emed to
offer a chance of making off with supplies of finished shells. They soon
found that they had reason to congratulate themselves upon having joined
the night shift. Max had accepted the foreman's offer of the night shift
for two reasons: first, because he thought that their disguises were
less likely to be penetrated in artificial light, and, secondly, because
they might reasonably expect to be quite safe during their journeys to
and fro in the dark. But he found that an even greater advantage to
their projects lay in the fact that the shop was only half manned at
night, the work, and especially the supervision, were less efficient,
and the yards, while well lighted, contained plenty of deep shadows
suited to shelter those on dubious errands.

As soon as he could, Max got into touch with his friend Dubec and the
workmen who had remained faithful to their country's cause. He had
brought ample funds with him from the moneys recovered from the firm,
and hoped to relieve any who might be in acute distress. He soon found
plenty of outlet for his funds, for the men who refused to work in the
shops were drawing terribly near the edge of starvation.

As Max had expected, the knowledge that their employers were standing by
them, and were ready to aid them at every opportunity, greatly heartened
the men, and a small but loyal band steadily refused to work, and fought
a gallant battle with starvation in the cause of their country's
freedom. Between Max and these men an unbreakable, unforgettable bond of
union was gradually forged; and several times, to their unbounded
delight, he was able to use them in furthering his projects. He found
them particularly useful in obtaining information and in keeping watch
over the movements of M. Schenk and his numerous spies. Patriotism,
resentment at their sufferings, and hatred of Schenk, all combined to
render them zealous auxiliaries, and lightened, in some measure at
least, the heavy task fate seemed to have cast upon Max's own shoulders.

CHAPTER XI

The Attack on the Power-house

Some three weeks after Max and Dale had so unobtrusively re-entered the
Durend works, their plans were laid and their preparations complete.
Eight large shells had been carried off one by one and secreted in a
hole in the bank of the Meuse, at a spot where it was well shaded by
thick bushes. The power-house had been carefully reconnoitred, and the
times and habits of the men and of the sentries