Page 169 - A Hero of Liége

"Hellwig!" exclaimed Kenneth suddenly.

They ran back. The spy, the man whom the Kaiser delighted to honour, lay
huddled in the bottom of the car, under the machine gun. It had broken his

neck.

"Poor devil!" murmured Granger.

They turned hastily, and ran on silently, each thinking his own thoughts.

Pariset was the least concerned at Hellwig's fate. To him Hellwig was
merely a German and a spy, who had met with his deserts. Granger,
whatever his private animus against Hellwig, could not but remember that

they were members of one profession, who faced the same perils and might
suffer the same end. Kenneth was the most deeply affected. He had disliked

Hellwig, and had the average Englishman's contempt and hatred of spying.
It was the one thing that alloyed his liking for Granger. But, as he said to
Pariset afterwards:

"If there must be spying, and I suppose there must, it is something to spy

like a gentleman, and that I am sure Granger does."

The three men came to the glacis. A roar startled them and made them duck

instinctively. The fort had opened fire on the German battery. They raced
up, past empty trenches, still followed by shell; but they now presented an

inconspicuous mark to the gunners more than three miles distant. It was a
long uphill climb, but they panted on towards the door of safety.

Was it safety? Their way across the moat was barred by a group of Belgian
engineers with rifles, amazed at the appearance of two men in Uhlan

uniform. Pariset held up his hands.

"Lieutenant Montoisy!" he shouted. "Is he here?"

The men lowered their rifles and advanced. Pariset hastened to meet them.