A hero too!
His trains were stopped; his lines were cut; he was ever in the midst of the Germans, but he kept his bright spirits happy, and when Jean ushered us all in to his little house that formed part of the railway station, he received us as if we were old friends, shook us all by the hand, and told us, with great gusto, exactly what he would give us.
And he rolled the words out too, almost as though he was an Italian, as he promised us a bonne omelette, followed by a bon bif-steak, and fried potatoes, and cheese, and fruit and a bon café!
Then he hurried away into the kitchen, and we heard him cracking the eggs, while his old sister set the table in the little dining-room.
We travellers all sat on a seat out in front of the railway line, under the sweet blue sky, facing green fields, and refreshed ourselves with little glasses of red, tonic-like Byrrh.
It was characteristic of those dear Belgian souls that they one and all raised their little glasses before they drank, and looking towards me said, "Vive l'Angleterre!"
To which I responded with my tiny glass, "Léve la Belgique!"
And we all added, "A bas le Kaiser!"
And from across the fields the noise of the battle round Ninove came towards us, louder and louder every moment.
As we sat there we discussed the cannonading that now seemed very near.