anything
like the truth, and was therefore taken completely by surprise.

"That all depends on what his motive may have been," said Rob
reflectively.

"Why, it's plain he got cold feet after that little experience at the
bridge this morning!" Merritt hastened to declare. "I thought he was a
man of more nerve than that. I hope all Belgians are not made of the
same kind of stuff."

"Hold on a minute, Merritt," Rob cautioned him, "you are jumping to
conclusions now without being sure of your ground. I've been watching
Anthony from time to time and I've noticed that whenever he happened to
speak of the gallant doings of his people on the battlefields his face
would beam with pride, and what I took to be a touch of envy."

"Oh!" said Tubby, grasping the idea, "then, Rob, you think our guide
shook us just because he couldn't hold back any longer. He thought he
ought to be on the firing line along with the rest, and get in a crack
at the invaders of his country. Is that the stuff, Rob?"

"I'm thinking that way," Rob informed him gravely, "but we've got no
time to look Anthony up. Whether he's gone to join the Belgian army or
turned back to the city of Antwerp isn't going to cut any figure in our
calculations."

"That's about the size of it, Rob," agreed Merritt, beginning to show
signs of returning confidence, when the patrol leader spoke with such
vim.

"What we've got to do is to figure out whether we want to call the whole
thing off just because we haven't a guide to do the talking business for
us and turn back to the city, or set our teeth together and push on."

Tubby and Merritt exchanged looks.

The latter even half opened his mouth as if to indignantly protest
against giving up the most cherished plan of his life for a little snag,
such as the desertion of Anthony proved. Then he suddenly closed his
lips firmly. He had remembered an important fact, which was that after
all he should not be the one to make such a suggestion. Let one of these
good chums, who were his side partners, express an opinion first of all.
That was why Merritt remained silent.

"Oh! we just can't quit at the first puff!" remonstrated Tubby. "Fellows
who have been through all we have shouldn't be built that way. Think of
the battles we've been up against on the diamond and the gridiron; and
did anybody ever hear us complain, or show a yellow streak? Well, I
guess not! Tell him how you feel about it, Rob!"

"Just as you do, Tubby," re