Their investigation added little to their knowledge. The luggage of the spies contained no papers bearing on espionage. But the wireless installation, carried up inside the chimney, was very powerful. The electrical apparatus for firing the mine was in perfect order. "There is nothing amateurish about it," said Pariset. "This is spying reduced to a science." It was some time before the lancers returned. They brought with them the man who had been wounded as he sprang through the window. The others had got away. The man who had fired at Kenneth was dead; his comrade, to whom he owed his death, Kenneth had wounded. After consultation with the captain of lancers, it was decided to leave a dozen men to occupy the mill, pending the receipt of instructions from headquarters. Kenneth and Pariset begged a lodging for the night from the old miller, who was delighted at the success of their scheme, and lavishly hospitable. CHAPTER IX--IN THE TRENCHES Next morning the two friends flew into Charleroi. The town was seething with excitement. People were laughing and singing, cheering every soldier who passed along the street, congratulating each other on the good news. It had become known that the fierce German assaults of the previous day on Liége had been beaten back by the guns of the forts and the steady rifle fire of the men in the trenches, and that the Germans had asked for an armistice. "Splendid!" said Pariset, when he learnt the news from a brother officer: "though we mustn’t crow too soon. The cessation of the attack gives us the chance I wanted, then. We can take advantage of it to get into Liége. I should like to report our little coup in person." "There will be no difficulty in my getting away, I suppose?" asked Kenneth. "What do you wish to do?" "Get to England and join the Flying Corps." "They would take you?" "Well, my chest measures thirty-six inches, my teeth are sound, and I’ve no varicose veins. The only doubt is about my sight: my right eye is a trifle astigmatic. But I think I should pass the doctor." "I wish you could stay with us. But I understand your wish to serve with your own army. As soon as we get back I’ll ask the commandant if I can be spared to carry you to Ostend." Kenneth agreed to this, and they started eastward. It was nearing midday when they swooped down from a great height on to an open space some three miles west of Liége. Pariset had pointed out the positions of the forts as they descended; but Kenneth had been able barely to distinguish them while in the air, and when he came to the ground they were quite out of sight.