Page 110 - A Hero of Liége

CHAPTER XIII

--THE GREAT GUNS

After the fight Pariset steered over the town at a great altitude, and Kenneth
employed his field-glasses in the hope of picking up some information.

"I say," he called, "it looks very much as if the Germans are really in the

town. Firing has stopped."

"They can't have taken the forts already," cried Pariset. "We'll get back."

On coming to the ground miles to the west, they learnt that Kenneth was

right: the Germans had entered the town, lined all the bridges with sentries,
taken possession of the railway station, and begun to billet themselves. It
was rumoured also that Fort Loncin had fallen, that General Leman was a

prisoner, and that the Belgian field army was concentrated about Fort
Lantin, north of the town.

The officers of the Flying Corps were deeply dejected. All the efforts of
their gallant men seemed to have been thrown away. Their thoughts being

centred on Liege alone, they did not as yet realise that the strenuous
resistance to the passage of the German army had dislocated the imperial

plans, and caused a delay in the march on Paris which was destined to save
Europe.

Kenneth and his friend were taking their evening meal in a village inn, the
owner of which had announced that next day he intended to pack up and

start for Ostend. Only a few peasants were on the premises; all the more
well-to-do of the villagers had already joined the stream of refugees.

Suddenly there was a shot outside. The innkeeper dived into his cellar; his
guests jumped up, grasping their revolvers. The door opened, and a man in

the coarse soiled clothes of a farm labourer entered. On his head was a
wide-brimmed slouch hat, and the lower part of his face was concealed by a
tangled brown moustache and beard.