"And our motor-cycles?"
"Helas, messieurs, it is a fact. Nevertheless, the Government will pay----"
"Where are they taken to?" asked Kenneth.
"They were placed in a transport wagon, monsieur. It left in the direction of Liege not fifteen minutes ago."
"Let"s hurry and catch it up," suggested Rollo. "It"s daylight robbery. I believe that rascally innkeeper has played a trick on us."
Alternately running and walking, the English lads kept up a rapid pace along the road that followed the right bank of the Meuse between Argenteau and Liege. Mile after mile they went, without a sign 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 fields, either indifferent to the danger that threatened them, or else basking in the confidence of the ability of the Belgian troops and their allies to thrust back the approaching tide of invasion.
At the village of Wandre Rollo gave vent to a shout of delight.
Standing outside an inn was an army wagon, and under its tilt, in company with a medley of other articles, were their motor-cycles.
"Now, what"s to be done?" asked Rollo.
"I vote we take them and make off as hard as we can," suggested Kenneth. "The soldiers in charge are evidently after more official loot."
"Won"t do," replied the cautious Rollo. "Ten to one we would hopelessly damage the bikes getting them off the wagon. The best we can do is to tackle the fellow in charge."
"The fellow in charge" turned out to be a phlegmatic Walloon corporal.
When appealed to he replied that he was acting under the orders of his lieutenant, and that he must account for all the articles on his list upon his return to Liege. The production of Major Resimont"s pa.s.s did not save the situation, although the Belgian"s demeanour thawed considerably.
"Nevertheless, if messieurs are English, perhaps they would like to ride on the wagon. At Liege, no doubt, all will be set right," he added.
It was, fortunately, the last of that particular corporal"s work, and he was at liberty to return without delay. A sapper drove, the corporal sitting beside him on the box seat. On the tail-board, with their backs against their precious motor-cycles, sat the two lads, another sapper keeping them company.
As the cart jolted through the village of Jupille there came a dull rumbling, like that of distant thunder.
"Guns!" exclaimed Rollo.
"Thunder, I think," declared his chum.
The Belgian soldier, when questioned, merely remarked in matter-of-fact tones:
"We are blowing up the bridges, monsieur."
The work of demolition had already begun. The Belgian troops, with commendable forethought, had destroyed four bridges across the Meuse in order to delay the momentarily expected German advance. Yet, on either side of the sluggish river, peasants were unconcernedly toiling in the fields.
As the wagon pa.s.sed the loftily-situated and obsolete fort of La Chatreuse a round of cheering could be heard from the city of Liege.
Presently the strains of "La Brabanconne"--the Belgian National Anthem--could be distinguished above the din.
The sapper began to grow excited.
"All is well, messieurs," he exclaimed. "We are now ready for these Prussians. Our Third Division has arrived."
Presently the head of the column of blue-greatcoated troops swung blithely along the road to take up positions in the newly-constructed trenches between Fort de Barchon and Fort de Fleron. The men 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 positions at Liege.
Yet, for some unaccountable reason, these troops went into what was soon to be the firing-line in blue tunics with white facings, which would offer a conspicuous target to their foes.
It was late in the afternoon when the cart drew up in a large open s.p.a.ce by the side of the Church of St. Jacques. The square was crowded with all kinds of military transport and commissariat wagons. Officers were shouting orders, men were rushing hither and thither, motors were popping, horses neighing.
The corporal in charge of the wagon descended and stood rigidly at attention. For quite a quarter of an hour he remained in this att.i.tude, without any of the officers approaching to give him further directions. The crowd of wagons became more congested, till Kenneth and Rollo realized that, should they regain possession of their mounts, there would be great difficulty in wheeling them out of the press.
Suddenly Kenneth gripped his friend"s shoulder and pointed in the direction of a group of officers.
"There"s Major Resimont!" he exclaimed. "He"ll get us out of the fix."
"Ah! You have got yourselves in a difficulty again, that I can see,"
declared the genial Major. "What, then, is the trouble?"
Briefly Kenneth described the commandeering of their motor-cycles.
"I am indeed most busy," said Major Resimont, and the perspiration on his face did not belie this statement. "Nevertheless, come with me, and we will find the Quartermaster of the Commissariat."
He led the lads at a rapid pace through several crowded thoroughfares.
At one point the press was so great as to impede their progress. The Liegeois were shouting and cheering, cries of "Vive la Belgique!" and "Vive l"Angleterre!" predominating. Outside a large building a Union Jack and the Belgian tricolour had been hoisted side by side. A telegraphic communication had just been received that Great Britain had declared war on Germany.
"Ah! I thought it," chuckled the Major. "Now the Prussians will get the right-about. My friends, the Germans are also now your enemies,"
and he shook Kenneth and Rollo by the hand. "What will you do? Return to England and join the army?"
"We are not old enough for commissions, sir," replied Kenneth; then on the spur of the moment he added: "Couldn"t we be attached to the Belgian army as dispatch-riders?"
Rollo almost gasped at his chum"s impetuosity, but loyalty to his chum and a desire to do something against the oppressor of Europe checked his inclination to counsel caution.
"We will see," said the Major gravely. "It is good to see such a spirit amongst Englishmen to come to the aid of our brave Belgians.
You are resolute?"
"Rather!" declared Kenneth stoutly; and Rollo likewise signified his willingness.
The Quartermaster having been found at his office, Major Resimont soon obtained the requisite order for the release of the Englishmen"s motor-cycles.
"Now, this way!" he exclaimed.
Five minutes" brisk walk brought them to the door of a large building at which were stationed two soldiers in the uniform of the Grenadiers.
These stood stiffly at attention as the Major entered, drawing themselves up with an alertness that was almost entirely lacking in most of the men of the line regiments.
Giving his name to a staff officer, the Major had to wait in an ante-room, with at least a dozen other officers, mostly of brevet rank.
At length his turn came, for business was being carried out with dispatch.
"Monsieur le Major Resimont, mon General," announced a junior officer, as he opened the door and motioned for the Belgian Major and his two companions to enter.
Seated at a table was a man in the undress uniform of the Belgian staff. He was sparely built, although from his att.i.tude it was impossible to judge his height. His features were sallow, one might almost say cadaverous, with a bright tinge of red upon his prominent cheek-bones. Heavily-bushed eyebrows overhung a pair of deep-set eyes that seemed hawk-like in their intensity. His closely-cropped hair was iron-grey. A slightly drooping moustache hid a resolute mouth.
The two English lads were in the presence of a man whose name, hitherto practically unknown outside his own country, was soon to be on the lips of everyone who was likely to hear of the gallant stand of Liege--General Albert Leman.
A quick vertical motion of the General"s right hand--he was a man of few words--was the signal for Major Resimont to make known his business.
"I have here two Englishmen, mon General," began the Major. "They are desirous of entering our army as motor-cyclist dispatch-riders."