Page 138 - A Hero of Liége

"We try it?" said Pariset to Kenneth.

"Yes."

The three men entered the kitchen.

"If you can save my husband and my son--" began the good woman

imploringly.

Pariset cut her short. She had the appearance of abundant energy.

"We want your help, meffrouw," he said. "Courage! Can you smuggle

some of the rifles out of the room? Not all."

"I will try, mijnheer," she said quietly, with the firm look of the Flemish
housewife.

There was much noise from the room beyond. The troopers were eating and
drinking hard. Pariset and Kenneth stepped behind a large Dutch clock

when the women pushed open the door, carrying a dish of steaming stew.
They saw her recoil a little when the Germans hailed her appearance with
boisterous shouts. She beckoned to her two maids, stout Flamandes like

herself, then disappeared towards the right.

The two airmen waited anxiously. Would the housewife's nerve fail?
Would the Germans detect her? They had fallen gluttonously on the new
dish, praising Belgian viands after the short commons of the days

preceding.

Presently the woman reappeared at the door. Her face was pale; she was
grimly pressing her lips together, and when she had entered the kitchen and
closed the door she took from the folds of her gown a rifle.

"The maids stood in front of me," she murmured.