But what I have in mind calls for quick wits rather than
for strong arms, although I know you have both. I will go now and speak
to the general."
"All right," replied Hal. "In the meantime, Chester and I will go out and
look around the town."
Everywhere, as the boys strolled about the streets, preparations to
withstand a siege were being made; but everything was being done quietly
and without confusion. The great steel forts, some of them practically
isolated, were subjects of great interest to the lads.
"I'll bet the Germans have a hard time capturing this place," remarked
Hal, as they examined one of the forts.
"Yes," agreed Chester, "as the battle of the _Monitor_ and the
_Merrimac_, in Hampton Roads, in our own civil war was the first battle
between iron ships, so will an attack on these forts be the first in
which such impregnable defenses will be tried out. I was reading about
them long before war was declared."
"And I believe the Germans are making a sad mistake when they say the
Belgians can't fight," said Hal.
"You bet they are. They will fight till the last. Do they look like
people who would give up without a struggle? Look at the way those
fellows who captured us turned to face the Uhlans, knowing that, unless
reinforced, they were bound to be slaughtered."
"Right. Which reminds me we were in a ticklish position ourselves for a
few minutes."
"You bet we were."
As the boys continued their walk, almost on every hand they were mistaken
for English, and time after time they were accosted with the question:
"When are the English coming?"
Suddenly the lads were attracted by the sounds of great confusion down a
side street.
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