Part 33 (2/2)
The terrified horses stampeded; the German troops, temporarily thrown into disorder, ran for shelter; while those of the civil population who did not take refuge in their cellars poured out into the streets and fled towards the open country.
”Rollo, old man, let's make a dash for it.”
The idea of taking advantage of the air raid in order to effect their escape had not until that moment entered Kenneth's head. Both he and Rollo, temporarily dazed by the explosion, had thought only of getting clear of the subsiding building.
Everything was in their favour. Scaling a low brick wall, they found themselves in the company of about forty panic-stricken inhabitants.
In the confusion no one noticed the two hatless lads, for before they had gone fifty yards they ran past a squad of German troops, who, under the threats of their officers, were engaged in coupling up a hose to play upon a fire kindled by the explosion of one of the destructive missiles.
”Keep with the crowd,” advised Rollo. ”We're safe enough. The monoplane has made off by this time.”
The street emerged into a wide thoroughfare, where the throng of people was greatly increased; but after a while, finding that there were no more detonations, the crowd began to thin, many of the townsfolk returning to their homes. A few, however, numbering perhaps forty, unable to control their fear, ran blindly towards the open country, and with them went the two British lads.
”It's about time we struck a line for ourselves,” whispered Kenneth.
”Not yet; we'll stick to the main road,” said his companion. ”These people know their way; we don't, and it's no fun blundering across ditches and marshy fields on a night like this. I wish we had our coats.”
”Being without them is an inducement to keep on the move,” remarked Everest. ”If we have to stand about or hide anywhere it will be a numbing business. The question is, what's our plan?”
”Keep as far as possible in a northerly or northwesterly direction after we find ourselves alone. That ought to land us in Dutch territory before morning. It's only a matter of twenty miles.”
”And if we are held up?”
”Then we must hide during the day. It wouldn't be worth a dog's chance to fall in with any Germans.”
The lads had been conversing in French, lest their whispers should be overheard by the hurrying crowd. Amongst that number of Belgians there might be a spy, and the incautious use of English would be fatal to the enterprise. But before two miles had been traversed the two British lads were alone. The rest of the crowd, finding that the explosions had entirely ceased, had either retraced their steps or had awaited possible developments.
Taking their direction by means of the position of the North Star, for the night was now quite cloudless, the fugitives pushed on. They had no fear of pursuit, since, by the demolition of their place of detention, the German authorities were bound to come to the conclusion that their prisoners had been buried under the ruins.
It was too hazardous to attempt to follow the road farther. From their local knowledge the lads knew that it led to Julimont and Vise, and that the valley of the Meuse, especially on the Dutch frontier, would be strictly guarded.
”Railway ahead!” whispered Kenneth.
Outlined against the starry sky was a low embankment, fringed with the characteristic telegraph poles of the Belgian state railways. Directly in their path was a culvert, on the top of which were the silhouetted figures of three greatcoated soldiers. On the other side of the embankment a fire was burning brightly, its glare alone betraying its position.
The fugitives promptly retraced their steps for nearly two hundred yards, then striking off at right angles kept parallel to, and at a fairly safe distance from, the railway line.
”We'll have to cross that line,” whispered Kenneth. ”It runs between Liege and Aix, I believe.”
”Let's hope the whole extent of it isn't guarded.”
”Only the bridge and culverts; but you can take it for granted that they patrol between the various posts of sentries. Carry on, old man; another half a mile and we'll try again.”
A short distance farther the fugitives encountered the main road from Liege to the German town of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was quite deserted, but beyond it they had to turn slightly to the right to avoid the railway, which ran in a north-easterly direction.
”Why not have a shot at it?” asked Kenneth.
”Not yet. It will run in a northerly direction again. I noticed that in the map. We must cross, if possible, somewhere to the south of Aubel. It is still early in the evening. The nearer midnight we make the attempt the better.”
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