Very near."
"Eh? Oh, I have it! Listen!"
Paul"s face lighted up as he heard the plan.
"Yes--yes!" he cried. "I think we can! I think there will be time for that!"
There was a click. The wire had been cut somewhere between him and Tirlemont! But he did not care; he had done all that was needful. And now, shouting to Arthur to follow, he dashed from the building.
"Don"t delay a second!" he cried. "Come! Major du Chaillu says a train, with an engine and one car, was held here to bring money from the banks so that the Germans would not get it! He is having a telegram sent to bid it wait! The station is a quarter of a mile away!"
Madly they ran through the deserted streets. Even as they ran past a wide street that entered the one in which they were, they saw the head of a German column coming down toward them. Never had they run so fast before, but even so, it seemed that they would never reach the station!
But at last they were there; they dashed in--to see the train going out!
"The telegram must have come too late!" said Paul. "Well, perhaps they will not know what we have done. It may not be so bad--"
"Look!" cried Arthur. The train had slowed down. Now it had stopped, just by a signal tower. From the engine a man dropped, looked back, and then began beckoning them on. They ran wildly toward him, and in a moment they were being pulled on board the train.
"The operator in the signal tower heard the message coming in just as we were starting," said the conductor. "He set the signal against us and told us of the message! What good luck for you! Now, if the Germans haven"t cut the line, you are safe!"
And safe they were. The light train carried them to Tirlemont, and there they met not only Major du Chaillu, but their uncle, now Colonel de Frenard.
"We have informed the French staff of your news. It has changed the whole plan of campaign," said du Chaillu. "Namur will be abandoned; the real defence will be made on the border. Thanks to you the French have escaped the trap that was being baited for them. And I have special orders concerning you."
"What are they?" asked Paul.
"You are to be sent to Brussels immediately. And there you are to be received by King Albert who has heard of your part in the defence of Liege, for which all the world has praised Belgium and her brave sons!"