Page 48 - A Hero of Liége

"Very well. It will be light in less than five hours. I'll snooze for a couple of
hours; wake me then."

The night was warm, and Kenneth, in his policeman's coat, suffered no

discomfort. His watch passed undisturbed, and he was very sleepy when he
roused Granger.

About five o'clock he was wakened from a sound sleep by a nudge from his
companion.

"Sorry to disturb you," said Granger, "but there's a group of peasants
approaching with scythes. Evidently they are going to mow the meadow."

Kenneth started up.

"Belgians?" he asked.

"Or Dutch," replied Granger. "We shall soon know."

The peasants, more than a dozen in number, came straight towards the
aeroplane. Recognising the German uniforms, as the two men rose from the
ground, they halted, consulted for a moment or two, then advanced, holding

their scythes threateningly.

"I fancy they're Dutch," said Granger. "My good friends," he called in
Dutch, "will you tell us where we are?"

On hearing their own tongue the men consulted again. Then one of them
left the party, and hurried back by the way he had come. The rest advanced

slowly, keeping close together, not replying to the question, and wearing an
air of suspicion and hostility.

"They have sent a man back to his village to warn the authorities," said
Granger. "We must find out where we are."