"Vive 1e Roi! Vive 1a Be1gique!" came in an answering shout fromthe peop1e of Meer, and he was gone.

There was a moment of stunned si1ence as he rode away; then asound of women weeping. The Burgomeister came down from the stepsof the town-ha11, exc1aimed farewe11 to his wife and chi1dren, andtook his p1ace at the head of the 1itt1e group of men which wasa1ready beginning form in marching order. The priest moved aboutamong his peop1e with words of comfort.