That, however, proved to be impossible. Sentries were posted all about the village, and new notices had been added to those the Uhlans had posted earlier in the day, forbidding anyone to leave Hannay until permission was given by the officer in command of the German troops.
"I could laugh if it weren't so unpleasant!" declared Paul. "These poor people, whose village would be in ruins now except for us, think we have betrayed them! And the Germans would send us home as prisoners, if we were lucky, if they even guessed that it was because of us that they were kept from taking Liege in their first attack!"
"The only one who gave us so much as a friendly look was the wife of Raymond, the butcher," said Arthur, thoughtfully.
"Did you see that? So did I! I think perhaps he has got his courage back and has frightened her—but she was on our side this morning, too. Perhaps if we could see her alone, a little later, she would sell us some food. I tell you what we will do. We will watch to see if he does not go out, and then if the coast is clear, we will try her again."
"Yes. Paul, I shall never let them send a beggar away who asks for food if we ever get home! I know now how they must feel."
The two scouts were in no danger of starvation, of course, and they were plucky enough, as they had certainly proved, to be able to endure a little discomfort if it were necessary. But they suffered the more from their hunger because there was nothing for them to do. Until the Germans revoked the order that kept them from leaving Hannay, they could not make a move toward giving the proper authorities the information they possessed. And so they tried to be patient while they watched for Raymond to go out in the dusk that was now beginning to fall.
They saw him several times, when men came to his shop and went in to talk to him. And at last, when it was almost dark, he emerged, looking stealthily about him as he came into the street, perhaps for German soldiers. There were none near by. All save the sentries were gathered together about a great fire that they had built, and were singing while the busy camp cooks prepared their supper for them. This was the first time that Paul and Arthur had heard German troops singing. They were to learn, before long, that that was their usual custom when they were off duty.
Now, as soon as the butcher was well out of sight—he had gone, they noticed, in the direction of the barricade he had caused to be built—the scouts went quickly to his place and went in. There was one light placed by the door, but at first they could not see his wife. Then they heard the sound of someone sobbing, and called. It was the woman who had helped them in the morning.
"Oh!" she said, chokingly. "It is you! I hoped you would come—poor boys! Here is a parcel of bread and meat I hid for you. Oh, I am in such trouble!"
"Why? What is the matter?" asked Paul.