Page 98 - A Hero of Liége

They waited nearly an hour before the captain returned.

"I have had the greatest difficulty in getting the flag," he said, placing a
parcel in Pariset's hands. "I tried several shops in vain, then it occurred to

me to apply at the Russian consulate, and they happened to have a spare
one. I wish you luck. Report to me at head-quarters."

At seven o'clock next morning, equipped with the needful apparatus, they
ascended from their headquarters in the Taube monoplane, took an easterly

course, then swung southward and passed between the Flemelle and
Boncelles forts. It was a beautiful summer morning. The country was
bathed in sunlight, and no warlike sounds disturbed the still air. But south

of the town clouds of dust hung over every road, and they caught sight of
masses of men moving northward, the sun glinting on weapons and the

spikes of helmets. Pariset, in the observer's seat, felt sick at heart. How was
it possible for the little Belgian army to resist these immense hordes?

The well-known shape of the aeroplane (they no longer showed the Russian
flag) purchased immunity. They flew over the railway, then over the Meuse

north of Huy, then sweeping to the east soon came in sight of the Ourthe
winding between meadows and precipitous cliffs, and the railway to
Neufchateau. The valley broadened out. Instructed by Pariset, Kenneth

steered the monoplane over the village of Hamoir on the left bank. Almost
immediately afterwards they came above the cluster of houses at Sy, and

the bridge crossing the gorge, beyond which the railway entered the tunnel.

On the north side of the bridge stood a long goods train, apparently waiting

the signal to proceed. On the south side, part in, part out of the tunnel, was
a train of passenger coaches, gaily bedecked with leafy branches of trees. A

few soldiers had got out of the train, and were sitting smoking in the
meadow. At each end of the bridge four guards were posted.

The aeroplane passed over the cliff through which the tunnel ran, then bore
to the left in the direction of Werbomont and was soon out of sight from the

bridge. Choosing a lonely field sheltered by a wood, Kenneth brought the
machine to the ground.