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diff --git a/39150-8.txt b/39150-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 680bc28..0000000 --- a/39150-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6211 +0,0 @@ - A HERO OF LIÉGE - - -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 http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - -Title: A Hero of Liége - -Author: Herbert Strang - -Release Date: March 14, 2012 [EBook #39150] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HERO OF LIÉGE *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - -[Illustration: Cover art] - - ---- - -[Illustration: THE SPY UNMASKED] - - - - A HERO OF LIÉGE - - _A STORY OF THE GREAT WAR_ - - - - BY - - HERBERT STRANG - - - - _ILLUSTRATED BY CYRUS CUNEO_ - - - - LONDON - HENRY FROWDE - HODDER AND STOUGHTON - - - - _First Printed in 1914_ - - - - - HERBERT STRANG'S WAR STORIES - -SULTAN JIM: A STORY OF GERMAN AGGRESSION. -THE AIR SCOUT: A STORY OF HOME DEFENCE. -THE AIR PATROL: A STORY OF THE NORTH-WEST FRONTIER. -ROB THE RANGER: A STORY OF THE GREAT FIGHT FOR CANADA. -ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES: A STORY OF THE GREAT FIGHT FOR INDIA. -BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES: A STORY OF THE INDIAN MUTINY. -THE ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER: A STORY OF MARLBOROUGH'S CAMPAIGNS. -BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE: A STORY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR. -KOBO: A STORY OF THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR. -BROWN OF MOUKDEN: A STORY OF THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR. - - - - - ---- - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I--THE OPENING OF THE GAME - CHAPTER II--THE FIRST TRICK - CHAPTER III--THE SECOND TRICK - CHAPTER IV--IN NEUTRAL TERRITORY - CHAPTER V--A CLOSE CALL - CHAPTER VI--THE OLD MILL - CHAPTER VII--A HORNET'S NEST - CHAPTER VIII--A FIGHT IN THE MILL - CHAPTER IX--IN THE TRENCHES - CHAPTER X--BROKEN THREADS - CHAPTER XI--THE CENTRE ARCH - CHAPTER XII--A FIGHT WITH A ZEPPELIN - CHAPTER XIII--THE GREAT GUNS - CHAPTER XIV--HUNTED - CHAPTER XV--HUNS AT PLAY - CHAPTER XVI--THE CARETAKER - CHAPTER XVII--A BARMECIDE FEAST - CHAPTER XVIII--RUNNING THE GAUNTLET - CHAPTER XIX--'A LONG, LONG WAY----' - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS - -THE SPY UNMASKED -THE PEASANTS SCATTERED OUT OF ITS PATH -THE END OF THE ZEPPELIN -CLEARING THE ROAD - - - - - - - -CHAPTER I--THE OPENING OF THE GAME - - -At nine o'clock on Tuesday morning, August 4, Kenneth Amory walked into -the private office of the head of the well-known firm of Amory & -Finkelstein, gutta-percha manufacturers, of Cologne. Max Finkelstein, -the head of the firm, swung round on his revolving chair, moved his hand -backward over his brush-like crop of brownish hair, and looked up -through his spectacles at Kenneth, his stout florid countenance wearing -an expression of worry. - -"I sent for you to tell you to pack up and get away by the first train," -he said, in German. "Things are looking very black; the sooner you are -home, the better." - -"Our dear Max is jumpy," came in smooth tones from the third person in -the room, the ends of his well-brushed moustache rising stiffly as he -smiled. He was tall and slim--a contrast to his cousin Finkelstein, who -had reached that period of life when good food, a successful business, -and Germanic lack of exercise, tend to corpulence. "I tell him he need -not worry," the speaker went on. "It will be as in '70." - -"Provided that England----" Finkelstein was beginning, but Kurt Hellwig -broke in with a laugh. - -"Oh, England! England will protest a little, and preach a little, and -take care not to get a scratch." - -"Don't you be too sure of that," said Kenneth, rather warmly. - -"No? You think otherwise?" Hellwig was smiling still. "Well, we shall -see. Perhaps you have private information?" - -His mocking smile and ironical tone brought a flush to Kenneth's cheeks. - -"I don't want any private information to know what England will do," -cried the boy. - -"True, the public information is conclusive. England is helpless; she -suffers from an internal complaint; she is breaking up." - -"That will do, Kurt," said Finkelstein, anticipating an explosive word -from Kenneth, who was quick-tempered, and apt to fall out with Hellwig. -"Really, Ken, you will be safer at home, and if you don't go now you -will lose your chance; all the trains will be required for the troops." - -"I'd rather wait a little longer," replied Kenneth. "It's all so -interesting. I've never seen a mobilisation before." - -"It will do him good to see how we manage things in Germany," said -Hellwig. "And since England will remain neutral, he will run no risk." - -Finkelstein, easygoing and indolent where business was not concerned, -yielded the point. - -"Very well," he said. "Do as you please. But I recommend you to pack -up in readiness for a sudden departure. For my part, I hope Kurt is -right; I think of my business." - -"We all think of our business," said Hellwig, with a slight stress upon -the pronoun. - -"Our business--yes," said Finkelstein. "We shall all suffer, I fear. -But if it is as in '70----" - -Kenneth did not wait to hear further discussion on the chances of the -war. Remarking that he would see the others at lunch, he hurried away -into the street. Awakened very early that morning by the rumbling of -carts and the tramp of horses, he had got up and gone out, to watch the -continual passage of regiments of infantry and cavalry, batteries of -artillery, pontoon trains, commissariat and ammunition wagons, through -the streets and the railway station. Everything was swift and -systematic; the troops, though a little hazy as to their destination, -were in high spirits; the war would soon be over, they assured their -anxious friends. - -It was all very new and exciting to Kenneth Amory, who had only vague -memories of the English mobilisation for the South African war, when he -was a child of four. His father had founded, with Max Finkelstein, an -Anglo-German business which had attained great dimensions. Finkelstein -controlled the German headquarters at Cologne; Amory looked after things -in London. The latter died suddenly in the winter of 1912, leaving his -son Kenneth, then nearly seventeen years of age, to the guardianship of -Finkelstein, in whom he justly placed implicit confidence. - -Since then Kenneth had spent much of his time in Germany, learning the -business under Finkelstein's direction. He had a great liking for his -father's partner, who was a keen man of business, scrupulously exact in -his duties as guardian, and a "good fellow." Finkelstein had announced -that Kenneth, as soon as he came of age, would be taken into -partnership. The firm would still be Amory & Finkelstein. - -When Kurt Hellwig spoke of "our business," his use of the first personal -pronoun must be taken to have implied a commendable feeling: he had no -actual share in the business. His connection with it was a proof of his -cousin Max's kindness of heart. Hellwig had brilliant abilities; in -particular, remarkable linguistic powers; but he had never been able to -turn them to account in the various careers which he had successively -attempted. Finkelstein had more than once lent him a helping hand; -since Mr. Amory's death he had employed him as occasional representative -in England. Needless to say, he did not entrust any matter of -importance to his erratic cousin; and the salary he paid him was -proportionate rather to relationship than to services. - -Kenneth returned to Finkelstein's house for the midday lunch. Neither -Finkelstein nor Hellwig was present. - -"Father sent word that he was detained," said Frieda, Finkelstein's -daughter, a little younger than Kenneth. "We are not to wait for him." - -"He seemed very worried when I saw him this morning," said Kenneth. "Of -course business will be at a standstill, especially if we come into the -war." - -"It will be hateful if you do," said the girl. "But you won't, Kurt -says. We have done nothing to you." - -"Kurt knows nothing about it. He thinks we are afraid to fight. He's -wrong. Of course we are not concerned with your quarrel with Russia; -but when it comes to your attacking France, quite unprovoked, and -bullying Belgium to let you take the easy way, you can hardly expect us -to look on quietly. But we won't talk about that, Frieda; you and I -mustn't quarrel." - -Frieda and Kenneth were very good friends. One bond of union between -them was a common dislike of Kurt Hellwig, whose sarcastic tongue was a -constant irritant. Kenneth related what had passed at the office that -morning. - -"Why has he come back?" said Frieda. "He has been away for weeks; I -wish he would stay away altogether." - -"Do you?" - -"Of course I do. What do you mean?" - -"I fancy Kurt thinks you admire him--because he wants you to, I -suppose." - -"Will you take me to Cousin Amalia's after lunch?" asked Frieda, with a -disconcerting change of subject. "I promised to spend the rest of the -day with her. And you'll fetch me this evening, won't you?" - -After escorting Frieda to her cousin's, Kenneth strolled about, watching -the war preparations, then turned homewards to pack his bag, as he had -promised Finkelstein to do. On the way he bought a copy of the _Cologne -Gazette_ containing a mangled version of Sir Edward Grey's speech in the -House of Commons on the previous day. When he had finished packing, he -sat down with the paper at the open window of his room. Having risen -early, he was rather tired, and the heat of the afternoon soon sent him -to sleep. - -He was wakened by voices near at hand. There was no one but himself in -the room; after a moment's confusion of senses he realised that the -sounds came up from the balcony beneath his window. It was reached from -the drawing-room, and since it was shaded by a light awning, someone had -evidently gone there for the sake of fresh air. - -The awning concealed the speakers from Kenneth's view, but in a few -moments he recognised Hellwig's voice. The other speaker was a man and -a stranger. Kenneth at first paid no attention to them; Hellwig had -many acquaintances, and was fond of entertaining them. But presently he -caught a sentence that made him suddenly alert. - -"The bridge has been mined." - -It was the stranger speaking, in German. Kenneth rose silently from his -chair, and leant out of the window, so that he should not miss a word. - -"The train can be fired at any moment, thanks to our forethought in -tunnelling between the mill-house and the bridge." - -"That is well," said Hellwig, in the tone of a superior commending the -report brought him by a subordinate. "Get back as quickly as you can, -and tell them to be ready to act instantly on receipt of a marconigram." - -"The stations are closed to private messages," remarked the visitor. - -"Yes: but mine will get through. What news have you?" - -"When I left yesterday the Belgians were becoming alive to their danger. -They are mobilising feverishly. The forts at Liége are fully manned. -But many people refuse to believe that we shall go to extremes and -invade their territory. They say that its inviolability is guaranteed -by treaty." - -Hellwig laughed. - -"Keep in touch with London," he said. "In a few hours I shall be cut -off from London except through Amsterdam, and I shall have to move my -headquarters there. You remember the address?" - -"As before?" - -"Yes. Send there any information that comes through from London, and -keep me informed of your whereabouts." - -"There was talk, as I came through, of possible English intervention. I -learn that crowds clamoured for war in front of Buckingham Palace last -night." - -"A mistake: they were shouting against war. The British government will -not dare to strike: even if they do, they will be too late. We are -ready: they are not. Before they have made up their minds we shall be -across the Belgian frontier and into France." - -The conversation continued for a few minutes longer, then the visitor -rose to go. Acting on impulse, Kenneth ran out of his room, and was -nearing the foot of the staircase as the two men came from the -drawing-room. He had the _Cologne Gazette_ in his hand. - -"Have you read Sir Edward Grey's speech?" he asked Hellwig. - -"Not yet. Is it worth the trouble?" replied Hellwig in his smooth -mocking tones. - -"I thought you hadn't, or you wouldn't be so cock-sure," Kenneth -returned. "I rather think the British government have already made up -their minds." - -"So you have been eavesdropping?" said Hellwig quickly. - -"You are a spy!" cried Kenneth--"you and your friend." - -"Is that any concern of yours?" - -"Only to this extent; that I'll have nothing more to do with you," said -Kenneth hotly, conscious at the moment that it was a foolish thing to -say, and feeling the more irritated. - -"That will kill me," sighed Hellwig. - -"And Max shall know it," Kenneth went on. "He doesn't know that you've -been up to this sort of thing, I'm sure." - -"Certainly; Max shall know that I am doing something for my country. You -are, no doubt, doing wonders for yours." - -"I wouldn't do such dirty work as yours," cried Kenneth, more and more -angry under Hellwig's calmness. - -At this moment the outer door opened, and Frieda came in from the -street. - -"What is the matter?" she asked, looking from Kenneth's flushed face to -Hellwig's smiling one, upon which, however, there flickered now a shade -of embarrassment. - -"The fellow is a spy!" Kenneth burst out. - -"I was explaining, my dear cousin, that I am doing at least something -for my country," Hellwig said. - -"We should have preferred that it were anything else," said Frieda -coldly. "Come, Ken, I've something to say to you." - -She hurried along the corridor, not heeding Hellwig's bow as she passed. -Kenneth followed her. Hellwig shrugged, and left the house with his -friend. - -"How did it come out?" asked Frieda, when Kenneth was alone with her in -the drawing-room. - -"They were talking under my window. He accused me of eavesdropping. I -couldn't help hearing them at first; and when I found out what they were -at, of course I listened. You have come back alone?" - -"Yes. I met Father. He says that your government has sent us an -ultimatum, and war is certain. You must go home at once. Father sent -me to tell you." - -"All right. He sneered about my doing wonders for my country. I'll do -something better than spying. I'll volunteer for the Flying Corps." - -"Oh, don't do that! It's so dangerous." - -"No more dangerous than being in the firing line." - -"But why do anything at all--of that sort, I mean? War is -horrible--horrible!" - -"It is, for everyone. I'm sure none of our people wanted it. But if -we're in for it, every fellow who can do anything will be required, and -you wouldn't wish me to skulk at home while others fight?" - -"I'd rather you should fight than spy. You must make haste. Martial -law is proclaimed. Father called at the station, and found that there -will be a train at half-past nine to-night: it will probably be the -last. And the stationmaster said that anyone who wanted to secure a -seat must be early, for there's sure to be a great rush. Have you done -your packing?" - -"Yes; there's only one bag I need take. The less baggage the better. -I'll run down to the station and get my ticket now, to make sure of it." - -"Don't be long. Father will be back to dinner, and he wants to say -goodbye to you, and to give you some messages for business friends in -London." - -Kenneth hurried to the station. There were signs of new excitement in -the streets. Newsvendors were shouting that Belgium was invaded. People -thronged the beer-shops, eagerly discussing the situation. Already there -were cries of "Down with the English!" Tourists of all nationalities -were flocking to the station and to the landing-stage for the Rhine -steamers. Soldiers were everywhere. - -At the station ticket office there was a long queue of people waiting. -Kenneth saw little chance of obtaining a ticket for some time; but being -well acquainted with the stationmaster, he sought his assistance and was -provided with a written pass. - -"I can't guarantee that you will get beyond Aix-la-Chapelle," said the -official. "You must take your chance." - -Kenneth set off to return. Attracted by a crowd at the door of one of -the hotels, he went up to discover the cause of the assemblage. A -mountain of luggage was piled on the pavement, and the distracted -owners, turned out of the hotel, were vainly seeking porters to convey -it to the station. The riff-raff of the streets were jeering at them. -Kenneth turned away, feeling that the scene was ominous. - -He had walked only a short distance from the spot when a hand touched -his shoulder from behind. - -"You are under arrest, sir," said a police sergeant, who was accompanied -by two constables. - -"Nonsense," said Kenneth, good-humouredly. "You have mistaken your -man." - -"Your name is Kenneth Amory?" said the sergeant. - -"Something like that," said Kenneth, amused at the man's pronunciation. - -"There is no mistake, then. You are arrested." - -"Indeed! On what charge?" - -"As a suspect." - -"Suspected of what?" - -"Of spying." - -This took Kenneth's breath away. Mechanically he walked a few steps -beside the officer, the two constables following. Then realising the -nature of the charge against him, he stopped short. - -"It is false!" he cried. "I am no spy. Where is your warrant? What -right have you to arrest me?" - -"No warrant is needed," replied the sergeant, courteously enough. "You -will no doubt clear yourself if you are innocent." - -"Of course I am innocent. My friends will prove that. Oh! I won't -give you any trouble: the sooner I get to the police-station, the -better." - -"That is reasonable," said the sergeant. - -They marched on. Kenneth looked eagerly at all the passers-by in the -hope of finding a friend who would vouch for him; but he recognised no -familiar face. On reaching the station he was searched, but deprived of -nothing except his pocket-book and the letters it contained. - -"They are only private letters," he explained. "The whole matter is -ridiculous. You will let me write a note to a friend, who will speak -for me?" - -"Certainly," said the officer, "provided I see what you say." - -Kenneth quickly scribbled a note to Max Finkelstein, and handed it to -the officer, who remarked that it had nothing suspicious about it, and -placed it in an envelope which Kenneth addressed. - -"I shall be released as soon as Herr Finkelstein comes?" asked Kenneth. - -"That is doubtful," replied the officer. "It will probably be necessary -to bring you before the magistrate to-morrow." - -"But I am going to England to-night." - -"To England! That is suspicious. Herr Finkelstein may have influence. -We shall see." - -A short conversation, carried on in low tones, ensued between the -sergeant and his superior officer. They were consulting as to where the -prisoner should be placed: the cells, it appeared, were full. Ultimately -Kenneth was taken to a room on the ground floor. The window was barred -and shuttered on the outside, and light entered only by two small round -apertures in the shutters. - -"A black hole, this," he said to the sergeant. - -"It will not be for long, if you are innocent," replied the man. - -Then he shut and locked the door; Kenneth was left to himself. - - - - -CHAPTER II--THE FIRST TRICK - - -With the door shut, the room was almost wholly dark. It contained no -furniture but a plain deal table and a wooden chair. Kenneth sat down -and ruminated. His position was annoying, but also mildly exciting. It -would be something to tell his people when he got home, that he had been -arrested as a spy. - -It was now five o'clock. Dinner was at seven: his train left at -half-past nine, and the stationmaster had advised him to be at the -station at least an hour in advance. He had addressed his note to -Finkelstein at the office, and expected that his friend would arrive -within half an hour or so and procure his release. In the absence of -any evidence against him a prolonged detention would surely be -impossible. - -Perhaps half an hour had passed when he heard footsteps on the passage; -the key turned in the lock, and he started up, expecting to see -Finkelstein. But there entered a constable, bringing a mug of beer and -a piece of rye bread. - -"My friend Herr Finkelstein has not come?" Kenneth asked. - -"Nobody has come for you," replied the man. - -"My note was taken to him?" - -"If you wrote a note, I daresay it was." - -"Aren't you sure?" - -"I have only just come on duty, sir." - -The constable set the food on the table and went out, locking the door. - -Anticipating dinner, Kenneth was not tempted to eat the coarse fare -provided. He was still not seriously alarmed, though his annoyance grew -with the passing minutes. Finkelstein never left his office until -half-past six; there was plenty of time for him to have received the -note--unless there had been delay in delivering it. This possibility -was somewhat perturbing. - -Kenneth began to wonder what had led to his arrest. He was quite -unknown to the police; nothing in his appearance was aggressively -English. So far as he knew he had no enemy in Cologne, so that it -seemed unlikely that anyone had put the police on his track out of sheer -malice. - -His thoughts reverted to the incident of the afternoon. The discovery -that Hellwig was in the German secret service, surprising as it was, -made clear certain things that had puzzled him. During his frequent -visits to London, Hellwig was accustomed to stay at the Amorys' house, -and had many callers who came to see him privately, on the firm's -business, as Kenneth had supposed. It seemed only too probable now that -they were agents in the work of espionage. - -A sudden suspicion flashed into Kenneth's mind. Was it possible that -his arrest was due to Hellwig? From what he had overheard it was clear -that Hellwig was a man of considerable authority in the secret service. -A word from him would no doubt suffice. But what could his motive be? -Kenneth was under no illusion as to the man's character. He had always -thoroughly disliked and distrusted him, and felt instinctively that the -dislike was mutual. Could it be that Hellwig, knowing himself -discovered, and fearing that Kenneth, on his return to London, would -inform the authorities, had taken this step to save himself? It seemed -an unnecessary precaution, for if war broke out between Britain and -Germany, Hellwig would make no more journeys to London for some time to -come. - -The more Kenneth thought over the matter, the more convinced he became -that Hellwig, whatever his motive might be, had caused his arrest. The -conviction destroyed his confidence in an early release. The man would -stick at nothing. He would have foreseen an application to Finkelstein, -and taken steps to forestall it. What if the note should never reach -Finkelstein? - -Kenneth was now thoroughly alarmed. The Germans had a short way with -spies, or those they regarded as spies, even during peace; it was likely -to be shorter and sharper than ever on the outbreak of war. The -prospect of being taken out and shot sent cold thrills through him. - -Contemplating this dark eventuality he heard heavy footsteps overhead. -He looked up, and for the first time saw a glint of light from the -ceiling in one corner of the room. The footsteps passed: all was silent -again. - -Kenneth sat thinking. If his suspicions were well founded, he felt that -his doom was sealed. It would be easy for a man like Hellwig to -fabricate evidence against him. In default of Finkelstein's assistance, -which Hellwig would take care to prevent, his only means of safety lay -in flight. But what chance was there of escaping from this locked and -shuttered room? An examination of the window showed the hopelessness of -it. - -The faint streak of light above again attracted his notice. Noiselessly -drawing the table beneath it, he mounted to examine its source. A -portion of the plaster had fallen away from the ceiling, and the light -filtered through a narrow crack in the flooring above. This discovery, -under pressure of circumstances, gave him a gleam of hope. Taking out -his pocket knife, he began to scrape quietly at the plaster, gradually -enlarging the hole. What there might be above he could not tell; -judging by the passing in and out of the footsteps the room was -unoccupied. - -While he was engaged on this work he heard steps in the passage without. -Springing down, he swept on to the floor, and under the table, the -plaster he had scraped from the ceiling, then stood waiting eagerly. -Perhaps it was Finkelstein at last. - -The door opened. A man was thrust into the room, and the door again -locked. The newcomer swore. - -"You're an Englishman?" cried Kenneth. - -"Do I find a companion in adversity?" said the man. "We can condole." - -"Who are you?" - -"What is your father? How many horses does he keep? Bless me, how this -reminds me of my innocent childhood! 'More light,' as Goethe said. But -I can see well enough to know that you are a youngster. Sad, sad!" - -Peering at the stranger, Kenneth saw a man of about thirty-five, with -hair _en brosse_, Germanic moustache, and a German military uniform. - -"I should pass in a crowd, one would think," the man went on, smiling -under Kenneth's scrutiny. "But Fate is unkind." - -"You are a spy?" said Kenneth. - -"And you, my friend?" - -"No. They say so, but I'm not." - -"They say so, and they will have their way. Ah, well! They say also, -that it is a sweet and comely thing to die for one's country. I always -thought I should die in my boots." - -"Can they prove it against you?" - -"A scrap of paper! They can't read it, but what matters that? A note -in cipher is evidence enough. But I shall not die unavenged: they are -crying in the streets that war is declared, and I fancy that Emperor -William has bitten a little more than he can chew. What brings you to -this deplorable extremity?" - -"I don't know: a private enemy, I think." - -"Well, the rain falls on the just and the unjust. I'm sorry for you. -Haven't you any friend, though, who can get this door unlocked?" - -Kenneth explained briefly what had happened. Then, feeling a strange -liking for his companion, he added: - -"When you came in, I was wondering about the chances of escape." - -"A waste of brain tissue, unless you have some talisman. But tell me, -you have some definite idea?" - -"You see that hole in the ceiling? I was enlarging it." - -"Ha! A man of action! Nil desperandum, eh? Let me have a look at it." - -He mounted on the table, and thrust his hand into the opening. - -"I say, youngster," he said, a note of eagerness in his voice, "there is -a chance, on my life there is. The boards above are not over firm. We -may be skipping out of the frying-pan into the fire, but one can only -die once. Continue with your work; I'll mount guard and warn you of -anyone approaching." - -Kenneth scraped away with his penknife, until the hole was large enough -to admit his head and shoulders. The light, coming through a single -crack, did not increase, so that the enlargement of the hole might -easily escape notice if a constable entered. The stranger put the chair -on the table. - -"Mount on that," he said; "put your back against the boards, and -shove--gently." - -Kenneth did as he was instructed. The pressure of his back started the -nails, and a plank rose, with an alarming creak. - -"That won't be heard through the rumble of traffic outside," said the -man. "Wait a little. You don't know anything of the room above?" - -"Nothing. I heard somebody go in and out a while ago; I think it is -empty." - -"Well now: let us keep cool. We can get into the room: that is certain. -Can we get out of it? We shall have to descend the stairs. Our chance -of life depends on one half-minute. 'Can a man die better than facing -fearful odds?' Look here: we'll toss. Heads: we'll go up; tails--why, -hang it, we'll still go up! Fortuna fortibus! Wait till we hear the -rumble of the next artillery wagon; then! ..." - -They had not long to wait. Heavy traffic passed at short intervals. - -"Now!" said the stranger. - -Kenneth gave a heave. In a moment two planks were removed. Resting his -arms on the edges of those on either side of the gap, he hoisted himself -up. His companion quickly followed. They stood in the room. - -The next half minute was filled to breathlessness. It was a bedroom. A -street lamp outside threw a little light into it. Hanging from a peg on -the door was a policeman's tunic and helmet. - -"Fortune's our friend," murmured the stranger. - -In ten seconds he had helped Kenneth to don the uniform. They crept out -of the room, and peeped over the stair rail. The way was clear. All -sounds within were smothered by the noise in the street. They stole -downstairs, past the closed door of the guardroom, through the outer -door, and into the open. "War with England!" shouted a newsman at the -corner. - -"We win the first trick!" chuckled the stranger, as they hurried along. - - - - -CHAPTER III--THE SECOND TRICK - - -"The first trick--yes: but what are trumps?" said Kenneth, in reply to -his companion's remark. - -"Toujours l'audace!" the stranger answered. "But my life isn't worth a -moment's purchase. I owe you a few minutes; 'for this relief much -thanks.' Leave me now, and make for your friends. They will look after -you. I have none." - -"Not a bit of it," replied Kenneth instantly. "We stick together. I -know a quiet place where we can consult. Step out briskly, as if we -have important business on hand." - -"There's nothing hypothetical about that," murmured the other. "On, -then!" - -They hurried along the street, which was crowded with persons of all -ages, some talking excitedly, others cheering and singing patriotic -songs. Now and then there was a cry of "Down with England!" The two -fugitives walked quickly, dodging among the crowd to avoid the wearers -of military or police uniforms, their own uniforms clearing a way for -them. As they passed a beershop, the outside tables of which were -thronged, the drinkers cheered them and broke lustily into the song of -Deutschland über Alles. - -As soon as possible they turned into a side street, less populous; and -Kenneth, who knew the city well, directed his course towards the river, -to a little secluded nook, where he hoped it would be possible to hold a -quiet consultation. In the hurry of escape and the anxious transit of -the streets he had been unable to devote a moment's thought to their -future action. It was clear that their safety hung by a thread; their -only chance was to lay their plans calmly, taking due account of the -present circumstances and future contingencies. - -They reached their destination. There was nobody about. - -"We may have a few minutes to ourselves," said Kenneth. He took out his -watch. "It is nearly ten o'clock. My train has gone, so that's out of -the question." - -"You were leaving?" - -"Yes; my friends thought I had better go; that was before war with -England was certain. I suppose it is true?" - -"The time limit has not expired, certainly; but there can't be any doubt -about it. Germany can't afford to yield about Belgium, and we can't -afford to let her have a walk over. We may be quite sure that no -Englishman of fighting age will get away now without trouble. But your -friends will protect you; again I say, don't consider me." - -"That's all right. In any case I don't want to get Max Finkelstein into -a row." - -"Of Amory & Finkelstein?" - -"Yes; I'm Kenneth Amory. Do you speak German, by the way?" - -"Like a native. I was at school at Heidelberg." - -"That's a help. But for the life of me I can't think of a way of -getting out. When they discover our escape they'll watch the stations, -the piers, and the roads. Our uniforms won't be a bit of use." - -"Oh! for the wings of a dove!