Page 127 - A Hero of Liége

that a second troop had been sent to head them off in that direction. They
adopted the wisest course in such a situation: remained where they were,

some few yards from the outer fringe of trees, and tried to think out their
problem calmly.

"It will be safer to let them pass us," said Pariset presently. "They will
expect to see us emerge; let us go to meet them. Can you hear the fellows

behind us in the wood?"

They stood listening.

"No," said Kenneth. "I daresay they are stealing up quietly."

"We must keep our ears open. Now, as quickly as possible."

They threaded their way cautiously through the wood towards the
oncoming Uhlans. Very soon they heard the thuds of the horses' hoofs to

their right. Among the trees they could neither see nor be seen. The sound
ceased suddenly. Then came the muffled murmur of voices. Apparently the

Uhlans had drawn rein almost at the spot where the fugitives had intended
to break cover.

"A clever lot!" whispered Pariset. "They calculated to a yard or two where
we should be likely to come out. A good thing we turned this way."

The Uhlans, in fact, only about two hundred yards away, had dismounted,
and leaving their horses tethered in the charge of two of their number, had

entered the wood, spread out, and begun to beat the coverts in the direction
of their comrades advancing from the farther side.

The fugitives pressed on rapidly, parallel with the edge of the wood, hoping
that they would not meet the men at the extremity of the far-extended line.

There was no sound to guide them or give warning. Presently they ventured
to draw a little nearer to the edge, where the trees were sparser and they

could move more quickly. Pariset constantly consulted his compass. Their
course was northward, in the direction of Liege.