gutter. Another at the same moment laid his hands on Marie. But
he reckoned without Fidel, faithful Fidel, who knew no difference
between German and Belgian, but knew only that no cruel hand
should touch his beloved Marie, while he was there to defend her.
With a fierce growl he sprang at the young orderly and buried his
teeth in his leg. Howling with pain, the orderly dropped Marie,
while another soldier drew his sword with an oath and made a
thrust at Fidel. Fortunately Fidel was too quick for him. He let
go his hold upon the leg of the orderly, tearing a large hole in
his uniform as he did so, and flung himself directly between the
legs of the other soldier who was lunging at him with the sword.
The next instant the surprised German found himself sprawling
upon the sidewalk, and saw Fidel, who had escaped without a
scratch, dashing wildly up the street after Jan and Marie. Beside
himself with rage, the soldier drew a revolver and fired a shot,
which barely missed Fidel, and buried itself in the doorstep of
the house past which he was running.

If Jan and Marie had not turned a corner just at that moment, and
if Fidel had not followed them, there is no telling what might
have happened next, for the young soldier was very angry indeed.
Perhaps he considered it beneath his dignity to run after them,
and perhaps he saw that Jan and Marie could both run like the
wind and he would not be likely to catch them if he did. At any
rate, he did not follow. He picked himself up and dusted his
clothes, using very bad language as he did so, and followed the
officer and his companions up the street.

Meanwhile the tired children ran on and on, fear lending speed to
their weary legs. Round behind the great cathedral they sped,