As Kenneth, with parched lips and trembling limbs, returned with Pariset from that victorious charge, an officer of the general’s staff met them.
"This will never do, lieutenant," he said to Pariset; "we have plenty of brave fellows to man the trenches, but we haven’t too many airmen, and we can’t afford to risk them in field operations. You have no business here, you know."
"But wasn’t it glorious, colonel?" said Pariset, glowing.
"They are men to be proud of. But I am quite serious; get back to your corps; there will be plenty of work for you. Has this man no uniform, by the way?"
"They have run short, colonel," said Pariset instantly. "We will rig him up in a day or two."
"See to it. If the Germans capture a man in civilian dress they will shoot him at sight. Now, get back at once."
"I thought it better not to go into particulars," Pariset remarked to Kenneth as they went on. "There might have been a row."
"It’s just as well," said Kenneth. "But, I say, I think I’ll go into the infantry after all."
On returning to his headquarters, some eight miles west of the town, Pariset asked permission of his commandant to convey Kenneth to Ostend. He met with a peremptory refusal; he could not be spared.
"You’ll have to go by train," he said to Kenneth. "It will take you a long time, the railway is so congested with troops and refugees. Must you go?"
"Well, we’re short of men. I’d like to keep you. If I get you a sort of appointment, will you stay?"
"Rather! It might be months before I got a job at home."
"Then I’ll see the commandant again and try to arrange it."
When he returned half-an-hour later, Kenneth knew by his expression that he had been successful.
"It was easier than I expected," he said. "He was good enough to say that you’re just the man we want. He told me, too, that we have already accepted the services of two English airmen who have volunteered, so everything is quite in order. We’ll go into Liége and get you a suit of overalls. I am delighted."
After the necessary purchases had been made, they went into the Hôtel de l’Europe for dinner. The dining-room was crowded, and Kenneth, as he entered, glanced somewhat confusedly around the tables. Suddenly he heard his name, uttered in a low tone, and turning round in surprise, saw Granger beckoning him to a small table at which he sat alone.