The Belgians to the Front | Page 2

one. Ramillies was fought in Belgium, too, and
many other battles. Even Caesar fought here. Do you remember the
place where he says that of all the tribes he conquered, the bravest were
the Belgians?"
"Oh, that's so! I'd forgotten that! But, Paul, you said there might be
something for us to do. What did you mean?"

"I'm not sure yet, Arthur, and I'd rather not say anything more until I
am. But I want you to slip out with me to-night, after dinner. We'll find
out then, for certain. And I don't want to tell Uncle Henri or anyone
else, and afterward find I was wrong. We'd be laughed at then, you
see."
"Then you have found something! Oh, tell me, Paul! I won't repeat it to
a soul!"
"You'll know all in good time. Do you remember that man who tried
the other day to get work as a gardener?"
"Yes, I do. Uncle Henri didn't have any work for him, but he sent him
to the factory in Seraing, and told him they would give him a job."
"That's the one. You know he said he was hungry, and that he hadn't
been able to get any work for a long time, so he didn't have any money.
Uncle Henri told the cook to give him a dinner."
"Yes, and I was sorry he didn't get a place. He looked as if he would
have been all right."
"Well, Arthur, I saw him again, last night! He was in Esneux, and he
seemed to have plenty of money, though he hadn't gone to Seraing to
get work. He was in Madame Bibet's wine shop, and he was treating
everyone. Do you know what he paid with?"
"No."
"A German gold piece! That's how I know about it, because Madame
Bibet had never seen such a coin before, and she was afraid it wasn't
good. So she came out, and when she saw me she asked me, and I told
her it was good, of course."
"Well, that's nothing, Paul. We often see German money here in Liege.
Isn't it like that in all places that are near a border? I suppose that on the
other side there is a lot of French money. Why, there is, even in
Brussels."

"It may mean nothing at all, Arthur. I hope it doesn't. But I think it's
funny that that man should be staying around so. He must have told
Uncle Henri a lie when he said he didn't have money. I'd like to know
what he's up to. I'd like to be sure that he's not a German spy."
"Oh, I never thought of that! A spy! Why should the Germans have
spies around here, though, Paul?"
"It's just the place where they would have them, Arthur. The forts!
They want to find out all they can about them. Boncelles is near us; so
is the fort of Embourg. They want to know if our people are ready. If
they come through Belgium, you know, they will want to get through
as quickly as they can, to attack the French."
"But I don't see why they should want to come through Belgium at all,
Paul. Why can't they leave us alone? They can attack the French along
their own border, I should think."
"They can. But the French know that, and they have their strongest
fortresses all along there, from Belfort to Verdun. It would take the
Germans weeks, months perhaps, to get past these fortifications along
the border, and that would give the French time to bring up all their
soldiers. And the Germans have to beat the French quickly this time, or
else not at all. They aren't fighting France alone, but Russia as well, and
their plan must be to beat France first and then turn on Russia. They
think that here in Belgium it will be easy for them to get around these
forts. If they once get behind them, the French will have to retreat. And
the Germans think that the quickest way to bring that is for them to go
through our country and so attack Paris."
"They ought to be stopped!" said Arthur, hotly. "England and France
would help us, wouldn't they?"
"France certainly would, because she would have to. And I believe the
English would help, too. I hope so. Because even if the Germans
promised to go away as soon as they'd beaten France, I don't believe
they would. They'd make Belgium a part of Germany."

"They can't do that! They shan't! Why, we're not German! We're a free
country!"
"Yes, but we may have to fight to remain free, Arthur. Free countries
have had to do that before. If there is war, I think we shall see the
Germans here within a