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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16437-8.txt b/16437-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..48b7891 --- /dev/null +++ b/16437-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3833 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children of France, by Ruth Royce + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Children of France + A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice of + Youthful Patriots of France During the Great War + +Author: Ruth Royce + +Release Date: August 4, 2005 [EBook #16437] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Michelle Croyle, Sankar Viswanathan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: "I OUGHT TO DUMP YOU OUT."] + + + + THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE + + A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice + of Youthful Patriots of France During + the Great War + + + + By + + RUTH ROYCE + + + + + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + + 1918 + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + +I. THEIR FIRST HERO + +II. REMI THE BRAVE + +III. THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE + +IV. FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS + +V. THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE + +VI. A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE + +VII. SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT + +VIII. THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER + +IX. GENÉ AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS + +X. A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY + +XI. A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD + +XII. THE HERO OF THE GUNS + +XIII. MARIE THE COURAGEOUS + +XIV. CONCLUSION + + + + + +AUTHOR'S NOTE + + +While the Author cannot personally vouch for the stories related in +this volume, she has full confidence in the sources of her +information--men who have seen and heard on the battlefields of +France, and who have related to her these and many other like +incidents illustrating the heroism of the Children of France. Some of +the stories the relators have learned through personal observation, +while others have come to them indirectly. The author, therefore, +believes each story set down here to be authentic, and so offers them +to the liberty-loving boys and girls of America. + +THE AUTHOR + + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The story of the heroism of the Children of France never will be fully +told. Many of these little patriots have suffered the supreme penalty +for their devotion to their country, leaving neither track nor trace +of themselves. That they have disappeared is all that is known of +them, and thus the stories of their deeds of valor have died with +them. + +In no other period of the world's history have there been so many +instances of self-sacrificing patriotism on the part of children as +have come from France during the great war. Through all such stories +as have come to light, there runs a spirit of heroism that is sublime. +Such stories should and will prove an inspiration to every boy and +girl of America and surely will lead them up to a more perfect manhood +and womanhood. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +In this little volume are set down the stories of many devoted little +French boys and girls, some of whom have offered their lives for their +country, others of whom have passed through perils that would try the +strongest and bravest of men, and yet lived to be honored by a +grateful government for their deeds of heroism. How Remi the Brave, a +lad of ten, won the Cross of War; the story of Little Mathilde who +saved the French garrison from the Uhlan raiders; Marie the +Courageous, who remained at home when the Germans captured the town in +which she lived, and kept the French informed, knowing that if caught +she would surely be shot as a spy; how the Hero of the Guns saved the +day by working the machine guns when nearly all their crews were dead +or wounded; the story of the Little Soldier of Mercy who, though a +timid lad, forgot his fears, and working under fire saved the life of +many a wounded man; how Little Gené locked the Bavarian Dragoons in +the cellar of her home and captured the lot of them, are a few of the +thrilling tales of the patriotism and heroism of the Children of +France that form one of the most fascinating chapters in the history +of the great world war. They will make the heart of every boy and girl +beat faster, they will grip the heartstrings of all who read and bring +them to a better realization of their duty to their Flag and to their +Country. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THEIR FIRST HERO + + +Before the "Squire's" son went away to war, the neighborhood children +knew him only by sight and by hearing their parents speak of him as +the son of "the richest man in Titusville," who never had done a day's +work in his life. + +Perhaps the parents were not quite right in this, for, even if Robert +Favor had not gone out in the fields to labor, he had graduated from +high school and college with high honors. He never spoke to the +village children nor noticed them, and was not, as a result, very +popular with the young people of his home town. The neighbors said +this was all on account of his bringing up. + +It was therefore a surprise to them when, at the beginning of the +great war, after Germany swept over Belgium, Robert Favor hurried to +Europe. It was later learned that he had joined what is known as the +"Foreign Legion" of the French Army. Titusville next heard that he had +been made a lieutenant for heroic conduct under fire. But Titusville +did not believe it; it said no Favor ever did anything but run away in +such circumstances. But they believed it when, later on, they read in +the newspapers how Lieutenant Favor had sprung out of the trenches and +ran to the rescue of a wounded private soldier who had lain in a shell +hole in No Man's Land since the night before. + +The village swelled with pride and the eyes of the children grew wide +with wonder as they listened to the story of the heroism of the +Squire's son. But this was as nothing to what occurred later. "Bob" +Favor was brought home one day to the house on the hill, pale and +weak from wounds received in battle. + +Spring was at hand, and as soon as he was able, Captain Favor--you see +he had again been promoted--was taken out on the lawn where, in his +wheel chair he rested in the warm sunshine. The bright red top of his +gray-blue cap, and the flash of the medal on his breast excited the +wonder of the children, who pressed their faces against the high iron +fence and gazed in awe. It was the first real hero any of them ever +had seen. + +Finally, chancing to look their way, the Captain smiled and waved a +friendly hand. A little girl clapped her hands, others started to +cheer and a little man of ten dragged an American flag from his pocket +and waved it. The Captain beckoned to the children. + +"Come in, folks," he called. "I wish some one to talk to me and make +me laugh. Are you coming?" + +They were. The children started, at first hesitatingly, then with more +confidence, led by the boy with the American flag, which he was waving +bravely now. + +"What's your name?" demanded the Captain. + +"Joe Funk, sir." + +The Captain laughed. "No boy so patriotic as you are should have a +name like that," he said. "We all are going to be great friends, I am +sure, and when I get this leg, that a German shell nearly blew off, in +working order again, we shall have some real sport and I'll teach you +all how to be soldiers. Just now I cannot do much of anything." + +"Yes, you can," interrupted Joe. "You can tell us how you rescued the +soldier when the Germans were shooting at you and--" + +"Master Joseph," answered the Captain gravely, "a real soldier never +brags about himself; but what you say does give me an idea. How would +you like to have me tell you about the brave little children of +France?" + +"Well, I'd rather hear about how you killed the Germans, lots of 'em; +I want to hear about battles and dead men and--" + +"We shall speak of the children first, and I will begin right now. Let +me see. Ah! I have it. Sit down on the grass, all of you, and be +comfortable. Be quiet until I finish the story, then ask what +questions you wish. Now listen!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +REMI THE BRAVE + + +"He was a little French peasant lad, this boy Remi that I shall tell +you about, and had just passed his tenth birthday when the Germans +invaded his beloved country," began the Captain. + +"Remi continued on at school in spite of the excitement about him, for +everyone was talking about the war, but his heart was with the +soldiers whom he knew were marching forth in thousands to meet the +enemy. One day his father was called to the colors and the child was +left in the care of an uncle. + +"Now, this uncle belonged to a military organization called the +Territorials, something like our National Guard, and a few weeks later +they also were called to march forth and join the French Army. Remi +was to be left in the care of the neighbors. That was the plan made by +the uncle. The little French lad, however, had his own ideas about +that, but kept his plans to himself. He now forgot all about going to +school, and spent his time watching his uncle's comrades +drill--watched until he knew every command, every evolution so well +that he himself could have drilled the company of his uncle. + +"As you children perhaps already have surmised, it was Remi's plan to +go to war and fight for his country. The order for the Territorials to +move came suddenly, as such orders most always do. They came while the +lad was having a supper of black bread and cheese with a friendly +housewife of the neighborhood. The Territorials were to march within +an hour. + +"Remi's eyes grew bright. He stowed what was left of his meager supper +into his blouse and strolled out. Once clear of the house, he ran +swiftly to the edge of the village, and from the end of a hollow log +drew forth a canvas bag. He inspected the contents, which included a +knife, some string, a clean pair of stockings and one change of +underwear. He had picked up an old pack discarded by a soldier, and +made it his own, secreting it for just such a moment as this. The +child stowed his belongings back in the pack, added the cheese and +bread, and, swinging the pack over his shoulder, started at a brisk +trot for the gathering place of the Territorials. The men of his +uncle's company already had reached the scene, loaded down with +equipment, rifles brightly polished, looking very warlike with their +outfits and tin derbies--" + +"What's a tin derby?" interjected Joe Funk. + +"There, you have interrupted me," rebuked the Captain. "Remember, a +soldier's first duty is to obey orders. A tin derby is a steel helmet +or hat which is used as a protection against the splinters thrown off +from an exploding shell. Where was I?" + +"In a tin derby, sir," reminded Joe Funk. + +"Little Remi," continued the Captain, "kept in the background and, in +the excitement of the moment attracted no attention. Shortly after his +arrival the Territorials fell into line and started away. Remi melted +away in the darkness, and might have been observed legging it across a +field in a short cut to a point where he knew the soldiers would pass. +And, after they had marched by he fell in at a safe distance behind +and trudged along on his way to war. + +"Daylight came; the men halted for breakfast, and the boy, secreting +himself by the roadside, munched his bread and cheese and waited for +the soldiers to resume the march. All day long he followed them as +closely as he dared, but early in the second evening he made bold to +draw up to the rear rank and plodded along behind it until they halted +for rest. Suddenly the lad felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He found +his uncle frowning down upon him. + +"'What are you doing here?' demanded the uncle severely. 'Home with +you as fast as you can go!' + +"'But, uncle, I wish to be a soldier. I am little but I am strong. +See, I have marched a day and a night and you, my uncle, are weary, +while Remi is still fresh as the morning flowers.' + +"'Yes, but what can you do in the Army, my Remi?' + +"'I can fight,' answered the child simply, whereat the uncle shrugged +his shoulders in token of surrender. + +"At first the officers were for sending the lad home, but he was +making himself so useful in many little ways, and his patriotism was +so deep and true that he finally was permitted to remain. + +"What most disturbed Remi was that he had no rifle. The soldiers +laughed at him when he demanded one, so he determined to get one for +himself at the first opportunity. + +"By this time they were well within sound of the big guns. The sound +reminded him of a distant thunderstorm. It grew louder as the hours +passed and the men neared the front. All understood what the sound +meant. To Remi that distant roar was the sweetest music he ever had +heard. + +"The Territorials finally were halted in a shell-torn village for a +brief rest. Men were urgently needed at the front, and Remi's +companions soon entered a communicating trench that began under a +house in the village, and started for the firing line, a short +distance from the German trenches. Remi was sternly ordered to remain +behind. This order nearly broke his heart and, when he more fully +realized that he had been left behind, he sat down and gave way to, +bitter tears. + +"A peculiar whistling sound in the air suddenly attracted his +attention. The strange sound grew louder. He stood up. Then, with a +mighty crash and roar, the earth about him rose up and darkness +overwhelmed him. A German shell had landed fairly in the village +street hard by and half buried the child in the wreckage. Remi, +bruised and with clothing torn, dug himself out practically unharmed. +He shook his fist in the direction of the German lines. + +"'The Boches!' he breathed, clenching both fists. 