t at Fidel. Fortunately Fidel was too quick for him. He let
go his hold upon the leg of the orderly, tearing a large hole in his
uniform as he did so, and flung himself directly between the legs of
the other soldier who was lunging at him with the sword. The next
instant the surprised German found himself sprawling upon the sidewalk,
and saw Fidel, who had escaped without a scratch, dashing wildly up the
street after Jan and Marie. Beside himself with rage, the soldier drew
a revolver and fired a shot, which barely missed Fidel, and buried
itself in the doorstep of the house past which he was running.

If Jan and Marie had not turned a corner just at that moment, and if
Fidel had not followed them, there is no telling what might have
happened next, for the young soldier was very angry indeed. Perhaps he
considered it beneath his dignity to run after them, and perhaps he saw
that Jan and Marie could both run like the wind and he would not be
likely to catch them if he did. At any rate, he did not follow. He
picked himself up and dusted his clothes, using very bad language as he
did so, and followed the officer and his companions up the street.

Meanwhile the tired children ran on and on, fear lending speed to their
weary legs. Round behind the great cathedral they sped, hoping to find
some way of escape from the terrors of the town, but their way was
blocked by the smoking ruins of a section of the city which the Germans
had burned in the night, and there was no way to get out in that
direction. Terrified and faint with hunger, they turned once more, and,
not knowing where they were going, stumbled at last upon the street
which led to the Antwerp gate.

"I remember this place;" cried Jan, with something like joy in his
voice. "Don't you remember, Marie? It's where we stood to watch the
soldiers, and Mother sang for us to march, because we were so tired and
hungry."

"I'm tired and hungry now, too," said poor Marie.

"Let's march again," said Jan.

"Where to?" said Marie.

"That's the way Father went when he marched away with the soldiers,"
said Jan, pointing to the Antwerp gate. "Anything is better than
staying here. Let's go that way." He started bravely forward once more,
Marie and Fidel following.

They found themselves only two wretched atoms in one of the saddest
processions in history, for there were many other people, as unhappy as
themselves, who were also trying to escape from the city. Some had
lived