They couldn't see us with that hump between.
Go up the hill, and look along the road. You needn't let them see you,
of course; but I notice that you've got a pair of field-glasses along.
Follow the road with those until you come to a little break in the stone
wall that lies around a patch of field on the right. It is this knoll I
spoke of, crowned with brush. Watch that brush closely for a minute;
perhaps you will see the sun glint from the gun; or else one of the
hidden German gunners may move ever so slightly. That will tell the
story, captain."

The pilot of the armored car jumped out.

"I will do as you say, at least it can be no harm," he remarked hastily.

After speaking in Flemish to his companions, he started up the rise,
carrying the field-glasses and a revolver along with him. Watching, they
saw him get down and crawl the last yard or so; and then evidently he
found a way to level his glasses in the quarter under suspicion.

Five minutes later and he backed off, coming quickly down the little
declivity. The first thing he did was to grip Rob's hand and squeeze it
fiercely.

"I have to thank you for my life, and the lives of my brave comrades as
well!" he said with fervor.

"Then you found that what I told you was exactly so?" Rob asked.

"Yes, there is an ambuscade," replied the soldier. "They must have
suspected that we would chase after the army so as to pick up
stragglers, because that is our favorite game these terrible days;
anything to sting the snake that is crawling across our beloved country
and leaving death and destruction behind."

"You will not go ahead after learning what is waiting there, I suppose,
Captain?" Rob continued.

"Certainly not, my boy, because they have the range plotted out, and,
when we reached a certain spot, one shot would blow the car and the
three of us to pieces. Our play is to go around another way. But why
have you done this for us, when you say, as Americans, you must be
neutral?"

"I hardly know," replied Rob. "Up to lately we have not felt like
favoring either side, because we have many good German friends at home.
But what we have seen and heard here in Belgium is beginning to turn us
to the side of the Allies. You see, I could not watch you rush right to
your death, knowing what I did. Perhaps, if the tables had been turned I
might have warned a German pilot to turn around before it was too late."

"Well, you have done us a great favor, and we thank you,"