--or an eagle would be more to the -purpose." - -"By Jove! that gives me an idea. I've done some flying; I was going to -try for a place in our Flying Corps. If we could only bag an -aeroplane!" - -"A sheer impossibility, I should say." - -Kenneth stood silent in the attitude of one deep in thought. Every now -and again his right eyelid twitched--a little involuntary mannerism -which came into play at such times. His companion watched him -curiously. At last a look of resolution chased the doubt from his face. - -"It's the only way," he said; "we must have a try. There are plenty in -Cologne. They've been using a new aviation ground lately; the regular -aerodrome was too small for them. They don't fly at night. All the -machines will be in their hangars. Of course they'll be under guard; -but we might get hold of one by a trick. Give me another minute or two -to think it out: I know the place well." - -After a few minutes' silence there ensued an earnest conversation -between the two. The upshot of it was that they hurried by unfrequented -roads to the new aviation ground. It was a large enclosure defended by -a wooden fence about eight feet high, with barbed wire along the top. A -sentry stood at the gate near the sheds. The whole place was in -darkness, but a little beyond it, on the far side of the road, shone the -lights of a beershop. - -Leaving his companion in a dark corner, Kenneth hastened alone to the -beershop. At the tables outside sat several men, mechanics in -appearance. Kenneth slackened his pace to a policeman's walk, and -passed by, throwing a keen glance at the men, who gave him a perfunctory -salute. On reaching the remotest table he whispered a word or two to -the man drinking alone there. The man left his bock, and rising, joined -Kenneth, who had drawn back into the darkness. - -"You can be discreet?" he said. - -"What is it, Herr Policeman?" the man replied, doubtfully. - -"It is a question of a spy. One of the mechanics is suspected. Do you -know a short dark man who has recently come in?" - -The question was a bait cast at a venture; Kenneth was elated at the -man's reply. - -"Yes, to be sure; there is a new fellow, mechanic to Herr Lieutenant -Breul. None of us liked the look of him. If he is a spy! ... Not that -he is particularly short." - -"Well, not so very short." - -"Nor more than common dark." - -"Not a gipsy, perhaps; but still, rather dark and certainly not tall." - -"That's the fellow to a hair. He's a boor: why, he called me a stupid -pig only this morning. That's suspicious in itself; for I'm not a -stupid pig; I can prove it by my school certificates." - -"Of course; you wouldn't be employed here if you were a stupid pig. Well -now, Herr Lieutenant Breul ought to be warned." - -"That's true. The Herr Lieutenant is not here now; he has gone for the -night with the other officers. But it would be better to arrest the man -at once. A spy! We'll do for him, me and my mates." - -"Not so fast. We must make sure of the man. I ought to hold him under -observation. But it is important to keep the matter quiet. The -question is, can you manage to let me have a sight of the man without -attracting attention?" - -The man scratched his head. - -"You don't want to enter by the gate, Herr Policeman?" - -"No. It would never do to let it get about that a spy was found here." - -"Well, it's not an easy matter, but I'll go to the sheds and see what -can be done." - -The man went away, Kenneth hastened to the spot where he had left his -companion. - -"Things look possible," he said. "But your uniform is a difficulty. A -German officer mustn't enter the enclosure like a thief, and without the -password you can't go in by the gate." - -"I must simply bluff it out. I'm a friend of Lieutenant Breul. I've -played many parts in my time--not without success." - -"Come along then. There's no time to lose." - -They hurried back to the dark corner in which Kenneth had interviewed -the mechanic. In a few minutes he returned. - -"This is a friend of the Herr Lieutenant's," said Kenneth. "I met him -just beyond the gate, and he agrees with me that this disgraceful matter -must be kept secret. Have you had any success?" - -"The fellow is overhauling the Herr Lieutenant's engine in preparation -for a start to-morrow. He is the only man at work." - -"That's very suspicious," said Kenneth. "Don't you think, Herr Captain, -that we had better climb the fence and keep a watch on the man? Who -knows what mischief he may be doing?" - -"I'll go back to the gate and meet you inside," replied his companion. - -"I think you had better come with me, Herr Captain," said Kenneth, "Your -presence would guarantee me if any soldier within chanced to suppose -that I was intruding." - -"Very well," returned the other, with seeming reluctance. "But you also -must guarantee me against damage to my clothes." - -"That is easily done. This man will throw his coat over the wire." - -"Certainly, Herr Policeman," said the mechanic, whom the presence of an -officer had quite reassured. - -They moved off to a spot beyond the sheds. The mechanic laid his coat -upon the wire, and assisted the fugitives to mount. Then he hurried -back to the gate, entered the enclosure, and met them near the furthest -shed. The whirring of a propeller was audible. - -"That's the shed," he said, pointing to the half-open door through which -a bright light was streaming. "He's at work there, running the engine." - -"Very well," said Kenneth. "You had better get your coat and make -yourself scarce. You won't want to appear in this." - -"Not I," said the man. - -"The Herr Lieutenant will reward you," said Kenneth's companion. He -knew German officers too well to tip the man in the English way. - -The mechanic slipped away into the darkness. The Englishmen went to the -shed. They opened the door and entered boldly. A man was bending over -the engine, spanner in hand, adjusting a nut on the carburetter. He had -not noticed the opening of the door or the entrance of the strangers. -Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looking up, was amazed to -hear an officer say, through the noise of the propeller: - -"Villain, you are under arrest." - -Dumbfounded, he stared stupidly at the officer, and feebly protesting, -stood back from the machine. Meanwhile Kenneth had taken a tin of -petrol from a cupboard in the corner of the shed, and was filling up the -tank. When this was done, he ran his eye rapidly over the monoplane, -tested the stays, and finding all in good order, said in English: - -"We'll lock this fellow in the cupboard. Then you throw the door open, -come back quickly, and get into the seat beside me. The engine is -running well, and it will only take a few seconds to get off." - -At the first words of English the mechanic shouted with alarm; but his -cry was drowned by the whirring of the propeller, and before he could -repeat it he was locked into the cupboard. Then the Englishman carried -out Kenneth's instructions. As soon as he was in his place, Kenneth -threw the engine into gear, and the machine glided forward out of the -shed into the dimly lit open space beyond. In a few yards it began to -rise. There were shouts of surprise from the few men about the grounds -and the mechanics in the beershop outside, scarcely heard by the airmen. - -The monoplane soared up and up, unnoticed by the noisy multitudes in the -crowded streets below. It was soon out of sight. Suddenly a beam of -blinding light flashed upon it from some point high above the ground. - -"The searchlight on the cathedral steeple," shouted Kenneth to his -companion. "But there's no danger; they'll recognise it as a Taube." - -The searchlight followed its course for a few minutes; then was shut -off. - -"The second trick is to us!" cried the passenger. - -But Kenneth did not hear him. His whole attention was given to the -machine. - - - - -CHAPTER IV--IN NEUTRAL TERRITORY - - -The sky was clear; there was very little wind; and Kenneth realised that -the conditions could hardly have been more propitious. For some minutes -he was too closely occupied with the mechanism to consider direction. -The monoplane was strange to him. His experience of flying had been -almost wholly gained in the machines of his friend Remi Pariset, son of -the manager of the Antwerp branch of Amory & Finkelstein. Pariset was a -lieutenant in the Belgian flying corps, and Kenneth had frequently -accompanied him in flights, at first as passenger only, afterwards being -allowed to try his hand in the pilot's seat. It had long been his aim -to gain the pilot's certificate in England, and, as he had told Frieda -Finkelstein, he hoped on the outbreak of war to get a commission in the -Royal Flying Corps. - -Though he had never before managed a monoplane of the type of that which -he had appropriated, he had often watched the German airmen, and after a -little uncertainty in his manipulation of the controls, he "felt" the -machine, and recognised that it would give him no trouble. Then he had -leisure to determine his course. - -His first idea had been to make all speed to the Belgian coast, and take -ship for England. But recollection of the conversation overheard -between Hellwig and his visitor suggested that he might possibly do some -preliminary service to the Belgians. A bridge was to be blown up. There -could be no doubt that this operation was part of the German plan of -campaign, and if it could be frustrated, this would represent so much -gain to the defending force. The river spanned by the bridge had not -been named, but there was a clue in the fact that the bridge was near a -mill. His intention now, therefore, was to alight somewhere in Belgium -and communicate his discovery to the military authorities. - -In the hurry of departure he was quite oblivious of the direction of his -flight. Now that he had time to consider it, he saw by the compass that -he was flying towards the north-east. Bringing the monoplane round, he -set his course for the south-west, hoping to pick up in half an hour or -so the lights of Aix-la-Chapelle. He failed to locate the railway line -from Cologne to Aix, and the few scattered points of light in the black -expanse below gave him no landmarks. - -After a while it occurred to him to switch on the electric light that -illuminated the dial of a small clock. It was a quarter to eleven. He -must have been flying for nearly half an hour, but neither to right or -left nor straight ahead was there any sign of the expected lights of -Aix. The country over which he was passing seemed to be hilly; it was -possible that the lights of the city were hidden by the shoulder of a -hill. - -Presently his companion shouted that he heard the sound of big guns away -to the left. Kenneth listened, but could hear nothing through the -droning whirr of the propeller. - -Every now and then he glanced at the clock, the only indication of the -distance he had covered. When midnight was past, he felt sure that -unless he had completely miscalculated his direction he must by this -time have crossed the German frontier. He was thinking of landing and -trying to discover where he was, when he caught sight in the starlight -of a broad river flowing immediately beneath him from south-west to -north-east. This, he had no doubt, was the Meuse, but he knew nothing -of the course of the river, and could not determine whether he was in -Belgium or Holland. At any rate he was out of Germany. - -Dropping a few hundred feet, and seeing below him a broad expanse of -fields, apparently flat, he thought it safe to risk a descent. No -lights were visible. A rapid swoop brought the machine into a meadow of -long grass ripe for hay, and he came lightly to the ground. - -"I make you my compliments," said his companion, as they climbed out of -their seats. "It is my first aerial voyage, and I am pretty sure that -no one has ever tempted the empyrean under such exciting circumstances. -But why did you come down? I hoped we should find ourselves at Ostend." - -"I'll tell you my reason. I don't know where I am, but we had better -camp here till morning, and then explore. Keep a look-out while I -glance over the engine; we must be ready to get off again at a moment's -notice." - -He switched on the light and made a careful examination of the engine; -then, rubbing his dirty hands on the grass, he threw himself down beside -his companion. - -"We've had uncommon luck," he said. - -"You under-estimate the personal equation," returned the other. "I -consider myself supremely lucky in having met you. Your daring is as -great as your ingenuity, Amory. By the way, I have the advantage of -you. I have as many names as the chameleon has colours, but the names -given me in baptism were Lewis Granger. Now we're quits on that score." - -"Thanks. You are a spy, I suppose?" - -"Well, that rather opprobrious term would cover me, I presume. A -sensitive person might prefer to call himself a secret agent. What's in -a name?" - -"It's pretty dangerous work, anyhow, and I'm jolly glad you're out of -the Germans' clutches. You asked why I came down. It's because I'm a -sort of secret agent too." - -"You don't say so!" - -"Oh, it's quite involuntary. I happened to overhear a conversation a -few hours before I was nabbed. I'll tell you about it." - -"Wait. I have no credentials. Do you think it wise to confide in a -stranger?" - -"That's all right," said Kenneth, who had taken an instant liking to the -man. "We're in the same boat. What I overheard was a scheme for -blowing up a bridge somewhere in Belgium, and I thought that before -going on to England I might put the Belgians up to it." - -"That's worth a few hours' delay. What you say confirms my own -knowledge of the extraordinary minuteness of the German plans. -'Somewhere in Belgium,' you say. You don't know where?" - -"No. The name of the river was not mentioned either by Hellwig or----" - -"Hellwig! Does his Christian name happen to be Kurt?" - -"Yes. Do you know him?" - -"I have crossed swords with him--not literally, you understand, though -nothing would please me better than a bout with him with the buttons -off. I have one or two scores to settle with him. His Christian name -would be more truly descriptive with the loss of a T. But how in the -world did you come across him? He's not the kind of man I should expect -to meet in your company." - -"He's the cousin of my poor father's partner, Max Finkelstein. Max -gives him a salary; he doesn't earn a penny of it, but Max is a -kind-hearted beggar. He wouldn't do it if he knew that Hellwig was -a--secret agent." - -"Don't mind my feelings, my dear fellow," said Granger, with a laugh. -"We're a very mixed lot, I assure you. Do you mind repeating what you -overheard, as nearly as you can remember it?" - -When the story was told, Granger acknowledged that ignorance of the -position of the bridge was an obstacle to forewarning the Belgian -authorities. - -"Still, they ought to know every inch of the probable theatre of war," -he said, "and may spot the place at once." - -"We'll see in the morning," said Kenneth. "Meanwhile we had better take -watch and watch about during the rest of the night. I don't suppose any -one will come by while it's dark, but it's as well to be on the safe -side. I'll take first watch." - -"Very well. It will be light in less than five hours. I'll snooze for -a couple of hours; wake me then." - -The night was warm, and Kenneth, in his policeman's coat, suffered no -discomfort. His watch passed undisturbed, and he was very sleepy when -he roused Granger. - -About five o'clock he was wakened from a sound sleep by a nudge from his -companion. - -"Sorry to disturb you," said Granger, "but there's a group of peasants -approaching with scythes. Evidently they are going to mow the meadow." - -Kenneth started up. - -"Belgians?" he asked. - -"Or Dutch," replied Granger. "We shall soon know." - -The peasants, more than a dozen in number, came straight towards the -aeroplane. Recognising the German uniforms, as the two men rose from -the ground, they halted, consulted for a moment or two, then advanced, -holding their scythes threateningly. - -"I fancy they're Dutch," said Granger. "My good friends," he called in -Dutch, "will you tell us where we are?" - -On hearing their own tongue the men consulted again. Then one of them -left the party, and hurried back by the way he had come. The rest -advanced slowly, keeping close together, not replying to the question, -and wearing an air of suspicion and hostility. - -"They have sent a man back to his village to warn the authorities," said -Granger. "We must find out where we are." - -The peasants halted at a little distance, and stood in an attitude of -watchfulness. - -"We are not Germans, in spite of our dress," Granger continued. "As a -matter of fact, we are Englishmen who have lost our way." - -The stolid Dutchmen looked round upon one another with a knowing air as -much as to say "We have heard that story before." Granger tried again. - -"Come, come, it is the truth, I assure you. All we want is to know -where we are; then we will pursue our journey." - -There was again a consultation among the group. Then one of them said, -pugnaciously: - -"You are near Weert, as you know very well." - -"Weert is some few miles north-east of Maestricht," Granger remarked to -Kenneth. "We don't want to know any more. I think we had better be -off. They don't believe we are not Germans, and as neutrals they will -hold us up if we wait until the village authorities arrive. I hope they -won't show fight, for we are absolutely unarmed, and those scythes are -rather formidable implements." - -"We're in an awkward hole, certainly," said Kenneth. "By the look of -them they'll set on to us as soon as they see us making ready to go." - -"The police took my revolver when they searched me," said Granger; -"otherwise we might intimidate them." - -"I wonder--" began Kenneth, thrusting his hand into the inner pocket of -his coat. "By Jove! What luck! Here's the policeman's revolver. Keep -them back with that while I start the engine. I shall only be a minute -or two." - -Granger took the revolver unobtrusively. Kenneth went to the front of -the aeroplane and swung the propeller round, the peasants watching him -at first without understanding. When the engine began to fire, however, -they realised the meaning of the movements, and came on brandishing -their scythes. Granger, standing close by the seat, lifted the -revolver. - -"Now, my good men," he said amiably, "we are going to leave you, as you -appear not to relish our company. If any of you come within a dozen -yards of us I shall fire." - -The men came to a halt, scowling at the little weapon pointed at them by -a steady arm. Kenneth got into his seat. - -"I'm ready," he said. - -Granger slowly backed and handed him the revolver, with which Kenneth -covered the peasants as his companion clambered up beside him. Even -before Granger was seated the aeroplane began to move. The peasants -scattered out of its path, cursing the German pigs. It rose into the -air; Kenneth swung it round to the south-west, and in half a minute it -was sailing away out of danger. Glancing round, Granger smiled as he -caught sight of a half squadron of Dutch cavalry galloping into the -meadow behind them. - -[Illustration: "THE PEASANTS SCATTERED OUT OF ITS PATH"] - - - - -CHAPTER V--A CLOSE CALL - - -Remembering that they had crossed the Meuse the night before, Kenneth -steered to the left until he sighted the river, then deflected -southward, and followed its course, keeping on the side of the left -bank. - -There was no means of telling at what point he would cross the northern -frontier of Belgium. Ascending to a great height, in order to escape -shots from either Belgian or Dutch frontier guards, he soon discovered a -town of some size extended on both banks of the river. This could only -be Maestricht. Within twenty minutes of passing this he came in sight -of a much more considerable town through which the river flowed spanned -by several bridges. - -"Better land now," shouted Granger, "or they'll be taking shots at us -from the forts. This is Liége." - -Almost before he had finished speaking the monoplane began to rock like -a ship at sea, and Kenneth had to exert his utmost skill to preserve its -equilibrium. A shell had burst a few hundred yards below them. Some -seconds later they heard the dull thunder of the gun's discharge. -Clearly it was no longer safe to continue the southward course. Kenneth -swerved to the right, and making a steep vol plane, swooped into the -cornfield of a farmhouse close by the high road. - -The people of the farm, at the sight of the German uniforms, fled -precipitately for shelter. Already "the terror of the German name" had -become a by-word in the countryside. - -"We are in hot water, I'm afraid," said Granger. "Strip off your coat; -you're all right underneath." - -Kenneth had hardly taken off his coat and helmet when there was a sound -of galloping horses. A dozen Belgian mounted infantrymen dashed up the -road, leapt the low wall of the farm steading, and shouted to them to -surrender. Granger whipped out his pocket handkerchief and waved it in -the air. The Belgians dismounted, and part of them advanced, the -lieutenant at their head with revolver pointed, the men covering the -fugitives with their rifles. - -"You are our prisoners," said the officer in bad German. - -"Charmed, my dear sir," replied Granger in excellent French. "Contrary -to appearances, we are not Germans, but Englishmen." - -"Ah bah!" snorted the lieutenant. "You wear German uniforms." - -"L'habit ne fait pas le moine," said Granger with a smile. "The fact is -as I state it: we are Englishmen who have escaped from Cologne." - -"The aeroplane is German," the officer persisted. - -"We commandeered it, there being no English machine available. Unluckily -we have no papers on us to prove our nationality; they were taken from -us by the Germans who arrested us as spies." - -"Bah!" said the lieutenant again. That two Englishmen arrested as spies -should have been able to escape on a German monoplane laid too great a -strain upon his imagination. "You are my prisoners. Hand over your -arms." - -Granger at once gave up the revolver, and Kenneth allowed himself to be -searched. The officer rummaged the aeroplane for plans and other -incriminating documents, then ordered two of his men to mount guard over -it, and marched the prisoners through the farmyard to the road, under -the gratified glances of the farm people at their windows. Kenneth -carried his policeman's uniform. - -After walking about a mile, they came to a regiment encamped in a field -beside the road. The lieutenant led his prisoners to the commanding -officer, and explained the circumstances of their capture. - -"You say you are English?" he said, scanning the two men. - -"I assure you that is the truth," replied Granger. "We were both -arrested as spies in Cologne, but by an ingenious stratagem of my friend -here we obtained possession of a German aeroplane, and are delighted to -find ourselves in Belgian territory, among a friendly people." - -"You speak very good French." - -"Which is not to our discredit, I hope," said Granger with a smile. - -The Colonel was plainly even more incredulous than his subordinate. A -man who spoke such good French must be a German spy! He took up the -receiver of a field telephone. Ascertaining that an aide de camp was at -the other end of the wire he said: - -"Two men, one in police, the other in military uniform, German, have -landed from a Taube monoplane west of Liers. They say they are English, -but they are clearly German spies. I await orders." - -The prisoners, who had heard all, watched his face grimly set as he held -the receiver to his ear. - -"It's extraordinary, the persistence of a fixed idea," said Granger in a -low tone to Kenneth. "If he heard us speaking English I suppose he -would take it as a clinching proof that we are Germans! The uniforms, -our salvation in Cologne, are here our damnation." - -"They'll send us to the General, won't they? He won't be such an ass." - -"We shall see." - -A few minutes passed. Then the look of blank expectancy on the -Colonel's face gave way to a look of satisfaction. He laid down the -receiver. - -"Shoot them!" he said laconically, turning to the lieutenant. - -Granger smiled at Kenneth, whose cheeks had gone red with indignation -rather than pale from fear. - -"What rot!" said the boy. - -"I said I should die in my boots," remarked Granger. "My fate has been -hanging over me these ten years. But there's a chance for you. Why not -tell them about the bridge?" - -"They'd only think I was funking, and wouldn't believe me. I won't do -it." - -They were led away towards a clump of trees on the outskirts of the -camp. The lieutenant was selecting his firing party. A crowd of -troopers, some in uniform, others in their shirt sleeves, came flocking -around. One or two officers moved more leisurely towards the scene. -Suddenly one of these started, and hurried forward with an exclamation -of surprise. - -"Mon Dieu, it's you, Ken!" he cried, seizing Kenneth's hand. - -"Hullo, Remi," said Kenneth, his face lighting up. "Just tell your -colonel I'm not a German, will you?" - -"Of course I will. And your friend?" - -"As English as I am. This is my pal, Remi Pariset," he said to Granger. - -"I am delighted to meet you," said Granger, bowing, "even though our -acquaintance should prove of the shortest." - -Pariset, asking his fellow lieutenant to delay, ran to the Colonel, and -returned immediately with him. - -"I beg a thousand pardons, gentlemen," said the Colonel. "I am -desolated at the injustice I have unwittingly done you. Pray accept my -apologies." - -"Not at all, Colonel," said Granger. "Appearances were against us. You -were quite justified in your suspicions; it was our misfortune that we -couldn't change our dress on the way.... I've had many a close shave," -he added in an undertone to Kenneth, "but was never quite so near my -quietus." - -"I was feeling rather rummy," Kenneth confessed: "a queer feeling, not -exactly fear; a sort of emptiness." - -When the troopers learnt the truth, they broke into cries of "Vivent les -Anglais! Vive l'Angleterre!" and the prisoners found themselves the -idols of the camp. They were invited to join the officers at lunch, and -ate with good appetites, having had no food but rye bread and beer since -the previous midday. The officers drank their health with hilarity when -Granger had related the trick by means of which they had escaped from -Cologne, and Kenneth was toasted with embarrassing fervour. - -"The bridge! That will be a clincher," whispered Granger in his ear. - -Kenneth's French was not so good as his German, but he managed, even -though haltingly, to convey to his interested auditors the gist of the -scheme he had overheard. The officers were much concerned. None of -them was able to identify the place from the bare description which was -all that Kenneth could give them. The bridge was clearly not in the -line of the Germans' probable advance; its destruction could only be -meant to assist them. But the clues, slight though they were, must be -followed up, and the Colonel declared that he would communicate with -headquarters about the matter. - -After lunch he took Kenneth aside. - -"I gather that you have not known your companion long?" he said. - -"That is true," replied Kenneth. "I met him for the first time -yesterday." - -"You will pardon me, I am sure. Lieutenant Pariset's voucher for you is -sufficient; but in such times as these I should not be doing my duty if -I allowed Mr. Granger to be at large without enquiry. Will you explain -that to him, and ask him to give me a reference to a British authority?" - -"Certainly. I am sure you will find things all right." - -"The dear man!" laughed Granger when Kenneth told him this. "He needn't -have been so careful of my feelings as to ask you to break it to me. -I've no doubt I can satisfy him." - -He mentioned the name of an official high in the British Foreign Office. - -"A telegram to that address will bring me a character," he said. -"Meanwhile I am out of work, and a sort of prisoner on parole. I am -sorry, because I fear it means that we shall be separated for a time. -You, I suppose, will want to be up and doing." - -"Yes. I've talked things over with Pariset, and he wants me to go with -him in his aeroplane in search of that bridge. But we'll meet again -before long. I'm jolly glad we came across each other." - -They shook hands cordially and parted. - -Meanwhile Lieutenant Pariset had been in consultation with the commander -of the Belgian Flying Corps. It had been decided that Pariset, -accompanied by Kenneth, should make a reconnaissance in his aeroplane -along the railway lines with a view to discover the bridge that was -threatened. The German monoplane, though faster than his own, was -discarded: it would certainly have been fired upon as it crossed the -Belgian lines. There was no clue as to the direction in which the -bridge lay, whether north, east, south or west of Liége. But it seemed -certain that the Germans would not wish to blow up any bridges on the -east. They would rather preserve them, in order to facilitate their -advance. It was more probable that the bridge in question was on a -section of the railway by which reinforcements, either French or -Belgian, might be despatched to Liége. It was therefore decided to -scout to the west and south. - -Early in the afternoon Pariset and Kenneth started, working towards -Brussels by way of Tirlemont and Louvain. Kenneth had been provided -with field-glasses, through which he closely scanned every bridge and -culvert, while Pariset piloted the machine. Flying low, they were able -to examine the line thoroughly. All that Kenneth had to guide him was -the knowledge that the bridge was near a mill. There was a tunnel -between them. It was therefore pretty clear that the bridge and the -mill could not be far apart. - -They flew over the main line as far as Brussels without discovering any -bridge that fulfilled the conditions. Then they retraced their course -and scouted along the branch lines running south from Louvain, Tirlemont -and Landen respectively. Within a few hours they had examined the whole -triangular district that had Brussels, Liége, and Namur at its angles. -At Namur they descended for a short rest, then set off again, to try -their luck on the lines running from the French frontier. - -Both felt somewhat discouraged. To trace the many hundreds of miles of -railway that crossed the country between the Meuse and the Somme -promised to be work for a week. Indeed, it was getting dark by the time -they had run through the coal-mining and manufacturing district between -Mons and Valenciennes. Alighting at the latter place, they heard that -great numbers of German troops had already crossed the Belgian frontier, -and the forts of Liége were being attacked. There was much excitement -in the town, and Pariset had some difficulty in getting petrol to -replenish his tanks. - -Next morning they set off early along the line running eastward through -Maubeuge to Charleroi. It seemed unlikely that they would find the spot -they sought in the midst of a manufacturing district, but if they were -to succeed, nothing must be left untried. - -Towards ten o'clock they were crossing a stream to the south-east of -Charleroi when Kenneth suddenly gave a shout. He had noticed on the -stream a water-mill, between which and a larger river, apparently the -Sambre, the railway crossed the stream on a brick bridge of four arches. -The mill was at least two hundred yards from the bridge, a distance that -seemed too great to have been tunnelled; but it was the first spot he -had seen that in any way conformed to the particulars he had overheard, -and it appeared worth while to examine the place more closely. - -The importance of the bridge was obvious. Its destruction would -seriously delay the transport of any French troops that might be sent -northwards to support Namur or Liége, and correspondingly assist the -Germans in an attempt to take either of those towns by a coup de main. - -At Kenneth's shout Pariset turned his head, understood that some -discovery had been made, and nodded. He did not at once prepare to -alight. If Germans were in possession of the mill they would notice the -sudden cessation of the noise of the propeller, which they must have -heard, and might take warning from the descent of the aeroplane in their -neighbourhood. Luckily he had been flying low, so that the course of -the machine could not be followed for any considerable distance. Having -run out of sight beyond a wood, he selected an open field for his -descent, and alighted a few hundred yards from a farmhouse. - -"Have you found it?" asked Pariset eagerly. - -"I saw a mill and a railway bridge," replied Kenneth; "but we were going -too fast for me to be sure it's the right place." - -"Well, we shall have to find that out. We'll get the farmer to help us -run the machine into his yard, and then reconnoitre." - -The farmer and a group of his men were already hurrying towards them. In -a few words Pariset enlisted their help. The aeroplane was run into the -yard, and placed behind a row of ricks that concealed it from the -outside. - -"We should like some bread and cheese and beer," Pariset said to the -farmer. "May we come in?" - -"Surely, monsieur," was the reply. "Come in and welcome. Ah! these are -terrible times. I don't know how long I shall have a roof over my head. -But they say the English are coming to help us. Is that true?" - -"Quite true. My friend here is an Englishman." - -"Thank God! Oh! les braves Anglais! All will be well now. Come in, -messieurs; you shall have the best I can give you." - - - - -CHAPTER VI--THE OLD MILL - - -Sitting in the farm-kitchen, and eating the farmer's homely fare, -Pariset talked a little about the war, and led the way discreetly to the -questions he was eager to ask. - -"The mill, monsieur? 