CHAPTER XI
The Raid on Tongres
During the next few days events moved rapidly, the Belgians having toretire before vastly superior forces in point of numbers.
It so happened that on the Sunday, the 9th of August, Kenneth and Rollowere sent to Tongres with a message to the burgomaster, giving himinstructions as to the removal of the town treasury to a place ofgreater safety.
The place had little appearance of being in the war area when the twolads rode into it. The Belgian troops had evacuated it on the previousday, and since there were no signs of the invaders, the remaininginhabitants were almost at their ease. Many of them, dressed in theirbest, were on their way to church.
Alighting outside the town hall, the two dispatch-riders enquired forthe chief magistrate, only to be informed that he was in another partof the town on official business, but was expected back within an hour.
"Is there no way of sending for him?" asked Rollo of the member of theCivil Guard who had answered their summons.
The man shook his head doubtfully.
"It is just possible," he replied. "I will see my sergeant, and hewill doubtless give the necessary orders. Meanwhile messieurs mightlike to rest at the inn? Immediately upon the burgomaster's return Iwill see that you are informed."
"Not a bad idea that," was Kenneth's comment. "We'll put up the bikesand order a decent meal. Roughing it on active service is all veryfine, but there are times when one likes to have a slightly morecivilized table than that of mother earth. I wonder if we could get abath?"
Everest's hopes were not to be realized, for, with many apologies, thelandlord informed the British lads that he had nothing in the way of_dejeuner_. Bacon and eggs? No; he was without either. He might seeif his friend, Monsieur Jambonne, could oblige; but, in the meanwhile,would messieurs care to sit in the _salle a manger_? _Cafe au lait_?Yes; that would be ready in a few minutes.
Selecting two comfortable chairs in front of the wide-open window, thechums awaited the return of the burgomaster. There was plenty to beseen, for the townsfolk were still streaming along the broadthoroughfare, discoursing mainly upon the all-absorbing topic of thewar.
All at once the people stopped. Some of them turned and fled; othersbacked against the walls of the houses, or else took refuge in thehastily-opened doors.
"What's up now, I wonder?" asked Rollo, leaning out of the window onlyto retire hastily.
Trotting along the road was a squadron of German cavalry. The enemyhad made a totally unexpected raid upon the town of Tongres.
"It won't do for us to be seen," exclaimed Kenneth, "especially inuniform. And those fellows are particularly certain to make a bee-linefor the various inns as soon as they break ranks. Let's clear out."
Just then up ran the landlord, who had taken the precaution of closingand barring his doors, an example which many of his neighbours hastenedto follow.
"Do not remain here, messieurs, I implore you," he began in rapidsentences punctuated with excited gestures. "If the Bosches find menin uniform in my house they will be furious with me."
"All right," said Kenneth reassuringly. "If we can get our cycles outby the back way we'll clear off and give the alarm. Two regimentsought to be sufficient to trap these fellows."
"It is impossible to escape, messieurs. The Germans are holding allthe approaches to the town."
"Then what do you suggest?" asked Rollo calmly.
"The roof, monsieur; thence you can make your way along by the parapetsof many houses, till you reach the roof of the _chapelle_. There youought to be safe, unless these rascals take it into their heads to burnthe town."
"Very well; show us the way," agreed Rollo. "Only see if you canmanage to hide our motor-cycles."
Having shown the lads the exit on to the roof, their host left them totheir own devices. It was a comparatively easy matter to creep alongthe gutters, for they were hidden from observation by the parapets ofthe various adjacent buildings. The only difficult part of the journeywas crossing the gap between the end house and the roof of the_chapelle_--a distance of about five feet in width. Sixty feet belowthere was a narrow alley, through which several terrified townsfolkwere hurrying, all too intent to gaze skywards as the lads made theirdaring leap.
"Now we're safe for the present," exclaimed Kenneth. "We can even lookover the parapet and see what's going on."
"Right-o! only take your cap off. It might attract attention,"cautioned Rollo. "If we keep close to this pinnacle it ought to be assafe as anything, unless some fool of a civilian starts takingpot-shots at those fellows."
From their lofty refuge the lads were enabled to observe the methodsadopted by the Germans in "holding-up" the town. With the cavalry werefour armoured motor-cars in which were mounted quick-firing guns.These were stationed in the square so as to command the principalapproaches. Meanwhile most of the horsemen had dismounted, and had setoff on various prearranged missions. Some proceeded to thepost-office, where they destroyed the telephone and telegraphinstruments and, as was afterwards ascertained, seized the sum of10,000 francs from the safe. Others tore up the railway lines at thejunction, thus interrupting communications with both Hasselt and St.Trond. This work of destruction they took care to achieve without theuse of explosives, in order to avoid giving the alarm to the nearestBelgian troops.
