Kenneth Ward

“ Alfred said this in a regretful tone of voice, and Ralph's face brightened at the thought.
Ralph looked up, and then turned to the men. "Well, is that anything?"
"Why, anybody can ride an old bicycle. That's nothing. But it's something to get in the way of a bullet that has been shot by an enemy for the purpose of killing," said Alfred.
Ralph smiled, and the men about them turned their heads away. There was a philosophy in that remark which went home to many of them that day. Can it be possible that a man can be a hero because he is wounded on the battle field? ”

“ Gascon smiled. "Yes, if they have advanced beyond the battery we shall have to wait until night, because it would be unsafe to cross the Meuse in their rear."
A boom from the east, followed by another, and still another, was sufficient notice to them that the great forts at Liège were answering the challenge. They burrowed into the hedge, and made enclosures with bushes and leaves. Meantime, the battery on the hill opened fire with its three guns, and soon the surrounding atmosphere grew misty, and they could smell an unmistakable odor of burning powder. ”

“ Five miles north of the junction Ralph was the first to notice a peculiar moving dust cloud a mile or so distant east of the train. He called Pierre's attention to it. A turn in the road gave them a better view of the phenomenon.
"That is a troop of cavalry," said Pierre, in excitement.
Jacques burst in and cried: "The Germans are to head us off. I suppose you and I will have to make a run for it."
"I am sorry for that," said Pierre, looking at the boys. "But you will be safe here. You are Americans, and they will not molest you."
"If you go we will go, too," said Alfred. ”

“ PURSUED BY THE UHLANS
Still Liège did not surrender. Every day the glorious news would come of the terrible bombardment, and of thrilling deeds of heroism. Brave little Belgium was checking the giant which dared to molest her soil. Ten days of intermittent thunder followed, which could plainly be heard twenty-five miles beyond the outer circle of forts, to the north.
A Dome-Topped Fort of Liège
The twelve great forts were not silenced by the incessant hail poured on them from all sides. The Germans were astounded; the Belgians exultant. ”

“ The town, like many others throughout Belgium, was distributed out along little lanes, which shot out at all angles, and it was not surprising that Alfred should become confused, and lose his way.
To add to the confusion there was great excitement in the village. Men were running to and fro. Women were holding their children, and looking pale. Alfred stopped.
"What is the trouble, Monsieur?" he asked as a man slowly moved along, quite in contrast with the people who formed the excited crowd.
"Trouble? Don't you know the Germans are beyond, and that all the roads are patrolled. ”

“ Sometimes, when the bullets passed over, they could hear a whizzing sound.
"Do you hear the sounds like bumble bees?" said Ralph to Roland.
"They must be bullets," said Alfred.
The latter nodded but did not reply. The boys now had an opportunity to see a little through the clouds of smoke around them. Antonio passed from one end of the column to the other incessantly. "Shoot deliberately," he said to one. "Don't hurry," to another. "Be sure to aim carefully; it is the true shot that counts, not the number." ”

“ BELGIAN FRONT
CHAPTER I
AN INTERRUPTED JOURNEY
"Give it more gas; more gas, Pierre; they are coming up the cross road!" exclaimed Ralph excitedly, as he leaned forward.
Pierre the chauffeur looked straight ahead and nodded, as he answered: "Oui, oui!"
Before he had gone a hundred feet farther the occupants of the machine heard something like a shot, and Pierre turned his head slightly.
"Two kilometers more and we shall be in Belgium," he said. ”

“ As she looked at them, her eyes frequently filled with tears.
"Two of our boys are now at Liège. One of them is an officer in Fort V. Flerion," she said.
"Maybe we saw some of the shells which he has been throwing at the Germans," said Alfred, enthusiastically.
"Undoubtedly you saw some of them when you were down near the great forest," said Gascon, "but we are too far west now for the guns from that fort."
"I hope," said the woman, "that this trouble will not be for long. But our boys must serve our country, even though all of us suffer for it." ”

“ Stores of every kind were set up for the comfort and need of the troops, and it was a never-ending scene of bustle and activity.
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Roland, who was with them much of the time, answered: "An army must live, and to be effective must be well fed. Napoleon said that an army fights on its stomach."
"What did he mean by that?" asked Ralph.
"That without a well-filled stomach a soldier cannot fight well."
"But how do they know how much food of this kind to send down here? It seems to me they have enough here now to feed a big army," said Alfred. ”

“ A woman who crossed their path was greatly startled at their appearance, but their speech at once reassured her.
"Do you know, M'selle, whether the Germans are in the village?" asked Ralph.
"No," she answered. "But we were informed that they are coming up the road."
"They are not far away. They left the bridge last night."
"I wonder why the bridge was not destroyed?" said Ralph. "Well, don't let us wait. We must go on while we have time," was Paul's eager and hurried observation.
They leaped forward. They could now see the villagers,—that is, women and children on the main road looking east. ”

“ No, he would not waken Alfred, much as he had to tell him, so he quietly wended his way back to the caisson. As he did so he passed the commandant's quarters, and that officer greeted him.
"And you are the wounded boy?" he said.
Ralph blushed, and answered: "I am the wounded soldier, sir." And then he stammered to correct his answer.
The officer laughed, as he responded: "You are right; I should have called you a man, because you have done a man's work. You boys are made of the right kind of stuff. But weren't you afraid when the bullets began to come whistling around you?" ”

