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