Ralph protested, but Alfred had his way as they sped down the road. The official envelope, and the special uniforms of the boys, were sufficient to clear the way. On and on they sped to their destination. At the forks of the road Alfred turned to the right, and held up his hand as a parting salute.
When Alfred left Ralph he felt a sense of responsibility which had never come to him before. If he had known that not an hour before a strong patrol of German cavalry had passed along that road, he might have been cautious, and possibly apprehensive, but in his ignorance he felt exultant and happy.
His one thought was to reach the command at Racour, and so his machine was speeded to the limit. Mile after mile was covered, and people stared at him as he passed. It seemed strange to him that he did not meet with a patrol, in that long stretch after he had left Jean and crossed the railroad line which runs from Liège to Tirlemont. He knew that he must be within two kilometers of Racour, when he saw ahead of him the unmistakable dust of approaching horsemen. To the left, and coming up what was undoubtedly a road at right angle to the one on which he was traveling, was another cloud of dust.
Like a flash it occurred to him that the Uhlans might be there. But what about those in front. Then he recalled that he had met no patrols and this puzzled him. He remembered how the peasants looked at him in astonishment as he went by, and the terror of doubt was upon him.
He slowed down his machine. And now, for the first time, he looked behind him. To his amazement he saw the outlines of a half dozen men, with the characteristic spiked helmet, and at once knew who they were. Here was a situation fraught with danger. As he approached the crest of a little hill he turned his machine aside, so that in going back across the road he could obtain a better view of his pursuers.
The troops coming up from the south must be Germans, but he was not sure of those ahead of him on the road. He speeded up, and catching sight of some peasants, beckoned to them, and they came across the fields.
"Who are the horsemen coming up from the south?" he hurriedly asked.
"They are Germans. They have been all along this road this forenoon."
"Do you know what troops are in front?" asked Alfred.
"We think they are our people," was the reply.