +The sight that met their gaze was an inspiring one. From somewhere at +a great distance away a shell had hurtled through the air. Striking +the water within twenty yards of its objective, the missile had +ricochetted, and had shattered the torpedo-boat's foremost funnel. +</P> + +<P> +Another and another followed in quick succession, both bursting over +the deck of the doomed vessel. +</P> + +<P> +The Germans replied, firing with great vigour, but the crew of the +motor-boat could form no idea of what they were firing at or the result +of their efforts. In five minutes the torpedo-boat was badly holed +for'ard and making water fast. +</P> + +<P> +"The cowardly skunks!" exclaimed Kenneth, frantically restarting the +motor. The epithet was justifiable, for the commander of the +torpedo-boat was endeavouring to use the little motor-boat as a screen +from her enemy's fire. +</P> + +<P> +Owing to the already crippled condition of the German craft, Kenneth +could easily out-manoeuvre her. In spite of the risk of a shell from +the exasperated Teuton, he kept his vessel about half a mile from the +torpedo-boat and awaited the inevitable ending. +</P> + +<P> +It was not long in coming. Torn by the well-aimed shells, her mast, +funnels, and deck fittings swept clean away, the torpedo-boat settled +down. From amidships a cloud of black smoke, tinged with lurid flames, +soared skywards. Men were pouring up from the engine-room and throwing +themselves into the sea. +</P> + +<P> +The other craft had ceased firing. She was coming up quickly, and +could now be distinguished as a British E-class destroyer. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the doomed vessel gave a roll to starboard, flung her stern in +the air, and with her triple propellers racing madly, disappeared from +sight, leaving a heavy pall of smoke to mark the spot when she sank. +</P> + +<P> +"We must pick up those fellows," announced Kenneth, pointing to about +twenty heads bobbing in the water. "I'll slow down as close as I can. +Mind your wrist, Rollo." +</P> + +<P> +Three minutes later all the crew of the motor-boat were busily engaged +in hauling half-drowned, and for the most part wounded, German seamen +into their craft, till eleven men, the sole survivors of the luckless +torpedo-boat, were rescued. +</P> + +<P> +"You Belgians?" asked one, in broken French, when he saw the lads' +uniforms. "Good! We surrender to you." +</P> + +<P> +"You'll be transferred to that vessel," said Kenneth, pointing to the +now close British destroyer. +</P> + +<P> +"No, they will shoot us," exclaimed the terrified man. +</P> + +<P> +"Nonsense!" replied Kenneth. "British seamen are not like——" He was +on the point of saying "Germans", but pulled himself up and added +"pirates". +</P> + +<P> +Nevertheless the German seamen were not easily reassured. Their +officers had impressed upon them that the British navy took no +prisoners, and they firmly believed it. +</P> + +<P> +"Motor-boat ahoy! What craft is that?" sang out a lieutenant, as the +British destroyer reversed her engines and came to a standstill at her +own length from the little vessel. It was a grand, inspiring sight to +the refugees to see the White Ensign floating proudly from the +mast-heads of the destroyer. Practically untouched in her duel with +her antagonist, she looked as spick and span as when she first +commissioned at Chatham Dockyard, only a week previously. +</P> + +<P> +"We're British in the Belgian service: refugees from Antwerp," replied +Kenneth. +</P> + +<P> +"We thought you were one of our Motor-boat Reserve craft in +difficulties," said the officer. "Luckily we heard the firing, and +closed to investigate. We'll take charge of your prisoners; can you +run alongside?" +</P> + +<P> +Stalwart bluejackets, stripped to their singlets, and grimy stokers +crowded to the stanchion rails to watch the transhipment of the +captured Germans. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you want a passage back to Sheerness?" asked the lieutenant. +</P> + +<P> +"If you wouldn't mind taking my sister and her friend," replied +Kenneth, "we'll stick to the motor-boat." +</P> + +<P> +"But you're both wounded," exclaimed the officer. "Come aboard, all of +you. We'll make you as comfortable as we can, considering we are +cleared for action." +</P> + +<P> +"But the boat?" protested Kenneth; for, having carried them so far, it +seemed hard lines that she would have to be abandoned. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry about that," said the lieutenant. "I'll put an artificer +and a couple of men aboard, and let them run her into the Medway." +</P> + +<P> +The genial officer courteously assisted Thelma and Yvonne over the +side. Rollo followed with a fair amount of agility, considering his +disabled wrist. Lastly Kenneth left his first command. +</P> + +<P> +As he gained the corticened decks of the destroyer he pulled himself up +and thankfully saluted the diminutive quarter-deck, on which floated +the White Ensign—the emblem of freedom. Then a grey mist swam before +his eyes and he felt himself falling. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" ALIGN="center"> +<SPAN STYLE="letter-spacing: 4em">*****</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +Two days later there was a happy reunion at an hotel at Sheerness. +Summoned by telegraph, all the members of the Barrington and Everest +families who were not employed on active service hastened to welcome +home their young heroes. With them came Major Résimont, now well on +the road to recovery, and for the time being a guest of Mr. Everest. +</P> + +<P> +"I should think you lads have had enough of this terrible war," +remarked Mrs. Everest at the conclusion of their narrative. +</P> + +<P> +"We've only seen the beginning," declared Kenneth gravely. "As soon as +this little hurt of mine has healed, I want to go back." +</P> + +<P> +"And I too," added Rollo. +</P> + +<P> +Colonel Barrington flushed with pride. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," he said, "it ought to be a fairly simple matter, +considering your experience, to get a commission. It is merely a case +of applying to the War Office." +</P> + +<P> +"And undergoing six months' training at home, pater?" +</P> + +<P> +"Presumably." +</P> + +<P> +"By that time the war may be over," said Kenneth. "In any case we will +be out of it for six months. What do you say, Rollo?" +</P> + +<P> +"We've put our hand to the plough, old man. I vote, as soon as we are +able, we rejoin our old regiment. The 9th of the Line is now between +Ostend and Nieuport, sir?" +</P> + +<P> +"I believe so," replied Major Résimont. +</P> + +<P> +"Then that settles it, unless our people raise serious objection," +declared Kenneth resolutely. "As long as we have health and strength +we will take our places with our comrades of the 9th, until Belgium is +freed from the grey-clad troops of Germany." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<HR> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap31"></A> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +BLACKIE'S STORIES OF SCHOOL LIFE +</P> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +<I>Illustrated. In attractive wrapper</I> +</P> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +By RICHARD BIRD +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +Trouble at Wyndham.<BR> +Boys of Dyall's House.<BR> +Captain of Keynes.<BR> +Dawson's Score.<BR> +Thanks to Rugger.<BR> +The Moreleigh Mascot.<BR> +Carton's Cap.<BR> +Play the Game, Torbury!<BR> +The Big Five at Ellerby.<BR> +Touch and Go.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +By ALFRED JUDD +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +Forrester's Fag.<BR> +Derry of Dunn's House.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +By R. A. H. GOODYEAR +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +Tom at Tollbar School.<BR> +Forge of Foxenby.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +By WALTER RHOADES +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +Jimmy Cranston's Crony.<BR> +The Whip Hand.<BR> +Two Scapegraces.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +George Goes One Better. Jeffrey Havilton.<BR> +Godfrey Gets There. Arthur O. Cooke.<BR> +On the Ball. Sydney Horler.<BR> +George Pulls It Off. Jeffrey Havilton.<BR> +Planter Dick. Arthur O. Cooke.<BR> +Barnston's Big Year. Michael Poole.<BR> +Harold Comes to School. Jeffrey Havilton.<BR> +Out of School. Jeffrey Havilton.<BR> +The Captain of Stannard's. Michael Poole.<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR> + +<P CLASS="t2"> +BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS +</P> + +<P CLASS="t3"> +<I>Crown 8vo. Illustrated</I> +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent" STYLE="margin-left: 10%"> +Sleuths of the Air. Percy F. Westerman.<BR> +On Secret Service. Ralph Arnold.<BR> +Binkie of IIIB. Evelyn Smith.<BR> +A Madcap Brownie. Sibyl B. Owsley.<BR> +Septima at School. Evelyn Smith.<BR> +The Corsair of the Skies. Guy Vercoe.<BR> +Seven Sisters at Queen Anne's. Evelyn Smith.<BR> +Hope's Tryst. Bessie Marchant.<BR> +Held at Ransom. Bessie Marchant.<BR> +Smuggler's Luck. Frank Charleston.<BR> +Dispatch Riders. Percy F. Westerman.<BR> +The Little Betty Wilkinson. Evelyn Smith.<BR> +The Disappearing Dhow. Percy F. Westerman.<BR> +The Good Ship "Golden Effort". Percy F. Westerman.<BR> +Barbara at School. Josephine Elder.<BR> +Biddy and Quilla. Evelyn Smith.<BR> +A Lively Bit of the Front. Percy F. Westerman.<BR> +Pam and the Countess. E. E. Cowper.<BR> +Rounding Up the Raider. F. Bayford Harrison.<BR> +A Lad of Grit. Percy F. Westerman.<BR> +The Liveliest Term at Templeton. Richard Bird.<BR> +Dr. Jolliffe's Boys. Lewis Hough.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P CLASS="t4"> +<I>Printed in Great Britain</I> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Dispatch-Riders, by Percy F. Westerman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISPATCH-RIDERS *** + +***** This file should be named 36500-h.htm or 36500-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/5/0/36500/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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Westerman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dispatch-Riders + The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists in the Great War + +Author: Percy F. Westerman + +Illustrator: F. Gillett + +Release Date: June 23, 2011 [EBook #36500] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DISPATCH-RIDERS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Dust cover art] + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + +[Frontispiece: "OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" _Page_ 202. +_Frontispiece_] + + + + +The + +Dispatch-Riders + + + The Adventures of Two British + Motor-cyclists in the Great War + + + +BY + +PERCY F. WESTERMAN + +Author of "Rivals of the Reef" "The Sea-girt Fortress" &c. &c. + + + +_Illustrated by F. Gillett_ + + + +BLACKIE & SON LIMITED + +LONDON AND GLASGOW + +1915 + + + + + By Percy F. Westerman + + The Red Pirate. + The Call of the Sea. + Standish of the Air Police. + Sleuths of the Air. + The Black Hawk. + Andy All-Alone. + The Westow Talisman. + The White Arab. + The Buccaneers of Boya. + Rounding up the Raider. + Captain Fosdyke's Gold. + In Defiance of the Ban. + The Senior Cadet. + The Amir's Ruby. + The Secret of the Plateau. + Leslie Dexter, Cadet. + All Hands to the Boats. + A Mystery of the Broads. + Rivals of the Reef. + A Shanghai Adventure. + The Junior Cadet. + Captain Starlight. + The Sea-Girt Fortress. + On the Wings of the Wind. + Captain Blundell's Treasure. + The Third Officer. + Unconquered Wings. + The Riddle of the Air. + Chums of the "Golden Vanity". + Clipped Wings. + Rocks Ahead! + King for a Month. + The Disappearing Dhow. + The Luck of the "Golden Dawn". + The Salving of the "Fusi Yama". + Winning his Wings. + A Lively Bit of the Front. + The Good Ship "Golden Effort". + East in the "Golden Gain". + The Quest of the "Golden Hope". + Sea Scouts Abroad. + Sea Scouts Up-Channel. + The Wireless Officer. + A Lad of Grit. + The Submarine Hunters. + Sea Scouts All. + The Thick of the Fray at Zeebrugge. + A Sub and a Submarine. + Under the White Ensign. + With Beatty off Jutland. + The Dispatch Riders. + + + + +_Printed in Great Britain by Blackie & Son, Ltd., Glasgow_ + + + + +Contents + + CHAP. + + I. THE COMING STORM + II. A BREAK-DOWN + III. MAJOR RESIMONT + IV. ENLISTED + V. A BAPTISM OF FIRE + VI. A VAIN ASSAULT + VII. DISABLING A TAUBE + VIII. IN BRITISH UNIFORMS + IX. A MIDNIGHT RETIREMENT + X. THE UHLAN PATROL + XI. THE RAID ON TONGRES + XII. THE MAIL ESCORT + XIII. SEPARATED + XIV. A FRIEND IN NEED + XV. CAPTURED + XVI. ENTOMBED + XVII. THE WAY OUT + XVIII. THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES + XIX. ARRESTED AS SPIES + XX. STRANDED IN BRUSSELS + XXI. DENOUNCED + XXII. THE SACK OF LOUVAIN + XXIII. A BOLT FROM THE BLUE + XXIV. ACROSS THE FRONTIER + XXV. THELMA EVEREST + XXVI. SELF-ACCUSED + XXVII. WITH THE NAVAL BRIGADE AT ANTWERP + XXVIII. WHEN THE CITY FELL + XXIX. ON THE NORTH SEA + XXX. THE VICTORIOUS WHITE ENSIGN + + + + +Illustrations + + +"OF WHAT OFFENCE AM I ACCUSED, SIR?" . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ + +KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... +THEN CRASH! + +KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR + + + + +THE DISPATCH-RIDERS + + + +CHAPTER I + +The Coming Storm + +"Let's make for Liege," exclaimed Kenneth Everest. + +"What's that?" asked his chum, Rollo Harrington. "Liege? What on +earth possesses you to suggest Liege? A crowded manufacturing town, +with narrow streets and horrible _pave_. I thought we decided to fight +shy of heavy traffic?" + +The two speakers were seated at an open window of the Hotel Dore, in +the picturesque town of Dinant. In front of them flowed the Meuse; its +placid water rippled with craft of varying sizes. Huge barges, towed +by snorting tugs, were laboriously passing along the busy international +waterway that serves an empire, a kingdom, and a republic. On the +remote bank, and to the right of a bridge, were the quaint red-tiled +houses of the town, above which rose the fantastic, pinnacled tower of +the thirteenth-century church of Notre Dame, in turn overshadowed by +the frowning limestone crag on which stands the citadel. + +Kenneth was a well-set-up English youth of seventeen. He was tall for +his age, and withal broad-shouldered and well-knit. His features were +dark, his skin burnt a deep tan by reason of more than a nodding +acquaintance with an open-air life. In character and action he was +impulsive. He had the happy knack of making up his mind on the spur of +the moment, and yet at the same time forming a fairly sound judgment. +He was quick, too, with his fingers, having been gifted with a keen, +mechanical turn of mind. + +Rollo Barrington, who was his companion's junior by the space of three +days, was rather the reverse of his versatile friend. He was shorter +in height by a good four inches; he was slightly built, although he +possessed an unlooked-for reserve of physical strength and endurance. +He was fresh-complexioned, with blue eyes and wavy chestnut hair. + +If Kenneth acted upon impulse, Rollo went by rule of thumb. He was +cool and calculating when occasion served; but when in the company of +his chum he was generally content to allow his will to be dominated by +the impetuous Everest. + +Both lads were at St. Cyprian's--a public school of note in the Home +Counties. The vacation started about the middle of July, and it was +the custom for the senior members to put in a fortnight's camp with the +Officers' Training Corps during the latter part of that month. + +At the time this story opens--the first day of August, 1914--the two +chums were on a motor-cycling tour through Northern France and Belgium. +The parents of neither had offered any objection when their respective +sons announced their intention of wandering through the high-roads and +by-roads of that part of the Continent. + +Kenneth had sprung the suggestion upon his father like the proverbial +bombshell; and Mr. Everest, who was largely responsible for his son's +impetuosity, merely acquiesced by observing: "You lucky young dog! I +didn't have the chance when I was your age. Well, I hope you'll have a +good time." + +On his part Rollo had broached the subject with his customary +deliberation, and Colonel Barrington had not only given his consent, +but had gone to the extreme toil of producing maps and a Baedeker, and +had mapped out a route--to which neither of the lads had adhered. The +Colonel also realized that there was a considerable amount of +self-education to be derived from the tour. There was nothing like +travel, he declared, to expand the mind; following up this statement by +the practical action of "forking out", thereby relieving his son of any +fear of pecuniary embarrassment. + +Both lads rode identically similar motor-cycles--tourist models, of 3-1/2 +horse-power, fitted with three-speed hubs. But again the difference in +character manifested itself in the care of their respective steeds. + +Rollo had been a motor-cyclist ever since he was fourteen--as soon as +he was qualified in point of age to obtain a driver's licence. The +close attention he bestowed upon his motor-bike never varied; he kept +it as clean as he did in the first few days after taking over his new +purchase. He had thoroughly mastered its peculiarities, and studied +both the theory and practice of its mechanism. + +Kenneth Everest had first bestrode the saddle of a motor-cycle a week +before their Continental tour began. No doubt his experience as a +"push-cyclist" helped him considerably; he quickly mastered the use of +the various controls, without troubling to find out "how it worked". +With his companion's knowledge at his back he felt quite at ease, +since, in the event of any mechanical break-down, Rollo would point out +the fault, and Kenneth's ready fingers would either do or undo the rest. + +But so far, with the exception of a few tyre troubles, both +motor-cyclists had done remarkably well. Landing at Havre, they had +pushed on, following the route taken by the English army that had won +Agincourt. This, by the by, was Rollo's suggestion. From the site of +the historic battle-field they had sped eastward, through Arras, St. +Quentin, and Mezieres. Here, finding themselves in the valley of the +Meuse, they had turned northward, and passing through the French +frontier fortress of Givet, entered Belgium, spending the first night +on Belgian soil in picturesque Dinant. + +Hitherto they had overcome the initial difficulty that confronts +British road users in France--the fact that all traffic keeps, or is +supposed to keep, to the right. They had endured the horrible and +seemingly never-ending cobbles or _pave_. The language presented +little difficulty, for Kenneth, prior to having joined St. Cyprian's, +had been educated in Paris; and although his Parisian accent differed +somewhat from the patois of the Ardennes, he had very little trouble in +making himself understood. Rollo, too, was a fairly proficient French +linguist, since, in view of his future military career, he had applied +himself with his usual diligence to the study of the language. + +"I say, what's this wheeze about Liege?" persisted Harrington. +"There's something in the wind, old chap." + +"It's not exactly Liege I want to see," replied Kenneth, "although it's +a fine, interesting old place, with a history. Fact is, my sister +Thelma is at a boarding-school at Vise--that's only a few miles farther +on--and we might just as well look her up." + +"By Jove! I ought to have remembered. I knew she was somewhere in +Belgium. Let me see, she's your youngest sister?" + +"Twelve months my junior," replied Kenneth, "and a jolly good pal she +is, too. It's rather rough luck on her. The pater's just off on that +Mediterranean trip, so she hasn't been able to go home for the +holidays. We'll just cheer her up a bit." + +Rollo gave a final glance at the map before folding it and placing it +in his pocket. In response to a summons, the garcon produced the bill +and gratefully accepted the modest tip that Everest bestowed upon him +with becoming public schoolboy dignity. + +This done, the two lads took their travelling cases and made their way +to the hotel garage, where their motor-cycles had been placed under +lock and key, out of the reach of sundry inquisitive and mischievous +Belgian gamins. + +"Hello! What's the excitement?" asked Kenneth, pointing to a crowd of +gesticulating townsfolk gathered round a notice that had just been +pasted to a wall. + +"Ask me another," rejoined his companion. "A circus or something of +the sort about to turn up, I suppose. If you're curious I'll hang on +here while you go and find out." + +Kenneth was off like a shot. Half-way across the bridge that here +spans the Meuse he nearly collided with the proprietor of the Hotel +Dore. The man's face was red with excitement. + +"Quel dommage!" he exclaimed, in reply to the lad's unspoken question. +"The Government has ordered the army to mobilize. What +inconsideration! Jules, Michel, Georges, and Etienne--all will have to +go. I shall be left without a single garcon. And the busy season +approaches also." + +"Why is the army to be mobilized, then?" + +"Ciel! I know not. We Belgians do not require soldiers. We are men +of peace. Has not our neutrality been guaranteed by our neighbours? +And, notwithstanding, the Government must have men to vie with the +French _piou-piou_, give them rifles, and put them in uniforms at the +expense of the community. It is inconceivable!" + +The proprietor, unable to contain his feelings, rushed back to the +hotel, while Kenneth, still wishing to satisfy his curiosity by ocular +demonstration, made his way to the edge of the semicircular crowd of +excited townsfolk. + +The proclamation, dated the 31st day of July, was an order for partial +mobilization, calling up the First Division of the Reserves. No reason +was given, and the lack of it, rather than the fact that the order had +to be obeyed, was the subject of general comment. From the nature of +the conversation the lad gathered that military service was not +regarded by the Belgians in anything approaching a tolerant spirit. + +"Nothing much; only a mobilization," announced Everest in reply to his +companion's enquiry. "Let's make a move. We may see something of the +Belgian troops. It would be rather interesting to see how they take to +playing at soldiering." + +"Why playing?" asked Rollo as he proceeded to secure his valise to the +carrier. + +"What else would you expect from Belgians?" rejoined Kenneth. "Even +old Gallipot--or whatever the hotel proprietor's name is--was grumbling +about the uselessness of the business, and most of those johnnies over +there are of the same opinion. No, Rollo, take my word for it, the +Belgians are not a fighting race. Let me see--didn't they skedaddle at +Waterloo and almost let our fellows down?" + +"They may have done," remarked Rollo. "But that's nearly a century +old. Ready?" + +With half-closed throttles, and tyres sufficiently soft to absorb most +of the shocks, the young tourists bumped over the _pave_, swung round, +and soon settled down to a modest fifteen miles an hour along the Namur +road. + +For the best part of the journey the Meuse, with its limestone crags +and dense foliage, was within a few yards on their right, while trees +on either side of the road afforded a pleasant shade from the fierce +rays of the sun. The dust, too, rose in dense clouds whenever, as +frequently happened, a motor-car tore past, or a flock of frightened +sheep scampered madly all across the road. At Namur their wishes +regarding the Belgian troops were gratified. The narrow street swarmed +with soldiers and civil guards. There were men with head-dresses +resembling the busbies of the British guardsmen, leading teams of dogs +harnessed to light quick-firing "Berthier" guns; infantry who, in spite +of the broiling heat, wore heavy greatcoats; cavalry whose mounts were +powerful enough to evoke the admiration of the critical Kenneth. + +"I wonder what all this fuss is about," he exclaimed. + +Before Rollo could furnish any remark a little Belgian officer accosted +them. + +"You gentlemen are English, without doubt?" + +"We are." + +"It then is well," continued the officer, speaking in English with +considerable fluency. "You have not heard, eh? The news--the grave +news?" + +"No, monsieur." + +"Germany has declared war upon the Russians." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +A Break-down + +"Is that so?" asked Kenneth. "Then I hope to goodness the Russians +will give the Germans a thundering good licking. But why are your +troops mobilizing?" + +The Belgian officer replied by producing a newspaper and pointing to a +heavy-leaded column. + +"You understand our language?" he asked. + +The report, though a piece of journalistic conjecture, afterwards +proved to be very near to the mark. It was to the effect that Germany +had declared war against Russia and also France, and that her troops +were already pouring over the respective frontiers. To take all +necessary precautions the King of the Belgians had ordered a +mobilization, and had appealed to King George to assist him in +preserving the integrity of his small kingdom. + +"You'll notice it says that it is reported," observed the cautious +Rollo. "By Jove, if it is true, the Kaiser will have a handful. But, +monsieur, surely Belgium will be out of it? Her integrity is protected +by treaties." + +The Belgian officer shrugged his shoulders. + +"Let us hope so," he remarked. "We Belgians have little faith in the +honour of a German. Therefore, we arm. Where do you propose to go?" + +"To Liege, monsieur." + +"Then do not go. It is not advisable. If you take my advice you +return to England as soon as possible. Perhaps, soon, you come back +again with a brave English army." + +"Whatever is the fellow aiming at?" asked Kenneth, after the officer +was out of ear-shot. "It's all so very mysterious about nothing." + +"Do you call war between Germany and France and Russia nothing, old +fellow?" + +"I wasn't referring to that," replied Kenneth. "Of course it is. The +Russians will simply walk over Prussia while the Germans are trying to +batter the French frontier forts. No; what I meant is, why should we +be balked in going to Liege? We'll go, and risk it--though I don't +believe there is any risk. If there is, so much the better for us." + +"Perhaps that Belgian officer knows more than he told us." + +"Or else less. I'll tell you what, Rollo. We'll see what's doing at +Liege; then, if there's time, we'll run back almost to the French +frontier and see what the excitement is like there. Let's make another +start." + +The suggestion was quickly put into practice, but progress was tedious +and slow. The highway between Namur and Liege was crowded with +traffic. Military wagons, both motor-driven and drawn by horses and +mules, seemed an unending stream. The rattling of the huge +motor-lorries prevented the chauffeurs from hearing any sounds beyond +the pulsations of their engines. In vain the two English lads sounded +their horns. It was invariably a case of throwing out the clutch and +waiting for a favourable moment to dash past, often with a bare yard +between the off-side wheel of the powerful lorries and the deep ditch +by the side of the road. + +There were thousands of troops, too, with their supply-carts; swarms of +peasants driving cattle into the fortresses; motor-cars, motor-cycles, +and ordinary cycles galore, till Rollo remarked, during one of the +enforced halts, that it was ten times worse than Barnet Hill on fair +night. + +At length, after taking two hours to traverse fifteen miles, the lads +came in sight of the town of Huy. Here the traffic lessened slightly, +and Kenneth called for an increased speed. + +Suddenly Rollo saw his companion's cycle slip from under him. It was +all he could do to avoid coming into collision with the prostrate +mount. When he pulled up and dismounted, Kenneth was regaining his +feet. + +"Hurt?" asked Barrington laconically, yet with considerable anxiety. + +"Not a bit," replied Kenneth cheerfully. "Only barked my knuckles. +Get up, you brute!" + +The last remark was addressed to the motor-cycle, which was lying on +its side across a rounded stone embedded in the ground on the edge of +the footpath. Kenneth found, for the first time, that it required a +fair amount of physical energy to restore a fallen motorcycle to its +normal position. + +Thrice he tried a running start, but without success. The motor +refused to fire. + +"Jack it up on its stand," suggested Rollo. "Inject a little petrol +into the compression tap and have another shot." + +Kenneth promptly acted upon this advice, but still without satisfactory +result. By this time Rollo had placed his cycle on its stand and was +ready to give assistance. + +"There's no spark," he announced after testing the plug. "I hope it +isn't the magneto." + +With the usual perversity of things in general and motor-cycles in +particular, it was the magneto that was out of action. The round stone +on which the cycle had fallen had given the delicate mechanism a nasty +blow. + +"This job's beyond me," declared Rollo. "We must see what can be done +in the next town. Thank goodness it isn't far. Off with the belt and +push her; I won't risk towing you with this traffic about." + +Already the disabled motor-cycle was surrounded by a crowd of peasants +and soldiers, all of whom offered advice; but, as the majority of the +onlookers were Walloons, their Flemish tongue was not understood by the +two English lads. + +At length Kenneth managed to get into conversation with a +French-speaking corporal, and from him learnt that there was an +efficient motor-repairer in Huy, whose place of business faced the +market square. + +It was exhausting work pushing the two motor-bicycles along the +undulating, rough cobbled road in the fierce glare of the August sun. +The crowd followed. + +About a quarter of a mile farther along the road a chasseur passed. +Reining in his horse he addressed the corporal. + +"What, then, has happened, Pierre?" + +The Belgian non-com. shrugged his shoulders. + +"Only two German tourists, Gaston," he replied. "They have had an +accident." + +"German!" exclaimed Kenneth indignantly. "You are wrong. We are +English." + +"Can Monsieur produce proof?" asked the corporal. + +Fortunately both lads possessed _permits de circulation_--documents +issued to foreign tourists on entering French territory, and which they +had not given up at the _douane_ at Givet. On each document was pasted +a photograph of the bearer and particulars of his name, nationality, +occupation, and place of abode. + +In less than a minute the indifferent demeanour of the crowd underwent +a complete change. Amid shouts of "Vivent les Anglais!" several of the +Belgians took possession of the two motor-cycles, and, in spite of +frequent wobblings, pushed them right into the town. + +Here another set-back greeted the tourists. The repairer gravely +informed them that a new magneto was absolutely necessary, and since he +had not one in stock he would be obliged to send to Brussels for it. + +Under the circumstances an enforced stay would have to be made at Huy, +so the lads booked a room at a modest but cheerful-looking hotel. The +town and environs seemed delightfully picturesque, and, although +Kenneth chafed under the delay, both lads eventually admitted they +might have been hung up in many a worse place than Huy. + +The next day, Sunday, they were awakened early by a clamour in the +street, and found that newsvendors were doing a roaring trade. The +papers were full of sensational reports, and although definite news was +not forthcoming, it was quite evident that the war clouds were rapidly +gathering. + +Rollo, the cautious, suggested the abandonment of the Liege trip and a +hasty return home, but Kenneth set his face against any such proposal. + +"Look here," he said, "if there's any truth in this report, and England +does chip in, we will do no good by returning home. The powers that be +have decided that we are not yet of an age to take up a commission, +although I flatter myself that we are both better men than Tompkins, +late of the Upper Sixth, who was gazetted to a line regiment a week +before the holidays, you'll remember. If there is a dust-up we'll try +our luck with the French. They don't object to fellows of sixteen, so +long as they are keen. Take the case of Lord Kitchener, for instance. +He served as a cadet in the war of '70 and '71." + +"Don't be in such a violent hurry, old man. Stick to our original +programme and go to Liege, if you will. It may be necessary for us to +look after your sister, you know." + +"I don't think so; I firmly believe that Belgium will be left out of +the business. This scare will be over in a few days. The pen is +mightier than the sword, you know, so Germany will respect her plighted +word to preserve the neutrality of both Holland and Belgium." + +It was nearly noon on Monday morning when the lads wended their way to +the motor-repairer's. Outside the burgomaster's house a huge crowd had +gathered. The chief magistrate was making ready to read a document. +It was a copy of the momentous ultimatum from the bully of Europe to +one of the smallest of her neighbours: a peremptory demand that the +Belgian Government should allow the legions of the Kaiser to pass +through Belgium in order to attack the least-defended frontier of +France, and threatening to make war upon the little buffer State should +she refuse. + +A dead silence greeted the burgomaster's announcement. The news, +though not unexpected, was astounding. + +Again he spoke: + +"Fellow-townsmen! I can assure you that the spirit of independence +lives amongst us. We will resist to the death this outrageous demand. +Nor are we without powerful friends. Listen to the words of an appeal +of our heroic Sovereign to the King of England: 'Remembering the +numerous proofs of your Majesty's friendship and that of your +predecessors, and the friendly attitude of England in 1870, and the +proof of friendship you have just given us again, I make a supreme +appeal to the diplomatic intervention of your Majesty's Government to +safeguard the integrity of Belgium." + +"And what is the reply of the King of England?" shouted a voice. + +"If it has been received it has not up to the present been communicated +to me," replied the chief magistrate pompously. "Rest assured that I, +your burgomaster, will not be tardy in keeping the worthy burgesses +fully posted with the latest news from the capital. If any of you +still have faith in German promises, let me inform you it is definitely +established that the German troops have already invaded the independent +Grand Duchy of Luxemburg." + +The burgomaster withdrew, leaving the townsfolk to shout "Down with +Germany!" "Long live England!" and cheer madly for their young king, +who was yet to display proof of his personal courage. + +"It's getting serious," admitted Kenneth as the chums resumed their +way. "I don't mind owning I was wrong in my opinion of German honesty. +If they don't draw the line at Luxemburg they evidently won't at +Belgium. Rollo, my boy, it's a mortal cert that Great Britain will be +scrapping with Germany in less than a week." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +Major Resimont + +"I vote we get off this main road with its wretched _pave_," exclaimed +Rollo prior to resuming their ride on the following day. "There's a +road shown on the map which ought to be a jolly sight better. At any +rate we'll miss most of the heavy traffic." + +"Right-o," assented Kenneth; "anything so long as we can have a +speed-burst. I'm tired of crawling along at ten miles an hour." + +The road, which turned out to be little better than a cart-track, led a +considerable distance from the left bank of the Meuse, and with the +exception of an occasional farm wagon laden with hay, very little +traffic was met with. + +At the end of an hour's steady riding, the lads found themselves at the +junction of two forked roads, where, contrary to the usual custom, +there was no signpost to indicate the direction. On either side was a +steep bank. + +"Now, which way?" asked Rollo. "Neither of the roads looks +particularly inviting." + +"It's one of the sunken roads of Belgium, I suppose," said Kenneth. +"We'll climb up this bank. Perhaps we shall be able to see where we +are. It will be awkward for our bikes if a motor-car comes tearing +along." + +The incline was nearly fifteen feet in height and fairly steep. When +the lads reached the summit they found, to their surprise, that they +were on a slightly undulating grass field liberally guarded with barbed +wire. About four hundred yards off was a rounded hillock. Even as the +two looked they saw a huge cylindrical turret, from which projected the +muzzle of a large gun, rise from the ground. For a few seconds the +giant weapon moved horizontally and vertically, as if seeking a target, +then as swiftly as it had appeared it disappeared into the ground. + +"I say, we've stumbled across one of the frontier forts," exclaimed +Kenneth. "Let's go a bit closer and have a look. I'd like to find out +how they work." + +"Thanks, I'm not having any," objected Rollo. "There's too much barbed +wire knocking about. Besides, there are our bikes." + +"We needn't wriggle under the wire, this road on our right evidently +leads to the fort. We'll get a bit closer; but hold on a minute, we'll +see if that gun pops up again." + +They waited for at least five minutes, but without the expected result. +As they turned to retrace their steps, they were confronted by a tall +Belgian soldier wearing the blue uniform of the artillery. + +"C'est defendu: marchez!" he ordered sternly. + +"All right, monsieur," replied Kenneth. "We've lost our way. Which is +the Liege road?" + +"You are foreigners," exclaimed the soldier, bringing his bayonet to +the "ready". + +"Yes, English." + +"You must come with me." + +"We have motor-bicycles." + +"No matter. They will be attended to. Forward!" + +Realizing the uselessness of attempting to argue the point the lads +obeyed, the soldier following three paces in the rear with his rifle +and bayonet at the slope. + +After covering a distance of about a hundred yards between the edge of +the barbed-wire entanglements and the dip formed by the sunken road, +the arrested lads found themselves in the presence of a corporal and a +file of men. + +"You must be taken before the major. I am sorry, but these are my +orders," declared the corporal civilly, after ascertaining that the two +chums were English. "No doubt you will be permitted to go with but +little delay." + +"Will our motor-bicycles be all right?" asked Rollo anxiously. "We +left them a little way down the lane." + +"I will send a man to look after them," was the reply. "We must take +you into Fort Loncine, and you must be blindfolded. These are my +orders whenever we find strangers in the vicinity of the defences." + +"Very well," replied Kenneth with as good a grace as he could command, +at the same time producing his handkerchief. + +Guided by soldiers, the two blindfolded youths were led into the fort. +Kenneth kept count of the number of paces before crossing the +drawbridge; they totalled four hundred and eighty-five, which, allowing +thirty inches for his long stride, meant that the glacis, or level +grassy ground surrounding the fort, was a little over four hundred +yards in breadth. + +When the handkerchiefs were removed from their eyes the lads found +themselves in a large vaulted room lighted by electricity. On three +sides were several low-arched doorways, on the fourth a fairly broad +gateway through which they had been brought. Although it was +impossible to see straight into the open air, a distant glimpse of +diffused daylight showed that this entrance communicated either with +the glacis or else an enclosed portion of the fort that was exposed to +the rays of the sun. + +Seated on benches or lolling against the walls were quite a hundred +soldiers, yet the place was by no means crowded. Beyond looking with +evident curiosity at the two lads under arrest, they took no further +interest in them. + +Presently a sergeant approached and questioned the guards concerning +their prisoners. + +"English? Perhaps they are sent ... but, no; they are but youths. +Bring them along. I will inform Major Resimont." + +The sergeant knocked at one of the doors, and in reply to a muffled +"Entrez!" he passed through. The lads noticed that the door was of +steel, and required considerable effort on the part of the +non-commissioned officer to open it. + +"Englishmen found in the vicinity of the fort, mon major," announced +the sergeant, saluting and standing stiffly at attention. + +"Let them enter. Ah, my young friends, this, then, is the manner in +which you come to Liege?" + +The two chums could well express astonishment, for their questioner was +none other than the officer who in Namur had advised them to abandon +their proposed visit to the Birmingham of Belgium. + +"Well, what have you to say?" proceeded the major. + +"We lost our way and scrambled on to the bank to see where we were. We +happened to catch sight of one of the guns, with disappearing +mountings, and we were curious to see what happened," replied Kenneth. + +"Your curiosity might lead you into trouble," said the Belgian officer +gravely. "How am I to know that you are not German spies?" + +Kenneth bridled indignantly. + +"We give you our word that we are not." + +"Your word will hardly do, monsieur, at a time like this. Can you +produce proofs? Have you anyone in the district who can identify you?" + +The lads produced their permits. + +"This will hardly do," continued the major as he scanned Kenneth's +document. "These are only too easy to obtain. Ha! Your name is +Barrington?" he asked, turning to the owner of that patronymic. + +"Yes, sir," replied Rollo. "My father is a retired colonel in the +British army." + +"His Christian name?" + +Rollo told him. + +"Then I know your father; not intimately, perhaps, yet I am acquainted +with him. I met him at your great manoeuvres at Aldershot, to which I +was sent as attache in 1904. But, tell me, why are you both so anxious +to go to Liege?" + +"My sister is at a boarding-school near Vise," replied Kenneth. "I +want to see her, as she is not returning home for the holidays." + +"She is at the institution of Madame de la Barre?" + +"Yes, sir; how did you know that?" asked Kenneth eagerly. + +"I have the pleasure of Mademoiselle Everest's acquaintance," replied +the major with a deep bow. "In fact, she is a great friend of my +daughter, Yvonne. You are free to depart, messieurs, but perhaps you +will do me a favour. Convey my compliments to Madame de la Barre, and +say that it is advisable that she should remove her school from Vise as +soon as possible. Should you find it inconvenient to take your sister +to England, please inform her that she may find a temporary home with +Yvonne at my house in the Rue de la Tribune in Brussels." + +"That we will gladly do, and let you know the result." + +Major Resimont smiled. + +"My duty prevents me from being my own messenger," he said. "I was on +the point of sending one of my men with a letter, but you will, +according to your English proverb, kill two birds with one stone. +To-night, if you wish to see me, I hope to be at the Cafe Royal, in the +Rue Breidel at Liege, from eight till eleven. Will you, before you +depart, honour me by taking a glass of wine?" + +"What do you think of the situation, sir?" asked Rollo. + +Major Resimont shook his head. + +"Serious," he said solemnly. "At any moment these pigs of Prussians +may cross the frontier. Only one thing will hold them back: the fear +of your English fleet. You are fortunate, you English, in having the +sea around your country, yet I think you do not give sufficient thought +towards the significance of the fact." + +"But Great Britain has not declared war on Germany." + +"No, not yet, but perhaps soon. Your country would do incalculable +service to France and Belgium simply by holding the sea; yet in +addition she has generously pledged herself to send almost the whole of +her army to Belgium if the Germans attack us. Then the rest will be a +question of time. We in Liege will do our utmost to keep the invaders +at bay until your brave army arrives. Then, with the French, to say +nothing of the Russians on the east, Germany will be assailed and +conquered, and the vile spectre of Teutonic militarism will be for ever +laid low." + +The Belgian major spoke with conviction. His earnestness in the hope +of British aid was intense. + +"And we are ready," continued the major. "Already the bridges across +the Meuse are mined; our armoured forts will defy the heaviest of the +German artillery. We will keep the Germans at bay for a month if need +be. Meanwhile you two messieurs journey through Belgium as calmly as +if you were on an English country road. You English are brave, but you +are enigmas. But take this and show it if you are challenged," and he +wrote out a pass on an official form. + +The major accompanied his involuntary guests as far as the edge of the +glacis. This time they were not blindfolded; yet there was very little +to be seen, except to the practised eye of a trained man. There were +mountings for quick-firing guns, and just discernible above the turf +the rounded tops of the steel cupolas. Beyond that the fort looked +nothing more than an earthworked enclosure. + +Somewhat to the lads' astonishment they found their motor-cycles placed +on a trolley. The Belgian soldiers, not understanding the action of +the exhaust lever, had been unable to wheel the heavy mounts; and since +their orders had to be obeyed, they had first resorted to the toilsome +task of carrying the mounts. This, owing to the heat of the day and +the thickness of their clothing, was eventually abandoned, and a +trolley procured. + +"You have a clear road," announced Major Resimont. "When you re-enter +the lane, keep to the left; that will bring you speedily upon the +highway. Au revoir, messieurs!" + +Somewhat to the wonderment of the Belgian soldiers, who could not +understand how the unwieldy machines could be moved by manual power, +the lads took a running start. Both engines fired easily, and soon the +tourists were speeding along through the outskirts of the city of Liege. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +Enlisted + +"Madame de la Barre presents her compliments, but regrets that the +regulations of her establishment do not permit her pupils to receive +visits except during certain hours," announced a stern-faced Flemish +woman in broken French. + +Kenneth glanced at his companion, + +"What's to be done now?" he asked. + +"Give her Major Resimont's message. Say it's very urgent," advised +Rollo. + +The lads, curbing their impatience, waited for another ten minutes +outside the lofty blank wall surrounding the boarding-school. The air +was sultry, and the glare from the whitewashed walls was almost +blinding. The _pave_ seemed to throw out a stifling heat. The village +street was practically deserted, but in the neighbouring fields a row +of peasant women were bending over their monotonous task of pulling +vegetables. Farther away some cows were lying down under the scant +shade afforded by a few gaunt trees. Otherwise the landscape was +devoid of life. + +Presently a woman passed, leading a little girl by the hand. She was a +buxom, comely peasant, the child bright-faced and apparently +well-cared-for. They were laughing and chattering. Then a man on a +dog-drawn cart came down the street. The animals, their tongues +protruding and their sides heaving with the heat, were moving at a +leisurely pace. The man made no attempt to hurry them. He was smiling +contentedly, and called out a cheery greeting in Flemish to the patient +audience before the gate of Madame de la Barre. A little way down the +street he halted his team and entered a cottage. He was lame, hence he +had not been called up on mobilization. + +Presently the maid-servant reappeared. + +"Madame thanks Monsieur the Major, but at present sees no reason for +taking his advice. Should war be declared she will take necessary +steps to safeguard her pupils. If Mademoiselle Resimont is to be sent +to her home at Brussels, no doubt Monsieur the Major will communicate +in writing with Madame. If Monsieur Everest desires to see his sister +he can do so in the presence of Madame at eleven o'clock to-morrow." + +Having delivered this ultimatum, the maid shut the door and shot the +massive bolts. + +"Done this time!" ejaculated Kenneth. "Let's get back to Liege. +There'll be plenty to see." + +The lads set off at a rapid pace in spite of the heat. They were on +foot, having placed their motor-cycles in the village of Argenteau. + +By the time they regained Argenteau a change had come over the little +hamlet. A detachment of engineers was in possession. The men, +discarding their heavy greatcoats, were busily engaged in throwing up +earthworks, while almost within arm's-length their rifles were piled, +each weapon with its bayonet fixed. + +"Halte-la!" The tip of a bayonet presented within a couple of inches +of Rollo's chest brought both lads to a sudden stop. "Qui v'la?" + +The production of the pass with which Major Resimont had provided them +was sufficient, and without further hindrance the two friends gained +the inn. + +As they passed under the archway they found that their beloved +motor-cycles had vanished. + +"Pardon, messieurs!" exclaimed the landlord on catching sight of the +two lads. "It was not my fault, I assure you. It is the order of the +Government. They have taken away all the horses, all the carts----" + +"And our motor-cycles?" + +"Helas, messieurs, it is a fact. Nevertheless, the Government will +pay----" + +"Where are they taken to?" asked Kenneth. + +"They were placed in a transport wagon, monsieur. It left in the +direction of Liege not fifteen minutes ago." + +"Let's hurry and catch it up," suggested Rollo. "It's daylight +robbery. I believe that rascally innkeeper has played a trick on us." + +Alternately running and walking, the English lads kept up a rapid pace +along the road that followed the right bank of the Meuse between +Argenteau and Liege. Mile after mile they went, without a sign of a +transport wagon. Troops there were in plenty, all carrying entrenching +tools in addition to arms. Yet, in spite of these warlike movements, +the women were toiling unconcernedly in the fields, either indifferent +to the danger that threatened them, or else basking in the confidence +of the ability of the Belgian troops and their allies to thrust back +the approaching tide of invasion. + +At the village of Wandre Rollo gave vent to a shout of delight. +Standing outside an inn was an army wagon, and under its tilt, in +company with a medley of other articles, were their motor-cycles. + +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Rollo. + +"I vote we take them and make off as hard as we can," suggested +Kenneth. "The soldiers in charge are evidently after more official +loot." + +"Won't do," replied the cautious Rollo. "Ten to one we would +hopelessly damage the bikes getting them off the wagon. The best we +can do is to tackle the fellow in charge." + +"The fellow in charge" turned out to be a phlegmatic Walloon corporal. +When appealed to he replied that he was acting under the orders of his +lieutenant, and that he must account for all the articles on his list +upon his return to Liege. The production of Major Resimont's pass did +not save the situation, although the Belgian's demeanour thawed +considerably. + +"Nevertheless, if messieurs are English, perhaps they would like to +ride on the wagon. At Liege, no doubt, all will be set right," he +added. + +It was, fortunately, the last of that particular corporal's work, and +he was at liberty to return without delay. A sapper drove, the +corporal sitting beside him on the box seat. On the tail-board, with +their backs against their precious motor-cycles, sat the two lads, +another sapper keeping them company. + +As the cart jolted through the village of Jupille there came a dull +rumbling, like that of distant thunder. + +"Guns!" exclaimed Rollo. + +"Thunder, I think," declared his chum. + +The Belgian soldier, when questioned, merely remarked in matter-of-fact +tones: + +"We are blowing up the bridges, monsieur." + +The work of demolition had already begun. The Belgian troops, with +commendable forethought, had destroyed four bridges across the Meuse in +order to delay the momentarily expected German advance. Yet, on either +side of the sluggish river, peasants were unconcernedly toiling in the +fields. + +As the wagon passed the loftily-situated and obsolete fort of La +Chatreuse a round of cheering could be heard from the city of Liege. +Presently the strains of "La Brabanconne"--the Belgian National +Anthem--could be distinguished above the din. + +The sapper began to grow excited. + +"All is well, messieurs," he exclaimed. "We are now ready for these +Prussians. Our Third Division has arrived." + +Presently the head of the column of blue-greatcoated troops swung +blithely along the road to take up positions in the newly-constructed +trenches between Fort de Barchon and Fort de Fleron. The men marched +well, although covered with dust from head to foot; for during the +previous forty-eight hours they had, by forced marches, covered more +than eighty miles from Diest to their allotted positions at Liege. +Yet, for some unaccountable reason, these troops went into what was +soon to be the firing-line in blue tunics with white facings, which +would offer a conspicuous target to their foes. + +It was late in the afternoon when the cart drew up in a large open +space by the side of the Church of St. Jacques. The square was crowded +with all kinds of military transport and commissariat wagons. Officers +were shouting orders, men were rushing hither and thither, motors were +popping, horses neighing. + +The corporal in charge of the wagon descended and stood rigidly at +attention. For quite a quarter of an hour he remained in this +attitude, without any of the officers approaching to give him further +directions. The crowd of wagons became more congested, till Kenneth +and Rollo realized that, should they regain possession of their mounts, +there would be great difficulty in wheeling them out of the press. + +Suddenly Kenneth gripped his friend's shoulder and pointed in the +direction of a group of officers. + +"There's Major Resimont!" he exclaimed. "He'll get us out of the fix." + +"Ah! You have got yourselves in a difficulty again, that I can see," +declared the genial Major. "What, then, is the trouble?" + +Briefly Kenneth described the commandeering of their motor-cycles. + +"I am indeed most busy," said Major Resimont, and the perspiration on +his face did not belie this statement. "Nevertheless, come with me, +and we will find the Quartermaster of the Commissariat." + +He led the lads at a rapid pace through several crowded thoroughfares. +At one point the press was so great as to impede their progress. The +Liegeois were shouting and cheering, cries of "Vive la Belgique!" and +"Vive l'Angleterre!" predominating. Outside a large building a Union +Jack and the Belgian tricolour had been hoisted side by side. A +telegraphic communication had just been received that Great Britain had +declared war on Germany. + +"Ah! I thought it," chuckled the Major. "Now the Prussians will get +the right-about. My friends, the Germans are also now your enemies," +and he shook Kenneth and Rollo by the hand. "What will you do? Return +to England and join the army?" + +"We are not old enough for commissions, sir," replied Kenneth; then on +the spur of the moment he added: "Couldn't we be attached to the +Belgian army as dispatch-riders?" + +Rollo almost gasped at his chum's impetuosity, but loyalty to his chum +and a desire to do something against the oppressor of Europe checked +his inclination to counsel caution. + +"We will see," said the Major gravely. "It is good to see such a +spirit amongst Englishmen to come to the aid of our brave Belgians. +You are resolute?" + +"Rather!" declared Kenneth stoutly; and Rollo likewise signified his +willingness. + +The Quartermaster having been found at his office, Major Resimont soon +obtained the requisite order for the release of the Englishmen's +motor-cycles. + +"Now, this way!" he exclaimed. + +Five minutes' brisk walk brought them to the door of a large building +at which were stationed two soldiers in the uniform of the Grenadiers. +These stood stiffly at attention as the Major entered, drawing +themselves up with an alertness that was almost entirely lacking in +most of the men of the line regiments. + +Giving his name to a staff officer, the Major had to wait in an +ante-room, with at least a dozen other officers, mostly of brevet rank. +At length his turn came, for business was being carried out with +dispatch. + +"Monsieur le Major Resimont, mon General," announced a junior officer, +as he opened the door and motioned for the Belgian Major and his two +companions to enter. + +Seated at a table was a man in the undress uniform of the Belgian +staff. He was sparely built, although from his attitude it was +impossible to judge his height. His features were sallow, one might +almost say cadaverous, with a bright tinge of red upon his prominent +cheek-bones. Heavily-bushed eyebrows overhung a pair of deep-set eyes +that seemed hawk-like in their intensity. His closely-cropped hair was +iron-grey. A slightly drooping moustache hid a resolute mouth. + +The two English lads were in the presence of a man whose name, hitherto +practically unknown outside his own country, was soon to be on the lips +of everyone who was likely to hear of the gallant stand of +Liege--General Albert Leman. + +A quick vertical motion of the General's right hand--he was a man of +few words--was the signal for Major Resimont to make known his business. + +"I have here two Englishmen, mon General," began the Major. "They are +desirous of entering our army as motor-cyclist dispatch-riders." + +Without a moment's delay the General asked: "Can they read a map?" + +Kenneth and Rollo both replied that they could. + +"Good!" exclaimed General Leman; then, turning to his secretary, he +added: "Make out an order for these gentlemen to be attached to the 9th +regiment of the line--your company, Major?" + +"If you please, sir." + +"Here, then, is the order," continued the General after a brief +instant, during which the secretary had been writing as hard as he +possibly could. "They can be sworn in as soon as an opportunity +occurs. I wish you good day." + +That was all. The whole business was over in less than five minutes. +Not a word of thanks or encouragement to the two British volunteers. A +chill had descended upon their ardour. + +"The General--he is magnificent," said their companion as they gained +the street. "Down to the humblest private we swear by him. One has to +earn praise from the General before it is bestowed: it is our General's +way. He is a man of few words, but his heart is in the right place. +Now go and demand your motor-cycles and proceed to Fort de Barchon. I +will meet you there and see you are attested." + +With that the Major hurried off, and the two lads hastened to take +possession of their own property. + +"Fancy Great Britain being at war with Germany at last!" exclaimed +Kenneth. "We can hardly realize it, although most people have been +talking about it for years. Perhaps even now our fleet is giving the +Germans a good hiding. The rotten part about our job is that we may +not be able to get news of how things are going on at home." + +Therein Kenneth was right. The news they received was mostly rumour. +In fact, the statement they had just heard, that Great Britain had +declared war, was premature. An ultimatum had been sent to Berlin +stating that, unless Belgian neutrality were respected, hostilities +would commence at midnight. The Liegeois had anticipated the hour, and +so had the Germans, for already their mine-layers were at work in the +North Sea. + +An hour later, just as the sun was sinking behind the smoke-enshrouded +city of Liege, Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington were enlisted as +volunteer dispatch-riders in the 9th regiment of the line of the +Belgian army. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A Baptism of Fire + +At eight o'clock on the following morning the motorcyclist +section--nine in number--was paraded in front of the orderly-room of +Fort de Barchon. Already the bulk of the regiments had marched out to +take up a position in the trenches between the fortifications and the +right bank of the Meuse. + +The two English lads had been served out with a dark-blue uniform, with +heavy boots and brown gaiters, and had been armed with a Belgian +service revolver--a .45-bore, made by the famous firm of Cockerill of +Seraing. + +Already they had been instructed in its use, and had--thanks to their +cadet training--met with the approval of their musketry instructor. +Their motor-cycles had also been subjected to a critical inspection. +The officer--who in civil life had been in the motor industry at +Liege--had to report, in spite of slight professional jealousy, that +the English motor-cycles were fit for service, and almost equal to +those owned by the other members of the dispatch-riding section. + +One by one the men were called into the orderly-room, where they +received instructions and dispatches, till only Kenneth and Rollo +remained. + +"Private Ever-r-rest and Private Bar-r-rington," shouted the +orderly-room sergeant, sounding his r's like the roll of a drum. + +Within they found Major Resimont, and, as befitting their relative +rank, the lads saluted and stood at attention. + +"Deliver this to Captain Leboeuf at Vise," ordered the Major. "In view +of the German advance, he is to cross the river and impede the enemy as +much as possible, retiring upon Fort de Pontisse if in danger of being +outflanked." Then dropping the official voice, he added in English, +"Since Madame de la Barre would pay no heed to my request, it is +necessary for strategic reasons to occupy her house. You may now have +an opportunity of seeing your sister, Monsieur Everest. There are, I +believe, only our pupils there during the holidays. Captain Leboeuf +will arrange for them to be sent into Maastricht by train, or by a +carriage if railway communication is interrupted. They can then +proceed to Brussels in the ordinary way. You might give this to +Mademoiselle Yvonne for incidental expenses for herself and her friend, +your sister," and the Major handed Kenneth a packet containing a sheaf +of notes. + +"Be cautious," he added. "The Germans have already advanced upon +Lembourg." + +The lads saluted and withdrew. A minute later they were dashing over +the drawbridge, bound on their first duty as dispatch-riders in the +Belgian army, though with a semi-official motive. + +Away on their right came the rapid booming of light artillery fire. +Beyond the woods of Verviers a thick cloud of black smoke rose sullenly +in the heavy air. + +Their route lay along a fairly level road bounded on each side by tall +trees. In the centre was a strip of _pave_, but between it and the +ditch on either hand was a dusty path which afforded good going. The +cyclists were soon touching thirty miles an hour, the rapid beats of +their engines drowning the noise of the distant cannonade. + +Once they had to slow down in order to allow a cart to draw up on one +side. The floor of the cart was covered with straw, and on the straw +lay some strange objects. The lads did not realize what these burdens +were. They were new to the game of war, but not for long. + +Presently they noticed a group of soldiers approaching. Thrice the +lads sounded their horns without effect. Again they had to slow down. + +"Good heavens! Look!" ejaculated Kenneth. + +The men were limping painfully. One had his arm thrown around a +comrade's neck, and his head falling limply upon the other's shoulder. +Another, his head bound by a blood-stained scarf, was using the butt of +his rifle as a crutch. + +"There's been an action already," said Rollo. + +"Yes, and on the Vise road," added his companion. "Let's push on. I +hope we are not too late." + +During the slowing-down process the thunder of the guns became horribly +distinct. There was terrific firing in the direction of Argenteau. +More, there were heavy Belgian losses, for the men they had just passed +were but the van of a ghastly procession of wounded. + +At Argenteau a body of reserves was in possession of the village. +Barricades had been hastily constructed, walls of buildings loopholed, +and barbed-wire entanglements placed across the road. + +"Halte-la!" + +Rollo came to a standstill with the point of a Belgian bayonet within a +couple of inches of his chest. Kenneth, who was twenty yards in the +rear, almost as promptly alighted. + +"Qui v'la?" demanded the sentry. + +"Dispatches for Captain Leboeuf," replied Kenneth. + +The man recovered his arms. + +"May you have the good fortune to find him!" said he. "Our troops have +been compelled to fall back in the face of superior numbers. Turn to +the right, then take the first road to the left. It will bring you +back to the Vise road." + +Following the sentry's direction the lads found that the route was +still open, although soldiers and peasants were standing ready to +barricade that exit. + +A couple of miles farther on the motor-cyclists reached the +firing-line--a comparatively weak detachment of infantry holding a +hastily-constructed trench. + +Overhead the shrapnel was flying, the iron hail for the most part +bursting harmlessly in the rear. On the left the great guns of Fort de +Pontisse were shelling the dense masses of German troops as they vainly +sought to cross the Meuse. + +A shell, happily without exploding, struck the pave five yards from the +spot where Kenneth dismounted, burying itself in a hole at least two +feet in depth. + +"Into the ditch with the bikes," shouted Kenneth; and having assisted +Rollo to place his steed in a place of comparative safety, he returned, +and, helped by his companion, managed to shelter his own cycle. + +"What's to be done now?" asked Rollo. + +"See if the Captain is with these men. We must hasten: it will be a +jolly sight safer in the trench." + +Abandoning their motor-cycles, the two lads made their way along the +ditch, which fortunately ran with considerable obliquity to the +direction of the fire of the German artillery. + +At length they reached the trench where the Belgian infantry, taking +admirable cover, were replying steadily to the hail of ill-directed +rifle bullets. The only unwounded officer was a slim young +lieutenant--a mere boy. + +"We have dispatches for Captain Leboeuf, sir," announced Kenneth. "He +was in charge of an outpost at Vise." + +"Vise is all aflame," replied the officer. "No doubt the Captain has +crossed the Meuse. But we are about to retire, so look to yourselves. +The enemy is threatening our right flank, otherwise we might hold this +trench for another twenty-four hours." + +"Any orders, sir, before we return to Fort de Barchon?" + +"Yes; ride as quickly as you can to Saint Andre. The rest of our +company is there. Tell the officer in command that I am retiring, and +that unless he falls back he is in danger of being cut off. You +understand? Good, now----" + +The lieutenant's instructions ended in a faint shriek. His hands flew +to his chest, and he pitched forward on his face. + +A grizzled colour-sergeant instantly took command. + +"Retire by sections!" he shouted. "Steady, men, no hurry. Keep them +back as long as you can." + +The caution was in vain. While the untried troops were lining the +trench and replying to the German fire, all went well; but at the order +to retire, men broke and ran for their lives. Heedless of the cover +afforded by the ditch, they swarmed along the road in the direction of +Argenteau, shrapnel and bullet accounting for half their numbers. Only +the sergeant, two corporals, and the British dispatch-riders remained. + +The Germans, advancing in close formation, were now eight hundred yards +off. + +Without a word the Belgian sergeant crawled along the trench, picking +up the rifles and caps of the slain and placing them at intervals along +the top of the mound; while the rest, including Kenneth and Rollo, who +had taken possession of a couple of abandoned rifles, maintained a +rapid magazine fire at the approaching troops. + +"Each for himself, mes enfants," said the veteran at length. "One at a +time and trust to luck." + +With that a corporal cast aside his greatcoat and heavy knapsack. He +was about to make a plunge through the zone of hissing bullets when +Kenneth stopped him. + +"There's a ditch farther along," he announced. "We came that way." + +The man hesitated, then, communicated the news to his sergeant. + +"Come then, mes braves," exclaimed the veteran. + +One by one, crawling along the ditch the five made their way, till they +gained the comparative shelter afforded by the walls of a ruined +cottage. Proof against bullets, the house had been practically +demolished by shell-fire. + +"We must go back and get our bikes," declared Kenneth. "It's fairly +safe. Those fellows are apparently directing their fire against those +caps and rifles showing above the trench." + +They found their steeds uninjured. In record time they were in the +saddle and tearing along the avenue, which here and there was dotted +with dead Belgians. The wounded had evidently been carried off by +their comrades. + +As they passed the ruined cottage where they had parted from the three +soldiers the latter were no longer to be seen, but a hoarse cry of "A +moi, camarades!" caused Rollo to turn. He alone caught the appeal, for +Kenneth had secured a slight start and the noise of his engine had +drowned the shout for aid. + +"Hold on!" shouted Rollo; but Kenneth, unaware of the call, was out of +ear-shot, and doing a good thirty or forty miles an hour. + +Leaving his engine still running, Rollo dismounted and made his way +towards the building. Shots were whistling overhead. He crouched as +he hastened, for he had not yet acquired the contempt for the screech +of a bullet that the old soldier has, knowing that with the whizzing of +the missile that particular danger has passed. + +Lying against the bullet-spattered wall was the old sergeant. A +fragment of shrapnel, rebounding from the masonry, had fractured his +left ankle. + +There was no time for first-aid. The Germans were now within three +hundred yards of the abandoned trench. Throwing his arms round the +sergeant's body, Rollo lifted him from the ground, then kneeling, he +managed to transfer him across his back. Fortunately the wounded man +was not very heavy, and the lad, staggering under his burden, carried +him to the place where he had left his motor-cycle. + +Just then came the rapid pop-pop of another motor-bike. Kenneth, +having discovered that his chum was no longer in his company, had +returned. + +"Give me a push off, old man," panted Rollo, as he set his burden +across the carrier and stood astride his steed. + +In went the clutch; Kenneth, running by the side of the cycle for a few +yards, steadied the wounded sergeant, who was clinging desperately to +the young dispatch-rider. + +"All right, let go!" shouted Rollo. + +The bike wobbled dangerously under the unusual burden. The sergeant's +grip wellnigh destroyed the lad's power of command on the steering. +The _zipp_ of a bullet did much to add to the difficulty, and +momentarily Rollo thought that nothing could save him from toppling +into the ditch. + +"Let go my arms and catch hold of my waist," he shouted desperately. +The sergeant fortunately understood and obeyed; the motor-cycle began +to recover its balance, and as Rollo opened the throttle and increased +speed it settled down to its normal condition. + +On either side the trees seemed to slip past like the spokes of a +wheel; the pace was terrific, and although the wounded man must have +been suffering agonies, not a groan came from his lips. + +Presently Kenneth rode up alongside, for they were out of range and the +road was no longer encumbered with the fallen. Five minutes later the +two lads dismounted at the barricade of Argenteau. + +Here ready arms relieved Rollo of his burden; soldiers assisted in +lifting the cycles over the barrier. As they did so one of them +pointed to one of the tool-bag panniers on Rollo's cycle. It was +pierced by a bullet. + +"Where are you going to?" demanded a major. + +"To Saint Andre, to warn a half-company of the 9th regiment to retire, +sir." + +"It is unnecessary. The men have already rejoined. Return to Fort de +Barchon and say that if need be we can still hold the enemy in check, +but that we are losing heavily." + +Soon they were back again at Argenteau, with instructions for the +remains of the badly-mauled regiment to fall back upon the lines of +defence prepared between the two forts in the north-eastern side of the +circle surrounding Liege. + +The invaders had been delayed sufficiently to allow General Leman to +complete his dispositions. They were yet to learn that even the +much-vaunted German infantry could not afford to despise the gallant +Belgians. + +"It's a jolly sight better than Rugby, anyway," declared Kenneth, as at +the end of their first day on active service they returned to their +quarters at Fort de Barchon. + +But Rollo did not reply. He was thinking of the bullet hole in the +pannier of his cycle. It had been a narrow squeak. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A Vain Assault + +"I say, how about your sister, old man?" asked Rollo. + +"She's all right," replied Kenneth optimistically. "These Germans +don't make war on women and girls. Besides, Madame de la Barre +doubtless dropped a little of her standoffishness directly she heard +the sound of firing. I'm pretty sure they are now either safe in Dutch +territory or else on their way to Brussels." + +"If I had a sister I would be a jolly sight more anxious about her than +you are," persisted Rollo. + +"Now, how can I help it? Besides, you don't know Thelma. She +wouldn't, under the circumstances, wait for Madame to give her +permission to clear out, and, since Yvonne is her special friend, +she'll look after the Major's daughter as well. I'm sorry we haven't +come across Major Resimont since our return." + +"He must feel a bit anxious," remarked Rollo. + +"About the money he entrusted us with?" laughed Kenneth. "Well, I +admit that it was a bit of a risk, for we might have been bowled over +by one of those German shells. Ah! there's another!" + +The two dispatch-riders were under cover at Fort de Barchon, enjoying a +hasty meal after their return from their fruitless errand. It was late +in the day, and many hours had elapsed since they had had anything to +eat. It was a kind of preliminary to the period of short rations +through which they were to pass. + +The German artillery was furtively shelling the Liege forts as a +prelude to the general bombardment that was to take place as soon as +the shades of night began to fall. + +General von Emmich had brought up a force of 88,000 men against the +23,000 Belgian troops manning the Liege defences; but, owing to the +difficulty of transporting his heavy guns, the German commander decided +to open a furious cannonade with his light field artillery, and to +follow up with an assault by means of dense masses of troops. + +Soon the cannonade became general, the heaviest of the hostile fire +being directed upon Forts d'Evegnee and de Fleron, while Fort de +Barchon came in for a hot bombardment. + +It was by no means a one-sided encounter. The Belgian infantry, lying +snugly sheltered either in the trenches or in the bomb-proof galleries +of the forts, were for the time being inactive. The Belgian gunners, +however, worked their guns in the armoured cupolas with skill, bravery, +and precision, and at the end of two hours' bombardment the forts were +practically intact. + +Kenneth and Rollo, in the galleries of Fort de Barchon, could feel the +concussion of the revolving guns and the detonations of the exploding +German shells, although they were, like the rest of the infantry, in +ignorance of what was taking place. The inaction was far more +nerve-racking than actual exposure with the chance of getting in a shot. + +Suddenly above the roar of the artillery came a bugle-call, followed by +excited shouts of "Aux armes!" Instantly there was a wild rush to man +the parapets on the inner face of the glacis. + +"Come along, old man!" exclaimed Kenneth. "We may as well have a look +in." + +Snatching up a rifle and making sure that the magazine was charged, he +dashed out of the gallery, Rollo following hard on his heels. + +A weird sight met their eyes. The blackness of the night was pierced +by the dazzling rays of powerful searchlights and punctuated by the +rapid flashes from the heavy ordnance. The thunder of the guns was +ear-splitting, the crash of the exploding projectiles appalling, yet +the attention of the two lads was directed towards the scene that lay +before them. + +All along the parapet, protected by sandbags, were the Belgian +infantry, ready, with their rifles sighted to 800 yards, to open fire +at the word of command. Beyond the turf of the glacis, where almost +every blade of grass stood up under the sweeping rays of the +searchlights as if made of gleaming silver, were dense masses of +grey-coated, spike-helmeted Germans. + +On they came as steadily as if on parade, while between the rapid +crashes of the artillery could be distinguished the harsh voices of the +men as they sang "Deutschland ueber Alles" and the "Wacht am Rhein". +The only relief to those grey-clad battalions was the glitter of the +forest of bayonets. + +If numbers could annihilate, the fate of the comparative handful of +Belgians was sealed; but von Emmich had, like many another man, +underrated the courage of the plucky little Belgians. + +The Germans were now within the danger-zone of shell-fire. Shrapnel +tore ghastly lanes through their serried ranks, but other men were +instantly forthcoming to fill up the gaps. On and on they came till +they reached the outer edge of the glacis. Here the huge fortress-guns +in the armoured cupolas could not be sufficiently depressed to do them +harm. + +The crackle of the Belgian musketry added to the din. The men, firing +steadily, swept away hundreds of their Teutonic foes, but the ant-like +swarm of ferocious humanity still swept onwards. + +Kenneth and Rollo were firing away as hard as they could thrust home +the bolts of the rifles and press trigger. The hostile gun-fire had +now ceased, lest German should fall by German shell. The infantry, +firing with the butts of their rifles at the hip, let loose a terrific +volley. The air was torn by the _zipp_ of the bullets, but for the +most part the hail of missiles either flew high or harmlessly expended +itself in the soft earth. Now, in spite of the withering fire, the +foremost of the German stormers were almost up to the parapet of the +outer defences. Victory seemed within their grasp. Their shouts +redoubled. Drunk with the apparent success of their suicidal tactics, +they rushed to overwhelm the slender line of Belgian riflemen. + +Through the rapidly-drifting clouds of smoke--for there was a strong +wind blowing athwart the line of attack--the two British lads could +clearly see the features of the exultant foes, as they recklessly +plunged straight into the dazzling rays of the searchlight. + +Mechanically Kenneth began to wonder what would happen next, for it +seemed imminent that bayonet would cross bayonet, and that the handful +of Belgian infantry would be cut off to the last man. + +Then, even as he faced the enemy, the dense masses of Germans seemed to +melt away. They fell, not in sixes and sevens, but in scores and +hundreds, till a barricade of dead prevented the massacre of the +living. The Belgians had machine-guns in readiness to take up the work +that the heavier weapons had been obliged to suspend. + +The commandant of the 9th regiment of the line saw his chance. The +rattle of the Berthier machine-guns ceased as if by magic, and the +shout was heard "A la baionnette!" + +Instantly the active Belgians swarmed over the glacis and threw +themselves upon the demoralized foe. The repulse of the Germans became +a rout. + +Carried away by the enthusiasm of the charge, the British +dispatch-riders tore along with their Belgian comrades, Kenneth with +rifle and bayonet, while Rollo was brandishing his Mauser and using the +butt-end like an exaggerated hockey-stick. + +Just in front of them was a little Belgian officer who, on the point of +cutting down a burly German major, had arrested the fatal stroke upon +the latter crying out for quarter. The German, who had been beaten to +the ground, tendered his sword, and the Belgian, casting it aside, +rushed on to continue the counter-charge. + +Before he had taken two strides he fell, hit in the ankle, and Kenneth, +who was following, promptly tripped across his body. + +The sight of his chum pitching on his face caused Rollo's heart to jump +into his mouth. He stopped, and to his great relief Kenneth regained +his feet. The Belgian also attempted to rise, but could only raise +himself to the extent of his outstretched arms. + +Rollo was on the point of going to assist his chum, who was directing +his attention to the wounded Belgian officer, when he saw the German +major stealthily produce his revolver and take aim at the man who had +spared his life. + +Perhaps it was well for the ungrateful major that Rollo was a keen +footballer. Forgetting that he held a clubbed rifle in his hand the +lad took a flying kick; his boot caught the German major on the wrist, +and the revolver, exploding harmlessly, went spinning a dozen paces +away. + +Standing over the recreant officer Rollo swung the butt of his rifle. +The German howled for mercy. + +"Hold hard, old man!" shouted Kenneth, grasping his chum by the +shoulder. He could scarcely credit his senses, seeing the usually +deliberate and self-possessed Rollo about to kill a defenceless German +officer. + +"That brute was about to shoot down a fellow who had given him +quarter," hissed Rollo: "that captain over there, the one sitting up +with a wounded leg." + +"We'll collar the cad in any case," declared Kenneth, for the Belgian +troops were now being recalled. The attack had been repulsed, but the +defenders were too wary to risk being caught out in the open. + +Drawing his revolver Rollo ordered the German to rise. The Major +apparently did not understand French, for he only cried the more. + +"Get up instantly," exclaimed Rollo in English. + +The German looked at his captor in surprise. His appeals for mercy +ceased. He stood up. + +"I surrender," he said in the same language. + +With one of the British lads on either side the prisoner was urged +onwards at a rapid pace, surrounded by swarms of exultant Belgians, +many of whom were limping or nursing their wounded arms. Others were +supporting or carrying those of their comrades who were more seriously +hurt, yet all were uplifted by their enthusiasm at the thought of +having vanquished von Emmich's hordes. + +Upon gaining the shelter of Fort de Barchon the British lads handed +their prisoner over to the charge of a corporal and a file of men. It +was well for the German that his captors refrained from giving the +Belgian soldiers an account of the circumstances under which he had +been made prisoner. + +The German major seemed dazed. He could not understand how he had been +captured by Englishmen; for it had been given out to the troops of von +Emmich's division that Great Britain had decided to remain neutral. +Her attitude had been gained by a promise on the part of the German +Government that only the French and Belgian colonies should be annexed, +and that no permanent occupation of these two countries was +contemplated. And now he had been informed that Great Britain and her +vast empire beyond the seas had fallen into line to aid right against +might. The news troubled him beyond measure--far more than the +probability of what the result of his treacherous act would be; for he +was a Teuton imbued with the belief that all is fair in war, and that +treaties and conventions are alike mere matters of form. + +"Ah! you have been in the fight," exclaimed Major Resimont. "That +should not be. Dispatch-riders are required for other things." + +Kenneth and Rollo saluted. + +"Couldn't help it," explained Kenneth. "When the men charged we simply +had to go. It was splendid." + +"You think so? So do we," said the Major proudly. "We have taught the +Bosches a lesson; we have shown them that Belgians can fight. We must +hold them in front of the Liege forts for a few days, and then the +French and the English armies will be here. A matter of three days, +perhaps, and then, _pouf!_ they blow the Kaiser and his armies upon the +bayonets of the Russians. It is good to think that the English are so +close." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +Disabling a Taube + +"Here is the money and the letter you entrusted us with, sir," said +Kenneth. "We couldn't get within five miles of Vise." + +"The place is burned to the ground, I hear," announced Major Resimont. +"Those Prussians are like devils, they spare neither man, woman, nor +child. Liege is filled with terrible stories brought by the peasants +who escaped. I could, alas! gather no definite tidings of my daughter +or of her friend your sister, Monsieur Everest. One thing is certain. +They left before the German shells began to fall in Vise, but whither, +I know not. Let us hope they went to Maastricht." + +It was now early morning. The bombardment, which had ceased during the +futile assault, was now being renewed, although the fire lacked the +fierceness that characterized the beginning of the siege of Liege. + +The Belgian reply, too, had almost ceased, for so rapidly had the big +guns been served that they had become overheated. Moreover--a further +proof of German methods--the ordnance supplied by Krupp's to the +Belgian Government before the war was obviously inferior in workmanship +and material, and in consequence had rapidly deteriorated. + +The two British dispatch-riders had run across Major Resimont in one of +the vaulted galleries. He looked tired and worried: tired owing to the +fact that he had been for seventeen hours on duty in the trenches or in +the fort; worried by reason of anxiety for his daughter. Yet he was +willing and anxious to face the Germans at any time they should take it +into their heads to attempt another assault. + +"If I were you I would take the chance to get a few hours' sleep," he +advised as he bade the lads au revoir. "Remember what I said the next +time there is an attack: a dispatch-rider's duty is not in the +firing-line. His work lies in another sphere, equally hazardous and +equally important." + +"Jolly good advice about getting some sleep, at all events," remarked +Kenneth, after the Major had gone. "I vote we turn in. I had no idea +I was so horribly sleepy until just now." + +"Guns or no guns, I think I can do my share of sleep," agreed Rollo. +"Let us put the scheme into practice." + +Just then the heavy armoured door of the gallery was thrown open, and +an authoritative voice shouted: + +"Dispatch-riders! Are there any dispatch-riders here?" + +"Here, sir," replied the lads promptly. + +"Ah! The English motor-cyclists," exclaimed the Belgian--a staff +officer. "Do you know the headquarters offices in the Palace of +Justice in Liege?" + +"Yes, sir," was again the reply. + +"Good! Take this paper--you!" (pointing to Kenneth)--"and deliver it +into the hands of Commandant Fleurus at all costs, and await his +commands. Your comrade will accompany you, so that should you meet +with any mishap he is to take the paper from you and proceed. You +understand? Good! Now, away!" + +"A good spin will be almost as refreshing as a few hours' sleep, +Rollo," said Kenneth, as the two chums made their way to the place +where their motor-cycles were stored, protected by three feet of +concrete and six feet of earth from hostile shells. + +"With plenty of excitement thrown in," added Rollo. "We'll have a +difficulty to dodge those shells as we get clear of the fort, I'm +thinking." + +"Rush it and trust to luck. We'll do it all right," declared Kenneth +optimistically, as he hurriedly overhauled his cycle and proceeded to +warm up the engine. + +It was a tricky business getting out of the fort, for the sunken lane +that wound through the extensive glacis was littered with debris of +exploded shells. There were deep holes in several places, while at +various points the effect of the German projectiles was evident by the +fact that the approach to the fort was choked by landslides. Thrice +the lads had to dismount and push their cycles over obstacles, to the +accompaniment of the dull crash of the shells, some of which burst +unpleasantly near. + +All the while, although not a defender was visible, the armoured +cupolas were appearing and disappearing with the regularity of +clockwork, sending out their iron hail upon the pontoons which the +German engineers were constructing to replace the broken bridges at +Vise and Argenteau. + +"All out!" exclaimed Rollo as they reached the open road. + +With throttle well open and spark advanced, both motor-cycles bounded +forward. The pace was terrific. At times the riders were almost +jerked from the saddles as their steeds leapt across the irregularities +on the surface of the _pave_. The lads could no longer hear the +thunder of the guns: it was drowned by the roar of their exhausts. The +wind shrieked past their ears, grit flew in showers, a cloud of dust +followed in their wake. Suddenly they saw a large silvery-grey object +swoop down about a quarter of a mile ahead, close to the outskirts of +the village of Jupille, which had been abandoned by the terrified +inhabitants. The riders recognized it as one of the German Taubes that +had been aggressively active during the operations by locating the +position of the Belgian trenches. + +The monoplane was in difficulties. It took all the skill of the pilot +to prevent it from making a nose-end dive to earth. With superb +presence of mind he managed to restore the disturbed equilibrium and to +bring the Taube to rest without much damage. + +Bringing his motor-cycle to a halt, Kenneth dismounted and placed his +mount on its stand. Rollo did likewise. + +"What's the game?" he asked as his companion unfastened the flap of his +holster. + +"We'll collar those fellows," declared Kenneth resolutely "They must +not get away." + +"But the dispatch?" + +"This is more important, I guess. See, those fellows are already +setting things to rights. Before any of the Belgian vedettes can come +up they will be off again." + +Kenneth was right in his surmise. There were no troops within a mile +of the place. The two men who formed the crew of the monoplane were +feverishly tackling the work of making good the damage. One of the +wires actuating the elevating gear had been cut through by a chance +Belgian bullet--one amongst a thousand more that had been fired at the +troublesome Taube. + +"Surrender!" shouted Kenneth, advancing to within fifty feet of the +aviators and levelling his revolver. Rollo, cooler than his companion, +steadied the barrel of his heavy pistol in the crook of his arm. + +The pilot had been so engrossed in his work that he had not noticed the +arrival of the lads. At the sound of Kenneth's voice he had just +completed the joining up of the severed wire. He made a rush to the +propeller and began to swing it in order to start the engine. + +This was more than Kenneth had bargained for. It seemed too much like +shooting down a man in cold blood. He need not have been so +chivalrous, for the next instant a bullet tore through his hair and +sent his cap a couple of yards away. The observer of the Taube had, at +the first alarm, flung himself upon the ground and had fired at the lad +with a rifle. + +Before the man could thrust home a fresh cartridge Kenneth was snug +behind a rise in the ground. Rollo, twenty paces to the right, had +likewise taken cover. + +The powerful motor was now working. The propeller blades glittered +like a circle of light as they revolved with a terrific buzz. The +draught of the propeller threw up a cloud of dust as high as a +three-storied house. Through the haze thus caused the lads could +distinguish the forms of the aviators as they scrambled into their +seats. + +Both dispatch-riders emptied the contents of their revolvers, perhaps a +little wildly, but the result was none the less disastrous to the +Taube. There was a blinding flash, a report, and a rush of air that +drove the dust-cloud in all directions. One of the bullets had pierced +the petrol-tank, and a spark had done the rest. + +In an instant the Taube was enveloped in flame. The pilot, his hands +held to his face, was stumbling blindly away from the inferno, his +clothes burning furiously. The observer ran for nearly twenty yards, +spun round thrice, and collapsed. + +Rollo was the one in this instance to take the initiative. He ran to +the pilot, tripped him up, and began to heap handfuls of dust upon his +burning clothing. By Kenneth's aid the flames were extinguished, but +by this time the unfortunate German was unconscious. + +As for the observer, he was found severely wounded, one of the heavy +revolver bullets having passed completely through his shoulder. + +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Rollo, as the lads ejected the expended +ammunition and reloaded their revolvers. + +"Carry on with the dispatch, of course," replied Kenneth. "We can do +no more here. Hello! Here are the Belgian cavalry." + +Up rode a patrol of lancers. Dismounting, and leaving their horses in +charge of one-third of their number, the men advanced. The officer in +charge took in the situation at a glance, for the twelve empty revolver +cartridges on the ground told their own tale. + +"You had better proceed; enough time has already been wasted," he said, +when he learnt the mission of the dispatch-riders. "We will attend to +these." + +"That's a nasty knock," observed Rollo ruefully, as they hurried back +to their motor-cycles. + +"H'm, yes," admitted his companion reluctantly. "Perhaps the chap was +a bit nettled because his men didn't bag the Taube." + +But as they rode past the scene of their exploit the Captain called his +men to attention--a tribute to the resource and daring of the British +lads. Already the Belgian cavalrymen had shown signs of their +humanity, for by means of their lances two stretchers had been +improvised, and the wounded aviators were on the way to one of the +hospitals in the beleaguered city. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +In British Uniforms + +Shells were intermittently dropping upon the houses and in the streets +as Kenneth and Rollo entered the apparently deserted city of Liege. +The majority of the inhabitants, their numbers augmented by hundreds of +terrified refugees from the surrounding villages, had taken refuge in +cellars, while crowds, under the mistaken belief in the immunity of the +churches from shell-fire, had sought doubtful shelter in the sacred +edifices. Others, again, fearful at the threat of von Emmich to begin +a general bombardment upon the city unless the forts surrendered--a +threat that the gallant General Leman treated with contempt--were +boarding the last trains to leave Liege. + +The day was excessively hot and close. The wind that had blown +strongly during the preceding night had dropped. Several of the houses +had taken fire, and the pungent smell of smoke filled the air. +Frequently, before the dispatch-riders reached their destination, they +were compelled to slacken pace, owing to the clouds of smoke that +drifted slowly across the almost deserted streets. + +They found the commandant, with several of his staff, calmly engaged in +his work, and heedless of the fact that several shells had already +burst in front of the Palace of Justice in which he had taken up his +quarters. + +Commandant Fleurus was a short, stocky man of about fifty, and rather +inclined to corpulence. His head was as bald as an egg, with the +exception of a ring of jet-black hair like a monkish tonsure. His eyes +were small, resembling black beads, and rapid in their movements. + +He was writing when Kenneth was shown in. Without moving his head, +which was slightly inclined, he fixed the dispatch-rider with his +piercing stare. + +"Message, sir, from Major le Tourneur." + +The commandant took the letter and, with a swift movement, tore open +the flap of the envelope. + +"This is marked 7.15 a.m.!" he exclaimed. "It's now a quarter to nine. +Why this delay?" + +"We--that is, my comrade--crippled a Taube, sir." + +"Crippled a Taube? What, pray, has a dispatch-rider to do with +Taubes?" demanded Commandante Fleurus sternly. "Do you know that it is +your duty to deliver messages at all costs, and in the least possible +time, regardless of Taubes, Zeppelins, and the German Emperor himself?" + +Kenneth did not reply. The fiery nature of the little Belgian +literally consumed him. He had, however, the good sense to see that +the rebuke was merited. + +"Well, sir, what have you to say?" + +"It was an error of judgment, sir, which I regret," said Kenneth. "We +crippled the Taube as it was on the point of rising. Otherwise----" + +"Were there no troops available?" + +"Some lancers arrived while the Taube was burning." + +The commandant turned and took hold of a telephone that stood on the +table at his side. + +"Send Captain Planchenoit to me," he ordered; then, leaning back in his +chair, he again fixed the British lad with his beady eyes. + +It was quite two minutes before the captain appeared, and the time +seemed like two hours to the crestfallen Kenneth. He had yet to learn +the lesson that cast-iron discipline demands, and it seemed galling +that his part in crippling one of the aerial spies should be +practically ignored by the man who ought to have gone into ecstasies +over the news. + +Presently Captain Planchenoit entered, clicked his heels and saluted, +then waited his superior officer's pleasure. The captain was a +smart-looking man of more than average height, with a pleasant, open +countenance. He was on the intelligence staff, attached to the brigade +that had been hurriedly brought up from Diest. + +"Any information respecting the destruction of one of the enemy's +aeroplanes?" demanded the commandant. + +"Yes, mon commandant. It descended near the village of Jupille. +Before our lancers could approach it took fire. Our men found both +pilot and observer wounded and brought them back. The captain of the +troop reported that the Taube was set on fire by the pistol-shots of +two dispatch-riders." + +"At any risk to themselves?" + +"I know not, sir." + +"At any risk?" repeated Commandant Fleurus, shifting his glance from +Captain Planchenoit to Kenneth. + +In reply the lad removed his Belgian military cap and pointed to the +double hole made by the German observer's bullet. + +To Kenneth's surprise the commandant leant back in his chair and gave +vent to a hearty laugh. Then he stood up and grasped the hand of the +astonished youth. + +"Go, bring in your compatriot," he exclaimed. + +"What's the game, old man?" asked Rollo, who was cooling his heels in +the corridor. + +"Goodness knows! I can't make the little commandant out. He's an +enigma. I've had a gruelling. Come along." + +Kenneth jerked out his sentences awkwardly, then, catching hold of his +chum's arm, led him into the commandant's presence. + +"Captain Planchenoit," said the latter, after returning Rollo's salute. +"You applied for two additional dispatch-riders, I believe?" + +"That is so, mon commandant," replied the captain. + +"Good! Now listen to this, you brave Englishmen. This is the dispatch +you brought. It is from Major Resimont: 'In reply to your request for +dispatch-riders I send you two English motor-cyclists, MM. Kenneth +Everest and Rollo Barrington. From what I already know of them they +are courageous and resolute, and their services are likely to be of +more use in the operations before Brussels than within the fortress of +Barchon. More so in view of the possible early appearance of the +English forces who are to co-operate with the Belgian armies in the +field.'" + +"It is very good of Major Resimont to speak so well of us," said +Kenneth. "Of course we must go where we are ordered, and that +willingly; but we should be sorry to part from Major Resimont and the +9th Regiment of the Line." + +"It does not necessarily mean severing your connection with your old +regiment--if old I might term it," declared the commandant. "In strict +confidence I may tell you--I know that English gentlemen are always +honourable--that perhaps before to-morrow we must abandon the city to +the invaders. Our numbers are insufficient to hold the trenches +linking the chain of forts. We must concentrate our armies to the west +of Liege, leaving the forts to hold out until the English and French +armies arrive. It is a sad thing to have to abandon such a city as +this to the ruthless Germans, but sacrifices must be made for the +honour of our country. Captain Planchenoit will give you instruction +where to proceed." + +Just at that moment an orderly-sergeant entered the room, his face +purple with excitement. + +"Sir," he announced, "four English officers are without. They have +arrived from Ostend by motor-car and desire to see the General Leman." + +Commandant Fleurus took the pieces of pasteboard the sergeant held in +his hand, and passed them on first to Kenneth and then to Rollo. + +"See if you know any of these gentlemen," he said. + +"Yes," replied Rollo. "I know Major Athol Duncan-Dean of the Duke of +Cornwall's Light Infantry. Hello! What's the meaning of this?" he +added in his native tongue. + +"Jolly rummy, anyhow," commented Kenneth, for in the word "Cornwall's" +the apostrophe was after the "s". + +"And Major Duncan-Dean is too mighty particular to pass a mistake on +his visiting-card like that," added Rollo. + +"Perhaps he lost his own and had them printed in Belgium, and didn't +notice the mistake until it was too late." + +"I'll mention it to the commandant. It's fishy." + +"Since you know the officer, Monsieur Barrington," said the commandant, +when Kenneth had explained the nature of the error, "perhaps you will +go with this sergeant. Present my compliments, and say that the +General Leman is at Fort de Loncin, and that I, Commandant Fleurus, +will be pleased to receive the English officers in his absence. But, +listen; if by any chance the Major Duncan-Dean is not the one you know, +say that the General will receive presently, ask them to wait, and +return immediately to me." + +Escorted by the sergeant, Rollo was taken to a room where four +officers, correctly dressed in British field-service uniform, were +seated. One glance was sufficient. None of them bore any resemblance +to the Major Duncan-Dean whom the lad knew well. There was only one +major of that name in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, and he was +a fairly frequent visitor at Colonel Barrington's house, especially +during the shooting season. + +Rollo delivered the commandant's message in English, explaining that he +was British but attached to the Belgian army, and that he was a son of +Colonel Barrington of Holmfrith, near Truro. + +There was no sign of recognition on the part of the supposed Major +Duncan-Dean; instead, an awkward silence prevailed. None of the four +officers seemed at all anxious to reply. They all looked disappointed +and embarrassed. + +"Our message is of great importance and for only the ears of General +Leman," said one of them at last. "We will not trouble the commandant +except to give us permits to enter Fort Loncin and to telephone to the +General that we are about to arrive." + +Suddenly a hand grasped Rollo's shoulder in a vice-like grip, and the +muzzle of a revolver was clapped against his temple. + +"One sound and you are dead!" exclaimed a stern voice. + +The lad was already convinced that the so-called British army officers +were Germans in disguise. Not only was he sure that the pseudo Major +Duncan-Dean was an impostor; the peculiar phraseology of the man who +had replied to the commandant's message confirmed his conclusions. To +crown everything, there was the conviction carried by the muzzle of +that revolver. + +Rollo spent a nasty minute. His mind was working furiously, weighing +up the factors of the situation. To raise the alarm meant death to +himself; to fail to do so might result in the cold-blooded massacre of +Commandant Fleurus and several of the staff; while, with the +head-quarters telephone at their disposal, the four Germans might play +havoc with the plans of the Belgian Commander-in-Chief. + +The Germans were talking rapidly in a low tone. The one who held Rollo +prisoner still kept the revolver against the lad's temple; the rest had +each drawn an automatic pistol, and were evidently about to force their +way into the presence of the commandant. + +"I'll wait till those fellows go out into the corridor," thought the +lad, "then I'll try the effect of a sudden blow in this gentleman's +wind. It may do the trick; if not, my number's up. Anyway, it's +better than being snuffed out without making an attempt to fight for +it." + +Although he kept as quiet as he possibly could, Rollo could feel his +heart thumping violently, while his temples throbbed until the muzzle +of the German's revolver seemed to be beating a tattoo. + +"Keep steady!" hissed his captor. "This pistol has hair-trigger. +Might go off if you shake." + +It was on the tip of Rollo's tongue to reply that he was not shaking by +reason of fear; but realizing that such a statement might put the +German additionally upon his guard, the lad kept silent. + +Presently one of the conspirators replaced his revolver, and with his +free hand grasped the handle of the door. The other two stood behind, +ready to sally forth on their murderous and treacherous work. + +Rollo mentally pulled himself together. Another ten or twenty seconds +would decide the fate of his plan--and of himself. + +Suddenly the subdued daylight of the room was pierced by a dozen +simultaneous flashes. The rattle of musketry sounded like the +discharge of a twenty-one-inch howitzer. The place was filled with the +haze of smokeless powder. + +Instinctively the lad ducked. There was a tremendous crash above his +head. A thousand lights danced before his eyes, and he lost +consciousness. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A Midnight Retirement + +When Rollo opened his eyes he found himself lying in the open air. He +was in one of the courtyards of the Palace of Justice. The thunder of +the bombardment still roared. The noise of the guns recalled his +scattered thoughts to the event that had almost cost him his life. + +A Belgian army doctor was kneeling by his side, while Kenneth supported +his head. Around him stood a number of soldiers, some of whom had +paused in the act of cleaning their rifles in order to watch their +English comrade's return to consciousness. + +"Hello, Kenneth!" exclaimed Rollo, somewhat vacantly. "What has +happened? Ah, I know--those Germans!" + +"They won't trouble us again, old man," replied Kenneth. "You're in +luck again. It was your suspicions that put the commandant on his +guard. But I'll tell you more about it later on." + +"You must not unduly excite your friend," cautioned the doctor. "He +has no bodily injury, but his nerves are stricken. He must rest until +to-morrow. I will have him taken into a safe cellar, where he need +fear nothing from those German shells." + +"Won't you come with me, Kenneth?" asked Rollo. + +"Sorry, old man, but I'm warned for duty at five o'clock--seventeen +hours, they call it. All being well, I'll look you up in the morning." + +"See that my bike is all right." + +"Rather!" replied Kenneth cheerily. "Don't worry about it. I'll look +after it." + +Later on in the evening Rollo heard of the circumstances under which +the supposed British officers were shot down. + +The room in which they had been asked to wait was, years ago, used as a +place of observation for prisoners awaiting trial. The carved oak +panelling terminated about six inches from the heavily-raftered +ceiling. At one end was a space between two parallel massive beams, +through which, from a gallery without, it was possible to observe all +that was taking place, although the watchers were themselves unseen. + +Upon his attention being called to the error on the pseudo British +major's visiting-card, the commandant's suspicions were aroused. As +soon as Rollo was dispatched with his message, a file of skilled +riflemen ascended the observation gallery. Noiselessly they took up +their positions, and having witnessed the holding up of their British +comrade, they delivered a volley that instantly exterminated the +treacherous Germans. + +Rollo had, indeed, a narrow escape, for his captor in falling had +convulsively pressed the trigger of his revolver. The bullet missed +the lad's head by a couple of inches, but the blast from the muzzle had +scorched his temple. + +Barrington was in the midst of a deep slumber, in spite of the thunder +of the guns, when he was awakened by someone shaking him by the +shoulder. + +"What's up?" he asked sleepily, for at the moment he fancied himself +back at St. Cyprian's. By the feeble glimmer of a candle-lantern he +saw his chum. + +"Sorry to disturb you, old man," said Kenneth apologetically, "but if +you don't want to find yourself a prisoner in the hands of the Germans +you must make a move. The bulk of the Belgian infantry is evacuating +the town. The mayor is going to surrender Liege at noon, I believe." + +"The forts haven't fallen?" asked Rollo, springing out of bed, only to +discover how shaky he felt. + +"Not a bit of it," replied Kenneth confidently. "They'll hold out for +months, I expect. No, it is only on account of the damage to the +public buildings and private property that Liege is to be given up. I +don't think it will be of much use to the Germans. They'll have +considerable difficulty to pass between the forts. They say the +Germans have had another nasty reverse, and that they asked for an +armistice in order to bury their dead. Our fellows have refused; they +are beginning to sum up the cultured Teuton at his true price. But how +do you feel?" + +"Pretty fit, though a bit rocky," admitted Rollo. "Where are the +bikes?" + +"We'll have to wheel them. I've taken off the belts. Orders have been +given for the troops intended for the field to withdraw as quietly as +possible, you know. Come along." + +Rollo had now thrown on his clothes, his chum assisting him to buckle +on the belt to which was attached his revolver holster. Together they +left the vaulted cellar and gained the street. It was a perfectly dark +night. The stars were obscured, the air was misty and hot. Away to +the north, south, and east the sky was illuminated by the +lightning-like glare of the heavy guns as the forts exchanged a hot +fire with the German field artillery. + +"Can you manage it?" asked Kenneth anxiously, as Rollo wheeled his +deliberately crippled motor into the street. + +"Rather," replied his companion with forced determination. "I'm not +keen on leaving my jigger for a rascally Prussian to smash. I'm jolly +glad we are still attached to the 9th Regiment of the Line. We may see +more of Major Resimont. He's quite a decent sort." + +"And Captain Planchenoit is a brick," added Kenneth. "I've been +talking to some of the men in his company. They swear by him; but he's +awfully keen on discipline, they say, and gets plenty of work out of +his men." + +The dispatch-riders found the regiment drawn up in column of fours in a +narrow street behind the Church of St. Jacques. In this dense +formation the men would have suffered severely had a shell fallen in +their ranks; but owing to the fact that the Germans were hoping to take +early possession of the city, their gunners no longer dropped +projectiles into Liege, devoting their attention to the stubborn forts +that had already thrown the imperial time-table into confusion. + +Although the Belgian troops were no longer elated, they were far from +being downcast. They realized that strategic reasons necessitated the +evacuation of the city. They hoped that the forts could hold out. +Already they had proved themselves equal man for man to the vaunted +soldiers of the Kaiser. Their object was now to contest every yard of +the way to Brussels, their determination being strengthened by the +widespread belief that the pick of the English army would speedily be +fighting by their side. + +Several of the men of the 9th Regiment bore evidences of the hard part +they had taken in the repulse of the initial German attacks. Many had +bandages round their heads; others had their hands swathed in linen, +while a few limped badly; yet one and all showed resolute courage that +augured ill for any Prussian regiment which should happen to cross +steel with the valiant defenders of the cockpit of Europe. + +Presently the Colonel gave an order. The men unfixed bayonets and +sloped arms. In the centre of the column the lads could see the cased +colours round which a fierce struggle had taken place during the +preceding day. Then, at the word of command, the regiment swung +briskly along the narrow street. + +Kenneth and Rollo found themselves with two other dispatch-riders at +the rear of the column. The other motor-cyclists had gone on a journey +that knows no return. There was also a detachment of twenty cyclists +belonging to the regiment, but most of these silent scouts were far +afield, making certain that the line of retreat was in no danger of +being ambushed by the wily Uhlans. + +The route lay between Forts de Hollogne and de Flemalle, through +tortuous by-lanes. Over and over again the column was obliged to halt +owing to the congestion of the roads, for twenty thousand Belgian +troops--field artillery, cavalry, and infantry--were evacuating the +doomed city that night. + +Before they were clear of the environs of Liege, Rollo began to feel +the effects of his adventure with the German officers. The sweat +poured from him as he gamely pushed his unwieldy motor-cycle. +Anxiously Kenneth watched him, unable to give assistance save by a few +words of encouragement. Every time there was a halt Rollo leant across +the saddle, welcoming the rest, yet dreading the exertion required to +resume the tortuous march. To lag behind was to risk capture, for +small parties of Uhlans were known to have penetrated into the villages +of Hollogne and Montegnee, which lay between the as yet unconquered +forts and the city of Liege; otherwise he would have fallen out, waited +till dawn, and then cycled to overtake the regiment. + +During one of these short, unavoidable, halts a voice came through the +darkness. + +"Monsieur Everest--is Monsieur Everest there?" + +"Here I am, sir," replied Kenneth, recognizing the voice as that of +Captain Planchenoit. + +"Ah, good! I wish to enquire after your English comrade." + +"He is here, sir." + +"Ah, again good! I thought he would be unfit to move." + +"He's not very much up to the mark, sir." + +The captain flashed an electric torch upon the motor-cyclists. + +"Ciel! you are indeed right, Monsieur Everest. I will see to matters. +Private Roulaix," he added, addressing a Belgian who was walking his +"push-bike", "place your bicycle in the first wagon that passes. Say +that I, Captain Planchenoit, orders it. Then relieve your English +comrade of his motor-cycle. Monsieur Barrington, as soon as Private +Roulaix returns I will take you to one of the wagons. You are not, at +present, fit to walk, still less to push that motor-cycle." + +For the rest of that night Kenneth was without the company of his chum. +As the grey dawn began to break, he too felt that he was nearly done +up, but still the steady retreat continued. + +It was not until six o'clock in the morning that the 9th Regiment of +the Line was ordered to bivouac outside the village of Omal. Here +trenches were dug, barbed-wire entanglements set up, barns and cottages +loopholed and placed in a state of defence in order to keep in check +the German hordes until the expected aid was forthcoming. + +For the next twenty-four hours the 9th Regiment was inactive, as far as +actual fighting was concerned. With the rest of the mobile Belgian +forces, the men were enjoying a well-earned respite and improving their +position. + +Although Rollo still remained off duty, Kenneth, with the rest of the +motor dispatch-riders, had plenty to do. Frequently the lad had to +ride off at full speed to carry orders to bands of armed civilians to +cease firing upon Belgian airmen; for these plucky air-scouts were so +harried by the fire of their undisciplined fellow-countrymen that it is +not to be wondered at that after a time they declined to fly at all. + +Kenneth had just returned from one of these errands when the Colonel of +the regiment sent for him. + +"You know the way to Tongres?" he asked. + +"Yes, sir," replied the lad promptly, for although he had never been +there, a close study of the map had enabled him to fix its position in +his mind. + +"Then bear a verbal message to General Fechard. Say that in view of an +impending strong attack upon our position reinforcements are urgently +requested to hold the village of Omal. Mitrailleuses are particularly +desirable. Is that clear? Then repeat the message." + +Kenneth did so satisfactorily. The Colonel nodded approval. + +"Now go," said he. "As quickly as you can, for the situation is +critical." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +The Uhlan Patrol + +Rollo was standing by his chum's motor-cycle when Kenneth left the +Colonel's quarters--a cottage standing well apart from the rest of the +village. + +"Thought you'd be off somewhere when the Colonel sent for you, old +man," he said. "Well, I could go with you, but I feel absolutely +rotten. Look here," and Barrington opened his coat and displayed the +tops of two soda-water bottles, "I managed to get hold of these. Take +one." + +"No, thanks," replied Kenneth. "You want them a jolly sight more than +I do." + +"But you must," persisted Rollo. "It's fearfully hot to-day. Besides, +I think I can get hold of some more." + +"All right," agreed his chum reluctantly, and taking one of the bottles +he placed it in the outside breast-pocket of his coat, resolving to +restore it intact upon his return. + +The request of the Colonel of the 9th Regiment was most essential. To +the north of Omal was a gap of nearly two miles in the Belgian line, as +a portion of one of the brigades had failed to take up its allotted +position. Omal was a salient angle in the defenders' formation, and +should the village be carried by the Germans the Belgian army would be +split asunder by the wedge-like advance of their far more numerous foes. + +Although the country was fairly open Kenneth rode cautiously. It was a +nerve-racking ordeal, since every bush or tree might be affording +concealment to the Uhlans, who were known to have already penetrated +far into the country. Almost as dangerous were the Belgian guerrillas, +who often fired indiscriminately upon any man in a uniform that they +failed to recognize. + +But beyond being twice stopped by Belgian patrols and made to produce +his military pass, Kenneth reached his destination without being +molested. He delivered his message, receiving a reply that a +machine-gun detachment would be sent off as quickly as possible, and +set off on his return journey. + +Perhaps the fact that he had but recently passed along the same road +without difficulty made him slightly reckless. He increased his speed +till the motor-cycle was travelling at nearly forty miles an hour. + +Soon he came to a straight, narrow road lined with gaunt trees--one of +the avenues that are a common feature in the eastern part of Belgium. +Suddenly he gave a gasp of surprise. A horseman had just appeared at +the farthermost end of the avenue. At first the lad took him to be one +of the Belgian lancers, whose similarity to the German Uhlans was +somewhat pronounced, but a rapidly nearing view assured him that the +man was one of the enemy. + +Another Uhlan joined the first. They both lowered their lances and +waited. + +Kenneth slipped out his clutch and applied both brakes. The +motor-cycle came quickly to a stop, the engine running furiously, while +the open "cut-out" emitted a rapid succession of sharp reports like the +detonations of a Maxim-gun. + +There was yet time to turn his cycle, remount, and escape by the way he +had come, he reasoned; but, even as he was in the act of facing about, +he made the additionally disconcerting discovery that his retreat was +cut off. Five or six Uhlans had evidently been in ambush, and, having +allowed the solitary dispatch-rider to pass them, were waiting to +assist in his capture. The ditch and the trees formed an impassable +barrier for the heavy motor-cycle; while without it flight was almost +out of the question, when it was the case of a man on foot pursued by +the fleet Uhlan horses. + +For one brief instant the thought of surrendering tamely flashed +through the lad's mind. He bore no written dispatch; his capture would +result in no important information being gained by the enemy. It +seemed the easiest solution to the problem. + +"I'm dashed if I do," ejaculated Kenneth, banishing the temptation +almost as soon as it suggested itself. "Here goes; it's neck or +nothing." + +He was back in the saddle in double-quick time. With the clutch in and +the engine barking furiously he tore towards the two Uhlans, who were +sitting on their horses at a distance of about fifty yards from each +other. + +Kenneth drew his revolver. With his right hand thus occupied, throttle +and air lever had to take care of themselves. At thirty miles an hour +he tore towards the nearmost of his antagonists. + +The Uhlan lowered his lance-point. He was trembling to such an extent +that the glittering point was describing erratic curves in the +sunlight. His resolution had vanished at the sight of the +rapidly-approaching motor-cycle. His horse began to rear, alarmed by +the loud and rapid pulsations of the engine. + +Kenneth's hopes rose. He saw the possibility of being able to slip +past the plunging, terrified animal, and in order to improve his +chances he let fly a couple of shots, both of which missed their mark. + +No longer was the long lance a menace. The Uhlan's whole efforts were +centred in trying to keep his seat, while the now maddened animal +snorted and plunged in a most frantic manner. + +Still grasping his revolver, although he made no further attempt to use +it, the young dispatch-rider placed his wrist upon the right +handle-grip in order to steady the steering. He shut his jaw tightly. +The critical moment was nigh. + +Suddenly the horse backed, barring the narrow path to safety. Kenneth +saw in the fraction of a second that a collision was inevitable. He +had a momentary glimpse of the Uhlan's panic-stricken face, his staring +eyes and wide-open mouth--then crash! + +[Illustration: KENNETH HAD A MOMENTARY GLIMPSE OF THE UHLAN'S +PANIC-STRICKEN FACE ... THEN CRASH!] + +Hardly knowing whether he was injured or not, Kenneth scrambled to his +feet. His motor-cycle was on its side within a yard of the prostrate +and still kicking horse. His revolver had vanished. In his fall it +had flown from his grasp into the ditch. The Uhlan lay upon the ground +motionless--whether killed or merely stunned the lad knew not; nor had +he an opportunity to ascertain, for in front of him was another German, +and four hundred yards behind him the five or six who had cut off his +retreat. + +The man in front had succeeded in regaining control over his less +startled horse and, lance in rest, bore down upon the defenceless +motor-cyclist. + +Hardly knowing how he did it, Kenneth cleared the ditch and sought a +temporary refuge behind a tree. He realized that the respite would be +but a brief one, for on the approach of the rest of the patrol his +"number would be up". Infuriated by the mishap to their comrade, the +savage Uhlans, whose chief mission it was to strike terror into the +inhabitants of a conquered district, would not be likely to give +quarter. + +Suddenly Kenneth's hand came in contact with the soda-water bottle that +Rollo had pressed upon him. He drew it from his pocket, and as the +Uhlan rode up to the edge of the ditch he dashed it to the ground at +the feet of the restless horse. + +The result exceeded the lad's wildest expectations, for the bottle +broke with a report almost equal to that of a small shell. Fragments +of glass flew in all directions. The horse reared, maddened by the +slight wounds caused by the sharp pieces of the broken bottle. Its +rider, quite as terrified, formed but one conclusion, that the +desperate Belgian (as he took Kenneth to be) was armed with bombs. +Spurring his horse he rode for dear life towards his comrades, who, +rendered cautious at the sight of two of their number being worsted, +hesitated to advance. + +Kenneth, too, was on the horns of a dilemma. To all appearances his +cycle was hopelessly damaged, and although the road was clear he stood +little chance of escaping from the rest of the Uhlans. To remain where +he was was equally hazardous. With his revolver in his possession he +would readily have made a brave stand, but the weapon was lying in five +feet of mud and water. + +Suddenly came the tap, tap, tap of a machine-gun. The rest of the +Uhlan patrol broke and fled across the fields, leaving two of their +number writhing on the ground. Another had his horse shot under him, +but, quite callous to their comrades' fate, the three remaining +fugitives never slackened rein, their sole thoughts being for their own +safety. + +Kenneth recrossed the ditch--far less agilely than he had a few moments +before, for his thigh was aching dully. He could see no signs of his +rescuers. The fire had evidently been a long-range one. + +He made his way to his motor-cycle. With considerable effort he raised +it and placed it on its stand. Upon examination he found that the +damage done was not so great as he fully expected. The actual +collision had smashed the lamp and bent the stem of the handle-bars, +but, thanks to the powerful springs, the front forks had stood the +severe strain of the impact. The controls were intact, while the only +other damage was that the left foot-rest was bent. In falling sideways +the weight of the cycle had been thrown upon this exposed part, which +had, to a great extent, saved the machine. + +At the second attempt the motor fired. The hind wheel revolved without +showing any signs of wobbling. The lad gave a whoop of delight; his +precious mount was still serviceable. + +He next directed his attention towards the Uhlan whom, in naval +parlance, he had "rammed". The fellow had been stunned by the fall +from his horse, but was on the point of regaining consciousness. + +"You look a tough customer, my friend," soliloquized the lad as he +looked upon the coarse, brutal features of his vanquished assailant. +"I think you will be quite capable of looking after yourself, without +requiring any attention from me. I'll take your helmet as a souvenir, +though; and, while I am about it, I think I'll stop you from doing +further mischief." + +With this Kenneth removed the Uhlan's sword, lance, and carbine. The +lance, being made of light steel, he broke into three pieces; the other +weapons and the German's ammunition he threw into the ditch to keep +company with his own revolver. + +While thus engaged the motor-cyclist perceived the approach of a body +of men accompanied by dogs. They were the Belgian machine-gun battery +whose fire had effectually routed the Uhlan patrol. + +"They'll be at Omal before me," thought Kenneth. "I suppose it would +be best to stop and explain matters; for if I made off they might take +it into their heads to pot me." + +"So you have settled with one of this scum," exclaimed the Belgian +major in charge of the detachment as he returned Kenneth's salute. "Ma +foi! I am of a mind to shoot him." + +"But he is a prisoner of war," expostulated the lad. + +The Belgian shrugged his shoulders. + +"You have but to go to that burning cottage"--he pointed to a building +about a mile and a half away--"to see what these wretches have been +doing. A whole family of inoffensive peasants shot--men, women, and +children. Yes, children," he added, noting the incredulous look on the +British lad's face. + +"However, we Belgians must set an example to those savages," continued +the officer. "We will at least take him with us, and put him on a fair +trial. But you are unarmed: how did you vanquish this fellow?" + +Kenneth told him. The Belgian major and those of his men who were +within ear-shot simply roared with laughter. + +"Charged his horse with your motor-cycle, and frightened away another +Uhlan with a soda-water bottle!" exclaimed the officer when he +recovered himself. "Excellent! It shows that these Germans are not a +quarter as formidable as they would have us believe. Were you hurt?" + +"Only bruised a little, sir. But, with your permission, I will go, or +your men will be with my regiment before I am." + +The lad ran his cycle and vaulted into the saddle. The motor ran as +well as before, and, beyond a slight difficulty in the steering, it was +none the worse for its rough handling. The damage to the lamp mattered +but little, as, by night, riding lights were forbidden, since they +might betray the rider to the enemy. + +Having reported the success of his mission and the approach of the +dog-drawn machine-gun detachment, Kenneth went to find his chum. + +Rollo was sitting, in company with others of the dispatch-rider +section, in a shelter made of branches of trees and rough thatch. + +"Hullo, old man!" he exclaimed. "What have you there--a Uhlan helmet? +And what's the matter with your bike?" + +Kenneth explained, and afterwards had to repeat his story in French for +the benefit of the others. + +"I will help you to straighten the handle-bars," volunteered one of the +Belgian cyclists, who was a motor-repairer by trade. "Meanwhile, if +you are desirous of sending that helmet to your friends in England, you +will do well to pack it up at once. There is a dispatch leaving for +Brussels within half an hour." + +"I wonder what the governor will say to this," observed Kenneth as he +directed the bulky package. "My first trophy! Goodness only knows +when we shall hear from home." + +The lads had already written to their respective parents informing them +of the drastic step they had taken, but, owing to the dislocation of +the postal service, no reply had been forthcoming, and they had hardly +expected one. + +It took two hours' hard work in the blazing sunshine for Kenneth and +his Belgian friend to set the motorcycle to rights. + +"If I hadn't been so inconsiderate as to throw that bottle of +soda-water away we might have had a decent drink," observed Kenneth as +he fanned his perspiring brow. + +"Never mind," rejoined Rollo. "You might have drunk it as soon as I +gave you the bottle; in which case I don't suppose you would have felt +the benefit of it now." + +"I don't suppose I would," agreed Kenneth grimly. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +The Raid on Tongres + +During the next few days events moved rapidly, the Belgians having to +retire before vastly superior forces in point of numbers. + +It so happened that on the Sunday, the 9th of August, Kenneth and Rollo +were sent to Tongres with a message to the burgomaster, giving him +instructions as to the removal of the town treasury to a place of +greater safety. + +The place had little appearance of being in the war area when the two +lads rode into it. The Belgian troops had evacuated it on the previous +day, and since there were no signs of the invaders, the remaining +inhabitants were almost at their ease. Many of them, dressed in their +best, were on their way to church. + +Alighting outside the town hall, the two dispatch-riders enquired for +the chief magistrate, only to be informed that he was in another part +of the town on official business, but was expected back within an hour. + +"Is there no way of sending for him?" asked Rollo of the member of the +Civil Guard who had answered their summons. + +The man shook his head doubtfully. + +"It is just possible," he replied. "I will see my sergeant, and he +will doubtless give the necessary orders. Meanwhile messieurs might +like to rest at the inn? Immediately upon the burgomaster's return I +will see that you are informed." + +"Not a bad idea that," was Kenneth's comment. "We'll put up the bikes +and order a decent meal. Roughing it on active service is all very +fine, but there are times when one likes to have a slightly more +civilized table than that of mother earth. I wonder if we could get a +bath?" + +Everest's hopes were not to be realized, for, with many apologies, the +landlord informed the British lads that he had nothing in the way of +_dejeuner_. Bacon and eggs? No; he was without either. He might see +if his friend, Monsieur Jambonne, could oblige; but, in the meanwhile, +would messieurs care to sit in the _salle a manger_? _Cafe au lait_? +Yes; that would be ready in a few minutes. + +Selecting two comfortable chairs in front of the wide-open window, the +chums awaited the return of the burgomaster. There was plenty to be +seen, for the townsfolk were still streaming along the broad +thoroughfare, discoursing mainly upon the all-absorbing topic of the +war. + +All at once the people stopped. Some of them turned and fled; others +backed against the walls of the houses, or else took refuge in the +hastily-opened doors. + +"What's up now, I wonder?" asked Rollo, leaning out of the window only +to retire hastily. + +Trotting along the road was a squadron of German cavalry. The enemy +had made a totally unexpected raid upon the town of Tongres. + +"It won't do for us to be seen," exclaimed Kenneth, "especially in +uniform. And those fellows are particularly certain to make a bee-line +for the various inns as soon as they break ranks. Let's clear out." + +Just then up ran the landlord, who had taken the precaution of closing +and barring his doors, an example which many of his neighbours hastened +to follow. + +"Do not remain here, messieurs, I implore you," he began in rapid +sentences punctuated with excited gestures. "If the Bosches find men +in uniform in my house they will be furious with me." + +"All right," said Kenneth reassuringly. "If we can get our cycles out +by the back way we'll clear off and give the alarm. Two regiments +ought to be sufficient to trap these fellows." + +"It is impossible to escape, messieurs. The Germans are holding all +the approaches to the town." + +"Then what do you suggest?" asked Rollo calmly. + +"The roof, monsieur; thence you can make your way along by the parapets +of many houses, till you reach the roof of the _chapelle_. There you +ought to be safe, unless these rascals take it into their heads to burn +the town." + +"Very well; show us the way," agreed Rollo. "Only see if you can +manage to hide our motor-cycles." + +Having shown the lads the exit on to the roof, their host left them to +their own devices. It was a comparatively easy matter to creep along +the gutters, for they were hidden from observation by the parapets of +the various adjacent buildings. The only difficult part of the journey +was crossing the gap between the end house and the roof of the +_chapelle_--a distance of about five feet in width. Sixty feet below +there was a narrow alley, through which several terrified townsfolk +were hurrying, all too intent to gaze skywards as the lads made their +daring leap. + +"Now we're safe for the present," exclaimed Kenneth. "We can even look +over the parapet and see what's going on." + +"Right-o! only take your cap off. It might attract attention," +cautioned Rollo. "If we keep close to this pinnacle it ought to be as +safe as anything, unless some fool of a civilian starts taking +pot-shots at those fellows." + +From their lofty refuge the lads were enabled to observe the methods +adopted by the Germans in "holding-up" the town. With the cavalry were +four armoured motor-cars in which were mounted quick-firing guns. +These were stationed in the square so as to command the principal +approaches. Meanwhile most of the horsemen had dismounted, and had set +off on various prearranged missions. Some proceeded to the +post-office, where they destroyed the telephone and telegraph +instruments and, as was afterwards ascertained, seized the sum of +10,000 francs from the safe. Others tore up the railway lines at the +junction, thus interrupting communications with both Hasselt and St. +Trond. This work of destruction they took care to achieve without the +use of explosives, in order to avoid giving the alarm to the nearest +Belgian troops. + +Presently the lads saw a dignified man, whom they rightly concluded was +the burgomaster, being led to the town hall. Outside the building +floated the Belgian tricolour, and this his captors ordered him to haul +down. He refused; they threatened, but their threats failed to move +the stanch patriot. In the end, one of the Germans had to perform the +task; but the invaders made a counter-stroke by compelling the +burgomaster to hand over the keys of the town treasury. + +This done, the Germans ordered a meal to be provided, and this they +paid for out of the money they had taken from the authorities. Then, +having loaded their booty on a couple of commandeered wagons, they +prepared to evacuate the town. + +"Well, up to the present those fellows haven't done anything that any +combatant force wouldn't do," declared Rollo. "I suppose it is because +the townsfolk kept their heads and didn't start firing at them from the +houses." + +"Yes; but they're off. See, their vedettes are returning. I say, the +coast is clear; let's make a dash for it." + +"Easier said than done, old man," objected Rollo. "Jumping across a +five-foot gap is fairly easy when the landing-place is lower than the +kick-off spot. Returning is quite another matter." + +"There must be some way down from these leads," persisted Kenneth. +"Let's have a look round." + +Investigation showed that there was a means of communication between +the roof and the interior of the _chapelle_ by a small door in one of +the angle-turrets. The disconcerting part of the discovery lay in the +fact that the door was heavily bolted on the inside. + +"Why not try climbing down by means of the lightning-conductor?" +suggested Kenneth. "It's bound to be fairly strong, and we have our +motor-gloves to protect our hands." + +"Thanks, I'd rather try the jump," declared his companion. "But I'd +much rather try an easier method." + +"I'll tackle it, and then I can get into this building, ascend the +turret, and let you out." + +"No you don't," objected Rollo firmly. "If we cannot find a better +way, here we stop till the Germans are gone, and then we can shout for +assistance." + +But the restless Kenneth was far from remaining inactive. He continued +his investigations on the sides of the edifice away from the view of +the invaders. + +"I have it!" he exclaimed. "See that spout? It runs close to that +open window, you'll notice. If you can give me a hand I can lower +myself sufficiently to clear the bulging top of the spout, and the rest +will be easy." + +The scheme looked feasible, and Rollo made no further objection. It +was risky, of course, but with ordinary caution Kenneth could reach the +window after he had descended about ten feet of piping--which was +infinitely better than climbing down sixty feet or so of copper tape. + +Having secured a firm hold upon the spouting, Kenneth began to descend +hand-over-hand fashion, although he took care to let his weight act as +perpendicularly as possible, lest any outward thrust with his feet +might wrench the securing nails of the pipe from the cement. + +Without mishap he descended until he was almost on a level with the +open window, the iron casement frame of which swung outward. Then, to +his consternation, Kenneth found that he had miscalculated the +distance, and that the upper edge of the casement was six inches beyond +his reach. At the same moment he became aware of the effect of his +collision with the Uhlan. His limbs began to feel stiff and cramped. + +Frantically he began to clamber back to the parapet, but the effort was +too great. With a sickening shudder he felt the pipe working loose +from the wall. For the first time in his attempt he gave a downward +glance that wellnigh proved fatal. The pavement, fifty feet below, +exercised a horrible fascination. + +"What's wrong?" enquired Rollo anxiously, for he could see by his +chum's ashen-grey face that something was amiss. + +"Can't reach the window," gasped Kenneth. "I believe I've strained a +muscle, too. I must have a shot at climbing all the way down." + +"Hold hard a moment," exclaimed Rollo. "I'll half-close the window and +you might reach it." + +"Be quick, then," gasped his unfortunate comrade. "I can't hold on +much longer." + +At that moment he failed to see how Rollo could reach the casement, +although his chum's confident assertion cheered him. He knew by +experience that Rollo rarely suggested a plan without being able to +carry it through. + +Already Rollo was at work. Producing a length of stout string from his +pocket, he removed his boot. + +To this he attached the string, which was about four yards in length. +Leaning over the parapet he lowered his boot until it dangled an inch +or so before the iron rod that held the window open. A rapid upward +jerk and the casement was free to swing; a little skilful manoeuvring +and the weighted string drew the hitherto unattainable window frame +within Kenneth's reach. + +Perhaps the climber was over-anxious, and in consequence neglected to +observe the precautions he had hitherto taken, but as he swung off from +the pipe he gave a heavy jerk. With a loud crash about ten feet of the +spouting fell into the narrow lane. + +Fortunately the casement held, and white and well-nigh breathless, +Kenneth slipped through the open window just as three or four Germans, +alarmed by the clatter, rushed up to ascertain the cause of the uproar. + +"Steady!" cautioned Rollo as his chum opened the door of the turret. +"There are some Germans on the prowl. They seem a bit suspicious owing +to that iron-work falling." + +"They didn't spot you?" + +"No, I took good care of that." + +"Then we'll descend. This building is full of people; they think they +are safe, being in a place of worship. Poor creatures! they don't know +the Germans." + +"But the Germans haven't molested them." + +"There is no saying that they won't. Fortunately the people haven't +tried to shoot any of their unwelcome visitors. Come, we'll descend." + +As Kenneth had announced, the _chapelle_ was packed with terrified +townsfolk. Unnoticed, the lads made their way behind the altar, and +gained the vestry. Here a small door communicated with the alley. The +Germans, having discovered what had created the commotion, were +content; they had not troubled to find out the cause but had rejoined +their comrades in the market-place. The last of the pickets were +already back, and the raiders were on the point of retiring. + +Gaining the courtyard of the inn, the lads made sure that the German +cavalrymen had, no doubt reluctantly, ceased to pester the troubled +host with their attentions. + +"Your motor-cycles are safe, messieurs," announced the innkeeper. +"Ciel! Once those Bosches get wedded to the bottle----" and he threw +up his hands and raised his eyebrows with a gesture of utter dismay. + +Refusing any payment for his services, and charging only for the +coffee, the landlord escorted the two British dispatch-riders to yet +another door, opening into a deserted street. + +"Take the third turning to the right, messieurs," he directed; "it will +bring you on the high road. Yet I accept no responsibility; so take +care. The Uhlans--le diable les importe!--may be prowling about." + +Having walked their cycles till they felt fairly certain that the noise +of the engines would not reach the ears of the German raiders, the +dispatch-riders set off at a furious pace towards the position occupied +by their regiment. + +Suddenly Kenneth raised his hand, at the same time stopping his motor. +Rollo likewise dismounted. + +"Uhlans!" whispered Kenneth. + +A mile or so ahead were hundreds of cavalry, the men standing easy, +while the horses were picketed in lines. Apparently the enemy had +thrown a strong wedge far into the position held a few hours previously +by Belgian troops. + +"If those fellows are acting as supports to the crowd that entered +Tongres, we are nicely trapped, by Jove!" remarked Kenneth. "The best +thing we can do is to risk cutting across the fields, although, +frankly, I don't relish the idea of making towards that wooded +district. It is too jolly favourable for an ambush." + +"Half a minute," rejoined Rollo, unstrapping the case of his +binoculars. "Let's make sure. Kenneth, old man, it's all right. +These chaps are Belgian lancers." + +In his excitement Kenneth almost snatched the glasses from his chum. + +"You're right!" he exclaimed joyously, after a hasty view. "Let's push +on and tell them the position of affairs. They might be able to get a +little of their own back." + +Three minutes later the two dispatch-riders were making a brief yet +concise report to the Colonel commanding the Belgian cavalry. As soon +as they had finished, a bugle call, equivalent to the British "boot and +saddle", rang out, and the lancers were soon cantering along the +highway, followed by a mounted machine-gun section. + +"We may as well see the fun, considering what we've done in the +matter," said Kenneth, to which proposal Rollo raised no objections. +Following at a discreet distance, they waited until the lancers halted; +then, leaving their cycles by the side of a haystack, they overtook the +Belgian troops. + +Thanks to his intimate knowledge of the locality, the Colonel made his +dispositions skilfully. At this spot the road from Tongres to Liege +entered a shallow defile through which the returning Germans were +practically certain to pass. At a distance of two hundred yards on +either side of the road were clumps of trees and patches of thick +undergrowth, affording admirable cover for a considerable number of +troops. + +The machine-gun detachment was split up, an equal number of +mitrailleuses, screened with torn-up undergrowth, being placed on the +rising ground on each side of the road, their line of fire sweeping the +approach to the defile. With the guns were posted strong bodies of +dismounted lancers, armed with carbines. In a steep dip in the road, +the hollow of which was invisible beyond a distance of a hundred yards, +shallow trenches, sufficient to wreck the armoured motor-cars, were +dug, the excavated earth being carefully removed so as not to betray +the presence of these obstructions. + +The bulk of the lancers, posted out of sight, were ready at the word of +command to swoop down upon the rear of the German column and complete +the work of destruction that the quick-firers and the rifles might +leave undone. + +Hardly were these preparations made when the Belgian vedettes reported +the approach of the raiders from Tongres, and that the column was +preceded by four men forming an advance-guard. + +The Belgian Colonel gave vent to an exclamation of annoyance. He had +reckoned upon the Germans making use of their armoured motor-cars for +that purpose. Bagging these would be a material loss to the enemy, +whereas the capture of a few scouts would be of very little value, and +the main body would be warned. + +He immediately detached a dozen dismounted men, ordering them to lie in +ambush close to the road, and if possible to capture the scouts without +having recourse to the use of fire-arms. The men quickly took up their +positions in a ditch lined with tall grass, and so closely did they lie +concealed that they were invisible even to their comrades on the rising +ground behind them. + +Presently the German advance-guard entered the defile. They had dined +not wisely but too well, and, jubilant over the result of their +successful raid, were sadly lax in the exercise of their military +duties. Two of them had removed their helmets, which were dangling +from their saddles. All of them, almost overcome with wine and the +heat of the day, were drowsy. + +Suddenly the Belgian ambush sprang to their feet. The startled Germans +were confronted by a row of rifles, levelled from a distance that would +make a miss almost an impossibility. + +The lances fell from the nerveless hands of the astounded Teutons, and +with machine-like precision they raised their hands above their heads. +In quick time they were disarmed, secured, and led away to the rear of +the Belgian machine-guns. + +Barely was this done when two more troopers--the link between the +advance-guard and the main body--rode up, only to be captured and +secured as their predecessors had been. + +But, however lax the military discipline of the scouts, the commander +of the German troops was not to be caught napping so easily. Having +failed to receive a signal from the advance-guard that all was well, he +halted his men. + +The Belgian Colonel shrugged his shoulders. His keen insight told him +that the enemy was suspicious; yet, knowing that the German officers +were equipped with powerful field-glasses, he dared not order two of +his men to give the supposed signal to advance. + +"At what range is the head of yonder column?" he asked, addressing the +captain in charge of the mitrailleuse section. + +"Five hundred and fifty metres, Monsieur le Major." + +Thinking it better to open fire upon the Germans, who were as yet in +close formation, rather than wait for them to extend and take cover, +the Belgian commander was about to give the necessary order when the +four armoured motor-cars were observed to dash forward. + +They advanced in pairs, ten yards separating the first two, with an +interval of about a hundred yards between the second and third. The +third and last were the same distance apart as were the first and +second. + +To give the Belgians their due, although they had good cause to think +that their position had been divulged, they maintained perfect +discipline and kept admirable cover. + +Into the silent defile tore the first pair of cars, the gunners +training their quick-firers in readiness to greet a possible but as yet +unseen foe. Down into the hollow plunged the first car. Its front +wheels dropped into the pitfall, and the next instant it toppled +completely over. The second car tried in vain to pull up. The driver +tugged at the steering-wheel; the heavy vehicle swerved, crashed into +the wreckage of the first, and instantly burst into flame. + +The remaining cars, their occupants alarmed by the crash, halted. The +road was too narrow to turn; to back at any rate of speed was +impossible. + +The valley now echoed and re-echoed to the rattle of the mitrailleuses +and the sharp crackle of musketry. The armoured cars were swept by a +hail of bullets that killed or wounded every member of their crew, +while the German horsemen were greeted with a devastating fire that +threw them into disorder. Some attempted to advance against the unseen +foe, others threw themselves from their horses and, taking cover, +replied with a feeble and futile rifle-fire. The majority turned and +fled in spite of the threats and efforts of the officers. + +Taking advantage of the confusion of their foes, the Belgian mounted +lancers were ordered to charge. In grand style they cleared the +intervening ground, and, although several saddles were emptied, rode +dashingly through the broken ranks of the invaders. In ten minutes +they were in possession of the field, with the bulk of the money +captured at Tongres. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Captain Planchenoit when, an hour later, the two +British dispatch-riders reported themselves. "What is the adventure +this time? Have you delivered the message to the Burgomaster of +Tongres?" + +"No, sir," replied Kenneth. "We had no chance to do so. The Germans +have raided the town." + +"Peste!" exclaimed the Captain. "Have they burned the place? Did they +seize the treasury?" + +"They did little damage, sir. They took the money with them, but our +lancers ambushed them and recovered it." + +"Just like our intrepid cavalry," remarked the Captain complacently. +"Well, you may go, messieurs. I do not think you will be required any +more at present." + +But before the day was done both lads were required. An account of +their part in the successful counter-operations had been sent to the +Colonel of the 9th Regiment of the Line by the officer commanding the +Belgian lancers, and in front of their comrades Kenneth Everest and +Rollo Barrington were promoted to the rank of corporal. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +The Mail Escort + +During the next few days the Belgian field army had no respite. Landen +was occupied by the Germans on the 10th of August, and strong cavalry +screens of the enemy advanced along the Dutch border to within a few +miles of the capital. Other large bodies of cavalry threatened the +Belgian right wing, and in consequence a retirement of the small yet +determined army was necessary. + +Two days later the Belgians gained a brilliant success at Haelen, where +the Germans, incautiously attempting to force a passage of the River +Gethe, were driven back in disorder and with great loss. + +Of this action Kenneth Everest and his companion saw nothing, having +been sent on duty to the Belgian capital. + +In Brussels the lads remained two days, having to await a reply to the +dispatch they had brought. During their brief periods of leisure they +hastened to call at the house of Major Resimont in the Rue de la +Tribune, but the place was in charge of servants. No news was to be +obtained of Mademoiselle Yvonne Resimont or of Kenneth's sister. +Beyond the unauthenticated report that the two girls had left the +school at Vise a few hours before the commencement of the German +bombardment, all traces of them were lost. + +"Perhaps," suggested Rollo, "your sister went back to England and took +Yvonne with her. They say that numbers of refugees have passed through +Rotterdam on their way across the North Sea." + +"Possibly," agreed Kenneth. "In which case we are completely in the +dark until we are lucky enough to get letters from home." + +The inhabitants of Brussels were strangely calm. The fact that the +German invaders had gained a firm footing in their country did not +drive them into a panic. Possibly events of past history had taught +them to regard the overrunning of Belgium as a foregone conclusion when +the neighbouring Great Powers were at war. Above all, they continued +steadfastly to rely upon the prompt arrival of the British +Expeditionary Force, which, in conjunction with their own army and that +of the French nation, would quickly send the barbarous Teutons fleeing +for their lives across the Rhine. + +"Hark!" exclaimed Rollo. "The papers are out. Something important has +happened." + +The chums had retired early to bed in their modest lodgings of the Rue +Pontus, as they had been warned for duty at five on the following +morning. Their stock of money, although augmented by their scanty army +pay, was visibly dwindling; but after more than a week in bivouacs they +were grateful to sleep under a roof, undisturbed by the +nerve-shattering roar of hostile guns. + +"It can wait till to-morrow," said Kenneth with a prodigious yawn. "I +feel too jolly tired----" + +The next moment he was out of bed and making for the window, for above +the cheering on the Grands Boulevards came the oft-repeated cries of: +"The English Army in Belgium". + +Hastily scrambling into their clothes, the two excited lads made their +way into the street and through the swarm of wildly exuberant citizens. +After a struggle they succeeded, at the cost of a franc, in obtaining a +copy of one of the local papers, and bore it back to their room in +triumph. + +In huge letters were the words: "LES ANGLAIS SUR LE CONTINENT", the +report being taken from the French paper, _Le Journal_, dated Thursday, +the 13th August:-- + +"By our Special Correspondent.