Page 77 - A Hero of Liége

we must get the assistance of some stout fellows from the farm. I'm
determined that these Germans shall not escape."

"Let me go," said Kenneth. "You don't know German; I do; and I might

overhear something worth making a note of."

"That's a good notion. We may get on the track of other operations of

theirs. Take off your boots; I'll tie them to mine."

A minute later Kenneth tiptoed in his stocking feet along the dark passage.
Through the closed door of the kitchen on the left came the sounds of some
one moving about. On the other side he heard the voices of the men in the

dining-room, the door of which was ajar. Grasping his revolver, he bent his
ear towards the opening. At the first words he caught he started. The voice

was only too familiar to him. It was the voice of Kurt Hellwig.

Was he there before, Kenneth wondered, or was he the newcomer whose

ring Pariset had heard? In a few seconds the point was cleared up.

"Yes," Hellwig was saying, "I had intended to give you the word by
wireless myself. But the chief wanted me to come through and see that all
was ready. The wire is fixed?"

"I guarantee that," was his friend's reply. "You don't want to go along the

tunnel yourself?"

"No, I'll take your word for it. I'm very tired; thought I should never get

through. Our friend Spiegel was caught in Liege before my eyes, and taken
away to be shot. The soldiers could hardly save him from lynching, the

mob was so furious."

"The Belgians are going to be troublesome, then?" said another voice.

"It appears so. We opened the attack on the forts yesterday, and the fools

had the audacity to reply. They did some damage, too, worse luck. Von
Emmich is attacking again to-day in full force, and with his numbers he'll