Page 171 - A Hero of Liége

CHAPTER XIX

--'A LONG, LONG WAY----'

No sooner had the fugitives entered the fort than Kenneth collapsed. The
tension of the last two days, the terrific strain of controlling the armoured

car, and the concussion of the final shock, had been too heavy a tax upon
his nervous system. Pariset was in little better condition. Granger, an older

man, of settled constitution, was less affected than the others, and he was
able to assist the surgeon of the fort in tending upon his friends.

Much to their surprise, the interior of the fort was quiet and peaceful. The
German batteries had ceased fire, the fort guns were silent. Lieutenant

Montoisy explained that during the past few days there had been no attack.
The enemy's infantry, shattered by fire from the trenches in their frontal
assaults, had retired. The bombardment had been feeble.

"We can hold out for weeks," said the lieutenant.

"Don't buoy yourself with false hopes," said Granger. "The Germans are
only waiting until they bring up their great guns. There are several monsters

of 42 centimetre calibre on their way. They will bring them through Liege;
as soon as they can place them the fort will be shivered to atoms."

"Bah! Our cupolas will stand anything. Besides, no one has ever heard of
these great guns. They are probably a myth, invented to frighten us."

"These gentlemen know better than that," Granger returned. "You had

better tell what you saw, Amory."

Kenneth related the incident near Erkelenz.

"Unluckily we only destroyed the parts of one gun," he concluded. "The

block on the road had evidently caused them to send on the others by
another route."