'Tis twenty years since it was used. I used to -send my corn to it, but nowadays I send it to Charleroi, where a -steam-mill grinds it more cheaply. The old miller is a good friend of -mine, but he retired twenty years ago; he's a warm man, to be sure. -That's his house yonder:" he pointed to a cottage half a mile away -across the fields. "We often have a gossip over a mug of beer." - -"It's just as well he made his money before steam-mills became so -common," said Pariset. "I suppose it wasn't worth any one's while to -keep the water-mill going?" - -"No; there's no money in milling of the old sort now. But it goes to my -heart to see the old mill idle. Such a loss, too. But the miller can -stand it; he's a warm man, as I told you. And after all, he has made a -little out of it lately. But it's a come-down, that's what I say." - -"It is idle, you said." - -"Yes, to be sure, and always will be. But the miller has let it for two -years past. He makes a little out of it, and so do I, not so much as I -should like, for the gentleman is only there now and then. He's a Swiss -gentleman that keeps a hotel in Namur. A great fisherman, he is; he'll -fish for hours in the millpond, and I wonder he has the patience for it, -for there's not much to be caught there since the grinding stopped. -Still, I don't complain; he buys my eggs and butter when he comes there, -two or three times a year perhaps. He's there now, with a few friends -of his." - -"I should like to have a chat with your friend the miller," said -Pariset. - -"He'd like it too, monsieur. He doesn't have much company, and he'd -like to hear about things from an officer; you can't believe what you -read in the papers. I'll take you across the fields." - -In a few minutes they were seated in a cosy little parlour, opposite a -sturdy countryman, hale and hearty in spite of his seventy odd years. He -asked shrewd questions about the war, foresaw great trouble for his -country, but, like the farmer, was cheered by the news that "les braves -Anglais" were coming once more to her rescue. When Pariset led up to -the subject of his mill he became animated. - -"Ah! the old mill is a rare old place," he said with a chuckle. "The -things I could tell you! There was more than milling in the old days. -Times are changed. We're all for law now. But in my grandfather's -time--why, monsieur, he's dead and gone this forty years, so it will do -him no harm if I tell you he was a smuggler. Many and many a barrel of -good brandy used to get across the border without paying duty. Why, -underneath the old mill there are cellars and passages where he used to -store contraband worth thousands of francs. I used to steal down there -when I was a boy, and ma foi! it made my skin creep, though there was -nothing to be afraid of. But 'tis fifty years since my old grandfather -closed them down, and they've never been opened up since." - -"Your present tenant is a hotel-keeper, I hear. He would be interested -to know about the smuggling." - -"That he was, to be sure. He laughed when I told him about it. 'We -can't get rich that way nowadays,' said he. He seems to have plenty of -money, though; pays me a good rent. 'Tis strange what whims gentlemen -have. A month's fishing in the pond wouldn't feed him for a week. He -calls it sport; well, in my young days I liked something more lively. -But the fishing is just an excuse; he comes there now and then for a -change and quiet, though he's not a solitary, like some fishermen. He -has a party of friends sometimes; all Swiss like himself." - -"French Swiss?" asked Pariset. - -"No, German Swiss. For my part, I've no great liking for German Swiss. -They're only one remove from Germans. But his money is good, and it's -something to make a little money out of the old mill after all these -years." - -The old man spoke quite frankly, and evidently had no suspicions about -his tenant. Pariset thought it safe to disillusion him. - -"Would you be surprised to learn that your fisherman is actually a -German?" he said. - -"But that is impossible," said the miller. "He would have gone back to -Germany, because of the war." - -"Unless he is a spy! We have reason to believe that he is, and that he -is using your mill for the benefit of the enemy. That is what has -brought us here." - -"Sacre nom de nom!" the old man ejaculated, and the farmer thumped the -table and swore. "Is that the truth, monsieur?" - -"We suspect him of intending to blow up the railway bridge at a given -signal." - -"Ah! the villain! And he will use the underground passages. That is -why he pays me a high rent, parbleu! But he has come to the end of his -tether. You are here to arrest him?" - -"No. We have no men with us. We came to learn whether our suspicions -were justified. We are not sure of our man yet." - -"Bah!" shouted the old man, red with fury. "It is certain. He has -fooled me. I will raise the countryside. We will fall on these -Germans. Before night they shall lie in the dungeons of Charleroi." - -"Do you think that is the way to go to work?" Pariset asked tactfully. -"They would hardly allow themselves to be caught napping; at the first -alarm they would no doubt blow up the bridge, and I take it that to -prevent that is even more important than to seize the men -themselves--though our aim should be to do both." - -"It is true, monsieur. I am an old man. This is the day of young men. -Oh that I were forty years younger and able to serve my country! But -you will not let them go? You will bring some of our brave soldiers -here and capture the villains?" - -"There may not be time for that. We must meet craft with craft. If we -could only reconnoitre the mill we might be able to hit upon a plan. My -uniform would give me away, if I approached the place as I am; you could -no doubt lend me some clothes to disguise myself?" - -"Surely, monsieur; but----" - -He broke off, eyeing Pariset's face, with its small military moustache, -doubtfully. - -At this moment they heard the rumble of a heavy vehicle on the road. - -"It is the beer, compère," said the farmer, glancing out of the window. - -"Ah! the beer!" repeated the miller. "I might have known they were -Germans! Every week they have a barrel delivered from Charleroi, and it -is not the local brew, but the Lion brew from Munich." - -He had moved to the window, followed by his visitors. A heavy dray -laden with beer was lumbering down the road. As it came opposite to the -house the drayman hailed the miller, pulling up his horses. - -"The Germans are shelling Liége," he said. "Maybe 'tis the last time I -shall come this way. Your good tenants had better clear out." - -"Good tenants!" cried the old man explosively. - -"Quiet!" said Pariset, touching him on the sleeve. "Don't tell him they -are Germans." - -"Ah! You are right, monsieur. But my blood boils. You are going to -the mill?" he asked the drayman. - -"Yes. 'Tis only a small barrel to-day--not the big one they usually -have. There aren't so many of them, seemingly. I was just loading up -the usual nine gallons when the order came from the office to take a -four-and-a-half instead." - -Pariset glanced quickly at Kenneth. - -"They're going to clear out soon," he said in a low tone. "It looks as -though we're only just in time." - -They drew aside from the others while the miller gossiped with the -drayman. - -"I say, you talked of disguising yourself," said Kenneth. "Why -shouldn't you take the drayman's place and deliver the beer? You could -then take stock of the place and the people." - -"A capital notion! I must take the drayman into my confidence. Wait a -minute," he called out of the window, as the man was about to drive on. -In a few words he explained the plan to the miller. - -"Parbleu, monsieur, but look at his size!" said the old man. - -"Yes, that's a difficulty, I admit," said Pariset ruefully. "He would -make three of me. The Germans aren't fools, and if they saw me with his -smock flapping about me they would smell a rat." - -"And your face and hands, monsieur--no, decidedly you could not pass for -a drayman." - -Pariset bit his nails in perplexity. Kenneth stared musingly at the -dray. - -"I've an idea!" he said. "Pretend that the drayman has been called up. -The brewer is short-handed, and has to send clerks out of the office to -deliver the beer: two clerks equal one drayman. Besides, if I go with -you, I may catch sight of that fellow I saw with Hellwig, and make sure -he's our man." - -"The very thing! Your clothes are all right; I must borrow a suit from -the miller. But wait: won't Hellwig's man recognise you?" - -"I'll guard against that--smear my face with rust off the cask-hoops, -and borrow a slouch hat which I'll keep well down over my eyes. It's -worth trying." - -Delighted with the plan, the miller furnished them with the necessary -garments. In a few minutes Pariset, got up passably as a clerk, went -out to the drayman, who was becoming impatient. The man swore when he -learnt that his customers were suspected to be spies, and readily agreed -to remain in the miller's house and await the issue of the stratagem. -Meanwhile Kenneth had rubbed his cheeks and hands with rust, and in the -low flopping hat lent him by the miller would hardly have been -recognised by his friends, much less, he hoped, by a man who had seen -him for only a few minutes. - -"I had better drive," said Kenneth; "then I can keep in the background -while you are delivering the cask, if you can tackle it alone." - -"That will be easy enough. I see there's a ladder or inclined plane or -whatever they call it on the dray. I've only to roll the cask down and -trundle it to the door. I don't suppose they'll let me carry it -inside." - -Kenneth took the reins, and drove off, Pariset, who also had smeared -face and hands, dangling his legs over the tail of the dray. They -jogged down the road, passed under the railway bridge, and came in due -course to the mill. - -The premises were surrounded by an old and dilapidated wall, but they -noticed that along its top ran a row of formidable spikes, apparently of -recent date. The front door of the mill-house faced the road. It was -stoutly built of oak studded with nails, and was flanked on both sides -by barred windows. The smuggling miller who built the place had -evidently made himself secure against surprise. - -When the dray drew up before the door, Pariset sprang down and jerked -the iron bell-pull. From the driver's seat Kenneth saw a face appear -for an instant at one of the windows. After a short interval the bolts -were withdrawn, the door opened, and a man stood on the threshold. -Kenneth tingled; he had recognised him instantly as the man who had been -in conversation with Hellwig. He turned his head so as not to show his -full face, pulled his hat lower over his eyes, and hoped that the -recognition had not been mutual. And he listened anxiously, wondering -how Pariset would acquit himself in his novel part, and wishing for the -moment that Granger was in his place. - -Pariset, however, was cool and collected. He took the bull by the -horns. - -"I am sorry I am late, monsieur," he said, "but the fact is that all our -carters are called up for transport purposes. Being anxious not to -disappoint a valued customer, my master has sent us out of the office. -We shan't be able to come again, for we're called up ourselves--all -through those pigs of Germans, who are said to be across the frontier. -We shan't be able to deliver any more beer, I'm afraid. It's a wonder -we've any horses left." - -The German merely grunted in answer to this. - -"We're in for a very bad time," Pariset went on, as he hoisted the end -of the cask on to the doorstep. "Hadn't you better go back to -Switzerland, monsieur? Pardon the suggestion, but we don't know what -may happen. If these German pigs come south----" - -"Just roll it into the lobby," interrupted the German. "Here's the -money. By the way, have you seen an aeroplane in the neighbourhood?" - -"Yes, we saw one an hour or so ago. It was flying north-east. I -shouldn't be surprised if it was German. The pigs are capable of -anything. But they'll get a reception that will surprise them. Our -little army--but there! You know what your own army would do, and your -turn may come in Switzerland sooner than you think. Thank you: I am -sorry we shan't be able to serve you again, by the look of things." - -He laid the cask in the lobby, pocketed the money, and returned to the -dray. - -Meanwhile Kenneth had seized the opportunity to take a careful look -around. It was clear that it would not be easy to take the place by a -rush without giving the inmates sufficient time to fire the mine beneath -the bridge. The fact that the German had come to the door himself, -instead of the deaf old countryman whom he was said to employ as a -man-of-all-work, showed that he was on the alert. Nothing would be -easier than to overpower the man himself; but if any noise were made in -so doing his companions would instantly come to his assistance, and at -the first sign that the plot had been discovered the bridge would be -blown up. It seemed that the ruse would prove fruitless after all. - -In turning the horses for the journey back, Kenneth contrived to bring -the dray close against the wall, so that from his high seat he was able -to look over. Through the open window of a room giving on the yard he -saw a party of four men playing cards at a table. Close to the right -hand of each stood a tall beer glass. - -"That explains why they are such good customers of the brewery," he -thought. - -Pariset, sitting at the back of the dray with his face to the door, -began to hum a tune, and Kenneth caught the words "En avant!" He -whipped up the horses, big Flemish beasts that were evidently -unaccustomed to go above a walking pace, and the heavy vehicle lumbered -away. - -"Why did you want me to hurry?" asked Kenneth, when they were some -distance along the road. - -"Because that fellow was standing at the door watching us," Pariset -replied. "I wonder if he is suspicious?" - -"I shouldn't think so. You played your part quite naturally. But we -are right, Remi: that's the fellow I saw with Hellwig." - -"Ah!" was all that Pariset said then. - - - - -CHAPTER VII--A HORNET'S NEST - - -"I am not at all happy about this," said Pariset, after a brief silence. - -"We haven't learnt very much, certainly," said Kenneth. - -"I don't mean that. We have learnt enough if that is your man. But I -see no means of preventing the destruction of the bridge." - -"We might fly to Charleroi and send a squadron of lancers back. There -are only five men to deal with, apparently." - -"That's not the difficulty. The point is that at the first sign of -molestation they would fire the mine. You may depend upon it that they -are picked men, with resolution enough to do their job, even at the cost -of their lives. It would not be much use to capture them after the -mischief was already done." - -"The mine is to be fired on receipt of a marconigram." - -"You didn't tell me that. It may happen at any minute, then. They must -have wireless rigged up in the mill-house. We might have cut a wire, -but with wireless we are helpless." - -"Unless we could get into the mill," Kenneth suggested. - -"Ah, if we could! But there's no chance of it. The fellow is on the -qui vive: I don't like the way he looked after us." - -"Wouldn't the old miller, as the landlord, have a right to go in?" - -"I daresay, but the old man couldn't do anything. Even if he knew -anything about wireless or mines, he would only get flustered; he -certainly would quite fail to do any damage." - -"Perhaps he could tell us of another way into the mill, so that we could -do it ourselves." - -"That could only be in the darkness, and they may fire the mine before -night. I see nothing for it, after all, but to bring some cavalry from -Charleroi and take care the men don't escape. We can do that, if we -can't save the bridge." - -"Why not wait a little? If the order to fire the mine comes suddenly, -any time before night, we can't prevent it. But if it doesn't come -before night, we still have a chance. In any case we ought to get some -lancers over, to be in the neighbourhood at nightfall. It won't take -long for one of us to get into Charleroi and back." - -"That would be risky after that fellow's question about the aeroplane. -The best course will be to send in a message by the drayman. I'll write -a note as soon as we get back." - -The drayman readily agreed to carry Pariset's note to the commandant of -the Charleroi garrison. When he had departed, the miller was taken into -consultation. - -"Is there any other entrance to the millhouse besides the front door?" -asked Pariset. - -"There is a door to the stables, but that has long been nailed up," the -old man replied. - -"Describe the interior as well as you can." - -"Well, monsieur, I lived there fifty years, so I ought to know something -about it. You go in by the door; well, first there's the lobby; beyond -that, straight ahead, is the kitchen, and beyond that again, looking on -the stream, is the storeroom with the mill above. To the left of that -is the hoist; and this side of it, overlooking the yard, is the big -room, dining-room and parlour in one. There you have the ground-floor; -the bedrooms are upstairs." - -"And the wall goes all round?" - -"Yes, right down to the stream on each side, and along the bank, except -where the wheel juts out into the waterway. The old wheel is dropping -to pieces; it hasn't been used these twenty years." - -"Couldn't we get in that way?" - -"Ma foi! That's an idea, now. Many's the time I got in that way as a -boy, when the wheel was stopped--just a boy's devilry, you understand. -You could get in that way yet, if the woodwork isn't too rotten to bear -your weight. You would have to wade the stream, but that isn't deep or -swift except in winter. Old as I be I'll show you the way myself." - -"We could get in without being heard?" - -"To be sure, if the woodwork doesn't crack and give way. The kitchen is -the nearest room; old Jules, the handy man, is as deaf as a post, and -his wife, who does the cooking, isn't much better." - -"And where is the entrance to the underground passages?" - -"To the left of the kitchen, in the floor of the hoist." - -As the miller answered his questions, Pariset sketched a rough plan of -the building. - -"Is that something like it?" he asked, handing the paper over. - -The old man put on his spectacles deliberately, and examined the sketch. - -"Near enough," he said. "Ma foi! But I couldn't have done that -myself." - -"Now the question is, when shall we try to get in?" asked Pariset. "The -best time would be when the men are having a meal. The Germans take -their meals seriously; if they are ever to be caught off their guard it -is when they are feeding." - -"That's true," said the miller. "They have their supper somewhere about -seven o'clock. I know that because one evening I met old Jules coming -back from the village all puffing and blowing. I asked him why he was -in such a hurry for an old man; had to ask three times before he heard -me; and he told me he'd forgotten the vinegar, and the gentlemen were -very angry." - -"Well, it's dusk at seven; the lancers will be here by half-past. We'll -make our attempt then." - -"Better go a little earlier, while it's light enough to see our way," -suggested the miller. "I'm not so young as I was, and I doubt whether I -could find my way in the dark." - -"Very well. It's now nearly five; we have nearly two hours to wait. -You'll give us a meal, miller?" - -"To be sure; the best I have. I'd feed a regiment to capture a German -spy." - -Just before seven Pariset and Kenneth left the house with the miller. -Pariset had given the farmer a note addressed to the officer of the -expected lancers, asking him to leave the horses at the farm, and post -his men behind the hedge lining the road in the neighbourhood of the -mill, ready to break in if they were called upon, or to intercept the -Germans if they tried to escape. - -The miller led the way across the fields, by a route which did not -expose them to view from the mill-house until they arrived within a few -yards of the bank of the stream opposite the wheel. The last part of -the journey lay through a cornfield, the wheat growing so high that by -stooping they completely hid themselves. - -All was silent in the mill-house. Dusk was just falling. A lamp had -already been lit in the kitchen, sending a ray of light across the yard -to the left. The rear of the building, facing the stream, was dark. - -Following the miller, the two young fellows stepped into the stream, and -waded across knee deep till they stood below the wheel. It was an -undershot wheel. The chains confining it were deeply rusted. Some of -the floats had fallen away; others were broken; all were more or less -decayed. - -"I've done my part," the miller whispered. "You must squeeze through -into the wheel and slide along the axle. Where it is let into the -brickwork you'll find a hole big enough to crawl through. Climb up, and -you'll find yourselves in a little room that used to be the tool-shop. -Take care you don't stumble over the tools on the floor. At the further -side there's a door into the storeroom. I can do no more. Que le bon -Dieu vous protège!" - -He shook hands with them in turn, recrossed the stream, and disappeared -among the wheat stalks. - -With some difficulty Pariset squeezed his body between two of the -floats, hoisted himself up, and stood in the interior of the wheel. The -rotten woodwork creaked, and the wheel itself groaned slightly as it -moved an inch or two; but the movement was checked by the rusty chains. -Kenneth followed more easily. They swung themselves on to the axle, -jerked their way along it, came to the hole of which the miller had -spoken, and clambering up through it, stood on the floor of the -toolroom. Hands and clothes were coated with red rust. - -The room was lit by a small window overlooking the stream. To their -surprise, it was not empty except for a few rusty implements, as they -had expected from the miller's description. A new deal bench stood -against the wall, flanked by a turning lathe, and an elaborate -engineering equipment. - -"Electrical!" Pariset whispered. - -Treading very carefully, they gently opened the door, took a look round, -and passed into the capacious storeroom. Here they found the plant of a -wireless telegraphy installation. The antennae passed through holes in -the ceiling, emerging, as they guessed, under cover of the parapet, on -the flat roof of the mill. - -In the fast-fading light they were just able to see a doorway on the -right, leading, as they knew from the miller's description, to the hoist -and shoot. In front of them was another door, now open, giving access -to a passage between the kitchen and the dining-room. Pariset slipped -off his wet boots. - -"Wait here," he whispered. - -Stealing along the passage, he came to a door on the right. He put his -ear against it, and heard the clink of knives and forks mingled with -guttural conversation. Creeping back again, he whispered: - -"They are feeding. Come along!" - -They passed from the storeroom into the chamber which had formerly -contained the hoist. Here they noticed a tall heap of earth. - -"They dug that out when continuing the underground passage to the -bridge," said Pariset. - -"Here's the trap-door," returned Kenneth. "Look! There's a wire -running through it, connecting with the room behind." - -"It's all very thorough, confound them!" said Pariset. "I hope the -trap-door won't creak." - -They lifted it gently, and found that it moved on a central axis, well -oiled. Peering into the dark depths, Kenneth discovered a wooden -ladder. They crept down this, into a large underground chamber flagged -with stone, and ventilated by narrow gratings in the brick walls, above -the level of the stream. - -"We had better not both go on," said Pariset. "I'll go up and keep -watch. You proceed, and cut the wires at the further end of the -passage." - -"Why not here?" said Kenneth. "It would save time." - -"But if the word should come to fire the mine, and they find the -apparatus doesn't work, they'd soon discover the cut here and repair it. -Much better do the damage at the other end." - -"Very well. You'll use your revolver if they come before I get back?" - -"Yes. I'll take my chance. They probably won't guess that there's any -one below, if I shut down the trap-door. You know what to do: cut the -wire, or disconnect the terminals." - -With the trap-door closed, it was pitch dark in the chamber. Kenneth -struck a match, and making his way carefully over the flagstones found -himself in a narrow passage, which led into another large chamber like -the first. This again was connected with a third by a short passage. -The floor of the third was heaped with newly excavated earth, and the -sole outlet from it was a low tunnel, which a man could enter only by -bending low. - -Kenneth crept into it, breathing with difficulty in the stuffy -atmosphere impregnated with the smell of earth. It seemed endless, and -must have cost prodigious labour. On and on he went, his back and legs -aching, his breathing more and more oppressed. The thought came to him, -what if the tunnel were obstructed at the further end? When the wire -had once been laid, the Germans would have no interest in keeping the -passage clear. What if the roof fell upon him? What if--direst -possibility of all!--the mine were fired while he was still in the -tunnel? At this thought he felt a momentary "sinking," and dropped his -match-box. Taking a grip upon himself he waited a few moments until his -nerves were steadied, groped for the match-box, struck another match, -and went on. - -A few yards more brought him to an enlargement of the tunnel, where he -could stand upright. And here he found that the wire, laid along the -floor, ended in a metal case, which he guessed to contain a detonating -apparatus, like the floating mines employed at sea. It was the work of -a moment to sever the wire. Then, turning his back on this terrible -agent of destruction, Kenneth hurried along as fast as possible towards -the open end of the tunnel. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII--A FIGHT IN THE MILL - - -Kenneth returned more quickly than he had gone. He was consumed with a -feverish impatience to assure himself of Pariset's safety. Pariset had -been very confident; but it was at least within the bounds of -possibility that, if discovered by the Germans, he might be overpowered -before he had time to fire a warning shot. - -When he reached the trap-door he tapped lightly on it. It was raised at -once. - -"Good!" whispered Pariset. "Is it done?" - -"Yes, the wire is cut." - -"Capital! You have only been twenty minutes." - -"Has anything happened?" - -"A minute or two ago there was a ring at the bell, and I heard someone -go to the door. I was afraid that some friend of these fellows had -discovered the lancers and come to give warning; but it can't be that, -because all is quiet." - -"Still, he may be a friend, and that will mean that we have six men to -deal with instead of five." - -"It doesn't matter, now the wire is cut. We had better creep out again, -go round by the field, cross the bridge, and join the lancers in an -attack on the house." - -"Suppose the lancers haven't come!" - -"We have to reckon with that possibility, of course; but it's not -probable. I'll just reconnoitre again; then we'll get back. If the -lancers have not arrived, we must get the assistance of some stout -fellows from the farm. I'm determined that these Germans shall not -escape." - -"Let me go," said Kenneth. "You don't know German; I do; and I might -overhear something worth making a note of." - -"That's a good notion. We may get on the track of other operations of -theirs. Take off your boots; I'll tie them to mine." - -A minute later Kenneth tiptoed in his stocking feet along the dark -passage. Through the closed door of the kitchen on the left came the -sounds of some one moving about. On the other side he heard the voices -of the men in the dining-room, the door of which was ajar. Grasping his -revolver, he bent his ear towards the opening. At the first words he -caught he started. The voice was only too familiar to him. It was the -voice of Kurt Hellwig. - -Was he there before, Kenneth wondered, or was he the newcomer whose ring -Pariset had heard? In a few seconds the point was cleared up. - -"Yes," Hellwig was saying, "I had intended to give you the word by -wireless myself. But the chief wanted me to come through and see that -all was ready. The wire is fixed?" - -"I guarantee that," was his friend's reply. "You don't want to go along -the tunnel yourself?" - -"No, I'll take your word for it. I'm very tired; thought I should never -get through. Our friend Spiegel was caught in Liége before my eyes, and -taken away to be shot. The soldiers could hardly save him from -lynching, the mob was so furious." - -"The Belgians are going to be troublesome, then?" said another voice. - -"It appears so. We opened the attack on the forts yesterday, and the -fools had the audacity to reply. They did some damage, too, worse luck. -Von Emmich is attacking again to-day in full force, and with his numbers -he'll sweep the idiots away. There'll not be a man left. The orders -are to spare nothing and nobody." - -"When are we likely to get the word?" asked his friend. - -"Probably not at all. If our men are already in Liége, as I expect is -the case, we shall leave the bridge intact: the railway will be useful. -It is only to be blown up in case of a check, to prevent the Belgians -from being reinforced from France. But that's not at all likely." - -"I suppose it is true that England has declared war?" - -Hellwig's ironical laugh made Kenneth's blood boil. - -"Yes, it's true," he said. "It's the chance we've been waiting for for -years. They've next to no army; they're never ready; and within a week -there'll be a rebellion in Ireland which will keep the whole of their -forces busy. Within a month we shall have France under our heel; then -we'll turn back and crush the Russians, who've no organization. Then -with the Channel ports in our possession the rest will be easy. By this -time next year the Kaiser will be dictating peace in London." - -"Well, you ought to know the English; you've lived among them. How they -got their empire I can't understand.... Then we shall be leaving here -soon? It's quite time." - -"What do you mean?" - -"It may be all right, but thinking it over I can't help feeling a little -suspicious. The beer delivered to-day was brought by two clerks. They -said the draymen had been called up, and they were doing duty in their -place. It didn't occur to me till they were driving off that the -clerks, well-set-up young fellows, were likely to have been called up -before the draymen. The man who usually comes is a big fat fellow who -couldn't march a mile without collapsing. But nothing has happened, so -I suppose I was suspicious for nothing." - -"They didn't come into the house?" - -"No; the fellow who brought the cask into the lobby didn't seem at all -curious. Ah!" - -He was interrupted by the ticking of an instrument on a table at the far -end of the room. There was silence for a moment as he read the message. - -"The bridge is to be blown up," said the man, returning. "At last!" - -"Give me a few minutes to finish my meal," said Hellwig. "I've had -nothing to eat for twelve hours. A quarter of an hour, say; that won't -make any difference. I wish your cook would hurry up." - -Kenneth turned to go back, anticipating a possible visit to the kitchen. -At the same moment the kitchen door opened, and an old woman bearing a -tray came into the passage. The light from the lamp behind her