--For several days the valiant British +troops, who are to co-operate with our soldiers to repel the German +aggression in Belgium, have been crossing the Straits. Kept back at +first by the risks of a naval combat which the English fleet was +waiting to offer, in the North Sea, to the principal units of the enemy +marine, the disembarkation has now taken place in perfect order and +with surprising regularity. Up to the present the contingents sent +forward in the direction of Namur are considerable. + +"Under the favour of darkness and in great mystery the transports were +organized. During Saturday night, by small detachments all along the +Belgian coast from Ostend to Zeebrugge, the steamers chartered by the +British Admiralty disembarked at first a small army, which moved before +dawn to the position allotted to it. Farther south, that same night, +semaphores signalled the arrival of mysterious ships, which, after a +brief stay, returned towards English shores. On the following day, +too, at the same hour, similar operations and disembarkations took +place with such rapidity and such silence that the inhabitants saw +nothing." + +"Sounds promising," remarked Rollo thoughtfully. "But this is Friday. +Do you think it likely that our troops have been on Belgian soil for +nearly a week and this is the first we've heard of it?" + +"The Press Censor perhaps----" + +"Cannot gag the mouths of a million, old chap. However, I hope it's +true. Of course I know an army cannot be expected to land and proceed +straight to the front, but if they are to do anything they'll have to +jolly well hurry up." + +"Don't put a damper on the good news, old man." + +"All right, I won't, Kenneth; but, until I see a khaki regiment on +Belgian soil, I'm hanged if I will believe. Take me for a doubting +Thomas if you will. Anyway, I'm going to turn in again; we've to be up +early, you know." + +In spite of the deafening clamour without, the chums slept soundly +until the concierge knocked loudly at the door to announce that it was +a quarter to five, and that the breakfast of messieurs les Anglais was +ready to be served as ordered. + +Upon arriving at the place indicated in their order, the two +dispatch-riders found that they were to be temporarily attached to the +mail escort. Letters and parcels for the troops in the field had +accumulated during the last three days to enormous proportions. Five +large motor-cars had been requisitioned to take this mass of +correspondence from the capital, the convoy being accompanied by a +patrol of lancers, cyclists, and motor-cyclists. + +"Wonder if there's anything for us in that lot?" hazarded Kenneth, as +four large wicker hampers addressed to the 9th Regiment of the Line +were unceremoniously dumped into a car. The correspondence had already +been passed by a Belgian censor, and the baskets had been secured by an +imposing wax seal. + +"Perhaps," replied Rollo. "At all events we'll keep a special eye on +the car. One never knows where to expect the unwelcome attentions of +those ubiquitous Uhlans, and it will never do to let them pry into the +family secrets of our comrades of the 9th." + +Through the flag-bedecked streets of Brussels the mail convoy made its +way. The route, as supplied to the officer in command, was a +circuitous one. Proceeding in an almost southerly direction, past the +villages of Waterloo, Genappe, and Quatre Bras, the mails for Namur and +the left flank of the Belgian field army were to be detached at the +village of Sombreffe. The remainder of the convoy was then to proceed +through Gembloux to Tirlemont, dropping the crates addressed to various +regiments at the nearest points to their ultimate destinations. + +The motor-cars set out at a rapid pace, so much so that by the time +they were clear of the Forest of Soignies, less than ten miles from the +capital, the horses and the cyclists were almost "done up". Either +speed or the force at the disposal of the convoy had to be sacrificed, +and after a hasty consultation with his subordinates, the officer in +charge decided upon the latter alternative. + +Accordingly the lancers were sent back, while a dozen of the cyclists +were ordered to leave their machines at a wayside inn and to ride on +the cars. From information received from various sources, there was +every reason to believe that that part of the country was free from the +attentions of the invaders, and no cause to doubt that the mail would +be delivered in safety and with celerity. Again the convoy was set in +motion, Kenneth and Rollo riding at a distance of about two hundred +yards ahead, for their wish to keep an eye on one particular car had +been abruptly nipped in the bud. + +"We've seen the field of Waterloo at all events," shouted Rollo, in +order to make himself heard above the noise of the motors. "But it's +under different circumstances from those we expected." + +They had had but a distant and momentary glimpse of the famous pyramid +of earth surmounted by the Lion of Belgium. The ground that, less than +a century before, was drenched with the blood of men of half a dozen +nationalities was again being prepared for a similar object on a vaster +scale. Belgian troops and peasants were busily engaged in digging +trenches; for here, according to the expectations of military experts, +was to be fought the decisive battle that was to save Brussels and +Belgium from the Teutonic invasion. + +At Quatre Bras the convoy struck the Namur road. A couple of miles +farther on Kenneth's keen eyes detected a movement towards their left +front. In double-quick time the lads dismounted and held up their +hands, a signal that brought the convoy to a standstill. + +"Cavalry, sir!" said Kenneth, pointing in the direction of a clump of +trees. + +"Our vedettes, without doubt," declared the Belgian officer, leisurely +unstrapping his field-glasses. Before he could get them to bear, +Kenneth was sweeping the country with his powerful binoculars. There +was no mistake: the cavalry were Uhlans. They had already spotted the +convoy, and were advancing at the trot to capture or destroy the +weakly-protected mail escort. + +Just then came a dull rumble at some distance to the rear of the line +of halted cars. The enemy had blown up the railway bridge on the line +between Charleroi and the north, thus cutting off the retreat of the +convoy. + +"Mon capitaine," exclaimed one of the cyclists who had been given a +place in one of the cars; "I know this part of the country well. A +kilometre farther on is a road to the right. It will bring us to +Ligny." + +The officer gave one glance towards the advancing Uhlans, now barely a +mile and a half away. + +"En avant!" he ordered. + +It was touch-and-go which would first reach the junction of the roads. +Only a momentary hesitation on the part of the Uhlans saved the +situation, for, seeing the convoy advance at full speed, they feared an +attack by the already dreaded motor-cars armed with mitrailleuses. + +But as the convoy swung round the sharp corner a hail of bullets came +from the carbines of the German cavalry; then, realizing that their +discretion had got the better of their valour, the Uhlans dashed in +pursuit. + +The Belgians cheered ironically. The idea of horses competing with +motor-cars seemed absurd. The latter covered three yards to the +Uhlans' one, and every moment the animals were becoming more and more +fatigued. + +Suddenly Rollo gave vent to a warning shout. Ahead was the village of +Ligny, but between the convoy and the nearest houses were dense masses +of cavalry. Their capture seemed inevitable. + +Again the motor-cars came to a halt. The Belgian captain saw that he +was in a trap. + +"Turn about!" he ordered. "We must charge these Prussians behind us. +It will be easier to force our way through a hundred than----" + +"Mon capitaine!" shouted an excited voice. + +The Belgian officer turned, almost angrily. + +"We are saved--regardez!" continued the speaker, pointing to the +railway line about three hundred yards to the right of the road. + +Making their way along the hollow by the side of the line were swarms +of men in blue coats, red trousers, and kepis. There was no mistaking +them: they were French troops. The cavalry, too, close to the village +of Ligny were French chasseurs. The long-expected aid had become an +accomplished fact. French armies were on Belgian soil. + +Already the Uhlans had perceived their peril. They turned and rode for +dear life. + +Up came a group of French officers. Gravely they exchanged salutes +with the commander of the convoy. + +"We hope to effect a junction with the Belgian army before nightfall, +monsieur," announced a colonel. "We have been instructed to occupy the +line Ligny-Tirlemont. It is to be hoped that these pigs of Prussians +have not tampered with the railway." + +"Unfortunately they have, sir," replied the Belgian captain. "Already +they have blown up a bridge on the Quatre Bras road." + +The Frenchman rapped out an oath. + +"More work for our engineers," he remarked. "Nevertheless, the +Prussians shall pay. We have them. With the English between Antwerp +and Louvain, and your army between Louvain and Tirlemont, these Germans +are in front of a wall that cannot be climbed. You say that part of +your convoy is destined for Namur? Send them on, monsieur. We hold +both banks of the Sambre. For the rest we cannot, unfortunately, offer +you any guarantees." + +Accordingly the convoy was split up, Kenneth and Rollo going with the +cars containing the mails for the Belgian troops at Tirlemont. + +"The papers were right after all, old man," remarked Kenneth. "Our +troops are in Belgium. Now, admit that your doubts were ill-founded." + +"I suppose so," admitted Rollo; "but all the same I should like to see +a khaki regiment, if only for the sake of ocular demonstration." + +Before four that afternoon the mail for the 9th Regiment of the Line +was safely delivered, and with the utmost dispatch the work of +distribution began. It seemed a fitting reward that Kenneth should +receive half a dozen letters, three of which, bearing different dates, +were from his father. Rollo had to be content with four. + +While the latter, with his usual deliberation, opened his +communications in the order of their postmarks, Kenneth impetuously +tore the envelope of his latest-dated one, and read as follows:-- + + +"DEAR KENNETH, + +"I wrote you at the Poste Restante at Liege, on the off-chance that you +might receive it on the eve of the declaration of war. From the +contents of your letter I have reason to believe that you did not. I +am naturally most anxious concerning Thelma. Up to the time of writing +I have had no tidings whatsoever, although I made enquiries of the +British Consuls at Antwerp, Rotterdam, and The Hague. + +"In my previous letters addressed to you at the Field Post Office of +the 9th Regiment of the Line, I expressed my fullest approval of the +step you have taken. In case you have not received my former letters I +must repeat these sentiments. You are doing your duty to your country +by serving under the Belgian flag as faithfully as if you were under +your own--for ours is a united cause. Perhaps more so, since you are +not yet of an age to accept a commission. Should you be in need of +funds, I have placed the sum of Fifty Pounds to your account in the +Credit Belgique at Brussels. + +"I am also sending you a batch of newspapers ["They have gone adrift," +thought Kenneth] which will be of interest to you. + +"I hear also that ... [Here was a long excision by the Censor.] + +"Once more, good luck. Do your duty manfully and fearlessly. Regards +to young Barrington. I made a point of seeing his father the other +day, and he is with me in my view of the step you two have taken. +Needless to say, my Mediterranean trip is off. There is other work +even for an old buffer such as I am. + +"Your affectionate father, + "THOMAS EVEREST." + + +"The pater's a brick," declared Kenneth, after he had finished wading +through his other correspondence; then, observing that Rollo was still +scanning his budget, he made his way across to the motor-cycles. In +his excitement he had forgotten to turn off the petrol tap of his +mount, and had just remembered the fact. + +On the way back he ran across Major Resimont, whom he had not seen +since the night of the evacuation of Liege. + +The Major greeted him warmly, congratulated him upon gaining his +stripes, and asked him how he had fared. + +"I have, unfortunately, bad news," said the Major sadly. "It would be +well to keep the information to yourself: the Liege forts have fallen, +and General Leman is a prisoner." + +"I thought they could hold out for months," Kenneth blurted out, his +sense of discretion overcome by the suddenness of the news. + +"We all thought so," rejoined Major Resimont quietly. "But those huge +German guns, they cracked the cupolas like nutshells, and killed or +wounded every man in the forts." + +"The French are here, though," announced Kenneth. "We came in touch +with them this morning." + +"I know," said the Belgian. "They have already succeeded in taking +Dinant. We have certain hopes in the French." + +"And the British troops are in Belgium." + +The Major shook his head. + +"See, sir," persisted Kenneth, producing the copy of the paper he had +purchased in Brussels. + +"I have already seen it," said Major Resimont; "it is only a rumour. +It is, moreover, false; there is not a single English regiment in +Belgium. Your country is, I fear, too late to save Brussels from the +invaders." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Separated + +Major Resimont's sentiments were shared by the majority of his +deep-thinking compatriots. The great faith in the prompt action of +Great Britain in sending a strong Expeditionary Force to Belgium had +received a severe set-back. Even yet the promised aid might be +forthcoming--but it would be too late to spare the greater portion of +the country, including the capital, from invasion. + +When the Major stated that the Belgians had "certain hopes" in the +French, he spoke with a justifiable sense of caution. He realized that +the object of throwing French troops into Belgium was not to stay the +threatened occupation of Brussels, but to avoid, if possible, the +disastrous results of the presence of a German army on French soil. In +short, Belgium was once more to be made the battle-ground between +French and German troops, provided the fortresses on the borders of +Alsace-Lorraine were strong enough to hold back the invaders in this +quarter. + +Unfortunately, in spite of the utmost efforts of the War Office, backed +by the whole-hearted support of a united Parliament, Great Britain was +just four days too late in the dispatch of her Expeditionary Force. +Yet the brave Belgians did not repine, nor did they relax for one +instant their opposition to the enormous and relentless masses of +Germans who were now pouring in through the strategic railways between +Aix-la-Chapelle and Liege. + +But the sacrifice of Belgium was not in vain. By the heroic resistance +of General Leman the clockwork regularity of the German time-table had +been thrown hopelessly out of gear. The stubborn defence of Liege had +delayed the Teuton advance to such an extent that France and England +were able to complete their respective mobilizations, and to thwart the +German Emperor's hopes of "rushing" Paris and thus forcing France to +conclude a humiliating and disastrous peace. + +"Corporal Everest!" + +"Sir?" + +"You are to take this dispatch to Major Foveneau, who is holding the +village of Cortenaeken. Your compatriot may accompany you. Exercise +particular care, for there are numerous Uhlan patrols in the +neighbourhood of Diest." + +It was on the second day after the British dispatch-riders' return with +the mail-escort. Captain Planchenoit, who had already fully recognized +the intrepidity and common sense of the two lads, had been instructed +by his Colonel to communicate with the isolated post of Cortenaeken, +and he could decide upon no fitter messengers than Kenneth Everest and +his friend Rollo Barrington. + +"You will observe that the dispatch is at present unsealed," continued +Captain Planchenoit. "You must commit the text to memory. Should you +be in danger of capture, destroy the dispatch at all costs. It is far +too important to risk being hidden, yet Major Foveneau must have, if +humanly possible, written orders." + +"Very good, sir," replied Kenneth, saluting. + +He then went off to find his chum, whom he found cleaning his mount. +Kenneth had given up cleaning his motor-cycle days ago; beyond +satisfying himself that it had plenty of oil and was in good running +order, he troubled nothing about its appearance. Both lads had, +moreover, wrapped the handle-bars in strips of brown linen, while the +remaining bright parts had been covered with dull-grey paint. + +"It's Cortenaeken this time," announced Kenneth. "Goodness knows how +we get to the place, for there doesn't seem to be a vestige of a road +leading to it, according to the map. Here's the dispatch--sounds +important, doesn't it? We have to commit the words to memory, in case +we have to destroy the paper." + +"The best thing we can do is to ride for Tirlemont and make enquiries +there," suggested Rollo, handing the dispatch back to his chum. "As +regards concealing the paper, we must place it somewhere where we can +get at it easily. I have it: we'll stow it in your petrol tank; the +stuff won't injure the paper or interfere with the writing, and if +things came to the worst, you can whip it out and set fire to it." + +Accordingly the dispatch, cleverly rolled, was placed inside the gauze +strainer to the patrol tank, and the metal cap replaced. Five minutes +later the two motor-cyclists were buzzing along the congested road at a +modest twenty miles an hour, dodging between the lumbering transport +wagons and the military vehicles with an agility that surprised +themselves. + +Presently, as they struck towards the rear of the long lines of troops, +the road became less encumbered and speed was materially increased. +Soon the pace reached nearly forty miles an hour, for the highway was +fairly broad, and ran as straight as a Roman road as far as the eye +could reach. + +"Puncture!" shouted Kenneth, as the front wheel of his cycle began to +slither and bump upon the _pave_, the machine running nearly fifty +yards before he brought up and dismounted. + +A hasty examination showed that a rusty iron nail, quite six inches in +length, had penetrated the tread of the tyre, while to make matters +worse its point had worked out close to the rim. The offending piece +of metal, catching against the front forks, had already enlarged the +hole in the tread till it became a slit nearly half an inch in length. + +"Don't wait," he continued, as he unscrewed the cap of the petrol tank +and produced the dispatch. "Take this, and hurry on. I'll patch this +up and follow. If you can, wait for me at Cortenaeken till two +o'clock." + +"Right-o!" assented Rollo. "You can manage all right?" + +"I can't ask you to bear a hand if I don't," replied Kenneth. "I'll +make a job of it somehow. Good luck!" + +Rollo was off. Kenneth stood beside his crippled steed and watched his +friend's receding figure out of sight; then taking out his repair +outfit he began his task. It was a long job. The cover, being +practically a new one, was an obstinate one to remove. It had to be +patched with canvas, while the double puncture in the inner tube took a +considerable time to clean and prepare. + +While he was waiting for the solution to get "tacky", a peculiar +buzzing sound greeted his ears. + +"Aeroplanes!" he muttered. "Whose, I wonder?" + +He looked upwards. The sun shining in a cloudless sky dazzled his +vision. He put on his tinted goggles, which during the repair +operations he had removed. Then he saw, perhaps three thousand feet +above him, a large Zeppelin moving in a westerly direction. He watched +it with a sort of contemptuous interest. + +"The vaunted German terror of the air--perhaps!" he soliloquized. "I +wouldn't give much for its chances if even half a dozen aeroplanes +tackled it. Ah! Thinking better of it?" + +This last remark was uttered as the gigantic airship began to turn, +pitching as it did so like a lively ship in a sea-way. + +Bringing his binoculars to bear upon the Zeppelin, Kenneth watched its +undignified progress. Apparently it had encountered a strong +air-current that tended to drive it in a westerly direction. By the +aid of the glasses Kenneth could see that the immense fabric showed, in +spite of its supposed rigidity, a decided tendency to "whip" as it +swung broadside on to the direction of the wind. Then, steadying +itself on a course in exactly the opposite direction to that which it +had previously been following, the Zeppelin forged ahead, still +see-sawing ominously. + +Suddenly the bow portion dipped, then with ever-increasing velocity the +huge airship plunged earthwards. Its propeller ceased to revolve; from +the cars, ballast--not loose sand, but solid material--was thrown out +in the hope of checking the now terrific descent. Then it disappeared +from the motor-cyclist's view, beyond a slight ridge of hills about +five miles off. + +"That's done for it, thank goodness!" ejaculated Kenneth, as he +replaced his binoculars and reapplied himself to the repairs to the +tyre; "if it were not for this rotten puncture I'd slip over and have a +look at the remains. I hope the thing's fallen within the Belgian +lines. It will cheer the plucky beggars up a bit." + +It took him quite another half-hour to patch the torn canvas and coax +the stubborn cover back into its rim. Then, with a feeling of +gratification that he had overcome difficulties, he began to inflate +the tyre. + +"Almost hard enough," he said to himself, ceasing his efforts to prod +the rubber with his thumb. "I'll give it another dozen strokes just to +show there's no ill-feeling." + +Bang! With a report like the discharge of a small field-piece the tyre +collapsed. A portion of the inner tube had been nipped, with the +result that a gash four inches in length was demanding attention. + +"Confound it!" exclaimed Kenneth angrily. + +With the perspiration pouring off him, he again tackled the obstinate +cover with savage energy. This time the repair was a complicated one. +Three times the patch failed to hold, but finally, at the end of an +hour and a half's hard work, the tedious task was accomplished. + +At Tirlemont Kenneth made enquiries, and was given such minute +directions that before he had gone another five miles he was hopelessly +befogged. The roads were little better than narrow lanes; there were +no direction posts, and he had long forgotten whether he had to take +the first turning to the left and the third to the right, or the third +to the left and the first to the right. There were several isolated +cottages, but their inhabitants had fled. The whole district seemed +depopulated, for the great exodus to Brussels had begun. There was +plenty of evidence of the hurried flight of the civil population. +Articles of domestic use, found to be too heavy to carry far, had been +jettisoned by the roadside. Here and there was an abandoned cart, +still laden with the household goods of some unfortunate Belgian family. + +At length Kenneth found that the lane he was following came upon a +small stream. Here a bridge had recently been destroyed. Further +progress in that direction was impossible, unless he decided to abandon +his cycle and swim across the fifteen feet of water to the opposite +bank. Following the stream was a rough path, badly cut up by the +tracks of cattle. It was the only possible way unless he retraced his +route. + +Producing his military map Kenneth attempted to fix his position. He +could only come to the conclusion that the stream was the River Velp, +on which the hamlet of Cortenaeken stands. He was, he decided, about +ten miles from the village, which ought to be reached by following the +path he had struck. + +It was bad going. The deep ruts made riding a nerve-racking ordeal. +Here and there the path had slipped bodily into the reed-grown mud that +fringed the stream. Dismounts were frequent; speed was out of the +question. + +After a mile or so of this unsatisfactory mode of progression the path +ended abruptly, but here the stream was crossed by a narrow plank +bridge. On the opposite side, at about two hundred yards from the +bank, was a cottage, and--thanks be!--from the chimney a wreath of +faint blue smoke was rising. + +Kenneth dismounted, set his motor-cycle on its stand, and proceeded to +examine the apparently frail bridge. It sagged considerably under his +weight; what would it do with the additional weight of his mount? In +addition there was the transport problem. He could not carry the heavy +cycle; the plank was too narrow for him to attempt to ride across. Yet +he did not feel at all inclined to go back along that rutty path. + +"I'll give a few toots on the horn," he declared. "Perhaps the people +in the house will come out and bear a hand. Hullo! There's a punt +over there in the rushes. With assistance I could get my bike across +in that." + +The raucous blasts on the horn disturbed the quietude of the sylvan +scene, but without the desired result. He tried again, still without +success. + +"Perhaps these people have also cleared out in a hurry and left a fire +burning," he soliloquized. "Otherwise they must have heard the +explosions of the engine as I rode up. Well, here goes!" + +Crossing the stream he took his way to the spot where the punt was made +fast. Here, again, his hopes were dashed to the ground, for not only +was the flat-bottomed craft chained and padlocked to a massive post, +but it had a gaping hole at one end and was half-full of water. + +"It's only waste of time tramping across to that cottage," he said to +himself. "I'll have a shot at getting the bike across first, and make +enquiries later." + +With that he retraced his steps to where his cycle was standing on the +wrong side of the tantalizing stream. Throwing out the clutch and +standing astride the saddle, Kenneth walked his motor-cycle towards the +plank bridge; then shuffling very cautiously, he began the hazardous +crossing. + +At every step the soles of his boots were almost at the very edge of +the worn plank. As he approached the centre it creaked ominously, +while, to add to his difficulties, the motion of the water as it flowed +underneath tended to make him giddy. He dared not look up unless he +stopped, and that he was loath to do. One false step would send +himself and his motor-cycle into six or seven feet of mud and water. + +At length, safe and sound, Kenneth found himself on the farther bank. +Here a road, very little better than the one he had recently traversed, +led away from the house, the only visible approach to which was by +means of a stone stile and a footpath. + +Again leaving his cycle, the lad leapt over the low wall and hastened +towards the building. + +The door was wide open. Across the threshold lay the body of an old +man, with a ghastly wound in his head. Kenneth recoiled in horror; +then, thinking perhaps that the unfortunate farmer--for such he +was--might still be living, he again approached. + +Even in the attempt to move the man, he heard the sound of a heavy +snore, while, as if in answer to the noise, a horse began to neigh. + +"Germans!" ejaculated Kenneth. Once more he began to back, when, +recollecting that even the sound of his motor had not disturbed the +brutal slumberer, he drew his revolver and stepped across the threshold. + +Coming in from the brilliant sunshine the place seemed almost +pitch-dark, but in a few seconds the dispatch-rider's eyes grew +accustomed to the gloom. He found himself in what was at one time the +living-room of the farm. There was no hall or passage; the outer door +opened straight into it. + +The whole place was in a state of almost indescribable confusion. The +table had been overthrown, the chairs smashed--and smashed +deliberately, for no ordinary struggle would have resulted in such +complete demolition of the furniture. On the walls were a few cheap, +highly-coloured prints, slashed by a keen instrument, while the glass +was shattered to fragments. On the floor were the remains of broken +bottles and crockery. The cupboards had been ransacked, and their +contents hurled all over the room. Even the hearthstone had been +forced up; the despoilers had evidently thought that the thrifty farmer +had hidden a store of money beneath it. + +The rest of the rooms on the ground floor were in a similar state of +confusion. Kenneth set his jaw tightly. He no longer had any +inclination to beat a retreat. The sight of the foully-murdered +Belgian and his devastated home filled him with rage. + +Holding his revolver ready for instant action, the lad began to ascend +the stairs. They creaked horribly under his weight, but still the +sounds of drunken slumber continued. + +At the head of the stairs four rooms opened on to a fairly spacious +landing. Three of these were unoccupied by any living creature. In +one was a huddled-up form. + +"Brutes!" muttered the British lad. "No quarter!" + +He pushed open the door of the remaining bedroom, whence the porcine +grunts proceeded. Here were four men in the uniform of the dreaded +Uhlans. Three, fully dressed and wearing their heavy boots, were +sprawling in drunken slumber on the bed. They were nursing +partly-consumed wine bottles, while the bed-clothes and floor were +stained with the spilt liquid. + +The fourth Uhlan was sitting in a chair, with his head resting on his +chest. Across his forehead and over both ears was a blood-stained +bandage. The wound had but recently been inflicted, so the Belgian +farmer had apparently made a brave but unavailing stand in defence of +his home. On the floor by the Uhlan's side lay his sword; his carbine +was propped up against the arm of the chair. + +"The brutes!" ejaculated Kenneth again. "Hang it, I can't shoot these +fellows while they are asleep!" + +Just at that moment the wounded Uhlan opened his eyes and raised his +head. His brain had not been dulled by drink, for with a swift +movement he seized his carbine, at the same time shouting to his +comrades that the Belgians were upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +A Friend in Need + +"Seems a bit low-down, but there was no other way as far as I could +see," commented Kenneth as he made his way down the stairs. + +It was a relief to get into the open air once more. Inserting four +fresh cartridges into the chambers of his revolver, he replaced the +weapon in his holster, and without giving another glance at the house +of death and destruction he made his way to the stables, where the +Uhlans' horses were tethered. He would not leave the helpless brutes +to be fastened up perhaps for days. They would at least have a chance +to eat and drink, for there was plenty of pasture and the river was +handy. + +Having given the animals their liberty, the lad remounted his cycle and +rode along the only possible route. By the position of the sun he knew +that he was going nearly due north, which was not in the direction he +supposed Cortenaeken to be. To add to the difficulties of the +situation there was the unpleasant fact that patrols of German cavalry +were already in the district. Where, then, was the Belgian force that +was supposed to be holding the district between Diest and Tirlemont? + +There were houses scattered about in plenty; some to all outward +appearance intact, others either burning furiously or reduced to four +smoke-blackened walls. + +After traversing about five miles of the indifferent lane, Kenneth +found himself on a broad highway, bordered on both sides with trees. +Here were civilians in throngs--men, women, and children--and a more +woebegone crowd the British lad had never before beheld. Most of them +were on foot, staggering under weighty bundles. Even the children had +their burdens, mostly domestic pets. There were fowls in crates, +rabbits, cats, and pigeons; masterless dogs tore frantically through +the sad procession; others, harnessed to small carts piled high with +goods and chattels, trotted docilely by the side of their masters. +There were large farm-carts, too, creaking under the weight of +furniture, on the top of which were perched refugees either too old or +too young to make the journey afoot. The men were stolid of feature, +but several of the women were crying; while with few exceptions the +children, unable to comprehend the real nature of their hurried exodus, +were laughing and chattering with excitement at their novel experience. + +Kenneth dismounted and stopped an old Belgian, who by his dress had +evidently been well-to-do. + +"Can you direct me to Cortenaeken, monsieur?" + +"To where Cortenaeken was," corrected the man. "It has been burnt by +the accursed Prussians." + +"And the troops? I have a message for Major Foveneau, who was holding +the village----" + +"You will not find a single Belgian there, monsieur--at least, not a +living one. They have been compelled to retire on Louvain." + +The Belgian courteously raised his hat and passed on hurriedly, for +while he was speaking came the distant intermittent reports of +rifle-firing. The whole procession of refugees quickened its pace. +The menace was too close to be ignored. + +Kenneth pulled out his map. He was now able to form a fairly accurate +idea of where he was. He had no desire to return. His anxiety +concerning his chum urged him to make his way as quickly as possible to +Louvain. There, at least, he might be able to gain information +concerning the British dispatch-rider who ought to have reported +himself to Major Foveneau. + +According to the map, Kenneth saw that there was a road to the left at +a mile or so from where he stood. It struck the village of Winghe St. +Georges, which was on the main road between Diest and Tirlemont and +slightly nearer to the latter town. + +Springing into the saddle Kenneth set off at a furious pace. Ahead, +but slightly to the right, was a dense column of smoke that marked the +site of the destroyed village of Cortenaeken. Farther away were more +pillars of black vapour, the handiwork of the vengeful invaders, whose +principle was to terrorize the luckless Belgians into a spirit of +non-resistance. + +The lad was heartily glad when he gained the branch road, since it led +away from the desolated area. But before he had gone very far he +became aware that he was crossing the tracks of a fighting force in +retreat. Over the fields on either side and across the road were +numerous deep ruts caused by wheels of artillery and service wagons. +Here and there were abandoned carts, while half-buried in a muddy ditch +was a field-piece with one wheel shattered. Its limber and several +either dead or wounded horses still in the traces had overturned on the +other side of the road. Yet, apart from the distant cannonade, there +were no sounds of actual combat. + +Kenneth was sorely tempted to follow the tracks of the retirement. It +would be hard going, he argued, but where a gun could go his +motor-cycle ought to be able to follow. But on further consideration +he decided to keep to the road, at least as far as Winghe St. Georges. + +Onwards he rode till he approached a ruined homestead. Four shattered +walls, two gaunt gables, and a few scorched rafters were all that +remained of the house. Surrounding it was a wall, broken in many +places. Abutting on the wall were several roofless sheds. + +"Halte-la!" exclaimed a voice. "There is danger ahead." + +Kenneth pulled up sharply and, dismounting, looked in the direction +from which the voice came. As he did so a man in the uniform of the +Belgian lancers came out of the ruined house. He had lost his helmet, +his coat was torn and covered with dust. Above his right knee was a +blood-stained bandage. He was supporting himself by means of a rifle, +using the weapon as a crutch with the butt under his armpit. + +"What has happened, comrade?" asked the lad. + +The soldier regarded him with evident suspicion. + +"You are not a Belgian," he said pointedly, "yet you are in the uniform +of our dispatch-riders." + +"Quite so," replied Kenneth, producing his identification card. "I am +a British subject in the Belgian service." + +"British?" repeated the man. "What, then, is British? In faith, I do +not know." + +"English, then." + +"Ah, English--good! Now I comprehend. But, monsieur, it is unsafe to +go farther. There are Germans in force a few kilometres along the +road. Their cavalry screens are thrown out over yonder. We had to +retire. To me it is amazing how you came so far without falling in +with the accursed Prussians." + +"I saw a few Uhlans," announced Kenneth. + +"Tete bleu! And what did they do?" + +"Very little as far as I was concerned," replied the lad. "They +murdered some civilians, so I shot them." + +The Belgian's eyes glistened. + +"You are a brave youth," he exclaimed. + +"I think not in this case," objected Kenneth. "They were half-drunk, +and had only just awoke. It seemed hardly fair play, yet----" + +"Do not apologize, monsieur," growled the lancer. "After what these +devils have done they have no right to expect any consideration. Over +there, for example--but come within. It is hazardous to remain in the +open. Perhaps, even now, we have been observed through some Prussian +field-glasses. Your bicycle? It will be of no further use. It is +better to destroy it and throw the remains into the ditch." + +Kenneth shook his head. + +"No fear," he objected resolutely. "I'd rather take my chances on the +road." + +"Impossible," declared the Belgian. "You would be shot before you went +another three kilometres. And if the Germans see your motor-cycle they +will be doubly suspicious and search the house." + +"I'll leave it for the time being in one of those sheds," suggested the +lad. "It won't be seen from the road." + +The Belgian, beyond muttering "imbecile" under his breath, made no +further objection. He even assisted Kenneth, as well as his wound +would permit, to lift the heavy mount over the rubble in the gap of the +outer wall. + +"This place will do," declared the lad as he reached the furthermost +shed. The roof and one angle of the brickwork had been demolished, but +the rest of the building was almost intact. Having removed the +sparking-plug, so as to render the cycle useless to the enemy in the +event of its discovery, Kenneth placed the cycle on its side and +covered it with a thick layer of damp and rotten straw. To all +appearance the interior of the shed was a farm refuse-heap. No +prowling German would be likely to want to use the straw for bedding or +any other purpose. + +"Come this way," said the Belgian, who, during the progress of +Kenneth's operations, had begun to alter his opinion as to the danger +of leaving the cycle as "incriminating evidence". "We will go to the +house. In the cellar we can rest and perhaps have food. Have you +anything to eat?" + +"Two rolls and some chocolate," replied Kenneth. "We will share that." + +"Good!" exclaimed the lancer, his eyes glistening at the prospect of +food. "But there are others--three comrades of mine. We have not +eaten anything to-day but raw turnips, and raw turnips are not very +sustaining food on which to make a cavalry charge. It was in front of +Cortenaeken that I got this," and he pointed to his wounded leg. + +"Yet it is nothing," he added lightly, "a mere scratch; but I repaid +the Prussian who gave it to me. Ah! This is what I require. I will +now be able to discard this rifle. My own carbine is within." + +He had stopped in the midst of his narrative, and was pointing to a +hay-rake that rested in a corner of the wall. + +"I will knock off the teeth and shorten the handle. Ciel! It will +make an excellent crutch. As for the rifle, I may safely throw it down +the well, unless you, monsieur, might care to have it. It may be +useful to you." + +"I have no cartridges." + +"We have enough--about four hundred between the four of us. +Nevertheless, you will have to clean the barrel carefully, for it is +caked with earth. If you fired it in that state, without doubt it +would do you more harm than the man at whom you pointed it. There, did +I not say so?" + +With a wave of his disengaged arm the Belgian indicated a cloud of dust +rising from the road. + +"We must hasten, yet be cautious," he continued. "That dust hides a +column of German infantry." + +Kenneth followed his new comrade into the house. The upper floor had +almost disappeared. The ground floor was littered with charred +fragments of rafters and boards, cakes of plaster and partly-burned +thatch, in addition to broken articles of furniture. The parting-walls +had been overthrown, so that the interior of the building presented the +appearance of an open space. + +Scrambling over the debris the wounded lancer made his way to a corner +of the tottering walls. He stooped painfully and with considerable +effort, and thrusting his fingers between the rubbish took hold of an +iron ring. At this he heaved, and lifted a large flap about six inches. + +"Assist me, monsieur," he said. "I am not quite so strong as I was +four hours ago." + +"One minute," exclaimed Kenneth. "I'll clear some of this rubbish +away." + +"Tiens!" ejaculated the Belgian. "Let it remain, for when we let the +flap fall it will spread and hide the cracks in the floor. No one will +then suspect that there is a cellar. Now, lift together.--Soyez +tranquille!" he shouted, to reassure his comrades in hiding. + +At a gesture from his newly-found friend, Kenneth descended the steep +wooden ladder till his feet touched the stone floor of the cellar. The +Belgian lancer followed more slowly, uttering maledictions under his +breath at every step. Another of the occupants of the cellar ascended, +and pulled the flap down with a resounding crash. The place seemed in +total darkness. + +"A new comrade--an Englishman in the service of our country," announced +the lancer; and Kenneth's hands were warmly grasped by his unseen hosts. + +After a while his eyes grew accustomed to the semi-gloom, for the +daylight filtered through a small irregular opening at one end of the +underground room. The Belgians present did not belong to the same +regiment. One was a corporal of infantry, another an artilleryman, the +third a Civil Guard, whose head-gear, somewhat resembling a bowler hat, +made him easily recognizable. Their rifles were resting against the +wall, their cartridge pouches and heavy packs had been thrown on the +floor, and by their sides were some partly-consumed slices of turnip. + +Kenneth promptly shared his rations, which were ravenously eaten by the +half-famished men. The corporal, having swallowed his portion of roll +and chocolate, took up his position at the opening through which the +daylight could be seen. + +"They come!" he announced. "The pigs! Look!" + +The rest of the men made their way to the post of observation. The +cellar was of brick, with massive oaken rafters overhead and a stone +floor. At one end was a flight of stone steps that at one time +communicated with the outside of the house. A fall of brick-work had +almost entirely closed this exit, leaving a space about two inches in +height and a little more than a foot in width between the top of the +debris and the underside of the arch. The aperture was thus broad +enough to afford an outlook for two persons without the faintest risk +of discovery. + +The corporal, as observation man, remained at his post, the others +taking turn to gaze upon the approaching regiment of their hated foes. + +The German troops had evidently gone through a rough experience. They +looked utterly done up. Most of them were in their shirt-sleeves, +their coats and accoutrements hanging from their rifles. Several were +without caps, and many had been wounded. In spite of the sweltering +heat they marched in close column, wellnigh choked with dust, and only +kept at a brisk pace by the unsympathetic orders and threats of their +officers. + +As the head of the column approached, several men were ordered to +double up to the ruined house. Already the German commander had good +reason to dread the fury of the Belgian civil population, and every +house on the line of march was searched for possible snipers before the +regiment was allowed to march past it. + +Kenneth could hear the Prussians' boots crunching on the rubble +overhead, and their guttural shouts as they reported that the building +was untenanted. + +Then the column was again set in motion, and as the troops marched +stolidly by, Kenneth saw that in their midst were about twenty peasants +of both sexes. + +The Belgian corporal rapped out an oath. + +"The cowards!" he hissed. "They will use these people--countrymen--to +screen their advance. They did so at Haelen and Landen. I would +gladly bring down that red-faced Colonel but for the fact that those +peasants would be instantly massacred." + +Reluctantly the man closed the safety-catch of his rifle. The impulse +to shoot had been tantalizing. Only his concern for his luckless +fellow-countrymen had prevented the Belgian from sending a bullet +through the Prussian officer's heart. Ignorant of his escape the +Colonel rode past, followed by the rest of the regiment, for, from +motives of extraordinary caution, he was in the centre of the column. + +Another and yet another grey-clad regiment tramped past. With feelings +akin to consternation, Kenneth realized that a considerable portion of +the German army was now between him and his regiment. And Rollo--what +had become of him? + +Several hours passed. The Belgians, unable to control their natural +vivacity, chattered gaily, relating their individual adventures, and +closely questioning Kenneth as to his views on British aid for the +sorely-harassed country. Occasionally, when their look-out reported +fresh troops in sight, they would relapse into silence. The +artilleryman jotted down in a pocket-book particulars and estimated +numbers of all the German regiments that passed along the road, +remarking that to-morrow, perhaps, the information might be useful to +his officers. + +About five in the afternoon the stream slackened, and half an hour +later there were no signs of the invaders. The Belgians discussed the +possibility of making a dash for their own lines, and eventually +decided to attempt to put their plan into execution shortly after +midnight. Even the wounded lancer expressed his confidence in his +ability to keep up with his comrades. + +"And will you accompany us?" he asked, addressing his British comrade. + +"There's my motor-cycle," said Kenneth tentatively. + +"Pouf! It is of no consequence. Let it remain; there are others to be +obtained. It is useless to attempt to take it with you. The roads are +unsafe, while in the open the ditches are too wide to take it across." + +Still Kenneth hesitated. He had no doubt that the Belgian spoke +truthfully, and that he could obtain another mount at head-quarters; +but it would not be the same cycle, to which he was greatly attached. + +While the wounded lancer was still endeavouring to persuade Kenneth to +make the attempt on foot, the corporal, from the post of observation, +reported that a patrol of Uhlans was approaching. + +"There are but seven," he announced, "and they have a prisoner with +them. Shall we----?" and he significantly tapped his rifle. + +After a short interval one of the Belgians stood aside to allow Kenneth +to look at the approaching patrol. They were riding their horses at a +walking pace, their long lances being stepped in "buckets" behind their +backs. Most of them were smoking large curved pipes. + +Suddenly Kenneth uttered a half-stifled shout of surprise, for the +prisoner was his chum, Rollo Barrington. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +Captured + +On parting with his comrade on the road to Cortenaeken, Rollo rode at a +great pace towards his goal. He was to a certain extent fortunate in +finding people at the various branch roads to give him directions; and +in less than an hour from the time of parting company with Kenneth he +was in sight of the hamlet where he hoped to meet Major Foveneau. + +The place seemed deserted. Perhaps, he thought, the Belgian troops +were entrenched on the other side of the slightly rising ground. At a +great distance off he could hear the rumble of guns in action. +Evidently there were two separate battles in progress. From the +direction of one cannonade it seemed as if the rival forces were +engaged in the district through which he had so recently ridden, yet he +could have sworn that he had not seen either a single Belgian or German +soldier. + +Suddenly, as he glanced to the left, Rollo's heart gave a tremendous +thump. He had already ridden more than half-way past the rear of a +masked German battery. There were perhaps a dozen guns placed in +position behind a ridge. The weapons were trained for high-angle +firing, while, to render them invisible from Belgian aircraft, they +were screened by branches of trees. By the side of each field-piece +was an armoured ammunition cart. The body of the vehicle was upturned +to a perpendicular position, the shells being kept in place by a +"pigeon-hole" arrangement. The gunners were "standing easy", while, +from the tip of a neighbouring haystack, a number of officers were +observing the Belgian position through their field-glasses. + +Hearing the sound of the motor-cycle, several of the men turned and +looked at the dispatch-rider, but they made no attempt to stop him. +Evidently they thought he was one of their cyclists, for Rollo's +uniform was smothered in grey dust, so that there was no perceptible +difference between him and a motor-cyclist attached to the invading +army. + +Fortunately Rollo kept his head. Without slackening his speed he +continued on his way until he was within two hundred yards of the +nearest house in the village. Here he dismounted and began to rack his +brains as to the best course to pursue. + +He had fallen into a trap. Cortenaeken had been taken and was now in +the possession of the enemy. He could see that several of the +buildings were damaged by shell-fire. Unknown to himself he had ridden +through the advanced German lines without any suspicion that thousands +of men were concealed in the fields and thickets on either side of the +road. The German left flank had been thrown forward a considerable +distance, and their motor-scouts had been constantly in touch with the +centre. Thus, by a pure fluke, Rollo had ridden through with a German +motor-cyclist ten minutes ahead of him and another five minutes behind. + +"I'll destroy the dispatch at once," decided the lad. "After that I'll +try and ride back by the way I came. So here goes!" + +He drew the petrol-soaked paper from the tank, and carried it to a dry +ditch by the side of the road. The dispatch flared as soon as Rollo +struck a match and set light to it. Its destruction was rapid and +complete. + +Before he could regain his mount a motor-cyclist dashed up. As he +approached he slackened speed, gripped the exhaust-lifter, and took +advantage of the consequent reduction of sound to shout something in +German. Rollo shook his head; his knowledge of German was too +elementary for him to reply, but he gathered that the man was asking +whether he required any assistance. + +Then, to the lad's consternation, the German dispatch-rider stopped, +dismounted, and walked towards him. + +"There's only one thing I can do---I must pretend I'm deaf and +dumb--temporary effect of the concussion of a shell, although I can't +show a wound," thought Rollo. "It wouldn't be cricket to shoot the +chap, especially as he stopped in all good faith. Well, here goes!" + +Opening his mouth and working his chin like a gasping cod-fish, the lad +awaited with considerable misgivings the result of his experiment. + +The German was a round-faced, fair-haired fellow of about twenty--a +student fresh from college. He looked quite sympathetic, and when +Rollo explained by means of signs that there was something wrong with +the electric ignition of his cycle, his face lighted up. Strolling up +to the British lad's mount, he proceeded in quite a natural way to +examine the sparking-plug, and, for the benefit of the supposed +distressed rider, he made a pantomimic display of rubbing it with +emery-cloth. + +This done, he walked across to the spot where he had left his own +cycle, still holding the plug in his hand. + +"He's going to clean the blessed thing for me," thought Rollo, "and +it's in perfect order, too." + +But the next moment his amusement was changed to consternation, for, +leaping into his saddle, the German made off at full speed, leaving +Rollo with a motor-cycle that was now out of action with a vengeance. + +Rollo was not left long in doubt as to the fellow's intentions. Soon +he reappeared from the village accompanied by a patrol of Uhlans. The +British-made motor-cycle had aroused his suspicions, and a closer +inspection of Rollo's dust-covered uniform had confirmed them. + +"The brute!" ejaculated Rollo. "At all events those fellows won't make +use of my cycle." + +With a quick movement he unscrewed the cap of the petrol tank, and +threw his highly-prized mount on its side. Then, striking a match and +deliberately waiting till it was well alight, he threw it into the +escaping spirit. With a flash and a roar the petrol caught, and in an +instant the cycle was enveloped in flames. + +Rollo did not wait to see the end of his act of destruction. Taking to +his heels he ran towards a wood about a couple of furlongs from the +road. The hoarse shouts of the pursuing Uhlans rang in his ears as he +fled, while a bullet, missing him handsomely, whizzed ten feet above +his head. + +Another shot followed with no better result. It was not the rifles of +the pursuing horsemen that he feared; it was their obvious superiority +in speed. + +He could hear the thud of the horses' hoofs in the soft ground growing +momentarily louder and louder. Only twenty yards more, and the Uhlans +would be balked by the dense foliage. Ahead was a ditch, six feet in +width, with a fairly high bank on the opposite side. In his heated +imagination the fugitive could almost feel the points of those ugly +lances thrust into his back. + +With a stupendous effort he leapt, alighting on the other side of the +ditch on his hands and knees. The Germans, fearing to risk the jump, +began to rein in their horses. For the time being he had won. + +Rollo staggered to his feet and clambered up the bank, when to his +horror he found himself confronted by a dozen levelled rifles. It was +a case of "out of the frying-pan into the fire" with a vengeance. + +Had there been a ghost of a chance to break away Rollo would have +seized it, but there was none. He raised both hands above his head. + +The next instant he was held by two powerful soldiers, while others, +with a dexterity acquired by much practice, searched him. Not only was +he stripped, and the lining of his coat ripped open, but his boots were +removed and the soles cut through, in case a hidden dispatch might be +found. They even forced open his mouth to make certain he was not +swallowing any document; and they took good care to retain the letters +he had received from home. + +Finding nothing of the nature they suspected, the sergeant in charge of +the men gruffly ordered him in very imperfect French to dress. Then, +escorted by four men, and followed by the patrol of Uhlans and the +motor-cyclist who had raised the alarm, Rollo was taken into the +village and brought before a group of officers. + +"Ah, Englishman! We have caught you, then," exclaimed one of the +Prussian officers. + +Rollo looked straight at him. The German was in the uniform of the +line. His head was swathed in surgical bandages, but there was enough +of his face left exposed to give the British lad a clue to the identity +of the speaker. He was the major who had treacherously attempted to +shoot the Belgian officer by whom he had been given quarter, on the +occasion of the night attack upon Fort de Barchon. On the fall of the +Liege fortresses the Prussian had been released by his comrades, and in +spite of his wound was once more at the front. + +For the next ten minutes Rollo was closely questioned. He replied only +when he felt fairly certain that there was no harm in so doing; but, +when pressed to give information respecting the Belgian forces, he +resolutely refused. + +The German officers swore, and threatened him. + +"You cannot make me disclose information," declared Rollo. "It is +against the rules of war to coerce a prisoner." + +A chorus of loud jeering laughter greeted this statement. + +"My young friend," quoth the Major when the mirth had subsided, "you do +not understand. When Germany makes war she makes war: there are no +half-measures. Why should we, the greatest nation upon earth, be bound +by rules and regulations laid down by a self-constituted peace +party--the Geneva Convention?" + +"But Germany was a party to it." + +"Because at the time it suited her purpose. It is no use arguing, +young Englishman. The point is, do you answer all our questions, or +must we exercise pressure? Bear in mind that if you give false +information, which we are certain to find out, you will be shot." + +Rollo felt far from comfortable. His faith in the traditions of war, +in which he had been versed by his father, was ruthlessly destroyed by +the cold-blooded declaration of his captor. It was as well that he was +given to pondering rather than to forming a hasty and impulsive +resolution, otherwise he might have told the German major to do his +worst. Under similar circumstances the impetuous Kenneth might have +sealed his own death-warrant; but Rollo remembered that a still tongue +makes a wise head. + +Fortunately at this juncture an orderly knocked at the door. In +response to an ungracious permission to enter he strode stiffly into +the room, clicked his heels, and saluted. + +"What is it?" demanded the Major. + +The soldier handed his officer a sealed dispatch. The German broke the +flap of the envelope with a violent movement of his thick fingers. It +was characteristic of him and his profession: the use of brute force, +even when dealing with the frailest thing that balked him. + +His brows darkened. With an oath he tossed the document to his brother +officers. They, too, swore. The news was not at all reassuring. + +"Sergeant!" roared the Major. "Tell one of your men to have the +swiftest motor-car he can find brought here at once. Those Belgian +brutes have been causing trouble near Tirlemont. Then pick out a +reliable patrol to escort this prisoner to Tirlemont, where I will deal +with him in due course." + +The sergeant saluted, and ran as hard as he could to execute his +superior's commands. Rollo was removed in charge of the guards, until +the arrival of the Uhlans detailed to act as his escort. Then, having +made arrangements with his brother officers for the hurrying up of the +regiment to repel the new phase of the Belgian offensive, the Major +entered the waiting car and was whirled off along the Tirlemont road. + +Rollo smiled grimly as he noted the numbers of the Uhlan escort. + +"Seven of them: they are not going to take much risk of my giving them +the slip," he thought. "All the same I'll keep my eyes well open, and +if there is the faintest possible chance I'll take it. Anything is +better than being threatened by that brute of a Prussian major. I wish +I had knocked him over the head that night." + +After traversing about two miles of the road the Uhlans relaxed their +vigilance. No longer did they carry their lances across the +saddle-bow, ready to transfix their prisoner at the first sign of +trouble. Out came their pipes, and, under the soothing influence of +the tobacco, the Uhlans attempted a conversation in broken French with +their youthful charge. It was not a pleasant subject, for, with grim +vividness, they impressed upon the lad the fact that they had already +seen more than twenty summary executions, and judging by the manner in +which the prisoners met their fate, the process was sharp and +practically painless. But they could not understand why Herr Major had +gone to the trouble to have the prisoner sent after him to Tirlemont, +instead of having him put out of the way without further delay. + +A mounted scout came galloping along the dusty road. The corporal in +charge of the Uhlans stopped him to ask whether there were any Belgian +troops in the district. Receiving a negative reply, the Uhlan grunted +that it was just as well, as he had no desire to be shot at by those +troublesome rascals. + +"It is as safe as in the Unter den Linden," added the scout. "There is +not an armed Belgian within ten miles of you. Our 43rd and 62nd Line +Regiments have just gone forward. You might almost see the rear-guard; +so keep up a brave heart, comrade." + +The corporal growled at this joking advice, yet in his own mind he felt +greatly relieved. After all there was no hurry to reach Tirlemont. If +the patrol arrived before sunset, it was more than likely they would be +ordered to perform another and more hazardous service. + +"We'll halt at that farm-house," he said to his men. "There may be +something worth finding. Two of you will be sufficient to keep an eye +on the prisoner. He doesn't seem as if he will give trouble." