At a little cluster of houses, five miles south of Louvain, they found some food, and after breakfasting they again resumed the tramp along the main highway which led to Malines, ten miles away.
Before noon they reached the city where the Germans were. They had not been molested on the highway, but now, as they passed the gate, an officer gazed at them and commanded a halt.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"We are American boys, on the way to Antwerp," said Ralph.
"What uniform is that?" he demanded.
"Messenger service, sir," responded Alfred, as he glanced at Alfred.
"In whose service?" asked the officer.
Neither replied.
Motioning to a soldier, the officer said: "Arrest them."
They were marched to the great military prison, which was filled to overflowing with men and women. Two days thereafter they were taken out and marched through the town, past the great Cathedral. Crossing the open place they were taken westwardly along a wide street and turned to the left along a street that ran alongside a wide stream, which the boys afterwards learned was the Dyle.