before I'd been in Belgium two days. I always
said I liked cold weather best, and now I know it. Baked or stewed or
even broiled doesn't suit my taste."

"The fire next door is beginning to rage fiercely," remarked Rob. "The
people are just standing on, and sullenly watching it burn. They don't
seem to dare to offer to help save a single thing, because they might be
shot down."

"That house is doomed!" asserted Merritt, gloomily.

"Better keep back more," cautioned Rob. "The light grows stronger all
the while, you notice, and we might be seen up here by some Uhlan, who'd
think it fine sport to send a shot if only to frighten us. I thought I
saw one man glance up. If he happened to see that we wore khaki and had
on these military looking hats he'd pass the word along that there were
Belgian soldiers hiding in the inn."

"Please don't start a riot," begged Tubby. "It's sure bad enough as it
stands without that happening. If we had wings now we might sail away.
What wouldn't I give for an aeroplane to come along at this minute, and
pick me up? Rob, has our house taken fire yet?"

At first Rob did not see fit to answer, upon which the suspicious Tubby
pressed him to declare the truth.

"No matter how bad it is," he said soberly, "we should know the worst,
instead of pulling the wool over our own eyes, and believing
everything's lovely. How about it, Rob?"

"I'm afraid it's a bad job, Tubby."

"You mean we're on fire, do you?" questioned the other, with a hurried
intake of his breath, as his heart possibly beat tumultuously with new
apprehension.

"Yes, it's caught the end of the inn, and with that breeze blowing there
isn't a chance for this house to be saved," Rob continued. "I'm sorry
for the poor man who owns it; but then he'll be no worse off than tens
of thousands of other Belgian sufferers."

"But think of us, will you?" the fat scout urged. "We're neutrals only,
and it's a shame to make us stand for that foolish shot some sniping boy
may have fired. Hadn't we better make our way downstairs, Rob, and
throw ourselves on the mercy of the Uhlans?"

"I'm in favor of sticking it out just as long as we can," said Merritt
desperately; for only too well did he know that once they fell into the
hands of the Germans, all chances of carrying out his well laid plans
would be lost.

"Oh! so am I, when it comes to that," affirmed Tubby; "and I hope that
neither of you think I'd be the one to scream before I'm hurt. B