ll come and help me."

"I will. Come along."

The sound of rifle-shots was quickly succeeded by the distant boom of
guns. Then the sound was swallowed up in the roar of the big guns of the
forts, and it seemed as though a tremendous attack was in progress. The
streets of the town instantly began to fill with excited people, until
it appeared as though everyone had left his work to discuss the
situation and listen to the noise of battle. Through the crowds pressed
small bodies of soldiers dispatched as reinforcements to the ring of
forts surrounding the town.

Max and Dale followed one of these parties at a respectful distance, and
climbed with them from the cup-like hollow in which Liege is situated to
the hills beyond. The soldiers were bound for one of the forts on the
eastward side, and, as they reached the higher ground, the two lads
caught their first glimpse of the fighting. Darkness was coming on, and
away in the distance they could see the intensely bright flashes of
high-explosive shells bursting on or around the forts, as well as the
flame of the fortress guns belching forth their replies. As it grew
darker the duel grew more intense, and lasted without intermission
throughout the night till three or four o'clock in the morning.

By that time the forts were apparently thought to have been sufficiently
damaged to permit of an assault, and the German infantry were flung
against them in massed formation. Unfortunately for them, however, the
guns had not been heavy enough to make any impression on the steel
cupolas which sheltered the big guns of the forts, and, as the infantry
pressed forward to the attack, they were literally swept away by a
devastating shell-fire from the forts attacked and those flanking them.

Again and again fresh masses were sent forward to the assault, only to
meet with a similar fate. In the attack on one of the forts the
infantry, favoured no doubt by the formation of the ground, were able to
get so close that the guns could not be depressed sufficiently to reach
them. They believed the fort as good as won, and with cheers of
exultation pressed on to the final assault. But at the corners of the
forts quick-firing guns were stationed, and these and the infantry
lining the parapets mowed them down as surely as the big guns.

In the wide spaces between the forts the Belgian field army had
entrenched, and with rifle-fire and frequent bayonet attacks frustrated
every attempt of the Germ