hur, his
eyes shining. "Oh, Aunt Claire, we've done so
many wonderful things to-night!"

So he let the cat out of the bag, and, with so
much of a start, Madame de Frenard was not
satisfied until she had the whole story out of them.
She caught her breath when she heard of the shots
that had been fired at them, but she looked very
proud and happy, too.

"Oh, that was splendid!" she cried. "We may
be a little nation, we Belgians, but we can meet
them when even our boys can defy them and outwit
them so magnificently! Now I know that I can
trust you! Paul, it is as if your uncle were here!
You shall take his place, and I shall do whatever
you say is right."

Paul grew red, and embarrassment checked his
speech for a moment.

"It was just luck, of course," he said, confusedly.
"Anyone could have done what we did, you
know. But I'm glad you'll go on to Brussels,
Aunt Claire, and I think Major du Chaillu will be
glad to make the arrangements, before the railway
is interrupted. I will go now and get out the carriages."

"Very well, Paul, do so. It is lucky that we
have those left, at any rate."

Paul and Arthur helped the men to get out the
carriages and harness the horses, frightened by
the noise and confusion of the fire. And Paul and
Arthur, too, rode in the carriage that took their
aunt and her maid into Liege.

"I didn't think we would be coming back to
Liege quite so soon," said Arthur, a little ruefully.
"This isn't as exciting as the first trip we made
to-night, either."

"No, but I think it's safer," said Paul, rather
dryly. "And there'll be more than enough excitement
to make up for it when the Germans come, Arthur."

"Oh, I suppose so!"

"I am going to take you two boys to Brussels
with me," said Madame de Frenard, suddenly.

Paul was quiet at that; it was Arthur who cried
out in vigorous protest.

"Oh, no, Aunt Claire!" he exclaimed. "There's
so much for us to do here!"

"There will be plenty for you to do in Brussels,"
she said, with decision. "It's settled. I
can't allow you to stay here if it isn't safe for me."

Arthur looked to Paul for help, but Paul only
smiled. His aunt looked at him curiously.

"So you are willing to go without arguing,
Paul?" she asked.

"You said it was settled, Aunt Claire," he
replied. "If a thing is settled, there is no use in
arguing about it, is there?"

She smiled faintly. She knew Paul well enough
to know that when his mind was made