'I _must_ have a +rifle. Having none, I am good for nothing.' + +"For a few moments he stood observing the stretcher men gathering up +those who had been wounded in the explosion. He did not quail at sight +of the maimed forms before him--he was unafraid, but his childish face +drew down into hard lines that made him look years older. He knew now +that he must join his company and fight for France. After what he had +seen nothing should hold him back. Perhaps once at the front he might +find a gun. Remi tried to enter the communicating trench, but was +stopped by a sentry. He was still undaunted. It was the odor of +cooking that finally led to the solution of his problem. He followed +his nose, as the saying goes, because he was hungry. He found the +cooks at work, as he learned, preparing food to be carried to the men +in the front-line trench. The boy promptly offered his services to +help carry in the food. You see, Remi used his head. + +"'What nursery do you belong to?' jeered the mess sergeant. + +"'Thirty-first Territorials, Company C,' answered the lad promptly, +his quick reply bringing a laugh in which the mess sergeant joined +heartily. + +"'All right, take a load of coffee and follow the leader, but if you +spill so much as a drop of it you'll face a firing squad at daybreak.' + +"Two heavy containers filled with hot coffee, suspended from a yoke +that fitted over the shoulders, were placed on the lad. The soldiers +expected to see him collapse under the heavy load, but Remi stood up +very straight and awaited the command to go forward. He was stronger +than they thought he was. The journey through the dark trenches was a +long one, made thrilling by the Germans, who were trying to drop +shells into them as the food was coming up to the front line. The +'chow' carriers, however, arrived safely at Company C's station and +Remi had every drop of coffee that he had started out with. + +"'Well, here I am,' he announced loudly. 'Remi wants a gun, he wants +it right away, and then he wants to see a Boche.' + +"'You'll see him sooner than you expect if you don't lower your +voice,' rebuked a soldier. + +"At that moment a star-shell shot high up into the air and, bursting, +flooded the space between the French and German lines with a brilliant +light. Remi peered over the top of the parapet and across the 'No +Man's Land' of which he had so often heard, over its barbed-wire +entanglements and on to the parapets of the German trenches. + +"'Why do they do that?' he questioned. + +"'To see if any of our patrols are out there nosing about. You see, we +send out night patrols to find out what the enemy is doing,' he was +told. + +"'I, too, shall be a night patrol,' declared the lad confidently. + +"Unmindful of the desperate chance he was taking, Remi, watching his +opportunity, slipped over the top of the French trench and began +crawling toward the enemy lines. He did not know where the openings in +the wire entanglements were located, but, being small, he was able to +crawl under. Now and then he saw other figures slinking about out +there, but he took good care that they should not see him, and, when +another star shell was fired, he flattened himself on the ground, face +downward, and thus avoided detection. So intent was he, however, in +watching for enemy patrols that he actually bumped into the parapet of +the German trench before he knew it. The boy flattened himself on the +ground and listened. He heard low-toned conversation mingled with +German snores in the trench, and sniffed contemptuously. Raising a +hand to pull himself up to the top of the sandbags, he struck +something sharp. It was the point of a bayonet. Remi's hand crept +cautiously along and the lad barely escaped an exclamation, for here, +right in his hand, was a German rifle aimed toward his own lines, +ready to be fired at his beloved French comrades. + +"Cautiously drawing the weapon over the parapet, he caressed it +affectionately, then started to crawl back toward his own lines with +his precious find. + +"'At last Remi has a rifle, and none shall take it from him,' he +muttered triumphantly. 'See what I have!' he cried after having been +challenged and hauled into his own trench. 'I took it from the +thickheads over there. I--' He said no more, for his comrades were +hugging him delightedly. They hurried the child off to the captain of +his company, who, after listening to the story, embraced Remi. + +"'Ah, you are a true Frenchman,' cried the officer. 'Keep +the gun and use it for our beloved France.' + +"'I will,' promised Remi solemnly. + +"Two nights later he stole out and fetched back five more German +rifles. By this time the officers began to realize that the boy must +be taken seriously. From that night on almost every night found the +intrepid lad skulking about over 'No Man's Land,' many times with the +enemy's machine gun fire snapping about his ears, but to which he gave +not the slightest heed. Remi truly seemed to bear a charmed life. + +"One night after his company had returned to the front-line trench, +after a night's rest in 'billets,' he went out with the patrol, as +usual, but with a new plan in mind. By now he knew the arrangement of +the German trenches almost as well as did the men who occupied them. +There were ten in the patrol, and so great was the confidence of the +men in him that they virtually permitted Remi to act as their leader. +The patrol carried no rifles, only revolvers and stout clubs, like +policemen's night sticks. When the lad ordered the men to secret +themselves in a shell crater, they obeyed willingly. + +"Remi reached the German trenches, along which he crept with ears and +eyes on the alert. + +"'Who goes!' came a sharp, low-spoken command in German. At that +instant a German rose from the ground, where he had been crouching, +apparently watching the crawling figure of the little Frenchman. Remi +rose at the same time, a Boche bayonet pressing against his stomach. + +"When the German sentinel discovered that the 'man' confronting him +was only a child, he threw back his head and laughed silently, his +bulky form shaking with merriment. That laugh cost the Boche his +liberty. Like a flash little Remi swept the bayonet aside and jerked +the rifle from the sentry's hands. He sprang back and pointed the +rifle at his amazed adversary. + +"'Now march!' he commanded in a low, sharp tone. Straight to the shell +crater the little Frenchman drove his prisoner, thence sent the +captive to the French trenches with an escort. He then returned to the +German trench. As he thought it over the situation became clear to +him. The Germans had placed the sentry outside the trench to keep +watch while they slept, the night being a quiet one, neither side +having fired a shot since sundown. Knowing exactly what he wished to +do, the boy began cautiously removing the rifles from the parapet, +placing them on the ground in front of the trench. He accomplished his +purpose without disturbing the snores of the Boches. + +"Having secured the enemy's rifles, Remi crept back to the shell hole, +where his comrades were anxiously awaiting his return. + +"'Come,' he urged. 'We shall now capture the stupid fellows. They +sleep, the thickheads. Their rifles I have taken, their heads our +clubs shall find. All shall have the big headache when we have +finished with them.' + +"The men of the patrol were amazed. They scrambled from the shell +hole, Remi already having explained what he proposed to do, ready and +eager for action. With the child in the lead they crept up to the +German trench. The Boches slept on, not a man was awake there. The +patrol spread out a little and gripped their clubs, for to use +revolvers would be to arouse the whole German line and start their +rifles, machine guns and artillery all going. + +"'Now!' cried the little leader. + +"The patrol sprang into the trench, Remi leading, encouraging his men +as they fought their way along with their stout clubs, the boy having +lost his when he slipped into the trench. He could plainly hear the +whacks of the clubs as the patrol brought them down on the heads of +the enemy, mingled with German growls and pleas for mercy, all of +which brought joy to the soul of little Remi. + +"'Kamerad! Kamerad!' came cries along the length of the trench. This, +you children understand, is what the Boches say when they have had +enough. + +"'Stop their noise! They'll have their whole army down on us. Over the +top and home with them as fast as you can. Gather up the rifles and +take them in,'" commanded the boy. + +Prodded by the handy clubs, such of the Germans as had survived the +terrible beating willingly clambered over the top and were quietly +driven across 'No Man's Land' to the French trenches. Seventy-five +prisoners were taken in that raid, planned and executed by the +fearless little French boy. + +[Illustration: "NOW MARCH!" HE COMMANDED.] + +"The amazement of his comrades in Company C was beyond the power of +words to express. What was better still, the raid was productive of +much more than prisoners and rifles. It proved to be the most +important raid so far made on that sector, for information was +obtained from the prisoners that proved of great value to the French +army. + +"A few days later the Territorials went back to their billets for +rest. On the morning following their arrival there, Company C was +called out with many other troops for review. Remi thought this was a +queer thing to do. He was puzzled and startled when his name was +called out as he stood in a rear rank. He was ordered to report to the +colonel of the regiment, who stood with his aides facing the lines of +soldiers, the latter at attention now. The heart of the little +soldier, for once, was filled with fear. He felt certain that the +colonel was going to send him home. + +"Approaching the stern-looking officer, Remi halted, came stiffly to +attention and saluted with precision. The colonel gravely answered the +little fellow's salute. Remi looked very small and childish beside the +commanding figure of his colonel, and he was very much embarrassed at +being so singled out. + +"'Remi, soldier of France, the Army and your country salute you,' +began the colonel. 'The hearts of both are filled with pride at your +brave deeds. You are an honor to the tri-color of our beloved France, +under the folds of which you now are standing. Were it possible for me +to do so I should make you no less than a captain. Your lack of years +puts such a reward beyond my power to give. I can, however, and I am +authorized so to do, to confer upon you the cross of war, given only +to men of proved heroism. Remi, I decorate you with this cross,' said +the colonel, stepping forward and pinning the medal to the little +soldier's breast, his aides standing at attention during the +impressive ceremony. 'Wear it with honor, my son, for our beloved +country.' + +"The colonel then kissed the child on both cheeks. + +"And Remi the bold, very pale and trembling, stammered his thanks, sat +down heavily, and, burying his face in his hands, burst into tears." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE + + +"I've been thinking about that boy Remi," said Joe Funk next day when +the children had gathered on the lawn to listen to another story. "Of +course, I know he was a hero, but wasn't he something of a baby to sit +down and cry like that?" + +"Are you a baby, Joe?" + +"'Course I'm not." + +"Very good. You were wiping a tear out of the corner of one eye when I +finished the story," returned Captain Favor dryly. + +"I--I guess you are right, sir. Please tell us another one like it." + +"Surely; but this one will be about a little French heroine named +Mathilde. Mathilde was of nearly the same age as Remi, very diffident, +like yourself." Joe blushed and hung his head. "She was as timid as +she was diffident, but at heart she was a heroic little French girl. +They are all like Remi and Mathilde over there. + +"This little woman lived in a French garrison town. Not more than two +hundred soldiers were stationed there, all the others being at the +front fighting the Germans. Quite near the village was an important +fort, situated on the River Meuse. It was called Fort Montere and was +very carefully guarded by these soldiers. + +"The fort was situated about a mile from the village on a rise of +ground. It was the custom of the soldiers there to spend a good part +of their days in the village, never dreaming that they were in the +slightest danger, but the Germans were nearer than they thought. + +"One night--it was not far from morning, then--two companies of +mounted Germans rode up to the sleeping village, which they +surrounded. The commanding officer sent an aide to the mayor, ordering +him to see to it that not a person left his home on pain of instant +death. The mayor refused to betray his people or the soldiers on the +hill. The aide shot him then and there. That was nothing new for a +German officer to do. Many worse acts than that have they committed. I +know, for I have fought them, and I have seen many things. The people +were then notified that disobedience meant further that the village +would be burned. + +"Not one of the villagers was bold enough to try to warn the French +garrison of the peril that awaited them, for it was plain that the +Germans were planning to lay in wait for the Frenchmen when they came +to the village on the following morning. + +"Soon German soldiers began entering the houses, one soldier to each +house, in which he took his station, cowering the occupants by +terrible threats. + +"Little Mathilde, when she heard the soldier assigned to their home +bang on the door with the butt of his rifle, fled to the kitchen, +where she stood listening and watching. She nearly cried out when the +soldier thrust the bayonet of his rifle at her father, and all the +resentment of her race at such injustice rose up within her. + +"'I shall save them,' she breathed. + +"Mathilde slipped out through the kitchen door into the walled garden, +and, climbing the