"They've got to strike before France is ready, because they can't use their whole army against France. They must keep a great many corps to use against Russia, or else Russian soldiers will get to Berlin before the Germans get to Paris. And their chance is to do it in the first few days of the war. France takes nearly a week longer than Germany to mobilize, and Russia almost a month longer than either France or Germany. You see what we will do at Liege and Namur is to hold up the Germans long enough to make up for their being able to mobilize more quickly."
The firing was dying away now; the heavy guns resumed their work, and the lighter machine guns were silent.
"I think they've repulsed the attack all right," said Paul. "That's why the fire has slackened. Come on! We really haven't so much time to lose."
So they struck off from the road, crossing into a field full of grain.
"It seems a shame to trample down this grain, but it's got mighty little chance of being harvested this season anyhow," said Arthur.
"Yes. The German army will advance this way probably, and, even if it didn't, I don't believe there would be men enough to garner the crop."
Suddenly Arthur stumbled. He had walked against a man who was lying amid the grain. Now the man started up with a cry. And they both recognized Ridder—the man who had dropped the all-important plans!