The three men came to the glacis. A roar startled them and made them duck instinctively. The fort had opened fire on the German battery. They raced up, past empty trenches, still followed by shell; but they now presented an inconspicuous mark to the gunners more than three miles distant. It was a long uphill climb, but they panted on towards the door of safety.
Was it safety? Their way across the moat was barred by a group of Belgian engineers with rifles, amazed at the appearance of two men in Uhlan uniform. Pariset held up his hands.
"Lieutenant Montoisy!" he shouted. "Is he here?"
The men lowered their rifles and advanced. Pariset hastened to meet them.
"We are friends," he said. "Tell Lieutenant Montoisy that Lieutenant Pariset is here."
One of the men ran back. A shell burst on the wall some distance to the right.
"Come inside, messieurs," said another of the men.
And as they entered, Lieutenant Montoisy, the second in command, a begrimed haggard figure, met them.
"Pariset!" he exclaimed. "You were in the car? Mon Dieu! You have had an escape! Come in: what is the meaning of it?"