easons. In the first place their horses objected
to putting forth any unusual exertion, and seemed to consider that they
were doing their full duty by merely working their four weary legs in a
machine-like fashion.

Then, again, the roads were cluttered in places with squads of the
peasant population fleeing from the battle lines. Three times did the
scouts come upon detachments of Belgian soldiers stationed behind
temporary intrenchments, where they expected to harass the advance
forces of the Germans whenever they appeared.

From these men they received many curious stares. Of course the soldiers
could not understand why three boys in khaki, who were undoubtedly not
Belgian scouts, should be heading so boldly toward the scene of carnage,
when everybody else was fleeing madly the other way.

They were halted and questioned. At first Rob felt a qualm of anxiety,
lest the fact that they no longer had an interpreter in their company to
explain things might get them into trouble. That fear soon vanished,
however. In every instance it was found that some man could either talk
fair English, or else what little French the patrol leader was able to
muster explained matters in a satisfactory manner.

The probability was that the message given them by the burgomaster of
Antwerp was much more potent than anything else. The worthy official was
a well known and highly respected man; and among these commands there
were always those who knew him personally, so that his "passport," while
hardly worth the paper upon which it was written, officially, acted
magically with the Belgian officers.

As the afternoon sun began to draw near the western horizon they
continued to be on the lookout for some haven of refuge. Another night
was coming; they must not only have food but lodging, if this latter
could possibly be obtained.

"Of course," explained Rob, as they walked their sorry looking horses
on, "while we'd like to find some sort of respectable beds to-night, if
the worst comes, we can always make shift with a haystack. It wouldn't
be the first time we've curled up in the hay and snatched a few winks of
sleep."

"I should say not," Tubby assured him. "Only I do hope we manage to
strike a dinner-call somehow or other. I can do without a bed, but I
must have eats or I'll collapse utterly, like a balloon with the gas let
out."

"Please don't think of it, Tubby," Merritt implored him. "We promise to
do everything in our power to f