They approached and found the household already astir. As they ascended the steps, a young girl, probably sixteen years of age, came out on the porch.

"Can you provide us with a little something to eat?" asked Hal politely in French, doffing his cap.

The girl glanced at him, a puzzled expression coming over her face.

"I don't understand French very well," she said, in English.

"By George!" exclaimed Hal. "I thought so. That is," he apologized for his exclamation, "I was sure you were not French."

This time Hal had spoken in English, and a look of surprise had come over her face, followed by an expression of delight.

"I was sure you were Americans!" she exclaimed, and then added hesitatingly, "or are you--can it be you are English?"

"No; we are Americans, all right," Chester broke in; "but we certainly didn't expect to run into an American girl in this corner of the world."

"No; particularly at a time like this," agreed Hal.

"Oh, I am perfectly safe here," replied the girl "Uncle, who is a Belgian officer, has joined his regiment, and I am here with only two servants.

He wanted me to go to Liege with him, but I preferred to remain here. No one will harm me."

"But the Germans may come through here at any time, and then you would be in danger."

"Oh, no. Several German regiments already have pa.s.sed by, and some of the officers were here. They a.s.sured me I would not be molested."

"Nevertheless, you are likely to be. You can't tell what may happen."

"I am not afraid," replied the girl. "The Germans won't bother an American."

Remembering their own experiences, Hal and Chester looked at each other and smiled.

"I am not so sure," replied Hal; "but if you have decided to stay, I suppose you will. You see," smiling, "I know something of American girls."

The girl also smiled.

"I suppose you wonder who I am," she said. "I am Edna Johnson, and I live in Chicago. Mother was here with me, but she went home just before war was declared. I suppose she is worried to death about me, but I believe it is safer here than elsewhere, and I have heard Americans are having great difficulties getting home."

Hal and Chester introduced themselves.

After a few minutes Edna suddenly exclaimed:

"Here I am, keeping you chatting, when I know you must be awfully hungry.

Come with me and we shall have some breakfast."

The boys followed her into the house, where a hearty meal was soon set in the dining-room, and the three fell to with a will.

Hardly had they satisfied their appet.i.tes when there was the sound of many feet upon the porch. Miss Johnson glanced through the door.

"Germans," she said, with a smile; "but they won't bother us."

Hal and Chester jumped to their feet.

"We must hide, Miss Johnson," exclaimed Hal. "If we fall into the hands of the Germans it may mean death to us."

"What!" exclaimed the girl.

"Exactly. I neglected to tell you that we are attached to the Belgian forces and our capture would not only mean trouble for us, but would be a blow to the cause of the Allies."

The girl looked at the lads in amazement, but there was no time for words. There was a loud knock at the door, followed almost immediately by the tramp of feet within the house.

Edna acted promptly. Rushing to the side of the room, she pulled open a door to what appeared to be a closet and motioned to the boys.

"In here, quick!" she cried, and closed the door tightly.

As they pa.s.sed through the door the boys saw a flight of steps leading apparently to the cellar. Hardly had the door closed behind them ere the steps of the Germans were heard in the room they had just left.

They also heard the girl greet them pleasantly, and the gruff demand for breakfast. Edna called one of her servants, and gave an order that breakfast for the Germans be prepared immediately.

"It is too cramped here," whispered Chester. "Let's go down these stairs.

If we were to make a move here, they would surely hear us."

The boys descended the steps. At the bottom they emerged into what, upon inspection, proved to be a wine cellar. At the far side they saw another pa.s.sageway and moved toward it.

As they did so, they heard the door to the closet through which they had recently pa.s.sed open again, and a voice exclaim:

"I know these high and mighty Belgian gentlemen too well. There is always wine in the cellar. Come, Franz, we shall explore."

Heavy footsteps descended the stairs, and two German officers hove in sight. The boys, in the dimness of the cellar, were not seen.

"Quick!" whispered Chester, "into the pa.s.sageway."

As Hal followed Chester into the darkness of the pa.s.sageway, he tripped over some obstacle in the dark, which gave forth the sound of tinkling gla.s.s. The boys stopped stock still.

"What was that?" demanded one of the officers.

"I didn't hear anything," was the reply.

"I thought I heard something moving in the cellar."

"Probably a rat. Here is what we came after. Let's go back upstairs."

The boys heard the sound of retreating footsteps, and presently the door above slammed once more.

Hal and Chester breathed easier.

"Pretty close," remarked Chester, in a low tone.

"You bet it was close," was the reply. "For a minute I thought it was all off."

"Well, I guess we are safe enough now."