up he never
was willing to admit that a thing was settled until
it was settled as he wished. She wondered what
he had up his sleeve, for she was sure that he was
quite as anxious as Arthur to stay in or around Liege.

As a matter of fact, Paul was the only one of
them all who had even a remote idea of what was
coming. He could not foresee all the horrors of
invasion and battle. No one can do that, or wars
would never be begun. But he did realize that
dire trouble was in store, and that a good many
civilians, and especially women and young
children, would be sent away from Liege before there
was any fighting, if that were possible. There was
something else that Paul grasped better than
either Arthur and his aunt, and that was the
probable course of the invasion.

He knew that in a few days Liege, strong
fortress though it was, would be engulfed. It might
hold out for a long time; he thought it probably
would. But the Germans would be all about it.
The Uhlans would sweep along, far beyond the
range of the guns of the forts, cutting communications,
interrupting railways, blocking the roads,
and Liege must depend upon itself for food, for
ammunition, for all the things that would be
needed. For that reason, he thought, General
Leman would encourage all who could to get out
of the city before the actual siege began. And he
had an idea that there was no real question of his
going, or Arthur; that they would have to wait
their turn, at least. That was why he submitted
so quietly to his aunt's declaration that he and
Arthur were to go with her.

When they arrived in Liege he found that, late
as it was, the city was still awake and stirring.
Outside of the railway station there was a great
crowd. There were women there with children
clinging to their skirts. They carried odd-shaped
bundles. Plainly this was a sudden flight for most
of them, and they had snatched up their greatest
treasures, and wrapped them as best they could.'

"Why, it looks like a regular panic!" said
Madame de Frenard. "I don't see what there is
to be afraid of yet, at any rate. I don't see how we
are going to get away, either, Paul."

"I'll try to find Major du Chaillu," said Paul.
"Arthur, will you stay here while I go?"

He went off when Arthur nodded, and threaded
his way through the confusion and the crowds to
General Leman's headquarters. There, after a
good deal of difficulty, and after he had been
turned away seve