Page 64 - A Hero of Liége

CHAPTER VI 67

"Quiet!" said Pariset, touching him on the sleeve. "Don't tell him they are
Germans."

"Ah! You are right, monsieur. But my blood boils. You are going to the

mill?" he asked the drayman.

"Yes. 'Tis only a small barrel to-day--not the big one they usually have.

There aren't so many of them, seemingly. I was just loading up the usual
nine gallons when the order came from the office to take a four-and-a-half

instead."

Pariset glanced quickly at Kenneth.

"They're going to clear out soon," he said in a low tone. "It looks as though

we're only just in time."

They drew aside from the others while the miller gossiped with the

drayman.

"I say, you talked of disguising yourself," said Kenneth. "Why shouldn't
you take the drayman's place and deliver the beer? You could then take
stock of the place and the people."

"A capital notion! I must take the drayman into my confidence. Wait a

minute," he called out of the window, as the man was about to drive on. In
a few words he explained the plan to the miller.

"Parbleu, monsieur, but look at his size!" said the old man.

"Yes, that's a difficulty, I admit," said Pariset ruefully. "He would make
three of me. The Germans aren't fools, and if they saw me with his smock
flapping about me they would smell a rat."

"And your face and hands, monsieur--no, decidedly you could not pass for

a drayman."