astened to tell him, seeing which way the wind was blowing, and
wishing to take advantage of the flood-tide. "It means a great deal to
one of my friends if we can find a certain man. You will allow us to go
on, then, I hope?"

The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders in real French style as he handed
the burgomaster's passport back.

"Yes, if you are that rash, young messieurs," he said. "We, of the
Belgian army, can admire pluck. You certainly have my best wishes."

"Oh! thank you, lieutenant!" gushed Tubby, who was relieved to know
that the enterprise was not fated to be condemned at the start.

Perhaps the time might come ere long when the same Tubby would be
secretly lamenting over the fact that it had been given a free swing.
But coming events do not always cast their shadows before; and just at
that moment none of the venturesome scouts could so much as guess what
awaited them in the disturbed country beyond.

They gave the obliging lieutenant a regular scout salute, which he
returned in kind. The paper had informed him that Rob and his chums were
members of the Boy Scout organization in America, so that the fact of
their wearing khaki uniforms was easily understood.

"I hope we have as good luck in skipping past every obstacle we run up
against," Merritt was saying, as they moved along the road leading from
Antwerp in the direction of the Belgian capital.

"Oh! we mustn't expect to be always as fortunate as that," said Rob. "I
believe in hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. It's good
policy all around."

"Something like we read the Pilgrim Fathers used to do in the good old
days when they used to ride to church with the wife back of them," Tubby
explained, "and every man carrying his gun along. Their motto was 'trust
in the Lord; but keep your powder dry!'"

"That's the idea," agreed Rob. "And so far, in all our tramps and
wanderings, we've managed to do our part fairly well."

"Let's hope this venture turns out as good," Tubby added, with a side
glance toward Merritt, for, of course, it concerned him more than either
of the others whether success or failure resulted from their trip
abroad.

That was only a beginning, for they were soon held up again. This time
it came about that the soldier in charge of the detachment could not
speak a word of English, so the guide had to exercise his ability in the
line of a translator.

So well did he plead, and explain that they were all good friends o