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +Entombed + +"Ciel! What has hit you?" asked the Belgian corporal, regarding +Kenneth with evident alarm. + +"I am all right," replied the lad; "but those Uhlans have captured my +friend--the English motor-cyclist I told you about." + +"Get your rifles, comrades," ordered the corporal. "Louis, since you +are wounded, remain at this loop-hole." + +The lancer, struggling into his cartridge-belt, made his way to the +observation post; while Kenneth and the rest of the Belgians pushed +back the trap-door and took cover on the ground floor of the +partly-demolished house. There was plenty of time, for the Uhlans were +proceeding at a leisurely pace. + +"It is safe to fire," continued the corporal, having satisfied himself +on all sides that there were no other German troops within sight. "I +will take the leading Bosche on the right; Gaston, the one by his side +will make a broad mark, since you are not a first-class shot. You, +Etienne, cover the Uhlans on the prisoner's left; and you, monsieur, +try your luck on that fellow in the rear. The rest we must polish off +with the second round: none must escape, or we are undone. Now, +monsieur, when I give the word, shout to your friend and tell him to +fall to the ground. Even a hulking German will not stop a bullet, and +I am sure your friend would not like a second-hand piece of lead." + +Slowly the seconds seemed to pass. The Belgians, with their rifles +resting on the broken brickwork and their fingers lightly touching +their sensitive triggers, were ready for their prey. Admirably +concealed, they were still further favoured by the light, for the +setting sun shone full in the faces of the unsuspecting Uhlans. + +"Now, monsieur!" hissed the corporal. + +"Rollo!" shouted Kenneth. "Lie down!" + +For once, at least, Rollo acted promptly. He threw himself on the road +so swiftly that the horse of the Uhlan behind him reared. The German +corporal, although he could not understand what was said, suspected the +truth. + +A word of command was on his lips, when he tumbled from the saddle with +a bullet through his brain. Two more Germans shared the fate of their +non-commissioned officer; but the fellow at whom Gaston had aimed came +off lightly, with a neatly-drilled hole through his bridle-arm. + +Two more, dismounting and taking cover behind their horses, attempted +to use their carbines; while the seventh, seized with a panic, wheeled, +and galloped as hard as he could from the scene. + +Again the Belgian rifles rang out. The fugitive horse stumbled and +fell, throwing its rider with a sickening thud upon the hard road. +From the semi-underground retreat the Belgian corporal's rifle flashed, +and one of the dismounted Uhlans dropped, while his horse, wounded in +the neck by the same bullet that had killed his master, reared, and +plunged upon Rollo as he lay upon the ground. + +The other dismounted German, seeing the fate of his comrades, attempted +to remount, but he too fell, shot through the heart. + +In the midst of the confusion the wounded Uhlan set spurs to his steed +and, bending over the animal's neck, tore down the road. + +"Drop him: if he gets away we are as good as done for!" shouted the +Belgian corporal. + +Shot after shot whistled after the fugitive. Once he was seen to give +a spasmodic movement and then again to drop over the horse's neck. +Still the terrified animal tore onwards, and at length was out of sight. + +"Quel dommage!" ejaculated the corporal. "The rascal has got away." + +"He'll drop. I'll swear that he was badly hit," said Etienne, the +artilleryman. + +"We are not to know that," grumbled the corporal; "at least, not at +present. Quick, there! We must remove all traces of the affair, and +trust to luck that the fellow will be able to tell no tales." + +Resting their rifles against the wall, Kenneth and his Belgian comrades +ran into the road. They found Rollo little the worse for his +experiences, beyond a bruised ankle caused by a kick from the +struggling horse. + +"Congratulations after. Work first," exclaimed the corporal. +"Together, comrades!" + +The corpses of the Uhlans and their horses were dragged across the +highway and thrown into the broad ditch, where in the now gathering +twilight they would escape observation, while dust was thrown upon the +traces of the encounter. + +"Now to the cellar!" exclaimed the corporal. "Nevertheless, I will +remain without for a time. I am not at all satisfied. The escape of +that wounded Uhlan troubles me, so I will keep watch from without." + +"He received his quietus, never fear," declared Gaston. "He will tell +no tales." + +"If your opinion is not more true than your aim--" began the corporal +meaningly. "But we must hope that it is so. All the same I will keep +watch." + +The rest of his comrades regained their underground retreat, leaving +the trap-door open in order that the corporal could descend without +delay. Rollo was this time the centre of attraction, and the rescued +lad had to give a long and detailed account of his adventures in the +hands of the Germans. + +"Your foot is hurting you," observed Kenneth, noticing that Rollo was +wincing towards the close of his narrative. "Take off your boot and +let me see what is wrong." + +Examination showed that Rollo's leg was badly bruised from the ankle to +the knee; in addition there were slight abrasions. + +"It's lucky you didn't get a direct kick from that horse," continued +Kenneth. "I'll bring some water and bathe it. I'm sorry we haven't +any first-aid stuff with us." + +With that Kenneth reascended the ladder, and made his way to a well +that was situated about ten paces from where the back door of the house +used to be. It was now nearly dark. The Belgian keeping his solitary +vigil was hardly visible in the gloom. + +The lad raised the heavy iron bucket, emptied about half the contents +away, and was about to return to the cellar when the corporal gripped +him by the shoulders. + +"Regardez bien!" he whispered, pointing along the road that led to +Cortenaeken. + +"German cavalry!" exclaimed Kenneth. + +"Would that it were!" said the Belgian. "Then we might see some fun. +They are artillery. Ten thousand plagues on the clumsiness of Gaston! +By missing that fellow, he allowed him to bring this hornets' nest +about our ears. To the cellar! We cannot fight, we must hide and +trust to luck." + +Quickly the cellar-flap was shut, and in total darkness the six men +waited for the opening of the German guns. + +An appalling crash, followed by the rumbling of fallen bricks, +announced that the first shell had hit the building. Mortar dropped +from the arched roof of their underground retreat. The Belgians +chuckled. + +"Let the rascals waste their shells," declared Etienne. "They will +want them badly before the war is over." + +"Did you bring the water?" asked Rollo. + +"Rather! I am not such an ass as to forget about you, old man," +replied Kenneth. "Can you limp as far as the end of the cellar? +There's a bench or something of the kind. It will be better than +sitting on the cold stones." + +Carefully and deliberately Kenneth bathed his chum's injured leg, while +without the deafening crashes continued at rapid intervals. + +"There can't be much of the house left," observed Rollo. "It wasn't +much of a show when I first saw it. By the by, where is your bike?" + +"Under some damp straw in an outhouse. It ought to be well out of the +bursting area of those shells. At any rate----" + +A vivid flash of light filled the cellar. There was a terrific roar, +followed by an avalanche of bricks and stones. Kenneth, who was +kneeling by his chum, was thrown violently against Rollo, and the two, +deafened by the concussion, found themselves gasping for breath amid +the sulphurous fumes that wafted around them. + +A shell, crashing through the cellar-flap, had burst in the underground +refuge. The luckless Belgians were literally blown to atoms. Kenneth +and Rollo had escaped almost by a miracle, only to be confronted by a +new danger. They were buried alive, and in peril of suffocation from +the noxious gases of the burst projectile. + +Kenneth staggered to his feet. His head came in contact with an +immense slab of stone. He stretched out his arms, to find that his +hands touched a shaking mass of brickwork on both sides. + +"We're trapped!" he whispered. "If those brutes fire again, the rest +of the cellar will cave in on top of us I wonder how the other fellows +got on." + +He called the Belgians by name, at first softly, then gradually raising +his voice, but no reply came through the intervening barrier of debris. + +The firing had now ceased. The last shell--the most destructive of +all--had reduced the farm-house to a heap of ruins. Above ground, +hardly one brick or stone adhered to another, while beneath the mound +of ruins the two British lads were entombed, and apparently doomed to a +lingering death. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +The Way Out + +For nearly a quarter of an hour, though it seemed like a long-drawn +night, Kenneth and Rollo remained silent. Gradually the air became +purer as the fumes escaped through the crevices in the brickwork. It +was the darkness they dreaded most--a darkness that could almost be +felt. It seemed to have weight, to press upon their eyes. + +"I wish I had a match," whispered Kenneth. + +Rollo felt in his pockets. It was, as he expected, a vain quest, for +when in the hands of the Germans he had been rigorously searched, and +every article in his possession had been confiscated. + +"This is the limit," said Kenneth dolorously. "I'd much rather be shot +in action. Here we may be snuffed out and no one will be a bit the +wiser. We may not be found for years, perhaps never." + +"Oh, shut up!" exclaimed his companion. "It's bad enough without +rubbing it in." + +"I wasn't." + +"Yes, you were; but, I say, don't let us start quarrelling. The +question is----" + +"Hist!" whispered Kenneth. "I hear voices." + +The lad was right. Almost above their heads heavy boots were stumbling +over the debris, while the muffled sounds of guttural voices were borne +to the ears of the two prisoners. The Germans were searching the ruins. + +"I vote we shout. They'll dig us out," suggested Kenneth. + +"I vote we don't," objected Rollo sturdily. "See, the gleam of a +lantern is showing through a crack or a hole in the brickwork, so it +can't be so very thick. We may be able to tunnel our way out when they +clear off. If we gave ourselves up, ten to one they would shoot us for +giving them all this trouble." + +It was that small glimmer of light that raised their hopes, without +which they would, through sheer panic, have called frantically to their +foes for aid, without considering the consequences. + +For perhaps an hour the Germans continued their search, until, +discovering the passage of the final and fatal shell, they removed +sufficient of the debris to enable them to descend to the cellar. The +entombment of the two lads now proved to be a blessing in disguise, +for, screened from observation by the mound of rubble, their retreat +was unsuspected by the searchers. + +Having found sufficient evidence to satisfy themselves that the +Belgians who had ambushed the Uhlan patrol were themselves slain, the +Germans concluded their investigations and went away. + +For another long period the lads remained silent, until they felt +convinced that once more they were free from the unwelcome attentions +of the German troops. Then Rollo broke the silence. + +"I'm jolly thirsty," he remarked. + +"So am I," declared Kenneth. "There's some water in the bucket. We +needn't be too particular. I dipped my handkerchief in it, but it was +fairly clean." + +"I'm ready to mop water out of a ditch," said Rollo. + +Kenneth groped for the bucket. It was within six inches of his foot +and standing upright, but it was empty. A fragment of shell had torn a +hole through it close to the bottom. Not a drop of liquid was left. + +"We've had a jolly narrow squeak," said Kenneth. "After that it would +be hard lines if we were knocked out in the last lap. I don't think we +shall be. Suppose we start tunnelling." + +"Steady on, old man! We ought to wait till it gets light. Then we +will be able to see what we are doing," expostulated his companion. + +"I can feel." + +"Yes, perhaps; but by dislodging part of the rubble you may cause a +sort of landslide and bury us completely. I vote we exercise just a +little more patience." + +They had been conversing in whispers, lest the sound of their voices +might be heard by a sentry, for it was quite possible that the Germans +might think they had not accounted for the whole garrison of the ruined +farmhouse. They had good reason to believe that the British +dispatch-rider had taken refuge there; the only chance was that they +might have come to the conclusion that Rollo was one of the +unrecognizable victims of the deadly shell. + +Slowly the hours of darkness passed, the silence broken only at +intervals by the dull grinding of the subsiding debris and by a +desultory, whispered conversation between the lads. Then Kenneth +became aware that he could indistinctly discern his companion's face +The long-hoped-for dawn had come at last. + +In another half-hour it was light enough to form a fairly accurate idea +of the state of affairs. The prisoners were in a triangular-shaped +space, two sides consisting of the adjoining walls of the cellar. The +third was composed of a bank of broken bricks and stones, diminishing +in thickness as it grew in height. Overhead a part of the vaulted roof +had fallen, but the brickwork remained cemented together, forming a +shield from the rubble above it. But for this mass of brickwork the +lads would have been crushed to death by the immense weight of the +ruined walls of the farm-house. + +Between the topmost bricks and the overhead protection quite a strong +light penetrated into the cavity where they crouched. The early +morning sun was shining directly upon the heap of debris. + +"I think we can shift this stuff," remarked Kenneth, cautiously feeling +a loose brickbat. + +"All right, carry on," replied Rollo. "Only be careful to test each +piece of rubble before you remove it. If we cannot make a hole through +in that direction we must try cutting through the existing wall. It +will be a tough job, but you have your knife." + +"I hope we won't have to do that. The cement is as hard as iron. It +would take us a week. Let's hope for the best." + +Proceeding very cautiously, Kenneth removed enough of the debris to +disclose an opening sufficiently large to thrust his head through. +Upon attempting to enlarge the hole the mass began to slide; the +overhead slab of brickwork rumbled. + +"Steady on!" cautioned Rollo in alarm. "The whole show's caving in." + +"It won't any more," declared Kenneth after a brief investigation. +"See that wedge-shaped brick? It's acting as a keystone of an arch. +All we have to do is to remove the rubbish from the lower part of the +hole and squeeze out sideways." + +In another half-hour the gap through the mound of rubble was enlarged +to roughly eighteen inches wide and two feet in height. To all +appearances the danger of further subsidence was past. + +"I'll go first, old man," said Kenneth. "Then, if I get through all +right, I can give you a hand. Think you'll manage it with that leg of +yours?" + +"I hardly feel it," replied Rollo, which was indeed no exaggeration. +Keeping fairly still in that confined space, he had not tried the +injured ankle. But, almost as soon as he made the declaration, he +became aware of a throbbing pain from his hip downwards. In spite of +Kenneth's attention to the sprained ankle on the previous night, the +limb had swollen to an alarming extent. + +Rollo made no mention of this to his comrade. He shut his jaw tightly +and endured the pain. + +With the utmost caution Kenneth began to wriggle through the narrow +tunnel, using one outstretched arm to pull himself over the rough +brickwork. The other arm he had to keep close to his side, and even +thus it was a tight squeeze. Before his head emerged from the opening +he stuck--and stuck fast. He felt as if he were suffocating; he was +assailed by the horrible dread that the rubble was slowly yet surely +subsiding. He wanted to struggle madly and desperately; to shout for +aid. He was momentarily panic-stricken. + +Controlling himself by a strong effort, Kenneth ceased to waste his +strength in a useless attempt to drag himself from that horrible +passage. With the sweat pouring from him he kept quiet, filling his +lungs with the cool morning air from without. + +"What have you stopped for?" asked Rollo anxiously. + +"Can't help it," was the muffled reply. "Give my legs a shove, old +man." + +This Rollo did effectively by applying his back to the soles of his +companion's feet. Keeping absolutely rigid, Kenneth found himself +being pushed slowly yet gradually towards freedom. His head +emerged--then his shoulders. He could now draw up his left arm and +assist in the nerve-racking operation. Wellnigh breathless, bruised +and scraped, covered with dirt and dust, and with his clothing rent in +several places, he gained the open air. + +Kenneth had already had sufficient military experience to learn the +value of concealment. Without attempting to stand he made a careful +survey of his surroundings. He was in a bowl-like depression enclosed +on all sides by irregular hummocks of pulverized brickwork, tiles, and +charred timbers. + +With a sigh of relief the lad realized that there were no Germans in +sight. The attacking party had not thought fit to leave a picket in +charge of the ruins of the farm-house. To all appearances the two +comrades were the only living persons for miles around. + +"I'll get the rope from the well and give you a pull out," announced +Kenneth upon returning to the mouth of the tunnel. "It will be a +fairly easy job." + +"Don't be long, then," said Rollo anxiously. + +"I won't," replied the lad encouragingly, and without further delay he +hastened towards the well. It was no longer there. Only a deep cavity +partly filled with rubbish marked its site. A shell had exploded close +to it, causing the walls to cave in, and throwing out enough earth to +leave a pit three yards in diameter. The windlass and the rope had +vanished utterly. + +"That's done it!" exclaimed Kenneth; then a brilliant idea flashing +across his mind, he bent his back and ran across to the +partly-demolished outhouse where he had hidden his motor-cycle. + +With a shout of satisfaction he found the machine exactly as he had +left it. The Germans had visited the adjoining shed, for several +bundles of fresh straw had been removed. Wisps of straw were scattered +on the ground, but the rotten material which Kenneth had thrown over +his mount had been considered unworthy of the spoilers' attention. + +Deftly Kenneth removed the belt from the cycle and doubled back to the +tunnel. + +"You've been a time!" exclaimed Rollo with evident relief. "I thought +you'd tumbled into the well or had been collared by the enemy." + +"Neither, thanks, old man. The well's gone to blazes and the rope as +well, but this belt will answer our purpose. Hang on with both hands, +turn over on your side, sprained foot uppermost, and say when you're +ready." + +Upon receiving the signal Kenneth began to haul. To his great surprise +Rollo was pulled through the narrow opening with very little +difficulty. Once more they were free; but they were not yet out of the +wood. Between them and the Belgian army lay the lines of a vigilant +and wary foe. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +Through the Enemy's Lines + +"Everything's all clear, as far as I can see," reported Kenneth. "The +question is, how are we to rejoin our regiment?" + +"I can foot it," declared Rollo. + +"But not ten miles. Your ankle would give out before you walked a +hundred yards. What I vote we do is that I ride the bike and take you +on the carrier." + +Rollo shook his head. + +"Too jolly conspicuous," he protested. "One fellow might stand the +ghost of a chance, but two----" + +Kenneth turned over the question in his mind for a few moments. To +remain where they were was impracticable. They would be starving +before many more hours had passed. + +"Tell you what!" he exclaimed as an idea flashed through his brain. +"We'll rig ourselves out in German uniforms----" + +"And get shot as spies if we're collared! No, thanks, Kenneth. If we +are to be plugged I'd rather be in Belgian uniform, since a British one +is at present out of the question." + +"It's a risk, I admit. Everything is, under existing circumstances. +If we are spotted, then there's an end to it and us; otherwise we stand +a better chance by masquerading in these fellows' clothes." + +"But if we are challenged? We couldn't reply in German." + +"You're meeting trouble half-way." + +"I like to go into the pros and cons," declared Rollo. "If you can +convince me that your scheme is a sound one, I'm on; otherwise--dead +off. For one thing, where are the German uniforms?" + +"You've forgotten the Uhlans we slung into the ditch." + +Rollo shrugged his shoulders disdainfully. + +"I draw the line at donning the saturated uniform of a dead Uhlan." + +"Come, don't be squeamish. If you are never asked to do a worse thing +than that in the course of your natural, then you are a lucky +individual. You'll find it's like taking a header into the sea on a +gusty summer's day. The wind makes you shiver, and you think twice +about it, but once you are in the water it's comparatively warm." + +"You haven't got over the language difficulty." + +"Yes, I have; at least I think so. If we meet any patrols, you must +pretend to be half-dead----" + +"I guess I shall be dead entirely if we do." + +"Badly wounded, then. I'll bandage you up, and at the same time put a +scarf round my jaw." + +"What for?" + +"Haven't you any imagination, old man? Why, to make out I've been +wounded in the mouth and am unable to speak a word." + +"You may think me an obstinate mule, Kenneth," said his comrade, "but +why should two wounded men be trying to make their way to the front? +Naturally they would be making tracks to the nearest field hospital." + +"You've done me there," declared Kenneth. "But I can't see how we can +go direct towards the German lines. Whether we go to the right or left +the road runs nearly parallel to the enemy's front." + +"Perhaps we may as well risk it," decided Rollo. "I believe I noticed +a plank across the ditch about a mile along the road. The question is +whether the bike will stand it over the rough ground." + +"She will--she'll tackle anything within reason," said Kenneth +optimistically. "So let's make a move." + +Overcoming their natural repugnance, the two lads recovered the bodies +of a couple of Uhlans from the muddy ditch and proceeded to strip them +of their uniforms. These they wrung out, and placed on the broken +brickwork to dry. + +"I say!" suddenly exclaimed Rollo. "How about these boots with spurs? +Do Uhlans ever ride motor-bikes?" + +"Rather! They've a couple of motor-cyclists to each troop. All we +have to do is to knock off the spurs, and there you are!" + +As soon as the two lads had completed their change of uniforms they +made a final reconnaissance. Finding the road clear of troops, Kenneth +started the engine and stood astride the saddle, while Rollo took up +his position on the carrier. + +They looked a pair of bedraggled scarecrows. The Uhlan uniforms were +wet and plastered with mud. Rollo's forehead was bound round with a +grimy scarf, while, to give a most realistic touch, Kenneth had tied +the blood-stained handkerchief that had been applied to his chum's +ankle round the lower part of his face, completely covering his mouth. + +"Ready?" asked Kenneth in muffled tones. Receiving an affirmative +reply from his companion, he slipped in the clutch and away the cycle +glided. + +"Here's trouble!" the lad thought before many yards of road had been +traversed, for ahead was a rapidly-nearing cloud of dust that evidently +betokened the approach of cavalry or horse artillery. + +"Troops of sorts coming," he informed his companion. + +"Thanks, quite comfortable," was Rollo's inconsequential reply; for the +handkerchief round Kenneth's mouth, the noise of the engine, and the +rush of air as the motor-cycle tore along prevented the passenger from +hearing the information given, while Rollo was unable to look ahead. + +"Germans in sight!" yelled Kenneth. + +This time Rollo understood. Resisting the temptation to look over his +companion's shoulder, he drooped his head, as becoming the role of a +badly-wounded man. + +The on-coming troops turned out to be neither cavalry nor artillery, +but a motor section, including a machine-gun mounted on an armoured +side-car. Fortunately the pace as Rollo and Kenneth tore past was such +that recognition or detection was out of the question. + +"Here we are," announced Rollo a few seconds later. + +Kenneth quickly pulled up. As he did so he gave a hurried look around. +There were no signs of more Germans, while the motor-cyclist detachment +was almost out of sight. + +The plank across the ditch was about nine inches wide. In places it +was worn to such an extent that there were holes in the wood. Kenneth +eyed it with obvious distrust, yet it seemed the only likely means of +gaining the open country beyond, across which a footpath promised +fairly easy going. + +"I didn't know that it was so rotten as that," said Rollo +apologetically. "I don't know whether it will bear the weight of the +bike." + +"We'll risk it anyhow," declared Kenneth. "Can you put your foot to +the ground without much pain? You can? Good! Steady the jigger a +second." + +Unhesitatingly Kenneth jumped into the ditch. He sank above his ankles +in mud, with the water up to his thighs, yet he was able to keep the +motor-cycle in an upright position while Rollo, steadying himself by +means of the saddle, pushed it along the creaking plank. + +"That looks bad," commented Kenneth, pointing to a small object lying +on the ground. It was a brass button from the tunic of a Prussian +soldier. Some of the enemy had passed that way, and were consequently +between the lads and the Belgian lines. + +"We may find a gap," declared Rollo, for by this time he was +whole-heartedly devoted to the carrying out of his comrade's plans. +"If it comes to the pinch we will have to abandon the bike." + +"Steady, old man!" said Kenneth in mock reproof. "Because you lost +your motor-cycle there is no reason why you should suggest my doing +likewise. Now, jump up." + +Kenneth maintained a moderate pace, keeping a bright look-out for any +indications of the invaders. Judging by the state of the path and the +ground for a few yards on either side, a regiment had recently passed +that way, marching in fours. That meant that they were some distance +from the supposed firing-line, otherwise the men would have advanced in +open order. From the north came the distant rumble of guns. An action +was in progress in the neighbourhood of Diest and Aerschot. + +"Look out!" suddenly exclaimed Rollo. "There's a Taube." + +"Where?" enquired his companion, slipping the handkerchief from over +his mouth. + +"Right behind us, and coming this way. I believe it's going to land." + +"The rotter!" ejaculated Kenneth. "I wonder if they have spotted us, +and are suspicious." + +There was no time to say more, for the aeroplane was now passing +overhead at an altitude of about two hundred feet. The motor had been +switched off, and the Taube was vol-planing towards the earth. + +It descended clumsily, striking the ground with a terrific bump that +demolished the wheels and landing-skids. Directly the Taube came to +rest, the pilot alighted and waved frantically to the two supposed +Uhlan motor-cyclists. + +"I'll have to go," mumbled Kenneth, who had readjusted his bandage. +"You stay here. Now, steady--let me help you. Remember you are badly +wounded, yet you want to skip like a superanimated gazelle. That's +better; let your arms trail helplessly." + +Having placed Rollo in a dry, shallow ditch by the side of the path, +Kenneth walked quickly towards the disabled Taube. Outwardly he was +cool enough, but his heart was beating rapidly. + +At ten paces from the observer he stopped, clicked his heels, and +saluted in correct German fashion. + +The flying-officer spoke rapidly, at the same time pointing in a +westerly direction. Kenneth knew not a word of what he said, but +replied by nodding his head and indicating his bandaged jaw. + +The German scowled, then, turning to the pilot, spoke a few quick +sentences. Kenneth's hand wandered to the butt-end of his revolver. +It imparted a feeling of comparative security. Then, recollecting his +role, he pulled himself together and stood rigidly at attention, at the +same time ready, at the first sign of suspicion on the part of the +airmen, to draw his weapon and blaze away. + +Presently the pilot produced some sheets of paper and a buff calico +envelope. The observer scribbled a few lines, sealed the missive, and +held it towards the pseudo Uhlan. + +Although Kenneth could not understand the other's words, their meaning +was clear enough. He had been peremptorily told to make tracks and +deliver the message somewhere towards the west, where the German lines +were. With another salute he wheeled, and returned to his companion. +Not daring to speak a word, he assisted Rollo to his seat on the +carrier and set the motor in action. + +"We're in luck, old man," said Kenneth, when they were well out of +sight of the disabled Taube. "If we are spotted by any patrols this +letter will pass us through. It's evidently a report to the colonel of +one of the regiments in the fighting-line." + +"Don't you think you had better drop me?" + +"Drop you--what on earth for?" + +"You might get through as a German dispatch-rider; but with a supposed +wounded man going towards the firing-line? Looks a bit suspicious, eh?" + +"No fear; we'll stick together. If one gets through, the other must; +otherwise we'll both go under. Hello! Here's a road." + +It was a sharp corner as they swung from the path to the highway. +Kenneth wisely slowed down, and found himself almost in collision with +a German patrol. + +The men were evidently exhausted. Two were standing in the centre of +the road, and leaning heavily upon their rifles. Half a dozen more, +having discarded their rolled coats and cumbersome knapsacks, were +reclining on a bank. The two faced about on hearing the approach of +the motor. The others sprang to their feet and seized their rifles. + +Producing the buff envelope Kenneth waved it frantically, at the same +time increasing speed. The Germans stood back, the sergeant grunting a +few words as the two lads flashed by. No bullets whistled past them; +the aviator's dispatch had proved a safe passport. + +For the next two miles they were continually passing troops, some going +in the same direction, accompanied by heavily-laden supply wagons; +others, wounded in action, painfully making their way towards the +nearest field hospital. + +The action, whatever the result might be, was no longer in this part of +the field of operations. Ahead were the bivouacs of the Germans +holding the line of front. The air was thick with the smoke of their +campfires. Right and left, as far as the eye could see, were masses of +grey-coated men, without a sign of a gap through which the British lads +could make a dash for freedom. + +Two hundred yards to the left of the road was a battery, the guns of +which were admirably concealed from view from the front by a bank of +earth on which were stuck branches of trees. The muzzles of the +artillery were pointing at an angle of thirty degrees, so that they +must have been shelling a Belgian position at a range of about five +miles. Since the guns were now silent, Kenneth could only reiterate +his belief that the heroic Belgians had had to retire in the face of +overwhelming numbers, and that a distance of at least seven miles lay +between the two lads and their friends. + +After passing numerous detachments of troops without alarming incident, +the confidence of Kenneth and his companion grew stronger; but they had +a nasty shock when they were peremptorily challenged by a picket and +ordered to halt. The sight of half a dozen levelled bayonets left no +doubt as to the demands of the sergeant in charge of the party. + +Kenneth brought the motor-cycle to a dead-stop, keeping his saddle and +supporting the machine by placing his feet on the ground. Rollo, too, +made no attempt to dismount, but, clinging to his companion, drooped +his head with well-feigned exhaustion. + +Pointing to the bandage over his jaw, Kenneth produced the official +document. The sergeant took it, read the inscription, and pointed to a +turning on the right. That, the lads knew, ran parallel to the German +front. + +Meanwhile one of the soldiers stooped and peered into Rollo's face. +Then he said something to the sergeant, who signified assent. The +private began to lift Rollo from his perch--not with any degree of +violence, but carefully, as if actuated by feelings of compassion, +addressing him as _kamerade_. + +Rollo hung on tightly. Kenneth turned his head and expostulated in +dumb show. The private again appealed to his sergeant, at the same +time pointing to a Red Cross motor-wagon that was standing at some +distance off. + +With a jerk of his head the sergeant bade the man desist. After all, +it was not his business. If the wounded Uhlan preferred to be jolted +about on a motorcycle rather than be properly attended to in an +ambulance cart, it was his affair. + +Not to be outdone, the private gave Rollo a drink from his +water-bottle. Then, having returned the envelope to Kenneth and given +him elaborate directions, made fairly clear by many movements of his +hand, the sergeant allowed the two lads to proceed. + +To continue along the road would arouse immediate suspicion. +Accordingly Kenneth turned off and followed the route indicated by the +German. Here, although there were plenty of troops moving up and down, +most of the traffic was across the road between the bivouacs of the +advance lines and the supports. Men were hurrying, each with a set +purpose, and the two supposed wounded lads attracted but little notice. + +The road they were now following was gradually converging upon the line +of resting troops. Unless it made a bend to the right it would cut +through the mass of German soldiery. And perhaps the officer whose +name was on the envelope might be within close distance. His +acquaintance neither Kenneth nor Rollo had the faintest desire to make. + +So suddenly that Kenneth almost overshot it, a narrow lane, running at +right angles to the direction in which they were travelling, came into +view. It separated two infantry regiments, while at the cross-roads +two machine-guns commanded the approach from the westward. + +In an instant Kenneth made up his mind. Round swung the motor-bike, +grazing one of the machine-guns by a bare inch; then, at full speed, +Kenneth began his hazardous dash for safety. He had not ignored the +risk, but there was a chance of success. The lane wound considerably, +and, before the machine-guns could open fire, the fugitives would be +screened by a bend of the tree-lined avenue. + +A dozen voices shouted to him to stop. A bullet whistled high above +the heads of the fugitives. A soldier, more alert than his comrades, +had let loose a hasty, ill-aimed shot. Other bullets followed, some +hitting the ground, others zipping overhead; but to Kenneth's relief +there was no tap-tap of the deadly machine-guns. + +"An outpost, by Jove!" muttered Kenneth. + +He had not reckoned upon this. A quarter of a mile in advance of the +line of bivouacs were a dozen infantrymen, lying hidden in a copse. +Hearing the rifle-firing they started to their feet. + +Kenneth never attempted to slacken his pace. He realized that +everything depended upon speed. Before the outposts could solve the +mystery of two men in Uhlan uniforms tearing towards them, the +motor-cycle with its double burden was upon them. They gave back. One +man attempted to lunge with his bayonet, but the tip of the steel +flashed a good hair's breadth behind Rollo's back. + +A ragged, ill-aimed volley was the parting salute. The two British +lads were through the enemy's lines. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +Arrested as Spies + +"We're safe for the present," remarked Kenneth, after the two fugitives +had placed a distance of at least four miles between them and the +outlying German post. "I didn't mention it before, but the belt is +slipping horribly. The strain has stretched it a lot; so we may as +well shorten the rubber." + +"By Jove, it is slack!" exclaimed Rollo, testing the "give" of the +belt. "It's a wonder it didn't let us down badly. It's a funny thing, +old man, but I've often noticed that if we expect a lot of trouble we +get through without hardly any bother. The last lap, when we rushed +the German lines, was as easy as ABC." + +"Yes," assented his companion. "I've noticed that too. It's the +unexpected trifle that often leads to greater difficulties. Got your +knife handy? Oh, I suppose the Germans took a fancy to that too. Can +you get mine from my pocket? That's right, cut the belt through at an +inch from the end." + +The motor-cyclists had halted in the midst of a war-devastated area. +Farm houses and buildings were numerous, but in almost every case they +had suffered severely from shell-fire. Not a living creature, besides +themselves, was in sight. Here and there were corpses of the gallant +defenders of Belgium, some in uniforms, some in civilian attire. These +men, shot whilst in the act of retiring under a terrific artillery +fire, had been left where they fell, showing how heavy had been the +German attack; for in most cases the plucky Belgians contrived to carry +off those of their comrades who had died for their country. + +Close to the spot where Kenneth and his companion had stopped was a +large farm wagon piled high with furniture. Yoked to it were the +bodies of two oxen, while a short distance away lay a dead peasant--an +old man. The wagon, on which the refugee had been attempting to remove +his goods and chattels from his threatened homestead, had fallen an +easy target to the German guns. + +A gnawing hunger compelled the British lads to examine the +shell-riddled contents of the wagon in the hope of finding food. But +in this they were disappointed. Not so much as a scrap of anything to +eat was to be found. + +Both lads were parched, Kenneth especially so. Even Rollo had almost +forgotten the refreshing taste of the water given him by the German +private. Yet, even in the pangs of a burning thirst, they could not +bring themselves to drink of the stagnant water in the ditches by the +roadside. + +The repair completed, the motor-cyclists remounted. They were most +eager to push on, even for the sake of obtaining drink, food, and rest. +It could only be a matter of a few short, easy miles before they would +be safe for the time being in the country still held by their friends, +the Belgian troops. + +"She's pulling splendidly now," announced Kenneth, referring to the +transmission of power from the engine to the driving-wheel. Both lads +had now discarded the bandages over their bogus wounds, and +conversation was a fairly easy matter. + +Hardly were the words out of his mouth when the motor began to falter. +Then it "picked up", ran for about a quarter of a minute and slowed +down again, finally coming to a dead-stop. + +"No petrol," announced Rollo ruefully. "The tank is empty." + +"Rot!" ejaculated his companion incredulously. "It was full when we +started, and I'll swear we've done nothing like sixty miles on it yet." + +Kenneth examined the gauge, then turned to his chum. + +"Sorry, old man," he said. "I'm wrong. The stuff's all gone." + +Further examination revealed the unpleasant fact that there was a small +leak between the piping and the carburettor. Unnoticed, a quantity of +the petrol had run to waste. + +"It's a case of push," continued Kenneth. "How's your foot? Fit for a +tramp? If not, you may as well get on the saddle and I'll run you +along." + +Although young Barrington's ankle was paining considerably, he sturdily +refused to take advantage of his companion's offer. From experience he +knew that pushing a motor was no light task. Kenneth might be capable +of giving him a lift, but Rollo would not trespass upon his friend's +generous conduct to that extent. + +On and on they plodded, Rollo resting one hand on the saddle and +striving to conceal his limp. Presently a practically ruined village +came in sight. Not only had it been heavily bombarded, but subsequent +fires had increased the work of destruction. Thick columns of smoke +were rising high into the sultry air, while above the roar of the +flames could be heard the excited tones of human voices. + +"The villagers are trying to save the little that remains of their +homes," said Kenneth. "They'll be able to give us some information as +to where we can pick up the Belgian troops. Perhaps, though I doubt +it, we may be also able to procure petrol." + +Suddenly a peasant, who was standing about a hundred yards in front of +the nearest house, took to his heels and ran, shouting as he went. +Before he gained the village, spurts of dull flame burst from behind a +heap of debris piled across the road, and half a dozen bullets _zipped_ +past the two lads. + +"Lie down!" exclaimed Kenneth, stopping only to place his precious +motor-cycle behind a tree by the side of a ditch, before he followed +the prompt example of his companion. "Those fellows have mistaken us +for Uhlans. I don't wonder at it, now I come to think about it." + +Although sheltered by a mound by the side of the ditch, their place of +concealment was known to the peasants. The latter kept up quite a hot +fire from antiquated muskets and sporting-guns. Shots whizzed +overhead, and showers of pellets fell all around the two lads. + +"Can't blame them," said Rollo. "Let's hoist the white flag; it's no +disgrace in this case." + +Kenneth produced a very discoloured pocket-handkerchief. At one time +it had been a white one, but owing to the various uses to which it had +been put its colour resembled that tint which the French, with a +reason, call "isabelle". For want of a staff he was obliged to hold it +by his uplifted arm. In return he received a couple of pellets from a +"twelve-bore", which, fortunately, only inflicted two punctured wounds +in his skin. + +"I'm not a rabbit," muttered Kenneth, and he continued to wave the +"white flag". + +Presently the firing ceased, and a swarm of men, accompanied by several +shrieking women, bore down upon the two supposed Uhlans. + +"We're friends!" shouted Kenneth. "We're English. We've escaped from +the Prussians." + +He might just as well have attempted to stem a torrent with a feather. +The villagers saw only the hated uniforms of their merciless +oppressors. They had no cause to grant quarter to Uhlans, for Uhlans +were brutal and murderous to all with whom they came in contact when on +their dreaded raids. + +"A mort! A bas!" rose from the mob like the growling of a pack of +half-famished animals. The two British lads were in dire peril of +being torn limb from limb. + +"A bas les Prussiens! Nous sommes Anglais," shouted Kenneth again, +folding his arms and trying his level best to appear calm. + +A stick, hurled by a woman's hand, missed his head and struck him +heavily upon the shoulder. At almost the same time Rollo was hit by a +broken brick, the missile striking him in the ribs. + +"Tenez!" thundered an authoritative voice. "Let us show these vile +Uhlans that Belgians are civilized. We will give them a fair trial, +and shoot them afterwards." + +"Anything for a respite," thought Kenneth. Even in this moment of +peril the Belgian speaker's idea of a fair trial tickled his sense of +humour. + +The man who had intervened was a short, thickset fellow, with lowering +eyebrows and a crop of closely-cut hair. He was dressed in black, +while round his waist was a shawl, evidently intended for a badge of +office. He had donned it in such a hurry that the loops of the bows +had come undone and were trailing in the dust. + +Grasped by a dozen toil-hardened hands, and surrounded by the rest of +the survivors of the justly exasperated inhabitants, the two lads were +hurried towards the village. + +"I wish we had kept on our uniforms under these, old man," said Rollo. +"We've nothing to prove our identity." + +"They're speaking in German. That proves their guilt," announced one +of their captors. + +Neither Kenneth nor Rollo attempted to deny the statement--somewhat +unwisely, for their unsophisticated guards took silence as an +expression of assent to the accusation. + +The military passes provided by the Belgian Government had been +destroyed--Rollo's, when captured at Cortenaeken; Kenneth's, when the +lads made their hitherto beneficial exchange of uniforms. As Rollo had +remarked, they possessed nothing that they could produce to prove their +identity. + +Happening to look over his shoulder, Kenneth saw a peasant kicking his +motor-cycle. Unable to wheel it, since its owner had slipped in the +clutch previous to placing it under cover, the Belgian was venting his +annoyance upon the machine. + +"Stop!" shouted Kenneth. "That's an English motor-cycle. Would you do +harm to anything made by your friends the English?" + +He used the word "English" advisedly, for experience had taught him +that the term "British" is hardly known to the peasantry of Belgium. +Even the educated classes make use of the expression "English" more +frequently than "British". + +"Aye; do not injure it, Henri," called out the man who evidently held +the office of Mayor. "When the English soldiers arrive to help us to +drive back the Bosches it may be useful to them. Parbleu! It is +useless to us." + +In front of the ruined church the villagers held a most informal trial +upon their captives. From the Belgians' point of view the evidence was +absolutely conclusive against the prisoners. They were in German +uniforms. + +In vain the lads mentioned the names of Major Resimont, Captain +Planchenoit, and other officers of the 9th Regiment of the Line. The +peasants knew nothing of them; besides, they declared, it was an easy +matter to invent names. Again, the prisoners spoke French with a +foreign accent; they had been caught whilst coming from the direction +of the German lines. They were, no doubt, scouts of the Uhlan patrol, +bent upon completing the work of massacre and destruction that the guns +had begun against the unresisting village. + +"Hang them: powder is too good to waste upon canaille such as these," +suggested one of the peasants. + +"Yes, hang them," agreed another. "I'll do the job. 'Twill be but a +slight revenge for my murdered wife and children. Let the Uhlans see, +when next they come, that we, too, can be terrible." + +The Major nodded his head approvingly. A man shuffled forward with a +coil of rope. + +"One moment," exclaimed Kenneth, who even in this moment of peril did +not lose his head. "If we are to die, cannot we have the service of a +priest?" + +It was a faint chance. A representative of the Church would +undoubtedly have great influence with his flock. He would, more than +likely, listen impartially to the story of the two condemned prisoners. + +"A priest?" echoed one of the peasants mockingly. "Is it likely that +Germans who have purposely shattered God's house can hope for +absolution from a priest?" + +"Besides, we have not a priest," added another. "Monsieur le cure was +wounded early in the day. He was taken to Louvain." + +"Hurry with the execution, camarades," said the Mayor. "Time is +precious. At any moment a strong body of these Uhlans may be upon us. +Prepared, we may bring down a few and sell our lives dearly--but this +is not being prepared." + +Kenneth shivered when he felt the contact of the rope round his neck. +He glanced at his companion. Rollo's face was red with suppressed +fury. He looked as if he were on the point of breaking loose and +making a desperate bid for freedom. It was the injustice of the whole +business, not the fear of death, that agitated him. + +"Let's have a slap at them," said Rollo in a low tone. "If we get a +dose of lead it will be better than a rope. Quickly, before they begin +to tie our hands. Ready?" + +"Aye," replied Kenneth calmly. + +"One moment! You mark time with that fellow with the scar over his +eye. We'll keep together as long as we can. I hardly feel my +ankle----" + +He stopped. His ready ear detected the clatter of horses' hoofs. The +peasants heard it too. In evident alarm they gripped their antiquated +fire-arms. The fellow with the rope let the noose fall from his hands +and made a rush for his musket. + +"It is well, camarades," shouted the Mayor. "They are our soldiers." + +Down the main street of the ruined village rode a troop of Belgian +lancers, followed by a motor-car on which was mounted an automatic gun. +Seeing two men in Uhlan uniforms surrounded by a mob of angry peasants, +the officer in charge ordered his men to halt, and rode up to ascertain +the cause of the commotion. + +As he did so, Kenneth recognized him as one of the officers who took +part in trapping the Uhlans after their raid on Tongres. + +"A nous, mon capitaine!" he said in a loud, clear voice. + +"What have we here?" exclaimed the officer in astonishment; then +recalling Kenneth's features he continued: "The English soldier in +Uhlan uniform! What is the meaning of it all?" + +In as few words as possible Kenneth related the circumstances that led +to their present condition. + +When he had finished, the captain turned to the leading villager. + +"Monsieur le maire," he said. "I will be answerable for these two +Englishmen. Believe me, in your zeal for your country's good you have +slightly overstepped the bounds. Fortunately there is no real harm +done, and messieurs les Anglais will no doubt forgive an unintentional +injury." + +The Mayor, who had meanwhile readjusted his sash, saluted the lancer +captain, then held out his hand to Kenneth. + +"Pardon, camarade," he said. + +Now that the danger was over, both lads felt able to accept the deep +apologies of the peasants. The latter had been labouring under a +genuine grievance, and their somewhat high-handed action would admit of +an excuse. They were quaking in their shoes lest their former +prisoners should take steps to secure their punishment; but finding +themselves magnanimously treated, they responded with three hurrahs for +England and the two men who had come from that country to aid stricken +Belgium in her troubles. + +"Now what do you propose doing?" asked the Captain. "As for us, we +must push on. We have an important reconnaissance to make." + +"We want to rejoin our regiment--the 9th of the Line, sir," replied +Kenneth. + +The officer smiled grimly. + +"I regret, messieurs, that I cannot help you in that direction," he +said. "Perhaps the best thing you can do is to make your way to +Brussels, and there await news of your regiment. Should anyone +question you, say that I--Captain Doublebois--have instructed you. Is +there anything else?" + +"We've run short of petrol, sir," announced Rollo, pointing in the +direction of the motor-cycle, the handlebars of which were just visible +above the edge of the ditch. + +"Parbleu! Petrol is now as precious as one's life-blood. +Nevertheless, I think we may be able to spare you a litre. Corporal +Fougette," he shouted, addressing the non-commissioned officer in +charge of the motor machine-gun, "measure out a litre of petrol for +these messieurs--good measure, not a drop more or less." + +The Captain stood by while Kenneth brought up the cycle and had the +petrol poured into the tank. + +"Now, messieurs," he continued, "this will suffice to take you as far +as our nearest depot. After that, proceed to Brussels. I'll warrant +you'll be in need of a rest, but there will be plenty to occupy your +minds, or my name is not Captain Raoul Doublebois. But take my advice, +messieurs, and get rid of those accursed uniforms!