It was in the earlier days of the war and Antwerp, a city strongly fortified, had not been threatened, although every preparation was being made to receive the enemy if they did come. Barricades were being thrown up in the streets and the suburbs, and the thoroughfares were full of the queerly uniformed Belgian soldiers the boys had been so much amused at on their previous visit. Their amusement at Belgian soldiers had given way, by now, however, to admiration and respect for the sturdy little country of fighters that had managed to give a good account of itself against the most formidable army ever assembled.
The boys decided to seek out their good friend M. La Farge, the Minister of Government Railroads, who, it will be recalled, they had served on their first visit, and whose appreciation in the form of two handsomely engraved and inscribed gold watches were at that moment in Jack’s money belt, where he had luckily placed them for fear of robbery before they embarked on the Barley Rig. It was fortunate that he had done so, otherwise it is doubtful if they would have obtained access to his offices, where they found him overwhelmed with work. The sight of the watches, however, proved an “open sesame” to the Minister’s presence, and the boys—who had in the meantime provided themselves with new outfits,—presently found themselves warmly shaking hands with their old friend who was unfeignedly glad to see them.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE SKY SLAYER.
After the first greetings were over, Jack plunged into an explanation of their presence in Belgium in such stormy times. M. La Farge looked grave, but promised to do what he could through diplomatic and other sources to locate Tom Jukes.
“If, as you say, he has been traveling in state in a large auto, he ought to be easy to locate,” he assured them. “I will let you know what I have been able to discover to-morrow morning. Every auto entering the country is registered and its occupants kept track of. Rest assured I shall do my best for the two young friends to whom I can never be sufficiently grateful.”
Jack thanked him warmly for them both, and explained that while in London they had communicated with the American consuls in Paris and Berlin, but that nothing had been heard at either place of Tom Jukes being among the refugees beseiging the American representatives.
“Possibly I shall have better success. At least, we must hope so,” said M. La Farge. “Much of the telegraph system is still intact, fortunately. At least rest on my promise that I will do all I can.”
As they had already visited the American consulate in Antwerp, where they had obtained no news, the two boys found themselves without anything to do but kill time as best they could till the next day. As they had spent much of their time on the Dutch steamer in sleep, they did not feel like turning in early and so, at Jack’s suggestion, they visited a theatre. But it was a gloomy manner of spending the evening, as it transpired. The inhabitants of Antwerp were more interested in the bulletin boards announcing the inroads of the German troops than in entertainments. There was an air of anxiety and depression abroad that could not help but be contagious, and oppressed by the general atmosphere, the boys decided before the end of the performance to return to their hotel.
But Jack could not sleep. He lay awake tossing and turning for an hour or more. In the street he could hear the regular step and quick challenge of sentries. Occasionally, far off, came the sound of bugle calls.