Presently the lads saw a dignified man, whom they rightly concluded wasthe burgomaster, being led to the town hall. Outside the buildingfloated the Belgian tricolour, and this his captors ordered him to hauldown. He refused; they threatened, but their threats failed to movethe stanch patriot. In the end, one of the Germans had to perform thetask; but the invaders made a counter-stroke by compelling theburgomaster to hand over the keys of the town treasury.
This done, the Germans ordered a meal to be provided, and this theypaid for out of the money they had taken from the authorities. Then,having loaded their booty on a couple of commandeered wagons, theyprepared to evacuate the town.
"Well, up to the present those fellows haven't done anything that anycombatant force wouldn't do," declared Rollo. "I suppose it is becausethe townsfolk kept their heads and didn't start firing at them from thehouses."
"Yes; but they're off. See, their vedettes are returning. I say, thecoast is clear; let's make a dash for it."
"Easier said than done, old man," objected Rollo. "Jumping across afive-foot gap is fairly easy when the landing-place is lower than thekick-off spot. Returning is quite another matter."
"There must be some way down from these leads," persisted Kenneth."Let's have a look round."
Investigation showed that there was a means of communication betweenthe roof and the interior of the _chapelle_ by a small door in one ofthe angle-turrets. The disconcerting part of the discovery lay in thefact that the door was heavily bolted on the inside.
"Why not try climbing down by means of the lightning-conductor?"suggested Kenneth. "It's bound to be fairly strong, and we have ourmotor-gloves to protect our hands."
"Thanks, I'd rather try the jump," declared his companion. "But I'dmuch rather try an easier method."
"I'll tackle it, and then I can get into this building, ascend theturret, and let you out."
"No you don't," objected Rollo firmly. "If we cannot find a betterway, here we stop till the Germans are gone, and then we can shout forassistance."
But the restless Kenneth was far from remaining inactive. He continuedhis investigations on the sides of the edifice away from the view ofthe invaders.
"I have it!" he exclaimed. "See that spout? It runs close to thatopen window, you'll notice. If you can give me a hand I can lowermyself sufficiently to clear the bulging top of the spout, and the restwill be easy."
The scheme looked feasible, and Rollo made no further objection. Itwas risky, of course, but with ordinary caution Kenneth could reach thewindow after he had descended about ten feet of piping--which wasinfinitely better than climbing down sixty feet or so o
f copper tape.
Having secured a firm hold upon the spouting, Kenneth began to descendhand-over-hand fashion, although he took care to let his weight act asperpendicularly as possible, lest any outward thrust with his feetmight wrench the securing nails of the pipe from the cement.
Without mishap he descended until he was almost on a level with theopen window, the iron casement frame of which swung outward. Then, tohis consternation, Kenneth found that he had miscalculated thedistance, and that the upper edge of the casement was six inches beyondhis reach. At the same moment he became aware of the effect of hiscollision with the Uhlan. His limbs began to feel stiff and cramped.
Frantically he began to clamber back to the parapet, but the effort wastoo great. With a sickening shudder he felt the pipe working loosefrom the wall. For the first time in his attempt he gave a downwardglance that wellnigh proved fatal. The pavement, fifty feet below,exercised a horrible fascination.
"What's wrong?" enquired Rollo anxiously, for he could see by hischum's ashen-grey face that something was amiss.
"Can't reach the window," gasped Kenneth. "I believe I've strained amuscle, too. I must have a shot at climbing all the way down."
"Hold hard a moment," exclaimed Rollo. "I'll half-close the window andyou might reach it."
"Be quick, then," gasped his unfortunate comrade. "I can't hold onmuch longer."
At that moment he failed to see how Rollo could reach the casement,although his chum's confident assertion cheered him. He knew byexperience that Rollo rarely suggested a plan without being able tocarry it through.
Already Rollo was at work. Producing a length of stout string from hispocket, he removed his boot.
To this he attached the string, which was about four yards in length.Leaning over the parapet he lowered his boot until it dangled an inchor so before the iron rod that held the window open. A rapid upwardjerk and the casement was free to swing; a little skilful manoeuvringand the weighted string drew the hitherto unattainable window framewithin Kenneth's reach.
Perhaps the climber was over-anxious, and in consequence neglected toobserve the precautions he had hitherto taken, but as he swung off fromthe pipe he gave a heavy jerk. With a loud crash about ten feet of thespouting fell into the narrow lane.
