They grasped hands as the attendant inquired about the boys.
"They are in my charge; come in. This is my cousin, Jacques," remarked Pierre, addressing the boys.
"But where are you going?" asked Jacques.
"Home to join the colors," said Pierre.
"You can go on this train, of course," said Jacques. "Why, you were in Berlin when I last heard of you. As for myself, I came over with the last load of troops from Huy, and if we find the road blocked to Liège we shall stop at Rivage and cross by motor cars to Huy—that is, if such a thing is possible."
The train rushed on for six miles without a stop. Then there was a halt and a long wait at Grand Halleux. Thus, at every telegraph station there was a wait, and it was nearly noon before the train had gone twelve miles.
They were still several miles from the junction, Trois Ponts, the main line of which led northeast to Liège, when the first disquieting rumors were heard by Pierre and the boys. The Germans had cut the direct road to Liège, below Tilft. Jacques appeared at the door of the compartment, and hurriedly said:
"We are trying to reach the main road and go north to Rivage. The trains behind have returned to Bovigny. We may be able to make it before their scouting parties can cross the country."
The junction was reached, and the train continued to the north without stopping.
Five miles north of the junction Ralph was the first to notice a peculiar moving dust cloud a mile or so distant east of the train. He called Pierre's attention to it. A turn in the road gave them a better view of the phenomenon.