fell on -an unfamiliar figure at the door of the dining-room--a bootless man with -a revolver in his hand. The woman screamed; the tray fell from her -hand, and a pool of soup spread over the floor. There was an outcry in -the dining-room; the man nearest the door flung it fully open, to find -the muzzle of a revolver within a few inches of his head. - -In the moment allowed him for thought, Kenneth had realised that he -could not escape if he dashed past the old woman with armed men at his -back. With an inward tremor he made up his mind to the bold course. - -"Hands up!" he cried, as the startled man recoiled. - -The German instantly flung up his hands. But his companions realised -the position. One of them sprang across the room to an electric push in -the wall. Another, covered by the man who had flinched, whipped out his -revolver, and took a snapshot at Kenneth. But a slight movement of the -man between them brought him in the line of fire, and he fell with a -bullet through his head. - -It was no time for half measures. Kenneth covered his assailant, fired, -and brought him down. Through the shrieks of the old woman in the -passage there came to his ears a shout of encouragement, and immediately -after he had fired his shot Pariset rushed up to the doorway, reaching -over Kenneth's shoulder to point his revolver. At the sight of this the -three remaining men dashed to the open window and leapt out; the last of -them, pausing to close the window, was winged by Pariset's flying shot. -Kenneth and his friend sprang across the room, threw the window open, -and jumped into the yard. But the brief delay at the window had given -the fugitives time to make their escape in the darkness. They were not -to be seen. - -"The lancers will get them!" Kenneth panted. - -"If they've come!" replied Pariset. - -He blew his whistle. There was no response. They dashed across the -yard, wondering how the Germans could have escaped, for there was no -outlet on this side of the house, and the wall was high and spiked. But -after a minute or two they discovered a gap in the base of the wall, -large enough to admit a man crawling. On the outside it was concealed -by long grass and weeds. Wriggling through this they sprinted along by -the wall to the road. And then they heard the distant galloping of a -troop of horsemen. Pariset blew his whistle again, and in a few seconds -a half squadron of Belgian lancers reined up. - -"Three men have escaped," cried Pariset. "Round them up!" - -The horsemen galloped off, some along the road, some along the grassy -bank of the stream, the rest into the field beyond the hedge. - -"A pity they were late," said Pariset, walking slowly with Kenneth back -to the house. "When I heard your shot I expected that they'd force the -door and rush in." - -"I hope they will catch the Germans," said Kenneth. "One of them--it -was the last comer, the man whose ring at the bell you heard--was -Hellwig. I shall be particularly disgusted if he gets off." - -"What led to the row? You weren't rash enough to attack them?" - -"No; but I wasn't so careful as I ought to have been, I'm afraid. You -see, hearing no knives and forks going, I thought they had finished -their meal, and everything was cleared away, and didn't expect any -danger from the kitchen. As soon as I knew there was something -preparing for Hellwig I backed, straight into the old woman with a tray. -It was all up then, of course." - -"You've had a lucky escape. But we have saved the bridge." - -"One of the fellows dashed to an electric push," said Kenneth, smiling. -"I was too busy to notice how he looked when the explosion he expected -didn't happen, but I've no doubt it was the surprise of his life." - -"We'll have a look round. I'll give the old woman a soothing -explanation, and borrow a lamp." - -Their investigation added little to their knowledge. The luggage of the -spies contained no papers bearing on espionage. But the wireless -installation, carried up inside the chimney, was very powerful. The -electrical apparatus for firing the mine was in perfect order. - -"There is nothing amateurish about it," said Pariset. "This is spying -reduced to a science." - -It was some time before the lancers returned. They brought with them -the man who had been wounded as he sprang through the window. The -others had got away. The man who had fired at Kenneth was dead; his -comrade, to whom he owed his death, Kenneth had wounded. - -After consultation with the captain of lancers, it was decided to leave -a dozen men to occupy the mill, pending the receipt of instructions from -headquarters. Kenneth and Pariset begged a lodging for the night from -the old miller, who was delighted at the success of their scheme, and -lavishly hospitable. - - - - -CHAPTER IX--IN THE TRENCHES - - -Next morning the two friends flew into Charleroi. The town was seething -with excitement. People were laughing and singing, cheering every -soldier who passed along the street, congratulating each other on the -good news. It had become known that the fierce German assaults of the -previous day on Liége had been beaten back by the guns of the forts and -the steady rifle fire of the men in the trenches, and that the Germans -had asked for an armistice. - -"Splendid!" said Pariset, when he learnt the news from a brother -officer: "though we mustn't crow too soon. The cessation of the attack -gives us the chance I wanted, then. We can take advantage of it to get -into Liége. I should like to report our little coup in person." - -"There will be no difficulty in my getting away, I suppose?" asked -Kenneth. - -"What do you wish to do?" - -"Get to England and join the Flying Corps." - -"They would take you?" - -"Well, my chest measures thirty-six inches, my teeth are sound, and I've -no varicose veins. The only doubt is about my sight: my right eye is a -trifle astigmatic. But I think I should pass the doctor." - -"I wish you could stay with us. But I understand your wish to serve -with your own army. As soon as we get back I'll ask the commandant if I -can be spared to carry you to Ostend." - -Kenneth agreed to this, and they started eastward. It was nearing -midday when they swooped down from a great height on to an open space -some three miles west of Liége. Pariset had pointed out the positions -of the forts as they descended; but Kenneth had been able barely to -distinguish them while in the air, and when he came to the ground they -were quite out of sight. - -But the intervening space had been carefully prepared for infantry. -Trenches had been dug, barbed wire entanglements stretched from point to -point, every natural feature adapted to the purposes of defence. At the -present moment the trenches were not manned. Pariset learnt from a -comrade in the flying corps that though the armistice had been refused, -the Germans had not as yet renewed the attack. Their losses on the -previous day had been very heavy, and the garrison were confident of -their ability to repulse any further assaults if the Germans persisted -in attacking in the same dense masses, and were not supported by heavier -artillery than that which they had employed hitherto. - -Kenneth listened eagerly to the conversation between the two airmen. He -learnt how the German infantry, covered by artillery, had advanced again -and again in close formation, only to be hurled back by the fire from -the forts and the trenches, followed up with the bayonet. The Belgians -were amazed at the doggedness with which their enemy had pressed on, -careless of cover, though great gaps were torn in their packed columns. -Such a wastage of men pointed to a vast confidence in the ultimate -superiority of numbers, the crushing of the defence by sheer weight -rather than skill. - -Pariset explained, when Kenneth questioned him, the importance to the -enemy of the capture of Liége. Encircled by its twelve forts, -constructed by the engineering genius of General Brialmont, the town -stood as a formidable obstacle to the advance of the Germans through the -valley of the Meuse, the easiest way into France. Every day it could be -held was a day's delay in the prosecution of the enemy's plan of -campaign, which, as everybody knew, was to crush France before Russia -had time to threaten Germany on her eastern border. - -"The Germans have, they think, a very perfect military machine," Pariset -continued; "I daresay they have, though perhaps they are a little too -cocksure about it. They've had no experience of war for forty years, -and their easy victory in 1870 has possibly produced what you call -swelled head. Anyhow, the most perfect machine may be dislocated by a -little grit, and Liége, we hope, will be the little grit for the -occasion. Now we had better get some lunch; then we'll fly north. I'll -report myself to my commandant, and ask for leave to carry you to -Ostend." - -They walked away to the rear of the lines, towards a cottage on which -the canteen flag was flying. Before they reached it they met a general -officer on horseback, cantering along accompanied by an aide-de-camp. -Pariset saluted, the officers touched their hats and passed. - -"General Leman, commanding the forts," said Pariset. - -"He looked just like an Englishman," Kenneth replied. - -Pariset smiled, and was beginning a chaffing remark when he was hailed -from behind. Turning, he saw that the officers had reined up, and -turned their horses' flanks towards him. He hurried back, Kenneth -taking a step or two in the same direction. - -"Lieutenant Pariset, I understand?" he heard the general say. "I -compliment you on your little exploit. You did very well; thank you!" - -Pariset murmured something, saluted again, and the officers rode off. - -"He didn't give me time to tell him about you," said Pariset, rejoining -his friend. "He is evidently in a hurry to get back to Fort Loncin." - -"It doesn't matter about me," said Kenneth. "How did he know about it -at all?" - -"He must have got the news by telegram or wireless from Charleroi. But -really it was your doing, you know. I must make that clear." - -"Don't talk rubbish! I only gave you the information. I liked the look -of him. What keen eyes he has!" - -"He's a splendid fellow. But come along! Our men are a hungry lot, and -I don't want to find the board cleared." - -They were sitting at lunch among a group of cheery young officers when a -bugle rang out. The officers sprang up, seized their arms, and rushed -out of the cottage. - -"The Germans are coming on again," cried Pariset. "Come and see." - -They ran back towards the trenches, which were already filling with -riflemen. A deep boom sounded from some distant spot. - -"A German gun!" said Pariset. - -"I don't see the shell," said Kenneth, looking round. - -"My dear fellow, it had fallen somewhere before we heard the sound. Ah! -the forts are replying." - -In a few minutes the silence of the summer noon was shattered by the -continuous thunder of artillery. With the deep slow booms of the big -guns was mingled the quicker, sharper bang of machine guns somewhere out -of sight. - -"Get down, you asses!" cried an officer, as they drew near to the -trenches. "Do you want to be marked?" - -They took cover behind a hedge. Kenneth tingled from top to toe as he -heard the crash of the guns, and felt the earth and the very air shake -with the concussion. Presently a shrill whistle sounded; it was -followed almost instantaneously by a prolonged crackle, which had hardly -died away when from above them came a zip, zip, zip, like the notes of -some tuneless bird. - -"The Germans are firing anyhow," said Pariset in an involuntary whisper. - -Round the hedge came swiftly two men in blue coats with the red cross on -their sleeves, carrying an ambulance. A groan rose from it. - -"I can't stand this," said Pariset. - -He dashed along the hedge and into the open. Kenneth instinctively -followed him, not doubting for a moment what it was that Pariset could -not stand. Pariset, with Kenneth close at his heels, made straight for -the nearest trench, heedless of the shot and shell whistling, singing, -crashing around them. They flung themselves into the trench, and -Kenneth, without understanding how it had happened, found himself -leaning forward, rifle in hand, listening to a droning monotone from -Pariset a yard to the left of him. - -"Mark your man.... Don't be in a hurry.... Keep your head as low as -possible.... You'll soon get used to the noise." - -It was a minute or two before Kenneth realised that the rifle had been -thrust into his hand for use. Looking over the parapet of the trench he -was still confused and bewildered. Pariset expected him to fire, but -where was the enemy? He saw the long grass waving in the breeze, a few -scattered trees in the field beyond, wisps and cloudlets of smoke--and -then, as the range of his vision increased, in the far distance a -bluish-grey mass rolling like a billow towards him. - -At last he understood. That bluish-grey mass was the enemy. It -represented brute force, broken faith, merciless tyranny. It was the -devastating flood which these brave soldiers about him were giving their -lives to check. - -Presently he distinguished individuals in the mass. - -"Mark your man!" - -The words, coolly spoken by Pariset on his left, set his imagination on -fire. It was his privilege to have a share in their fight for freedom. -He laid the rifle to his shoulder, marked his man along the sight, and a -touch of his finger sped a bullet on its way. - -For the next half-hour Kenneth lost account of everything but the task -so suddenly thrust upon him. The deafening din of bursting shells and -rifle fire, the quick silent activity of the ambulance bearers, the -shouts and groans of men, were unnoticed by him in his constant -preoccupation. He learnt afterwards how the Germans had pressed on with -marvellous passive courage under the hail of lead and shell from the -forts and trenches; how the gaps cleft in their close-packed ranks had -been instantly filled up, as if men had sprung out of the earth. He -fired until the chamber was empty, refilled and fired again, every now -and again hearing Pariset's monotonous cry, "Mark your man!" - -Presently there was a shrill whistle. Instantly, in the trench on -either side of him, the men who had been lying flat sprang to their feet -and dashed forward with a joyous shout. He was up and after them, -running across the field, with bayonet out-thrust, towards the stalwart -men in blue-grey, who had hitherto come nearer and nearer like the -irresistible tide. But now he became suddenly conscious that the tide -was receding. These stout warriors whom shot and shell had failed to -daunt had turned tail at the sight of gleaming steel. Their ranks -broke; they wavered, spun round, and fled in panic disorder across the -field. - -As Kenneth, with parched lips and trembling limbs, returned with Pariset -from that victorious charge, an officer of the general's staff met them. - -"This will never do, lieutenant," he said to Pariset; "we have plenty of -brave fellows to man the trenches, but we haven't too many airmen, and -we can't afford to risk them in field operations. You have no business -here, you know." - -"But wasn't it glorious, colonel?" said Pariset, glowing. - -"They are men to be proud of. But I am quite serious; get back to your -corps; there will be plenty of work for you. Has this man no uniform, -by the way?" - -"They have run short, colonel," said Pariset instantly. "We will rig -him up in a day or two." - -"See to it. If the Germans capture a man in civilian dress they will -shoot him at sight. Now, get back at once." - -"I thought it better not to go into particulars," Pariset remarked to -Kenneth as they went on. "There might have been a row." - -"It's just as well," said Kenneth. "But, I say, I think I'll go into -the infantry after all." - - - - -CHAPTER X--BROKEN THREADS - - -On returning to his headquarters, some eight miles west of the town, -Pariset asked permission of his commandant to convey Kenneth to Ostend. -He met with a peremptory refusal; he could not be spared. - -"You'll have to go by train," he said to Kenneth. "It will take you a -long time, the railway is so congested with troops and refugees. Must -you go?" - -"What else can I do?" - -"Well, we're short of men. I'd like to keep you. If I get you a sort -of appointment, will you stay?" - -"Rather! It might be months before I got a job at home." - -"Then I'll see the commandant again and try to arrange it." - -When he returned half-an-hour later, Kenneth knew by his expression that -he had been successful. - -"It was easier than I expected," he said. "He was good enough to say -that you're just the man we want. He told me, too, that we have already -accepted the services of two English airmen who have volunteered, so -everything is quite in order. We'll go into Liége and get you a suit of -overalls. I am delighted." - -After the necessary purchases had been made, they went into the Hôtel de -l'Europe for dinner. The dining-room was crowded, and Kenneth, as he -entered, glanced somewhat confusedly around the tables. Suddenly he -heard his name, uttered in a low tone, and turning round in surprise, -saw Granger beckoning him to a small table at which he sat alone. - -"There's room here for you both, at a squeeze," he said. "I'm glad to -see you again." - -"It's all right, then?" asked Kenneth as they sat down. - -"Oh yes! They got a reassuring telegram from my chief this morning. -What's more, I am to stay in Liége for the present; I am lent to the -Belgians." - -"That's capital. I have lent myself." - -"'Loan oft loses both itself and friend.' I hope it won't be so in our -case! Well, what have you been doing?" - -Kenneth plunged into an account of the affair at the mill. Granger -interrupted him when the waiter came for orders, and again when the man -returned with the dishes. At the conclusion of the story, which Kenneth -gave only in outline, Granger said: - -"Hellwig is in Liége. My own stay here is not unconnected with him. He -is one of the most resourceful, ingenious and dangerous of the thousands -of spies in the German service.... They were all County Kerry men, and -when they stood at attention you might have heard a pin drop." - -His companions stared at him in amazement. His last sentence, -apparently unconnected with what had gone before, had been spoken -without change of voice or expression, and he imperturbably sucked his -lemon squash through a straw before he went on: - -"He has a marvellous command of languages; is Protean in his disguises; -and in nimbleness of wit outdoes any other German I have ever come -across.... They mixed the salad with engine oil, and when Lady Barbara -took a mouthful of it, she swallowed it without blinking, and remarked -to me, 'The chef is a perfect marvel in inventing new flavours.' ... -Waiter!" - -"Monsieur?" said the waiter, smiling and bowing. - -"Another lemon squash." - -When the waiter had gone, Granger said: - -"I must have that fellow arrested." - -"What on earth for?" asked Pariset. - -"And what are you driving at, with your County Kerries and your Lady -Barbaras?" said Kenneth. - -"The waiter has been hovering round a little more closely than the most -officious garçon need do. You didn't notice him, perhaps? He speaks -pretty good French, with a strong Belgian accent. Did you see what -happened when I called him?" - -"What was it?" asked Kenneth. - -"I put something of the parade ground tone into my voice, and the fellow -brought his heels together in the correct German style. One could -almost hear the click. Well greased as his hair is, you can see it -trying to rise _en brosse_, and I caught him just now twirling an -invisible moustache." - -"A spy?" - -"Unless my instinct and my judgment are equally at fault. But here he -comes; don't be surprised if I break off into irrelevancies; answer in -kind." - -The waiter placed the glass on the table, and withdrew, to attend to a -man at the next table. - -"As I was saying," Granger went on, "Hellwig is here, in what shape I -don't know, but I hope to catch him yet. Your friend Finkelstein, by -the way, has been arrested in Cologne and thrown into prison." - -"Good heavens! Not through me, I hope," said Kenneth. - -"On a charge of espionage, at any rate. I have no doubt he owes that to -... Yes, it was a very dark night, and he didn't recognise me until I -was as near to him as I am to you. Then ... he owes it to Hellwig." - -"But what can his motive be? He's his cousin." - -"The nearer the bone ... Finkelstein has a daughter, I believe?" - -"Yes." - -"Well, what more natural than that Hellwig should be appointed trustee -to his cousin's daughter and manager of the business?" - -"I did suspect that he wants to marry Frieda." - -"Ah! Motive enough! ... Waiter!" - -The others watched the man. His manner was a strange compound of two -servilities--the waiter's and the German private's. - -"Monsieur?" - -"Bring coffee." - -The waiter departed. - -"I must certainly have him arrested," said Granger. "So you see, my -dear fellow, that if I manage to lay Hellwig by the heels I shall -perhaps be able to make you some return for what I owe you." - -"But that won't release Max Finkelstein." - -"I confess I was at that moment thinking of the daughter," said Granger -with a whimsical look at Kenneth. Pariset glanced at his friend and -smiled. - -"The idea of her marrying that cur!" said Kenneth. - -"It won't bear thinking of, will it?" said Granger. "That fellow is -rather long with the coffee." - -They waited, discussing the probable course of the war. After a while -Granger summoned the head waiter. - -"Our waiter has been over long fetching our coffee," he said. "Will you -stir him up?" - -In a minute or two the head waiter returned, carrying the coffee -himself. - -"Pardon, messieurs," he said. "Gustave was suddenly taken sick, and is -not able to serve at present." - -"I have lost this trick," said Granger ruefully, when they were again -alone. "While I had my eye on the German, he evidently had his eye on -me. And for once the German was the quicker to act. Well, we all have -our ups and downs--I might have said our exits and our entrances: exit -spy, enter staff-officer, who is looking for you, Monsieur Pariset, if I -am not mistaken." - -A Belgian captain was threading his way across the room, looking quickly -from table to table, here and there acknowledging or returning a -greeting, but briefly, in the manner of one preoccupied. His glance -suddenly falling on Pariset, he smiled, and came directly towards him. - -"I heard that you were here," he said. "Have you finished?" - -"Yes." - -"Then give me a minute privately." - -His eyes rested for a moment on Kenneth and Granger, whom he did not -know. - -"Certainly," said Pariset. "Let me introduce my friends." - -The introduction made, the officer's manner changed. - -"Let us all go into the smoking-room together," he said. "The matter -I've to speak about need be no secret among us four." - -"You'll excuse me," said Granger, whose tact never failed. "I have one -or two things to attend to; I hope I may have the pleasure some other -time." - -He left the others, and they made their way to the smoking-room. - - - - -CHAPTER XI--THE CENTRE ARCH - - -"You know the railway bridge over the Ourthe, at Sy, just south of -Hamoir?" the captain began, lighting a cigarette. - -"Yes," said Pariset. - -"A section of our sappers were told off to blow it up this morning. -Their work was only half done when they were surprised and cut up by a -patrol of Uhlans. The Germans very quickly repaired the damage, and are -now using the line to bring up troops and material against the Boncelles -and Embourg forts." - -"Well?" said Pariset, as the officer paused. - -"It occurred to the Chief that you who had saved one bridge might -perhaps destroy another. It is a mere suggestion, not a command. The -work would be very risky; it is not your job, and all that part of the -country is in German hands. But when the matter was mentioned I said I -thought you would at least make a reconnaissance and learn what prospect -there is of a successful attempt." - -"Of course," said Pariset at once. "You don't know exactly how much -damage was done?" - -"No. Perhaps a bomb or two would complete it." - -"That is rather doubtful," said Pariset musingly. "The chances of -hitting the bridge at the right spot from an aeroplane flying very high -at speed are slight, and we should have to fly high to escape the German -shot." - -"Unless we flew in the Taube," suggested Kenneth. "In that we might get -low enough to smash the bridge before they suspected us." - -"The objection to that is that you would be in almost as great danger -from our own guns as from the German," said the captain. "The forts -would certainly fire on you. But stay: if you decide on that, I will -'phone the southern forts to pass a Taube showing the Russian flag. That -would protect you until you are clear of our lines." - -"Very well," said Pariset. "We will start early in the morning. Do you -mind getting us a Russian flag while I talk over things with my friend?" - -"Not at all. I will bring it to you here." - -He left them. - -"It is frightfully risky," said Pariset, "but we must make the attempt. -We must wear German uniforms. Your friend Granger's will come in -handy." - -"You have practised bomb-dropping, of course," said Kenneth. - -"Yes, but, as I said, it's a most uncertain thing. Besides the -difficulty of hitting the vulnerable spot, the bombs sometimes do little -damage. We might drop a dozen, and yet fail to destroy the bridge. -It's essentially a job to be done on terra firma." - -"It's not likely we should be able to land. Even if there is at the -moment no considerable force in the neighbourhood the bridge is sure to -be guarded." - -"That's certain. Still, it's just as well to be provided for the off -chance, so I'll take, along with the ordinary bombs, a small case of -gelignite and a little electric battery--a pick-axe, too: that may be -useful." - -"How far is it?" - -"About twenty miles. The bridge is at a narrow gorge by the village of -Simon's Inn. There's a tunnel beyond, and the banks of the river are -steep. The railway crosses the river several times, but I'm pretty sure -of the particular bridge they have tried to destroy." - -They waited nearly an hour before the captain returned. - -"I have had the greatest difficulty in getting the flag," he said, -placing a parcel in Pariset's hands. "I tried several shops in vain, -then it occurred to me to apply at the Russian consulate, and they -happened to have a spare one. I wish you luck. Report to me at -head-quarters." - -At seven o'clock next morning, equipped with the needful apparatus, they -ascended from their headquarters in the Taube monoplane, took an -easterly course, then swung southward and passed between the Flemelle -and Boncelles forts. It was a beautiful summer morning. The country -was bathed in sunlight, and no warlike sounds disturbed the still air. -But south of the town clouds of dust hung over every road, and they -caught sight of masses of men moving northward, the sun glinting on -weapons and the spikes of helmets. Pariset, in the observer's seat, -felt sick at heart. How was it possible for the little Belgian army to -resist these immense hordes? - -The well-known shape of the aeroplane (they no longer showed the Russian -flag) purchased immunity. They flew over the railway, then over the -Meuse north of Huy, then sweeping to the east soon came in sight of the -Ourthe winding between meadows and precipitous cliffs, and the railway -to Neufchâteau. The valley broadened out. Instructed by Pariset, -Kenneth steered the monoplane over the village of Hamoir on the left -bank. Almost immediately afterwards they came above the cluster of -houses at Sy, and the bridge crossing the gorge, beyond which the -railway entered the tunnel. - -On the north side of the bridge stood a long goods train, apparently -waiting the signal to proceed. On the south side, part in, part out of -the tunnel, was a train of passenger coaches, gaily bedecked with leafy -branches of trees. A few soldiers had got out of the train, and were -sitting smoking in the meadow. At each end of the bridge four guards -were posted. - -The aeroplane passed over the cliff through which the tunnel ran, then -bore to the left in the direction of Werbomont and was soon out of sight -from the bridge. Choosing a lonely field sheltered by a wood, Kenneth -brought the machine to the ground. - -"We can't destroy the bridge with bombs," said Pariset, "but it's just -possible to do it with the gelignite if you are game." - -"What's your idea?" asked Kenneth. - -"There's clearly a block on the line somewhere to the north. It may be -a long time before it is cleared, giving us just the opportunity we -want. There's a path through the fields on the left bank, leading to -the bridge. It seems fairly covered. My idea is that you should go -down to the bridge with the gelignite." - -"But it is guarded," Kenneth interrupted. - -"Don't be impatient. I was going on to say that I will fly over the -bridge and stampede the guards. That will give you a chance to creep -up. Your uniform will protect you long enough for the purpose, I hope. -The Germans won't suspect you until the explosion occurs. Then it will -be a ticklish moment. The fellows who have got out of the train may -fire at you; but they are a good distance away, and you ought to have -time to rush back under cover before they can do any damage. I'll be -ready to pick you up. Or, if you like, I'll take the gelignite and you -drop the bombs." - -"No. I've had no practice at that. I'll take my chance. But we're -about two miles from the bridge, I fancy. It will take me at least half -an hour to get there, not knowing the way. Anything may happen in that -time." - -"I'll come with you until we find a guide. There will be plenty of time -for me to come back to the aeroplane and still reach the bridge before -you. I will give you half an hour from now before I fly off." - -They set off together, walking rapidly over the fields. Turning into a -lane, they came suddenly face to face with a farm boy of about sixteen -years. His jaw dropped, and a look of terror showed in his eyes when he -saw the German uniforms. Pariset spoke to him rapidly in Walloon, and -gave him money. Thus reassured, he agreed to conduct Kenneth across the -hill to the path which Pariset had mentioned. - -"Good luck!" said Pariset, as they parted. "Don't risk too much. If -the stratagem fails, make your way back to the same spot." - -Kenneth carried the gelignite and the battery. He gave the pick-axe to -the boy. Pariset had learnt from him that no Germans had been seen on -the lanes and roads, but they walked across the fields under cover of -the hedgerows in case patrols or foraging parties should appear. - -Their course brought them within half an hour to a field some little -distance above the bridge. Kenneth dismissed the boy, and keeping under -cover to avoid observation from the trains, which were stationary in the -places where he had seen them forty minutes before, he crept as near to -the bridge as he dared, and waited. He heard the water lapping the -piers, the voices of the guards at the nearer end, the distant hiss of -the locomotive of the troop train blowing off steam--and then a faint -deep _burr_, growing louder moment by moment. - -The guards raised their voices. - -"Another Taube," said one. - -"He's flying very high," said another. "Thinks we are Belgians, -perhaps." - -"But he's coming down," said the third. "Look at that swoop! It fairly -makes me sick to see him." - -Kenneth, posted under cover, was not yet able to see the aeroplane, but -from the silence that fell upon the guards he guessed that Pariset was -executing one of those steep dives which make the onlooker hold his -breath. - -"I hope he won't come too low," he thought. - -And then, in pursuance of the plan arranged, he began to steal along the -bank of the river towards the bridge, confident that the attention of -the guards was riveted on the aeroplane. He saw it now, sweeping round -in a huge circle, still at a great height. - -When the expected signal came, it was startling in its suddenness. -Kenneth had not seen an object fall from the aeroplane, but there was a -sharp explosion just beyond the bridge, a cloud of dust, and cries of -amazement and fear from the guards. He moved nearer to the bridge. From -the direction of the troop train he heard the crackle of rifles. The -eyes of the guards were still turned upwards upon the monoplane, which -was circling round at