Page 172 - A Hero of Liége
P. 172
Lieutenant Montoisy was still sceptical of the effect these guns could
produce. He led the three men round the fort. It was triangular in shape,
with guns in disappearing turrets at each corner. In the centre was a steel
turret armed with two 6-inch howitzers, enclosed in a square with four
similar turrets carrying 5-inch quick-firing guns. The turrets were
embedded in a solid block of concrete, and here and there were machine
guns and searchlight apparatus. The heaviest guns were mounted on a steel
cupola, capable of being raised and lowered. Impressed by the immense
strength of the defences, the Englishmen began to share Montoisy's
confidence in their power to withstand bombardment even by the heaviest
artillery.
"Why aren't our men in the trenches?" asked Pariset.
"They were ordered to withdraw several days ago," replied Montoisy. "You
see, we had only 40,000 men to defend a circuit of thirty-three
miles--impossible against a quarter of a million Germans. But we have
taught them a lesson. We have cut whole regiments to pieces. Our gallant
Garde Civique made a bayonet charge the other day that sent them
helter-skelter just beyond Boncelles yonder. No one will ever again regard
the bosches as invincible."
Bit by bit he drew from Pariset the story of his adventures, and when it
spread among the garrison, the two young men found themselves regarded
as heroes by all, from the commandant downwards.
Their future movements were discussed. It was decided that they should
remain in the fort for a few days until they had recovered their strength, and
then make their way westward if possible to the Belgian lines. Granger
determined to leave at once. Expert in disguises, he transformed himself
into a Belgian peasant, and waited for nightfall to steal away towards
Liege.
"We may meet again; we may not," he said, as he shook hands. "I hope we
may. It will be a long war. We shall win. And if we three lose our
lives--well, who was it said that death is the portal to the life Elysian? But I
