Part 13 (1/2)

Trotting along the road was a squadron of German cavalry. The enemy had made a totally unexpected raid upon the town of Tongres.

”It won't do for us to be seen,” exclaimed Kenneth, ”especially in uniform. And those fellows are particularly certain to make a bee-line for the various inns as soon as they break ranks. Let's clear out.”

Just then up ran the landlord, who had taken the precaution of closing and barring his doors, an example which many of his neighbours hastened to follow.

”Do not remain here, messieurs, I implore you,” he began in rapid sentences punctuated with excited gestures. ”If the Bosches find men in uniform in my house they will be furious with me.”

”All right,” said Kenneth rea.s.suringly. ”If we can get our cycles out by the back way we'll clear off and give the alarm. Two regiments ought to be sufficient to trap these fellows.”

”It is impossible to escape, messieurs. The Germans are holding all the approaches to the town.”

”Then what do you suggest?” asked Rollo calmly.

”The roof, monsieur; thence you can make your way along by the parapets of many houses, till you reach the roof of the _chapelle_. There you ought to be safe, unless these rascals take it into their heads to burn the town.”

”Very well; show us the way,” agreed Rollo. ”Only see if you can manage to hide our motor-cycles.”

Having shown the lads the exit on to the roof, their host left them to their own devices. It was a comparatively easy matter to creep along the gutters, for they were hidden from observation by the parapets of the various adjacent buildings. The only difficult part of the journey was crossing the gap between the end house and the roof of the _chapelle_--a distance of about five feet in width. Sixty feet below there was a narrow alley, through which several terrified townsfolk were hurrying, all too intent to gaze skywards as the lads made their daring leap.

”Now we're safe for the present,” exclaimed Kenneth. ”We can even look over the parapet and see what's going on.”

”Right-o! only take your cap off. It might attract attention,”

cautioned Rollo. ”If we keep close to this pinnacle it ought to be as safe as anything, unless some fool of a civilian starts taking pot-shots at those fellows.”

From their lofty refuge the lads were enabled to observe the methods adopted by the Germans in ”holding-up” the town. With the cavalry were four armoured motor-cars in which were mounted quick-firing guns.

These were stationed in the square so as to command the princ.i.p.al approaches. Meanwhile most of the hors.e.m.e.n had dismounted, and had set off on various prearranged missions. Some proceeded to the post-office, where they destroyed the telephone and telegraph instruments and, as was afterwards ascertained, seized the sum of 10,000 francs from the safe. Others tore up the railway lines at the junction, thus interrupting communications with both Ha.s.selt and St.

Trond. This work of destruction they took care to achieve without the use of explosives, in order to avoid giving the alarm to the nearest Belgian troops.

Presently the lads saw a dignified man, whom they rightly concluded was the burgomaster, being led to the town hall. Outside the building floated the Belgian tricolour, and this his captors ordered him to haul down. He refused; they threatened, but their threats failed to move the stanch patriot. In the end, one of the Germans had to perform the task; but the invaders made a counter-stroke by compelling the burgomaster to hand over the keys of the town treasury.

This done, the Germans ordered a meal to be provided, and this they paid for out of the money they had taken from the authorities. Then, having loaded their booty on a couple of commandeered wagons, they prepared to evacuate the town.

”Well, up to the present those fellows haven't done anything that any combatant force wouldn't do,” declared Rollo. ”I suppose it is because the townsfolk kept their heads and didn't start firing at them from the houses.”

”Yes; but they're off. See, their vedettes are returning. I say, the coast is clear; let's make a dash for it.”

”Easier said than done, old man,” objected Rollo. ”Jumping across a five-foot gap is fairly easy when the landing-place is lower than the kick-off spot. Returning is quite another matter.”

”There must be some way down from these leads,” persisted Kenneth.

”Let's have a look round.”

Investigation showed that there was a means of communication between the roof and the interior of the _chapelle_ by a small door in one of the angle-turrets. The disconcerting part of the discovery lay in the fact that the door was heavily bolted on the inside.

”Why not try climbing down by means of the lightning-conductor?”

suggested Kenneth. ”It's bound to be fairly strong, and we have our motor-gloves to protect our hands.”

”Thanks, I'd rather try the jump,” declared his companion. ”But I'd much rather try an easier method.”