What?" The major spun around and stared at them.

Paul repeated the statement, and produced the packet of papers they had
gone through so much to retain.

"We didn't know what these marks meant," he explained. "So we decided
to try to find out. And when we reached the place that was marked on
this map we found not only a concrete and steel foundation for a big
gun, but some smaller guns, all ready to be assembled and a store of
ammunition."

"Tell me exactly what happened," said du Chaillu. But already he was
comparing the sketch maps Paul had given him with his own big wall map,
and was using his compasses and other instruments to determine ranges
and distances. His eyes were shining, too. Busy as he was, however,
he listened attentively.

"That was well done--well done, indeed!" he said, heartily. "You will
hear more of this, I promise you, and from those whose praise will mean
more than anything I can say. I shall take you at once to General
Leman, although there are positive orders that he is not to be
disturbed."

And so in a few minutes they found themselves in the presence of the
heroic defender of Liege, the kindly faced, middle aged general who was
to win a European, a world-wide reputation, indeed, in the course of
the next few days. He heard du Chaillu's report; then he questioned
both the scouts.

"You have served Belgium well to-day," he said, finally. "I shall
report your conduct to His Majesty the King. Major, see to it that
these boys reach their homes in safety, and if an escort is needed, or
any other help, to enable them and their relatives to reach a place of
safety, supply it. I shall see you again, I hope, my boys!"

"What we discovered will really prove useful, then?" asked Paul, when,
with the major, they had left General Leman.

"Useful?" exclaimed the major. "Eh--but yes! Listen! What you have
found is the location of all the heavy guns that will soon be
thundering at our brave forts. Now we shall know just where those guns
are. We can give the gunners the exact range, the exact spot at which
to drop their shells. We shall put their heavy pieces out of business.
Do you see? If you had not brought us this word we might have wasted
many shots trying to do that. We should have sent up aeroplanes, we
should have guessed by the smoke and the reports just where their guns
were placed. But now we need not guess; we need risk nothing to learn
the truth. We know it in adv