The Dispatch-Riders

ling

trusted us with, sir," said Kenneth. "We

filled with terrible stories brought by the peasants who escaped. I could, alas! gather no definite tidings of my daughter or of her friend your sister, Mon

he futile assault, was now being renewed, although the fire lacked t

rheated. Moreover-a further proof of German methods-the ordnance supplied by Krupp's to the Belgian Government

ng to the fact that he had been for seventeen hours on duty in the trenches or in the fort; worried by reason of anxiety for his daug

s au revoir. "Remember what I said the next time there is an attack: a dispatch-rider's duty is

remarked Kenneth, after the Major had gone. "I vote we turn

my share of sleep," agreed Rollo. "

of the gallery was thrown open,

Are there any disp

replied the l

Belgian-a staff officer. "Do you know the headqu

" was agai

eurus at all costs, and await his commands. Your comrade will accompany you, so that should you me

eth, as the two chums made their way to the place where their motor-cycles were st

llo. "We'll have a difficulty to dodge those sh

declared Kenneth optimistically, as he hurriedly ove

deep holes in several places, while at various points the effect of the German projectiles was evident by the fact that the approach to the fort was choked by landsli

sappearing with the regularity of clockwork, sending out their iron hail upon the pontoons whi

d Rollo as they rea

ar the thunder of the guns: it was drowned by the roar of their exhausts. The wind shrieked past their ears, grit flew in showers, a cloud of dust followed in their wake. Suddenly they saw a large silvery-grey object swoop down about a quarter of a mile ahead,

from making a nose-end dive to earth. With superb presence of mind he managed to r

Kenneth dismounted and placed his mo

d as his companion unfaste

," declared Kenneth resolut

he dis

re already setting things to rights. Before any of the

e monoplane were feverishly tackling the work of making good the damage. One of the wires actuating the elevating gear h

aviators and levelling his revolver. Rollo, cooler than his compan

ads. At the sound of Kenneth's voice he had just completed the joining up of the severed

ave been so chivalrous, for the next instant a bullet tore through his hair and sent his cap a couple of yards away. T

enneth was snug behind a rise in the ground. Rollo,

a terrific buzz. The draught of the propeller threw up a cloud of dust as high as a three-storied house. Throu

ne the less disastrous to the Taube. There was a blinding flash, a report, and a rush of air that drove the

s face, was stumbling blindly away from the inferno, his clothes burning furiou

him up, and began to heap handfuls of dust upon his burning clothing. By Kenneth's aid

ounded, one of the heavy revolver bullets ha

, as the lads ejected the expended am

replied Kenneth. "We can do no more her

hird of their number, the men advanced. The officer in charge took in the situation a

been wasted," he said, when he learnt the mission

ed Rollo ruefully, as they hur

tantly. "Perhaps the chap was a bit nett

ing of the British lads. Already the Belgian cavalrymen had shown signs of their humanity, for by means of their lances tw