Part 14 (2/2)
In quick time they were disarmed, secured, and led away to the rear of the Belgian machine-guns.
Barely was this done when two more troopers--the link between the advance-guard and the main body--rode up, only to be captured and secured as their predecessors had been.
But, however lax the military discipline of the scouts, the commander of the German troops was not to be caught napping so easily. Having failed to receive a signal from the advance-guard that all was well, he halted his men.
The Belgian Colonel shrugged his shoulders. His keen insight told him that the enemy was suspicious; yet, knowing that the German officers were equipped with powerful field-gla.s.ses, he dared not order two of his men to give the supposed signal to advance.
”At what range is the head of yonder column?” he asked, addressing the captain in charge of the mitrailleuse section.
”Five hundred and fifty metres, Monsieur le Major.”
Thinking it better to open fire upon the Germans, who were as yet in close formation, rather than wait for them to extend and take cover, the Belgian commander was about to give the necessary order when the four armoured motor-cars were observed to dash forward.
They advanced in pairs, ten yards separating the first two, with an interval of about a hundred yards between the second and third. The third and last were the same distance apart as were the first and second.
To give the Belgians their due, although they had good cause to think that their position had been divulged, they maintained perfect discipline and kept admirable cover.
Into the silent defile tore the first pair of cars, the gunners training their quick-firers in readiness to greet a possible but as yet unseen foe. Down into the hollow plunged the first car. Its front wheels dropped into the pitfall, and the next instant it toppled completely over. The second car tried in vain to pull up. The driver tugged at the steering-wheel; the heavy vehicle swerved, crashed into the wreckage of the first, and instantly burst into flame.
The remaining cars, their occupants alarmed by the crash, halted. The road was too narrow to turn; to back at any rate of speed was impossible.
The valley now echoed and re-echoed to the rattle of the mitrailleuses and the sharp crackle of musketry. The armoured cars were swept by a hail of bullets that killed or wounded every member of their crew, while the German hors.e.m.e.n were greeted with a devastating fire that threw them into disorder. Some attempted to advance against the unseen foe, others threw themselves from their horses and, taking cover, replied with a feeble and futile rifle-fire. The majority turned and fled in spite of the threats and efforts of the officers.
Taking advantage of the confusion of their foes, the Belgian mounted lancers were ordered to charge. In grand style they cleared the intervening ground, and, although several saddles were emptied, rode das.h.i.+ngly through the broken ranks of the invaders. In ten minutes they were in possession of the field, with the bulk of the money captured at Tongres.
”Ha!” exclaimed Captain Planchenoit when, an hour later, the two British dispatch-riders reported themselves. ”What is the adventure this time? Have you delivered the message to the Burgomaster of Tongres?”
”No, sir,” replied Kenneth. ”We had no chance to do so. The Germans have raided the town.”
”Peste!” exclaimed the Captain. ”Have they burned the place? Did they seize the treasury?”
”They did little damage, sir. They took the money with them, but our lancers ambushed them and recovered it.”
”Just like our intrepid cavalry,” remarked the Captain complacently.
”Well, you may go, messieurs. I do not think you will be required any more at present.”
But before the day was done both lads were required. An account of their part in the successful counter-operations had been sent to the Colonel of the 9th Regiment of the Line by the officer commanding the Belgian lancers, and in front of their comrades Kenneth Everest and Rollo Barrington were promoted to the rank of corporal.
CHAPTER XII
The Mail Escort
During the next few days the Belgian field army had no respite. Landen was occupied by the Germans on the 10th of August, and strong cavalry screens of the enemy advanced along the Dutch border to within a few miles of the capital. Other large bodies of cavalry threatened the Belgian right wing, and in consequence a retirement of the small yet determined army was necessary.
Two days later the Belgians gained a brilliant success at Haelen, where the Germans, incautiously attempting to force a pa.s.sage of the River Gethe, were driven back in disorder and with great loss.
Of this action Kenneth Everest and his companion saw nothing, having been sent on duty to the Belgian capital.
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