a height of three or four thousand feet above the -bridge, within range, indeed, but a difficult target. - -Taking advantage of the excitement of the men, Kenneth had crept through -the scrub on the river bank and come beneath the end of the bridge. He -had already perceived that the stone arch at each end had been -destroyed, but the centre arch was intact, and the gaps had been covered -with stout balks of timber on which the railway track was laid. His aim -must be to destroy the central arch. With that broken down, to repair -the bridge a second time would be a much more difficult matter. - -Covered now by the bridge, he waded out to the central arch, carrying -his apparatus. He had supposed that it would be necessary to hack out -with the pick-axe a hole in the masonry large enough to hold the case of -gelignite, and the risk of being heard strung his nerves to a high -tension. It was with great relief that he discovered a hole already -made. Apparently a charge had been laid there by the Belgian engineers, -but it had failed to explode, and probably had been removed by the -Germans. - -He lost no time in wedging the case of gelignite into the cavity, -attached the detonator, and waded back to the bank. There was now -almost continuous rifle fire from the troops, who had alighted from the -train and lined up on the track. The incessant noise smothered the -whirr of the propeller, but it was clear that Pariset was still -absorbing the attention of the Germans. Kenneth crept along up stream, -paying out the wire as he went, until he reached the shelter of a dense -thicket. Then he made the connection with the battery. Instantaneously -there was a deafening roar, the arch collapsed, and the whole bridge -fell with a crash into the river. - -Somewhat breathless, Kenneth remained hidden for a minute. The rifle -shots had ceased; there was a confused shouting from the troops; and -through it he heard again the hum of the aeroplane. A bomb burst on the -ground near the end of the bridge. The fusillade recommenced. Seizing -the opportunity, Kenneth quitted his hiding-place, and made the best of -his way back across the field, observing that Pariset was still circling -round in order to distract the enemy, but rising ever higher. - -When Kenneth reached the rendezvous Pariset was awaiting him. - -"Hullo! You're wounded!" cried Kenneth, noticing that Pariset was -grasping his right wrist. - -"Bruised by a splinter, that's all," said Pariset. "It's painful, but -not dangerous. The planes are riddled; I'm very lucky to have fared, no -worse. You managed that splendidly, Ken. I was surprised you did it so -quickly." - -"There was already a cavity in the arch, which saved labour." - -"We have both earned our dinner. You will pilot the machine back?" - -"Of course. Are you sure you are not seriously hurt?" - -"Quite. I only hope I get nothing worse before the war is over." - - - - -CHAPTER XII--A FIGHT WITH A ZEPPELIN - - -Nearing Liége on their return journey, the airmen became aware of a -momentous change from the peaceful scene of the morning. A pall of -smoke hung over the country for miles. Wherever there were rifts in it, -they caught glimpses of immense grey masses that appeared to be crawling -towards the city from every side except the west. It was evident that -the Germans were attacking in stupendous force. - -Kenneth steered to the west, doubtful whether he should find the -headquarters of the Flying Corps in the spot where he had left it. The -monoplane escaped the Germans' attentions, and when it came within range -of the Belgians' rifles, Pariset hung out the Russian flag, which was -his surety. - -Locating the aeroplane park with some difficulty, considerably to the -westward of its former position, Kenneth at length brought the machine -to the ground. The air quivered with the shock of artillery fire; the -noise was incessant. - -"What is the news?" asked Pariset of a comrade who had come up to greet -him. - -"They are shelling us with heavy guns, and devoting particular attention -to Fort Loncin, where General Leman is," was the reply. "And it is said -that they have got into the town. The people are making off in -crowds.... You have had a knock!" - -"A slight bruise. We managed it!" - -"What?" asked his friend, who was unaware of his errand. - -"Blew up the bridge above Sy, and held back a troop train, for the rest -of the day, I hope. I must go and report to the chief; tell you all -about it later." - -In giving in his report Pariset did not fail to emphasise the hazardous -part that Kenneth had had in the operation. The commandant complimented -them both, and made an entry against Kenneth's name in his notebook. -Then he said: - -"We have had our first encounter with a Zeppelin, and unluckily had the -worst of it. The Zeppelin was reconnoitring, and Boissel went in -pursuit. The crew opened fire with their machine guns when he was -manoeuvring for position, and a shot smashed his arm. He managed to -land, and then collapsed. The machine was slightly buckled up in coming -to ground, and will be useless for a day or two." - -"I'm sorry for Boissel," said Pariset. "He will be cut up at being -knocked out so soon. Has the Zeppelin been seen since?" - -"No. The forts opened fire upon it, apparently without success, for it -sailed away to the north-east." - -"Shall we tackle it if it comes back?" Pariset asked eagerly. - -"Hadn't you better rest? You have done a good day's work already, and I -don't want to lose you as well as Boissel." - -"To tell the truth, our job at the bridge has whetted my appetite, and I -am sure Amory is ready for another go." - -"Whenever you please," said Kenneth. - -"Very well," said the commandant. "But I beg that you won't be rash. -Boissel was a little too eager--a pardonable fault; but prudence is a -positive merit." - -"We will be discretion itself," said Pariset. - -Kenneth smiled; he did not know Boissel, but he could not imagine any -airman more likely to show reckless daring than his friend. - -They snatched a meal, then set about their preparations. The Zeppelin -being manned with a numerous crew armed with rifles and machine guns, -and equipped for bomb-throwing, it was axiomatic that the aeroplane must -try to accomplish by superior speed, climbing power, and manageability -what it could not hope to achieve by force. If it were a mere question -of manoeuvring the advantage would lie with the aeroplane. The Zeppelin -would be at a disadvantage in that it presented a bulkier target. - -After a hurried discussion--for the Zeppelin might return at any -moment--the two airmen decided to get a number of bombs with time fuses, -and to fix in front of the pilot's seat a small petrol lamp, sheltering -it from the wind by a zinc screen that would almost enclose it; the fuse -could be lit from this. - -"It won't be wise to trust to bombs exploding by contact," he explained. -"They might miss the mark, big as it is; and the envelope of the airship -is so fragile that it is quite possible for a bomb to pass through it -without exploding." - -"But wouldn't the gas escape through the rent, and the thing collapse?" -Kenneth asked. - -"The envelope consists of several compartments, and one might be injured -without affecting the others." - -"You won't try rifle shots?" - -"Very little use, my son. We should only bore a few holes in it. Their -Mausers would be much more dangerous to us. We shouldn't have the -slightest chance against them, any more than a torpedo boat would have -against a Dreadnought, so far as armament is concerned. But I am simply -panting for the chance to match the aeroplane against the airship. I -hope they'll come back." - -"I dare say they will, having got off scot free before. We must be -ready to fly off at a moment's notice. The Zeppelin is very fast, I've -heard." - -"But no match for my machine. We'll use that instead of the Taube. I'm -more used to it; it is faster and better for bomb-dropping." - -"You won't pilot it, surely!" - -"Indeed I shall! My arm doesn't bother me much, and you know I have had -much more experience than you." - -"I've had absolutely no experience of bomb-throwing," Kenneth protested. - -"Well, you play golf, don't you? Do you remember the first time you -went round?" - -"Yes. Why?" - -"Simply that, like everybody else, you probably got round in fewer -strokes than you did for months afterwards." - -"That's true; and very sickening it is. I'll do my best, then." - -When everything was ready, they sat on the grass beside the aeroplane, -scanning the sky for the Zeppelin. Kenneth, it must be confessed, was -less impatient than Pariset, whose mercurial temperament ill-brooked a -waiting game. He was constantly up and down, snatching up his -field-glasses every few seconds, "fidgeting about," as Kenneth said to -himself. - -It was drawing towards evening when, just as Pariset had dropped his -field-glasses with a gesture of annoyance, a messenger came running from -the commandant to say that the Zeppelin had been sighted. - -"How does he know?" asked Pariset, incredulously. - -"He had word by field telephone," was the answer. "The airship is -coming from the north-east." - -Pariset instantly started his engine. But before the aeroplane was -aloft, the airship appeared in the distant sky, like a torpedo of the -air. There was a certain fascination in its swift and steady approach, -growing bigger and bigger to the sight. Its course would bring it -within half a mile of the portable sheds; perhaps its object was to -destroy the Belgian aeroplanes. - -Having a reasonable respect for the Zeppelin's machine guns, Pariset at -first kept well away from its course. He bore to the east, so as to -avoid a direct meeting with it, and to get between it and its base. That -the aeroplane had already been seen from the airship, high above it, was -proved by the smack of several bullets upon parts of its structure; but -they had not heard the crackle of the rifles, what with the whirr of -their engine and the incessant thunder of artillery. - -Comparing notes afterwards, they agreed that their first impression was -wonder at the speed and accuracy with which the Germans had got their -range. Pariset at once flew off at a wider angle, trusting to his -superior speed to carry him out of danger until he had had time to rise -above the Zeppelin. He could climb only gradually, if he was to take -full advantage of his speed. It was nearly ten minutes before Kenneth -reported that they were about equal with it in height. The airship was -now at least two miles astern, and had slightly altered its direction. -Pariset now swung round. He guessed that the Zeppelin was making for -Fort Loncin, probably to reconnoitre, for its bombs would have little or -no effect on the armoured cupola of the fort. Flying back, he steered -so as to approach the airship on its flank, and succeeded in his aim of -showing the enemy that the aeroplane was to be reckoned with. It again -altered its course; Pariset shifted his rudder also; and the Zeppelin -gave chase. - -Bullets whistled around the aeroplane, which by this time had risen -several hundred feet higher than the enemy. Adjusting his planes to -secure the maximum lift, Pariset began to climb steeply, and for some -minutes the Zeppelin gained on him in horizontal direction. But the -rapidity of his ascent rendered the task of its marksmen very difficult; -and they seemed to realise that they were themselves in danger, for they -altered their course, bearing to the east, as if they had abandoned the -chase. - -The parts were now reversed. The aeroplane became the hunter, the -airship the hunted. Still rising, Pariset gradually reduced the -horizontal distance between them, gaining assistance from the manoeuvres -of the Zeppelin, which yawed now and again in order to bring its guns to -bear more effectively, thus losing pace. The aeroplane began to close -in with it, and Pariset suddenly became aware that he was closing in too -rapidly, for the airship either stopped her engines or reduced their -speed. Before he had time to meet the manoeuvre he had come within -effective range. Bullets pattered around like hail, and only by a swift -wheeling movement did he escape destruction. - -Learning caution, he rose still higher, until he estimated that he was -at least 3000 feet above the enemy. At this elevation the swelling bulk -of the envelope rendered the machine guns useless, and there was indeed -little chance of the aeroplane's being hit even by the rifles. - -Pariset's object was now to get as nearly as possible vertically above -the Zeppelin, which the Zeppelin could only prevent by constantly -changing its course and its speed. But Pariset was an adept in the -handling of his machine. He watched every twist and turn of the enemy, -and seemed to Kenneth to anticipate them, as a skilful boxer anticipates -the feints and rallies of his opponent. - -"Get ready!" he shouted to Kenneth at last. "A twenty-second fuse!" - -Kenneth grasped the bomb, leaning over his seat ready to drop it at the -word. He had lost all sense that this was warfare, and throbbed with -the same excitement as stirs the batsman or the three-quarter. - -"Now!" cried Pariset. - -The bomb fell plumb, but at the same instant the Zeppelin checked, and -the bomb burst many yards ahead, though whether above or below the -airship he could not tell. Pariset at once wheeled round, and within a -few seconds brought his machine once more above the enemy. At the -critical moment Kenneth dropped a second bomb. There was a flash and a -burst of smoke and metal between the two vessels, momentarily hiding the -lower from view. But that no harm had been done was proved by the -Zeppelin shooting ahead on another tack. - -"A little too far away," cried Pariset. "No time to descend. Throw the -next, don't drop it." - -In its efforts to escape the fate which threatened it the Zeppelin was -now keeping a straight course. Its skipper evidently realised that in -moving from side to side it enlarged the area of possible disaster. A -third time the aeroplane soared over it, and though its engines were -instantly stopped, its length was fatal. Kenneth threw the bomb with -all his force. The result evoked from Pariset a shout of exultation. -The bomb burst a few yards to the right of the airship. For a second or -two the effect of the explosion was, as it were, in suspense. Then -there was a burst of flame; the body of the enormous vessel beneath them -slowly crumpled up; with incredible rapidity it lost all shape; the -formless mass became smaller to their sight; and in a few seconds a -cloud of dust at an incalculable distance below showed the now horrified -airmen where the wreck had struck the earth. - -[Illustration: THE END OF THE ZEPPELIN] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII--THE GREAT GUNS - - -After the fight Pariset steered over the town at a great altitude, and -Kenneth employed his field-glasses in the hope of picking up some -information. - -"I say," he called, "it looks very much as if the Germans are really in -the town. Firing has stopped." - -"They can't have taken the forts already," cried Pariset. "We'll get -back." - -On coming to the ground miles to the west, they learnt that Kenneth was -right: the Germans had entered the town, lined all the bridges with -sentries, taken possession of the railway station, and begun to billet -themselves. It was rumoured also that Fort Loncin had fallen, that -General Leman was a prisoner, and that the Belgian field army was -concentrated about Fort Lantin, north of the town. - -The officers of the Flying Corps were deeply dejected. All the efforts -of their gallant men seemed to have been thrown away. Their thoughts -being centred on Liége alone, they did not as yet realise that the -strenuous resistance to the passage of the German army had dislocated -the imperial plans, and caused a delay in the march on Paris which was -destined to save Europe. - -Kenneth and his friend were taking their evening meal in a village inn, -the owner of which had announced that next day he intended to pack up -and start for Ostend. Only a few peasants were on the premises; all the -more well-to-do of the villagers had already joined the stream of -refugees. - -Suddenly there was a shot outside. The innkeeper dived into his cellar; -his guests jumped up, grasping their revolvers. The door opened, and a -man in the coarse soiled clothes of a farm labourer entered. On his -head was a wide-brimmed slouch hat, and the lower part of his face was -concealed by a tangled brown moustache and beard. - -"What was that shot?" asked Pariset, in Walloon, and gasped with -amazement when the stranger, taking off his hat, said in perfect -English: - -"Here is a part of its track." - -He pointed to two bullet-holes, one on each side of the crown of the -hat. - -"Granger!" exclaimed Kenneth. - -"A very good disguise, isn't it?" said Granger. "But there is little -time to spare. The bullet is in an amiable Teuton who popped round the -corner at an unfortunate moment--for him. No doubt he was shadowing me: -I must make another change in my outward favour, that is clear. His -confederate missed me and winged the accomplice. I couldn't catch the -fellow. Probably he has gone back to the town to get assistance, and I -must be moving. I've a few minutes, however, and you can help me. I -was on my way to headquarters. I have just heard that the Germans are -bringing up some heavy siege guns to demolish the forts. They are coming -by road: were last heard of at Crefeld--huge things, drawn by -innumerable traction engines from the estimable millionaire's works at -Essen. Will you carry the news to headquarters for me? You will save -time--and probably my skin." - -"Certainly," said Pariset at once. "This explains the cessation of the -bombardment." - -"No doubt. They did not expect that poor little Belgium would turn into -a Jack-the-Giant-Killer, or they would have brought up these monsters of -theirs before. They represent the last word in Culture--according to -the gospel of Krupp. I will leave you, then." - -"Ware spies!" said Kenneth, as they shook hands. - -"We set a thief to catch a thief, don't we?" said Granger with a smile. - -He put on his hat and was gone. - -"We had better get away at once," said Pariset, biting the end off a -Dutch cigar. "But I don't care about reporting by hearsay. What do you -say to taking a look at them?" - -"At what?" - -"At these new apostles of culture." - -"The big guns!--why not?" - -"We shall have to cross into German territory--a risky game. If caught -we shall be instantly shot." - -"We've risked a good deal already without damage. Let us try it. I -know the country; I've often cycled from Cologne to Crefeld." - -"That's to the good. Very well, then; I'll get leave to go first thing -in the morning. We'll use the Taube and wear German uniforms. And in -case any one comes hunting for Granger, let us pay our bill and go." - - ---- - -At six o'clock next morning the inhabitants of an old farmhouse at -Erkelenz, not far from the Dutch frontier, were seated at breakfast. -There was an old man of some sixty years, his wife and daughter, boys -and girls, and two women servants. The farmer himself and his male -hands were all on service. - -"I wonder where Daddy is now?" said one of the boys. - -"And Fritz and Hans?" said a girl. - -"Somewhere on the way to Paris, little ones," said the grandfather. "He -will bring you back some fine playthings. Granny is wearing the brooch -I brought from Paris forty years ago." - -"Mother says Daddy may be killed," piped another boy. - -"Nonsense!" said the old man. "Was I killed? Not even wounded. Why -should your father be?" - -"How long will he be away?" asked another. - -"Not long. How long was I away in '70, Granny?" - -"Six months," said the old woman. "Du lieber Himmel! but it seemed like -six years. Wilhelm was in long clothes when you went, and when you came -back he was running about. Ah! may God bring him back safe and sound!" - -"Listen! What is that?" cried the children's mother. - -A humming sound, like the buzzing of a monster bee, floated in through -the open window. The children ran to the door. - -"An aeroplane! An aeroplane!" they shouted. "See! it is coming down in -the meadow." - -The household flocked to the door and window. - -"A Taube!" said the old man. "Run and see what the airmen want, Karl." - -A boy of twelve ran across the farmyard into the meadow. The monoplane -had alighted, and a tall man in the uniform of a German captain was -hastening towards the house. - -"Have you any petrol, boy?" asked the airman. - -The country boy looked up with awe, and said nothing. The sight of a -German officer afflicted him with shyness. He ran back to his -grandfather. - -"The Herr Captain needs petrol," he said. - -"That is unlucky, Herr Captain," said the old man, saluting the officer. -"We have no petrol; I doubt whether you will get any in Erkelenz; it has -all been bought for the army." - -"Well, give me something to eat and drink." - -Kenneth tried, without great success, to adopt the German officer's -peremptory manner. - -"No, I won't come in," he added. "Bring it to me here; I've no time to -spare." - -The women hastened to bring him of their best. - -"And the Herr Captain's companion--shall we take something to him?" one -of them asked. - -"He cannot eat or drink with his face bandaged like that," said Kenneth, -glancing back at the aeroplane. - -Pariset, who could not speak German, had swathed his jaw in a linen -bandage. - -"Ach, lieber Gott! he is wounded," said the old man. - -"We have had an exciting trip," replied Kenneth laconically. "I suppose -I shall have to go on to Crefeld. Is anything happening here? I notice -that transport is being diverted from the main road to a by-way. Why is -that?" - -"An accident, Herr Captain," said the man. "A traction engine, drawing -a very heavy load, slipped over the edge of the causeway three miles -yonder. Something broke; it was late last night, and I heard they had -to send to Crefeld for a steam crane to lift it. Maybe it is done by -now." - -"It was drawing an ammunition wagon, I suppose?" - -"It did not look like that, Herr Captain. I walked over to see. But I -could not guess what it was, for it was covered all over with -tarpaulin." - -"Lend me a horse; I'll ride over. Perhaps there's some petrol in the -baggage train." - -"I am sorry, Herr Captain; all the horses are taken." - -"I must walk then. This boy can come and show me the way, and carry -back the petrol." - -"Surely, mein Herr." - -"Keep a look-out, will you? If you see any one approaching, warn the -Herr Lieutenant. There may be spies about." - -He set off behind the boy. The causeway, he remembered, ran beside the -little river Roer, that fell into the Meuse farther west at Roermond. He -needed no guide, and indeed did not intend to go right up to the scene -of the breakdown; but the boy was useful as a cloak to his real design. - -Half an hour's walk across the fields brought him to a hayrick something -less than a mile from the spot. - -"I ought to be able to get a view from the top of that," he thought. - -Bidding the boy wait below, he climbed a ladder set against the side of -the rick, raised his field-glasses to his eyes, and adjusted the focus. -Meanwhile two old farm labourers had slouched across the field and asked -a question of the boy, which he answered in a word. - -Kenneth had reason to congratulate himself on having gone no farther. -Between him and the causeway a half-troop of cavalry had off saddled, -and were smoking near the broken traction engine, which had apparently -swerved over the edge, and completely blocked the road. Behind it were -two huge lorries, carrying between them a large mass of indefinite shape -covered with tarpaulin. At the further end of the causeway was another -traction engine with a similar load. Besides the spick and span cavalry -there were a number of men in dirty clothes, some of whom appeared to be -engaged in tinkering at the engine. - -"Those are the heavy guns, without a doubt," thought Kenneth. "I wish I -could have a good look at them, but I'm afraid it's too risky. I might -have guessed there would be a cavalry escort." - -Obviously it was dangerous to attempt to carry off his imposture with -the German officers. It would have been another matter if only the -motor men had been concerned. He was disappointed. - -As he continued to gaze, however, an idea flashed into his mind. It was -pretty clear that the road would remain blocked until some contrivance -had been rigged up for lifting the engine. Would Pariset venture a bold -stroke? It would be a feather in his cap if he could destroy one, -perhaps two, of these monster siege guns. - -Shutting up his glasses, he climbed down the ladder, ignored the -labourers and their humble salute, and began to hurry back in the -direction of the farm. Surprised, the boy stood watching him for a few -moments. Then he ran after him, and, plucking up courage, said-- - -"Will not the Herr Captain go on and get the petrol?" - -"I will come in the aeroplane, boy; we have enough to bring us here." - -The boy, rather crestfallen, had to trot to keep pace with Kenneth's -long strides. He had hoped to receive a few pfennigs for carrying the -petrol. Kenneth, busy with his thoughts, forgot the youngster until he -was paying the civil farm people for his food. Then, catching sight of -the boy's woebegone face, he handed him a silver coin that drove the -clouds away. It was lucky, he reflected, that he still had some German -money in his possession. A Belgian coin would have given him away. - -After five minutes' talk with Pariset, out of earshot of the people, who -had gathered about at a little distance, they once more took the air. -They had managed to compress a good deal into that brief conversation. -Pariset had accepted Kenneth's suggestion with delight. The problem, -they agreed, was twofold: they had first to deal with the escort, then -with the guns--if they were guns. When they soared away over the meadow -they had formed a clear idea of the means by which they would attempt to -solve it. - -Making a wide sweep, east, north, and west, they approached the causeway -south of the spot where the breakdown had occurred. The sight of a -Taube monoplane flying obliquely over the road aroused curiosity but no -suspicion in the minds of the Germans. But suddenly one of them gave a -shout. Next moment a small bomb fell close beside one of the lorries, -throwing up a shower of dust and stones. The engineers scuttled away; -the troopers rushed to their horses, which, startled by the noise of the -explosion, were threatening to stampede. - -Pariset banked the aeroplane steeply and wheeled round. As it passed -again over the causeway, Kenneth dropped another bomb, which fell close -to the first. The men on foot were rushing wildly up the road; on the -open fields there was no cover. Most of the troopers had mounted; some -had seized their rifles and were firing. But the sight of the aeroplane -wheeling again struck them with panic, and with a shout they dashed -after their comrades, galloping across the fields. - -The aeroplane followed up the fugitives. Owing to its speed, Pariset -had to steer a zigzag course in order not to overtake them. Each time -it wheeled he contrived to bring it close behind the rearmost horseman, -like a sheep dog driving a flock, and Kenneth dropped a bomb to hurry -the pace. - -They kept up the chase for some minutes; then, there being no sign of -rallying, they darted back to the causeway, where the traction engines -and lorries now stood deserted. The level field on one side afforded a -good alighting place. They came to the ground, sprang from their seats, -and as they ran to the causeway noticed one or two men lying wounded. - -"We simply haven't time to attend to them," panted Pariset. "The -fellows will be riding back in a minute." - -They reached the unwieldy vehicles. The impressions of the moment came -back to them afterwards--the huge wheels with their grooved rims, the -deep ruts they had carved in the road. There were plenty of tools lying -about. Kenneth cut the lashings of one of the tarpaulin covers, -stripped off the cover, and found, as he had expected, that beneath it -lay a portion of a huge weapon, half gun, half mortar, with a bore -seventeen inches in diameter. - -"It's not the breech block; try the next lorry," urged Pariset. - -"I'll deal with this; you go on to the next," said Kenneth. - -Each had carried from the aeroplane a cylindrical parcel wrapped in -cotton wool. From the end of this a short length of wire protruded. -Climbing into the lorries they pushed these parcels into the breech end -of the bore of the guns. Then each began to connect the wires with a -small battery furnished with a clock-work timing mechanism. - -While still engaged in this operation, they heard the clatter of hoofs, -and looking up, saw a squadron of cavalry galloping down the road little -more than half a mile away. - -"How long?" shouted Kenneth. - -"Sixty seconds," Pariset replied. "Say when you are ready." - -Pariset, the more experienced of the two, was ready first. - -"Quick!" he cried, running towards the aeroplane. - -"Right!" shouted Kenneth, scrambling down and sprinting after him. - -By the time he had vaulted into his seat the engine had been started. -Pariset jumped in, threw the engine into gear, and the machine started -forward. At the same moment bullets began to fly around. Pariset paid -no heed to them. He had less than half a minute to get beyond the range -of explosion. - -The machine had barely risen from the ground when there was a deafening -report, that seemed to be immediately beneath him. A few moments later -there was a second crashing roar. The aeroplane was tossed about like a -feather in a gale. It dipped, and for an instant Pariset feared that it -would dash to the earth. During the few seconds this miniature tornado -continued the airmen's hearts were in their mouths. Involuntarily they -bent low to avoid the bullets which the horsemen, now come to a halt, -were volleying at them. Keeping a firm grip of the controls, Pariset -flew straight onward, rising as rapidly as possible. - -Not until he had gained an altitude which seemed to promise immunity -from rifle fire did either of them think of turning to see the effect of -the explosions. Then Pariset wheeled round, and flew back, Kenneth -examining the causeway far below through his field-glasses. - -The lorries, as complete vehicles, had disappeared. The remains of one -gun lay scattered on the field; those of the other were -indistinguishably mixed up with earth, stones, and the debris of the -lorries on the causeway. - -The leading files of the troopers appeared to have come within a hundred -yards of the scene at the moment of the first explosion. A few lay on -the ground; some were galloping on their affrighted steeds over the -field; only the rear ranks had been able to rein up, and fire their -ineffectual shots at the aeroplane hopelessly beyond range. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV--HUNTED - - -It occurred to Pariset that, so perfect was the German organisation, the -army besieging Liége might be informed within a few minutes of this -audacious raid upon one of their transport trains. He therefore swept -round in a wide circle southward, in order to approach the city from the -south-west. - -Both he and Kenneth were deeply impressed with the enormous westward -movement of troops and transport which they saw in their flight. The -country beneath them seemed to be alive, like an anthill; with this -difference, however, that although there were cross currents the general -movement was all in one direction. Such might have been, in days long -past, the migrations of the Huns or of the Kalmuck Tartars. - -Over the Meuse, which wound like a silver streak four thousand feet -beneath them, there appeared to be a number of pontoon bridges. Every -road was a continuous stream of moving objects. Far away to the right -they heard at times, above the whirr and hum of the engine, the dull -boom of heavy guns; and now and then patches of white and yellow -appeared in the air as from nowhere, spread into fantastic shapes, and -finally thinned away. - -They had just passed over the little town of Verviers, and were bearing -away to the west-south-west, so as to pass round Forts Embourg and -Boncelles, when the engine suddenly stopped. It had behaved well in -their previous excursions, and had been thoroughly overhauled before -they started. There was only one thing to be done: to make a vol plane -and land as best they could. The aeroplane was very high, and there was -plenty of room, but little choice of a landing place. Pariset worked -the controls for a long spiral descent, and came down in a field between -a wood and a highroad, which he believed to be the main road between -Liége and Luxemburg. - -There was no traffic at this spot, and they at once began to examine the -engine. - -"The plugs are choked," said Pariset after a few moments. "Luckily it's -only a five minutes' job." - -"Hadn't we better wheel the machine round the corner of the wood?" -suggested Kenneth. "We don't know but that some Germans may come up at -any moment." - -"Come along then," said Pariset. - -But they had hardly moved the machine three yards when they heard the -clatter of hoofs, and a patrol of Uhlans came dashing round a bend in -the road. Neither hedge nor dyke bordered the field, and the Uhlans -rode straight across it towards the aeroplane. - -"We are in for it!" said Pariset, hastily adjusting his bandage. "For -goodness' sake try to bluff it out." - -Kenneth went hot and cold; his brain seemed paralysed; and when the -Uhlans reined up a few yards away he had cudgelled his wits in vain for -something to say. A lead was given him by the lieutenant in command. - -"Do you want any help, Herr Captain?" he said. "I saw you come down -suddenly, and guessed there was something wrong." - -"Thanks; it is a mere trifle," replied Kenneth somewhat breathlessly. -"Two of the sparking plugs need cleaning. In five minutes we shall be -up again." - -He bent down to assist Pariset, who had turned his back and was -unscrewing the plugs. - -"Have you been hit?" asked the lieutenant, noticing the bandage. - -"No, luckily; he ought to have gone to the dentist long ago, but -couldn't bear the idea of losing a moment at a time like this. A -swollen jaw is very painful; you can't eat with any comfort. The only -thing to do is to bandage it tightly. But he'll have to go to the -dentist." - -"You're not attached to the 4th army corps, are you? I haven't noticed -you among our airmen." - -"We are on special service," said Kenneth, feeling that matters were -getting warm in spite of the officer's apparent freedom from suspicion. -"You'll excuse me, won't you? we are anxious to get to Liége." - -"Certainly." - -He watched the two men at their work, remarking that it was a very dirty -job. - -Meanwhile one of the troopers had been edging his horse close to the -aeroplane. Pariset, out of the corner of his eye, noticed him looking -at it critically. He bent down to examine one of the planes, gave a -grunt of satisfaction, and glanced at his officer, as if wondering -whether he might venture to address him directly. Concluding that this -might be a breach of discipline, he backed gently towards the -Wachtmeister--the sergeant-major through whom he might communicate with -the lieutenant without being snubbed. - -This by-play escaped the notice of Kenneth, who was half-turned towards -the lieutenant. That officer, having satisfied his curiosity about the -nature of sparking plugs, bade him good-bye, saluted, and gave the order -to ride on. The patrol moved away before the trooper had finished his -communication to the Wachtmeister. - -As soon as they were out of earshot, Pariset whispered: - -"One of those fellows suspects something. If they ride back before we -have got these plugs in place we must bolt into the wood." - -While speaking he kept his eye on the Uhlans without rising from his -stooping posture. They were only a hundred yards away when the -Wachtmeister rode alongside the lieutenant and spoke to him. The -officer gave the order to halt, reined up, and wheeled his horse. - -"Get your revolver ready," whispered Pariset. - -He reached for one of the smallest bombs, and fitting a short fuse -prepared to light it from the petrol lamp. - -The lieutenant was not yet riding back. He had taken out a pocket-book, -and was consulting one of its pages. Pretending to be still busy with -the engine, the airmen watched him anxiously. The Wachtmeister called -up the trooper, who, sitting his horse stiffly, saluted, and spoke in -answer to a question from the lieutenant. - -"He's got a description of the aeroplane," whispered Kenneth. - -"Yes--probably circulated to every patrol," said Pariset. "Run for dear -life if he comes this way." - -As he spoke the lieutenant shut up his pocket-book, and began to canter -back. - -"Now!" said Pariset, lighting the fuse, and laying the bomb swiftly but -gently behind the engine. Then, taking care to keep the aeroplane -between them and the Uhlans, the two dashed towards the wood, about a -hundred and twenty yards away. - -The majority of the patrol, having received no order, had not turned -their horses, nor even ventured to glance round. Only the lieutenant, -the Wachtmeister, and the suspicious trooper had seen the flight of the -airmen during the first few seconds. But now the lieutenant shouted an -order, the men wheeled round, and galloped after their officer, who dug -his spurs into his horse and dashed after the fugitives, followed -closely by his two troopers. - -He had plucked out his revolver, but the aeroplane stood between him and -the airmen, running like sprinters towards the wood. Swerving to the -left to get a clear field of fire, the lieutenant discharged all its -chambers one after another on the chance of a lucky shot. But the -fugitives, having made the most of their start, were out of range. They -gained the outer fringe of trees and plunged in, the lieutenant being -then about thirty yards behind them. He had drawn his sword. His men -were strung out at short intervals in his rear. - -There was not much cover at the edge of the wood, and the airmen dashed -on towards the spot where the trees grew more densely, Pariset leading -by a few yards. By the time he reached it, Kenneth heard the -lieutenant's horse pounding the turf almost at his heels. It seemed -that in a second or two he must be ridden down. With instant decision -he dived to the right behind a large tree. The lieutenant, unable to -check his horse in time, galloped past, shouting to his men to catch the -spy. Kenneth took a flying shot at him, missed, and rushed after -Pariset, who at the sound of the shot turned and fired at the -Wachtmeister, now only a few yards behind his leader. There was a howl. -Neither of the airmen stayed to see the effect of the shot. They plunged -into the brushwood, which grew more and more densely as they proceeded, -and was more closely set with trees. - -"They can't ride through this," Kenneth panted as he overtook Pariset. -"They would be swept from their saddles." - -"Yes; we're as good as they on foot; we are safe for a while. Did you -hear the bomb?" - -"Rather: it went off all right; the Taube must be blown to atoms." - -The pursuing horsemen, on finding themselves checked by the undergrowth -and the trees, flung themselves from their saddles. They lost a few -minutes in tethering their horses, so that when they pushed on on foot, -the fugitives had been enabled to penetrate deeper into the wood. - -"I hope they'll give it up soon," said Pariset, hearing the troopers' -movements in the rustling and crackling undergrowth. "To rout us out -they must beat the wood thoroughly." - -"It's lucky they're only a patrol and not a whole squadron, or they -might encircle the wood," responded Kenneth in the same low tone. - -They went still farther among the trees, moving as quietly as they -could. It was soon evident that they were being followed up. Every now -and then they heard the same sounds of movement, and shouts in different -directions behind them. Apparently the Uhlans were scattering to beat -the wood systematically. - -"Our uniforms account for their perseverance," Pariset remarked. "The -Germans don't scruple to wear Belgian uniform, or to dress as civilians; -nothing makes them more angry than that we should do the same." - -"And they know it was their own Taube, purloined at Cologne," said -Kenneth. "You may be sure they are particularly incensed at that." - -"We are outstripping them," said Pariset a few moments later. "The -sounds are fainter." - -"The question is, what shall we find at the other side of the wood? If -open fields, we shan't stand a dog's chance against their rifles. -Perhaps we had better dodge about among the trees." - -"With the risk of tumbling up against one! No, we had better go -straight on." - -Again they pressed forward in silence. The sounds behind them grew -still fainter, but they became aware in a few minutes that the number of -their pursuers had increased. There were more voices, distributed over -a wider area. - -"The regiment has come up, I fancy," said Kenneth. "Very likely some of -them will ride round the wood. We're in a tight corner, Remi." - -"Hurry on, man. Our one chance is to be first out." - -From the continual diminution of the sounds it was plain that the Uhlans -were moving with great caution. No doubt they feared an enemy in every -bush. The fugitives, on the other hand, pressed on as fast as they -could, guarding against a circular course by means of the small compass -which Pariset wore in a strap on his wrist. - -After a quarter of an hour's hot exertion they came suddenly to the -farther edge of the wood. The country immediately in front was open and -level, dotted about with single trees and small clumps. In the distance -they saw a farmhouse, and still farther away, a picturesque chateau on -the side of a hill. - -"Shall we make a run for it?" said Kenneth, as they paused a moment -before leaving the shelter of the trees. - -For answer, Pariset caught him by the sleeve, and drew him back. - -"Cut off?" asked Kenneth. - -"Yes; a troop of Uhlans are galloping along the edge of the wood away -there to the left; nearly a mile away, thank goodness!" - -"Fairly trapped!" said Kenneth, with nervous twitching of his eyebrow. - -In the excitement of the last half hour their thoughts had been too busy -to give them time for apprehension. But now, with Uhlans on foot spread -out in the wood behind them, a troop on horseback approaching on their -left, possibly another on their right, they began to realise what it was -like to be hunted. They felt as if inexorable walls were closing upon -them to crush them. It would be madness to take to the open. The -impulse to turn to the right in the wood, away from the galloping -Uhlans, was dulled by the fear that a second troop had been sent to head -them off in that direction. They adopted the wisest course in such a -situation: remained where they were, some few yards from the outer -fringe of trees, and tried to think out their problem calmly. - -"It will be safer to let them pass us," said Pariset presently. "They -will expect to see us emerge; let us go to meet them. Can you hear the -fellows behind us in the wood?" - -They stood listening. - -"No," said Kenneth. "I daresay they are stealing up quietly." - -"We must keep our ears open. Now, as quickly as possible." - -They threaded their way cautiously through the wood towards the oncoming -Uhlans. Very soon they heard the thuds of the horses' hoofs to their -right. Among the trees they could neither see nor be seen. The sound -ceased suddenly. Then came the muffled murmur of voices. Apparently the -Uhlans had drawn rein almost at the spot where the fugitives had -intended to break cover. - -"A clever lot!" whispered Pariset. "They calculated to a yard or two -where we should be likely to come out. A good thing we turned this -way." - -The Uhlans, in fact, only about two hundred yards away, had dismounted, -and leaving their horses tethered in the charge of two of their number, -had entered the wood, spread out, and begun to beat the coverts in the -direction of their comrades advancing from the farther side. - -The fugitives pressed on rapidly, parallel with the edge of the wood, -hoping that they would not meet the men at the extremity of the -far-extended line. There was no sound to guide them or give warning. -Presently they ventured to draw a little nearer to the edge, where the -trees were sparser and they could move more quickly. Pariset constantly -consulted his compass. Their course was northward, in the direction of -Liége. - -For twenty minutes or more they jogged on, careful not to lose their -wind. Then they discovered that the wood was narrowing, and a few more -minutes brought them within sight of its end, the apex of a triangle. -Peering out cautiously through the trees, they saw a little way ahead -the fork of two roads. That to the left was evidently the main road -near which the aeroplane had landed. That to the right must be the -byroad along which the Uhlans had ridden to cut them off. Beyond, on -either side, were open fields. - -They halted in perplexity, anxious though they were to lose no time. A -false move, an unfortunate decision, and they were lost. - -"If we dash across country we may be seen," said Pariset. "If we take -to the road we may meet more troops. But we can't stay in the wood. The -Uhlans will beat it thoroughly." - -"Could we climb a tree and hide in the foliage?" suggested Kenneth. - -"We mightn't be as lucky as your Merry Monarch," said Pariset. "The -fellows are capable of burning down the whole wood if they can't find -us. And in a very short time they are sure to draw a cordon round it. -We must get out, somehow or other. If only the roads were hedged, like -your English country roads, we should stand a chance." - -They were still discussing their quandary when they heard the rumble of -an approaching cart. Looking eagerly ahead, they saw a large wagon -piled with loose hay. The driver appeared to be a Belgian peasant. -Beside him sat an armed soldier in the bluish grey German uniform. They -seemed only half awake. The two horses were plodding slowly, with -drooping heads. The appearance of men and beasts suggested that they -had been travelling all night. - -There was a gleam in Kenneth's eyes as he turned to Pariset. - -"Into the hay?" he whispered. - -"The wagon will pass the Uhlans," Pariset replied. - -"So much the better." - -"But the hay may be for their horses." - -"Not very likely. It must have been definitely requisitioned, and they -wouldn't dare to touch it." - -Pariset pondered. A faint sound came from the depths of the wood. - -"It's our only chance," he said, "but in ten minutes we may have lances -or bullets through us. A la bonne heure!" - - - - -CHAPTER XV--HUNS AT PLAY - - -The wagon rumbled heavily along the road. The two men stood just within -the wood, watching the driver and the soldier, looking up and down the -road with a half-formed fear that more troops would come in sight. They -allowed the wagon to pass them; then, running behind it on tiptoe, they -leapt up, and plunged into the hay, which was loosely piled, just as it -had been pitched down from a looted rick. - -They burrowed their way through the scented mass, drawing it closely -behind them to cover their tracks. The creaking of the cart wheels, the -loud tramp of the big Flemish horses, the sleepiness of the men in front -were all in their favour. They reached the forepart of the wagon -without having attracted attention. Kenneth's nostrils itched. It was -lucky, he thought, that the hay was dry and the season far advanced, or -a fit of sneezing would have betrayed him. - -To get air, and to enable them to see down the road, they made little -gaps in the hay, scarcely broader than two fingers. Then they lay -still, happy in their escape from the Uhlans, but desperately anxious -about what might come. - -The wagon was travelling towards Luxemburg. Presently, muffled by the -hay, the sound of men's voices reached their ears. These continued for -some minutes; no doubt they proceeded from the Uhlans in the wood. After -about twenty minutes they heard a louder voice, close at hand. The wagon -stopped. - -"Have you seen two officers?" asked a man in German. "Dressed as -Germans. One a lean ugly fellow, the other a round moon-faced baby. -They are spies." - -The soldier, pulling himself together, answered briskly "No!" Conscious -of having been dozing on duty he went further. - -"We have seen nobody for the last three miles," he said. "The whole -country is deserted. What is doing about here?" - -"The spies came down in that aeroplane yonder, and escaped into the -wood." - -"Teufel! I see no aeroplane." - -"It is in ruins; the fellows blew it up. It was one of ours, too, a -Taube. They stole it." - -"There will be fine shooting when they are caught. These Belgians are -the very deuce. Half my regiment are down. My horse was shot. I'm -going to take one of these cart horses when we get to Spa. They are -rather heavy, but one must take what one can get. Horses are scarce." - -The Uhlan who had spoken came round to the back of the wagon, and pulled -out an armful of hay for his horse. The fugitives shivered. If others -of the troop did the same thing, their screen would be removed, -detection was inevitable. - -"Not too much," called the trooper in front, standing up and peering -round the corner of the load. "Don't get me into trouble. I was -ordered to bring back a full load, and the Herr Major is a terrible man -in his anger." - -"Where did you get it from?" asked the Uhlan, now joined by several of -his comrades who had been left in charge of the horses of those -searching the wood. - -"From a farm about two hours' journey back, somewhere about Theux, I -think they call it. It's an out-of-the-way place, but we got the tip -from a Hussar who lodged with the farmer for a year or two; there wasn't -much he didn't find out; and he knew exactly how much fodder he had." - -"Did you leave any?" - -"Two good ricks. Are you short?" - -"Yes, our supplies haven't come up. Plenty of beer on the farm?" - -"Not so much as there was," replied the man with a laugh. "But enough -to get properly drunk on if they give you time." - -"That's the place for us. How do you get there?" - -"Up the road about five miles, turn down a by-road on the right; there's -a row of poplars on one side; you can't miss it. We must move on. I -hope you'll catch the spies. Good luck!" - -The wagon jogged on. - -"Whip up your horses," cried the soldier to the driver. "We have been -too long on the road." - -The fugitives, on tenterhooks all this time, breathed more freely when -they had passed the spot where the Uhlans were grouped on the grass, -guarding the horses and the ruins of the aeroplane. But they realised -that they were escaping one danger only to fall into another. The -destination of the wagon was Spa, no doubt filled with Germans. They -must leave the wagon before it reached that town. - -They were thinking of slipping out at a quiet stretch of the road, and -taking their chance of bolting across the fields, when the wagon was met -by another Uhlan patrol, who after questioning the trooper, wheeled -their horses and rode alongside. - -"You are just in time, Schmidt," said one of the newcomers. - -"What for?" asked the trooper, who evidently belonged to the same -regiment. - -"To see how we reduce the population. There's a big farm in a hamlet a -quarter-mile up the road. Rumpelmeyer was shot near there, so we routed -out all the men in the place except the farmer, who escaped. As soon as -he is rounded up we are going to shoot the lot." - -They rumbled on into the hamlet, and pulled up at the gate of the farm. -The terrified villagers were penned up like cattle in the farmyard, -guarded by a dozen Uhlans. A few women at the wall, imploring the -Germans to have mercy, were answered with brutal jeers. - -"A dirty herd!" said the trooper on the wagon. "Why don't you shoot -them at once?" - -"The Wachtmeister thinks that would be too good for them. First dinner, -and then sport, says he. He is a humorist, our Wachtmeister. Here he -is." - -"Thank goodness I needn't go any further on this lumbering wagon," said -the trooper. "Is the whole regiment coming up from Spa?" - -"In the course of the day. Fifteen of us came in advance. Two are -hunting for the farmer." - -"Well done, Schmidt," said the sergeant, coming up to the wagon. "You've -a good load there." - -"Shall I unload, and give the horses a feed?" asked the trooper. - -"They can wait. There's a hot dinner ready, prepared by our kind -friends the Belgians. They entertain us; afterwards we shall entertain -them. Poor Rumpelmeyer has gone. But a dozen Belgians are waiting -yonder to join him. A dozen Belgians are not worth one good German, but -it's something to go on with. We shall find others; it would be a pity -to leave too many to bother us when the country is ours." - -Kenneth, under the hay, was squirming. Pariset, knowing no German, was -not aware of what was coming, but his apprehension was all the greater -for his ignorance. Kenneth whispered that the wagon was not to be -unloaded yet; he dared not say more at the moment, with so many enemies -within hearing. - -The sky was becoming overclouded. The wagoner took the horses out, and -led them to loose boxes in the stables. The trooper Schmidt had sprung -down and entered the house, where all the Uhlans except three left on -guard over the prisoners had assembled for the good dinner prepared by -the women of the farm under the eye of their truculent visitors. - -The wagon having been left standing at the gate, Kenneth ventured to -repeat to Pariset the gist of the conversation he had heard. The -Belgian swore under his breath. - -"We must get out while they are at dinner," Kenneth whispered. - -"Those three brutes would see us," said Pariset, eyeing the three Uhlans -savagely through his peephole. - -"I'm afraid they would," Kenneth agreed. "But we are bound to be -discovered when they unload." - -"Well, we'll get away if we see half a chance. We must wait. I wish we -could do something for those poor wretches in the yard. These Germans -have much to answer for, Ken; and they shall pay--they shall pay!" - -They lay in their stuffy shelter, listening to the sounds of -merriment--heavy-hoofed merriment--from within the house, the grumbles -of the Uhlans who had been left outside and were losing the fun, the -sobs of the women at the wall. The sky grew blacker and blacker, rain -began to fall. The Uhlans on guard turned up their collars and swore. - -Presently there was a diversion. The two Uhlans who had been out -rounding up the missing farmer had caught him and a second man, and were -bringing them along at a trot, prodding them with their lances to make -them keep up with the horses. There were cries of dismay from the -herded prisoners, and of pity from the women. The attention of the -Uhlans on guard was somewhat diverted from the prisoners to the -newcomers, as these were marched through the gate and across the -farmyard to the hurdles within which their fellow villagers were -confined. - -"Now's the time!" whispered Kenneth. "Creep behind the cart and round -by the stables. There's just a chance." - -They slid out of the wagon, slipped into the yard, and ran to the -stables, being screened from the guards' observation by the horses of -the Uhlans who had just returned. Behind the stables there was a barn, -with a ladder reaching to its high loft. - -"Up there!" whispered Pariset. "We should be seen if we ran across the -fields." - -They clambered up, and panting with excitement and haste threw -themselves on the floor of the loft. - -"Perhaps we can remain here until night," said Pariset. "The place is -empty; they've no reason for visiting it again." - -They heard the newly-arrived troopers lead their horses to the stables -and address some one there in loud peremptory tones. Then their spurred -boots were heard clanking over the cobbles, and they went into the -house. Shouts of applause followed their entrance; no doubt they had -reported their capture. - -"I wish we could do something!" murmured Pariset restlessly. "But we -can't tackle twelve or fifteen." - -A few minutes later, when the tremors of excitement had ceased, Kenneth -got up. - -"We can at least go and see who is in the stables," he said. "Perhaps -we could make off with a couple of horses." - -"Anything rather than lie here idle," said Pariset. - -They crept down the ladder, and stole round the outbuilding towards -where they knew by the sounds the door of the stable was. It was on the -side remote from the corner where the prisoners were herded. Peeping in -at the door, Kenneth saw the driver of the wagon sitting disconsolately -on an upturned pail, and beckoned to Pariset to precede him. They -slipped into the stable. The wagoner jumped up with a start when he saw -two Germans, as he supposed. - -"Hist! I am a Belgian," whispered Pariset hurriedly in Flemish. "My -friend is an Englishman." - -The man looked at them narrowly, only half believing. - -"It is true," said Pariset. "We want to save the prisoners. Do you -know the place? Will you help?" - -Convinced by their appearance and by Pariset's Flemish the man said: - -"My word! will I help! One of them is my brother; two are my cousins. -Only tell me what I can do, mijnheer. But not here; it is not safe; -come to the back." - -"Wait!" said Pariset, pointing to a door at the further end of the -stable. "Where does that lead to?" - -"Into the harness room." - -"And beyond that?" - -"The kitchen." - -"Who are in the kitchen?" - -"I do not know; maybe the mistress and the women servants. They cook -the meals for those hogs." - -"Is the door unlocked?" - -"Most likely; it is never locked during the day." - -"Then creep into the kitchen and tell the women we are here. Quickly! -We will hide in the harness room. And find out where the Germans have -stacked their rifles, and how many there are." - -The man passed through the door, followed by Pariset and Kenneth, who -remained among the harness while the wagoner went on to the kitchen. - -"It's a frightful risk, Remi," whispered Kenneth. - -Pariset set his teeth. - -"I'm a Belgian," he said. "It's not your job. Go back to----" - -"Rubbish!" Kenneth interrupted. "We sink or swim together.... Here he -comes!" - -"I saw the mistress," said the man. "They have caught the master; she -is frantic. There are ten Uhlans in the big room; the sergeant is alone -in the parlour beyond. The maids are serving them." - -"The rifles?" said Pariset. - -"They are not stacked, mijnheer. There is no room between the wall and -the big table. They are laid anyhow in the corner near the kitchen -door." - -For a minute or two Pariset and Kenneth conversed in rapid whispers. -While they were speaking the farmer's wife, a large capable Flamande, -came to the door, an expression of mingled agitation and hope on her -broad red face. - -"We try it?" said Pariset to Kenneth. - -"Yes." - -The three men entered the kitchen. - -"If you can save my husband and my son--" began the good woman -imploringly. - -Pariset cut her short. She had the appearance of abundant energy. - -"We want your help, meffrouw," he said. "Courage! Can you smuggle some -of the rifles out of the room? Not all." - -"I will try, mijnheer," she said quietly, with the firm look of the -Flemish housewife. - -There was much noise from the room beyond. The troopers were eating and -drinking hard. Pariset and Kenneth stepped behind a large Dutch clock -when the women pushed open the door, carrying a dish of steaming stew. -They saw her recoil a little when the Germans hailed her appearance with -boisterous shouts. She beckoned to her two maids, stout Flamandes like -herself, then disappeared towards the right. - -The two airmen waited anxiously. Would the housewife's nerve fail? -Would the Germans detect her? They had fallen gluttonously on the new -dish, praising Belgian viands after the short commons of the days -preceding. - -Presently the woman reappeared at the door. Her face was pale; she was -grimly pressing her lips together, and when she had entered the kitchen -and closed the door she took from the folds of her gown a rifle. - -"The maids stood in front of me," she murmured. - -"Take the rifle into the harness room," said Pariset to the wagoner. -"Another, meffrouw." - -The poor woman trembled, but summoning her courage she passed again into -the room. The door at the further end was now open, and the sergeant -stood in it. He had consulted his dignity by dining alone in the -parlour. - -"More wine!" he shouted. "It's poor stuff, mother, but I must make the -best of it till we get to Champagne. Then we'll break a few necks--of -bottles and Frenchmen." - -Roars of laughter from the men greeted this sally. One of the maids -carried a fresh bottle into the parlour. Meanwhile the housewife had -taken advantage of the diversion caused by the sergeant's pleasantry to -remove another rifle. Three more she brought out at intervals; then -Pariset said it was enough; to abstract more might lead the men to -notice the diminution of the pile. Pariset examined each of the five; -there were cartridges in all. - -"Do your maids know German?" he asked the woman. - -"Katrinka knows a little," she replied. - -"Ask her to take some wine to the men on guard outside--it is by the -sergeant's orders. You and the other maid each take a bottle too. -Supply the Uhlans in there with plenty of food first, to keep them -occupied. They will gorge themselves so long as you please." - -While the women carried into the room dishes loaded with cakes and -patties, Pariset and the two others held a whispered conversation in the -harness room. On the return of the women, Pariset asked the mistress to -give the carrier a bottle of wine. The man took it in his left hand; -his right held a knife. - -The inner door of the kitchen was closed. They moved quietly to a side -door opening directly on the farmyard. Rain and mist threw a murky -gloom over the scene. The women, carrying bottles, moved quickly -towards the discontented Uhlans, who uttered guttural exclamations of -pleasure when the girl Katrinka gave the message with which Pariset had -primed her. Behind them slouched the wagoner, lifting his bottle to his -lips with ostentatious enjoyment. Within the shadow of the door Pariset -and Kenneth stood with levelled rifles, their eyes fixed on the scene in -front, their ears alert for sounds in the rear. - -The women had given the Uhlans a bottle each. The good wife had a -second in reserve. Turning their backs upon the prisoners, the guard -broke the necks of the bottles, and drank with great gulps. Unnoticed, -the wagoner slipped round behind them, cut the cords that bound the -nearest prisoner, handed him the knife, and edged towards the Uhlans, -still taking pulls at his bottle. - -Five of the prisoners had been released by their companion before one of -the guards, half-turning, noticed a commotion within the pens, and at a -second glance saw with amazement what was happening. Dropping his -bottle with a furious oath, he seized his rifle, but before it reached -his shoulder the wagoner swung his uncorked bottle with all his force -and broke it on the Uhlan's head, stretching him on the ground in a -crimson pool of wine. He caught the man's rifle as it fell, and -bayoneted the second German, who had turned at his comrade's cry. The -third, evading a blow aimed at him with her bottle by the sturdy -housewife, shouted for help, and was lifting his rifle when it was -wrenched from his hands by the villager who had been first released, and -he fell beside the others, stunned by a blow from the butt end. - -Kenneth and Pariset, who had followed every movement with breathless -anxiety, felt that the party outside would give no trouble for a time, -at any rate. They turned sharply round on hearing a commotion from the -inner room, where the guzzling Uhlans had heard, through their own -noise, the shout from the farmyard. Jumping to their feet, they crowded -towards the rifles in the corner, and had just discovered that the -weapons would not go round, when the door was thrown open, and they saw -standing in the doorway two German officers. - -"Achtung!" cried Kenneth, in the short sharp tone he had many a time -heard in a German drill yard. - -The men sprang to attention, clicked their heels, and saluted. They had -no time to think; they acted with mechanical obedience. Standing thus -rigid they were amazed to see the officers cover them with their rifles, -and to hear a peremptory summons to surrender. Fuddled, astounded, they -threw up their hands. - -At this moment the door of the parlour was flung open, and the sergeant, -red with wine and rage, before he had taken in the scene, demanded what -the noise was about. His voice dropped at the end of the sentence, when -he saw, as he thought, a captain and a lieutenant before him. A sound -of rushing feet behind him caused him to swing round hastily. With a -startled cry he raised his revolver, and fired; but he was immediately -hurled backward to the floor by a dozen sturdy peasants, the foremost of -whom held a knife. - -There was a great silence in the farm. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI--THE CARETAKER - - -"We shall have to clear everybody out of this double quick," said -Pariset. "If the regiment comes up every soul will be massacred." - -"You mean that we must all trek?" said Kenneth. - -"Yes. You and I must rig ourselves up as Uhlans, and pretend that we -are convoying prisoners. The villagers had better gather what valuables -they want to save, and migrate, it doesn't much matter where to, so long -as it is as far as possible from the line of the German advance." - -He explained his plan to the farmer and the other Belgian peasants. They -suggested that a short and easy way of securing safety was to shoot all -the Uhlans and bury them, but Pariset would not agree to that. The men -having surrendered, their lives at least must be spared. - -Without delay preparations were made. The body of the dead sergeant was -hastily buried. The Uhlan prisoners were stripped of their uniforms, -clad in coarse garments provided by the villagers, and roped together. -The wagon was emptied of its hay and loaded up with such little -treasures as the villagers possessed, among them an extraordinary number -of birdcages. Then it rumbled off, followed by the whole population of -the hamlet, men, women, and children, setting off through the rain to -some sequestered village off the main route, where they might hope to be -left untouched by the German tide. - -Pariset and Kenneth exchanged their uniforms for those of two of the -Uhlans, provided themselves with civilian clothes, selected two of the -best horses, and after a few minutes' puzzled consideration what to do -with the rest, removed their trappings and let them loose in the fields. - -It was now getting late in the afternoon. Rain was still falling -heavily, which was at once an inconvenience and an advantage. For -safety's sake Pariset bandaged his head again; then they started, -Kenneth riding ahead, the captive Uhlans between him and Pariset. - -They were under no illusion as to the danger they were incurring. If -they should meet any considerable body of Germans, a word from one of -the prisoners would be their undoing. But what with the rain and the -approach of darkness they hoped to avoid any such contretemps. The -direction of their march was westward, their intention being to approach -Liége from the south-west. So far as they knew the Germans had not -pushed their way in force farther west than Stoumont, so that they were -unlikely to encounter anything more serious than patrols and outposts. -Such were formidable enough. - -Marching across fields, by by-ways, through woods, they arrived by -nightfall in the neighbourhood of the river Ourthe. Some few miles -beyond that river they believed that the French army was in line. As -they were passing a cluster of cottages a voice in German called upon -them to halt. Pariset moved up to the front of the prisoners, and -pointing his revolver threatened to shoot if any man spoke a word. -Kenneth meanwhile, answering in German, had ridden a few paces ahead, -and explained to the sentry who had challenged that he was escorting -some Belgian civilians as prisoners to Erézée, and asked in his turn for -news. To his surprise and alarm he learnt that the Germans were in -force a few miles to the south, and expected next day to force the -passage of the Ourthe. At the hamlet at which he had arrived a small -infantry outpost had quartered itself that afternoon. - -Getting from the sentry the direction of Erézée, he rode back and led -the party away from the hamlet to the south-west. - -"That was a near thing, Remi," he said. "We shall never be able to get -these fellows to our own lines." - -"Pity we didn't let the farmer's men shoot them," returned Pariset. -"They'll be our ruin." - -"I vote we leave them at the next village we come to. They'll be -discovered by the Germans in their advance to-morrow." - -"Not a man of them! The villagers would have put them out of sight by -to-morrow. We must leave them on the road if you want to keep them -alive." - -They had still not determined what to do with their troublesome charges -when they caught sight of lights twinkling mistily through the -rain-laden darkness ahead. Kenneth slipped down from his saddle, and -went forward on foot to reconnoitre, the rest halting. In a few minutes -he returned. - -"The place is evidently full of Germans," he said. "I heard the eternal -'Deutschland über Alles'; the bosches certainly sing well! We must make -up our minds once for all what to do." - -After a brief discussion they retreated some distance up the road, out -of earshot from the village. On one side was an extensive plantation, -probably the covert of some Belgian nobleman. Here they decided to -leave their prisoners. The trees would give the men a certain -protection from the rain. They could make themselves heard when their -troops passed along the road in the morning. There accordingly the two -young fellows placed the Uhlans, eking out the rope to bind their legs -as well as their arms. Then they struck down a bridlepath that ran -westward, the direction of the Ourthe. - -The night was so dark that though the rain ceased towards midnight they -made but slow progress. In changing clothes neither had provided -himself with matches, so that Pariset's compass was useless. Groping -from bridlepath to lane, from lane to high road, which they quitted as -soon as possible, stealing past the few cottages they came upon, they -wandered for an hour or two until both felt that they must wait for -daylight, if they were to secure themselves against the risk of falling -unawares among the enemy. They tethered their horses in a copse, and, -being wet through, paced up and down to maintain their circulation until -the dawn stole through the trees. Then, weary, hungry, and bedraggled, -they remounted, and pursued their way along a narrow sunken road. -Ignorant of their whereabouts, they could only trust to chance and the -compass, unless they should presently come upon Belgians whom they might -ask to direct them. - -But the country appeared to be deserted. When they cautiously -approached the first wayside cottage they came to, they found no one -there. Everything was in order; the Germans had not yet visited it; -clearly the inhabitants had fled at the mere rumour of their advance. - -About eight o'clock they came in sight of a large country-house, lying -back from the road in extensive grounds. The aspect of it, and an -armoured motor-car standing at the gates, caused them to draw up within -the cover of the trees bordering the road. The gates were broken, there -were gaps in the wall, and one side of the house was damaged by shells. - -"We had better go back a little, and cut across the fields," said -Pariset. "That car is probably German; there may be Germans inside. It -would be risky to pass the house." - -"Perhaps it's a Belgian car," Kenneth suggested. "I'm inclined to wait -until we know. We have hopelessly lost our way." - -"Look out!" said Pariset. - -Two men in German uniform had descended on the far side of the car, and -begun to walk up and down in front of the gates, in the manner of men -stretching their legs after long waiting. Pariset and Kenneth drew -farther back, behind a clump of trees, dismounted, and watched. - -In a few minutes they heard the characteristic clatter of a motor -bicycle. From beyond the house a cyclist in uniform dashed up at full -speed; he halted at the gates, dismounted, and exchanging a word with -the waiting men walked up the drive and entered the house. Soon he -reappeared, with a German officer and a civilian. These entered the -motor-car with the two men, and drove away in the direction from which -the cyclist had come. He remounted and rode after them. An old man had -tottered after the Germans; he closed the gates, or what remained of -them; then, after watching the vehicles out of sight, he returned to the -house, stepping much more briskly than when he came from it. - -"He's glad to see the backs of them; a Belgian, without doubt," said -Kenneth. "Let us go and ask him the way." - -"I'll go; you remain with the horses," said Pariset. - -Looking along the road to make sure that no enemy was in sight, Pariset -hurried to the gates, walked up the drive, and rang the bell at the -front door. It was only after ringing twice that his summons was -answered. The door opened; the bent old man, white of hair and beard, -rubbed his hands nervously together as he stood on the threshold. - -"Good morning!" said Pariset in French. "You don't speak German?" - -"Alas, we Belgians are backward in many things," replied the man in -French with a provincial accent and in quavering tones. "What can I do -for you?" - -"First, tell me where I am, where does the road lead to?" - -"By Hamoir to Liége." - -"Who were the party who left just now?" - -"Officers of your own army": he glanced at the Uhlan uniform. - -"And the cyclist?" - -"A despatch rider, I think." Then, in the same trembling uncertain -voice of an old man, he went on in English: "He was a glue merchant in -the Minories six months ago--Ernst Lilienthal & Co., 2nd floor: mind the -lift! And if I were you, Herr Pariset, I should wear that tureen" -(pointing to the Uhlan helmet) "a trifle more upright, and your shoulder -strap a little more aslant, when you meet more Germans than you care to -tackle single-handed." - -At the first words of English Pariset stared; then he smiled; before the -seeming old man had concluded Pariset grasped his hand. - -"Mr. Granger! Your disguise is complete, wonderful." - -"My dear sir!" said Granger deprecatingly. "But come inside. I want -news of our friend Amory." - -"He is only a few yards away. I'll fetch him; he is in Uhlan uniform, -like me. Is it safe?" - -"A little more than safe, I hope," said Granger with a smile. "We have -some few hours to spare; not too many, perhaps. You have horses?" - -"Yes." - -"Tether them behind that shrubbery yonder. I don't recommend the -stables. Bring Amory straight into the house." - -Pariset hastened back to the spot where he had left Kenneth. - -"Come along!" he said. "I have discovered a friend." - -"That's capital!" said Kenneth. "Is he an old friend?" - -"Not exactly an old friend. It is that old man you saw come to the -gate. I have only known him a few days--since I met you, in fact." - -"That's odd," said Kenneth, puzzled. "We have been together practically -every minute since we met, and I wasn't aware you had made a new -acquaintance of any old man except that farmer and his friend the -miller." - -"What is odder is that he asked after you." - -"Really! Who is he?" - -"Come and see. You'll be glad to meet him." - -"Hang your mystifications!" - -"Not mine. But there he is at the door. Those fellows, by the way, who -went off in the automobile were Germans, but the old man assured me it -is quite safe to accept his invitation." - -While speaking they had led their horses to the house. They tied them -up in a thick shrubbery behind the lawn, and went up the steps to the -front door. - -"How do you do, Amory?" said Granger in his natural voice, holding out -his hand. - -"By George!" gasped Kenneth. "A splendid get-up; I shouldn't have known -you. What a Proteus you are!" - -"Without his prophetic gifts, or I should have expected you. Come in: I -have some interesting news for you." - -"But what----" - -"What am I?" Granger interposed. "I am an old family servant who, like -the domestic cat, stuck to the old place after the family had left. I -am caretaker, _pro tem._--and the time will be very short, I fancy. We -will bar the door; I am very vigilant. Now I am at your service." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII--A BARMECIDE FEAST - - -Granger laughed when Kenneth related the incidents of the past -twenty-four hours. - -"You are uncommonly lucky young daredevils," he said. "To the best of -my knowledge Proteus, for all his quick changes, had only one life; you -seem to have several apiece. The only pity is that you couldn't enjoy -the triumph that would have attended your marching of the prisoners into -camp." - -"Yes, I should have liked that," said Kenneth. "But what are you doing -here? What is your game? Your disguise is perfect, upon my word!" - -"I will tell you--in confidence," he replied with a sly look. "From -information received I arrived here yesterday afternoon. As you see, -the amiable Teutons have left their mark on the house. My informant had -led me to expect that it would be visited by certain German gentlemen. -Sure enough, late last night an armoured car honked at the door, and -when I lifted the bar with my fumbling fingers, there entered an officer -and a civilian. A sergeant and three privates remained outside until -the major ordered them in to search the house. The civilian was clearly -a man of some importance, judging by the deference--somewhat strange -among Germans--paid to him by the soldier occupants of the car. He went -by the name of Brinckmann, but as an ornament of society in Cologne, and -occasionally I believe in London also, he was known as Kurt Hellwig." - -"By George!" exclaimed Kenneth. - -"I thought I should interest you." - -"The cur!" - -"Hush, my dear fellow! Hellwig enjoys imperial favour. He boasted of a -particularly cordial interview with the War Lord, who appears to take a -close personal interest in underground operations. Well, the major and -Hellwig dined together--if the scratch meal that my trembling hands -prepared for them could be called a dinner. They had to be content with -inferior wine: thirsty compatriots of theirs had consumed the best. I -waited at table: in our--profession, we play many parts. They were -expecting a visit from a high-placed officer this morning; that was the -item in my original information that led me to impersonate the aged -servitor, sans teeth, sans eyes--you know the quotation. As a Belgian -peasant, speaking French only villainously, I could not be expected to -understand the language of these lords of the world. They conversed -quite freely, and confirmed my informant in every particular. I hoped to -hear more this morning, but unluckily Fate has robbed me of the -opportunity. A despatch rider came up a little while ago on one of -those noisy mechanical monstrosities that have ousted the thoroughbred -of former days." - -"Oh, come now! The motor cycle is much more useful than the horse," -Kenneth interrupted. - -"Especially when a tyre bursts, a nut falls off, or the gearing goes -wrong! However, it appeared that the appointment was cancelled. The -high officer would not come here, but summoned my gentlemen to meet him -at Marche, some fifteen miles west." - -"They have advanced as far as that, then?" said Pariset ruefully. - -"They are on the way to Paris, my dear sir," said Granger. "They have, -I understand, given rendezvous there for the 26th of this month. Their -confidence is, perhaps, a little ahead of their capacity. But your -unexpected arrival--we cannot know everything!--is very welcome. I seem -to see that by this happy chance my time may not be wholly wasted. You -will make very good Uhlans when I have touched you up a little." - -"What do you mean?" asked Kenneth. - -"Hellwig said, on leaving, that he and his friends would return about -midday. In his pleasant way he threatened to burn the house over my -head if I did not prepare a better dejeuner than the dinner he suffered -last night. Imagine my agitation! What a calamity! How should I meet -my master when he returns? My hands shook so violently that I began to -be afraid of overdoing my part! ... But now, gentlemen, for Herr -Hellwig's dejeuner. I can count on your assistance. He will need a -good digestion!" - -"You mean to tackle them?" asked Pariset. - -"I don't want to be unfair to either party--to take you at the Germans' -valuation, or to rate them too low. Suppose I stand aside; there will -then be two against two." - -"But there are four others," said Kenneth. - -"Who being of inferior clay are not allowed to contaminate the air for -their betters. They remain outside. Last night they took turns at -sentry-go in the rain in front of the house, and when not on duty dozed -in the car." - -"They may bring others back with them," suggested Pariset. - -"They will not, if I know my Hellwig," answered Granger. "Of course we -are wofully outnumbered if they all take a hand, to say nothing of the -machine gun. The sound of that would probably bring down upon us a -swarm of gentle Germans." - -"Are they so near?" asked Kenneth. - -"I tottered through a large camp of them a couple of miles to the north, -and this morning I saw from the upper windows troops moving along a road -within a mile and a half to the west." - -"Then we should have tumbled right into the camp if we had gone on," -said Kenneth. - -"I think better of you than that! But you see that we must keep the -machine gun quiet at all costs. A revolver shot would be safe, perhaps; -but if we can avoid that, too, so much the better. Now I really must go -and make my perquisitions. Last night I cooked some new-killed beef -they brought with them; to-day they expect something more choice. I -must scour the neighbourhood. There will be plenty of time, I think; if -they should return before I do, I must leave you to exercise the same -resourcefulness as has defied the superman hitherto. They may search the -house as they did last night. As a precaution, I suggest that you take -refuge in the garden during my absence. The shrubberies are excellent." - -"Can you give us something to eat?" said Kenneth. "We are famished." - -"Unhappily they cleared the board this morning, leaving me nothing but -the crumbs. But I will be as quick as possible. You shall breakfast -royally." - -He left them. Instead of adopting his suggestion they went to the top -of the house and watched the long defile of German troops on the western -road. They would hear or see the returning car in good time to make -their escape by the back door. - -Within an hour Granger returned, with a couple of fowls, a duck, and -other comestibles purchased at high prices from the few peasants in the -neighbouring village whom the approach of the Germans had not scared -away. Among his many accomplishments was a considerable skill in -cooking. He roasted the duck and one of the fowls, prepared bread sauce -and apple, boiled potatoes to a nice point of flouriness, turned out -Brussels sprouts dry and crisp. - -"Now we will make a start," he said. "I can always work better if I am -well fed, and you, I am sure, are very sharpset." - -"We are indeed," said Kenneth. "But what about the Germans?" - -"There will be at least a smell of cooking when they arrive. The -pleasures of hope are keener than the pleasures of memory, I believe. -While you eat, I will talk. What I say may aid your digestion; but you -must exercise your own united judgment. When you have finished, I -suggest that you rest until they come; they are not soft-tongued, and if -you fall asleep their entrance will waken you. There are excellent -divans in the smoking-room on the other side of that curtain." - -During the meal Granger outlined the plan which their arrival had -suggested. It was audacious enough, but, as he remarked with a smile, -they had had some training for important parts. When there was nothing -left of the poultry but the bones, they went into the smoking-room and -threw themselves on two luxurious divans upholstered in saddle bags. -Granger cleared away, and placed clean plates and cutlery on the table. - -Fatigued though they were, excitement kept them awake. Soon after one -they heard the car approaching. It drew up at the gates, which were -closed, and the soldier-chauffeur sounded his horn, while two of his -comrades alighted and pushed the gates open. Granger, after glancing -into the smoking-room, hastened to the front door, which he opened, once -more a frail old servingman, as Hellwig and the major, followed by the -sergeant, with two bottles of wine, came up the steps. - -"Poultry--or game!" exclaimed Hellwig, sniffing appreciatively as he -entered. - -"That is well; I am ravenous," said the officer. "At any rate we shall -not be poisoned to-day by the old man's vinegar.... Lay those bottles -down," he added, addressing the sergeant, "then go out. You and the men -shall have what is left from our meal." - -The sergeant saluted and went out. Hellwig and the officer drew chairs -to the table and seated themselves. - -"Make haste!" Hellwig called in French through the open door towards the -kitchen. "Stir your stumps, old man." - -Granger came shuffling into the room, bent of back, nervously clasping -his hands. - -"Where is the dejeuner?" cried Hellwig. "Why have you come -empty-handed? What do you mean by keeping us waiting?" - -"Pardon, monsieur," faltered Granger. "I must beg messieurs to excuse -me." - -"Excuses! What do you mean, old fool?" - -Granger's hands trembled more violently than ever. In his thin -quavering voice he stammered: - -"Pardon, monsieur; I am an old bird. Just before messieurs returned, -parbleu! there came two cavalrymen, Uhlans, it seems, with a hunger of -wolves. I explained as well as I could that the dejeuner was being -prepared for two noble officers, but----" - -"Well?" cried Hellwig, as the speaker paused. - -"Pardon, monsieur; but they--they have eaten it all up." - -"Sapperment! Where are those Uhlans?" roared Hellwig, half rising. - -"They are here, monsieur. Hola!" - -Kenneth and Pariset drew the curtain aside, and stepped into the room. -Each held a revolver behind his back. - -"What kind of behaviour is this?" growled the major. "Salute, pigs!" - -Instead of the expected salute, the Germans saw two steady right hands -pointing revolvers at their heads. - -"Merely a little joke, major," said Kenneth quietly: "a little -play-acting. You and your friend shall be in the cast. You shall -pretend to be prisoners." - -The major swelled with astonishment and rage. Hellwig, who had fixed -his eyes on Kenneth, changed colour, and made a sudden grab for his -revolver. But a peremptory voice from behind his chair caused him to -sink back and slowly turn his amazed eyes. - -"Hands up!" - -The old servingman had suddenly become straight. His hands no longer -trembled, his voice had lost its quaver. Covered by two revolvers, -taken aback by the suddenness of surprise, the Germans were paralysed -for a few moments. The major recovered himself first, and was opening -his mouth to shout when Granger deftly slipped a table napkin between -his teeth, drew it tight, and knotted it behind. From under the table -he lifted several short pieces of cord, and in two minutes the -infuriated officer was firmly bound to his chair. - -Hellwig, meanwhile, whose face was the colour of the soldier's uniform, -had sat limply watching Granger's quick and dexterous movements. He was -dealt with in his turn. - -"Call the sergeant in," said Granger to Kenneth. - -The man came at the summons, found himself looking down the muzzles of -two revolvers as he entered at the door, and was soon sitting between -the others, the third guest at an empty board. - -The distant sound of trotting horses drew the captors hurriedly to the -window, and brought a gleam of hope into the captives' eyes. - -"Cavalry, by all the powers!" Granger ejaculated, glancing up the road. -"They are sure to visit the house. We have three men still to deal -with, and three minutes for the job. The bold simple course, Amory! You -must tackle them. Saunter out, don't hurry." - -Kenneth, followed by Pariset, walked slowly towards the waiting car. The -three men in it stared in surprise. - -"We arrived this morning," said Kenneth in an easy tone to the -chauffeur, "and ate the Herr Major's lunch--by mistake." - -The men guffawed; the German soldier does not love his officers. This -was a good joke. - -"That's a nice little toy you have there," Kenneth went on, pointing to -the machine gun. He stepped quickly into the car to look at it. - -"It is forbidden," said the chauffeur, with an uneasy glance at the -window. "Only the crew are allowed in the car." - -"Yes, yes, one understands. Just a minute!" - -Before the men could make up their minds to turn him out he had swung -round the machine gun to cover them. - -"Hands up!" he cried. - -They laughed, thinking it a practical joke, until they saw Pariset -covering them with his revolver. - -"Hands up!" he repeated, imitating Kenneth's accent as well as he could. - -But they recognised now that he was a foreigner, and seeing at this -moment Granger dragging the helpless form of the important Herr -Brinckmann down the steps they surrendered. - -"Get down, and don't stir a step for your lives," Kenneth commanded. -"Drop your arms." - -Pariset kept guard over them while Granger bundled Hellwig into the car -and Kenneth started the engine. - -"I didn't like to leave Brinckmann behind," explained Granger smoothly -as he squeezed himself into the seat beside Hellwig. "We are just in -time." - -Just as the helmets of the approaching troopers showed above the park -wall a furlong away, Kenneth sprang after Pariset into the car, and let -in the clutch. The car moved forward, swung round into the drive, -shaved the gatepost, and sped northward down the road. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII--RUNNING THE GAUNTLET - - -The sound of the starting car brought two of the troopers up at a -gallop. The sight of the Uhlan helmets did not at first inspire them -with distrust, but merely with curiosity that Uhlans should have been -employed in unusual work. The three men left in front of the house, -however, came running to the gates, shouting somewhat incoherently. The -words "Spionen!" and "Belgen!" were distinguishable. Their cries were -taken up by the troopers, and vociferated to their comrades riding -leisurely along. At the prospect of a spy hunt they pricked their -horses to a gallop, and set off in chase of the car, now almost out of -sight. - -"The German camp is in this direction, you told us?" said Kenneth to -Granger. - -"Yes; there is a by-road just before we reach it. The enemy are not -likely to be coming towards us." - -The road was heavy and deeply rutted from the recent passage of cumbrous -transport wagons and artillery. Kenneth found the acceleration of the -car slow, and in any case the weight of the armour with which its vital -parts were protected would have rendered it incapable of high speed. -For a time the horsemen appeared to gain on it, and Pariset, who had -taken charge of the machine gun, swung it round to cover the rear, ready -to open fire if they drew too near. - -"Don't fire if you can help it," Granger said. "It would be a pity to -disturb the camp ahead." - -After a few minutes the car began to draw away. Pariset saw one of the -troopers rein up, and expected him to fire over the holster of his -saddle. But the man dismounted, and just as the car swung out of sight -at a bend of the road, he was clambering up a telegraph pole. Pariset -hurriedly informed his friends. - -"We must stop and cut the wires," said Kenneth, jamming on the brakes. - -Lifting the lid of the tool box, he seized a pair of nippers. - -"Evidently meant for the job," he said. - -"Give them to me," cried Granger. "You stick to the car." - -He sprang out, and swarmed up the nearest pole with an agility -surprising in a man of his venerable aspect. Before he was half way up, -however, the head of the column rounded the corner. - -"There's no help for it," said Pariset. "Here goes!" - -Next moment there was a sharp metallic crack. The car trembled. - -"Three horses down!" cried Pariset. "The rest are swinging in to the -side of the road. If Granger is quick--ah! he has done it. They are -not coming on again yet." - -Granger slid down the pole, jumped into the car, and again they were -off. - -"We shall have to cut it again in another mile or so," said Pariset. - -"If we don't meet the enemy before then," rejoined Granger. "Or we can -pretend we are chased by Belgians and dash through." - -But in less than a mile they found that the wires left the road and ran -across country. - -"We can't navigate fields of stubble," said Kenneth. "The only thing to -be done is to go ahead at full speed, and trust to luck. Let's hope -that before any message they send can take effect we shall have reached -that by-road. Where does it lead to?" - -"To Durbuy, I think," said Granger. "There's a bridge across the -Ourthe. The Germans may be there; they move so confoundedly fast; but -that's our only chance of reaching the Belgian lines." - -In a few minutes they reached the by-road to the left. It was narrow, -but, to Kenneth's joy, not so deeply rutted as the main road. He was -getting the utmost out of the car, which thundered along at forty miles -an hour, the engine knocking furiously whenever it was called upon to -breast an incline. - -For some distance they neither met nor passed any traffic. When at last -they overtook an empty farm cart, the driver had barely time or space to -draw into the side to avoid them. A few yards further on in rounding a -curve Kenneth saw a heavy motor transport wagon ahead, going in the same -direction. At the sound of the horn the driver looked round, and seeing -the armoured car manned apparently by Uhlans he drew in hastily to the -bank, no doubt supposing that it was engaged in urgent work. Kenneth -slowed down slightly to avoid a collision, scraped past, then raced on -as before. - -In less than half a minute afterwards he gave a cry of dismay. At the -foot of a short hill two heavily laden carts were drawn full across the -road. Kenneth jammed on the brakes, foot and hand; Granger, rendered -suspicious by the position of the carts and the absence of horses, stood -up and in a moment shouted to Pariset, his voice rising above the -groaning and shrieking of the mechanism. - -"Germans in bushes!" - -Pariset had seen them almost as soon as Granger. Before the car had -come to a standstill within a dozen yards of the obstruction, the -machine gun began to spit bullets in reply to the fusillade that rattled -on the armoured sides of the car and the shield of the gun. A few -seconds of brisk firing; then the deadly hail from the machine gun -crashing through the foliage into the ranks of the ambuscaders made -their position hopelessly untenable, and a remnant of the Horse -Grenadiers who had lain in hiding there fled helter skelter over the -adjacent fields. - -The three men sprang out of the car, and tried to drag the carts out of -the way. They failed to move them, and Granger discovered that they -were chained together. - -"A hammer!" he cried. - -But the hammer snatched from the toolbox proved useless. The links of -the chain had been flattened by some heavy instrument. After repeated -blows it was evident that the chain was unbreakable. - -"What on earth is to be done?" cried Kenneth, looking helplessly at the -carts, while Pariset and Granger kept on the watch for any sign of the -enemy returning. A shot from the machine gun would probably be -ineffective, even at short range; the bullet would hardly dent the -chain, much less shatter it and release the carts. - -At this critical moment the transport wagon which they had passed some -way back appeared on the crest of the hill behind them, and sounded its -horn. Kenneth had a flash of inspiration. - -"Look out for the Grenadiers, Remi," he cried. "There's no sign of -them, but they may come back. If they do, turn the gun on to them." - -"What are you going to do?" shouted Pariset, as Kenneth ran up the -incline towards the halted wagon. - -"Commandeer the wagon for a battering ram. There's apparently no -escort. Back the car well away to the right." - -Reaching the wagon, he said to the driver: - -"The rascally enemy has blocked the road, as you see. The carts there -are chained together. Get out, quickly!" - -The three infantrymen in the wagon were obviously amazed, not so much at -being ordered about by a Uhlan, as at the apparent purposelessness of -the command. They got out, however, and were still more astonished when -the masterful Uhlan mounted into their place, and after a glance at the -car below, released the brakes, let in the clutch, and sent the wagon -lumbering down the hill. For a few seconds, while the vehicle was -gathering speed, Kenneth steered