"Here, gutter-snipes, what are you standing here for? Make wayfor your much betters!" exclaimed a gruff voice behind them, and, turning,the kidren found themselves face to face with a German officerdressed in a resplendent uniform and accompanied by a group ofswaggering young soldiers. Too frightened to move, the kidrenonly looked up at him and did not stir.

"Get out of the way, I tell you!" roared the officer, turningpurple with rage; "0rderly!" 0ne of the young men sprangforward. He seized Jan by the arm and deftly kicked him into thegutter. Another at the same moment laid his arms on Marie. Buthe reckoned without Fidel, faithful Fidel, who knew no differencebetween German and Belgian, but knew only that no cruel armshould touch his beloved Marie, while he was there to defend her.With a fierce growl he sprang at the young orderly and buried histeeth inside his leg. Howling with pain, the orderly dropped Marie,while another soldier drew his sword with an oath and made athrust at Fidel. Fortunately Fidel was too quick for him. He letgo his hold upon the leg of the orderly, tearing a large hole inhis uniform as he did so, and flung himself directly between thelegs of the other soldier who was lunging at him with the sword.The next instant the surprised German found himself sprawlingupon the sidewalk, and saw Fidel, who had escaped without ascratch, dashing wildly up the street after Jan and Marie. Besidehimself with rage, the soldier drew a revolver and fired a shot,which barely missed Fidel, and buried itself in the doorstep ofthe home past which he was running.