“ The soldiers could have hugged him with joy. When Alfred came into the quarry, still on his wheel, he handed the note to the commander, who hurriedly perused it. Without waiting for questions he gave a command, and soon a hundred men were on the way, under double time.
"So you two boys have been commended for bravery? We shall take particular pleasure to see that a proper report is made about you. As long as we have boys like you we shall have brave men," was his comment.
Alfred was bewildered. Antonio had commended him and Ralph as well, in the note. ”

“ As I passed through the wheat field I had a good chance to hide, but the troopers came on and leaped over the fence only to catch sight of the stranger."
"So my friend saved you," said Gascon. "Well, I suppose that is what this war does. It does not respect anyone. You must suffer for what I do. In war nothing is right but might."
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"We have been attacked," responded Roland, "and our only course is to fight. I am sorry I waited so long before going to the city. Belgium needs all of us, so to-night we must start, Mother."
The boys looked on Roland in admiration. ”

“ Thus the boys spent the first day of their journeyings as soldiers. How proud they were. They actually petted the guns. They had no uniforms, of course, and it was the only thing needed to make them supremely happy.
Their joy was so great that they almost forgot home, and when, in the dangers that later came, they thought of their parents, it was with great pride that they were able to be of service to Belgium in her hour of need.
There was another thing which awakened a sense of pleasure. The men realizing that they were only boys treated them like privileged characters. ”

“ Then he recalled that he had met no patrols and this puzzled him. He remembered how the peasants looked at him in astonishment as he went by, and the terror of doubt was upon him.
He slowed down his machine. And now, for the first time, he looked behind him. To his amazement he saw the outlines of a half dozen men, with the characteristic spiked helmet, and at once knew who they were. Here was a situation fraught with danger. As he approached the crest of a little hill he turned his machine aside, so that in going back across the road he could obtain a better view of his pursuers. ”

“ An orderly appeared and explained that the boys were wanted at headquarters. They went at once, and Roland accompanied them.
The General came forward as they entered. "I must thank you in behalf of the King, for the great service you have rendered," he said, as he took Alfred and Ralph by the hand.
Alfred plainly showed his emotion, and Ralph and Roland turned away for a moment to tell the General how the boy felt.
The arms of the strong man went about the boy, and he said: "It is no discredit to you to feel that way. And now where are your uniforms?" he added. ”

“ The boys were delighted at this kind offer. Henri smiled as he was thus delegated to make the trip. It was too good to be true. When all were ready the mother kissed her boy and accompanied by the father they passed out the door. Not three hundred feet distant was a main road, and leaping the hedge on both sides of the gate were fully a dozen of the Uhlans.
"Back! back!" said the man.
The boys darted into the house, while the man said in an undertone: "Henri, take the boys down to the pit. Don't stop for anything." ”

“ Ralph was not yet well enough to be able to risk a trip, as his arm was not yet out of the sling, but when Alfred returned he saw Ralph examining his own machine.
He was delighted to see Alfred on the front seat, and at once met him with a volley of questions.
"Yes, we went clear to St. Trond," said Alfred. "Oh, the machine works splendidly. Never had an accident. But you ought to see the soldiers and the guns, and wagons along the way,—thousands and thousands of them."
Just then there was an intense commotion at the southern border of the camp.
"See that man in a motorcycle. ”

“ The Mercedes was not gaining, however. The second car was trailing along some distance in the rear.
"Hurrah for Belgium!" shouted Pierre, as he gazed forward intently and nodded in the direction of two low structures which were now plainly visible at the sides of the roadway. The boys saw a distinctive flag on each building.
Pierre's hand was on the throttle as he neared the frontier, but he held the lever without drawing it back, while the car sped on. He gave two blasts on the horn, and repeated the signal. ”

“ He proceeded direct to headquarters, and dismounted.
Soldiers, civilians and workmen, rushed forward and crowded around. "What is the news?" everyone asked. An officer appeared at the door of the commandant's quarters.
"The Germans have entered Liège," he said. There was a murmur and Alfred and Ralph looked at each other in astonishment.
Soon those about, after recovering from the stunning news, began to make inquiries.
"While they have entered the city, they have not captured the forts," the officer said, and he spoke it proudly, too. ”

“ At twelve that night the road was still filled with troops, wagons and paraphernalia of war. Watching an opportunity, Ralph sought information from a peasant. The latter said:
"The Belgians are not far away, and there has been a battle hereabouts. If you want to reach the troops do not follow the road, but go to your left, directly west. In that way you will get in touch with them."
"What does the great movement of troops toward Antwerp mean?" asked Ralph.
"Why, the Germans have determined to capture Antwerp, and they are moving up the big guns to batter down the forts," he was informed. ”

“ The whole village was now a scene of the greatest activity. A varied assortment of guns and pistols were produced which were hurriedly inspected by the Captain and accepted by him.
"Line up, my men," he ordered. "Belgium is at war with Germany, and our soil has been invaded. It is the duty of every one to assist in this crisis. I shall administer the oath to each of you. This makes our company a fighting force in the King's service and in case of capture entitles you to the treatment accorded to prisoners of war."
Pierre exhibited a troubled look in his face, and Ralph observed it. ”

“ An enemy in a strongly fortified position in the rear, or on either flank, will always subject the advancing army to attack, but the most serious difficulty to an army under such condition is that, as the advancing army must be daily supplied with provisions and ammunition, a fortified city, like Liège, would always lay open to attack the railroad lines, which supply them, and the cutting of the lines of communication would subject them to defeat or capture. ”