The Dispatch-Riders

tism

front of the orderly-room of Fort de Barchon. Already the bulk of the regiments had marched out

heavy boots and brown gaiters, and had been armed with a Belgian servi

ad also been subjected to a critical inspection. The officer-who in civil life had been in the motor industry at Liége-had to report, in spite of slight pro

y-room, where they received instructions and d

ngton," shouted the orderly-room sergeant

, as befitting their relative rank, t

a Barre would pay no heed to my request, it is necessary for strategic reasons to occupy her house. You may now have an opportunity of seeing your sister, Monsieur Everest. There are, I believe, only our pupils there during the holidays. Captain Leboeuf will arrange for them to be sent into Maastric

"The Germans have already

g over the drawbridge, bound on their first duty as dispatch-r

artillery fire. Beyond the woods of Verviers a thick

é, but between it and the ditch on either hand was a dusty path which afforded good going. The cyclists were s

the cart was covered with straw, and on the straw lay some strange objects. The lads di

proaching. Thrice the lads sounded their horn

! Look!" ejac

ck, and his head falling limply upon the other's shoulder. Another, his head

n action alread

ded his companion. "Let's push

was terrific firing in the direction of Argenteau. More, there were heavy Belgian loss

e. Barricades had been hastily constructed, walls of buildings

lte

onet within a couple of inches of his chest. Kenneth, who

" demanded

Captain Leboeuf,

ecovered

compelled to fall back in the face of superior numbers. Turn to the right, t

t the route was still open, although soldiers and p

ched the firing-line-a comparatively weak detachmen

mlessly in the rear. On the left the great guns of Fort de Pontisse were shell

five yards from the spot where Kenneth dismounted,

d Rollo to place his steed in a place of comparative safety, he retu

e done now?"

men. We must hasten: it will be

along the ditch, which fortunately ran with considerable ob

irable cover, were replying steadily to the hail of ill-directed rifle b

oeuf, sir," announced Kenneth. "He

euse. But we are about to retire, so look to yourselves. The enemy is threatening

before we return t

s there. Tell the officer in command that I am retiring, and that unless h

a faint shriek. His hands flew to his c

r-sergeant insta

d. "Steady, men, no hurry. Keep

o retire, men broke and ran for their lives. Heedless of the cover afforded by the ditch, they swarmed along the road in the direction of A

close formation, were no

d placing them at intervals along the top of the mound; while the rest, including Kenneth and Rollo, who had

" said the veteran at length. "

avy knapsack. He was about to make a plunge through

er along," he announce

en, communicated the

braves," excla

ned the comparative shelter afforded by the walls of a ruined cottage. Proo

fairly safe. Those fellows are apparently directing their f

e and tearing along the avenue, which here and there was dotted with dea

nger to be seen, but a hoarse cry of "A moi, camarades!" caused Rollo to turn. He alone caught the ap

ware of the call, was out of ear-shot, and

ng overhead. He crouched as he hastened, for he had not yet acquired the contempt for the screech of a bulle

old sergeant. A fragment of shrapnel, rebounding

he sergeant's body, Rollo lifted him from the ground, then kneeling, he managed to transfer him across his back. Fortunately the wo

tor-bike. Kenneth, having discovered that his

Rollo, as he set his burden across t

cycle for a few yards, steadied the wounded sergeant,

let go!" s

the lad's power of command on the steering. The zipp of a bullet did much to add to the diff

tunately understood and obeyed; the motor-cycle began to recover its balance, and as

a wheel; the pace was terrific, and although the wounded man m

and the road was no longer encumbered with the fallen. Five minu

ng the cycles over the barrier. As they did so one of them pointed to on

going to?" de

a half-company of the 9th

to Fort de Barchon and say that if need be we can still

the badly-mauled regiment to fall back upon the lines of defence prepared bet

omplete his dispositions. They were yet to learn that even the much-va

Kenneth, as at the end of their first day on active ser

g of the bullet hole in the pannier of