"That is," corrected Tubby, "we expect to see Antwerp again if the
Germans don't gobble us up."

"I'd like to see them try it," remarked Merritt, with a significant look
at the ample proportions of the fat chum. "They'd have their work cut
out, as sure as you live, Tubby."

"Now, don't get personal again, Merritt," cautioned the other, holding
up a warning forefinger, "but as there are heaps and heaps of queer
things I'd like to poke into around this town, I certainly hope to visit
it again."

Half an hour afterward, mounted on scrubby looking horses, which would
have excited the derision of any respectable cowboy in the West, Rob and
his two chums, accompanied by Anthony Wallenhout, the Belgian guide,
passed out of the city, heading toward the east.

Before they had gone a sixth of a mile they found themselves stopped by
a patrol of soldiers, led by a young lieutenant, who, it happened, could
speak English.

"It is no use, messieurs," he told them, with a pleasant smile, but a
determined shake of the head, "you must face the other way and go back.
The enemy is in force in many places between Brussels and Antwerp, and
severe fighting is going on wherever our brave army has thrown up
entrenchments. Antwerp is the only safe place for any who speak English,
these days."

CHAPTER IV.

THE DAY OF THE BOY SCOUT.

"Now, wouldn't that jar you!" muttered Tubby, sprawled on the back of
his horse very much after the manner of a great toad. "Here we hardly
get started on our wonderful trip over the battlefields of Belgium
before we're held up, and told to fade away. Huh! talk to me about luck,
we seem to have lost our grip."

"Show him what you've got, Merritt," suggested Rob, who did not give up
quite so easily, because of a sudden snag in the stream.

"Oh! why, yes, how about that passport the burgomaster wrote out for us
himself? It ought to do the trick!" exclaimed Tubby, his sad look
disappearing like a flash, and an expectant one appearing in its stead.

The officer scanned the paper which Merritt handed him.

"At a time like this the burgomaster himself is under military orders,"
he told the waiting boys, "and if it happened to be a matter of much
importance I could not honor his request. It chances, however, that in
this case there is nothing involved except your safety. And you seem to
be willing to take the risk?"

"Yes, because we have a very important piece of business to carry out,"
Rob h