The Dispatch-Riders

tish U

refugees from the surrounding villages, had taken refuge in cellars, while crowds, under the mistaken belief in the immunity of the churches from shell-fire, had sought doubtful shelter in the sacred edifices. Others, aga

ouses had taken fire, and the pungent smell of smoke filled the air. Frequently, before the dispatch-riders reached their destin

his work, and heedless of the fact that several shells had already burst

ce. His head was as bald as an egg, with the exception of a ring of jet-black hair like a

moving his head, which was slightly inclined, he

, from Major

and, with a swift movement, tor

e exclaimed. "It's now a quar

comrade-crippl

e Fleurus sternly. "Do you know that it is your duty to deliver messages at all costs, and

le Belgian literally consumed him. He had, however,

what have

gret," said Kenneth. "We crippled the Taube a

no troops

ived while the Ta

k hold of a telephone that st

d; then, leaning back in his chair, he agai

He had yet to learn the lesson that cast-iron discipline demands, and it seemed galling that his part in crippling

leasure. The captain was a smart-looking man of more than average height, with a pleasant, open countenanc

struction of one of the enemy's ae

h it took fire. Our men found both pilot and observer wounded and brought them back. The captain

isk to th

w not,

t Fleurus, shifting his glance fr

litary cap and pointed to the double ho

is chair and gave vent to a hearty laugh. Then he st

our compatriot,

asked Rollo, who was cooli

ittle commandant out. He's an enigm

ly, then, catching hold of his chum's ar

r returning Rollo's salute. "You applied for

commandant," re

cyclists, MM. Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington. From what I already know of them they are courageous and resolute, and their services are likely to be of more use in the operations

"Of course we must go where we are ordered, and that willingly; but we sho

ore to-morrow we must abandon the city to the invaders. Our numbers are insufficient to hold the trenches linking the chain of forts. We must concentrate our armies to the west of Liége, leaving the forts to hold out until the Englis

-sergeant entered the room, hi

re without. They have arrived from Ostend by

oard the sergeant held in his hand, and pass

any of these ge

of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. Hello! What'

enneth, for in the word "Cornwall'

particular to pass a mistake on his v

printed in Belgium, and didn't notic

to the commanda

ent my compliments, and say that the General Leman is at Fort de Loncin, and that I, Commandant Fleurus, will be pleased to receive the English officers in his absence.

ance was sufficient. None of them bore any resemblance to the Major Duncan-Dean whom the lad knew well. There was only one major of that name in

g that he was British but attached to the Belgian army, and th

Dean; instead, an awkward silence prevailed. None of the four officers see

one of them at last. "We will not trouble the commandant except to give us permits

in a vice-like grip, and the muzzle of

are dead!" exclai

at the pseudo Major Duncan-Dean was an impostor; the peculiar phraseology of the man who had replied to the commandant's

h to himself; to fail to do so might result in the cold-blooded massacre of Commandant Fleurus and several of the staff; while, wit

kept the revolver against the lad's temple; the rest had each drawn an automatic pis

e effect of a sudden blow in this gentleman's wind. It may do the trick; if not, my number'

his heart thumping violently, while his temples throbbed until

or. "This pistol has hair-trig

king by reason of fear; but realizing that such a statement migh

is free hand grasped the handle of the door. The other two stood be

Another ten or twenty seconds would de

ous flashes. The rattle of musketry sounded like the discharge of a twenty

ndous crash above his head. A thousand lights d