wall, peered over. She could see German horsemen and +German infantrymen everywhere, the moonlight flashing on their helmets +and rifles as they moved rapidly about. How she should be able to get +over the wall without discovery she did not know. A heavy black cloud +at this moment drifted across the sky, hiding the face of the moon for +a few moments, and when the cloud had passed Mathilde was no longer on +the garden wall. She lay prone on the ground in a field on the +opposite side of the wall. Horsemen were all about her. Now and then a +horse narrowly missed stepping on her, and those Uhlans must have +wondered that night why their horses were so skittish. + +"Every time she saw an opening the little heroine would dart ahead; +each time a cloud passed between earth and moon she gained a little +distance. Once a Uhlan's horse jumped clear over her and kicked +viciously at her after it had landed on its feet. You see, the grass +in the fields was high, there being no men to cut it. Had it not been +for the grass, Mathilde never could have accomplished what she did. + +"At last she was clear of them, and then how she did run; she fairly +flew up the hill, stopping only when a French sentry halted her to +demand what she wanted. + +"'I would speak with your captain,' panted Mathilde. + +"The sentry laughed. + +"'Think you my captain sits awake all night that he may receive calls +from the villagers?' he demanded. + +"'But,' begged the girl, 'the Uhlans have come. They are even now in +the houses that they may come out and shoot you down when you go to +the village tomorrow.' + +"'You are dreaming, my pretty miss. Go back to your sleep. It is a +nightmare you are telling me. Return and dream no more.' + +"Mathilde begged and pleaded, to the great amusement of the sentry. +The child grew angry. She stamped and raged. Then she adopted a new +plan. Throwing herself on the ground the little girl rolled and +screamed and screamed. + +"'Stop it! You'll wake the garrison,' he commanded. + +"'That is what Mathilde is trying to do,' answered the girl, then +screamed louder than ever, and the sentry turned out the corporal's +guard. The corporal sent a messenger to the village to see if the +child was right. + +"'If you believe me not, look yonder in the valley,' exclaimed the +girl, impatiently. 'What see you?' + +"'Nothing. Wait! I see the moonlight glistening on something, I should +say on a tin sign on a tree.' + +"Mathilde laughed ironically. 'It is indeed a sign, a bad sign, +monsieur Corporal. What you see is the moonlight reflected on the +helmet of a German Uhlan. Ha! Now believe you the little Mathilde?' + +"'Call the captain,' commanded the corporal. + +"The commanding officer came hurrying out. He questioned the child and +ere he had finished the messenger came running back. + +"'The Germans are in force in the village,' cried the messenger. 'They +hide in the houses and their sentries guard the approaches to the +village. + +"'Summon the garrison to arms!' commanded the captain. 'You are a +noble child, Mathilde.' + +"While a small force was left to guard the fort the others of the +garrison went down and surrounded the village. They surprised and +captured the sentries without firing a shot. These prisoners were +taken to the fort and locked up, after which the French in the village +fired a volley into the air. As they expected, the Prussians guarding +the houses rushed out and began shooting, but coming from the lighted +houses into the darkness of the early morning, their eyes were not +keen and only one volley from the French was necessary to fill the +Germans with fear. The Germans very soon laid down their arms and +surrendered. While some of the invaders were wounded, no one was +killed. The entire German force was captured and marched, humiliated, +to the fort on the hill. + +"Next day, when the villagers came to a realization of what Mathilde +had done, a purse was made up, everyone giving of his little savings. +This purse was presented to the child by the captain, in the presence +of all his officers and many of his soldiers. + +"Mathilde's eyes were bright. She held the bag of money in her arms +for a moment, then, kissing it, placed it in the hands of the captain. + +"'And I, monsieur le Capitaine, give it to our beloved France. She +needs it more than does the Little Mathilde, and with it Mathilde +sends her love to the brave poilus of her beautiful France.'" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS + + +"This morning I shall tell you what little Francois did to the +Germans, as well as what the Germans did to Francois," began Captain +Favor at a following sitting on the lawn. "Joe, you will be thrilled +when you hear the story of the desperate chances this little French +boy of twelve took for his country. + +"He, like all of his youthful friends, was a noble fellow and a hero, +quick-witted and very bright. You would soon learn, were you in +France, how keen and clever these French children are. Their wits have +been greatly sharpened since the war began. But to our story--. + +"The Prussians had reached a point on the west bank of the River +R----, a narrow stream some distance back and to the left of the +battle front. On the right side of the river, a few miles from it, was +the little village in which Francois lived. A detachment of French +infantry had arrived at the town, having come there on word that the +Germans were threatening the village. + +"'Where are the Prussians?' demanded the captain of the mayor. He was +eager to get at them. + +"'On the other side of the river. Other French detachments have driven +them away twice, but each time the Boches return. We have not seen +them here in several days now,' the mayor informed him. + +"'I must know their exact location and the size of their force. I +cannot send one of my own soldiers. Have you a man in the village who +can pass the lines and obtain the information I seek?' + +"'I fear there are none, sir,' replied the mayor. + +"Francis, who had been an eager listener to this conversation, +stepped forward at this juncture. + +"'I will go, monsieur le Capitaine,' he said. + +"'Ah! You know where they are?' + +"'No, sir, but I know the country for many miles.' + +"'But the Germans will catch you, and if they do you will be shot. I +cannot permit one so young as you are to sacrifice himself.' + +"Francois smiled. 'I have a grandmother living in the other village +and she is sick. Should a lad not be permitted to visit his +grandmother who is ill?' he asked. + +"The French captain saw the point and smiled. 'Go, then, if you will, +but be careful. If you succeed you truly will be a hero, my lad.' + +"'Francois will find the Boches,' was the boy's confident reply. + +"Without waiting for the captain to change his mind the lad set out +and was soon out of sight of the village. Reaching the river, he +crept along the bank until he found the bridge he was looking for. +Over this he crawled on hands and knees, and, reaching the other side +of the river, he dodged along until he came to the village where the +Prussians were supposed to be. Francois halted at a farmhouse where he +was known. The farmer's wife was feeding the pigs, and she did not see +him until he said: + +"'Where are the Boches?' + +"'Francois! What do you here?' she exclaimed. + +"'I come to see my grandmother. But I see none of the enemy.' + +"'Unhappy child, there are thousands of them over yonder. Do not go +on, I beg of you. You surely will be shot.' + +"'I go to see my grandmother. Good day, madame.' Francois plodded on +across the fields in the direction indicated by the farmer's wife. +Suddenly he saw a troop of Prussian cavalry approaching him at a +gallop. + +"'Halt!' commanded the captain of the troop when they drew up near the +boy. 'What do you here?' + +"'Walking, sir. I go to see my grandmother who is ill.' + +"The Prussian laughed. 'Do you not know that the villagers have been +ordered to remain at home and that he who disobeys this order will be +shot?' questioned the commander, sternly. + +"'Ah, sir, that is well for the grown men and women, but for children +who go to see their sick grandmothers--' + +"'The order is for all. About face! March! You will be shot for your +disobedience.' + +"'But I must see my grandmother,' insisted the lad. 'She is ill, I +tell you.' + +"Two soldiers swung him about and marched him to their camp. As he +neared the camp he saw many cannon and machine guns, large numbers of +cavalrymen and infantry. He estimated as best he could how many of +them there were. He saw, too, that the cannon were being placed so +their muzzles pointed toward the river. Francois nodded wisely. + +"'It is to shoot over to our side of the river,' he said to himself. +'One would not think they could shoot so far as our village. But they +shall find our fine French cannon can shoot farther.' + +"His reflections were broken in upon rudely when he was thrust into +what proved to be the guardhouse. In reality he was _thrown_ in by the +two soldiers who had picked him up and sent him sprawling on the +floor. 'What less could one expect from a Boche?' he muttered. For +aught he knew, he soon would get worse. A sentry was posted at the +door and Francois was informed that if he tried to escape he would be +shot then and there. + +"The guard house also was used to store equipment in. There were, as +he observed, many rifles stacked in rows and heaps of knapsacks, +helmets and blankets. The only light in the cell-like room into which +he had been thrust came in through a narrow window high up and far +out of his reach, a window small like those in a prison cell. + +"It was not a pleasant situation in which little Francois found +himself, but what fears he had were for the people of his village and +the French troops there. He already had used his eyes to good +advantage, and now had a very clear idea of the size of the German +force and its equipment. 'I shall make my escape and hasten back to +tell our brave captain what I have seen,' he promised himself. + +"Escape, however, was not so easy. The window was too high by several +feet for him to reach and to go out through the door meant that he +surely would be shot or bayoneted. His bright little eyes swept the +room and instantly he saw a way of escape. + +"'The bags!' he exclaimed, and straight-way began piling the knapsacks +and blankets underneath the window. The pile grew slowly. At last it +was high enough to permit the boy to reach the window sill with his +finger tips by standing on tip-toe on the pile he had built up. + +"He drew himself up easily, for Francois was strong, and peered out. + +"'It is well that Francois is little, for the window is small even for +a dog to squeeze through,' he muttered. + +"Peering out to see what lay before him, he saw a garden in the rear +of the building and beyond that fields with hedges and bushes, but +there was not a soldier in sight on that side. The Prussians were busy +on the other side of the building preparing for action. + +"'All is well,' said Francois. A new idea came to him. He would take a +German rifle and helmet with him as souvenirs and to prove to the +French captain that Francois really had been in the camp of the +Prussians. He helped himself to a rifle and a helmet, both of which he +threw out into the garden. After a keen, sweeping glance about, the +boy crawled out head first and let himself go. Francois nearly broke +his neck in the fall to the ground, landing as he did on his head and +shoulders. For a moment he lay where he had fallen, then staggered to +his feet, dizzy and a little weak from the jolt. He started away +without, as yet, having a clear idea as to which was the right +direction for him to take. The boy dodged from bush to bush and, +reaching a hedge, bored his way through it and skulked along the other +side of it, dragging the rifle behind him, the German helmet tightly +clutched under one arm. + +"'Where am I? Ah! The village is to the left. I must turn back and +start again,' he decided. This was risky, but there seemed no other +course for him to follow. Retracing his steps for some distance he +finally struck off in the right direction. When he came in sight of +the stream he discovered that the bridge was so far away that he could +not hope to reach it without being discovered. + +"'But Francois can swim,' he told himself. 'He shall yet fool the +Prussians. Look out! There they go!' German soldiers already were +running toward the bridge, and he knew that his escape had been +discovered. He believed, however, that he was far enough away so they +would not see him. + +"Francois swung the rifle over his shoulder and secured it there by +its carrying strap, jammed the helmet tightly over his head and rolled +down the bank into the river. The water was warm and the child was +full of joy that he had outwitted his captors. + +"Fortunately the river was not wide at this point, and on the opposite +side was plenty of cover in the way of trees and bushes. But discovery +came at about the time he reached the middle of the river. The sun, +reflected from his bright metal helmet, had attracted the attention of +the soldiers. A bullet splashed in the water to the right of him. + +"'Huh!' he grunted. 'The Boches cannot shoot. Francois could shoot as +good as that with his eyes shut. Bah! Shoot again.' O-u-c-h! A bullet +had gone through the helmet, so low that it raked the top of his head. +It felt like a red-hot iron being drawn across the top of his head, +and made his head swim dizzily. + +"'It was a chance shot,' observed the boy. 