The orderly said frankly that the situation was serious--and was certain to become more serious before it could improve. The mobilization of a million men was an intricate task; it would take time to swing the army around from the east to the north--a week at least. And it would be impossible to give the Belgians any real assistance before that time. And that would probably be too late. "Too late?" said Stewart, in surprise. "Aren't the Belgians holding?" "Oh, yes, they are holding," his companion answered. "They are fighting gallantly. The forts at Liège even have not yet fallen--but it can be only a matter of hours until they do. Then the flood will be let loose, and all the little Belgian army can hope to do is to fight delaying rear-guard actions as it retreats." "Perhaps the English can get in," Stewart suggested. "The English? But England has no army--or, at best, a mere handful of regulars. Perhaps in two years she will be able to do something." "Two years?" echoed Stewart, staring at his companion to see if he was in earnest. "Do you really think this war can last that long?" "It will last longer than that," the other answered composedly. "It will last until Germany is totally defeated--it will last till she is freed from slavery to the military caste--until the Hohenzollerns are driven from the throne. And that will take a long time." "Yes," agreed Stewart. "From what I have seen of the German army, I should say it would!" The Frenchman looked at him quickly. "You have seen the German army?" "Yes," and Stewart told something of his experience, while the other listened intently. "It is this first onslaught--this first rush--which is dangerous," said the Frenchman, when he had finished. "Germany has staked everything upon that--upon catching us unawares and winning the war with one swift, terrible blow. If we can escape that--if we can ward it off--we shall win. If not--well, it will be for England and America to free the world." "America?" echoed Stewart. "Surely...." "You in America do not understand," broke in his companion, "as we in Europe understand--but you will before this war is very old." "Understand what?" "That this is not a war of nations, but a war of ideals. It is the last desperate struggle of medieval despotism to save itself and to enslave the world. If it succeeds, democracy will vanish. Every free nation will go in fear, and one by one will perish. But it will not succeed--humanity cannot permit it to succeed. Before this war is finished, all the free peoples of the earth will be banded together in a league of brotherhood--America with all the others--at the head of all the others. She will be fighting for her freedom as truly as in her War of Independence--and for the freedom of all mankind as well. She will realize this--she will realize what this black menace of autocracy means for the world--and she will come in. She will be with us, hand in hand--shoulder to shoulder."