other places; or in the destruction
of Louvain.

"Rob, don't you see they're heading right this way?" whispered Tubby
suddenly, after they had watched the stirring picture for a minute or
so.

"Yes, that's a fact," replied Rob. "Let's hope they mean to only ride
through the village, and leave by the other side."

"Gee! I hope now they won't fall in love with our horses, and run them
off!" ventured Tubby, excited by his fears in that respect; for Tubby
did not like to walk any more than he could possibly help.

"Not much danger in that line," scoffed Merritt. "But look at that
officer in front of the column--he's pointing right this way, you
notice, Rob, and is saying something to another rider close behind him."

"Oh! can he have seen us?" wailed Tubby, no doubt having very positive
visions of prison life before him just then, with solitary confinement
on a diet of bread and water, which was the worst punishment he could
imagine.

"That's impossible," Rob instantly assured him. "The chances are he's
discovered this inn, and is telling the other officer they may be able
to secure something to eat, and a bottle of wine here. Their men can
pick up supper through the place, making the poor people furnish the
meal, or have their houses knocked about their ears."

"But if they come in here do we want to stay and be arrested for English
spies?" asked Merritt; whereat Tubby's lips could be seen to move,
although no words came forth, while he anxiously waited for Rob to
decide.

The other had already made up his mind.

"That would be foolish on our part," he told Merritt, "and unnecessary
in the bargain. They may only stop for five minutes to drink wine, and
then go on again, because they know they're in the enemy's country here.
We must find a place to hide till they leave. Come along with me,
fellows."

Now it happened that Rob had never forgotten one of the things all
scouts are enjoined to impress upon their minds; which is to observe the
most minute detail wherever they happen to be. In the woods this faculty
for observation had often served the patrol leader a good turn, and the
same thing happened now.

While sitting there and enjoying the warm supper which the keeper of the
village inn had spread before them, Rob had taken note of his
surroundings. Thus he knew just where the stairs leading to the upper
_etage_ or floor of the inn was located; and also that it could not be
easily seen from the door leadin