'No Boche could shoot so +true on purpose. I shall yet fool them.' + +"Reaching the opposite shore he ran up the bank, not trying to conceal +himself there. A bullet struck him in the shoulder, spun him around +and laid him flat on the ground. He was on his feet almost instantly, +shaking a fist at the Germans. + +"'Shoot! I fear not your bullets,' he shouted. The boy then ran +skulking from shrub to shrub until he reached the forest, into which +he dashed. Both wounds were by now bleeding freely and his face was +covered with blood from the scalp wound. He dashed on, not wholly +certain of his direction, but, reaching the other side of the forest, +found himself not far out of his way. From then on he trotted, keeping +himself up by sheer pluck, for he was getting weak. + +"Francois saw nothing more of the enemy, and finally he staggered into +his village. A sentry, recognizing the German helmet, halted him some +distance away, and after questioning him sent the lad to the captain. + +"'Here, monsieur le Capitaine, see what I have taken from the Boches,' +he cried, upon espying the commander. 'Thick-heads, all of them! It is +easy to fool the Boches.' + +"'But, my boy, you are wounded. What has happened?' demanded the +captain. + +"'It is nothing; it was an accident. The Prussians hit me by mistake.' + +"The officer called a surgeon and while the lad's wounds were being +dressed Francois related to the captain all that he had seen in the +Prussian camp. + +"'And they plan to come here soon,' he added. + +"'What makes you think that?' asked the commander. + +"'Because they have made the villagers stay in their homes. For what +reason other than that do they wish to keep the villagers in? Again, +they are fast making preparations to go into battle!' + +"'You are a clever boy and a brave one,' cried the captain, +enthusiastically. 'You may keep the rifle. You will be proud some day +that you own it.' + +"'I am proud now, monsieur le Capitaine, but I shall be more proud +after you have whipped the Boches.' + +"'That is good, but what can we do to reward you?' + +"'Whip them quickly, that I may go to see my sick grandmother. I am +much put out, sir, that I did not see her.' + +"There was loud laughter at this, and at the earnest way in which it +was said, but Francois never changed the sober expression of his face. + +"'It shall be done. Reinforcements are coming and early this evening +we shall go out to meet the Prussians. I promise you that you shall +soon see your grandmother, Francois.' And he did, for, acting upon his +information, the French forces were enabled to inflict heavy losses +upon the Germans and drive them from that part of the country. A few +days later Francois made the trip again, and this time did see his +dear grandmother, but she was not so ill but that she could work in +her garden. + +"And that, my dear little friends, is the story of another little hero +of France," concluded Captain Favor. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE + + +"There are many like Francois among those youthful patriots," began +Captain Favor when his little friends had gathered about him on +another occasion to listen to stories about the Children of France. +"They value neither their own safety nor their lives; they are willing +and eager to make any sacrifice if by so doing they can serve their +beloved France ever so little. + +"One finds this spirit everywhere. It is one of the few bright and +beautiful things to be found in the great world war, though many of +the deeds of heroism of the French children will never be known. The +little heroes have made the supreme sacrifice and their lips, sealed +in death, can never tell of their deeds. + +"That you may the better understand the spirit of patriotism that +fills the hearts of all these little French children, I will tell you +the story of little Pierre," said the captain. "This is not a long +story, but a more heroic one never has been told. + +"While Pierre was twelve he was small for his age, but sturdy, and he +loved his country with a fervor that you children of America also +should have in your hearts." + +"We have," spoke up Joe Funk. + +"Yes, I think that all of you have. I wish you to keep it, to keep the +fires of patriotism burning and never let them grow dim. As for +Pierre, I will now tell you of the noble sacrifices he made for +France. + +"Pierre lived with his mother in a small French village at the time +the Germans entered the town. Being hungry, as usual, they intruded +into the homes of the villagers and helped themselves to whatever they +could find, in some instances after first demanding that food and +money be turned over to them. The villagers dared not disobey nor +even raise a voice in protest. + +"A captain and several men entered the home of little Pierre, where +there was a wounded French sergeant that the lad's mother had been +nursing and whom the little boy loved very dearly. The sergeant's +wounds were just beginning to heal, but so weak was he that he could +scarcely stand without someone to lean upon. When the Germans burst in +the wounded man was filled with rage, but he knew better than to +attempt to thwart them. + +"'Give us food, all that you have. Hold back anything and you die," +bellowed the Prussian captain, smiting the table with the flat of his +saber. + +"Pierre's mother was stout hearted. 'We have only bread and cheese,' +she said. 'You may take it if you will, but I give not to a Prussian, +not even so much as a crumb. Take it if you will, for you are strong +while I am but a weak woman.' + +"'Woman, you speak truly; we are strong, and we shall take, but for +this resistance you shall suffer. See what a Prussian does to such +dogs of French as oppose him!' + +"With that the captain struck Pierre's mother with the flat of his +hand, hurling her clear across the room. She staggered against the +wall and sank moaning to the floor. + +"The captain evidently had overlooked the wounded French sergeant, who +lay on a cot in the shadows, and his men were too fully occupied with +helping themselves to food to take heed of anything else. As for +little Pierre, the lad stood trembling with rage. He was not afraid, +but he was filled with righteous indignation. + +"The sergeant's eyes were blazing as he fixed his gaze on the face of +the German captain. + +"'You Prussian fiend!' shouted the sergeant. + +"'What!' The captain wheeled like a flash. + +"'For that you die! And ere the German could utter another word, the +soldier leveled his revolver at the officer and fired. There followed +a loud report, and Pierre's mother was avenged, for the Prussian +captain lay dead on the floor. + +"For a few seconds following the shot the Prussian soldiers stood +mute, then, with one accord, they threw themselves upon the helpless +sergeant who already had twice fired his revolver at them, but without +effect. They beat him cruelly and dragged him out and before another +captain, to whom they told the story of what had occurred in Pierre's +home. + +"The unfortunate sergeant was ordered to be taken to the village +square, where a dozen old men of the village were being held by the +Germans under sentence of death on the flimsy charge of having +resisted the Prussians. One by one these unhappy Frenchmen were being +lined up before a firing squad and shot down. The sergeant, who, of +course, was to share a like fate, was reserved for the last that he +might have more time for fear to sink into his heart while watching +the execution of the others. The sergeant neither asked for nor +expected mercy. Well did he know what the penalty was for such an act +as his, and he was willing to die for his country as well as for the +sake of the woman who had nursed him through so many dark days of +suffering. + +"They tied him to a tree while engaged in their cruel work of shooting +the accused old men, where the sergeant hung weak from loss of blood, +for, under their rough handling his wounds had reopened. + +"Little Pierre, his eyes large and troubled, had followed his friend +to the square and stood sympathetically beside him. + +"'What, can I do? Tell me quickly,' urged the boy. + +"'Fetch me a cup of water. I am burning with the fever again. One +drink of water and I shall have the strength to die bravely. Those +Prussian dogs shall not see so much as the quiver of an eyelid,' said +the sergeant. + +"Pierre slipped into a house and brought a cup of water which he +placed at the lips of his friend. The sergeant had taken one swallow +when a captain dashed the cup to the ground. He swung and struck +Pierre a cruel blow across the cheek with the flat of his saber, +laying the lad prostrate. Pierre staggered to his feet, eyes blazing, +an angry red welt showing where he had been struck. + +"'To give aid or comfort to the friends of France is to die!' hissed +the German captain. 'For this you too shall die! But first you shall +see how it goes with the others.' + +"'I fear you not,' retorted the child, pluckily. 'I too can die for +France with a brave heart, and so you shall die one day at the hands +of my dear countrymen, but with a coward's heart.' + +"'Ah! You are brave,' jeered the captain. + +"'I am a Frenchman,' answered Pierre, stoutly. 'A Frenchman does not +fear to die.' + +"'Good! For that I shall give you a chance to live and you shall come +with us and fight for the Fatherland," declared the captain. + +"'Bah! That for the Fatherland!' The lad snapped his fingers in the +Prussian's face. Pierre's courage, instead of further angering the +German, appeared to amuse him. + +"'We shall see. It is for you to shoot your friend the sergeant. Shoot +him and you shall have your freedom and your life. It is well that a +Frenchman should be put to death by his own. Can you shoot?' + +"'I can.' + +"'Then here is a rifle. It is loaded. Shoot and shoot true and freedom +is yours, for yourself and the old woman yonder who insulted the +officer of my Emperor.' The captain extended the rifle, butt first, +toward the boy. Pierre was outwardly calm, but within his heart a +storm was raging. Rather to the surprise of the spectators, he took +the weapon, turned it over curiously in his hands, for it was the +first German rifle he had handled, examined the mechanism of the lock, +then raised his eyes to the motionless figure of the French sergeant. + +"Pierre smiled and a new light sprang into his eyes. + +"'Well?' demanded the captain impatiently. 'Do you shoot or do you +die?' + +"'I shoot!' cried the little French boy, his voice high pitched and +shrill. + +"Pierre turned like a flash and, raising the weapon, pointed it +straight at the German captain and pulled the trigger. + +"No report followed. The rifle had missed fire. And ere Pierre could +make another try the weapon was snatched from his hands and a blow +from the captain's fist again laid him low. + +"'Dog!' raged the Prussian officer. 'Now you _shall_ die, and yonder +French sergeant shall be a witness to your punishment. Strip the +blinder from that man's eyes! Bind this boy!' + +"'There is no need to bind me. I shall not run away. I am not afraid +to die for France. I am sorry only that I did not kill you,' answered +the lad stoutly. 'I am young--I can better be spared than others.' + +"There was no reply to this, but the soldiers were ordered to lead the +child out into the center of the square. + +"'If you run you will be shot just the same,' warned the captain. + +"'A Frenchman never runs away,' was the spirited retort. + +"The firing squad took its place, eight men comprising the squad. + +"'Make ready! Take aim!' + +"Pierre faced them fearlessly, a smile on his face, his shoulders set +well back, presenting a pathetic but brave little figure as he stood +out there alone, facing death, but unafraid. + +"'Fire!' + +"'Vive la France!' shouted the lad, waving his cap over his head. + +"Eight rifles crashed in volley. And the little figure of brave Pierre +crumpled down to the ground. He had died gloriously. He had died a +man, despite his tender years. + +"Wheeling, the squad dispatched the sergeant in the same way and their +desperate work was finished." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE + + +The children were eagerly waiting to give the Captain a welcome when +he limped out to meet his young friends on the lawn next morning. +There were no tardy ones at these sittings, in fact so interested were +they in the wonderful stories they were hearing, that they nearly +always were ahead of time. + +"We shall begin at once with a story that I know will thrill you all," +said the Captain, as Joe Funk assisted him into his chair. + +"The little hero that I shall tell you about today is one of the most +remarkable of the child patriots of France. I think you will agree +with me in that after you have heard the story. + +"His name was Rene. Rene had been with the army for some time, though +he was only fourteen years old, making himself useful in many ways and +fighting when he had the opportunity, which was more than seldom. For +valiant service he had been made a corporal, so you may know he +was brave and courageous, for the French do not encourage children +to join their army, much less do they give them men's work and +responsibilities. + +"At the time to which I refer, the colonel of Rene's regiment had need +of a man of courage and resource to carry certain important orders to +the commanders in front-line trenches. This was early in the war when +communication had not been worked out as scientifically as it has been +since. For this duty the child offered his services. + +"'This mission, I need not tell you, will prove a most perilous one,' +warned the colonel. + +"'I know it, my colonel. I am ready. I have but one life and that +belongs to France.' + +"'Bravely spoken. Now take careful heed to what I have to say to you +so that you forget not the slightest detail of it.' Rene was then +given final and detailed orders added to which was an urgent request +to be careful of himself, for his own sake as well as for that of his +country. + +"After repeating his orders, showing that he had them well in mind, +the lad left headquarters, his face radiant with joy at being +entrusted with a mission such as this, a mission that would take him +where he knew death would face him at every step. He had not far to go +before reaching the zone of fire. Shells soon were bursting about him +and machine-gun fire was sweeping the field with a perfect rain of +steel. + +"'Bang away all you like,' jeered the little fellow. 