Fortunately the casement held, and white and well-nigh breathless,Kenneth slipped through the open window just as three or four Germans,alarmed by the clatter, rushed up to ascertain the cause of the uproar.
"Steady!" cautioned Rollo as his chum opened the door of the turret."There are some Germans on the prowl. They seem a bit suspicious owingto that iron-work falling."
"They didn't spot you?"
"No, I took good care of that."
"Then we'll descend. This building is full of people; they think theyare safe, being in a place of worship. Poor creatures! they don't knowthe Germans."
"But the Germans haven't molested them."
"There is no saying that they won't. Fortunately the people haven'ttried to shoot any of their unwelcome visitors. Come, we'll descend."
As Kenneth had announced, the _chapelle_ was packed with terrifiedtownsfolk. Unnoticed, the lads made their way behind the altar, andgained the vestry. Here a small door communicated with the alley. TheGermans, having discovered what had created the commotion, werecontent; they had not troubled to find out the cause but had rejoinedtheir comrades in the market-place. The last of the pickets werealready back, and the raiders were on the point of retiring.
Gaining the courtyard of the inn, the lads made sure that the Germancavalrymen had, no doubt reluctantly, ceased to pester the troubledhost with their attentions.
"Your motor-cycles are safe, messieurs," announced the innkeeper."Ciel! Once those Bosches get wedded to the bottle----" and he threwup his hands and raised his eyebrows with a gesture of utter dismay.
Refusing any payment for his services, and charging only for thecoffee, the landlord escorted the two British dispatch-riders to yetanother door, opening into a deserted street.
"Take the third turning to the right, messieurs," he directed; "it willbring you on the high road. Yet I accept no responsibility; so takecare. The Uhlans--le diable les importe!--may be prowling about."
Having walked their cycles till they felt fairly certain that the noiseof the engines would not reach the ears of the German raiders, thedispatch-riders set off at a furious pace towards the position occupiedby their regiment.
Suddenly Kenneth raised his hand, at the same time stopping his motor.Rollo likewise dismounted.
"Uhlans!" whispered Kenneth.
A mile or so ahead were hundreds of cavalry, the men standing easy,while the horses were picketed in lines. Apparently the enemy hadthrown a strong wedge far into the position held a few hours previouslyby Belgian troops.
"If those fellows are acting as supports to the crowd that enteredTongres, we are nicely trapped, by Jove!" remarked Kenneth. "The bestthing we can do is to risk cutting across the fields, although,frankly, I don't relish the idea of making towards that woodeddistrict. It is too jolly favourable for an ambush."
"Half a minute," rejoined Rollo, unstrapping the case of hisbinoculars. "Let's make sure. Kenneth, old man, it's all right.These chaps are Belgian lancers."
In his excitement Kenneth almost snatched the glasses from his chum.
"You're right!" he exclaimed joyously, after a hasty view. "Let's pushon and tell them the position of affairs. They might be able to get alittle of their own back."
Three minutes later the two dispatch-riders were making a brief yetconcise report to the Colonel commanding the Belgian cavalry. As soonas they had finished, a bugle call, equivalent to the British "boot andsaddle", rang out, and the lancers were soon cantering along thehighway, followed by a mounted machine-gun section.
"We may as well see the fun, considering what we've done in thematter," said Kenneth, to which proposal Rollo raised no objections.Following at a discreet distance, they waited until the lancers halted;then, leaving their cycles by the side of a haystack, they overtook theBelgian troops.
Thanks to his intimate knowledge of the locality, the Colonel made hisdispositions skilfully. At this spot the road from Tongres to Liegeentered a shallow defile through which the returning Germans werepractically certain to pass. At a distance of two hundred yards oneither side of the road were clumps of trees and patches of thickundergrowth, affording admirable cover for a considerable number oftroops.
The machine-gun detachment was split up, an equal number ofmitrailleuses, screened with torn-up undergrowth, being placed on therising ground on each side of the road, their line of fire sweeping theapproach to the defile. With the guns were posted strong bodies ofdismounted lancers, armed with carbines. In a steep dip in the road,the hollow of which was invisible beyond a distance of a hundred yards,shallow trenches, sufficient to wreck the armoured motor-cars, weredug, the excavated earth being carefully removed so as not to betraythe presence of these obstructions.
The bulk of the lancers, posted out of sight, were ready at the word ofcommand to swoop down upon the rear of the German column and completethe work of destruction that the quick-firers and the rifles mightleave undone.
Hardly were these preparations made when the Belgian vedettes reportedthe approach of the raiders from Tongres, and that the column waspreceded by four men forming an advance-guard.
