"Yes，monsieur.Belgian born and American trained."There was a touch of pride in his voice."It was in America that I made my fortune.""Indeed.""It is true.I was waiter in a New York restaurant for five years.Then I retired.I came back to Belgium.I married my wife.I bought land.It is near Ghent.I am，as you have guessed，a person of great importance.""Ah；an officer，perhaps.Civil，or military？"inquired Ajo with mock deference.
"Of better rank than either.I am a citizen.""Now，I like that spirit，"said Uncle John approvingly."What is your name，my good man？""Maurie，monsieur；Jakob Maurie.Perhaps you have met me—in New York.""I do not remember it.But if you live in Ghent，why are you in Dunkirk？"He cast an indignant glance at his questioner，but Uncle John's serene expression disarmeda him.
"Monsieur is not here long？"
"We have just arrived."
"You cannot see Belgium from here.If you are there—in my country—you will find that the German is everywhere.I have my home at Brussels crushed by a shell which killed my baby girl.My land is devastate—my crop is taken to feed German horse and German thief.There is no home left.So my wife and my boy and girl I take away；I take them to Ostend，where I hope to get ship to England.At Ostend I am arrested by Germans.Not my wife and children；only myself.I am put in prison.For three weeks they keep me，and then I am put out.They push me into the street.No one apologize.I ask for my family.They laugh and turn away.I search everywhere for my wife.A friend whom I meet thinks she has gone to Ypres，for now no Belgian can take ship from Ostend to England.So I go to Ypres.The wandering peoplehave all been sent to Nieuport and Dunkirk.Still I search.My wife is not in Nieuport.I come here，three days ago；I cannot find her in Dunkirk；she has vanished.Perhaps—but I will not trouble you with that.This is my story，ladies and gentlemen.Beholda in me—a wealthy landowner of Liege—the outcast from home and country！""It is dreadful！"cried Patsy.
"It is fierce，"said the man."Only an American can understand the horror of that word.""Your fate is surely a cruel one，Maurie，"declared Mr.
Merrick.
"Perhaps，"ventured Beth，"we may help you to find your wife and children."The Belgian seemed pleased with these expressions of sympathy.He straightened up，threw out his chest and bowed very low.
"That is my story，"he repeated；"but you must know itis also the story of thousands of Belgians.Always I meet men searching for wives.Always I meet wives searching for husbands.Well！it is our fate—the fate of conquered Belgium."Maud brought him a deck chair and made him sit down."You will stay here to—night，"she said.
"That's right，"said Dr.Gys."He can't resume his search until morning，that's certain.Such a tumble as he had would have killed an ordinary man；but the fellow seems made of iron.""To be a waiter—a good waiter—develops the muscles，"said Maurie.
Ajo gave him a cigarette，which he accepted eagerly.
After a few puffs he said：
"I heard the German bombs.That means the enemy grows insolent.First they try to frighten us with bombs，then they attack.""How far away do you think the Germans are？"askedBeth.
"Nieuport les Bains.But they will get no nearer.""No？""Surely not，mamselle.Our soldiers are there，awaiting them.Our soldiers，and the French.""And you think the enemy cannot capture Dunkirk？"inquired Jones.
"Dunkirk！The Germans capture Dunkirk？It is impossible.""Why impossible？""Dunkirk is fortifieda；it is the entrance to Calais，to Dover and London.Look you，m'sieur；we cannot afford to lose this place.We cannot afford to lose even Nieuport，which is our last stand on Belgian soil.Therefore，the Germans cannot take it，for there are still too many of us to kill before Kitchener comes to save us."He spoke thoughtfully，between puffs of his cigarette，and added："But of course，if the great English army does not come，and they kill us all，then it will not matter in the leastwhat becomes of our country."Maurie's assertion did not wholly reassure them.The little Belgian was too bombastica to win their confidence in his judgment.Yet Jones declared that Maurie doubtless knew the country better than anyone they had yet met and the doctor likewise defended his patient.Indeed，Gys seemed to have taken quite a fancy to the little man and long after the others had retired for the night he sat on deck talking with the Belgian and getting his views of the war.
"You say you had land at Ghent？"he once asked."It is true，Doctor.""But afterward you said Brussels."Maurie was not at all confused.
"Ah；I may have done so.You see，I traded my property.""And，if I am not mistaken，you spoke of a home at Liege."Maurie looked at him reproachfully.
"Is there not much land in Belgium？"he demanded，"andis a rich man confined to one home？Liege was my summer home；in the winter I removed to Antwerp.""You said Ghent.""Ghent it was，Doctor.Misfortune has dulledb my brain.I am not the man I was，"he added with a sigh.
"Nevertheless，"said Gys，"you still possess the qualities of a good waiter.Whatever happens here，Maurie，you can always go back to America."