'Your voices I +have heard before, but the French have stronger and more deadly voices +than have you.' + +"He finally arrived safely at the first trench. You understand he had +been above ground all the time, while the fighters were in the +trenches, where they had more protection. It was the over-fire that he +was obliged to plod through, and you who have never seen a battle do +not realize what a fierce thing this over-fire is. His orders having +been safely delivered, Rene proceeded on his troubled way to the +trench where he was to deliver the second orders. + +"The first part of this leg of the journey was more or less screened +from the view of the enemy, but now a wide barren space, swept by +shell fire, lay before him. It was almost certain death to venture +into that open field. Rene knew it, but did not hesitate. It was not +that he feared for his own life, but that he did not wish to lose it +before he had fulfilled his mission. + +"For better protection the lad dropped on hands and toes and ran along +like a dog, thus far untouched by bullets, though they were thick as a +nest of liberated bumble bees about his head. + +"'The worst is about over now and I shall soon be in the trenches,' +he told himself encouragingly. He already could see the tops of the +helmets of the soldiers in the trenches. + +"A shell exploded close by at this juncture and a shell splinter +struck him in the leg, leaving a wound. Rene rolled over on his back +and grabbed the leg with both hands, then, with his first-aid bandage, +bound the leg tightly above the wound so that he might not bleed to +death. He was already much weakened from loss of blood. + +"Having done all he could for himself, Rene started off again, +dragging himself along with great effort, determined to reach the +trench and deliver his orders, which he finally succeeded in doing. + +"'You have been wounded. You shall not go on,' declared the commander +after reading the orders and understanding fully what was still before +the brave lad. 'You should go back to the hospital. I will send a man +on to deliver the other orders.' + +"'Monsieur le Capitaine, I have been ordered to this duty. I must go +on until I have fully obeyed my orders. Time enough for others to +carry them after I am killed. But I shall not be--not until the orders +are in the hands of the commanders in the trenches on this sector.' + +"'You cannot walk; you have lost much blood,' protested the captain. + +"'It matters not, sir; I can creep. That once was the only way I knew +how to walk.' + +"'Then go, my brave lad, and God be with you.' + +"Rene saluted formally, though the effort of raising his hand sent +shooting pains all through his body. He climbed laboriously from the +trench and emerged into the bullet-swept plain once more. It was with +a great effort that he even dragged himself along. He felt himself +growing weaker with the moments. Every few yards he was compelled to +lie over on his back for rest and to gain fresh strength for the next +spurt. It required the most heroic courage for one in Rene's condition +to go on. But he grimly stuck to it, creeping wearily along. + +"The end of the journey was now in sight, though the way still seemed +long. No longer able to creep, the little messenger began to roll. It +was slow progress and he suffered agonies, but every roll brought him +that much nearer to his destination and the fulfillment of his +mission. At last an officer in a front-line trench discovered him. +Rene made a signal to the officer. + +"Just then another huge shell struck the ground near the boy and burst +with a terrific crash and roar that shook the earth for a long +distance all about. The brave child was again hit by a splinter and +this time mortally wounded. He knew that the end was near and his +thoughts went back to his parents, to his home in the little village +which he had left to go to war only a short time before. + +"Rene roused himself with a supreme effort and again began to roll +toward the trench. + +"Stretcher bearers, observing his plight, ran to his rescue, +themselves unmindful of the storm of steel that was sweeping the plain +back of the trenches. They tenderly picked the child up and bore him +safely to the trench, where he was placed in a first-aid station in a +bomb-proof dugout. + +"'Tell monsieur le Capitaine that I have orders for him--important +orders,' gasped the little soldier. 'Tell him to come quickly, for I +shall not long be able to tell him what I have to say.' + +"The captain, having been hurriedly summoned, hastened to the dugout. +He gathered the dying lad tenderly in his arms, and, placing an ear +close to the boy's lips, received from Rene the orders of the colonel, +down to the last detail. + +"The final word of these orders was Rene's last. He died in the arms +of the captain, who tenderly laid him down. + +"'Thus dies another hero of France,' murmured the officer, striding +from the dugout, making no effort to hide the tears that were +trickling down both cheeks. + +"This little hero, my friends, offers a lesson in courage and devotion +that each of you will do well always to remember," said Captain Favor +in conclusion. "Tomorrow I shall tell you another story, if the +weather permits of my coming out here. Au revoir, little friends." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT + + +"This time I will tell you about a quick-witted little French girl," +said Captain Favor. "She was a stout-hearted little woman, full of +spirit and as fearless as she was keen, as you shall see. + +"It is not only the French lads who are quick-witted and brave. The +girls are fully as much so, and all are filled with the same wonderful +spirit of patriotism and love of country, as you already have +learned from the stories I have told you. + +"This little woman's name was Jeanne; she had just turned eleven years +when the incidents I am about to relate occurred. For some time the +news had been coming to the village in which she lived of the wicked +deeds of a company of German lancers. These lancers were roving from +village to village, stealing whatever they could lay their hands on, +and mistreating the women and children. It was a terrible thing to do, +but nothing new for the Prussians. As in other towns of which I have +told you, all the able-bodied men of this village had gone to the war. + +"To guard against surprise the inhabitants of Jeanne's home town had +placed watchers on the outskirts of the village that the people might +be notified in advance of the approach of the enemy's detachments. + +"One afternoon the warning came, and, while expected, it was a shock +to the people and their hearts were filled with fear. They closed and +locked their doors, pulled down the shades and took refuge in their +cellars. Not a person was to be seen in the streets; the village +appeared to be deserted. + +"'The Prussians are coming!' was the startling cry that had sent the +inhabitants flying to the cellars, after which a great silence reigned +in the little place. + +"Soon after that a troop of Prussian lancers rode quietly into the +village, alert for surprises, for they had confidently expected to see +French soldiers ere this. Not a French soldier was in sight, so the +invaders concluded there was nothing to fear. However, they decided to +question some of the villagers. + +"The house that Jeanne lived in was the first one the lancers came to. +Jeanne, like others, had taken to the cellar with her parents, where +they remained for a long time, tremblingly awaiting the arrival of +their enemies. Not a sound thus far having been heard, the family +wondered if the Prussians had come and gone. They fervently hoped this +were true. + +"'I will go and find out,' volunteered the little girl. + +"'It is not safe,' objected the mother. 'If they are still here and +should discover you, all would not be well with you, my daughter. You +might be killed. I cannot permit it.' + +"'Have no fears, mother; I will listen for every sound in the street +and will go no further than the door. They shall neither see nor hear +me.' + +"The mother gave a reluctant consent and Jeanne crept upstairs, +stepped quietly to the door and unbolted it, intending to open the +door a few inches and peer out. + +"At that instant the door was rudely forced open from the outside. A +German officer and several men pushed their way in. The officer caught +Jeanne in a listening attitude. + +"'Halt!' he commanded, the lances of his men thrust out so close to +the little girl that it seemed as if they already had pierced her. +'Listening, are you?' + +"'Yes, monsieur,' she answered truthfully. + +"'Why?' + +"'That I might know if you had gone so I might once more go out to the +street.' + +"The officer laughed. + +"'You have nothing to fear if you tell us the truth. We would have +certain information from you, child.' + +"'Yes, monsieur.' + +"'If you do not truthfully answer all my questions, you and all the +rest will be shot.' + +"'I do not fear you, sir. I will answer you well.' + +"'Good. Then tell me, are there any French soldiers here?' + +"'There are none here, sir.' + +"'Neither here nor elsewhere in the village?' + +"'There are none here, as I have said. I know not whether there are +any in the village or not, for I have not seen any since a detachment +passed through here two days ago.' + +"'Is this the truth?' + +"She looked at the officer with an expression of amazement that he +should doubt her word. + +"'Come, I will show you; I will prove to you that what I say is the +truth.' + +"'It is well,' answered the Prussian officer, now reassured. 'We will +pass on. It is good that you have not lied to us, child,' he said. +'It were better if all the French were so truthful, but, alas, they +are not. Forward!' + +"The Prussians departed, Jeanne watching them from the door. 'No, +there are no French soldiers here,' she chuckled. 'Perhaps there may be +just outside the village. And if so, alas for the Prussians!' + +"A short distance beyond the village stood a large farmhouse in a vast +yard, the latter being surrounded by a high stone wall. Within were +trees and shade, so the place looking very attractive to the tired +Prussians. Their commander ordered a halt and, opening the gate that +led to the grounds, he ordered his men in for a rest. They tied their +horses to trees and threw themselves down on the grass in great +content. + +"The place seemed deserted, but that some one was about was evidenced +when the gate through which they had entered was quietly closed and +locked by no less a person than the little Jeanne herself. She had +followed the Prussians at a distance, hoping to be able to give a +signal to her friends if they might still be in the farmhouse, but, +finding a better opportunity for serving them, had locked the lancers +within the enclosure. Having done this, she ran as fast as her nimble +feet would carry her for her own home. + +"The tired lancers lay down to sleep while their commander strolled up +to the house and beat on the door with the hilt of his saber. To his +amazement the door was suddenly jerked open and a French dragoon +dragged him in by the collar. The commander was a prisoner. + +"A detachment of French soldiers were secreted in the house, where +they had been waiting for some days for this very opportunity, knowing +that the Prussians were headed that way. Yet, though the German +commander had been deceived, little Jeanne had not told him an +untruth. She knew the French soldiers had been at the farmhouse three +days before, for she had taken food to them, but she did not know of +her own knowledge that they still were there. If she did not tell the +officer the whole truth it was because he had not asked her, and for +the sake of her beloved France she would not volunteer information +that would aid the Germans. + +"'Betrayed!' raged the Prussian when he saw how neatly he had been +tricked. He groaned when a volley rang out from the house and several +of his lancers fell. + +"His men made a frantic rush for their horses; then, when they +discovered that the gate was locked and that they were caught, they +threw up their hands and surrendered to the foe that they had not yet +seen. + +"The French made everyone of the lancers a prisoner. Several had been +wounded, but none was killed. + +"Credit was given to little Jeanne for placing the lancers in the +hands of the French soldiers, for had she not done this the French +would have attacked the Prussians in the open and might have lost many +men in the fight that would have followed. + +"For her part in this fine capture little Jeanne in time received a +letter from the President of the French Republic, thanking her in the +name of France for her quick wit and for her heroism." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER + + +"You already have heard of some of the heroic little despatch bearers +of France," said Captain Favor. "I shall now tell you of little Henri, +one of the bravest and most resourceful of them all. + +"Despatch carrying is a desperate business, all of it exposing the +bearers to enemy fire at least part of the time, for most of the work +of these brave men is in the open where the enemy can see them. Some +go on foot, others on fast motorcycles. Ordinarily they travel in +pairs, so that in case one be killed the other may take the message +and hasten on with it to its destination. Henri, however, traveled +alone. + +"The Germans, at some distance from the principal battle line and at +one end of it, had advanced several miles into French territory, and, +spreading out, had covered considerable ground. They were making +themselves a nuisance, as they usually did, and a French force was +sent in to drive them back. The French, too, had spread out and the +officer in command, after becoming a little more familiar with +conditions, had made his plans. + +"'Now,' said the French colonel, 'what I wish is a man of undoubted +courage, familiar with all this surrounding country, to carry letters +to the commanders of our various units.' + +"'I fear you will not find such a man,' answered one of his +lieutenants. 