The Belgian Colonel gave vent to an exclamation of annoyance. He hadreckoned upon the Germans making use of their armoured motor-cars forthat purpose. Bagging these would be a material loss to the enemy,whereas the capture of a few scouts would be of very little value, andthe main body would be warned.
He immediately detached a dozen dismounted men, ordering them to lie inambush close to the road, and if possible to capture the scouts withouthaving recourse to the use of fire-arms. The men quickly took up theirpositions in a ditch lined with tall grass, and so closely did they lieconcealed that they were invisible even to their comrade
s on the risingground behind them.
Presently the German advance-guard entered the defile. They had dinednot wisely but too well, and, jubilant over the result of theirsuccessful raid, were sadly lax in the exercise of their militaryduties. Two of them had removed their helmets, which were danglingfrom their saddles. All of them, almost overcome with wine and theheat of the day, were drowsy.
Suddenly the Belgian ambush sprang to their feet. The startled Germanswere confronted by a row of rifles, levelled from a distance that wouldmake a miss almost an impossibility.
The lances fell from the nerveless hands of the astounded Teutons, andwith machine-like precision they raised their hands above their heads.In quick time they were disarmed, secured, and led away to the rear ofthe Belgian machine-guns.
Barely was this done when two more troopers--the link between theadvance-guard and the main body--rode up, only to be captured andsecured as their predecessors had been.
But, however lax the military discipline of the scouts, the commanderof the German troops was not to be caught napping so easily. Havingfailed to receive a signal from the advance-guard that all was well, hehalted his men.
The Belgian Colonel shrugged his shoulders. His keen insight told himthat the enemy was suspicious; yet, knowing that the German officerswere equipped with powerful field-glasses, he dared not order two ofhis men to give the supposed signal to advance.
"At what range is the head of yonder column?" he asked, addressing thecaptain in charge of the mitrailleuse section.
"Five hundred and fifty metres, Monsieur le Major."
Thinking it better to open fire upon the Germans, who were as yet inclose formation, rather than wait for them to extend and take cover,the Belgian commander was about to give the necessary order when thefour armoured motor-cars were observed to dash forward.
They advanced in pairs, ten yards separating the first two, with aninterval of about a hundred yards between the second and third. Thethird and last were the same distance apart as were the first andsecond.
To give the Belgians their due, although they had good cause to thinkthat their position had been divulged, they maintained perfectdiscipline and kept admirable cover.
Into the silent defile tore the first pair of cars, the gunnerstraining their quick-firers in readiness to greet a possible but as yetunseen foe. Down into the hollow plunged the first car. Its frontwheels dropped into the pitfall, and the next instant it toppledcompletely over. The second car tried in vain to pull up. The drivertugged at the steering-wheel; the heavy vehicle swerved, crashed intothe wreckage of the first, and instantly burst into flame.
The remaining cars, their occupants alarmed by the crash, halted. Theroad was too narrow to turn; to back at any rate of speed wasimpossible.
The valley now echoed and re-echoed to the rattle of the mitrailleusesand the sharp crackle of musketry. The armoured cars were swept by ahail of bullets that killed or wounded every member of their crew,while the German horsemen were greeted with a devastating fire thatthrew them into disorder. Some attempted to advance against the unseenfoe, others threw themselves from their horses and, taking cover,replied with a feeble and futile rifle-fire. The majority turned andfled in spite of the threats and efforts of the officers.
Taking advantage of the confusion of their foes, the Belgian mountedlancers were ordered to charge. In grand style they cleared theintervening ground, and, although several saddles were emptied, rodedashingly through the broken ranks of the invaders. In ten minutesthey were in possession of the field, with the bulk of the moneycaptured at Tongres.
"Ha!" exclaimed Captain Planchenoit when, an hour later, the twoBritish dispatch-riders reported themselves. "What is the adventurethis time? Have you delivered the message to the Burgomaster ofTongres?"
"No, sir," replied Kenneth. "We had no chance to do so. The Germanshave raided the town."
"Peste!" exclaimed the Captain. "Have they burned the place? Did theyseize the treasury?"
"They did little damage, sir. They took the money with them, but ourlancers ambushed them and recovered it."
"Just like our intrepid cavalry," remarked the Captain complacently."Well, you may go, messieurs. I do not think you will be required anymore at present."
But before the day was done both lads were required. An account oftheir part in the successful counter-operations had been sent to theColonel of the 9th Regiment of the Line by the officer commanding theBelgian lancers, and in front of their comrades Kenneth Everest andRollo Barrington were promoted to the rank of corporal.
The Dispatch-Riders: The Adventures of Two British Motor-cyclists in the Great War Page 11