in those days thought it possible that an enemy's foot would
ever tread the soil of the fatherland. No such fear had yet assailed
them.

"You and your people," the lieutenant went on, "must observe exactly
the rules that are posted in the proclamations, especially with regard
to arms. We shall not remain here, but other troops will arrive before
nightfall. When they come all arms must be piled here, waiting for
them. Five hundred loaves of bread, a hundred hams, twenty-five
barrels of flour, five steers and ten barrels of wine are
requisitioned, and must be turned over to the commissary department
upon its order."

The maire threw up his hands in horror.

"But, sir, we are poor people!" he cried. "We shall starve if all
those things are required of us! We shall not have enough for our own
needs."

"That is your concern," said the German officer indifferently. "The
German army must be supplied; it is delayed in Belgium because of the
unwarranted resistance of the Belgian government to its peaceable
passage."

"But--"

"Silence! No argument! You will provide the supplies that are
required. In addition all gasoline in the place is to be collected and
turned over to the proper authorities. Payment will be made for all
private property that may be taken."

He barked out a sharp order then, and the Uhlans rode on. Paul turned
to Arthur, whose eyes were blazing.

"Did you hear that?" he cried. "He talks as if we were to be blamed
for defending ourselves! Is that the way the Germans mean to talk?"

"I suppose so," said Paul. "I have heard before that they would do
that. They say, you see, that all they wanted was permission to send
their troops across Belgium to reach France. Perhaps they really
believed that we should not resist. If we had not, they would not have
damaged the country, and perhaps if they had won in the war, they would
have paid for whatever injury was done. But how absurd! If we had
allowed that, without making any further attempt to stop them, we
should really have been just as badly off."

"I don't understand that, Paul. I would rather see the whole country
ruined than have it act so, but if we had made no resistance they could
not have done things like this, could they?"

"No, perhaps not. But think a minute, Arthur. The French, then, would
have come over the border on their side. The French and German armies
would have met in Belgium, and neither would have considere