'All the men of this section, of course, are fighting.' + +"'Young Henri can do it,' suggested another officer. + +"'A civilian who has been attached to the army unofficially for some +few weeks.' Henri had made himself so useful that his presence with +the army was not only permitted, but welcomed. While he was but +thirteen years of age, he was very strong, alert and active. The +colonel told his aide to summon the boy so the commander might look +him over. + +"'Why do you follow the army?' demanded the colonel, after observing +the boy critically. + +"'Our home has been destroyed by the Germans, my father has been taken +prisoner by them and my sisters have fled to other provinces,' he +answered simply. 'That is why I am trying to serve my country in every +way I can.' + +"The colonel nodded approvingly. + +"'It is a most important mission and a very dangerous one on which I +must send a man. Do you think you can go through with it?' + +"'Yes, sir.' + +"'You may fall into the hands of the Prussians. In that event what +would you do with the letters I shall entrust to your care?' + +"'Swallow them, sir,' was the reply. + +"'Good! You will do. You are a real Frenchman and while you are a mere +child, I have full confidence that you will somehow manage to carry +out my orders.' + +"'I shall do my best, sir.' + +"'That is all that any man can do. Give careful heed to what I tell +you.' The colonel gave Henri careful instructions, after which he +handed the letters to the lad and bade him God-speed. + +"Henri set out quietly, slouching along with a carelessness not in +keeping with his all-important mission. He was soon lost sight of in +the undergrowth that covered many miles of territory in that section +of the country, and that finally merged with a dense forest. The lad +reasoned that the Germans would be found in this forest, as well as in +the more open country, but somehow he must manage to get through their +lines and reach the French on the other side. It was not an easy task, +as he well knew, yet he was undaunted. + +"He was following a course close to the edge of the forest when all at +once he saw a Prussian soldier just outside the forest line. The boy +plunged deeper into the woods and was unseen and unheard by the +soldier, who evidently was a sentry. + +"Later in the day Henri heard voices--German voices. By the sound he +judged there must be a great many of them. He imagined he could hear +commands. + +"'I must be close to a nest of them,' he muttered. 'I must find out +about those fellows, for the commanders will wish to know about them.' +Creeping cautiously ahead he came to the edge of a clearing, a vast +open space where the timber had, he judged, been cut off some time +since, and the brush growth that followed the cutting of the trees had +by now been well trampled down by the Germans, who appeared to be +making this out-of-the-way place a sort of headquarters for their +operations. He was amazed at what he saw. + +"There, before Henri's eyes, was a small German army, all branches of +the service being represented. His association with the French Army +enabled him to observe very closely and understand what he saw. And in +this instance his observation told him that the Prussians were +preparing for battle; he knew, too, that the orders he was carrying +had to do with the very preparations he was witnessing. After fully +satisfying his curiosity Henri plunged again into the forest, using +great caution and watching keenly for stray Prussians. Finally he +reached the brush again, being now free of the forest itself. + +"'Halt!' + +"The command brought him up standing. He rarely had been caught +napping, but drew a breath of relief when he saw that the sentry who +had halted him was in the uniform of his own army. + +"'France!' was the boy's answer to the challenge. 'I have a letter for +your commander.' + +"'Pass!' + +"Henri easily found his way to the commander's headquarters and +delivered the letter intended for him. + +"'You are going further?' questioned the officer. + +"'Yes, sir. I have other orders to deliver.' + +"'You had better watch closely that you are not captured,' warned the +commander. 'The country through which you go is full of Prussians, and +they are ugly. Be cautious.' + +"Assuring the officer that he would use due caution, Henri went on his +way, apparently without a care in the world. He was a most innocent +appearing boy and it would be keen eyes indeed that would suspect him +of being other than what he appeared, an irresponsible child. + +"Henri now began to see German uniforms on all sides. They were +increasing in numbers. + +"'Henri never will get through, this with his letter,' grumbled the +lad. 'I must act while there is yet time.' Crouching down and +watching the Prussians a few moments, he finally drew the remaining +letter from his blouse; he read it carefully several times, read it +until he had memorized every word of it. Having done this, the child +tore the letter in bits and, munching them thoroughly, calmly +swallowed them with a great gulp. + +"'Ugh!' he grunted, making a wry face. 'That is not pleasant food, but +if the Boches can read the letter now their eyes are sharp indeed. +Henri carries his knowledge in his stomach. A queer place for +knowledge, but a good place when there are Boches about. Now I shall +be going.' + +"He did not get far. The lad was halted shortly after leaving his +cover. Germans sprang up on all sides of him. He saw that he had +stumbled into a nest of them and that there was no escape. + +"'What would you of me? I have done nothing,' cried the boy when he +was roughly dragged before an officer. 'I go to my parents in yonder +village.' + +"'Is it for that that you crawl along and hide yourself as a spy?' +demanded the officer sternly. + +"'I saw the soldiers and I was afraid,' he whimpered. + +"'Take him away!' ordered the officer. + +"'Take me where? You can see I have nothing. I am but a poor peasant +boy who could do no harm even if he would.' + +"'You are shamming. You are a spy and you should be shot. Search him!' +commanded the officer. + +"They stripped the child, Henri, during the operation, weeping +bitterly, but such tears as he shed were forced, yet they appeared +real to the onlookers. His clothing was very thoroughly searched, the +soldiers even tearing out the lining of his blouse and ripping his +necktie apart to make certain that no despatches were concealed in +them. Of course, they found nothing. + +"'You see, I have told the truth,' he whimpered, now addressing the +officer. 'Please let me go to my parents.' + +"The officer laughed harshly. + +"'Lock him up. He is a fraud, and we shall yet find him to be such. +The French resort to many tricks.' + +"Henri was placed in charge of a soldier, by whose side he trudged +along, wiping his eyes frequently, apparently in great distress of +mind, as a boy naturally would be in his situation. Henri's eyes were +red, but they were red from rubbing rather than from the tears they +had shed, and were keenly on the alert; they missed nothing of what +was going on about them. He did not know where they proposed to take +him, but wherever it was he determined not to go, for the letter in +his stomach was a constant reminder of what was expected of him. + +"There was much activity about them; it was a busy scene, and Henri's +guard was plainly interested in it--he was becoming more interested in +the activity than he was in his prisoner, which fact did not escape +the lad, who appeared to be so filled with despair. + +"Soldier and prisoner finally came to the bank of a canal, along which +they walked, the soldier still watching the movements of the troops. +Now Henri saw his opportunity. + +"All at once he sprang away from his guard, and, taking a long leap, +plunged head first into the canal. He dove deep and shot himself half +way across before coming to the surface. + +"The soldier guard stood stupefied for a moment. Recovering his wits, +he began to shoot at the bobbing head of Henri that was now out of the +water then under it. + +"Henri, by this time, was rapidly nearing the opposite bank of the +canal, taking little heed of the bullets that were splashing all about +him. + +"'It is good luck to be little,' he chuckled as he scrambled up the +bank and dashed into the bushes. Bullets were singing all about him +now, showing that several soldiers had joined in the shooting, but the +plucky boy was not hit, though there were bullet holes in his jacket +and two through his cap. + +"'Good bye, Mr. Boche,' he called back. 'Henri thanks you that you did +not hit him in the place where he carries his orders.' He then ran +swiftly over the remaining few miles that lay between him and his +destination. Reaching the French lines safely, he was led to the +commander of the detachment in his home village. + +"'I have orders for you, sir,' he said, saluting the commander. + +"'Very good. Where are they?' + +"'In my stomach, sir.' + +"The officer was puzzled for the moment, then he began to laugh. Henri +related the circumstances that had made necessary the destruction of +the letter, and at his dictation the commander wrote down the orders, +which the lad repeated to him exactly as they had been written in the +letter. Henri's mission had been faithfully carried out. + +"'France has need of such as you,' said the commander approvingly. +'What shall you do now?' + +"'I must return to my troops and make my report to my commanding +officer,' was the simple reply. 'I shall wait for the night before +starting, for the Boches this time cannot be so easily fooled. +Remember, I still have the orders in my stomach. Would it not be sad +if the Boches discovered them and took them from me?' Henri grinned +and the commander laughed heartily. + +"Henri's return journey was made without disaster, though several +times he narrowly missed being captured. Late on the following morning +the plucky boy reached his regiment and made his report to his +colonel, who warmly commended the child for his patriotism and +courage." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +GENÉ AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS + + +"The story of Gené and the Bavarian dragoons, is one of the best, to +my mind, that has developed in this war," said Captain Favor, +beginning a new story. "Such quick thinking as hers in the face of an +emergency, is very rare in a child, which makes Gené's achievement +stand out so prominently. + +"Gené's mother had been ill for months. She had been bedridden all +that time, leaving to the little girl the heavy work of the home, for +the father, too, was in poor health. Gené, though only ten years of +age, was a resolute and capable child, as you will see when I tell you +the story of how she won two little battles of her own. + +"After the battle of the Marne the Prussians were pressing northward, +venting their rage on the defenseless inhabitants, killing many such +and carrying others away with them. It was desperate business that +these brutal Prussians were engaged in. Finding themselves unable to +whip the Allied soldiers, they sought to terrorize old men, women and +children. + +"Gené's home was situated at the edge of a village, and though they +knew the Germans were headed in their direction, they thought the +soldiers would take pity on their sad condition and leave them alone. + +"One day, however, a company of Bavarian dragoons entered the +outskirts of the village and halted before the child's home. Tying +their horses, they entered the house and began a systematic search of +it. They ripped up carpets and tore beds to pieces, helped themselves +to all the food in the house, then turned their attention to the +husband, who had stood helplessly by. Not Gené. She stood trembling +with anger, scarcely able to restrain herself. + +"'We want your money!' demanded the captain of the dragoons, turning +to Gené's father. 'Quick, or you shall suffer.' + +"'I have none. I have spent it all on my poor wife,' replied the +father. + +"'Bah! The French always have money. We shall find it. Throw the old +woman out of the bed. She is but pretending to be sick. She is in bed +to hide the money of the household,' raged the captain. + +"Obeying his orders, his men dragged the sick woman from the bed and +dropped her on the floor, where Gené, with tears of anger in her eyes, +bent over and clasped her parent's hand. The husband protested against +their treatment of the wife and Gené pleaded with them to go away and +leave her family in peace. + +"'You would resist us, would you!' demanded the captain, drawing back +a fist to strike the child's father. 'Ah! He shall be taken away for +that. You shall see that it is not for cowardly French to thwart the +will of the Bavarian dragoons. He directed his men to remove the +father. Several soldiers grabbed Gené's father and dragged him from +the house. + +"'Now to the cellar!' cried the commander. 'There we shall at least +find wine, for the French always have wine in their cellars. Perhaps +you will tell us there is no wine there!' he said sneeringly, fixing +his eyes on the child. + +"'There is wine in plenty there,' she answered sweetly, favoring the +captain with a smile. 'You will find the jugs in the front part of the +cellar.' Gené lowered her eyes, that the officer might not read the +thought that she felt certain was reflected there. + +"'Come,' he said, leading the way to the cellar, which they gained by +raising the trapdoor in the kitchen floor and descending a ladder, +this being the customary way of getting to the cellar in a peasant's +home. + +"For several moments all was silent in the room where Gené and her +mother sat on the floor, the child supporting her parent with one arm. +Down cellar the voices of the Germans could be faintly heard. At last +Gené laid her mother down and tripped lightly to the kitchen. +Listening a moment she cautiously lowered the trapdoor in the floor +and closed the opening, fastening it with its bolt. Not satisfied with +this, the child moved a table to the trapdoor, on which she piled +everything of weight in the kitchen. + +"'All is well, mother,' she said, returning to the sick woman. Gené, +for fear of exciting her mother, did not tell her what had been done. +The soldiers with the father having gone, the villagers soon appeared +in the streets, and to them Gené explained that she had captured the +captain of dragoons and several of his men. By this time there was a +great uproar in the cellar. The dragoons were shifting and beating on +the kitchen floor, raging and threatening. They had discovered that +they were in a trap. It would fare hard with Gené and her mother if +the soldiers succeeded in getting out, but of that the child had +little fear. The villagers now offered to guard the imprisoned +soldiers, but the child knew her people could do little in this +direction. + +"Early in the afternoon a battalion of French chasseurs came galloping +into town. The villagers set up a great shout, and, running out, the +child recognized the soldiers of her own country. To the commander of +the chasseurs she quickly made known her situation. + +"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' she said. 