Part 5 (1/2)

Without a moment's delay the General asked: ”Can they read a map?”

Kenneth and Rollo both replied that they could.

”Good!” exclaimed General Leman; then, turning to his secretary, he added: ”Make out an order for these gentlemen to be attached to the 9th regiment of the line--your company, Major?”

”If you please, sir.”

”Here, then, is the order,” continued the General after a brief instant, during which the secretary had been writing as hard as he possibly could. ”They can be sworn in as soon as an opportunity occurs. I wish you good day.”

That was all. The whole business was over in less than five minutes.

Not a word of thanks or encouragement to the two British volunteers. A chill had descended upon their ardour.

”The General--he is magnificent,” said their companion as they gained the street. ”Down to the humblest private we swear by him. One has to earn praise from the General before it is bestowed: it is our General's way. He is a man of few words, but his heart is in the right place.

Now go and demand your motor-cycles and proceed to Fort de Barchon. I will meet you there and see you are attested.”

With that the Major hurried off, and the two lads hastened to take possession of their own property.

”Fancy Great Britain being at war with Germany at last!” exclaimed Kenneth. ”We can hardly realize it, although most people have been talking about it for years. Perhaps even now our fleet is giving the Germans a good hiding. The rotten part about our job is that we may not be able to get news of how things are going on at home.”

Therein Kenneth was right. The news they received was mostly rumour.

In fact, the statement they had just heard, that Great Britain had declared war, was premature. An ultimatum had been sent to Berlin stating that, unless Belgian neutrality were respected, hostilities would commence at midnight. The Liegeois had antic.i.p.ated the hour, and so had the Germans, for already their mine-layers were at work in the North Sea.

An hour later, just as the sun was sinking behind the smoke-enshrouded city of Liege, Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington were enlisted as volunteer dispatch-riders in the 9th regiment of the line of the Belgian army.

CHAPTER V

A Baptism of Fire

At eight o'clock on the following morning the motorcyclist section--nine in number--was paraded in front of the orderly-room of Fort de Barchon. Already the bulk of the regiments had marched out to take up a position in the trenches between the fortifications and the right bank of the Meuse.

The two English lads had been served out with a dark-blue uniform, with heavy boots and brown gaiters, and had been armed with a Belgian service revolver--a .45-bore, made by the famous firm of c.o.c.kerill of Seraing.

Already they had been instructed in its use, and had--thanks to their cadet training--met with the approval of their musketry instructor.

Their motor-cycles had also been subjected to a critical inspection.

The officer--who in civil life had been in the motor industry at Liege--had to report, in spite of slight professional jealousy, that the English motor-cycles were fit for service, and almost equal to those owned by the other members of the dispatch-riding section.

One by one the men were called into the orderly-room, where they received instructions and dispatches, till only Kenneth and Rollo remained.

”Private Ever-r-rest and Private Bar-r-rington,” shouted the orderly-room sergeant, sounding his r's like the roll of a drum.

Within they found Major Resimont, and, as befitting their relative rank, the lads saluted and stood at attention.

”Deliver this to Captain Leboeuf at Vise,” ordered the Major. ”In view of the German advance, he is to cross the river and impede the enemy as much as possible, retiring upon Fort de Pontisse if in danger of being outflanked.” Then dropping the official voice, he added in English, ”Since Madame de la Barre would pay no heed to my request, it is necessary for strategic reasons to occupy her house. You may now have an opportunity of seeing your sister, Monsieur Everest. There are, I believe, only our pupils there during the holidays. Captain Leboeuf will arrange for them to be sent into Maastricht by train, or by a carriage if railway communication is interrupted. They can then proceed to Brussels in the ordinary way. You might give this to Mademoiselle Yvonne for incidental expenses for herself and her friend, your sister,” and the Major handed Kenneth a packet containing a sheaf of notes.

”Be cautious,” he added. ”The Germans have already advanced upon Lembourg.”

The lads saluted and withdrew. A minute later they were das.h.i.+ng over the drawbridge, bound on their first duty as dispatch-riders in the Belgian army, though with a semi-official motive.