Page 28 - A Hero of Liége

Kenneth hurried to the station. There were signs of new excitement in the
streets. Newsvendors were shouting that Belgium was invaded. People

thronged the beer-shops, eagerly discussing the situation. Already there
were cries of "Down with the English!" Tourists of all nationalities were

flocking to the station and to the landing-stage for the Rhine steamers.
Soldiers were everywhere.

At the station ticket office there was a long queue of people waiting.
Kenneth saw little chance of obtaining a ticket for some time; but being

well acquainted with the stationmaster, he sought his assistance and was
provided with a written pass.

"I can't guarantee that you will get beyond Aix-la-Chapelle," said the
official. "You must take your chance."

Kenneth set off to return. Attracted by a crowd at the door of one of the
hotels, he went up to discover the cause of the assemblage. A mountain of

luggage was piled on the pavement, and the distracted owners, turned out
of the hotel, were vainly seeking porters to convey it to the station. The

riff-raff of the streets were jeering at them. Kenneth turned away, feeling
that the scene was ominous.

He had walked only a short distance from the spot when a hand touched his
shoulder from behind.

"You are under arrest, sir," said a police sergeant, who was accompanied by
two constables.

"Nonsense," said Kenneth, good-humouredly. "You have mistaken your

man."

"Your name is Kenneth Amory?" said the sergeant.

"Something like that," said Kenneth, amused at the man's pronunciation.

"There is no mistake, then. You are arrested."