The Dispatch-Riders

in A

your sister, old

ides, Madame de la Barre doubtless dropped a little of her standoffishness directly she heard the sound

jolly sight more anxious about h

for Madame to give her permission to clear out, and, since Yvonne is her special friend, she'll look

bit anxious,"

, I admit that it was a bit of a risk, for we might have been

rom their fruitless errand. It was late in the day, and many hours had elapsed since they had had anyth

rts as a prelude to the general bombardment that was to

nces; but, owing to the difficulty of transporting his heavy guns, the German commander decided to open a furiou

stile fire being directed upon Forts d'évegnée and de Flé

-proof galleries of the forts, were for the time being inactive. The Belgian gunners, however, worked their guns in the armo

tonations of the exploding German shells, although they were, like the rest of the infantry, in ignorance of what

llowed by excited shouts of "Aux armes!" Instantly there was a

xclaimed Kenneth. "We ma

e magazine was charged, he dashed out of the

punctuated by the rapid flashes from the heavy ordnance. The thunder of the guns was ear-splitting, the crash of the

o open fire at the word of command. Beyond the turf of the glacis, where almost every blade of grass stood up under the s

e distinguished the harsh voices of the men as they sang "Deutschland über Alles" and the "Wacht a

ful of Belgians was sealed; but von Emmich had, like many ano

but other men were instantly forthcoming to fill up the gaps. On and on they came till they reached the outer edge o

firing steadily, swept away hundreds of their Teutonic foes, bu

e hip, let loose a terrific volley. The air was torn by the zipp of the bullets, but for the most part the hail of missiles either flew high or harmlessly expended itself in the soft earth. Now, in spite of the withering fire, the foremost of the

rt the line of attack-the two British lads could clearly see the features of the exult

it seemed imminent that bayonet would cross bayonet, and that t

nd sevens, but in scores and hundreds, till a barricade of dead prevented the massacre of the living. The Be

hance. The rattle of the Berthier machine-guns ceased as

glacis and threw themselves upon the demoralize

long with their Belgian comrades, Kenneth with rifle and bayonet, while Rollo wa

had arrested the fatal stroke upon the latter crying out for quarter. The German, who had been beaten to

hit in the ankle, and Kenneth, who was fo

h. He stopped, and to his great relief Kenneth regained his feet. The Belgian also at

ttention to the wounded Belgian officer, when he saw the German major steal

t he held a clubbed rifle in his hand the lad took a flying kick; his boot caught the German

er Rollo swung the butt of his r

der. He could scarcely credit his senses, seeing the usually delibera

ad given him quarter," hissed Rollo: "that captain

an troops were now being recalled. The attack had been repulsed, bu

an to rise. The Major apparently did not un

ly," exclaimed

or in surprise. His appeals f

he said in th

elgians, many of whom were limping or nursing their wounded arms. Others were supporting or carrying those of their comrades w

arge of a corporal and a file of men. It was well for the German that his captors refrained from

e German Government that only the French and Belgian colonies should be annexed, and that no permanent occupation of these two countries was contemplated. And now he had been informed that Great Britain and her vast empire beyond the seas had fallen into line to aid ri

d Major Résimont. "That should not be. Dis

and Roll

neth. "When the men charged we si

hold them in front of the Liége forts for a few days, and then the French and the English armies will be here. A matter of three days, perha