'There are in our house German +soldiers. They are in the cellar. Some of their party have taken my +father away, but the commander and some of his men I have locked in +the cellar.' + +"'Bravo!' cried the commander. 'Come, we shall see.' + +"'There,' said Gené, pointing to the barricaded trapdoor. 'Hear them +rage. They are furious, as they should be.'" + +The officer quickly summoned some of his men to the kitchen, and, +after the trap had been uncovered and thrown open, he bade them +thrust their bayonets into the opening. + +"'Come out of that cellar, you Bavarian hounds!' he shouted. 'You are +prisoners!' + +"The uproar in the cellar died out instantly. After a brief hesitation +they came out one by one, being disarmed and herded in a corner as +they emerged into the kitchen. + +"'Take them away,' commanded the officer. + +"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' said Gené, tugging at his sleeve. 'These +soldiers not only have helped themselves to everything in the house, +but they have, as you saw, abused my sick mother and have taken away +my poor father. They have misused us. Please do not let them go until +they have returned my father to our home. If you do not it will kill +my mother, I fear.' + +"'We shall do our best, my brave child.' + +"'Ah, monsieur le Capitaine, I have an idea. Can you not exchange one +of your prisoners for my father?' questioned the little girl. + +"The commander reflected. 'How long have they been gone with him?' + +"'Only a short time, sir.' + +"'Good. Step forward!' he said sharply to the German officer. The +latter obeyed silently. 'Captain,' said the Frenchman, 'you and your +men have ransacked this house, abused a sick woman and carried away +her husband. A fine business for those who call themselves men. You +deserve to be shot, you and all your hounds. However, I will spare +your life on one condition. It is that the father of this household +shall be set at liberty and returned to his home before nightfall. +Your troops will not be far from here. Who in command?' + +"'A captain.' + +"'Then one of you will ride and rejoin your detachment--' + +"'I will go,' interjected the commander of the dragoons." + +[Illustration: A FRENCH DRAGOON DRAGGED HIM IN.] + +"'Oh, no, captain; your presence is required here. Come here!' he +ordered, beckoning to one of the Bavarians, 'and listen well to what I +shall say to you. You will immediately mount your horse and as quickly +as possible rejoin your detachment.' + +"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.' + +"'You will tell the commander that we have here seven dragoons and an +officer as prisoners of the French chasseurs. You also will say that +the French commander sends warning to him that unless the father of +this child, taken as a hostage, is returned to this village before +eight o'clock this evening, your captain and seven Bavarian dragoons +in the hands of the French will be shot immediately. Can you remember +this?' + +"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.' + +"'Then go speedily.' + +"The dragoon departed in haste. He was eager to get away from this +stern-faced Frenchman, at whose hands he knew he could expect small +mercy after what the Bavarians had done in that little peasant home. + +"Gené had rejoined her mother, who had been tenderly placed in her bed +by the tender-hearted French captain. The child sat clasping her +mother's hand and comforting her. + +"'Have no fears, my mother. The brave commander of the chasseurs will +see to it that father comes safely home,' said Gené. Yet the brave +little French girl herself was full of anxiety; she could scarcely +keep the tears back when she realized that already her father may have +been shot. + +"It was late in the afternoon, darkness was just falling, when Gené +heard some one approaching. By the clanking sound she knew it was one +of the chasseurs, and her heart sank within her. + +"The captain of the French detachment entered and halted at the door. +She searched his face and what she saw there caused Gené to utter a +little cry of joy. + +"'Here,' said the officer, 'is what you have been waiting for. Here is +the father whose life you have saved. What I have done for you was +only my duty; what you have done for France is immeasurable. I salute +you, daughter of France!' + +"With that the captain thrust Gené's father into the room, saluted and +strode out to join his company, who were guarding the captured +Bavarians." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY + + +"Jean is the name of the hero of whom I shall tell you today. He was +only twelve, and he joined the army, unofficially, something after the +fashion that little Remi did. Remi, of course, ran away to follow the +army, which, perhaps, was not wrong in view of the fact that he had no +relatives at home. With Jean it was different, for he had a mother," +said Captain Favor, resuming his story telling. + +"A detachment of French soldiers had been stationed in this boy's home +town, and the lad, by many little acts, had endeared himself to them +very much. + +"One day the detachment received orders to leave. Jean begged that +they might take him along, but the soldiers advised him to remain at +home because he was too young to go to war. 'Go ask your mother,' said +a young lieutenant, 'and if she says "yes" I shall not see you if you +should follow us.' + +"Jean, most grateful for the suggestion, ran home and burst, in upon +his mother excitedly. + +"'The lieutenant says I may go if you say "yes." Say "yes," mother. I +want to be a soldier.' + +"'I do not understand what you mean, my son,' answered the child's +mother. + +"'I mean I wish to go to war; I wish to help my beloved France. +Believe me, mother, though I am but a lad I can do much, oh, so much. +And Jean shall be so very careful that he may come back to his home, +and who knows but that he may some day come back a big, big general or +something like that.' + +"'Please my child, do not think of such a thing,' begged the mother. +'You know you might be killed.' + +"'Should not a Frenchman be happy to die for his country, my mother?' + +"The argument was a good one, and Jean saw at once that his mother was +weakening in her opposition. + +"'The monsieur lieutenant says I may go if you will let me. Please, my +mother.' + +"'Yes, go, my son, if you will, and God be with you,' agreed the +mother finally, clasping the little fellow in her arms and kissing him +again and again. 'Go before I forget my duty to France.' + +"Jean ran. He did not stop running until he had reached the camp of +the detachment, where preparations for marching were in active +progress. But Jean hung about at a distance. When the detachment +started away, he, like Remi, fell in behind and followed. Perhaps the +lieutenant--Lieutenant André--saw him, but if so the officer thought +best not to let this be known, either to the boy or to the men. + +"That night Jean joined the company of Lieutenant André. A soldier +shared his blanket with the child. The next morning Jean made himself +useful by carrying water, by helping the cooks and by performing other +acts that relieved the soldiers. + +"The march was resumed soon after daylight. The lad had a further idea +and this he worked out all during the day. Providing himself with +canteens, which he took from the soldiers of his company, he stopped +every little while at farmhouses and filled the canteens. These he +restored to their owners, and then, taking other canteens, filled +these as well, running to catch up with his company to give his +comrades water. That day and following days found the child the +hardest worked person in the company. + +"Now and then a soldier would stagger from weariness. Jean was at his +side in a moment relieving the soldier of some of his burden which the +boy would carry until someone took it away from him. + +"One day the colonel of the regiment discovered him and ordered him +sent home. Jean begged, all to no purpose, then ran to his friend, +the lieutenant, for help. The lieutenant took Jean back to the colonel +and explained the situation. + +"'This boy,' said the lieutenant, 'is one of the most useful civilians +with this outfit. We shall miss him if he is sent back. And further, +it would not be safe for him to return home alone. In all probability +he would not reach there alive.' + +"'Do I understand that you are willing to charge yourself with the +care of this child?' demanded the colonel. + +"'I do, most certainly, my Colonel.' + +"'Very good, then; the boy may remain. Watch over him. He is a +patriot, indeed.' + +"Jean's joy showed in his face only. He made no fuss, but kissed the +hand of his faithful friend the lieutenant and went about his duties. + +"There came a day when the regiment met the Prussians--when the +Frenchmen went over the top and the Germans came out to meet them. +Jean was with his beloved companions, but, strange to say, he carried +no rifle. One had been offered to him, but he shook his head. Instead, +he carried several canteens of water and his blouse was stuffed with +first-aid bandages. He knew what he wished to do and what he believed +he could do best. + +"Soon men began to fall. The stretcher bearers were too few to give +quick attention to all, but Jean was there. With his bandages he bound +as best he could the wounds of his comrades, and quenched their thirst +from his canteens. Many were the suffering poilus who blessed the +little soldier of mercy that day. + +"Jean's face was bleeding where a bullet had left a gash across it, +but to this he gave not the slightest heed. Time and time again he ran +back for more water; time and time again did he rush for the stretcher +bearers to get aid for a particularly badly wounded comrade. The child +seemed to be utterly fearless, or perhaps he did not even realize that +the air about him was thick with bullets and exploding shells. If he +knew he did not care. + +"With nightfall the troops of both sides backed away to their own +trenches. Jean's work, however, was not yet done. He remained out on +the field where lay men who would never rise again, and many more who +were suffering and dying. All night long he worked with them, until +nearly daybreak, by which time the stretcher bearers had finished +their work. + +"When day dawned his comrades found little Jean asleep on top of the +parapet of his own trench, with a storm of machine gun fire sweeping +over him. He was sleeping in a rain of steel. They hauled him in and +tucked him away in a dugout. + +"Jean might have slept the day through had not a shell blown up the +dugout and literally blown the boy over the lip with it. He was +considerably bruised and shocked, but otherwise was unhurt. + +"By the time he had collected his wits and got the dizziness out of +his head, his comrades were once more going over the top. + +"'I must go,' was Jean's reply when an officer sought to hold him +back. + +"Gathering up all the canteens he could carry, Jean filled them with +water and was over the top and out on the storm-swept field. His eyes +glowed with admiration when he saw his lieutenant leading and +encouraging the men of his company. Jean tried to keep close to him, +but this was not wholly possible, for the lad was still performing his +work of mercy. + +"Suddenly he saw the lieutenant stagger and fall. + +"With a little cry Jean sprang up from the wounded man he was working +over and ran to the side of his friend. + +"'Where--where is it, my dear Lieutenant?' he begged anxiously. + +"'Two times they hit me, child--in the shoulder and in the side. It is +bad. But never mind, lad, go to the others; they need you more than do +I.' + +"'No, you shall come with me. Let me get my back to yours.' + +"'You cannot carry me.' + +"'Jean is stronger than he looks.' With that the lad got the officer +to a sitting position and, placing his back against the lieutenant's, +his arms under those of the officer, he straightened up. Of course, he +was not strong enough to carry the man, but he was able to drag him, +and with almost as much comfort to the wounded one as if he were on a +stretcher. + +"In this manner Jean managed to get his friend to the trench, whence +the officer was taken to a first-aid station, then later in the day +placed in an ambulance and started for a hospital in the rear. + +"The road over which they were carried, for Jean had remained with +lieutenant André, was shell swept, the Germans knowing very well that +ambulances with wounded men were there. + +"To the hospital went the two, and there, side by side, they lay in +cots, for at last Jean had been struck and wounded by a shell that +wrecked the ambulance just before they had reached their destination. +The driver was killed but the Little Soldier of Mercy and his friend +escaped, with only a shaking up for the lieutenant and a slight wound +in the leg of Jean. + +"Lieutenant André, on account of his wounds, was disabled for life, +but through his efforts Jean was appointed to the French military +training school, and the last I heard of him he was still fighting +heroically for France." