“You’ve got me,” declared Chester, “but there must be someone around some place.  Let’s go up to the general’s quarters.”

Now, when the soldiers and civilians had been ordered to leave the fort, no one knew it was General Simon’s intention of blowing it up.  They thought he was abandoning it because he believed it no longer capable of resistance.  But the commander had planned more deeply and heroically.  He did not intend the fort to fall into the hands of the enemy, that they might repair it and turn its guns against his countrymen.

“A German flag shall never wave over this fort,” he had muttered to himself.

The general was sitting calmly at his desk, awaiting the end, when the lads entered his room.  He sprang to his feet with an exclamation.

“Leave the fort instantly!” he commanded.  “Waste a moment and you are as good as dead!”

Hal and Chester stared at him in surprise.

“I have fired the magazine, and the fort will be blown to pieces in a few minutes,” said the general hastily.  “Fly for your lives!”

“But you, general?” demanded Hal, quietly.

“I?  I shall die at my post!  But go, instantly!  You have not a moment to lose!”

“We shall go when you do, general!” said Chester.

The old commander whipped a revolver from the table before him.  He leveled the weapon at Hal.

“If you do not go immediately, I shall fire!” he threatened.

Hal smiled.

“The result would be no different than that of the explosion,” he said quietly.  “Come with us.  We have still a chance of escape.”

The general lowered his pistol.

“You are right,” he said.  “But here,” a sudden thought having come to him.  “I have still a message for the Belgian people.”

He sat down and wrote rapidly.  Rising, he handed Hal a paper.

“See that this reaches the commander of Fort No. 5!” he ordered.  “You have my command!  See that it is carried out!  Go!”

“That is simply a ruse to get rid of us, general,” said Chester.

The general whirled upon him.

“I am still the commander of this fort!” he cried.  “Obey my command!”

The boys saluted the gallant old general for the last time; then they turned on their heels and left him, alone.

Once out of his room, they ran for the outer wall of the fortification with all speed; and they did not pause until they were far beyond the fort.  Still there was no explosion.

“Perhaps when General Simon finds something has gone wrong, he will follow us,” said Hal hopefully.

“He is a brave old man,” replied Chester.  “Let us hope he thinks better of his decision while there is yet time.”

But, hardly had the words left his mouth, when there was a terrific roar, followed by a great flash of light.  Turning, the boys saw the fort leap into the air as though it were some live thing.  High in the air it burst and spread like a huge skyrocket; and then for miles around there descended pieces of iron, great lumps of steel, like rain from the heavens.