"And in Lanaeken?"
"I know nothing about that."
"Didn't hear either about it?"
"No."
Evidently he seemed to confide in me, and told me that they had been ordered to clear the north-east corner of Belgium of enemies, and that by and by they were going to march upon Lanaeken first of all.
When he was gone I gazed for some moments in silence at all these men and guns, destined to go and destroy by and by the heroes, who have done so much harm to the Germans, under command of the brave lieutenant Count de Caritat, burgomaster of Lanaeken. I thought of that brave Belgian from Dinant whom I met on his solitary outpost outside Lanaeken, and if I had acted according to my heart's desire, I should have sneaked away to the threatened point in order to warn those courageous men of the approaching disaster.
My mysterious companion touched my shoulder and asked whether we should not go on. "All right," I said, and we got in again.
At Tirlemont they were very busy rebuilding the burnt houses, although all day long the air shook from the heavy roar of the cannon near Antwerp.
I sent the motor back to The Netherlands, and went with my companion to the commander's office, where we got a permit to go on by military train.
From the side of Brussels many soldiers arrived at the station, who had all been wounded near Antwerp.