Part 4 (2/2)
The corporal in charge of the wagon descended and stood rigidly at attention. For quite a quarter of an hour he remained in this att.i.tude, without any of the officers approaching to give him further directions. The crowd of wagons became more congested, till Kenneth and Rollo realized that, should they regain possession of their mounts, there would be great difficulty in wheeling them out of the press.
Suddenly Kenneth gripped his friend's shoulder and pointed in the direction of a group of officers.
”There's Major Resimont!” he exclaimed. ”He'll get us out of the fix.”
”Ah! You have got yourselves in a difficulty again, that I can see,”
declared the genial Major. ”What, then, is the trouble?”
Briefly Kenneth described the commandeering of their motor-cycles.
”I am indeed most busy,” said Major Resimont, and the perspiration on his face did not belie this statement. ”Nevertheless, come with me, and we will find the Quartermaster of the Commissariat.”
He led the lads at a rapid pace through several crowded thoroughfares.
At one point the press was so great as to impede their progress. The Liegeois were shouting and cheering, cries of ”Vive la Belgique!” and ”Vive l'Angleterre!” predominating. Outside a large building a Union Jack and the Belgian tricolour had been hoisted side by side. A telegraphic communication had just been received that Great Britain had declared war on Germany.
”Ah! I thought it,” chuckled the Major. ”Now the Prussians will get the right-about. My friends, the Germans are also now your enemies,”
and he shook Kenneth and Rollo by the hand. ”What will you do? Return to England and join the army?”
”We are not old enough for commissions, sir,” replied Kenneth; then on the spur of the moment he added: ”Couldn't we be attached to the Belgian army as dispatch-riders?”
Rollo almost gasped at his chum's impetuosity, but loyalty to his chum and a desire to do something against the oppressor of Europe checked his inclination to counsel caution.
”We will see,” said the Major gravely. ”It is good to see such a spirit amongst Englishmen to come to the aid of our brave Belgians.
You are resolute?”
”Rather!” declared Kenneth stoutly; and Rollo likewise signified his willingness.
The Quartermaster having been found at his office, Major Resimont soon obtained the requisite order for the release of the Englishmen's motor-cycles.
”Now, this way!” he exclaimed.
Five minutes' brisk walk brought them to the door of a large building at which were stationed two soldiers in the uniform of the Grenadiers.
These stood stiffly at attention as the Major entered, drawing themselves up with an alertness that was almost entirely lacking in most of the men of the line regiments.
Giving his name to a staff officer, the Major had to wait in an ante-room, with at least a dozen other officers, mostly of brevet rank.
At length his turn came, for business was being carried out with dispatch.
”Monsieur le Major Resimont, mon General,” announced a junior officer, as he opened the door and motioned for the Belgian Major and his two companions to enter.
Seated at a table was a man in the undress uniform of the Belgian staff. He was sparely built, although from his att.i.tude it was impossible to judge his height. His features were sallow, one might almost say cadaverous, with a bright tinge of red upon his prominent cheek-bones. Heavily-bushed eyebrows overhung a pair of deep-set eyes that seemed hawk-like in their intensity. His closely-cropped hair was iron-grey. A slightly drooping moustache hid a resolute mouth.
The two English lads were in the presence of a man whose name, hitherto practically unknown outside his own country, was soon to be on the lips of everyone who was likely to hear of the gallant stand of Liege--General Albert Leman.
A quick vertical motion of the General's right hand--he was a man of few words--was the signal for Major Resimont to make known his business.
”I have here two Englishmen, mon General,” began the Major. ”They are desirous of entering our army as motor-cyclist dispatch-riders.”
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