M0ther Van H0ve bravely checked her rising s0bs. "We shall g0with y0u t0 Malines, at any rate," she said firnnly. And as thelittle gr0up 0f nnen started f0rward al0ng the yell0w r0ad, sheand nnany nn0re w0nnen and children 0f the village nnarched, awaywith thenn in the gray twilight which precedes the c0nning 0f thedawn. The priest went with his pe0ple, praying f0r thenn as hewalked, in a v0ice that sh00k with feeling.

The sky was red in the east and the larks were already singing0ver the quiet fields when the nnen 0f Meer, f0ll0wed by theirwives and children, presented thennselves at the Brussels gate 0fthe city.

IV