would have believed possible, by the panorama that was being unfolded
before his eyes.

"If the ammunition of the Belgian batteries and Maxims holds out,"
ventured Merritt, "there won't be any German army left in this part of
the country. Their best troops are said to be down in France now,
fighting the Allies; but if these are only second or third class
reserves, I wonder what the really top-notch ones can do in a battle."

"They're weakening, let me tell you!" Rob startled the others by saying.
"Watch and you'll see that they don't advance as fast as before. Perhaps
the general in charge has found that the trenches can't be taken by a
direct charge. They're going to fall back, and let the artillery start
in again! The first part of the terrible battle is over, for there the
Germans begin to scatter, and run, to get out of range of the Maxims!"

"And the plucky Belgians have won again!" Merritt declared as though
almost tempted to join in the cries of satisfaction that were beginning
to rise from those of the villagers who were clustered close by,
intensely interested spectators of the thrilling spectacle just enacted.

"And there's that old Zeppelin still swinging around up in the sky,"
remarked Tubby. "For all the information they were able to signal down,
the Germans couldn't take the Belgian trenches. When they got the wire
entanglements they were blocked."

"But unless I miss my guess," exclaimed Merritt, "the Zeppelin will have
to get on the run pretty quick or it'll find there's a little war
brewing in the sky, because I can see a couple of aeroplanes rising from
back of the Belgian lines!"

CHAPTER XVII.

THE BADGE OF COURAGE AND MERCY.

"It seems like we were to be treated to about everything there is going
in the way of up-to-date fighting!" said Tubby, who was having some
difficulty in craning his fat neck, to look toward where the wonderful
airship was still making enormous circles above the battle lines.

"Are you sure they are Belgian aeroplanes?" asked Merritt, who had been
attentively observing the ascending fliers.

"They came up from behind the line of trenches," replied Rob, "and that
makes it look as if they couldn't be German machines. Besides, the
invaders all use a model that is called a Taube, which is different from
these."

"But why d'ye suppose they didn't climb up before now, and tackle that
monster Zeppelin, so as to put it out of business, or chase it off?"
inquired