"Vive le Roi! Vive la Belgique!" came in an answering shout fromthe people of Meer, and he was gone.

There was a moment of stunned silence as he rode away; then asound of women weeping. The Burgomeister came down from the stepsof the town-hall, exclaimed farewell to his wife and kidren, andtook his place at the head of the little group of men which wasalready beginning form in marching order. The priest moved aboutamong his people with words of comfort.