The Belgians to the Front | Page 6

all was not quite normal. From Fort
Boncelles a searchlight began to play. They had seen that light before,
but only when it was being tested or when there were manoeuvres in
progress. Now it seemed to have a sinister meaning.
"I think that means that there is war," said Paul. "They are keeping the
searchlight going so that they may be sure to escape a surprise."
"I think it's the Germans who will get the surprise," said Arthur,
confidently.
But most of the time they walked on in silence. Both were thinking a
good deal; thinking of what war might mean, and wondering what part
they themselves might play if it came. Of one thing they were sure. All
Belgium would rise to repel the invader, no matter what the pretext for
the invasion might be.
"Here we are," said Arthur, suddenly. "That's the house, Paul."
"It looks quite dark, Arthur. But let's go along toward it. Not by the
road--we'll cut through this field here."
This they proceeded to do. But suddenly, as they neared the house, the
ground seemed to give way beneath Paul. He suppressed a cry, and the
next moment he was vigorously turning back the treacherous ground
with his foot. Arthur turned on his light. And there, beneath the soft
loam, they saw a plate of shining steel.
CHAPTER III

THE HOUSE OF MYSTERY
Utterly bewildered, they stared down at the steel.
"Put out your light!" said Paul, suddenly. His voice was tense. "Keep
still a moment! See if you can hear anyone moving around near us."
They were absolutely still for a full minute, but there were only the
familiar sounds of the night.
"All right," said Paul. "Now you watch and listen while I dig down here
and see what this is about."
"Why can't I dig, too?"
"Because it's better for you to watch. Besides, I want to dig so that I can
put the earth back in a hurry, and fix this place so that it won't look as if
it had been disturbed."
Then he fell to, working silently and quickly, like a mole, digging with
his hands until his nails were torn and his fingers were raw and
bleeding. But Paul did not mind that. He had already made a guess, and
a shrewd one, as to the meaning of this strange discovery that they had
made. It was not long before he found that the steel plate extended for
only a short distance. Around this, and spreading beneath it, was a bed
of cement. As soon as he had satisfied himself of that, using Arthur's
flashlight, Paul stopped digging, and began carefully to replace the
earth. Then, calling on Arthur to help him, he trampled down the earth.
"There!" he said. "I don't believe anyone would know we had been here,
unless they were suspicious already."
"But what is it?" asked Arthur. "Paul, tell me!"
"I'm going to, Arthur. Don't worry. But come away from here. We don't
want to be caught around here--and, besides, there's still a good deal for
us to do."
Swiftly they made their way to the road, away from the cottage and the

field where they had made their discovery.
"Now!" said Arthur, after a little distance had been covered, stopping
short. "I won't go a step further until you tell me what that place is
meant for!"
"It's meant for a big gun--that's what it's meant for!" said Paul,
vehemently. "Can't you see? A siege gun can't be fired from a carriage,
or even from ordinary ground. The recoil would bury it in the earth if
they tried that. There's got to be a regular emplacement for it--a firm
base of concrete and steel, so that it will withstand the shock of firing!"
"You mean they'd mount a gun here?"
"I mean just that! It takes days, almost weeks, to do that. They have to
pour the concrete and let it stand until it's set. But here they've got
everything ready! They can bring up their guns, place them, and begin
firing, all in less than twenty-four hours! They must have been
preparing for this for months--perhaps for years!"
"The cowards! We've never done anything to them!"
"No, they're not cowards," said Paul, thoughtfully. "I suppose they
think they're right, and that as long as that is so, they are justified in
using any means at all to win. But I think we can put a spoke in their
wheel, just the same."
"I don't see how, Paul. There aren't enough soldiers in Liege to watch
every spot where there's a cross marked on these maps."
"No, but that's not the only way, Arthur."
"It's the only way to stop them from bringing up their siege gun, isn't it?
I know what the