seemed to be to
throw caution momentarily to the winds.

They reached the door of their lodging in safety, and as they entered
Dale whispered triumphantly to his friend: "We've won the final too. By
George we have!"

* * * * *

Day was just beginning to break as the two friends left the town on the
northward side and made their way across country towards the Dutch
frontier. They carefully avoided the roads, and their progress was slow;
but it was sure, and as soon as they were well away from the
neighbourhood of the town they regained the roads and made more rapid
progress. Before the day was out they reached Maastricht, and Max found
his mother and sister safe and sound, though indeed in great distress.

The relief of Madame Durend at the return of her son from beleaguered
Liege was intense. The stories told by the numerous refugees from the
towns and villages of Belgium were so terrible that she could not be
other than most anxious for his safety. Now he had arrived, and had
brought, she soon learned, sufficient funds to enable them all to live
in comfort and security for a long time.

But it was not until Max and his friend unfolded their story that she
fully realized in what peril they had been, and at what cost they had
been able to bring the much-needed assistance. Their story was indeed
amazing. Schenk a traitor, and Schenk outwitted! Priceless German plans
captured, and funds that the enemy had hoped to secure removed from
beyond their grasp! Madame Durend could not but be proud of her son's
exploits, but it was a pride with many a tremble at the frightful
dangers run.

A fuller examination of their captures revealed to Max and Dale how
valuable their prize had been, and sent them both hotfoot to the house
of the nearest British consul, into whose care they confided the
precious plans, with instructions that they wished them handed over to
the British War Office without delay.

A statement briefly describing who the captors were, and how the _coup_
had been brought about, was drawn up and signed, and, in high glee at
the shrewd blow struck against Schenk and his Germans, they returned
once more to the lodging of Madame and Mademoiselle Durend.

A few days spent there in safety, and almost in idleness, were, however,
sufficient to make Max and Dale, and especially the former, restless and
dissatisfied with their inactivity. The onward march of the Germans,
their terrible u