Page 67 - A Hero of Liége

"Yes, we saw one an hour or so ago. It was flying north-east. I shouldn't be
surprised if it was German. The pigs are capable of anything. But they'll get

a reception that will surprise them. Our little army--but there! You know
what your own army would do, and your turn may come in Switzerland

sooner than you think. Thank you: I am sorry we shan't be able to serve you
again, by the look of things."

He laid the cask in the lobby, pocketed the money, and returned to the dray.

Meanwhile Kenneth had seized the opportunity to take a careful look
around. It was clear that it would not be easy to take the place by a rush
without giving the inmates sufficient time to fire the mine beneath the

bridge. The fact that the German had come to the door himself, instead of
the deaf old countryman whom he was said to employ as a

man-of-all-work, showed that he was on the alert. Nothing would be easier
than to overpower the man himself; but if any noise were made in so doing
his companions would instantly come to his assistance, and at the first sign

that the plot had been discovered the bridge would be blown up. It seemed
that the ruse would prove fruitless after all.

In turning the horses for the journey back, Kenneth contrived to bring the
dray close against the wall, so that from his high seat he was able to look

over. Through the open window of a room giving on the yard he saw a
party of four men playing cards at a table. Close to the right hand of each

stood a tall beer glass.

"That explains why they are such good customers of the brewery," he

thought.

Pariset, sitting at the back of the dray with his face to the door, began to
hum a tune, and Kenneth caught the words "En avant!" He whipped up the
horses, big Flemish beasts that were evidently unaccustomed to go above a

walking pace, and the heavy vehicle lumbered away.

"Why did you want me to hurry?" asked Kenneth, when they were some
distance along the road.