Always they have been so.

Most of them are makers of parts for firearms--gunmaking, you know, was the principal industry here--and they are familiar with weapons; and many of the men are excellent shots.

This increases the danger.

At first they were content to ambush single soldiers who strayed into obscure quarters after dark.

Now it is forbidden for less than three soldiers in a party to go anywhere at night; and they think from this that we are afraid, and are growing more daring.
"By day they smile at us and bow, and are as polite as dancing masters; but at night the same men who smile at us will cheerfully cut the throat of any German who is foolish enough to venture abroad alone.
"Besides, this town and all the towns between here and Brussels are being secretly flooded with papers printed in French telling the people that we have been beaten everywhere to the south, and that the Allies are but a few miles away; and that if they will rise in numbers and destroy the garrisons re-enforcements will arrive the next morning to hold the district against us.
"If they do rise it will be Louvain all over again.