The Dispatch-Riders
li
ns of her establishment do not permit her pupils to receive visits except du
nced at his
be done now
's message. Say it's ver
walls was almost blinding. The pavé seemed to throw out a stifling heat. The village street was practically deserted, but in the neighbouring fields a row of peasant women were bending
e down the street. The animals, their tongues protruding and their sides heaving with the heat, were moving at a leisurely pace. The man made no attempt to hurry them. He was smiling contentedly, and called out a chee
e maid-serva
eps to safeguard her pupils. If Mademoiselle Résimont is to be sent to her home at Brussels, no doubt Monsieur the Major will communicate
atum, the maid shut the doo
enneth. "Let's get back to Lié
the heat. They were on foot, having placed th
s was in possession. The men, discarding their heavy greatcoats, were busily engaged in throwing up ea
ithin a couple of inches of Rollo's chest br
ont had provided them was sufficient, and without
way they found that their bel
e two lads. "It was not my fault, I assure you. It is the order of
r motor
a fact. Nevertheless, t
ey taken to?"
on, monsieur. It left in the directi
lo. "It's daylight robbery. I believe that r
ign of a transport wagon. Troops there were in plenty, all carrying entrenching tools in addition to arms. Yet, in spite of these warlike movements, the women were toiling unconcernedly in the fi
tanding outside an inn was an army wagon, and under its tilt, in
to be done?
we can," suggested Kenneth. "The soldiers in
uld hopelessly damage the bikes getting them off the wago
nder the orders of his lieutenant, and that he must account for all the articles on his list upon his return to Liége.
ps they would like to ride on the wagon. At Li
hout delay. A sapper drove, the corporal sitting beside him on the box seat. On the tail-board, with
age of Jupille there came a dull ru
exclaime
think," decl
questioned, merely remarke
g up the bridg
destroyed four bridges across the Meuse in order to delay the momentarily expected German advanc
nd of cheering could be heard from the city of Liége. Presently the strains of "
began to gr
d. "We are now ready for these Prussi
marched well, although covered with dust from head to foot; for during the previous forty-eight hours they had, by forced marches, covered more than eighty miles from Diest to their allotted positi
St. Jacques. The square was crowded with all kinds of military transport and commissariat wagons. Of
de, without any of the officers approaching to give him further directions. The crowd of wagons became more congested, till Kenneth and
nd's shoulder and pointed in the
!" he exclaimed. "He'll
lty again, that I can see," declared the
bed the commandeering
on on his face did not belie this statement. "Nevertheless, come
is were shouting and cheering, cries of "Vive la Belgique!" and "Vive l'Angleterre!" predominating. Outside a large building a Union Jack and the
bout. My friends, the Germans are also now your enemies," and he shook Kenneth
nneth; then on the spur of the moment he added: "Couldn'
to his chum and a desire to do something against the oppr
to see such a spirit amongst Englishmen to come t
stoutly; and Rollo likewise
, Major Résimont soon obtained the requisite orde
way!" he
ers in the uniform of the Grenadiers. These stood stiffly at attention as the Major entered, drawing th
oom, with at least a dozen other officers, mostly of brevet rank. At l
a junior officer, as he opened the door and motioned
ght. His features were sallow, one might almost say cadaverous, with a bright tinge of red upon his prominent cheek-bones. Heavily-bushed eyebrows overhung
tically unknown outside his own country, was soon to be on the lips of every
hand-he was a man of few words-was the signal
egan the Major. "They are desirous of enteri
ay the General asked:
lo both replied
ary, he added: "Make out an order for these gentlemen to be
please
uring which the secretary had been writing as hard as he possibly could. "
minutes. Not a word of thanks or encouragement to the two
has to earn praise from the General before it is bestowed: it is our General's way. He is a man of few words, but his heart is in
and the two lads hastened to take
h most people have been talking about it for years. Perhaps even now our fleet is giving the Germans a good hi
ared war, was premature. An ultimatum had been sent to Berlin stating that, unless Belgian neutrality were respected, hostilities would comm
ity of Liége, Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington were enlisted as volu