The Belgians to the Front

The Belgians to the Front, by
Colonel James

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Title: The Belgians to the Front
Author: Colonel James Fiske

Release Date: July 16, 2006 [eBook #18838]
Language: English
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World's War Series, Volume 5
THE BELGIANS TO THE FRONT
by
COLONEL JAMES FISKE
Illustrated by E. A. Furman

[Frontispiece: "Unless you can prove that you are innocent, you will be
tried as spies," said the lieutenant.]

The Saalfield Publishing Company Chicago ------ Akron, Ohio ------
New York Copyright, 1915 by The Saalfield Publishing Company

CONTENTS
Chapter
I
A Discovery II The Marked Plans III The House of Mystery IV The
Flight V Pursuit VI At Headquarters VII The Fire VIII The Uhlan IX
War X Prisoners of War XI The Spy XII A Close Shave XIII The Civic
Guards XIV Submission XV The Butcher's Wife XVI The Wine Shop
XVII The Battle XVIII Victory

The Belgians To The Front
CHAPTER I
A DISCOVERY
In the great public square of the ancient city of Liege, in Belgium, a
troop of Belgian Boy Scouts stood at attention. Staffs in hand, clad in
the short knickerbockers, the khaki shirts and the wide campaign hats
that mark the Boy Scout all over the world, they were enough of a
spectacle to draw the attention of the busy citizens of Liege, who
stopped to watch them admiringly. Their scoutmaster, Armand Van
Verde, had been addressing them. And now in the fading light of the
late afternoon, he dismissed them.
At once the troop broke up, first into patrols, then into small individual
groups of two or three. The faces of the scouts were grave for it was
serious news indeed that Van Verde had communicated to the troop at
the meeting just ended. Paul Latour called sharply to his great friend,
Arthur Waller.
"Come on, Arthur," he said. "We'd better be getting along home. There
may be something for us to do."
"All right," agreed Arthur, cheerfully. He was a little younger than his
chum, and was nearly always willing to agree to anything Paul
proposed.
The two boys were not natives of Liege. However, they spent their
summers with relatives who lived in the country a few miles beyond
the limits of the famous old town, in the direction of the village of
Esneux. They themselves came from Brussels, and, while not
themselves related, were both cousins of the family which they were
now visiting, that of M. de Frenard.
So now, striking out with a good, swinging pace, they made their way
rapidly through the streets of the old town of Liege, narrow and
crooked, once they were beyond the great square. They passed over the

new Exposition Bridge and so to the new town of Liege, where the
great steel works of Seraing were beginning to cast red reflections
against the darkening sky.
"They have begun to work all night long," said Arthur.
"It's a good thing, too," said Paul, soberly. "If there is to be a war, as
Mr. Van Verde says, we may need all the guns they can turn out."
"But we shall not go to war, Paul! Belgium is neutral. All the powers
joined in declaring Belgium to be a neutral state. We have learned that
in our history in school!"
"I know that, Arthur. But will the Germans respect our neutrality? If
they don't, we shall have to defend ourselves against them. And the first
attack will be here, at Liege."
"Then these forts that Uncle Henri showed us will really be useful?
They are strong forts, Paul."
"I hope not. But just because there are forts there it is a sign that the
government has feared an invasion, Arthur. I hope that if there is war
we shall stay out of it. But Belgium has always been exposed to war
when her great neighbors fought. Some of the greatest battles in the
history of the world have been fought on our soil."
"I know! Waterloo was where Napoleon was beaten finally. We have
seen that battlefield, Paul, you and I. Do you think there may be a battle
there again? That would be exciting!"
"Waterloo was only