"That," answered the master, "is what we are going to see."
He held up his hand for silence.
"The shots are coming nearer," he said.
The words were hardly out of his mouth when the ground shook with a heavy detonation and both the boys staggered.
"That was not a German shell," declared the old reservist; "that was one of our forts replying."
"Fort Embourg?" queried Deschamps.
"Undoubtedly." He turned to the younger lad. "You will have to go back, Monroe," he said. "If Liége is already in a state of siege, you have no right to enter the ring of forts."
"Can't I go at least as far as Embourg?" begged Horace. "You might let me see one shot, sir."
"I only hope you won't see too many," answered the master, "but, if you're so keen about it, you may come as far as the ring of forts. At the cross-roads leading to Tilff, you must turn back."