Page 159 - A Hero of Liége

"We must stop and cut the wires," said Kenneth, jamming on the brakes.

Lifting the lid of the tool box, he seized a pair of nippers.

"Evidently meant for the job," he said.

"Give them to me," cried Granger. "You stick to the car."

He sprang out, and swarmed up the nearest pole with an agility surprising

in a man of his venerable aspect. Before he was half way up, however, the
head of the column rounded the corner.

"There's no help for it," said Pariset. "Here goes!"

Next moment there was a sharp metallic crack. The car trembled.

"Three horses down!" cried Pariset. "The rest are swinging in to the side of

the road. If Granger is quick--ah! he has done it. They are not coming on
again yet."

Granger slid down the pole, jumped into the car, and again they were off.

"We shall have to cut it again in another mile or so," said Pariset.

"If we don't meet the enemy before then," rejoined Granger. "Or we can
pretend we are chased by Belgians and dash through."

But in less than a mile they found that the wires left the road and ran across
country.

"We can't navigate fields of stubble," said Kenneth. "The only thing to be
done is to go ahead at full speed, and trust to luck. Let's hope that before

any message they send can take effect we shall have reached that by-road.
Where does it lead to?"