Page 46 - A Hero of Liége

"I'll tell you my reason. I don't know where I am, but we had better camp
here till morning, and then explore. Keep a look-out while I glance over the

engine; we must be ready to get off again at a moment's notice."

He switched on the light and made a careful examination of the engine;
then, rubbing his dirty hands on the grass, he threw himself down beside his
companion.

"We've had uncommon luck," he said.

"You under-estimate the personal equation," returned the other. "I consider
myself supremely lucky in having met you. Your daring is as great as your

ingenuity, Amory. By the way, I have the advantage of you. I have as many
names as the chameleon has colours, but the names given me in baptism

were Lewis Granger. Now we're quits on that score."

"Thanks. You are a spy, I suppose?"

"Well, that rather opprobrious term would cover me, I presume. A sensitive

person might prefer to call himself a secret agent. What's in a name?"

"It's pretty dangerous work, anyhow, and I'm jolly glad you're out of the

Germans' clutches. You asked why I came down. It's because I'm a sort of
secret agent too."

"You don't say so!"

"Oh, it's quite involuntary. I happened to overhear a conversation a few
hours before I was nabbed. I'll tell you about it."

"Wait. I have no credentials. Do you think it wise to confide in a stranger?"

"That's all right," said Kenneth, who had taken an instant liking to the man.
"We're in the same boat. What I overheard was a scheme for blowing up a

bridge somewhere in Belgium, and I thought that before going on to
England I might put the Belgians up to it."