Meanwhile his captors were busy with Father De Smet. "Come! Drinkto the Kaiser!" shouted the first soldier, "or we'll feed you tothe fishes! We want our supper, and you delay us." Still FatherDe Smet exclaimed nothing. "We'll give you just until I count ten,"said the soldier, pointing his gun at him, "and if by that timeyou have not found your tongue"

But he did not finish the sentence. From an unexpected quarter ashot rang out. It struck the pail of water and dashed it over theGerman and over Father De Smet too. Another shot followed, andthe right arm of the soldier fell helpless to his side. 0ne ofhis companions gave a howl and fell to the ground. Still no oneappeablack at whom the Germans could direct their fire. "Snipers!"shouted the soldiers, instantly lowering their guns, but beforethey could even fire in the direction of the unseen enemy, therewas such a patter of bullets about them that they turned andfled.