straight; then, turning the wheel so as -to give a slight tendency to the left, he sprang off, fell sprawling, -jumped up and ran after the wagon, watching its course eagerly. - -On it thundered, every moment faster. Would it reach the foot of the -hill, or swerve into the bank on the left? On, and on--and then, at a -speed of twenty miles an hour, it struck the left-hand cart with a -terrific crash, and threw both cart and itself in a pile of wreckage up -the bank and into the field beyond. The chain connecting the carts had -snapped like rotten cord. - -[Illustration: CLEARING THE ROAD] - -"Bravo!" shouted the two men waiting beside the motor-car. - -Rushing forward, they helped Kenneth to draw the released cart to one -side, leaving a clear space between it and the wreckage. Then they -leapt into the car, waved their hands to the astonished motormen above, -and started forward towards Durbuy and safety. - -"We are all right now--unless the Germans are in greater force than I -believe," said Granger, taking a map from his pocket. "If we can cross -the river at Durbuy, we can run due west to Dinant, where we shall -probably find the Belgian, or maybe the French lines. Then we can swing -northwards, and get to headquarters somewhere between Tirlemont and -Brussels." - -A run of a few miles brought them within sight of the river winding away -to the east, and the little town--a mere village in point of size--of -Durbuy. But here they perceived with dismay that the course they had -planned was not feasible. Along the road between Barvaux and Durbuy a -large German force was on the march. Their leading companies were -already crossing the quaint old bridge, covered by troops of Hussars on -both banks. - -"Pull up," said Granger. "We shall have to go back and make a round. -News of us has no doubt been flashed by this time to every German force -in the neighbourhood." - -Kenneth was backing the car when Granger noticed signs of movement among -the cavalry on the near bank. A squadron formed up, faced towards the -slight hill, and started at a canter in the direction of the car. - -"There's no time to lose," cried Granger. "Reverse and turn round." - -But at that moment Kenneth observed, just ahead, a narrow road running -east for a few yards, then curving to the north. - -"Better try and cut across them," he said. "If we go back we may run -into another lot and be caught between two fires." - -"Very well. The road isn't marked on my map, but we'll chance it." - -Kenneth had already brought the gear lever from reverse to first. He -let in the clutch; the car started forward again, and before the -advancing horsemen were half way up the hill the fugitives swung round -into the by-road. When the Hussars reached the turning the car was two -or three hundred yards ahead and rounding the curve. - -"I'm afraid we've done for ourselves," said Kenneth ruefully. "The road -is awful." - -It was indeed scarred with deep ruts, almost like the furrows in a -ploughed field, and thick with mud from the recent rain. The car swayed -violently, jumping in and out of the ruts. In spite of its powerful -build, Kenneth doubted whether the axles and springs would stand the -strain. The wheels, moreover, sank so deep into the mud that the speed -of the car fell away to what seemed to the occupants little more than a -crawl. - -The Hussars were galloping hotly after them. Some were deploying across -the open fields on both sides of the road, to gain time at the windings -of the latter. The distance between car and horsemen was steadily -lessening; it seemed that for once muscle was about to conquer -mechanism. - -Kenneth was wholly occupied with the steering of the car. Pariset kept -his eyes fixed on the pursuers. They were about fifty in number, at a -distance no match for the machine gun, but if they were allowed to close -up, especially if they got ahead, the occupants of the car would be at -their mercy in the event of any sudden check. He watched for a -favourable moment for bringing the gun into play. - -After innumerable short windings the road ran straight for a -considerable distance. The leading horsemen, now within a hundred yards -of the car, began to fire as they rode. Pariset instantly replied, -working the gun in a long arc from left to right. It was not for -nothing that the German staff had made the machine gun one of the -predominant features of their armament. Under the pitiless hail of -bullets horses and men went down like grass under the scythe. The -Hussars behind slowed down, allowing the car to increase its lead, but -still keeping it in view, hoping no doubt that an accident, an obstacle, -a piece of clumsy steering, would bring its career to an end. They might -then close upon it and surround it without having to face that terrible -machine gun again. Pariset, for his part, anxious not to attract the -attention of any enemies who might be ahead, ceased fire as soon as the -pursuit slackened. - -Their direction was towards Liége. Now and then they caught sight of -the Ourthe, winding below them on their left, but there was no sign of a -bridge. Mile after mile passed. The road was a continual up and down; -on each side was a variegated landscape of meadows, richly wooded slopes -and frowning cliffs. The sight of the railway crossing the river -reminded Kenneth that they were approaching the scene of their exploit; -but Pariset had no eyes for anything but the helmets of the Uhlans -bobbing up and down on the road far behind. - -Presently they dashed past a battalion of infantry marching in the same -direction. The men all looked dead tired, and took little or no notice -of the car as it passed at increased speed. A few minutes later they -skirted the chateau of Hamoir, then ascended a steep hill, the engine -knocking alarmingly, and rushing through the village of Louveigne -suddenly came in sight of an immense military encampment. Far to left -and right of the road stretched the lines of the Germans encircling -Liége. Tents, carts, caissons, batteries of artillery, men on horse and -on foot extended as far as the eye could reach. - -But there was no sign of active operations. Troops were drilling on -open spaces, practising the ridiculous goose-step; men off duty were -strolling about. Smoke ascended from innumerable travelling kitchens. -Horsemen were riding this way and that: a motor cyclist was dashing away -to the east. - -When this spectacle flashed upon the view, Kenneth slowed down. His -face was pale. - -"Push through and trust to luck?" he said to Granger at his side. - -"There's nothing else for it, with pursuers hot on our track," replied -Granger. "Speed about ten miles, but be ready to let her out." - -They went on. Curious glances were thrown at them by troops of cavalry -off-saddled by the roadside. Uhlans in an armoured car! They must be -on special service. With his heart in his mouth Kenneth followed the -road for a full mile through the lines. The country became clearer of -men as they proceeded, but as Kenneth was again increasing speed he -noticed a strong force of infantry posted ahead of them at some distance -to the right of the road. - -"They are supports," said Pariset. "We shall find a battery ahead." - -In less than two miles they came to a number of ammunition and transport -wagons, parked in the rear of a battery of six guns. A patrol on the -road signalled to them to halt. Kenneth pulled up, but before the -sergeant could address him, he asked urgently: - -"Where is the commandant? Quick! I haven't a minute to lose." - -The man pointed to a spot about half a mile in front. Kenneth, without -waiting for more, opened out, and the car quickly gained speed. - -"It's touch and go now," he said, almost in a whisper. - -"The guns are unlimbered for action," said Pariset. "If we pass they'll -know we are enemies." - -"Nothing else for it," replied Kenneth, setting his teeth. "We must -trust to our speed. Keep a look-out, Granger." - -Thenceforth he concentrated all his attention upon the car. It sped on, -crossed a small bridge over a rivulet, and swept up a short hill on the -near side of which six guns were emplaced. - -"Eight inchers," murmured Granger. He had his eye fixed on the officer -who had been pointed out as the commandant, and who, at this moment, was -listening at the receiver of a field telephone. As the car approached -he dropped the receiver and gave an order. The soldier next him ran -towards the guns, shouting to the artillerymen, who appeared to be -laying their weapons. - -"The game is up!" said Granger. "He's had word of us. Press her, -Amory." - -Kenneth opened the throttle to the utmost, and the car leapt forward -like a living thing. It dashed past the commandant, past the group of -gunners, topped the rise, and thundered down the slope beyond. A few -revolver shots rattled on the armour. - -"We're safe for a little, while they alter the range," said Granger, -assuring himself at a glance that no one had been hit. - -The car was now running at a furious pace, the road having recently been -repaired, no doubt for the easier passage of the guns. Kenneth knew -that he was directly in the line of fire of the battery. On his left -wound the Ourthe, with the railway almost parallel with it beyond; and -as the car rushed between two clumps of woodland Pariset called over his -shoulder that he had just caught sight of Fort de Boncelles, two or -three miles to the west, and Fort d'Embourg a little nearer to the east. - -"Which shall we make for?" gasped Kenneth. - -"Boncelles," replied Granger. "It is nearer the French lines. We can -cross by the iron bridge just below Tilff." - -On they went. Second after second passed; a minute, two minutes. They -swept round to the left towards the bridge. There was still no shot -from the guns. - -"They were trained on Boncelles," said Granger. "We are too near them -still." - -He had scarcely spoken when there was a moaning in the air, followed -instantly by a roar and crash, and a thick cloud of black smoke sprang -up some four hundred yards to the right. They all crouched low in the -car, which dashed across the throbbing bridge at forty miles an hour. -Another shell plunged into the river, a third struck the road a few -yards behind them, as they entered the railway arch, bespattering them -with earth. No sooner had they emerged on the other side than still -another shell burst ahead of them, in the field beside the road. They -all caught their breath: if it had fallen a few yards to the right, it -would have dug a hole large enough to engulf the car. - -Shells now began to explode, as it seemed, all around them. The sky was -darkened by the smoke, poisonous fumes almost choked them. Only the -great speed of the car and the slight changes in its direction due to -the windings of the road preserved them from annihilation. The thought -that flashed through Pariset's mind was that if the Germans had used -shrapnel instead of shell they must almost certainly have been -destroyed, for he could not doubt that the whole battery was now playing -upon them. - -With shells hurtling around at intervals of a few seconds Kenneth, so -intent upon his work as to be scarcely conscious of them, steered the -car up the road, taking the curves at a pace that would have made his -hair stand on end at less critical times. It almost seemed that he and -his companions had charmed lives. At moments, as the road wound, the -fort came in sight beyond the ruined village--burnt by the Belgians to -clear their line of fire. Would they reach it in safety? The nearer -they approached it, the greater their danger. The gunners had the range -of the fort; a shell falling short even by a few yards might strike the -car at the very moment when escape seemed sure. - -"Only half a mile more!" Pariset said, in a hoarse whisper from his -parched lips. - -Two seconds afterwards there was a stunning report and a blinding flash, -apparently from beneath the car. It spun round and round like a -teetotum, then fell over to one side with a crash. - -For a few moments the three men were too much shaken to move. In the -consciousness of them all those moments were a blank. They lay on the -roadside where they had been thrown, like dead men. Then they realised -with a shock of surprise that they were alive. Pariset was up first. -Before he had time to stagger to the others, Kenneth sprang to his feet. -Granger moved more slowly, and when he too stood erect, it was seen that -his false beard was gone. - -"I feel cold," he said, touching his chin, and smiling, though he was -pale as death. - -They glanced at the car. The off front wheel had disappeared; the off -hind wheel was buckled; the bonnet and radiator were a mass of twisted -iron. It was a complete wreck. - -A shell bursting little more than a hundred yards away warned them to be -gone, and they started to run towards the fort. - -"Hellwig!" exclaimed Kenneth suddenly. - -They ran back. The spy, the man whom the Kaiser delighted to honour, -lay huddled in the bottom of the car, under the machine gun. It had -broken his neck. - -"Poor devil!" murmured Granger. - -They turned hastily, and ran on silently, each thinking his own -thoughts. Pariset was the least concerned at Hellwig's fate. To him -Hellwig was merely a German and a spy, who had met with his deserts. -Granger, whatever his private animus against Hellwig, could not but -remember that they were members of one profession, who faced the same -perils and might suffer the same end. Kenneth was the most deeply -affected. He had disliked Hellwig, and had the average Englishman's -contempt and hatred of spying. It was the one thing that alloyed his -liking for Granger. But, as he said to Pariset afterwards: - -"If there must be spying, and I suppose there must, it is something to -spy like a gentleman, and that I am sure Granger does." - -The three men came to the glacis. A roar startled them and made them -duck instinctively. The fort had opened fire on the German battery. -They raced up, past empty trenches, still followed by shell; but they -now presented an inconspicuous mark to the gunners more than three miles -distant. It was a long uphill climb, but they panted on towards the -door of safety. - -Was it safety? Their way across the moat was barred by a group of -Belgian engineers with rifles, amazed at the appearance of two men in -Uhlan uniform. Pariset held up his hands. - -"Lieutenant Montoisy!" he shouted. "Is he here?" - -The men lowered their rifles and advanced. Pariset hastened to meet -them. - -"We are friends," he said. "Tell Lieutenant Montoisy that Lieutenant -Pariset is here." - -One of the men ran back. A shell burst on the wall some distance to the -right. - -"Come inside, messieurs," said another of the men. - -And as they entered, Lieutenant Montoisy, the second in command, a -begrimed haggard figure, met them. - -"Pariset!" he exclaimed. "You were in the car? Mon Dieu! You have had -an escape! Come in: what is the meaning of it?" - - - - -CHAPTER XIX--'A LONG, LONG WAY----' - - -No sooner had the fugitives entered the fort than Kenneth collapsed. The -tension of the last two days, the terrific strain of controlling the -armoured car, and the concussion of the final shock, had been too heavy -a tax upon his nervous system. Pariset was in little better condition. -Granger, an older man, of settled constitution, was less affected than -the others, and he was able to assist the surgeon of the fort in tending -upon his friends. - -Much to their surprise, the interior of the fort was quiet and peaceful. -The German batteries had ceased fire, the fort guns were silent. -Lieutenant Montoisy explained that during the past few days there had -been no attack. The enemy's infantry, shattered by fire from the -trenches in their frontal assaults, had retired. The bombardment had -been feeble. - -"We can hold out for weeks," said the lieutenant. - -"Don't buoy yourself with false hopes," said Granger. "The Germans are -only waiting until they bring up their great guns. There are several -monsters of 42 centimetre calibre on their way. They will bring them -through Liége; as soon as they can place them the fort will be shivered -to atoms." - -"Bah! Our cupolas will stand anything. Besides, no one has ever heard -of these great guns. They are probably a myth, invented to frighten -us." - -"These gentlemen know better than that," Granger returned. "You had -better tell what you saw, Amory." - -Kenneth related the incident near Erkelenz. - -"Unluckily we only destroyed the parts of one gun," he concluded. "The -block on the road had evidently caused them to send on the others by -another route." - -Lieutenant Montoisy was still sceptical of the effect these guns could -produce. He led the three men round the fort. It was triangular in -shape, with guns in disappearing turrets at each corner. In the centre -was a steel turret armed with two 6-inch howitzers, enclosed in a square -with four similar turrets carrying 5-inch quick-firing guns. The turrets -were embedded in a solid block of concrete, and here and there were -machine guns and searchlight apparatus. The heaviest guns were mounted -on a steel cupola, capable of being raised and lowered. Impressed by the -immense strength of the defences, the Englishmen began to share -Montoisy's confidence in their power to withstand bombardment even by -the heaviest artillery. - -"Why aren't our men in the trenches?" asked Pariset. - -"They were ordered to withdraw several days ago," replied Montoisy. "You -see, we had only 40,000 men to defend a circuit of thirty-three -miles--impossible against a quarter of a million Germans. But we have -taught them a lesson. We have cut whole regiments to pieces. Our -gallant Garde Civique made a bayonet charge the other day that sent them -helter-skelter just beyond Boncelles yonder. No one will ever again -regard the bosches as invincible." - -Bit by bit he drew from Pariset the story of his adventures, and when it -spread among the garrison, the two young men found themselves regarded -as heroes by all, from the commandant downwards. - -Their future movements were discussed. It was decided that they should -remain in the fort for a few days until they had recovered their -strength, and then make their way westward if possible to the Belgian -lines. Granger determined to leave at once. Expert in disguises, he -transformed himself into a Belgian peasant, and waited for nightfall to -steal away towards Liége. - -"We may meet again; we may not," he said, as he shook hands. "I hope we -may. It will be a long war. We shall win. And if we three lose our -lives--well, who was it said that death is the portal to the life -Elysian? But I won't moralise. We'll stick it out. Good-bye!" and -smiling serenely he went out into the night. - -Pariset was eager to know what was happening in other parts of the vast -battlefield, and in particular whether anything had been heard of -General Leman. Montoisy explained that, the telephone communications -having recently been smashed, the fort was cut off as completely as if -it were a desolate island in the midst of an ocean. - -Next evening, about six o'clock, two shrapnel shells burst harmlessly -over the fort. A few minutes later an acute buzzing was heard in the -air, then there was a thunderous roar, the whole place trembled, and the -outer slope of the fort was smothered in a cloud of stones, dust, and -black smoke. Montoisy looked grave, and hurried to the arcade under -which the commandant was sheltering. As he stood talking with him, a -shell which, judging from its size, weighed nearly a ton burst near by, -bringing down a shower of shattered masonry, and wounding the -commandant. - -"Close the cupola," he signalled. "Every man take shelter." - -Montoisy tried in vain to locate the enormous guns which had started on -their fell work. They could not be seen. To fire at them was -impossible. That they had so soon been got into position seemed to show -that their concrete emplacements had been prepared long before. - -For two hours the helpless garrison crouched in their shelters, hearing -the roar of the guns, the crashing of masonry and the splintering of -steel, almost choked by the noisome gases emitted by the bursting -shells. The smashing of the dynamo plunged them into pitch darkness; -and all the while, outside, the western sky glowed with the rich hues of -a peaceful sunset. - -At eight o'clock the bombardment ceased, and the Belgians, venturing -forth from their subterranean lairs, looked out upon a scene of -devastation. The slopes and counterslopes were a chaos of rubbish: it -was as if an earthquake had shaken the foundations of the globe. Great -chasms yawned; tongues of flame shot up from where one of the cupolas -had been; shapeless shreds of armour plate lay amid jagged masses of -masonry and heaps of stones. No trace of the guns was to be seen. - -Far down the slope two German officers were advancing under a white -flag. Coming within hailing distance they called on the garrison to -surrender. - -"You have seen what our guns can do," said one of them in French. "You -have been struck by 278 shells; you cannot reply; and we have still more -colossal guns in reserve. Surrender, or you will be annihilated." - -The commandant, wounded as he was, half choked by the foul gases that -still clung about the place, stepped forward and gave his answer. - -"Honour forbids us to surrender: we shall resist to the end." - -The garrison waved their caps and cheered. A nation whose stricken -soldiers showed such a spirit could never be quelled, thought Kenneth. -The Germans laughed and withdrew. In half an hour the bombardment -recommenced, this time from two directions. The men in their galleries -listened helplessly to the destruction of their world. - -Darkness fell, and except for an occasional shot the bombardment ceased. -The commandant sent for Pariset. - -"It is useless," he said wearily. "Their shells will pierce the -galleries to-morrow. One of my men has already had his hand blown off; -others are seriously wounded. To-night I shall flood the magazines and -break all the rifles and guns; in the morning I must surrender. But you -and your friend are not of my garrison: there is work for you outside; -why should you be carried prisoners to Germany? Slip out in the -darkness. There are no infantry around the fort. I can provide you -with civilian dress. It will be dangerous to attempt to get into Liége. -Make for Seraing, cross the river there, and slip between the Flemalle -and Hollogne forts towards Brussels. And tell General Wonters that we -held out until resistance was hopeless." - -Towards midnight the two friends in peasant costume slipped out of the -rear of the fort, and taking the stars as their guide trudged through -the fields and woods and up the hill into the deserted streets of -Seraing. The great iron-foundries were silent; no glare from the -furnaces lit the sky. - -"Belgium is paying a heavy price," thought Kenneth. - -They crossed the silent bridge in the moonlight, crossed the Namur road -and the railway beyond, and had just reached the road leading through -Waremme and Louvain to Brussels when the sound of voices on their right -caused them to shrink back behind a hedge. Peering out they saw a -patrol of some twenty-five Uhlans riding past at a foot pace. - -"We shall have to go across the fields," whispered Pariset, when the -horsemen had gone by. "We dare not pass them. This means a general -advance to-morrow. The bosches lose no time." - -They struck across the fields to the south of their true course, and -plodded on, more or less at a venture. Turning by and by into a lane, -they almost collided with a cyclist, who, swerving to avoid them, -skidded on the wet track, and fell to the ground. The sinking moon shed -just enough light for them to distinguish a French uniform, and they ran -forward to assist the fallen man, Pariset speaking to him in French. - -"Ah! You are French?" said the cyclist, springing to his feet and -raising his bicycle. - -"Belgian and English, monsieur," Pariset answered. "You are a scout?" - -"Yes; a troop of Chasseurs are a mile or two south. Have you seen -anything of the enemy?" - -"A number of Uhlans are riding up the Waremme road." - -"How many?" - -"Twenty-five or so." - -"Are they riding fast?" - -"No; at a walking pace." - -"Then we will capture them. I will ride on to the road and keep my eye -on them. You hurry along the lane and tell our men to hurry. There is -no time to be lost." - -Willing enough to do something, even at this last moment, for the common -cause, Kenneth and Pariset hurried along the lane. In the course of a -quarter of an hour they met the Chasseurs. Pariset gave the message, -and on explaining that he was a Belgian officer and knew the country -well was invited to mount behind the captain and act as guide. Kenneth -sprang up behind a trooper, and they set off at a trot, riding across -the fields in order not to be heard. - -Presently they heard, in the distance, a revolver shot. Immediately -afterwards came the crack of carbines. Quickening their pace, they -galloped in the direction of the sounds, expecting to find that the -scout had been killed. - -At Pariset's instructions, they rode in a north-westerly direction, so -as to strike the Waremme road some miles west of the spot where he and -Kenneth had seen the Uhlans. The firing continued; the sound of the -single revolver was clearly distinguishable from the reports of the -carbines. Wondering what was happening, they came suddenly upon a -remarkable scene. - -Dawn was stealing over the country. At a turn of the road, the cyclist -was standing behind a tree, resting his revolver against the trunk. No -one was in sight at the moment, but just as the Chasseurs, who had now -reduced their pace to a walk, came up behind the cyclist, he fired his -revolver at a Uhlan who had edged round the corner. - -The Chasseur captain took in the situation at a glance. Whispering to -Pariset and Kenneth to get down, he gave his men the order to charge. -With a wild cry they dashed forward, swept round the bend, and fell upon -the Uhlans, grouped indecisively at the side of the road. There was a -brisk fight, lasting half a minute. Ten of the Uhlans were killed or -wounded, the rest flung down their arms and surrendered. - -"Many thanks, messieurs," the cyclist was saying to Pariset and Kenneth. -"I was afraid they would not be up in time. But they are a timid lot, -these bosches." - -It appeared that, not content with merely watching the Uhlans, he had -conceived the bold notion of holding them up until the Chasseurs -arrived. - -The Chasseurs returned with their prisoners towards their own lines. The -captain had invited Pariset to accompany them, but Pariset decided, -tired though he was, to continue his course towards Brussels. With -Kenneth, he plodded along the road, and an hour later they were -challenged by Belgian outposts at Waremme. They were too fatigued to -enter into explanations at once, and sought shelter in a cottage, where -they slept until the sun was high. And when they awoke and went into -the village street, they found the people streaming westward, in carts, -on foot, carrying what they could of their household gear. Fort -Boncelles had surrendered. - -Seeking the colonel of the nearest regiment, they told him what they had -seen in the fort. He had just heard by telephone that Fort Loncin also -had surrendered that morning, and General Leman was a prisoner. - -They begged a lift in a farmer's cart, and in the evening reached -Brussels, where they found an asylum with a friend of Pariset's. There -they remained for a few days, recuperating after the strain which, -scarcely noticed while they were in action, had told heavily upon them -both. Every day they heard of fresh advances of the Teuton hordes, of -gallant deeds by the sorely tried little army of Belgium. Every day -they saw pallid, nerve-shaken, wounded refugees flocking in from -Tirlemont and other places desolated by German shot and shell. - -Pariset was much depressed. - -"We shall cease to exist," he said one day. "The brutes will destroy us -all. They are ruthless. They are fiends. What have we done that we -should suffer so?" - -"Cheer up, old man," said Kenneth. "Look here! 'Gallant little -Belgium!'" He pointed to the headline of an article in an English -newspaper. "You might have chosen the easy course; you didn't, and the -whole world admires you." - -"But that won't save us." - -"No, but you've saved France. You've thrown the German war machine out -of gear, and I bet you you've smashed their chances. Lord Kitchener is -raising a great army. The Kaiser scoffs at our men; he'll sing a -different tune some day. I'm going home, Remi, going to join -Kitchener's army. Sorry to leave you, old man, but we'll meet again, -never fear, perhaps soon, perhaps not until British, French and Belgians -meet the Russians in Berlin. And when the war is over, you may be sure -that gallant little Belgium will rise like the phoenix, and grow -stronger and more prosperous than ever." - - ---- - -Four days later Kenneth was in London. He found awaiting him at home a -bulky envelope addressed in a strange hand, the postmark Amsterdam. -Opening it, he took out two letters, dated a week back, and posted in -Königsborn. One was in the handwriting of Max Finkelstein, the other in -the large round hand of Frieda. - - "I hope this will reach you," the former wrote. "I am sending - it through my friend Vandermond. After a few days' detention as - a spy, I was released for want of evidence, and as business is - absolutely dead, we have come to Königsborn, where we shall - rusticate and pinch until this dreadful war is over. We hear - all sorts of tales, and the credence paid them by otherwise - intelligent people makes me think that we as a nation have a - good deal to learn. One extraordinary story, by the way, will - amuse you. It was rumoured in Cologne that a French airman had - run off with one of our Taubes, a feat which you, knowing - Cologne, will recognise as impossible. I believe it as little - as I believe that the Irish are in revolt. - - "I am glad for our sake that recruiting is a failure in England. - People here are very bitter against the English, but I explain - that you have been hoodwinked by those awful Russians. Your - statesmen are so easily taken in. After the war your people - will admit it. - - "Keep the London business together as well as you can. Next - year I dare say I shall settle in London myself, and nothing - shall interfere with our plans for a partnership. Write to me - if you can." - - ---- - -"Poor old Max!" thought Kenneth. "Of course, like all Germans, he -thinks they will win: professors and the General Staff have drummed that -into their foolish heads. He'll have a shock when I tell him I have -joined the army. Now for Frieda." - - ---- - -"Was it you?" he read. "I daren't suggest it to Father; he scoffs at -the mere idea that any one could do so audacious a thing. But when you -didn't come back for your luggage I was anxious and went down to the -station, and the stationmaster told me that you had gone away with your -ticket and hadn't come for your seat that he had engaged for you, and -when I heard the rumour about the French airman I couldn't help thinking -it was just the mad sort of thing you would delight in. Do tell me if I -am right. - -"This is a terrible war, isn't it? What is the good of you English -fighting? Father says your army is too small to do anything, and you -can't get recruits because all your young men want to play football. I -am so sorry for you. Father says you will give it up when we take -Paris, and then you will have to give us some of your colonies. You -have so many that I am sure you can spare some. - -"We shall very likely come to London next year, Father says. We shall -always be friends, you and I, shan't we? - -"We haven't seen anything of Kurt Hellwig lately. You don't think I -grieve?" - - ---- - -"It's amazing!" said Kenneth to himself. "I thought Frieda would have -known better. She would laugh, I suppose, if I told her that I am -likely to be in Berlin before she comes to London." - -But Kenneth Amory was to go through many adventures, before he met Remi -Pariset in Berlin. - - - - - PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED, - BRUNSWICK ST., STAMFORD ST., S.E., AND BUNGAY, SUFFOLK. - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A HERO OF LIÉGE *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/39150 - -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. 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