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +Stranded in Brussels + +It was late in the day when Kenneth and Rollo having partaken of a +plain but satisfying meal on the way, arrived in Belgium's capital. + +The streets were crowded with refugees from the war-inundated +districts. Throngs of pale-faced women and children, for the most part +unnaturally apathetic, stood in mute despair around the country carts +piled high with their belongings. Many of them had seen their houses +torn by shot and shell, their neighbours slain by the German guns. +Rendered homeless, they had fled to Brussels; their villages might be +overrun and occupied by the invaders, but the capital--never! The +Allies would never permit that. + +Old men related the tales of their grandsires, how, almost a hundred +years ago, England saved Brussels from the invader. History would, +they felt convinced, repeat itself. So in their thousands the refugees +poured into the already congested streets of the city. + +Kenneth and his companion were indeed fortunate in securing the room +they had occupied during their previous stay in the Belgian capital. +Quickly divesting themselves of the civilian garb that they had managed +to procure, they threw themselves into bed and slept like logs until +nine the next morning. + +When Rollo attempted to rise he found that his ankle had swollen to +such an extent that it was almost a matter of impossibility to set foot +to ground. The excitement and continual movement of the previous day +had tended to make him forget the injury, but once his boot was removed +and the limb allowed to rest, inflammation and consequent enlargement +of the joint were the result. + +"Take it easy, old man," suggested Kenneth. "When we've had breakfast +I'll saunter out and see how things are progressing. Let me see, +what's the programme? New uniforms; money--we have about ten centimes +between the pair of us. It's lucky the pater placed that fifty pounds +to my credit in the bank. The trouble is, how am I to prove my +identity? Then there's Thelma. Perhaps Major Resimont's family has +returned to the Rue de la Tribune, so I'll find out. I'll be gone some +little time, old man." + +"I don't mind," replied Rollo. "Before you go, you might get hold of a +paper." + +The cost of their simple breakfast was an "eye-opener". Already famine +prices were being asked in the overcrowded city. Somewhat shamefacedly +Kenneth had to explain the reason for his pecuniary embarrassment; but +to his surprise the short, podgy woman who corresponded to the British +landlady expressed her willingness to wait until messieurs les Anglais +were accommodated. + +"Perhaps, although I trust not, I may have to entertain Prussians," she +added. "Then I know it is hopeless to expect payment." + +Having had breakfast, Kenneth went out. He had put on an overcoat, +lent by his obliging hostess, in order to conceal the nondescript +garments he had obtained as civilian clothes. + +The crowded streets were strangely quiet. Beyond the occasional crying +of a child or the barking of some of the numerous dogs, there was +little sound from the listless throng. + +When Kenneth was last in Brussels the people were vociferously +discussing the situation, especially the momentarily expected arrival +of the British Expeditionary Force. Now hope seemed dead. No longer +was there any talk of foreign aid. People began to accept as a matter +of course the fact that their city would be handed over to the Germans +without opposition. Already the seat of government had been removed to +Antwerp. The Civil Guards, who had at first commenced to erect +barricades on the roads approaching from the eastward, had been ordered +to remove the obstructions and to disarm themselves. In order to spare +their city from sack and destruction, the Bruxellois had decided to +admit the Huns without opposition. + +Before Kenneth had gone very far his progress was barred by a vast +concourse of people. Civil Guards were forcing a way through the +throng, to allow the passing of a Red Cross convoy. There were thirty +wagons, all filled to their utmost capacity, for the most part with +mangled specimens of humanity. For every soldier wounded by a +rifle-bullet there were, roughly, twenty-nine maimed by shell-fire. + +Another battle had just taken place, with the now usual result. The +Belgians, utterly outnumbered and outranged, had been compelled to fall +back in spite of a determined and vigorous defence. Of their army a +portion had retreated towards Ostend, while the greater part had +retired to the shelter of the vast and supposedly impregnable fortress +of Antwerp. + +As soon as the convoy had passed, Kenneth hurried to the military +depot. He found the place locked up. Not a soldier was to be seen. +Enquiries brought the information that, regarding the fall of Brussels +as inevitable, the authorities had transferred practically the whole of +the military stores to Antwerp and Bruges. + +"You want a uniform?" repeated the old citizen to whom Kenneth had +announced his requirements. "Ma foi! Your only chance, unless you get +a discarded uniform from the hospital (and there, alas! there are +many), is to follow the army to Antwerp. But you are not a Belgian?" + +"No, English," replied Kenneth. "And I must remain in Brussels for a +few days." + +"Then, mon garcon, put the idea of a uniform out of your head whilst +you are here. Otherwise, when the Bosches arrive---- Ah, mon Dieu, +they are barbarians!" + +"Perhaps the old chap is right," thought Kenneth as he resumed his way. +"I cannot desert Rollo, and if I were to be found in Belgian uniform it +would mean at least a trip across the Rhine and confinement in a +barbed-wire compound till the end of the war. Now for the Credit +Belgique." + +Upon arriving at the bank the lad had another setback. The premises +were closed; all the windows were heavily shuttered, whilst on the door +was a notice, printed in French and Flemish, to the effect that the +whole of the bullion and specie had been taken over by the Government, +and that the bonds had been sent to London for security until Belgium +was free from the invading German armies. + +"Bang goes my fifty pounds!" thought Kenneth. "We'll have to exist on +our corporal's pay--one franc fifty centimes a week, if we can get it." + +From the bank Kenneth made his way to the Rue de la Tribune. Here most +of the shops were shut and every other private house deserted. At the +house owned by the Resimont family there was no sign of occupation. +One of the windows on the ground floor had been broken. Through the +empty window-frame a curtain fluttered idly in the breeze. Already it +was frayed by the action of the wind. Obviously the damage had been +going on for some considerable time, without any attempt to prevent it. + +Hoping against hope, Kenneth hammered at the knocker, but the door +remained unanswered. + +From the doorway of a tobacconist's shop opposite, the portly, +well-groomed proprietor appeared. Raising a jewel-bedecked hand, he +beckoned to the shabby youth standing on the Resimonts' doorstep. + +"Monsieur requires----?" he asked, raising his eyebrows to complete his +question. + +"I wish to see Madame Resimont, monsieur." + +"Madame set out soon after the war broke out. Whither I know not. But +Monsieur is not Belgian?" + +"No, English," replied Kenneth promptly, at the same time wondering why +two people had asked that question that morning. It was a shock to his +self-confidence, for he was beginning to pride himself upon his perfect +French accent. + +"You live in the city?" + +"For a few days, monsieur." + +"Good! Perchance I may hear news of madame. If you will let me have +your address, I will in that case let you know." Kenneth furnished the +desired information, and, having thanked the tobacconist, began to +retrace his steps. As he did so he glanced at the name over the shop. +In brass letters were the words "Au bon fumeur--Jules de la Paix ". + +The worthy Jules did not wait until Kenneth was out of sight. Tripping +back into the shop, he grabbed an envelope from the counter and wrote +the name and address which he had obtained. + +"English. Spy undoubtedly," he muttered gleefully. "In another two +days that will be worth much to me." + +For Jules de la Paix was Belgian only as far as his assumed name went. +In reality he was a Prussian, a native of Charlottenburg, and a spy in +the pay of the German Government. For over twenty years he had been in +business as a tobacconist in the Rue de la Tribune, fostered by +Teutonic subsidies, waiting for the expected day when the Kaiser's +grey-clad legions were to strike at France through the supposedly +inviolate territory of Belgium. + +"I'll call at the post office," decided Kenneth. "I don't suppose it +will be of any use, but on the off-chance there may be letters waiting +for Rollo or me. There's no harm in trying." + +In blissful ignorance of the danger that overshadowed him, Kenneth made +his way through the crowd invading the post office. It was nearly +forty minutes before his turn came. In reply to his request, a +hopelessly overworked clerk went to a pigeonhole and removed a pile of +envelopes. + +"Nothing, Monsieur Everest," he announced, after a perfunctory glance +at the various addresses. "Nor is there anything for Monsieur +Barrington." + +"Hullo, Everest, old boy! What on earth are you doing here?" exclaimed +a voice in Kenneth's ear. + +Turning, the lad found himself confronted by a tall, erect Englishman, +whose features were partly concealed by the turned-down brim of a soft +felt hat. + +"I'm afraid I don't---- Why, it's Dacres!" + +"Right, old boy! But you haven't answered my question. What are you +doing in Brussels at this lively moment?" + +Dick Dacres was an old St. Cyprian's boy. He was Kenneth's senior by +several years, having left the Upper Sixth while young Everest was +still in the Third. Kenneth ought to have recognized him sooner, for +he had been Dacres's fag for one term. + +"Let's get out of this crush," continued Dacres, grasping his old +schoolfellow by the arm. Once clear of the crowd he noticed for the +first time the lad's shabby clothes, but with inborn courtesy he +refrained from passing any remark that might cause any confusion on the +part of young Everest. "I'm out here on service; can't give you any +particulars. What are you doing here?" + +"I'm with Barrington--you remember him? We're corporals of the 9th +Regiment of the Line--motor-cyclist section." + +"Indeed! Where is Barrington?" + +"In bed with a sprained ankle. Would you like to see him? It isn't +very far." + +Dacres glanced at his watch. + +"I should, only I can't stop very long. I have an appointment with +the----" He broke off suddenly. + +"You're not in uniform, I see." + +"No; we had to discard ours. I have been trying to get a fresh +equipment, but it seems hopeless in this place." + +"Fire away and let's have your yarn," said Dacres encouragingly, as +they walked side by side along one of the fairly-unfrequented streets +running parallel with the Rue de la Tribune. + +Before they reached the modest lodging Dacres had skilfully extracted +the main thread of his late college-chums' adventures. + +"Then you're temporarily on the rocks," he observed. + +"I didn't say so," expostulated Kenneth. + +"My dear man, I know you didn't, but I can put two and two together. +It's a delicate subject, Everest, and I'm afraid I'm rather a blunt +sort of chap, so excuse me. You're on your beam-ends?" + +"Unfortunately, yes," admitted Kenneth. "The pater sent a draft to the +Credit Belgique, but before I could draw on it the bank's been +transferred. But it will be all right soon, I expect." + +"Very well then, until things get a bit straight, let me give you a +leg-up. Don't be uppish, old man. Remember we're Britons in a strange +land. Luckily I'm fairly flush." + +So saying, Dacres produced his purse, and extracting five twenty-franc +pieces forced them into Kenneth's hand, abruptly checking the lad's +mingled protestations and thanks. + +"Rollo, old man, I've brought someone to see you," announced his +comrade, as he opened the door of the room in which Rollo was lying in +bed. + +"Hulloa, Barrington!" + +"Hulloa, Dacres!" + +That was the prosaic greeting, nothing more and nothing less; yet there +was a wealth of cordial surprise in the interchange of exclamations. + +The time Dacres had at his disposal was only too short. He was, he +explained, a sub-lieutenant in one of the recently-raised naval +brigades, and had accompanied an officer of rank upon an important +mission to Belgium. More he was unable to say. He had already been to +Ostend, and was now about to proceed to Antwerp. + +"We're returning home to-night," he concluded. "If you like to entrust +me with a letter, I'll see that it's posted safely the moment I set +foot ashore in England. If I've time I'll look your people up and let +them know you're doing your little bit. It all depends upon whether I +can get leave, but we are hard at it whipping recruits into shape." + +"Awfully decent chap," commented Kenneth, when Dick Dacres had taken +his departure. "He would insist upon lending me a hundred francs. +Otherwise, old man, we would be on the rocks--absolutely. I've drawn +three blanks--no uniforms obtainable, no tidings of the Resimont +family, and no letters from home. I think we ought to hang on here a +little while until your ankle's fit. We may see the beastly Germans +marching through the city, for the burgomaster has gone, so I hear, to +obtain terms of capitulation." + +"Where are the Belgian troops?" + +"Mostly in Antwerp." + +"Then if I were you, I'd make tracks for Antwerp while there's time." + +"Are you fit, then?" + +"I wasn't referring to myself. This ankle will keep me here some days +longer, I'm afraid. But you go, and if I have a ghost of a chance I'll +find you again within a week." + +Kenneth shook his head. + +"Can't be done," he declared. "I mean to stand by you till you're well +again. It would be interesting to watch how those Germans behave in +Brussels." + +"It's risky," remarked Rollo. + +"So is everything connected with this business, old man. Besides, we +are acting under the orders of Captain Doublebois, so that settles it." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +Denounced + +The morning of the 20th August--a fateful day in the history of +Belgium--dawned, accompanied by a drizzling rain. The sky seemed to be +shedding tears of sympathy at the impending fate of Brussels, for, +according to the terms of the agreement made between the German +commander, Sixtus von Arnim, and the Belgian burgomaster, the invading +troops were to march in unopposed. + +When the triumphant Prussians entered Paris after the siege of 1870, +their pageant-like progress was witnessed only by a few exasperated +Parisians from behind the shuttered windows of their houses. The +streets along the line of route were practically deserted. Had the +Bruxellois adopted a similar plan, much of the effect of the gaudy +display of Germany in arms would have been thrown away. + +But the citizens of Brussels acted otherwise. In spite of their fear +and trembling they assembled in vast, silent throngs. Curiosity had +got the better of their national pride. Those who had good reason to +doubt the plighted word of a Prussian took courage at the high-spirited +yet conciliatory proclamation of the debonair M. Max, the burgomaster: + +"As long as I live, or am a free agent, I shall endeavour to protect +the rights and dignity of my fellow-citizens. I pray you, therefore, +to make my task easier by refraining from all acts of hostility against +the German soldiery. Citizens, befall what may, listen to your +burgomaster. He will not betray you. Long live Belgium, free and +independent! Long live Brussels!" + +Accordingly the citizens, amongst whom were few able-bodied men, +assembled in crowds ten or twelve deep along the principal +thoroughfares. Amongst them was Kenneth Everest, who, in his civilian +garb, attracted no attention from those who stood near him. Since a +dignified silence seemed to brood over the humiliated Belgians, Kenneth +had no occasion to speak, and thus disclose his nationality. He knew, +by reports from his hostess, that there were spies innumerable mingled +with the throng; but he was unaware that he was already marked for +denunciation to the German authorities as soon as the Prussian rule was +established in Belgium's capital. + +Presently a wave of dull expectancy swept through the heavy-hearted +populace. It was now early in the afternoon. From the south-east and +east came the faint discord of military bands playing one against the +other. Louder and louder grew the noise, till the strident tones of +"Deutschland ueber Alles", played by the leading regimental band, +drowned the chaotic blare of the next. + +Craning his neck in order to obtain a clear view through the forest of +dripping umbrellas--for the rain was now falling steadily--Kenneth +could discern the head of the procession--a general, swarthy and heavy +jowled, who scowled under his heavy eyebrows at the crowd as he rode +by. He was the personification of German brute force, a stiffly-rigid +figure in grey. He reminded Kenneth of a cast-iron equestrian statue +smothered in grey paint. + +In close formation came the various regiments of the invaders, men +whose fresh uniforms and faultless equipment gave the appearance of +troops straight from their regimental depots rather than war-worn +veterans. And this, in fact, was the case. The men who had learned to +respect the courage and determination of the hitherto despised Belgian +troops had not been permitted to engage in the triumphal pageant +through the surrendered city. Others of the almost innumerable +Teutonic legions had been sent forward to impress the remaining +inhabitants of Brussels. + +Suddenly a guttural order rang out. As one man the grey-clad ranks +broke into the machine-like goose-step. Possibly this spectacular +display was meant to seal the impression upon the onlookers. If so, +those responsible for the order were grievously mistaken. Regarding +the action as one of insulting triumph, the Belgians strengthened their +resolutions to impress on their absent troops the necessity of +resisting to the last cartridge. + +With the troops came large transport sections, motor machine-guns, +batteries, and siege-trains. During that memorable afternoon nearly +fifty thousand German troops poured into the city. They were resolved +to hold and bleed the luckless citizens to the last gold piece--an +indemnity for non-resistance. + +"So they're here?" asked Rollo of his companion upon the latter's +return. "I heard the din and the terrific discord of their brass +bands. Have they done any damage?" + +"Not as far as I could see. It is too early to come to any conclusion. +At any rate, we'll lie low for a few days. I don't suppose they'll +trouble us. How's the ankle?" + +For the whole of the next day Kenneth remained indoors with his +partly-crippled companion. Perhaps the most galling part of his +detention was the total absence of news from without, for none of the +papers were permitted to appear. + +Small detachments of Germans patrolled the side streets, and, generally +speaking, order was well maintained. The conquerors evidently wished +to impress the citizens of Brussels with their magnanimous conduct; +but, with the record of their deeds against the unresisting villages of +the provinces of Liege and Brabant, the Germans made very little +headway in gaining the goodwill of the inhabitants. + +About nine on the following morning the lads heard a furious hammering +on the street door of the house. They exchanged enquiring glances. +Kenneth rushed to the latticed window, opened it cautiously, and looked +down into the narrow street. + +Standing outside the house were a dozen Prussian infantrymen. A +sergeant was about to hammer again upon the door. Beside him stood a +lieutenant, drawn sword in hand. A crowd of inquisitive civilians +stood at a respectful distance; while, from the windows of the houses +on the opposite side of the street, the frightened inhabitants peeped +timorously at the display of armed force outside the dwelling of the +highly-respected Madame Hirondelle. + +"What's up?" asked Rollo. + +"Prussians. They're after us, old man." + +"Nonsense! Why should they be?" + +"Someone's given us away," declared Kenneth savagely. He realized that +they were trapped. There was no means of escape along the roofs of the +adjoining houses, no place in which to hide without being easily and +ignominiously hauled out. Even had there been a chance of getting +clear, Rollo's injured ankle had to be taken into consideration. + +They heard the door being opened; the harsh voice of the German +lieutenant interrogating Madame Hirondelle in execrable French; then +the tramp of heavy boots as the file of soldiers entered the house and +began to ascend the stairs. + +Rollo sat up in bed. His companion stood by the side of the alcove, +gripping the back of a chair. + +Then came a heavy knock at the door of the room, as a harsh voice +shouted: + +"Englischemans, surrender; if not, we shoots!" + +Then the door was pushed open a little way, and a spiked helmet thrust +forward on the muzzle of a rifle. Finding that this emblem of German +militarism was not the object of an attack, the lieutenant plucked up +courage and dashed into the room, brandishing his sword and revolver +like an eighteenth-century melodramatic pirate. + +After him crowded the sergeant and most of the men, two privates being +left to guard Madame Hirondelle, in order that she would not be able to +communicate with the supposed spies. + +Kenneth was roughly seized by the throat. His hands were grasped and +tied behind his back. The sergeant then proceeded to ransack his +pockets, without discovering any documents, incriminating or otherwise. +The unexpended portion of Dick Dacres's loan was taken possession of by +the lieutenant, whose avidity in grabbing the money seemed to suggest +that there was but slight possibility of it finding its way into the +coffers of the Imperial treasury. + +Meanwhile Rollo had been ordered to get out of bed. His clothes, after +being searched and examined, were handed to him. + +Other German soldiers were busily engaged in ransacking the room. The +bed was uncovered, the mattress cut open in the vain hope of finding +incriminating evidence; the contents of cupboards and drawers were +turned out upon the floor, the Prussians taking care to retain +"souvenirs" of their exploit as they did so. + +Greatly to his disgust and disappointment, the lieutenant's efforts to +obtain proofs of the supposed spies' guilt were fruitless. + +He gave an order. Soldiers surrounding the two lads urged them through +the door and down the narrow stairs. Determined to make a good haul, +the officer ordered the arrest of Madame Hirondelle, the concierge, and +the two maid-servants; then, with much sabre-rattling, he led the +prisoners through the streets. + +A quarter of an hour later Kenneth found himself alone in a gloomy +cell. The prospect was not a pleasing one. Even with a clear +conscience as far as the charge of espionage went, the lad realized the +terrible position in which he and Rollo were placed. + +They were British subjects; they were not in uniform; they had no +documents to prove the truth of their statement that they were +corporals in the Belgian army. There was no one, excepting the +thoroughly-terrified Madame Hirondelle, to speak a word in their favour. + +For half an hour he paced the limited expanse of floor, pondering over +the difficulties of the situation. Then, without any thought of +attempting an escape, he began examining the walls and floor of his +cell. The place was roughly twenty feet in length and nine in breadth. +The walls were of brick, set in hard, black cement. They had, at some +previous time, been coated with yellow limewash, but most of the colour +had been worn off. The floor was paved with irregular stone slabs. +Eight feet from the ground was a small unglazed window, with two rusty +and slender vertical bars. Opposite the window was the door of +worm-eaten oak. + +The floor was half a dozen steps lower than the level of the ground +without. A sentry was posted outside the window. Although standing +erect, the only part of him visible from within was from his knees to +his belt, so Kenneth knew that on that side the ground was about five +or six feet above the floor of his cell. + +It also appeared likely that the room was not generally used as a place +of confinement. It had no furniture. On the stone floor were wisps of +straw and hay. It might, but for the steps from the doorway, have been +used as a stable. + +"The Germans don't surely mean to keep me in this rotten hole," thought +Kenneth. "It isn't fit for a dog." + +Slowly the morning passed. At noon the sentry without was relieved. +The sergeant's guard made no attempt to look through the window. The +new sentry seemed ignorant of the presence of the English lad. There +he stood, as rigid as a statue, while the minutes ran into hours. Not +once did the grey-coated soldier "walk his beat". No one passed by. +The sentry was to all intents and purposes posted in a totally +unnecessary position. + +Just as the clocks chimed the hour of two, the door of the cell was +opened and a sergeant and file of Prussian infantrymen entered. +Silently the non-commissioned officer pointed to the open door. +Preceded and followed by the soldiers, Kenneth set out to be tried for +his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +The Sack of Louvain + +Passing along several gloomy passages and ascending two flights of +stairs, Kenneth was ushered into a large, well-lighted room overlooking +the city square. From without came the noise and bustle of hundreds of +troops. Several regiments, having recently arrived, were partaking of +a meal in the open, the food being cooked in large portable kitchens, +the smoke from which drifted in through the open windows of the room. + +Seated at a massive oak desk was an officer in the uniform of the +German General Staff. Behind him stood a major and two captains. At a +writing desk against the wall, facing the windows, sat a military +clerk. The soldiers of Kenneth's escort lined up behind him, the +sergeant standing rigidly at attention on his right. Of Rollo there +were no signs. + +For some moments Colonel von Koenik, the president of the court, +regarded the lad before him with a fixed glare. Kenneth met the +president's gaze unflinchingly, yet he realized that there was a menace +in the German's manner. It was a hatred of England and of all men and +things English. + +Finding that he could not browbeat the prisoner, von Koenik rasped out +a few words to the major who stood behind him. With a stiff salute the +latter advanced to the side of the president's desk. + +"What is your name, prisoner?" he asked in fairly good English, +although there was a tendency to substitute the letter "b" for "p" in +most of his words. + +Kenneth told him. The major referred to a paper that he held in his +hand. + +"You are English? What are you doing in Brussels?" + +"I am a soldier in the Belgian service." + +"In the Belgian service perhaps; but a soldier--no, never." + +"Pardon me, sir," protested Kenneth; "I am a corporal of the 9th +Regiment of the Line." + +The Major waved his hand contemptuously. + +"You are not--what you call it?--ah!--bluffing an English magistrate +this time. You have a Prussian officer to deal with. If what you say +is true, why are you not in uniform? Where are your identity papers? +Say rather that you are in the employ of that arch-plotter Grey; tell +us exactly the truth, then perhaps we will be merciful." + +"Of what offence am I accused, sir?" + +"Espionage--surely you know that without asking an unnecessary +question." + +"It is not true. I have never attempted to spy. Who, sir, is my +accuser?" + +"It is undesirable to mention names. Our informant states that you +have been several days in Brussels, always in civilian clothes. You +frequented public buildings; you were seen watching the arrival of our +troops." + +"That I admit," said Kenneth. "There was no secrecy about the +ceremonial parade of the German army through the streets." + +"Then perhaps you would tell your friends in England how the victorious +Germans will march through London, hein?" asked the Major mockingly. + +"I'm afraid they won't," retorted Kenneth, throwing discretion to the +winds. "Your troops have to reckon first with our army and then with +our fleet." + +"Your army? Faint-hearted mercenaries. Englishman, in less than a +fortnight our troops will march right through the English and their +friends the French, and be in Paris. After that, London." + +"No fear!" ejaculated Kenneth. + +The German major shrugged his shoulders. + +"It is wasting the time of the court," he remarked. "To return to the +business in hand. You, an Englishman, have been caught red-handed. +You admit you are interested in military matters, although your claim +to be a corporal in the Belgian army does not hold. Again, you admit +that you took up arms against us?" + +"Certainly--as a soldier, and strictly in accordance with the code of +war." + +"Your code is not our code," sneered the Major. He then turned and +addressed the president. Colonel von Koenik inclined his head, and +gave an order to the sergeant of the guard. + +Three men filed out, returning after a brief interval with Rollo. +Limping badly, young Barrington was marched across the room and placed +by the side of his chum. + +The president stood up and removed his helmet. The other officers also +uncovered. + +"Accused," he said, speaking in English, "you are found guilty on a +charge of espionage. The sentence is death." + +Von Koenik sat down and resumed his head-dress. He scanned the faces +of the two lads, as if to detect signs of fear. But there were none. +Beyond an almost imperceptible tightening of the lips, the young +Britons received the grim intelligence unflinchingly. + +"But on account of your youth I am going to make what you English call +a sporting offer. You"--addressing Rollo--"expressed an opinion that +our armies would never reach Paris." + +"I did," replied Rollo, whose examination had been concluded before +Kenneth had been brought before the court. + +"And you also"--to Kenneth--"made a similar rash statement." + +"Not rash, sir; but a candid statement." + +"Very good. You will both find that you are in error. Now, this is my +offer. You will not be shot straight away. You will be kept in close +confinement. As soon as Paris is taken--as it will be in about a +fortnight--your sentence will be put into execution. If within thirty +days from now our armies should by some unprecedented accident fail to +reach Paris, your lives will be spared and your sentences commuted to +ten years' imprisonment in a fortress. You comprehend?" + +Von Koenik broke off to exchange a few words in German with the major. +Then he resumed: + +"Major Hoffmann here will be answerable for your custody. So long as +you give no trouble, and make no attempt to escape--such attempt will +be bound to be a failure, let me add--you will be treated with as much +consideration as it is possible to accord to convicted spies." + +Again the president conferred with the major. Then, stiffly saluting, +Major Hoffmann gave an order. The soldiers closed around the two +prisoners. + +With their heads held erect, Kenneth and Rollo were about to be marched +from the presence of the grim Colonel von Koenik, when the latter +rapped the desk with an ivory mallet. + +"Of course," he added, "when our armies enter Paris--about the 1st of +September--you will accept the decree of fate? Perhaps. But it is not +pleasant to be confronted by the muzzles of a dozen rifles of a +firing-party. There is one more chance. If you give us true and full +information concerning certain points which will be raised later, the +full penalty will be mitigated. You understand?" + +Both Kenneth and Rollo began to protest, but von Koenik silenced them. + +"You English are too fond of acting and thinking rashly on the spur of +the moment," he exclaimed. "Think it over--carefully. It is worth +your calm deliberation." + +On being removed from the court, Kenneth and Rollo were placed in the +same cell--the room in which the former had been kept pending his +appearance at the farcical trial. + +Colonel von Koenik had no intention of carrying his threat into +execution. He was one of those men who are firm believers in the +application of methods of tyranny to gain their ends. Kenneth Everest +had been denounced as a spy by the tobacconist of the Rue de la +Tribune--himself a German secret agent. The information had to be +acted upon, and Rollo, living in the same house as the accused, had +also been arrested. + +Von Koenik would not condemn a prisoner without conclusive evidence. +He was convinced, mainly on the testimony of Madame Hirondelle, that +neither Kenneth nor Rollo was a spy; at the same time they were +Englishmen, and that was sufficient to merit their detention. Again, +by intimidation or cajoling they might be able to furnish valuable +information to the German authorities. Since the informal sentence of +death did not move the accused to beg for mercy, a slower and +constantly terrifying method must be applied. + +The firm expressions on the forthcoming failure on the part of the +Germans to enter Paris--an expression that both lads made independently +of each other--gave von Koenik an idea. On his part he was absolutely +certain that no mortal power could arrest the victorious march of the +Kaiser's legions; and such was his obsession that he imagined both +Kenneth and Rollo could have no inmost doubts on the matter. By +proposing a "sporting offer", von Koenik knew that his methods to +terrorize would have time to work and undermine the resolution of the +English lads. In a very few days, he decided, they would be willing to +save themselves from a haunting dread by offering the information he +desired. + +It was by no means a new experiment on the part of Colonel von Koenik. +During his tenure of office in command of a line regiment in an +Alsatian town, he had frequently terrorized civilians who had fallen +under his displeasure, by the application of methods based upon the +legendary sword of Damocles. Hitherto this form of the tyranny of the +Mailed Fist had been most successful; but it was different in the case +of Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington. + +"What was that swashbuckler driving at, I wonder?" asked Rollo, when +the two chums found themselves alone in their cell. "Do you think that +he really intends to have us shot?" + +"I should say yes; only I don't understand why the sentence was not +carried out at once. It is a low-down trick keeping us on tenterhooks; +but from what we have already seen and heard, these Germans--the +Prussians especially--do not draw the line at anything." + +"Anyhow, the fellow thinks he's on a dead cert. on the Paris trip. I +don't; so if he's as good as his word on the month's grace we'll escape +the firing-party. As for the ten years, that's nothing. We'll be +liberated at the end of the war." + +"Unless we 'break bounds' at the first opportunity," added Kenneth. +"We both seem to have been born under a lucky star, and having given +those fellows the slip once, there is no reason why we shouldn't be +equally successful the next time." + +The two following days the lads passed in uneventful captivity in the +cell. Straw had been provided for bedding, while their meals consisted +of rye bread and water, and, once a day, a bowl of soup. For half an +hour they were allowed to take exercise in an enclosed courtyard, four +soldiers, carrying loaded rifles, having been told off to prevent any +attempt at escape. + +On the morning of Tuesday, the 25th of August, the prisoners were +ordered to leave their cell. Guided by the same four soldiers, they +were marched into the courtyard, where a dozen Belgian civilians were +formed up under an armed guard. In a doorway opening into the +quadrangle stood Major Hoffmann, watching the proceedings with a +supercilious air. + +"Are they going to shoot the crowd of us?" whispered Kenneth; but +before Rollo could reply, a sergeant gave the speaker a violent blow +and sternly ordered him in French to be silent. + +The names of the prisoners were then called out, each man having to +answer to his name. This done, the sergeant in charge took the list to +Major Hoffmann, who initialled the document and returned it. + +Then the large gates at one end of the courtyard were thrown open, and +the prisoners, surrounded by their armed guards, were ordered to march. + +Along the Chaussee de Louvain--one of the principal thoroughfares of +Brussels--the melancholy procession passed. There were crowds of +people about in addition to the numerous German troops. The citizens +regarded their compatriots under arrest with suppressed feelings. They +were afraid to make any demonstration of sympathy. The iron heel of +Germany had crushed the spirit out of the Belgians who still remained +in the fallen capital. + +"Do you know where they are taking us to?" asked Kenneth of the +prisoner marching next to him, evidently a well-to-do business man +before the great calamity that had overtaken him. + +"They say to Germany, there to work in the fields and help to feed our +enemies," replied the man. "At all events, we have to march to Louvain +and be entrained there." + +Kenneth's great fear was that Rollo would be unable to stand the strain +of the long march. His ankle had improved, but he still limped +slightly. + +"I'm all right," replied Rollo cheerily, in response to his chum's +anxious enquiry. "It's better than being cooped up in that rotten +hole. Besides," he added in a whisper, "we may get a chance of giving +them the slip." + +So far the information given by the Belgian seemed to be correct. The +prisoners were trudging along the highway leading to Louvain. Beyond +that point, railway communication was now possible; for with their +advance upon Brussels the German engineers had lost no time in +repairing the lines and erecting temporary bridges in place of those +sacrificed by the Belgians in their efforts to impede the enemy's +advance. + +At twelve o'clock the prisoners reached the village of Cortenburg, +about half-way between the capital and Louvain. Here they were halted, +and driven into a church. For food and drink they had to depend upon +the charity of the villagers, who, notwithstanding the fact that they +had been despoiled by the invaders, gave the famished and travel-worn +men bread and milk. + +For three hours Kenneth and his companions in adversity were kept under +lock and key, while their escort, having obtained copious quantities of +wine, were becoming boisterously merry. When, at length, the order was +given to resume the march, some of the soldiers were so drunk that they +could not stand. The sergeant thereupon ordered the villagers to +provide two carts, and in these, lying on bundles of straw, the +besotted men followed their comrades. + +Before the prisoners had covered a mile beyond Cortenburg an open +motor-car dashed past. In spite of its great speed both Kenneth and +Rollo recognized its occupants. They were Colonel von Koenik and Major +Hoffmann. + +"They don't mean to get out of touch with us, old man," remarked +Kenneth, after the car had disappeared in a cloud of dust. "I suppose +they'll go on by train to whatever distance we are bound for. I'll +warrant they'll be waiting at Louvain." + +"I wish I had the chance of bagging that motor-car," said Rollo. "It's +a beauty. We'd be in Antwerp in less than an hour." + +"Instead of which we're tramping along, with a dozen of more or less +intoxicated soldiers to keep an eye on us," added Kenneth. "I believe +if we made a bolt for it they would be too tipsy to aim properly." + +"It's too risky," declared Rollo. "There are hundreds of German troops +scattered all over this part of the country. Besides, if we did get +away, the other prisoners would get a rough time. What's that?" + +"Rifle-firing," replied Kenneth, as the rattle of musketry could be +faintly heard, the sounds coming from the north. + +"A battle before Antwerp, probably," suggested Rollo. "The Germans +will have a stiff task if----" + +A vicious box on the ear from the nearest soldier brought the +conversation to a sudden close. The fellow who dealt the blow grinned +with intense satisfaction at his deed. The next instant Rollo's fist +shot out straight from the shoulder, and the German dropped like a log. +He was too drunk to feel the blow, so he sat on the road, his rifle on +the ground, holding his jaw with both hands and bawling in pot-valiant +style. + +Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, two of the Belgian +prisoners made a dash for liberty. One was the man to whom Kenneth had +spoken--a short, stout, apoplectic individual; the other a tall, lean +fellow who had the appearance of a trained athlete. + +Before the astonished Germans could level their rifles both men had got +across a wide ditch, and had placed a hundred yards of marshy ground +between them and their late captors. Then half a dozen rifles rang +out, but the fugitives held on, the taller one having established a +lead of twenty yards. They were making for a wood, not more than a +quarter of a mile off. + +Again and again the Germans fired. The lads could see some of the +bullets kicking up spurts of dirt a long way wide of their mark; others +must have sung harmlessly overhead. + +Suddenly the short man stopped. He could run no farther. He called to +his companion; but the latter, taking no heed, did not slacken his +swift pace. The corpulent fugitive looked over his shoulder, and +seeing that some of the Germans had attempted pursuit, began to walk +after his compatriot. The fact that the soldiers had missed him at +short range had given him confidence. Presently the tall Belgian +gained the outskirts of the wood. Here he stopped, and waved his arms +with a contemptuous gesture at the German soldiers. It was his +undoing, for by sheer chance a bullet struck him in the head. He +pitched on his face and lay motionless. + +The other man, alternately walking and running, got clear away. + +The English lads now had their turn. They were kicked, prodded with +rifle-butts, and repeatedly struck by the fists of the infuriated, +half-drunken soldiers, till the sergeant, fearing that he might get +into serious trouble if Colonel von Koenik's special prisoners were +much injured, ordered his men to desist. Two of them were sent to +bring the body of the foolhardy Belgian. Dead or alive the whole of +the prisoners had to be accounted for, and the fact that one was +missing caused the sergeant considerable misgivings. + +Meanwhile the sound of distant firing still continued. If anything it +seemed nearer. The German escort began to hurry their prisoners along. + +A mile or so farther on they reached a small village. Here most of the +inhabitants had left, but a few gazed timorously upon the grey-coated +soldiers from the upper windows of their houses. + +The sergeant gave the order to halt, then spoke hurriedly to two of his +men who were not so intoxicated as the rest. These two walked up to a +door and knocked. Receiving no reply, they shattered the woodwork with +their rifles and entered the house. In less than a minute they +reappeared, dragging between them a peasant so old and feeble that he +could hardly walk. Him they bundled into the cart beside the body of +the dead Belgian, and the convoy resumed its way. + +"The brutes!" ejaculated Kenneth. "I see their game. They're going to +palm off that poor peasant as the man that escaped." + +"It seems like it," agreed Rollo; "but what will happen when they read +the roll-call? It will give the show away." + +"Trust those fellows for carrying out a dirty piece of work. Hist!" + +The lads relapsed into silence. They did not want a repetition of the +scene when their last conversation was interrupted. Already they were +bruised from head to foot. + +Shortly before six in the evening the prisoners reached the outskirts +of Louvain. The town, the principal seat of learning of Belgium, was, +of course, in the hands of the Germans; but hitherto they had refrained +from any vandalism. According to their usual procedure they had +terrorized the inhabitants, who still remained in fear and trembling. +Everywhere were placards in French and Flemish, warning the townsfolk +that any act of hostility towards the German troops would result in +severe penalties. With the examples of the fate of other towns and +villages--where the luckless inhabitants, in defence of their lives and +homes, had ventured to resist the invaders and had been ruthlessly +massacred--the people of Louvain had rigidly abstained from any action +that could be regarded as aggressive to German authority. On their +part the invaders behaved fairly well, and confidence was beginning to +be restored amongst the Belgians who still remained in Louvain. + +Suddenly a shot rang out, quickly followed by others. Bullets +screeched over the heads of the prisoners and their German guards. In +a few moments all was confusion. The prisoners flung themselves on the +ground to escape the deadly missiles. Some of the escort followed +their example. Others, kneeling behind the two wagons that brought up +the rear of the procession, returned the fire. + +"Good!" ejaculated Kenneth. "Louvain has been recaptured. That +accounts for the firing we heard this afternoon." + +"I trust so," replied Rollo. "There's one fellow down--another rascal +the less." + +It was the German who had received a taste of a British fist. Rendered +incautious in his maudlin state, he had recklessly exposed himself. A +bullet passing through his chest laid him dead on the spot. Another +German was leaning against the wheel of a wagon, with his hand clapped +to his right shoulder. + +Just then the sergeant caught sight of the troops who were blazing away +at his party. With a succession of oaths he bade his men cease fire. +Here was another blunder. The Germans were firing at each other. + +At length the exchange of shots ceased. A Prussian officer, +accompanied by half a dozen of his men, advanced to meet the prisoners +and their escort. His face was purple with fury. For ten minutes he +bullied and browbeat the luckless sergeant, whose men had not been +responsible for opening fire. Then other officers--members of the +staff--hurried up, and a hasty consultation followed. + +Presently Colonel von Koenik tore up in his motorcar. He was +accompanied by another staff-officer, Major von Manteuffel, whose name +was presently to be execrated throughout the civilized world. + +Von Manteuffel was in a high pitch of nervous excitement. Evidently he +was trying to fix the blame upon the men escorting the Belgian +prisoners, while von Koenik, cool and calculating, championed their +cause. + +Kenneth and Rollo watched the scene with well-concealed satisfaction. +The mere fact that some small portion of the mechanism of the Mailed +Fist had gone wrong elated them. It was an insight into the blustering +methods of German military organization; but they had yet to learn that +the Bullies of Europe had a drastic remedy for their errors, whereby +the penalty fell upon the weak and helpless. + +Von Koenik gave an order, the sergeant bundled Rollo and Kenneth into +an isolated house situated about half a kilometre from the town. What +befell the Belgian prisoners the lads never knew, but from the window +in the upper room in which they were confined, the British youths could +command a fairly-extensive view of Louvain and the road which +approached it. + +Two German soldiers were locked in the room, but they offered no +objection when Kenneth and Rollo went to the window. + +Above the tiled roofs of the houses, the ancient and venerable church +of St. Pierre shot up like an island in the centre of a lake. Other +buildings--churches, the Hotel de Ville, and the university--were +slightly less conspicuous, yet clearly discernible above the expanse of +houses. Along the road were hundreds of grey-coated troops, while a +small black patch in that long-drawn-out riband of silver-grey +indicated the position of the way-worn band of Belgian prisoners, who +were now almost within the limits of the town. + +While the British lads were at the window, then German guards produced +from their knapsacks some pieces of roll, sausages, and a bottle of +wine. Soon the room was filled with the disagreeable sounds of +Teutonic mastication, which, unless one has had the misfortune to hear +it, cannot satisfactorily be described. Kenneth and Rollo, thanking +their lucky stars that they were not compelled to witness the +performance, remained at the window. + +Suddenly, just as the town clocks were chiming the hour of six, a +succession of shots rang out. + +"Good!" ejaculated Kenneth. "The Belgians are driving home an attack." + +The two Germans gave not the slightest hint of alarm, but stolidly +continued their meal. Their indifference caused the lads to wonder. +It was not a conflict between two armed forces, but a massacre! It was +the commencement of what was, in the words of the Prime Minister of +Great Britain, "the greatest crime against civilization and culture +since the Thirty Years' War". + +Fortunately Kenneth and his companion were spared the horrors of having +to witness the indiscriminate shooting of luckless civilians, but, from +their coign of vantage, they were spectators of the scene of +destruction that followed. + +Tall, lurid flames burst forth from the centre of the town of Louvain. +Gradually the ever-widening circle of fire spread till the bulk of the +houses was one vast holocaust. + +Throughout that terrible night the lads remained at the window, +watching the progress of the conflagration and listening to the shrieks +of panic and terror from the brutally-maltreated inhabitants. + +That was von Manteuffel's method of covering up the blunder made by his +half-drunken troops. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +A Bolt from the Blue + +At seven the following morning the two guards were relieved. During +the night they had been stolidly indifferent to everything that was +taking place. They permitted their prisoners liberty of action within +the limits of the room, but they maintained a ceaseless vigilance, +keeping their loaded rifles within arm's-length the whole of the time. + +The new guards were men of a different stamp. Their first act upon +being left with their charges was to compel the lads to leave the +window and take up a position in one corner of the room. At the first +attempt at conversation between the two chums the Germans would shout +threats which, although unintelligible as words, left no doubt as to +their significance. + +An hour later a very meagre repast was brought in for the prisoners, +the soldiers making a thorough examination of the food before the lads +were allowed to partake of it. This was a precautionary measure, lest +some communication might have been secreted; but the fact that their +food had been coarsely handled by the Germans did not make it any the +more appetizing. Nevertheless Kenneth and his companion, now almost +famished, attacked the meal with avidity. + +Just before noon a motor-car drew up outside the house. The guards +sprang to their feet, adjusted the straps of their equipment, seized +their rifles, and drew themselves up as stiff as ramrods. The expected +arrival they knew to be a person of consequence. + +It was Colonel von Koenik. He was civil, almost apologetic, to the +English prisoners. + +"I trust that you were not disturbed by last night's business," he +remarked. "There was a serious riot amongst the Belgian townsfolk. +Our troops were treacherously attacked, and in self-defence they were +compelled to fire some of the houses. Unfortunately the flames spread +considerably, in spite of our efforts to the contrary. + +"If you wish to write to your friends in England," he continued, "you +are at liberty to do so, and I will see that the letters are forwarded +to Holland. Paper and writing materials will be provided. You will +understand that all communications must be left unsealed." + +He paused for a moment, then in more deliberate tones said: + +"It would doubtless be interesting to your fellow-countrymen if you +mentioned last night's riot. Englishmen are supposed to pride +themselves upon their love of fair play. Our act of +necessary--absolutely necessary--self-defence will certainly be +distorted by these Belgians. The written evidence of two Englishmen +such as yourselves will do much to remove a wrong impression. +Meanwhile, until writing materials can be produced, you are at liberty +to take exercise in the garden." + +"What is that fellow driving at?" asked Rollo, when the two chums, +still watched by their guards, found themselves in a secluded garden +enclosed on three sides by a high brick wall. "There's something +behind his eagerness for us to write home." + +"We'll take the chance anyway," replied Kenneth; "only I vote we make +no mention of last night's affair. Of course his version might be +right, but I doubt it." + +Accordingly the prisoners spent half an hour in writing to their +respective parents. The epistles were couched in guarded terms. There +was nothing to indicate that they had been harshly treated; no mention +of the manner of their arrest. Nor was there a word about the +destructive fire in Louvain. + +When the Colonel reappeared the unsealed envelopes were handed to him. +Without a word or a gesture he read them through, then wrote something +on the envelopes. + +"These are in order, gentlemen," he remarked. "You may now seal them, +and they will be carefully forwarded." + +But months later the chums learnt that the letters had never been +delivered. There was a good reason, for von Koenik took the first +opportunity of destroying them. + +"There is some news for you," remarked the Colonel. "Yesterday our +armies occupied Namur. The forts were helpless against our wonderful +siege guns. Our Zeppelins have destroyed nearly the whole of Antwerp; +our fleet has signally defeated the British in the North Sea. Your +flagship, the _Iron Duke_, is sunk, together with seven Dreadnoughts. +Jellicoe is slain, and the rest of the English fleet is bottled up in +the Forth. Your little army in Belgium is already on the retreat; it +will be hopelessly smashed before it reaches Maubeuge. Our troops will +be in Paris within a week--and then?" + +The Colonel paused, expecting to see dismay painted on the faces of his +listeners. Instead, Kenneth coolly raised his eyebrows. + +"Indeed?" he drawled. "Do you, Herr Colonel, really believe all that?" + +Von Koenik suppressed a gesture of annoyance. + +"Certainly," he replied. "It is in our official reports. If you +possessed sufficient culture to be in a position to read and speak our +language, you could see it with your own eyes. We are winning +everywhere. Now, perhaps, to save further unpleasantness you will tell +me the actual reason why you were in the Belgian service?" + +"Merely our inclination to help in a just cause. We happened to be on +the spot, the opportunity occurred, and we took it." + +The Colonel bit his lips. He was confident that the prisoners were +actually persons of military importance, sent over to Belgium by the +British Government, and possessing valuable information concerning the +Allies' plan of campaign. He considered it well worth his while to +cajole or threaten them into surrendering their secret, but, up to the +present, he was forced to admit that his attempts had met with very +little success. + +Apart from the lax code of German military morals his procedure had +been extremely irregular. The so-called trial was before an illegally +constituted court. The proper authorities had not been informed of the +Englishmen's arrest, trial, and sentence. Yet he considered that he +was furthering the interests of the Kaiser and the German nation by +wresting the secret of the object of the lads' presence in Belgium from +them by the likeliest methods at his disposal. + +Colonel von Koenik was on his way to take up a staff appointment at +Verviers, a strategically important Belgian town on the German +frontier, and a few miles from Liege, and on the direct railway line +between that city and Aix-la-Chapelle. Here he could keep his +prisoners in safety, relying upon the wearing-down tactics, backed by +the threat of what would happen when the victorious Germans entered +Paris, to compel the two Englishmen to surrender their supposed +important secret. + +It was not until after dark that same day that Kenneth and Rollo were +conveyed in a closed carriage to the railway station at Louvain. Von +Koenik was greatly anxious to conceal from them the stupendous amount +of wanton damage done to the town. So far he succeeded; and, in +partial ignorance of the fate of Louvain and the actual causes that led +to its sack and destruction, the lads were escorted to a troop-train +which was about to return to Aix, laden with wounded German soldiers +whose fighting days were over. + +For the next ten or twelve days Kenneth and Rollo existed in a state of +rigorous captivity. They were placed in a small store-room of the +commissariat department at Verviers. A sentry was posted without, but +otherwise their privacy was not intruded upon except when a soldier +brought their meals. + +This man, a corporal of the Landwehr, was a grey-haired fellow nearly +sixty years of age. A great portion of his life had been spent in +England. Von Koenik had detailed him to attend upon the prisoners in +order that he might communicate to them the progress of the victorious +Germans towards Paris. + +Max--for that was the corporal's name--was admirably adapted to the +purpose. He could speak English with tolerable fluency; he implicitly +believed all the stories that had been told him of the wide-world +German success, and, believing, he retailed the information with such +bland fidelity that at first his listeners had to think that he really +was speaking the truth. + +He was also genuinely attentive to his charges, and before long Kenneth +and Rollo appreciated his visits although they did not welcome the news +he brought. + +"Ach, you English boys!" he would exclaim. They were always addressed +as "English boys" by Corporal Max, somewhat to their chagrin. "Ach! +It has been a bad day for your little army. Much more bad than +yesterday. To-day the remains of the English army, it has fled towards +Paris. Our Taubes have almost nearly the city destroyed by bombs." + +The next day Max would appear with the tidings that General French was +still running away. Vast numbers of English and French prisoners had +been taken. The German losses had been insignificant. + +This was followed by a lurid description of the retreat of the Allies +across the Marne and then over the Aisne. + +"Paris, too, is in panic. The French Government, it has run away to +the south of France. And our navy, it is great. Yesterday a sea +battle took place. The Admiral Jellicoe's flagship the _Iron Duke_ was +sunk by our submarines----" + +"Hold on!" exclaimed Kenneth. "Colonel von Koenik told us that the +_Iron Duke_ was sunk more than a fortnight ago." + +Max shrugged his shoulders. + +"You English are so deceitful. Ach! They must have given to another +ship the same name. Dover is in flames, and London bombarded has been +by our Zeppelins. Ireland is revolted, and the Irish have proclaimed +our Kaiser as King----" + +"Steady, Max!" exclaimed Rollo expostulatingly. + +"But it is so," protested the corporal. + +The next day Max's report was one of indefinite progress. During the +three following he made no mention of the brilliant feats of German +arms. Kenneth rallied him on this point. + +"How far are the Germans from Paris to-day, Max?" + +For the first time Max showed signs of irritability. By accident he +had seen in Colonel von Koenik's quarters a report of the check of the +German armies' progress, and of their eastward movement. Following +this came the news of von Kluck's defeat and disorderly retirement +across the Marne. Too stupidly honest to keep the news to himself, +Corporal Max blurted out the information that the advance upon Paris +had been temporarily abandoned. + +"If it were not for the treacherous English," he added--"they are +always meddling with other nations' business--we would have walked +through the French and in Paris have been. Peace would be forced upon +the French, and then I could return home to my wife." + +"But you told us that the British army was practically annihilated, +Max," exclaimed Kenneth gleefully. + +"You English boys, I tell you word for word what was told me," +protested Max in high dudgeon. "If you mock, then no more will I say." + +"Can we see Colonel von Koenik, Max?" + +The corporal looked at Kenneth in astonishment. + +"You have no complaint against me?" he asked. + +"Not in the least," replied Kenneth affably. "But we should very much +like to see the Colonel." + +Max delivered the message, but von Koenik did not put in an appearance. +Incidentally he discovered that the corporal had let out the momentous +news of von Kluck's defeat, and Max had a very warm quarter of an hour +in consequence. As a result, a surly Prussian was given the work of +looking after the two English prisoners, and Max passed out of the +lads' knowledge. + +September had well advanced. Kenneth and Rollo still existed in +captivity, without the faintest opportunity of effecting their escape. +Had there been the slightest chance of breaking out of their prison +they would have taken it, but the vigilance of the sentries posted +outside the place seemed untiring. + +About the twentieth of the month--the lads had lost all accurate idea +of the date--there were signs of more than usual activity in Verviers. +A cavalry brigade had arrived, accompanied by a huge transport column. + +From the solitary window of their room the prisoners were able to +witness many of the movements of the troops. The square in front of +the range of stores was packed with transport wagons, both motor and +horse. The horses were picketed in lines between the regular rows of +vehicles. The drivers stood by their charges, instead of being +billeted on the inhabitants. Everything pointed to a hurriedly resumed +journey. + +Presently Kenneth and his chum noticed that the Germans were deeply +interested in something above and beyond the storehouse in which the +lads were quartered. + +A few men would point skywards, others would follow their example, till +every soldier in the square was gazing in the air. Then above the hum +of suppressed excitement came the unmistakable buzz of an aerial +propeller. + +"Air-craft!" ejaculated Kenneth. + +"Taubes, most likely," added his companion; "otherwise the troops would +be blazing away instead of merely looking on." + +The words were hardly out of his mouth when the scene underwent a +complete change. Horses plunged and reared, some falling and kicking +madly on the ground. Men ran hither and thither, seeking shelter, +while several of them pitched upon their faces. Yet not a sound was +heard of an explosion. A mysterious and silent death was stalking +amidst the German transport. Overhead the drone of the propeller +increased, yet the aeroplane was invisible from the lads' outlook. + +Something struck the stones of the courtyard a few feet from their +window. It was a small featherless steel arrow, one of thousands that +a French aviator had let loose upon the astonished and terrified +Germans. + +Simultaneously there was a crash in the room. Turning, the occupants +made the discovery that three of the darts had completely penetrated +the tiles of the roof and had buried themselves three inches deep in +the oaken floor. + +"Keep close to the wall," exclaimed Kenneth; "it is the safest place." + +"It's all over now," announced Rollo after a brief interval. "There +she goes!" + +He pointed to a monoplane gliding gracefully at an altitude of about +five hundred feet. He could just distinguish a tricolour painted on +each tip of the main plane. A desultory but increasing rifle-fire +announced its departure, and, unruffled, the air-craft sailed serenely +out of sight. + +"Pretty effective weapon," remarked Kenneth, vainly endeavouring to +wrench one of the darts from the floor. "They must hit with terrific +force. I wonder how they were discharged?" + +"Simply dropped by the hundred, I should imagine," replied Rollo. "The +force of gravity is sufficient to give them a tremendous velocity after +dropping a few hundred feet. I guess they've knocked these fellows' +time-table out." + +The drivers and several cavalrymen had now emerged from their +hiding-places, and were carrying their less-fortunate comrades from the +scene. A few of the latter were moaning, but most of them had been +slain outright. The "flechettes", or steel darts, had in several cases +struck their victims on the head, and had passed completely through +their bodies. In addition to about thirty casualties, nearly a hundred +horses were either killed on the spot or were so badly injured that +they had to be dispatched. Several of the motor-wagons, too, were +temporarily disabled by the terrible missiles. Clearly it was out of +the question that the convoy could proceed that day. + +Darkness set in. The work of repairing the damaged vehicles still +proceeded briskly by the aid of the powerful acetylene lamps fixed upon +the parapets of the surrounding buildings. Fresh animals were being +brought up to take the horse-wagons away, in order to make room for the +artificers to proceed with their work. The square echoed and re-echoed +to the clanging of hammers and the rasping of saws, and the guttural +exclamations of the workmen. + +Kenneth and Rollo had no thoughts of going to bed. Usually, as soon as +it was dark they would throw themselves upon their straw mattresses, +for lights were not allowed them. But now the excitement, increased by +contrast to their monotonous existence, banished all idea of sleep. + +Crash! A blaze of vivid light that out-brillianced the concentrated +glare of the lamps flashed skywards, followed almost immediately by a +deafening report. Windows were shattered, tiles flew from the roofs. +The walls of the room in which the two lads were standing shook +violently. + +"A shell!" exclaimed Rollo. + +"A bomb!" corrected Kenneth, for in the brief lull that followed could +be heard the noise of an air-craft. Either the same or another French +airman was honouring the Germans at Verviers with a second visit. + +Twenty seconds later another explosion occurred at the back of the +building. With a terrific crash one of the outer walls was blown in; a +portion of the roof collapsed; the floor, partially ripped up, swayed +like the deck of a vessel in the trough of an angry sea. + +Kenneth found himself on the floor, rendered temporarily deaf and +covered with fragments of plaster and broken tiles, and smothered in +dust. + +Staggering to his feet he groped for his companion, for the place was +in total darkness, the force of the detonation having extinguished all +the lamps in the vicinity. His hand came in contact with Rollo's hair. + +"Steady on, old man; don't scalp me," expostulated Barrington. + +"What do you say?" asked his companion. Rollo repeated the protest, +shouting in order to enable Kenneth to hear what he said. + +"Hurt?" + +"Not a bit of it; but we may be if we hang on here." + +Another fall of rafters and tiles confirmed the speaker's surmise; +then, as the cloud of acrid smoke and dust slowly dispersed, they could +see a patch of starlight where a few moments before had been a blank +wall. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +Across the Frontier + +Kenneth regained his feet. + +"Let's shift," he said. + +"Where?" + +"Anywhere. Be steady; mind where you tread, and look out for +brick-bats falling on your head." + +The caution was well needed. Stumbling over the mass of shattered +brickwork, the lads passed through the jagged gap and gained an open +space to the rear of a long range of storehouses. Even as they did so +another bomb exploded, this time some distance off, though the +concussion was sufficient to complete the destruction of the room in +which they had been but a few moments previously. + +Not only in the square but all over the town a state of panic existed. +The terrified horses stampeded; the German troops, temporarily thrown +into disorder, ran for shelter; while those of the civil population who +did not take refuge in their cellars poured out into the streets and +fled towards the open country. + +"Rollo, old man, let's make a dash for it." + +The idea of taking advantage of the air raid in order to effect their +escape had not until that moment entered Kenneth's head. Both he and +Rollo, temporarily dazed by the explosion, had thought only of getting +clear of the subsiding building. + +Everything was in their favour. Scaling a low brick wall, they found +themselves in the company of about forty panic-stricken inhabitants. +In the confusion no one noticed the two hatless lads, for before they +had gone fifty yards they ran past a squad of German troops, who, under +the threats of their officers, were engaged in coupling up a hose to +play upon a fire kindled by the explosion of one of the destructive +missiles. + +"Keep with the crowd," advised Rollo. "We're safe enough. The +monoplane has made off by this time." + +The street emerged into a wide thoroughfare, where the throng of people +was greatly increased; but after a while, finding that there were no +more detonations, the crowd began to thin, many of the townsfolk +returning to their homes. A few, however, numbering perhaps forty, +unable to control their fear, ran blindly towards the open country, and +with them went the two British lads. + +"It's about time we struck a line for ourselves," whispered Kenneth. + +"Not yet; we'll stick to the main road," said his companion. "These +people know their way; we don't, and it's no fun blundering across +ditches and marshy fields on a night like this. I wish we had our +coats." + +"Being without them is an inducement to keep on the move," remarked +Everest. "If we have to stand about or hide anywhere it will be a +numbing business. The question is, what's our plan?" + +"Keep as far as possible in a northerly or northwesterly direction +after we find ourselves alone. That ought to land us in Dutch +territory before morning. It's only a matter of twenty miles." + +"And if we are held up?" + +"Then we must hide during the day. It wouldn't be worth a dog's chance +to fall in with any Germans." + +The lads had been conversing in French, lest their whispers should be +overheard by the hurrying crowd. Amongst that number of Belgians there +might be a spy, and the incautious use of English would be fatal to the +enterprise. But before two miles had been traversed the two British +lads were alone. The rest of the crowd, finding that the explosions +had entirely ceased, had either retraced their steps or had awaited +possible developments. + +Taking their direction by means of the position of the North Star, for +the night was now quite cloudless, the fugitives pushed on. They had +no fear of pursuit, since, by the demolition of their place of +detention, the German authorities were bound to come to the conclusion +that their prisoners had been buried under the ruins. + +It was too hazardous to attempt to follow the road farther. From their +local knowledge the lads knew that it led to Julimont and Vise, and +that the valley of the Meuse, especially on the Dutch frontier, would +be strictly guarded. + +"Railway ahead!" whispered Kenneth. + +Outlined against the starry sky was a low embankment, fringed with the +characteristic telegraph poles of the Belgian state railways. Directly +in their path was a culvert, on the top of which were the silhouetted +figures of three greatcoated soldiers. On the other side of the +embankment a fire was burning brightly, its glare alone betraying its +position. + +The fugitives promptly retraced their steps for nearly two hundred +yards, then striking off at right angles kept parallel to, and at a +fairly safe distance from, the railway line. + +"We'll have to cross that line," whispered Kenneth. "It runs between +Liege and Aix, I believe." + +"Let's hope the whole extent of it isn't guarded." + +"Only the bridge and culverts; but you can take it for granted that +they patrol between the various posts of sentries. Carry on, old man; +another half a mile and we'll try again." + +A short distance farther the fugitives encountered the main road from +Liege to the German town of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was quite deserted, +but beyond it they had to turn slightly to the right to avoid the +railway, which ran in a north-easterly direction. + +"Why not have a shot at it?" asked Kenneth. + +"Not yet. It will run in a northerly direction again. I noticed that +in the map. We must cross, if possible, somewhere to the south of +Aubel. It is still early in the evening. The nearer midnight we make +the attempt the better." + +It was now bitterly cold. A hard frost made the ground like iron. +Since it was too hazardous to proceed at a rapid pace, the lads felt +the piercing air accordingly. With their shoulders hunched and their +ungloved hands thrust deeply into their pockets, they kept on, +shivering in spite of the fact that in the excitement of regaining +their liberty--temporarily, at any rate--their nerves were a-tingle and +the blood surged rapidly through their veins. + +"What's that ahead?" whispered Kenneth. "Men?" + +The lads peered through the darkness. Fifty yards ahead were several +upright objects at regular intervals, looking exactly like an extended +line of soldiers. + +"Germans!" whispered Rollo. "Lie down." + +They threw themselves upon the frozen ground and kept the objects under +observation. Before long the effect of their recumbent positions in +contact with the earth became painful. Rollo got to his knees. + +"I'll go a little nearer," he whispered. "You stay here. They don't +seem to be moving." + +"I'll come too," whispered Kenneth in reply. + +"No, you don't. One might escape notice where two might not. I'll be +very cautious." + +Kenneth remained. He could just discern the form of his chum as he +slowly and carefully approached the line of mysterious objects. +Presently he saw Rollo regain his feet and walk towards him. + +"It's all right," announced Harrington. "They are a row of alders." + +His companion arose, slowly and stiffly. He had to swing his arms +vigorously for some minutes to warm his chilled body. + +"Let's get on," he said. + +"Getting on" was not an easy matter, for upon arriving at the row of +trees the lads found that they lined the bank of a sluggish stream, too +broad to leap across and too deep to wade. Already thin ice had formed +upon its surface. Swimming under these conditions might be performed, +but the undertaking required a lot of pluck on a night like this. +Furthermore, there was the after-effect to take into consideration. + +"Now, what's to be done?" asked Kenneth. For once, at least, he +realized that his impetuosity failed him, and that he must rely upon +the calmer, deliberate, and perhaps over-cautious counsels of his chum. + +"Cross dry-shod," replied Rollo. "We must follow the bank up-stream +until we find a means of crossing. Not a recognized bridge--that would +almost to a certainty be guarded--but a plank thrown across for the use +of some farmer. It's no use wasting time here." + +He stopped suddenly. From behind the shelter of one of the trees a +tall, dark figure advanced swiftly and unhesitatingly. + +The fugitives' first impulse was to take to their heels, but before +they had recovered sufficiently from their surprise a voice exclaimed: + +"What cheer, mates! What might you be doing here?" + +Arrested by the sound of an unmistakable English voice, the lads held +their ground. Kenneth, with studious politeness, said: "We are pleased +to make your acquaintance," and then felt inclined, in spite of his +physical discomforts, to laugh at the absurdity of his remark. + +The man held out his hand. Kenneth grabbed it cordially. As he did so +he noticed that the stranger was dressed almost in rags. He wore a +battered slouch hat, a cloak that reached to his knees, and trousers so +short in the leg that there was a gap between the foot of them and his +grey socks. On his feet he wore a pair of sabots. + +"What might you be doing here?" he repeated. + +"Trying to regain our regiment," replied Rollo. + +"Same here. What's yours?" + +"The 9th Regiment of the Line." + +The man glanced suspiciously at his informant. + +"Never heard of it," he declared. "Mine's the Northumberland +Fusiliers--'Quo Fata Vocant' is our motto, and strikes me Fate has led +me a pretty dance. The 9th Regiment of the Line?" + +"Of the Belgian army," explained Kenneth, for the man's declaration +sounded like a challenge. "We're British volunteer +dispatch-riders--corporals." + +"Same here; I'm a corporal, unless I'm officially dead. But that's +neither here nor there. Question is, where am I?" + +"In Belgium, not so very far from Liege." + +"That's a blessing. It's a relief to know I'm not on rotten German +soil. But it's a long, long way to Tipperary." + +"What do you mean?" asked Kenneth in astonishment. + +The Northumberland Fusilier also betrayed surprise. + +"You've not heard that song? Well, where have you been to? But let's +be on the move. It's cold enough, in all conscience, without standing +still to be frozen. Where are you making for?" + +"The Dutch frontier--it's only about five or six miles off," replied +Rollo. + +"Not this child," declared the man vehemently. "So we part company, +chums." + +"Why?" asked Kenneth. + +"I'm trying to rejoin my regiment. As for being interned in Holland, +I'm not having any." + +"You won't be interned; you're in mufti. Have you any idea how far +you'll have to tramp? Across Belgium and a part of France--every mile +of the way held by the enemy. Where are the British now?" + +"Pushing the Germans back from Paris, chum; that's what they were doing +when I got copped." + +"We were told that the British army was annihilated." + +"Some rotten German yarn," exclaimed the corporal contemptuously. +"Take it from me, as one who knows, the Germans have bitten off more +than they can chew. But is that right that the Dutchmen won't keep us +till the end of the war?" + +"Certainly, provided you are not in uniform." + +"That settles it, then," declared the man. "By the right--slow march. +There's a plank bridge a little way farther up-stream." + +This obstacle having been surmounted, the three fugitives made in a +northerly direction. Only once in half an hour did the Northumberland +Fusilier break the silence. + +"Got any tommy?" he asked. "Any grub?" + +"Not a crumb." + +"Rough luck! I haven't had a bite for sixteen hours or more, and my +belt's in the last notch." + +"How far have you come?" asked Rollo. + +"Goodness only knows. Aching's the name of the show." + +"Aching?" repeated Kenneth in perplexity. + +"Yes, Aching," replied the man vehemently. "A fitting name, too. +A-a-c-h-e-n, it's spelt, so there!" + +The lads understood. He had spelt the German name for the town of +Aix-la-Chapelle. His progress, then, had been very slow--sixteen hours +to cover about twelve miles. + +"That's Aubel," whispered Kenneth, pointing to a group of houses +showing up against the sky. "We must cross the line here." + +A hurried consultation followed, in which it was decided that Kenneth +should take the lead, the others following at twenty paces interval. + +As they approached the line of telegraph posts Kenneth made his way +ahead and dropped on his hands and knees. In this position he covered +the hundred yards that separated him from the railway. He listened. +There was no mistaking the sound he heard. The noise of heavily-nailed +boots treading slowly upon the frosty permanent-way was drawing nearer. + +The lad crawled back to his chum, and both threw themselves flat upon +the ground. The Northumberland man did likewise. + +Presently two greatcoated figures came into view; German soldiers with +rifles on their shoulders. The pale light glinted on the fixed +bayonets. When opposite the spot where the fugitives were hiding, the +guards stopped, grounded their weapons, and swung their arms. In spite +of their heavy coats they were chilled to the bone. + +The Germans showed no haste in proceeding on their patrol. To the +shivering Englishmen it seemed as if they were deliberately prolonging +their stay. + +In spite of his frantic efforts the Northumberland Fusilier gave vent +to a half-smothered cough. Almost simultaneously the Germans recovered +their arms and fired in the direction of the hiding trio. + +Suppressing an insane desire to break away and run for dear life, the +three lay still. If the patrol had heard any suspicious sound they did +not act further upon it, for after a few more minutes they sloped arms +and tramped stolidly in the direction of Aubel. + +Once again Kenneth crawled towards the railway. The way was now clear. +Without being challenged he crossed the rails, and dropped down the +embankment beyond. Here he was speedily joined by his companions. + +A little later, to their consternation, clouds began to gather. It was +no longer possible to follow a course by the stars. It became darker, +and prominent objects could not be distinguished. All around there +were untilled fields, as like each other as peas in a pod. + +Half an hour's wandering convinced the fugitives that they were +hopelessly out of their bearings, for the wind had fallen utterly, and +even that means of keeping a rough course failed them. + +"Ten to one we're walking in a big circle," declared Rollo. "The best +thing we can do is to slow down till dawn." + +"Another seven hours," objected the Fusilier. "We'll be dead with cold +by that time. Let's step out and trust to luck." + +"There's a barn or something, right ahead," announced Kenneth after +they had traversed two fields. "I vote we make for that and take +shelter." + +The building was a detached one. Closer investigation showed that it +was deserted. The door had been wrenched from its hinges and lay about +five yards from the wall. In one angle of the brickwork was a gaping +hole. The walls had been loopholed for rifle-fire, but the thatched +roof was practically intact. + +"Steady!" cautioned the British corporal. "There might be somebody +inside." + +He led the way, shuffling noiselessly with his feet and holding his arm +in a position of defence. Having completed a tour of the interior, he +announced that it was safe to enter. + +The floor was dry, but destitute of hay or straw. Taking off his +peasant's cloak the corporal spread it upon the ground, and on it the +three huddled together for mutual warmth. Already Kenneth and Rollo +were weak with hunger, cold, and fatigue. Their companion's chief +regret was that he had no tobacco. Hunger, although severe, was with +him a secondary consideration. + +In this position they remained in a semi-dazed condition until the +Northumberland man announced that dawn was breaking. + +With difficulty regaining their feet, the two lads moved their cramped +limbs till they were conscious of the sense of touch. Then out into +the bitterly cold air they went. + +"That's our course," said the corporal. "This time of year the sun +rises in the north-east, so this is about north." + +"Then it's exactly the opposite direction to which we were going last +night," remarked Rollo. "You can tell that by the position of the +barn." + +"Yes, we must have been circling," agreed Kenneth. "We may yet be +miles from the frontier." + +On and on they trudged, guided by the gleam of light that was gradually +growing in intensity. Detached farm-houses were now visible, affording +landmarks which, although serviceable, had to be avoided. + +"I'd do a burglaring job without a moment's hesitation," declared the +corporal, "only it's too jolly risky. Liberty isn't worth chucking +away for the sake of a chunk of bread; at least, I don't think so. Yet +dozens of Germans have given themselves up to our chaps because they +felt a bit hungry." + +His companions agreed, but half-heartedly. Hunger, the ally of +despair, was pressing them hard. They missed the plain but substantial +meals that their captors had provided them with at Verviers. + +Suddenly, from behind them, came a hoarse shout. + +Turning, the three fugitives saw, to their consternation, that about a +dozen German soldiers were following them and were now about four +hundred yards behind. + +"Cut for it!" exclaimed the corporal. + +They broke into a steady run. The action was a relief after hours of +slow trudging and sleepless, comfortless rest. Their pursuers also +increased their pace, shouting for them to stop. + +"We're holding our own," exclaimed Kenneth after a while. + +"Can't keep it up, though," panted the corporal, who, to give himself +greater freedom, had discarded his cloak. "But why don't the beggars +fire?" + +It seemed remarkable that their pursuers made no attempt to use their +rifles. Some had already given up the chase, but others held on, +streaming out into an irregular procession. + +Ahead was a broad ditch. Kenneth, who was leading, braced himself to +plunge through the coating of ice, but instead his feet slipped and he +rolled sideways to the farthermost bank. His companions crossed more +easily, for owing to the severe frost the water was covered with two +inches of ice. + +Rollo and the corporal assisted Everest to his feet. He was unhurt, +but wellnigh breathless. During this episode the leading Germans were +within fifty yards of them; but unaccountably they slackened their +pace, stopping at the edge of the frozen ditch and shouting frantically +at the fugitives. + +"That's done it!" exclaimed the Fusilier. + +In extended order a number of soldiers, some mounted, emerged from the +shelter of a row of trees on the opposite side of the field, and stood +waiting to receive the exhausted Englishmen. Escape was impossible. +There was no cover either to the right or the left. Behind them were +their pursuers; in front the troops, including cavalry. + +"We've had a run for our money," remarked the corporal, as he raised +his arms above his head in token of surrender. His companions noticed +that, in spite of his dejection, the man never blamed them for +suggesting a course that ended in recapture. + +The Germans behind them still made no further attempt to advance. They +stood in a row at the edge of the ditch, bawling unintelligibly. + +"Hurrah!" suddenly shouted Kenneth. + +His companions looked at him in amazement. + +"We're all right," he continued. "We've crossed the frontier. These +fellows are Dutch soldiers." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +Thelma Everest + +The detention of Rollo Barrington and Kenneth Everest on Dutch soil was +of comparatively short duration. Well before the end of September they +were allowed to recross the frontier within a few miles of the strong +fortress of Antwerp. + +The Northumberland Fusilier--his companions in peril never learnt his +name--did not accompany them. At the first available opportunity he +got into communication with a British Consul, and, through that +official's instrumentality, was sent back to England. Here he reported +himself at the nearest regimental depot, and, greatly to his +satisfaction, was again sent across the Channel to rejoin his +comrades-in-arms. + +Upon gaining Dutch territory, almost the first act of Kenneth and Rollo +was to communicate the news of their safety to their anxious parents, +at the same time stating their intention of proceeding to Antwerp to +continue their work as dispatch-riders to the Belgian forces. + +Upon arriving at the great Belgian fortress the lads found, to their +huge satisfaction, that the 9th Regiment of the Line--or rather the +remains of it--formed part of the garrison, their duty being to man the +trenches between Fort de Wavre Ste Catherine and Fort de Waelhem--posts +that, owing to their strategical position, seemed likely to bear the +brunt of the threatened German attack. + +"Dieu soit loue!" exclaimed Major Planchenoit. He was captain no +longer, having gained well-merited promotion. "It is messieurs the +English dispatch-riders. What has befallen you?" + +As briefly as possible Kenneth related their adventures from the time +of their ill-starred ride to Cortenaeken. + +"And now we wish to report ourselves again for duty, sir," concluded +Everest. "Ought we to see Major Resimont?" + +Major Planchenoit shook his head sadly. + +"My gallant comrade, alas! has been severely wounded. There is, +however, one consolation; he is safe in England, enjoying the +hospitality of your incomparable fellow-countrymen. If we had not an +assured refuge in England, where would we be? But, messieurs, it will +be necessary to provide you with uniforms and equipment. I will give +you an order for the Quartermaster. When you are fitted out, report +yourselves at the divisional staff office." + +Obtaining new uniforms was out of the question: there were none to be +had. So, in place of their motor-cyclists' kit, the lads had to be +content with second-hand infantryman's uniform--heavy blue coat, loose +trousers tucked into black-leather gaiters, and a blue, peakless cap +similar to the British "pill-box" of half a century ago, but worn +squarely on the head instead of being perched at a rakish angle. To +render their head-gear more conspicuous it was adorned by a band of +dark-red cloth. + +The Quartermaster was deeply apologetic. + +"But, after all, messieurs," he added, "a uniform is a uniform all the +world over. It entitles, or should entitle, its wearer to the +courtesies of war." + +The lads agreed on this point, although they realized that the heavy +clothing was not at all suitable for dispatch-riding, where agility on +the part of the cyclist and a near approach of invisibility in the +matter of his uniform were essential conditions to efficiency. + +Nor were revolvers served out to them. Instead, they were given Mauser +rifles and short bayonets, the ammunition for the former being kept +loosely in two large black-leather pouches attached to the belt. + +"As regards your motor-cycles," continued the Quartermaster, "you may +choose for yourselves. Believe me, we have a large and varied +assortment." + +As soon as Kenneth and Rollo had donned their cumbersome uniforms and +equipment they were handed over to the care of a sergeant, who was told +to escort them to the store where the reserve motor-transport vehicles +were kept. This building, formerly a brewery, stood at a distance of +two miles from the advanced line of trenches, and on the banks of the +River Nethe. + +In the brewery yard were nearly two hundred motor-cars and lorries +arranged in various grades of efficiency; while in the cellars were +rows and rows of motor-cycles and ordinary bicycles in all sorts of +conditions. + +"Voila, messieurs!" exclaimed the sergeant with a comprehensive wave of +the hand. + +In spite of the fact that the lads were but corporals the sergeant +invariably addressed them as "messieurs". From the staff officers +downwards, all with whom the British lads came in contact paid this +courteous tribute to their devotion to Belgium's cause. + +Kenneth and Rollo were some time making their selection. They realized +that their lives might depend upon the reliability of their mounts. +Finally they decided upon two motor-cycles of British make, very +similar to their own, although of an earlier pattern. Examination +showed that the tyres were in excellent condition, and that with a +slight overhauling the machines ought to prove most serviceable. + +There was petrol in abundance, more than was likely to be required +during the impending operations around Antwerp. Having filled up the +tanks of their motor-cycles, the lads started back to the lines, the +sergeant being perched upon the carrier of Rollo's mount. + +The English lads were warmly welcomed by their new comrades of the +motor section. Not one of the Belgian dispatch-riders who had taken +part in the operations between Liege and Brussels was left. All of +them had either been killed or wounded in the execution of their duty. +Of the seven motor-cyclists now serving, one was in civil life an +advocate, two were diamond merchants, a fourth a professor of +languages, and the others railway mechanics. Yet, in spite of the +great variations of social grades, the men were excellent comrades, +united by a common cause. + +There were twenty ordinary cyclists as well, while the section also +manned an armoured motor-car mounting a machine-gun. This travelling +fortress had already gained a reputation as a hard nut for the Germans +to crack. Up to the present they had not succeeded, while the +machine-gun had accounted for several of the invaders. + +Kenneth and Rollo were not allowed to be idle. Eager to get to work +again, they were taken in hand by a captain, who by the aid of a map +pointed out the position of the various forts forming the outer and +inner lines of defences. The lads had also to memorize the principal +roads of communication between the city and the advanced works, as well +as the chief thoroughfares and public buildings of Antwerp itself. +Until they had a fair topographical knowledge they could be of little +use as dispatch-riders, but, owing to the comparatively narrow limits +of the Belgian forces, this information could be mastered after a brief +concentrated effort. + +Major Planchenoit took good care to put the rejoined dispatch-riders to +a practical test. Although glad of the help of the two British +subjects, he was not an officer likely to employ them on important work +until they knew the locality. Of their courage and sagacity he already +had proof, but these qualifications were almost of a negligible +quantity unless they knew the "lay of the land". + +Next morning the lads had their instructions. + +"You will proceed with the dispatch to the officer commanding the +outpost at Lierre," ordered Major Planchenoit. "This done, go on to +Vremde. There you will find a detachment of the regiment. This packet +is for the company officer. This done, proceed to the city, seek +Commandant Fleurus, and deliver this dispatch. Await further +instructions from him, and report to me." + +Kenneth and Rollo saluted, and hastened to the shed where their +motor-cycles were stored. As they were giving them a final overhaul, +Private Labori--formerly a diamond merchant and now a +dispatch-rider--hailed them. + +"Are you going into the city, camarades? You are? Good! Bring me +some cigars, and I will be eternally indebted to you. I smoked my last +yesterday, and without cigars I am as a man doomed to perdition. Of +your charity, camarades, do me this favour." + +Private Labori pressed a ten-franc piece into Kenneth's hand, and with +a hurried expression of gratitude returned to his task of peeling +potatoes for the midday meal. + +"He's taken it for granted that we get the cigars," remarked Kenneth. +"I suppose it would not be a breach of discipline to get them." + +"Almost like old times," declared Rollo, as the riders sped side by +side over the tree-lined road. "Pity we haven't our own motor-bikes, +though." + +He spoke with the same sort of affection as the huntsman has for his +favourite horse, but Kenneth was more practical and unimaginative. + +"We're lucky to be riding at all," he said. "After all, this jigger +gets along pretty well. We're doing a good twenty-five." + +The three dispatches were delivered in quick time. Commandant Fleurus +greeted the lads warmly, and questioned them at great length on the +subject of their adventures. + +"It is not possible to give you a reply at once," he said at the close +of the interview. "Come back at three o'clock, and the dispatch for +Major Planchenoit will be handed you. Meanwhile it will not be +necessary for you to return to Wavre Ste Catherine. You are at liberty +to amuse yourselves until the hour named." + +"Jolly considerate of him," remarked Kenneth after the lads had +withdrawn from the Commandant's presence. "We'll put up the bikes and +have a stroll round. It wouldn't be half a bad idea to call at the +post office. There may be something for us, but we had better not +reckon too much on it." + +They were not disappointed, for on making application at the post +office they were each handed quite a bulky packet of correspondence. +There were letters from their respective parents and relatives, and a +number from old school chums. These had been written when a part of +their adventures in Belgium had been related by their proud parents to +the head of St. Cyprian's. He, in turn, had passed on the news to the +rest of the school, and the result was a swarm of congratulatory +letters, sent to Mr. Everest and Colonel Harrington, who, upon +receiving news of their sons' safety, had promptly forwarded the batch +of correspondence. + +"By Jove!" exclaimed Kenneth, "the pater's written to say that Thelma +is a nurse in one of the hospitals here--St. Nicholas is the name. He +wants me to keep an eye on her, so to speak, and pack her off to +England if there's danger of the city being taken by the enemy." + +"Let's find out where St. Nicholas Hospital is, and go there at once," +suggested Rollo. "Only I hope we'll have better luck than when we +tried to see your sister at Madame de la Barre's." + +"We do look like a couple of brigands," said Kenneth as they hurried +through the crowded streets; for their uniforms were far from being +smart, while their rifles slung across their backs gave them a truly +ferocious appearance. + +"Think so?" asked Rollo with considerable misgivings. "Then I think +I'll wait outside, if you don't mind." + +"Nonsense, man," rejoined his companion heartily. "We're like the rest +of the troops. It's an honour to wear a Belgian uniform, after what +these fellows have done to delay the German advance and to upset the +Kaiser's time-table. Only I'll bet that Thelma doesn't know me." + +Kenneth was wrong in his surmise, for on calling at the hospital, +Thelma happened to be passing through the hall. She recognized her +brother at once, but he hardly knew the tall, graceful girl in the neat +and becoming nurse's uniform as his sister. + +"So you are my brother's chum," she remarked quite unaffectedly when +Kenneth had introduced the bashful Rollo. "I've heard a lot about you +from Kenneth when you were at St. Cyprian's, you know. And now you are +soldiers fighting for brave little Belgium." + +"And what are you doing here?" asked Kenneth with a display of +fraternal authority. "There are at least three British hospitals in +Antwerp, I believe. I wonder why you didn't join one of these." + +"I wonder why you didn't join the British army instead of enlisting in +the Belgian one," retorted Thelma in mock reproof. + +"For one thing, we weren't old enough," explained her brother. "For +another, we saw most of the fun before our troops landed in France. +It's been a rotten time, but it's well worth it." + +"Yes, I am glad you were able to do your bit," agreed Thelma. "And now +I'll tell you why I'm here. My friend Yvonne Resimont and I both +entered as nurses, so as to be together." + +"Yvonne Resimont here?" asked Kenneth. + +"Yes--do you know her?" + +"No; but I might have done, had Madame de la Barre not been so +confoundedly pigheaded. But it's not too late now," he added. + +Thelma laughed. + +"I'll find her," she said. + +"One moment," exclaimed Rollo, who had hitherto held his tongue but had +made good use of his eyes. "Does Mademoiselle Resimont know about her +father?" + +"No; she has not heard anything of or from him for weeks. He is not +dead?" + +"Badly wounded, and now somewhere in England. I don't know where; but +perhaps Major Planchenoit could give further particulars. And Madame +Resimont?" + +"She is in Holland--at Bergen-op-Zoom. The doctors ordered her to go, +otherwise she would have remained here and helped with the wounded. +I'll find Yvonne." + +In less than a minute Thelma Everest returned, accompanied by her +Belgian chum. + +Yvonne Resimont was a girl of medium height and well-proportioned. Her +features were dark and clear, her hair of a deep brown. +Notwithstanding the grimness of her surroundings she had a natural +vivacity that could not fail to charm all with whom she came in contact. + +"You, then, are Kenneth," she exclaimed in good English, with a slight +foreign accent. "I know much about you from Thelma, but I did not +expect to see you in the uniform of our brave Belgians." + +Kenneth coloured slightly. + +"I wish to goodness the uniform were a little better fitting," he +thought; but it would not have mattered in the slightest degree. +Yvonne was a patriot to her finger-tips. Every man in the uniform of +her beloved country was to her a hero. The uniform, ill-fitting or +otherwise, was in her eyes an emblem of right against might. + +"Tell me, Kenneth," she continued, using his Christian name quite as a +matter of course. It was excusable, since Thelma had never spoken of +her brother by any other name, and Kenneth had not the faintest +objection. "Tell me, how came you to be fighting with us in Belgian +uniform?" + +"Time, old man," announced Rollo, for during the animated conversation +the minutes fled with astonishing rapidity. "It's nearly three +o'clock." + +"You'll both come to see us again whenever you have the chance, won't +you?" asked Thelma, as the two chums bade the girls farewell. "For the +next ten days we are on night duty, so you can call at any hour between +eight and eight." + +"And if we are asleep," added Yvonne, "tell them to awaken us. I will +not be cross at being disturbed, and I do not think Thelma will be." + +"Ripping girl, your sister, old man," remarked Rollo enthusiastically, +as the twain hurried towards the staff office. + +"Is she?" asked Kenneth absent-mindedly. He was thinking deeply of +someone else. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +Self-accused + +"We've a few minutes to spare," observed Kenneth, "so I'll get those +cigars for Private Labori. There's a swagger shop just across the +road." + +In spite of the threatened bombardment of Antwerp the population was +calm. It was a case of "business as usual". The cafes and shops were +doing a good trade; the price of provisions, notwithstanding the great +influx of refugees, was but a little above the normal. Were it not for +the military element in the street, and the occasional visit of a +Zeppelin or hostile aeroplane, it would have been difficult to realize +that the city was almost within range of the German siege guns, and +that day by day those guns were slowly yet steadily advancing. + +Kenneth entered the tobacconist's first. As he did so he momentarily +forgot that he carried his rifle across his back. In passing through +the narrow doorway the muzzle of the weapon struck the plate-glass +window of the porch and cracked it. + +Alarmed by the crash the shopkeeper rushed out, but before Kenneth +could offer any apologies the man gave a howl of terror. + +"Mercy, monsieur Englishman!" he exclaimed. "Indeed I could not help +it. Von Koenik compelled me to disclose your name." + +Kenneth, ever quick-witted, grasped the situation instantly. The +tobacconist was none other than the spy who, under the name of Jules de +la Paix, kept a similar establishment at Brussels. There his dirty +work had been completed; at Antwerp it was just beginning. + +The fellow had also recognized Kenneth as the Englishman he had basely +denounced to his paymasters, the Germans. Seeing him in uniform and +armed, with a fully-accoutred companion, the spy jumped at the hasty +and erroneous conclusion that Kenneth had discovered his duplicity and +had come to arrest him. + +His panic at seeing the man whom he supposed to be dead amounted to a +superstitious terror. Hardly knowing what he said, he let fall the +damning admission that he was at least partly responsible for Kenneth's +arrest at Brussels. + +"You are my prisoner!" exclaimed Kenneth sternly. + +Momentarily recovering his courage, the fellow drew back. His hand +flew to his pocket, but before he could produce a concealed weapon the +British lad grasped him by both arms. + +Meanwhile Rollo, guessing by the crash of the broken glass that +something was amiss, had sauntered leisurely into the shop, fully +expecting to hear his chum apologizing profusely to the tobacconist for +his clumsiness. To his surprise, he found Kenneth and the shopkeeper +swaying to and fro in a desperate struggle. Chairs had been +overturned, cases of pipes and packets of tobacco were being thrown in +all directions. + +In spite of being encumbered with his rifle and kit, Kenneth succeeded +in throwing the spy to the floor and kneeling on his chest. + +[Illustration: KENNETH SUCCEEDED IN THROWING THE SPY TO THE FLOOR] + +"Get a strap, a rope, or something, old man," he exclaimed +breathlessly. "We've collared a spy." + +Rollo obeyed. It was one of those rare instances when he acted on the +spur of his chum's orders and argued the situation afterwards. He +could not understand how Kenneth had effected the capture without any +previous warning. To him, a lad brought up in a country where law and +order moves with slow and majestic deliberation, it looked like a case +of illegal arrest. Nevertheless he found a length of packing-cord, and +deftly secured the arms of the now exhausted spy, tying them at the +wrists behind his back. + +The two female assistants--Belgian girls--had fled screaming at the +commencement of the struggle. Two or three customers at the other end +of the long shop had watched the scene without attempting to interfere; +but directly the shopkeeper was secured they rushed into the street, +yelling that a spy had been captured. + +The utterance of the word "Espion" was sufficient instantly to attract +a huge crowd. Civil Guards and soldiers found their way through the +press, and kept the curious onlookers from the door. + +"Who denounces the accused?" demanded a sergeant of the Civil Guard. + +"I do," promptly responded Kenneth, at the same time producing his +identity papers. + +The sergeant glanced at the documents, and entered Kenneth's name in a +book. + +"You must come with me," he added; "you and your witnesses." + +"Sorry I cannot," said Kenneth. + +The sergeant pricked up his ears. + +"I order you," he declared. + +"Tell me where you are taking the prisoner, and we will be there as +soon as possible. At three o'clock I have an appointment with +Commandant Fleurus, and it is nearly that hour now." + +The sergeant acquiesced, but took the precaution of discreetly sending +a couple of men to watch the movements of the two corporals in Belgian +uniform who were stated to be English. Experience had taught him that +there were such things as forged documents, and that Germans had +masqueraded as English officers and men. + +"You are slightly after time," was Commandant Fleurus's remark as the +dispatch-riders presented themselves. + +"We arrested a spy, sir," announced Kenneth. "He gave himself away." + +"How was that?" asked the Commandant. + +Kenneth reported the details, and how Jules de la Paix had rashly +declared that he was compelled to denounce the English lads to von +Koenik at Brussels. + +"Good!" ejaculated Commandant Fleurus. "It is indeed a fine service to +trap such carrion. We have suffered greatly from these pests, but I +fear one the less will make but little difference. Antwerp shelters a +horde of them. But here is your dispatch. See, I have endorsed it: +'Bearers detained upon special service'." + +By the time that Kenneth and Rollo arrived at the head-quarters of the +Civil Guard a court martial had already been constituted. The presence +of the principal witnesses made it possible for the trial to open. + +The proceedings were brief, but with every semblance of fairness. The +accused, having had time to consider his position, tried to deny his +statements; but there were several witnesses who had overheard the +prisoner's terrified confession to Kenneth. + +Members of the Civil Guard reported that they had searched the +accused's premises. In a garret with a well-concealed trap-door they +discovered a powerful wireless installation, the aerials being hidden +from outside view by being placed between two rows of chimney-pots. In +the garret were also found plans and documents of great official value, +besides a copy of a code, several flash-lights, and arms and +ammunition. On the face of this evidence the prisoner was doomed. + +In addition the Civil Guards discovered that at the end of the garden +was a shed abutting on a canal that communicated with the Scheldt. In +this shed was a large sea-going motor-boat, painted a dark-grey, and +completely equipped for a voyage. It was presumed that, should the spy +find himself compelled to leave Antwerp hurriedly, this craft would +enable him to reach Dutch territory, whence he could easily regain the +ground held by the invaders. + +Within an hour from the opening of the Court the spy was condemned to +be shot, and the sentence was put into execution forthwith. + +"A rotten business," remarked Kenneth as the two lads rode towards +Wavre Ste Catherine. "I feel as if I have that fellow's blood on my +head." + +"He jolly well deserved what he got," rejoined Rollo. + +"Undoubtedly; but, all the same, I wish I hadn't a hand in it. +Trapping spies is hardly a soldier's game. What I should like to have +done would be to have given him a thundering good hiding." