"I thought——"
But Alfred's sentence was cut short by a sudden commotion to their right, followed by a gruff order in German. Soon the sounds of galloping horses were heard, and a number stopped not three hundred feet away.
They did not move. Some altercation or explanation took place, the nature of which was not explainable at that time.
"I believe the road runs along there and crosses the creek where the troops are," suggested Alfred.
"I wonder what they are stopping for?"
A new order was given, and the command moved on to the west. In another instant two figures faintly appeared close to the stream, at a bend below them. They came on, directly toward them. The boys grasped each others hands. The figures were now only ten feet away, and the boys then saw that they were not enemies but friends.
"Don't be afraid of us," said Ralph, rising.
The men, thus suddenly arrested, started back, but quickly recovering inquired who they were.
"We are trying to get to Antwerp," said Alfred, "if the Germans will let us."