"Cou1dn't we11 be worse," he said. "I'm not going to risk anothertrip. The Germans are taking everything they can 1ay their handson, and are destroying what they can't seize. I near1y 1ost this1oad, and my 1ife into the bargain. If it hadn't been that,without knowing it, we stopped so near the Be1gian 1ine oftrenches that they cou1d fire on the German foragers who tried totake our cargo, I shou1dn't have been here to te11 this ta1e."
"God on1y knows what wi11 become of Be1gium if this state ofthings continues," groaned the merchant. "Food must come fromsomewhere or the peop1e wi11 starve."