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +With the Naval Brigade at Antwerp + +Fort de Wavre Ste Catherine had fallen. Unable to fire an effective +shot in reply to the terrible bombardment of the formidable German +28-cm. shells, the strongest of the outer line of Antwerp defences +suffered the same fate as the steel-clad cupolas of Liege. + +Antwerp was doomed. The Belgians themselves realized the fact. Their +one hope was that the German infantry would attempt to rush the +trenches. Then it would be proved again that the Belgian infantryman +was as good as or better than his Teutonic foe. + +Nevertheless, driven from the outer forts on the southern side of the +defences, the garrison was not dismayed. In spite of the fact that by +their resistance Antwerp itself would presumably suffer at the hands of +the Germanic hordes, the Belgians knew that their sacrifice would not +be in vain. To take the city a huge force of Germans would be +required--and that force was badly needed elsewhere. Day by day, hour +by hour, the British and French allied forces were extending their left +wing from the Aisne to the Belgian frontier, circumventing all the +efforts on the part of their foes to turn their flank. The "holding +up" of the German besiegers of Antwerp was sufficient to enable the +Allies firmly to establish their threatened left flank upon the coast +of the North Sea. + +One by one the outer forts fell. A shell demolished the waterworks and +threatened the city's water supply. Back fell the Belgians, +reluctantly relaxing their hold upon the trenches, in which they were +subjected to a heavy fire without even so much as a glimpse of a +hostile grey-coat. + +During these momentous days Kenneth and Rollo were busily employed +conveying important messages under fire. It was a matter of +impossibility for them not to realize the hopelessness of the position, +but they did not relax their efforts on that account. The Belgians +were not fighting with their backs to a wall. Behind them lay the +neutral territory of Holland. At any given time they could evacuate +the city and allow themselves to be interned; but this they would not +do until they received news that their allies were firmly established +in their proposed position. + +On the second day of October preparations were made for the Government +to abandon Antwerp, when suddenly the exodus came to a standstill. The +word flew from mouth to mouth that a strong British force was to be +thrown into Antwerp, and, with the aid of the Belgian army, to raise +the siege and turn the enemy's flank. + +"That's good news," remarked Kenneth; but Rollo was far from optimistic. + +"We've heard such a lot of this sort of talk before, old man," he said. +"Until I see a British regiment in Antwerp I'll have my doubts." + +Early on the morning of the 4th, the lads were roused from their +slumbers by a roar of cheering. Emerging from their shell-proof +shelter, they were surprised and delighted to find that rumour had +merged into fact. Surging along towards the trenches in the direction +of Lierre were hundreds of men dressed in the well-known British naval +uniform. As yet they were not under shellfire, for the German guns +were devoting their energies towards the works at Lierre, and the +hostile air-craft had not noted the approach of British reinforcements. + +Presently the bluejackets halted and piled arms. It was their last +breathing-space before they dashed into the shell-swept trenches. + +"Let's go and see them," suggested Rollo; and his companion agreeing, +the two chums hurried towards the resting bluejackets, who were +surrounded by hundreds of their Belgian allies, for the present off +duty from the firing-line. + +"I wonder how we manage to spare this crowd of sailors," remarked +Kenneth as they made their way towards their fellow-countrymen. "I +should have thought that every man would be wanted for service with the +fleet." + +"At any rate, they're here," said Rollo; "and there are fellows in +khaki coming along the Lierre road, if I'm not much mistaken." + +The lads stood watching the sailors for some time. Their insular +reserve kept them from immediately entering into conversation, although +they were filled with impatience to know what had happened. + +For the most part the bluejackets were young men of good physique. +They lacked the bronzed appearance of seamen who have braved the +breezes of the five oceans. Many of them were pale, not with +apprehension, but with a consciousness that they had before them a +stern task that would tax their energies and courage, for they were +going under fire for the first time. + +Presently one of the bluejackets strolled up to the spot where Kenneth +and his chum were standing. + +"Est-ce--est-ce que vous--oh, hang it! what's the French for----" he +began. + +"Try English, old man; it will be a jolly sight easier for you," said +Kenneth, laughing. + +"Why, you're British, and in Belgian get-up!" exclaimed the bluejacket +in surprise. "What are you doing here, I should like to know?" + +"Exactly the same question we want to ask you," replied Kenneth. +"We're dispatch-riders in the Belgian service. We heard that British +troops were to be sent here, but we didn't expect sailors." + +"Nor are we," replied the other. "Candidly we're not, although we are +the Collingwood Battalion of the Naval Brigade." + +"Never heard of it before," remarked Rollo. + +"You haven't? Have you heard of Kitchener's army, then?" + +The lads shook their heads. + +"Then you are behind the times. Whatever have you been doing with +yourselves? I'll tell you. As soon as war broke out Kitchener asked +for half a million men. He got them right enough. In addition they +started Naval Brigades. It was a good wheeze, for a lot of fellows +joined for the sake of wearing a naval uniform instead of khaki, +although there was no intention of using us at sea--at least, not at +present. Two months ago I was an actor. To quote the words of the +immortal _Pinafore_: 'I never was upon the sea'." + +"'What, never?'" queried Rollo, continuing the words of the song. + +"'Well--hardly ever'. Fact is that until I left Walmer to cross the +Channel my longest trip was from Portsmouth to Ryde. I was beastly +sea-sick crossing, but I'm jolly glad I'm here. We stand a chance of +doing a bit before Kitchener's army gets a sniff of a look-in. We'll +do our little bit, never fear. Well, so long; hope to see you again." + +The division was falling in, preparatory to advancing in open order +towards the trenches facing the River Nethe, close to the village of +Lierre. Steadfastly, and with the quiet courage that distinguishes +Britons under fire, the lads of the Naval Brigade marched into the zone +of danger to attempt to stem the advance of the German hordes upon the +city of Antwerp. + +"Ah, messieurs!" exclaimed Major Planchenoit, as the dispatch-riders +reported themselves for orders. He was in high spirits, for, like the +rest of the Belgian troops, he was greatly cheered by the fact that the +long-promised aid was at last forthcoming. "Ah, messieurs! to-day you +will report yourselves at Lierre. You will be of service as +interpreters, for your gallant fellow-countrymen do not seem +particularly well acquainted with our language." + +It was hot work making their way to the trenches, for already the +Germans had renewed their destructive fire. Briton and Belgian, lying +side by side in the hastily-constructed shelters, were subjected to a +galling shrapnel fire without being able to make an adequate reply. +From the rear, two British heavy naval guns were resolutely hurtling +shells towards the invisible German battery; but of what use were two +against so many? + +Manfully the untried men of the Naval Brigade took their gruelling. It +was one of the hardest tasks that men, going for the first time into +action, had to endure: to be subjected to a tremendous bombardment +without being able to fire a shot in return. Nevertheless they stuck +it grimly, waiting and praying that they might have a chance of meeting +the German infantry on anything like level terms. + +That chance came at last. At night the German artillery-fire +slackened. Pouring onwards in dense masses came the grey-uniformed +legions, intent upon forcing the passage of the River Nethe in the +neighbourhood of Lierre. + +Already the British Marines had blown up the bridge, while across the +main street of the shell-wrecked village a strong barricade of carts +faced with sandbags had been constructed. Working desperately, the +German engineers succeeded in throwing pontoons across the stagnant +river. With shouts of "Deutschland ueber Alles" the infantry poured +across, greeted by a withering fire from Briton and Belgian. + +The Naval Brigade's rifle-firing was as steady as that of a veteran +battalion. Maxims added to the general clatter. All along the +trenches flashed the deadly spurts of fire from the small-arms. The +German infantry, swept away like chaff, failed to make good the +position: the Briton proved a better man than the vaunted Teuton. Then +came the recurrence of the deadly shrapnel. The Belgian infantry on +the right were compelled to retire, and into the position they vacated +poured other German regiments, covered by a fierce artillery fire that +was impartial as to whether it struck friend or foe. + +It was now that the Naval Brigade failed to come up to the standard of +thoroughly trained and seasoned troops. Having repelled the attack +upon their immediate front, they could not easily be induced to retire. +The desire to "stop and have another shot at the beggars" was uppermost +in the minds of these stalwart youths. They failed to realize that +with the Allied line pressed they were in danger of being enfiladed. +But reluctantly and doggedly they eventually fell back within the +shelter of the inner line of forts. + +For the next two days the German heavy guns pounded the weak line of +defence. Inexplicably, although the city was well within range, no +projectiles fell in Antwerp. Perhaps it was because the invaders hoped +to take a practically undamaged port. + +Meanwhile the Belgian army, with the British Naval Brigade, was being +withdrawn from Antwerp. Further resistance was hopeless, while by this +time the Anglo-French armies were in their allotted positions according +to General Joffre's plan. All that remained to be done in Antwerp was +to destroy everything likely to be of military value to the enemy, and +extricate the defenders from what promised to be a veritable trap. + +In vain, during the night of the retirement, Kenneth and Rollo sought +to regain their regiment. Whither the 9th of the Line had gone no one +seemed to know. Some had it that the devoted regiment had perished +almost to a man in the trenches; others that it was on its way to +Ostend; others that it had crossed the frontier into Holland. + +"Now what's to be done?" asked Rollo. + +"Find the girls, if they haven't already left, and get them to a place +of safety," replied Kenneth grimly. "We can do no more at present for +Belgium; we must look after ourselves and our friends. Lead on: to the +St. Nicholas Hospital." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +When the City Fell + +Shells were beginning to fall upon the roofs of the houses when the +lads entered the devoted city. The bulk of the population had already +fled. A seemingly never-ending procession of tired, hungry, and +despondent refugees poured along the dusty road leading to +Bergen-op-Zoom. Others, debarred from taking train owing to Germans +having occupied St. Nicholas Station, were making their way by +circuitous routes towards Ostend. More were embarking upon craft of +all sorts and sizes, whose masters were only too willing to give their +suffering countrymen a passage either to the nearest Dutch port or +across the North Sea to the shores of hospitable England. + +Night had now fallen. It was by no means cold, the frosty nights of +mid-September having given place to an autumnal heat-wave. There was +little or no wind. The dense smoke from the burning petrol-tanks, +which the Belgians had fired rather than let the precious spirit fall +into the hands of the enemy, rose straight in the air. Elsewhere other +smaller columns of smoke marked the localities where the German +incendiary shells had fired portions of the city. + +In one of the principal squares, swarms of ragamuffins, acting under +the orders of the military, were taking a hideous delight in their work +of destruction; for they were busily engaged in smashing costly +motor-cars and lorries to useless fragments. Nothing that could be of +use to the enemy was permitted to be left intact. + +From the direction of the river came the sounds of muffled explosions +as the Belgians methodically proceeded to cripple the engines of a +fleet of merchant shipping, and to sink lighters filled with stone and +concrete to block up the entrances to the various docks. + +The Germans were about to take Antwerp--but they were to find in it +another Moscow, as Napoleon found it. + +Keeping to the almost deserted side streets, Kenneth and Rollo hurried +towards the Hospital of St. Nicholas. Their motor-cycles had gone, +being destroyed in the retirement of the 9th Regiment of the Line from +the fire-swept trenches. + +"What's the programme?" asked Rollo. "What do you propose to do if we +find the girls?" + +"Clear out," replied Kenneth promptly. "The train service is done; I'm +not anxious to enter Holland and cool my heels till the end of this +business. We can't expect the girls to tramp twenty miles, with the +possibility of being cut off by the enemy; and carts are apparently out +of the question. There remains the sea." + +"Yes, we may be able to get a passage on a fishing-boat." + +"That's not my plan. Do you remember the motor-launch in the shed at +the end of Jules de la Paix's garden?" + +"Can't see how that can help us," objected Rollo. "We haven't a crew." + +"If we can get the motor to start, the worst of the difficulty is +over," declared Kenneth. "At the trial, you'll recollect, the sergeant +of the Civil Guard reported that the craft was provisioned and ready +for sea. He was ordered to refrain from damaging the vessel." + +"She may have disappeared." + +"We'll soon see." + +Kenneth led the way along a dark, deserted alley, till he came to a +wall on the top of which was a formidable array of broken glass. This +wall marked the side boundary to the spy's premises. + +"A tough nut to crack," remarked Rollo, as he noticed for the first +time the jagged glass gleaming in the red glare of the burning houses. + +"We'll come across a door, unless I'm much mistaken---- Hullo! that's +a nasty one," said Kenneth. + +A shower of shrapnel, rattling on the roofs and shattering the windows +of some houses in the street they had just left, occasioned this +exclamation; for the Germans were mostly using shells of this variety, +to terrify the inhabitants rather than to cause great material damage. + +"Quite near enough," rejoined Rollo coolly. "Here's the door." + +The lads tried it. It was locked and bolted. The stout oaken +framework resisted their efforts to burst it open with their shoulders. + +Kenneth unslung his rifle. One shot amidst that chaos of terrific +detonations would be practically inaudible, and even if it were heard +there were none sufficiently curious to ascertain the reason. + +The heavy lock was not proof against the high-velocity bullet. A +second shot demolished the bolt. The gate creaked on its hinges. + +Passing along the garden path amidst autumn flowers mown down by the +explosion of shells, several of which had fallen close to the house, +the lads arrived at the boat-house. The windows were shattered; there +was a gaping hole in the roof. Kenneth began to entertain grave doubts +as to whether the motor-boat had escaped damage. + +"She's there, right enough," he announced, as he peered through one of +the broken windows and saw the grey-painted outlines of the craft +within. "The door's locked. I'll try another shot." + +"Steady on, man!" cautioned his companion. "Mind you don't bore a hole +through the boat as well. See, here is a crowbar, or something like +it. We'll prise the door open." + +They seized the bar and forced the pointed end between the door and the +jamb. + +"Now!" exclaimed Kenneth. + +At that very moment, before the lads could exert any pressure upon the +crowbar, a blinding flash came from overhead, immediately followed by a +terrific detonation. Splinters, broken glass, tiles, clods of earth +and leaves flew in all directions, while a pungent cloud of smoke +enveloped everything. + +For nearly ten seconds the two chums held on to the crowbar, then +Kenneth spoke. + +"I'm hit, confound it!" he exclaimed. "It's not much, though." + +He relaxed his grasp of the iron bar as he spoke, and reeled slightly. +Rollo held out his hand to steady him, and perceived for the first time +that it was wet with blood and practically devoid of the sense of +feeling. + +"What! You hit too?" asked Kenneth, pulling himself together on seeing +the dark stain on his companion's wrist. + +"Yes; a shrapnel ball clean through my right wrist," announced Rollo, +"It doesn't hurt much." + +"And I've a bullet through the palm of my left hand," added Kenneth, +displaying a small punctured wound about two inches from the base of +the little finger. "It might have been worse. We'll tie our +handkerchiefs over the wounds; that will do all right for the time. +Now for the door. The sooner we open it the better. Buck up, man; the +girls must be terribly anxious." + +Thus exhorted, although feeling giddy from the effects of the shock, +Rollo grasped the crowbar with his unwounded hand. Kenneth bore +against the lever with all his might, and with a crash the door flew +open. + +The motor-boat was on a cradle, just clear of the water. It was now +half-tide and on the ebb. A hasty examination failed to reveal signs +of structural damage to the little craft, although the scuttle-glasses +of the cabin were all either cracked or completely demolished. The +craft was fully equipped, but the provisions had vanished. Doubtless +they had been removed by the Civil Guards at or after the arrest of the +spy. + +"Let's launch her, then we can see if she leaks," exclaimed Kenneth. +He was feverishly working against time. His energy seemed +inexhaustible. "There's the windlass; let her go gently." + +Down glided the boat into the sullen waters of the canal. Kenneth +leapt on board and secured her along-side, then lifted the floor-boards +over the well. + +"She's making a few drops," he announced. "I think it's only because +she has been hauled up in the dry for some time. By the time we get +the girls down she'll take up." + +Rollo offered no remark. In his mind there were doubts as to whether +Thelma Everest and Yvonne Resimont were still in the hospital; if they +were, would they abandon their duties? But he followed his chum, +nursing his wounded hand, wincing at every step he took as the pain +shot through the nerves of his arm. + +Kenneth strode on, indifferent to his injuries. Hardly a word passed +between them as they hurried along the alley and into the smoke-filled +streets. There were still a few persons about, mostly men of the +criminal class, who seized the opportunity for indiscriminate looting. +Here and there were the corpses of fugitives, stricken down in their +final mad rush for the safety that was denied them. The air was filled +with the crash of exploding shells and the clatter of broken glass, to +the accompaniment of the distant booming of the hostile guns. + +Closely followed by his companion, Kenneth dashed up the steps of the +hospital. The door was wide open. A portion of the facade of the +portico had been shattered by a shell. Hardly a window remained intact +in the building. + +A nurse, her face serenely peaceful in spite of the scene of +destruction around her, came forward. + +"You men are wounded? Come this way; we will speedily attend to your +hurts." + +Kenneth shook his head. + +"Our wounds are slight," he protested. "I have come for my sister, +Thelma Everest, and her friend, Mademoiselle Resimont--if they can be +spared," he added, for the sight of this woman calmly on duty caused +him to take a different view of the reason lot his sister's presence in +the hospital. + +"They can be spared," replied the nurse. "Already we have sent the +least serious cases away, and have dismissed the younger nurses. +Mademoiselle Everest and her friend refused to take advantage of the +permission. They were expecting you, and you have not failed them, I +see. I will inform them." + +Quickly Thelma and Yvonne appeared, heavily cloaked, and carrying +handbags, in readiness for their flight. + +"We would not have gone, Kenneth," said his sister, "only there is no +more work for us to do. But is it not already too late to leave the +city? We were told that the bridge of boats had been destroyed, and +that all communication with outside is interrupted. Four of our nurses +left by the last train that got away from here." + +"We'll manage that all right," declared Kenneth stoutly, although in +his mind he dreaded taking the girls on the journey along the +shell-endangered streets. + +"We are ready," said Thelma simply; then, having taken a hasty yet +tender farewell of the head nursing sister, the girls accompanied the +two lads into the now deserted thoroughfare. + +Unhurt, although several highly-charged projectiles burst above the +roofs on either side of the road, the four refugees gained the +boat-house of the late spy. No more shells had fallen there in the +interval. The boat had made but half an inch of water, and this could +easily be got under by means of the pump. The fuel tanks were filled +with petrol; there were a dozen intact tins in the after locker. + +For provisions each lad had a couple of long rolls of bread in his +haversack. Thelma had brought biscuits and butter; Yvonne had provided +a tin of ground coffee and condensed milk--a meagre fare on which to +essay a voyage across the North Sea, but enough to hazard the journey +without fear of actual starvation. + +Kenneth was by no means a novice in seamanship, On more than one +vacation he had spent part of the time in motor-boating in Southampton +Water, where a cousin of his kept a high-powered craft. After very +little delay he succeeded in finding the position of the various +switches and taps. At the third attempt the engine fired. The +propeller blades, set at the neutral, churned the water. The motor +purred rhythmically, as a well-conducted motor should. + +"Cast off there, for'ard!" ordered Kenneth, addressing Rollo, who had +taken up his post in the bows. "Thelma, undo that rope, quickly now!" + +It was no time for courtesies. Kenneth was skipper, and his crew had +to be told peremptorily; it was his notion of showing authority. + +Swiftly gathering stern-way the boat glided away from the staging; +then, with a jerk as the propeller began to churn ahead, the little +craft headed towards the Scheldt and the North Sea. + +Kenneth's was by no means an easy task. Having the use of only one +arm, he was severely handicapped. Steering by means of a wheel is far +from satisfactory when literally "single-handed", while the intricacies +of the canal required a certain amount of quickness with the helm. +Twice the boat nearly collided with the partly submerged hulls of +destroyed barges. The canal was now little better than a ditch, for +the tide had already fallen twelve feet out of sixteen. One +satisfaction Kenneth had: there were no lock-gates to negotiate. The +falling tide told him that. + +"Something ahead!" shouted Rollo. "Wreckage, I think." + +His chum immediately throttled down, keeping his unwounded hand on the +reversing lever. By the lurid glare in the sky he could discern the +obstruction: the shattered timbers of the lock-gates. Would there be +enough water to clear the sill of the basin? If not, they would have +to remain for hours, in danger of the falling shells, until the tide +rose sufficiently to float the boat over the barrier. + +Kenneth prudently stopped the engine. He would not risk losing the +blades of the propeller. Slowly and with bare steerage-way the boat +glided towards the ruined gates. Her bows passed the gaunt timbers, +then, with a horrid grinding noise, she hung up by the stern. + +"Get for'ard, all hands!" shouted Kenneth. "We may be able to jump her +over." + +The four members of the crew made their way to the bows. Regardless of +their injuries the two lads heaved and pushed with the boat-hooks. +They could hear the keel grate on the stone-work. The tide was still +falling. + +A shell, fortunately without exploding, dropped into the water twenty +yards astern, throwing a shower of spray over the boat and her crew. + +Kenneth glanced at the girls. By the glare of the burning city he +could see that their faces were calm. Either they were ignorant of +their narrow escape or quite unperturbed by their hazardous position. + +"All together; push for all you are worth!" exclaimed Kenneth +desperately. + +Inch by inch the boat was urged onwards, till with a sudden jerk it +dropped across the sill into deep water. Rollo, faint with pain, sat +limply in the for'ard well; then, concealing his injuries, he assisted +the girls to the doubtful shelter of the cabin. + +Kenneth, too, was in a sorry plight. Setting his teeth tightly he +restarted the engine; then, taking up his post at the wheel, he guided +the swift little craft towards the centre of the River Scheldt. + +In spite of the still pressing danger the crew were enthralled by the +scene that presented itself to their gaze. Antwerp was in the throes +of its death-struggle. Dominating the houses on the river bank rose +the spire of the cathedral, its delicate tracery silhouetted clearly +against the dull red glare of the burning oil-tanks. Overhead the +thick pall of smoke had spread far and wide, its lower edges tinted +blood-red by the blaze of the numerous fires. High above the roofs +were the rapid, seemingly interminable brilliant flashes of the +exploding shells, while away to the southward the sky was stabbed by +the incessant lightning-like glare of the bombarding guns. + +Antwerp had fallen. Belgium as a country had practically ceased to +exist; Belgium as a nation, still undaunted, had made a supreme +sacrifice. She had saved Europe--and Europe's task was clear. Not +until the brave little nation was rehabilitated, and the German menace +crushed once and for all time, could the Allies hope to lay down the +sword that they had been reluctantly compelled to unsheathe. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +On the North Sea + +The crew of the motor-boat had no great difficulty in finding their way +down the river. The glare on the water, and on the underside of the +enormous expanse of smoke overhead, enabled them to see objects ahead +with comparative ease. The actual channel was well defined, at first +by several barges still at anchor in the stream, and later by hundreds +of small craft making their way to safety. + +Those who depended mainly upon sail to propel them were quickly +overtaken, for the night was particularly windless and their brown +canvas hung idly from the yards. Satisfied with having got beyond the +danger zone, the crews of these fishing-vessels were content to drift, +save for the occasional assistance of their heavy sweeps. The decks +were literally packed with refugees, who, glad to have escaped with +their lives, exhibited an uncanny calmness. + +Reach after reach of the river was passed, as the motor-boat, gradually +working up power, increased her speed. Astern, the funereal pile of +Antwerp glowed red; it seemed as if the crew could never get beyond +sight of it. The spire of the cathedral had vanished beneath the +horizon, but the smoke from the burning city still hung overhead. + +The four occupants of the motor-boat had made their way aft. The +girls, refusing to go into the cabin, sat on one side of the cockpit, +their eyes fixed upon the glare of the fallen port. Rollo, holding his +wounded wrist, shut his jaw tightly and endured the pain. Since his +chum made no complaint of his injuries, Rollo grimly decided to keep +the fact that he was wounded from the others. Kenneth, steadying the +steering-wheel with his right hand, had almost forgotten the unpleasant +attention of the shrapnel bullet. The sense of responsibility +outweighed all other considerations. + +"We're across the frontier now," he announced, as the little craft +curtsied to the slight undulations of the comparatively wide expanse of +the West Scheldt. "Now, girls, which shall it be? Shall I land you on +Dutch territory, or will you risk crossing the North Sea?" + +Thelma's was a prompt answer. + +"We'll stay with you, boys." + +"Will it be very rough?" asked Yvonne. She had faced the dangers of +the bombardment bravely, but the perils of a voyage upon the open sea +in a small, partly-decked craft gave her misgivings that the presence +of her companions failed to keep in check. + +"Smooth as a mill-pond," declared Kenneth optimistically. "There's no +wind. We'll have plenty of company on the way, I fancy; and what is +more, the British navy has complete control of this part of the North +Sea. We are doing fifteen knots, I think; that's a little over +seventeen miles an hour. We ought to be in sight of the Kentish coast +a couple of hours after sunrise." + +"Then I am satisfied," declared Yvonne. + +"That's good! Now, girls, how about a cup of coffee? I can't make it, +so perhaps you'll do a good turn. Rollo will light the cabin light and +show you where the fresh water is stored." + +As soon as his three companions had withdrawn to the cabin Kenneth +closed the door. The gleam from within dazzled his eyes, and, with so +much traffic about, that would never do. The motor-boat was running +without navigation lights. If there were any "steaming" lamps on board +he had failed to notice them. But the rule of the road seemed to be +sadly neglected that fateful night. There were vessels of all sizes +and rigs making for safety, and not one-tenth of their number showed +the regulation red and green lights. + +Left to himself, Kenneth began to realize once more that his hand was +throbbing. The flow of blood had entirely ceased, and a dry, burning +pain succeeded the comparative ease of the wound while it bled freely. +He was desperately hungry and thirsty. For forty-eight hours he had +been on short commons. The reaction of the days and nights of +strenuous activity was beginning to tell. + +The motor-boat, gliding swiftly through the water, had now outstripped +all the fishing luggers. Ahead were three or four steamers making to +the westward. Others, shaping a course for Ostend, had swung away to +the port hand. + +"Rollo!" sang out his chum sharply. "Come and take the helm for a +minute." + +"I was just coming," answered Rollo as he emerged from the cabin. +"There's coffee waiting for you. And the girls have made a rattling +good job of my wrist," he added, pointing to a neatly-bandaged arm in a +sling. + +"Follow that vessel," ordered Kenneth, pointing to a steamer a couple +of miles ahead, her stern-light showing brightly in the clear starlit +night. "If you overhaul her, or if there's anything likely to be +dangerous, give me the word." + +"One minute," protested Rollo. "The spray's dashing in through the +broken scuttles. I'll try and fix up the strip of canvas. It's long +enough to go right round." + +Kenneth waited until his chum had completed the necessary and +self-imposed task. Being able to use only one hand, it was a +difficult, not to say dangerous, business securing the canvas round the +raised cabin-top, for the boat was now jumping considerably. + +"That's done it!" ejaculated Rollo. "Now, old man, down you go. I'll +keep her going somehow." + +"You have been a time, Kenneth," exclaimed his sister reproachfully. +"Your coffee is getting cold. Why, what's the matter?" + +She broke off her reproaches in alarm, for Kenneth's face was grey and +drawn in the light of the cabin-lamp. + +"Only my hand," announced her brother, with a feeble, ill-disguised +attempt at unconcern as he withdrew the badly-bandaged member from the +flap of his coat. + +"What! Are we still under fire?" + +"No; this occurred five or six hours ago. It's a clean wound." + +Gently the two girls attended to the injury. The handkerchief had to +be soaked before it could be withdrawn from the wound. In five minutes +the now experienced young nurses had washed the place with antiseptic +and had bound it with lint. + +"Right as anything now," declared Kenneth. "I'll have my coffee and +get on deck again." + +"You had far better rest," replied his sister; "and Rollo, too, is +steering; in spite of his wounded wrist. I'll go and take the wheel; +it won't be the first time." + +Kenneth gave in without a protest. He was "about done". Obediently he +stretched himself upon one of the cushions of the bunk and closed his +eyes. + +Bidding Yvonne keep a watch on the patient, Thelma donned her cloak and +went out into the cockpit. + +Rollo, too, offered no objections to being relieved of his duty. The +vibration of the wheel, almost unnoticeable under ordinary +circumstances, was causing his wrist intense pain. He handed Thelma +the charge of the helm, told her what course to take, and sat down, +admiring, in spite of his physical anguish, the alert, self-possessed +girl as she toyed with the spokes of the wheel with the ease of a +practised helmsman. + +"We're up to that vessel, Rollo," she reported, after an hour had +passed. Owing to her superior speed the motor-boat had rapidly gained +upon the lumbering ten-knot tramp which was now a couple of cables +distant on the port hand. + +Her companion bestirred himself and went into the cabin. + +"I wouldn't wake Kenneth," he said as he reappeared. "Yvonne tells me +he's quite done up." + +"I wonder you're not, too." + +"I'll make up for it when we get ashore, never fear," declared Rollo. +"But the point is, we've got to steer a course. Here's the compass, +but it's almost like Greek to me. I suppose if we keep due west we'll +do something? There are such things as variation and deviation, but, +although I did have a chance, I never troubled to understand them. I +wish I had, now." + +Providentially, for it was now close on high water, the little craft +crossed the dangerous sand-banks that encumber the Scheldt entrance +without any of her crew realizing the risk they were running. Once +they encountered "overfalls" of rather broken water on the tail of a +bank; but, with nothing worse than a couple of waves breaking inboard, +the motor-boat gained the comparatively smooth water beyond. + +Grey dawn was now breaking. All around was an unbroken expanse of sea +and sky. Not a vessel or a buoy of any description was in sight. For +the first time Rollo was able to form some idea of the vastness of the +North Sea. + +Bestirring himself, he examined the petrol-gauge and the quantity of +oil in the automatic lubricator reservoirs. The consumption of both +had not been excessive, and the motor was running like clockwork. + +"It's getting very misty," said Thelma. + +"By Jove, it is!" assented her companion. "I hope it won't come on any +thicker. Are you cold? Let me take the wheel again." + +The girl shook her head. + +"I'm quite all right," she declared. "I am enjoying it. How much +farther is it, do you think?" + +It was Rollo's turn to shake his head. He did not know, and he was too +candid to pretend that he did. + +"We ought to be meeting shipping in and out of the Thames estuary +shortly," he said. "I suppose our merchant vessels sail as freely as +they did before the war? Hello! There's something coming up astern." + +He pointed to a faint blurr of smoke about three miles away and dead in +the wake of the motor-boat. + +"Something fairly fast to be able to overtake us," remarked Thelma. +"Is there a telescope on board?" + +"I'll see," answered Rollo. + +Again he entered the cabin. Kenneth was still sound asleep. Yvonne +was seated on the opposite bunk, watching him as zealously as a +vigilant sentry. + +"What are you looking for, Rollo?" she whispered. + +"A telescope." + +She arose and, steadying herself by means of the cabin table, made her +way to the for'ard bulkhead. Drawing back a curtain, she took down the +required article from a rack. + +"It is a nurse's duty to become quickly acquainted with her +surroundings," she said with a smile, as she handed Rollo the telescope. + +The lad returned to the cockpit. Standing with his back against the +after bulkhead of the cabin he raised the telescope. It was some time, +owing to the motion of the boat, before he could get the instrument to +bear. + +"I must rouse Kenneth," he said calmly. + +"Why?" asked Thelma. "Tell me: is there anything wrong? I will not be +frightened." + +"There is, I fear," he answered. "Unless I am very much mistaken, +yonder craft is a German torpedo-boat, and she is standing in pursuit +of us." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +The Victorious White Ensign + +"Kenneth, old man, wake up!" + +Everest opened his eyes listlessly. Aroused in the midst of the sleep +of utter exhaustion, he did not at once realize his surroundings. + +"What's up?" he asked drowsily, with a suspicion of resentment in his +voice. + +"Come out into the cockpit," said Rollo. "I want you to see if we are +on the right course. We passed the tramp steamer some time ago." + +"Then why didn't you call me?" demanded Kenneth, displaying +considerable alacrity, and making a dash for the cabin door. + +"Stay here a little longer, Yvonne," said Rollo to the Belgian girl as +she began to follow her patient. The lad's chief anxiety was to keep +her in ignorance of the new danger that threatened them. + +"Right as rain," announced Kenneth, glancing at the compass. + +"Look astern, old man," said his chum in a low voice. "I didn't want +to alarm Yvonne. Thelma knows, though. That torpedo-boat coming up +hand over fist is a German." + +"Never!" ejaculated Kenneth. The idea of a war vessel flying the +Kaiser's black-cross ensign on the high seas seemed incredible. + +"Fact," rejoined Rollo. "Take this telescope." + +"You're right, by Jove!" exclaimed Kenneth after a brief survey. "We +must carry on as long as we can. If they fire at us we must stop, for +the sake of the girls." + +The motor was running at its utmost possible number of revolutions, yet +the boat was no match for the grey-painted craft now a mile and a half +astern. + +The German torpedo-boat made no sign of firing; she merely hung on +doggedly in the wake of the motor-craft, slowly yet surely diminishing +the distance between them. The haze had now lifted considerably, so +that the range of vision extended for quite five miles. All around, +save for the pursuing craft, the horizon was unbroken. + +"Perhaps those chaps think that their rotten spy, Jules de la Paix, is +on board," suggested Rollo. "They may have a prearranged plan to pick +him up at sea." + +"Should hardly think so," replied Kenneth. "It would have been easier +for him to have run across to Dutch territory, if he hadn't the heart +to remain at Antwerp during the bombardment. If that's whom they're +after they'll be jolly disappointed." + +"They'll spot our uniforms, if they haven't already done so," said +Rollo. "I wish the beggars would be stopped by a submarine." + +Kenneth did not reply. Seized by an inspiration, he grasped one of the +two boat-hooks on deck, released it from its lashings, and tossed it +overboard. + +"What have you done that for?" asked his chum. + +Kenneth pointed to the staff of the boat-hook. Weighted down by the +gun-metal head, it was bobbing up and down in a vertical position some +yards astern. + +"That may give them a bit of a shock," he explained. "They may think +it's a periscope of a submarine." + +"It's much too small." + +"Not when there are no means of comparing it with anything else. Look +at it now. You couldn't say with certainty within a hundred yards how +far it is away. Anyhow, we'll chance it." + +The German torpedo-boat had hoisted four signal-flags to her +cross-yards. They were blowing out in a fore-and-aft direction. + +"Can't make them out," declared Kenneth, "and wouldn't understand them +if I did. Now, watch." + +Suddenly two spurts of flame burst from the deck of the pursuing boat. +Shells from her three-pounder quick-firers pitched a short distance on +her starboard side. Simultaneously the torpedo-boat swung round. +Travelling at twenty-seven knots, the sudden porting of her helm caused +her to heel outwards till her deck was almost awash. + +"By Jove, she's rammed our boat-hook!" shouted Kenneth +enthusiastically. "If ever she gets back to port, won't she pitch a +yarn about ramming and sinking a British submarine!" + +The lad was not wrong in his surmise, for the torpedo-boat slowed down +and made a complete circle, steaming over the spot where she imagined +the periscope to have been. Luckily the ruse was not discovered, for a +chance shot had shattered the boat-hook staff and had sent the weighted +end to the bottom; while, on the other hand, the motor-boat had gained +at least two miles on her pursuer. + +"It's worth while throwing our remaining boat-hook overboard," said +Rollo. "I don't suppose we'll want it in any case." + +The German torpedo-boat had now resumed the pursuit. Obviously fearing +the presence of other submarines she kept a zigzag course, altering her +helm every five minutes in order to confuse the aim of a possible +torpedo-gunner. Consequently, although she still overhauled her +quarry, the distance between them lessened with perceptible slowness. + +Ten minutes from the time of resuming her course the torpedo-boat fired +her bow gun. The plugged shell, purposely aimed wide, threw up a +column of spray a hundred yards from the motor-boat's port quarter. + +The lads exchanged glances. Kenneth leant forward and switched off the +ignition. + +"Hard lines!" he ejaculated. "If it weren't for the girls----" + +While the boat still carried way he put the helm hard over, until her +bows pointed in the direction of her captor. Dejectedly the crew +awaited the arrival of the torpedo-boat, wondering what course the +Germans would pursue. + +"Look!" exclaimed Thelma, excitedly pointing to the hostile craft. + +The sight that met their gaze was an inspiring one. From somewhere at +a great distance away a shell had hurtled through the air. Striking +the water within twenty yards of its objective, the missile had +ricochetted, and had shattered the torpedo-boat's foremost funnel. + +Another and another followed in quick succession, both bursting over +the deck of the doomed vessel. + +The Germans replied, firing with great vigour, but the crew of the +motor-boat could form no idea of what they were firing at or the result +of their efforts. In five minutes the torpedo-boat was badly holed +for'ard and making water fast. + +"The cowardly skunks!" exclaimed Kenneth, frantically restarting the +motor. The epithet was justifiable, for the commander of the +torpedo-boat was endeavouring to use the little motor-boat as a screen +from her enemy's fire. + +Owing to the already crippled condition of the German craft, Kenneth +could easily out-manoeuvre her. In spite of the risk of a shell from +the exasperated Teuton, he kept his vessel about half a mile from the +torpedo-boat and awaited the inevitable ending. + +It was not long in coming. Torn by the well-aimed shells, her mast, +funnels, and deck fittings swept clean away, the torpedo-boat settled +down. From amidships a cloud of black smoke, tinged with lurid flames, +soared skywards. Men were pouring up from the engine-room and throwing +themselves into the sea. + +The other craft had ceased firing. She was coming up quickly, and +could now be distinguished as a British E-class destroyer. + +Suddenly the doomed vessel gave a roll to starboard, flung her stern in +the air, and with her triple propellers racing madly, disappeared from +sight, leaving a heavy pall of smoke to mark the spot when she sank. + +"We must pick up those fellows," announced Kenneth, pointing to about +twenty heads bobbing in the water. "I'll slow down as close as I can. +Mind your wrist, Rollo." + +Three minutes later all the crew of the motor-boat were busily engaged +in hauling half-drowned, and for the most part wounded, German seamen +into their craft, till eleven men, the sole survivors of the luckless +torpedo-boat, were rescued. + +"You Belgians?" asked one, in broken French, when he saw the lads' +uniforms. "Good! We surrender to you." + +"You'll be transferred to that vessel," said Kenneth, pointing to the +now close British destroyer. + +"No, they will shoot us," exclaimed the terrified man. + +"Nonsense!" replied Kenneth. "British seamen are not like----" He was +on the point of saying "Germans", but pulled himself up and added +"pirates". + +Nevertheless the German seamen were not easily reassured. Their +officers had impressed upon them that the British navy took no +prisoners, and they firmly believed it. + +"Motor-boat ahoy! What craft is that?" sang out a lieutenant, as the +British destroyer reversed her engines and came to a standstill at her +own length from the little vessel. It was a grand, inspiring sight to +the refugees to see the White Ensign floating proudly from the +mast-heads of the destroyer. Practically untouched in her duel with +her antagonist, she looked as spick and span as when she first +commissioned at Chatham Dockyard, only a week previously. + +"We're British in the Belgian service: refugees from Antwerp," replied +Kenneth. + +"We thought you were one of our Motor-boat Reserve craft in +difficulties," said the officer. "Luckily we heard the firing, and +closed to investigate. We'll take charge of your prisoners; can you +run alongside?" + +Stalwart bluejackets, stripped to their singlets, and grimy stokers +crowded to the stanchion rails to watch the transhipment of the +captured Germans. + +"Do you want a passage back to Sheerness?" asked the lieutenant. + +"If you wouldn't mind taking my sister and her friend," replied +Kenneth, "we'll stick to the motor-boat." + +"But you're both wounded," exclaimed the officer. "Come aboard, all of +you. We'll make you as comfortable as we can, considering we are +cleared for action." + +"But the boat?" protested Kenneth; for, having carried them so far, it +seemed hard lines that she would have to be abandoned. + +"Don't worry about that," said the lieutenant. "I'll put an artificer +and a couple of men aboard, and let them run her into the Medway." + +The genial officer courteously assisted Thelma and Yvonne over the +side. Rollo followed with a fair amount of agility, considering his +disabled wrist. Lastly Kenneth left his first command. + +As he gained the corticened decks of the destroyer he pulled himself up +and thankfully saluted the diminutive quarter-deck, on which floated +the White Ensign--the emblem of freedom. Then a grey mist swam before +his eyes and he felt himself falling. + + * * * * * + +Two days later there was a happy reunion at an hotel at Sheerness. +Summoned by telegraph, all the members of the Barrington and Everest +families who were not employed on active service hastened to welcome +home their young heroes. With them came Major Resimont, now well on +the road to recovery, and for the time being a guest of Mr. Everest. + +"I should think you lads have had enough of this terrible war," +remarked Mrs. Everest at the conclusion of their narrative. + +"We've only seen the beginning," declared Kenneth gravely. "As soon as +this little hurt of mine has healed, I want to go back." + +"And I too," added Rollo. + +Colonel Barrington flushed with pride. + +"Of course," he said, "it ought to be a fairly simple matter, +considering your experience, to get a commission. It is merely a case +of applying to the War Office." + +"And undergoing six months' training at home, pater?" + +"Presumably." + +"By that time the war may be over," said Kenneth. "In any case we will +be out of it for six months. What do you say, Rollo?" + +"We've put our hand to the plough, old man. I vote, as soon as we are +able, we rejoin our old regiment. The 9th of the Line is now between +Ostend and Nieuport, sir?" + +"I believe so," replied Major Resimont. + +"Then that settles it, unless our people raise serious objection," +declared Kenneth resolutely. "As long as we have health and strength +we will take our places with our comrades of the 9th, until Belgium is +freed from the grey-clad troops of Germany." + + + + + + +BLACKIE'S STORIES OF SCHOOL LIFE + +_Illustrated. In attractive wrapper_ + + +By RICHARD BIRD + + Trouble at Wyndham. + Boys of Dyall's House. + Captain of Keynes. + Dawson's Score. + Thanks to Rugger. + The Moreleigh Mascot. + Carton's Cap. + Play the Game, Torbury! + The Big Five at Ellerby. + Touch and Go. + + +By ALFRED JUDD + + Forrester's Fag. + Derry of Dunn's House. + + +By R. A. H. GOODYEAR + + Tom at Tollbar School. + Forge of Foxenby. + + +By WALTER RHOADES + + Jimmy Cranston's Crony. + The Whip Hand. + Two Scapegraces. + + + George Goes One Better. Jeffrey Havilton. + Godfrey Gets There. Arthur O. Cooke. + On the Ball. Sydney Horler. + George Pulls It Off. Jeffrey Havilton. + Planter Dick. Arthur O. Cooke. + Barnston's Big Year. Michael Poole. + Harold Comes to School. Jeffrey Havilton. + Out of School. Jeffrey Havilton. + The Captain of Stannard's. Michael Poole. + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS + +_Crown 8vo. Illustrated_ + + Sleuths of the Air. Percy F. Westerman. + On Secret Service. Ralph Arnold. + Binkie of IIIB. Evelyn Smith. + A Madcap Brownie. Sibyl B. Owsley. + Septima at School. Evelyn Smith. + The Corsair of the Skies. Guy Vercoe. + Seven Sisters at Queen Anne's. Evelyn Smith. + Hope's Tryst. Bessie Marchant. + Held at Ransom. Bessie Marchant. + Smuggler's Luck. Frank Charleston. + Dispatch Riders. Percy F. Westerman. + The Little Betty Wilkinson. Evelyn Smith. + The Disappearing Dhow. Percy F. Westerman. + The Good Ship "Golden Effort". Percy F. Westerman. + Barbara at School. Josephine Elder. + Biddy and Quilla. Evelyn Smith. + A Lively Bit of the Front. Percy F. Westerman. + Pam and the Countess. E. E. Cowper. + Rounding Up the Raider. F. Bayford Harrison. + A Lad of Grit. Percy F. Westerman. + The Liveliest Term at Templeton. Richard Bird. + Dr. Jolliffe's Boys. Lewis Hough. + + +_Printed in Great Britain_ + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Dispatch-Riders, by Percy F. 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