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD + + +"He was a fine fellow, that Jean," observed Joe Funk, "but for myself +I think I should have shouldered a gun and sailed in to get some of +the Boches." + +"That was for the soldiers to do," replied Captain Favor. "Jean's +heroism was as great as that of any man who ever went into battle with +rifle or sword. Now I will tell you about another hero who was both +coward and hero, but, in the last analysis, was all hero. Lucien, he +was named, and, though he did not know it, he was a very funny fellow. +Listen to the tale of little Lucien." + +"Lucien's home was in a village not far from Verdun, where such +terrible fighting had been indulged in for so many, many weeks. +Battles, in fact, had been fought not far from the boy's home, and +even now angry Prussian parties were raiding these towns and robbing +the inhabitants of whatever appealed to their appetites or their +greed. Parties of them had already visited the village and Lucien was +in the habit of observing their movements from high up in a tree, +which was his favorite hiding place when danger approached. Nor was he +partial to any particular tree. Any tree that was handy would answer +his purpose. + +"On the afternoon that I have in mind, a farmhouse just outside the +village bore mute evidence that raiders had been there. All the +windows had been broken out, doors smashed in and blackened spots +about the windows and doors on the outside wall indicated that the +house had been set on fire on the inside, but for some reason had not +burned down. The scene was a cheerless one. Not a person was in sight. + +"Along the road came a detachment of French soldiers. The officer in +command, a captain, halted his men for rest and, observing the +condition of the house, entered the yard to see if he could not obtain +some information from the occupants. But there were no occupants +there. + +"'They must have been here recently,' he said out loud, meaning that +the Germans had visited the place. 'Perhaps I shall find that which I +seek in the village.' + +"Strolling along, the captain halted under a large apple tree, from +which apples had fallen to the ground, though the tree had been pretty +well stripped already. He stooped over to pick up an apple and as he +did so a hard apple hit him squarely on the top of the head. + +"The captain said 'Ouch!' and rubbed the spot where the apple had hit +him. But he forgot all about it in his enjoyment of the apple he was +now eating while stepping out from under the tree. He was munching +away at the fruit when another apple hit him, this time squarely on +the neck. + +"This was a keen as well as a cautious captain, and this time he did +not pretend to have noticed the incident, but kept on munching his +fruit. While doing so he squinted up at the tree out of the corner of +one eye. He knew he was too far from the tree for the last apple to +have fallen on him. While he was taking a cautious look another apple +came out from the foliage of the tree and fell toward him, but the +officer, stepping slightly to one side, avoided being hit by it. + +"He deliberately drew his revolver from its holster and, turning, +aimed at the tree. + +"'I think I can shoot the apples off easier than I can shake them +down,' he announced in a loud tone. + +"'Don't shoot, monsieur l'Officer,' cried a voice from the tree. + +"'What! Some one up there?' + +"'Yes, yes. It is I, Lucien,' was the reply from the tree. + +"'Come down, Lucien. I would like to have a look at you,' ordered the +captain. + +"A very young boy, red of face and very much frightened, came sliding +down the trunk of the tree and landed on all fours at its foot. The +officer eyed him sternly. + +"'What do you mean, boy, by bombarding me with apples?' he demanded. + +"Lucien hung his head. The officer jerked him to his feet. + +"'Answer me! What were you doing up in that tree? Spying on us, eh?' + +"'No, monsieur l'Officer, I am a Frenchman. Frenchmen do not spy on +their own people.' + +"'That is true. But how do I know you are not spying on us just the +same, for the Germans have been here?' + +"'Yes, monsieur le Capitaine, they have been here. See, they have +spoiled my beautiful home. I lived there with the farmer for whom I +worked--sometimes.' + +"'Where were you when the Germans came?' + +"'Up in the top of the apple tree. I always climb a tree when I am +scared. I saw them coming and I hid myself, and I saw them when they +beat in the windows and the door and carried away the food and tried +to burn down the house. I shall fight them some day for that.' + +"'Hm-m-m-m,' mused the officer. It was his idea that Lucien was not so +stupid as he appeared. + +"'Yes, monsieur, I saw them and I wish to see them again. Shall you go +and fight the Boches?' + +"'Of course, when we catch them. How long since they were here?' + +"'Maybe an hour or an hour and a half.' + +"'How many of them?' + +"'About as many as you have here, maybe another company more.' + +"'Which way did they go?' + +"'That way.' Lucien indicated the direction taken by the Germans by a +jerk of his thumb to the right. 'And Lucien knows pretty well where +they have gone.' + +"'Oh, you do? Kindly tell me where you think the Boches went?' +demanded the captain, now amused at the boy's queerness. + +"'They have gone to cut off the road from Etain. I saw them going that +way.' + +"'How do you know this?' + +"'Did I not hear them talking just before I dropped an apple on the +head of the Herr Major, the apple that stuck on his helmet and made +him very angry? It was well for Lucien that the Herr Major did not +know he threw the apple. Wait while I laugh, Captain. No, Lucien did +not throw another at the Herr Major. He saved the next one for +monsieur le Capitaine.' + +"'See here, child, do you know this country well?' demanded the French +Captain. + +"'Yes, monsieur, I know it well, as well as I know my own pocket, and +I wait only for an opportunity to serve you and my country.' + +"'Well spoken. My son, the opportunity is at hand. From what you tell +me I take it that the Germans went toward the forest yonder where the +road from Etain passes. Is that right?' + +"'Yes, monsieur, the big road from Verdun. But there is still another +road to Etain. It follows along the woods to the left near the river.' + +"'So?' The officer consulted a map. 'You speak truly. I thank you, my +son. Now, would you like to lead us, to show us the way?' + +"'Yes, monsieur.' + +"'What if we are surprised by the Germans--what will you do in that +event?' + +"'I shall climb a tree,' replied the lad promptly. 'I do not fear the +Boches so long as there are trees to climb.' + +"This caused a great laugh, but the officer was satisfied that Lucien +could do all and more than he had promised. + +"'You shall show us the way,' he decided, and ordered his men to fall +in and proceed. They passed through the village, which they now +observed had been much abused by the Prussians, and on out into the +country, with the lad marching beside the captain with a swagger that +amused all who saw him. + +"'See, the road is there to the left,' finally said the little guide. +It leads to the bridge which we shall cross and take a short cut in +that way. Thus, my officer, we may reach Etain before the Boches do.' + +"'That will be fine,' said the captain. + +"'Yes, monsieur. But what if the Boches should change their mind and +wait for us? Surely you will not blame the little Lucien? He cannot +read the mind of a Boche when the Boche is out of sight.' + +"'No, we shall not blame you. You have told us well and we are +grateful, but what you say gives me a thought. We shall halt and send +out scouts.' + +"This was done immediately. A short distance ahead of them were a +number of farm buildings. Trees were scattered all about, giving +plenty of shade, which the troops were quick to take advantage of. + +"A scout came running back toward the resting detachment. + +"'The Prussians are coming!' he shouted. + +"Lucien made a mad dash for a tree nearby, up which he shinned and hid +far up in the foliage. There were brief smiles, but the soldiers had +other things to think of at that moment. The French moved forward +about five hundred yards and began digging themselves in; in other +words, digging temporary trenches. + +"The Germans already had begun shooting, the French quickly +retaliating. The former were in larger numbers than the French captain +had believed them to be. Lucien was still up the tree, peering out, +his eyes large and frightened. Bullets were clipping the foliage all +about him. He did not realize this at first, but finally, when he did, +he slid down the tree in a hurry and hid behind it. + +"Scouts were hastening back to the rear with messages from the +captain, who had sent for assistance, seeing that the German force was +too large for him to hold off indefinitely. + +"Night came on and the firing died down. There had been very few +losses. During the night a large detachment of French troops joined +the captain's force and early on the following morning the battle was +resumed with great fury. Lucien had slept in a tree all night. His +captain told him to go back home, but this the boy, for some reason of +his own, did not care to do. + +"Early in the day the Germans, who also had entrenched themselves, +came over the top and drove the French back, taking some prisoners and +killing many. Lucien, who was hiding up in a tree, found himself +between the lines, high and dry, as it were. He made himself as small +as possible up there and gazed wonderingly at the furious battle that +was being fought beneath him. Late in the forenoon the French drove +the Prussians back. The boy took advantage of the opportunity to get +down from the tree and get behind his own lines. It was observed, +however, that he kept always within reach of a tree. + +"Men were falling out there on the field. Plucking up courage, Lucien +went out with some stretcher bearers and helped gather up the wounded, +but there were not enough of the stretcher bearers to properly care +for the wounded; even stretchers were scarce. In the excitement of the +work Lucien forgot his fears. The lad was resourceful and, recognizing +the necessity for getting the wounded from the field, began to cast +about for some means of solving this problem. + +"'Ah! A wheelbarrow. The very thing,' he cried. The wheelbarrow +belonged to the farmhouse near the field, from which the occupants had +run away when the troops came. Lucien quickly possessed himself of the +barrow and proudly marched out on the field pushing the barrow ahead +of him. By tipping it up on one side he was able to roll a wounded man +in, not very gently, but he loaded his man in just the same and, red +of face, pushed the vehicle ahead of him and back to the first-aid +dressing station, where he slid his passenger to the ground, leaving +him for the surgeons to attend to and then trotted back to the field. + +"Artillery had been brought up by both sides and shells were bursting +overhead, though none had fallen near the little Frenchman. + +"Lucien picked up a wounded man near the edge of the battlefield and +began wheeling the victim down the road. The going was better there +and he was enabled to make more rapid progress. Pausing for a rest he +eyed his passenger suspiciously. + +"'Who are you?' he demanded. + +"'I am a Prussian officer.' The officer was so wounded in both legs +that he could not stand. + +"Lucien's face flushed. + +"'A Prussian officer!' he cried. 'I ought to dump you out and leave +you. A Prussian--bah!' + +"'I am losing strength. Please give me help,' urged the officer. + +"'Yes, Herr Officer, I'll help you. You are a human being even if you +are a Prussian. Here we go again.' Grasping the handles of the +barrow, the lad started on a run with the wounded man. + +"A shell burst in the road just ahead of him. Quickly dropping his +homely vehicle, little Lucien ran for a tree and shinned up it without +loss of time. His passenger had slid out into the road when the barrow +tipped over on its side. + +"'Herr Officer, who did that?' + +"'It was a Prussian shell. Take me away before they hit me,' begged +the officer. + +"'Why don't you tell them to stop? It's your people who are shooting +at you. They must want to be rid of you. I--' + +"A shell struck the tree, well down toward its base. The jolt nearly +shook the boy from his perch in a crotch of the tree. Very slowly at +first, then with increasing speed the tree began to fall. It came down +with a mighty crash, hurling little Lucien some distance ahead of it. +He was bruised and shaken and for a few minutes he lay where he had +fallen, groaning. + +"Suddenly he sprang to his feet and started to run toward the rear. +The faint voice of the German officer called to him to come back, +which brought Lucien to a standstill. + +"'Maybe he is afraid, too,' reflected the lad. 'I must get him.' And +get him he did. Running back, he loaded the wounded man on the barrow +and ran with him all the way to the rear. + +"'See! I have taken a Boche,' he cried, staggering up to the dressing +station. 'I shall now go get another one.' This he did. He was taking +a new interest in his work, and thereafter made no distinction between +Germans and Frenchmen in his work of mercy. + +"All during that desperate fighting little Lucien was a familiar +figure on the battlefield. He really performed many heroic deeds. Now +and then, overcome by fright, he would dash for a tree, but these +flights were becoming fewer. He began to feel a pride in the work he +was doing and this pride of achievement and the new spirit of +patriotism that had been aroused within him served to keep him up and +gave him new courage. Before that day of suffering came to an end +there was none on the battlefield more heroic and courageous than +little Lucien. + +"How many wounded men the lad had rescued from the field of battle no +one knew, but there were many of them, among them two majors and three +captains. + +"Just before nightfall the French made a great charge. Lucien was well +out between the lines when the charge started. The Germans put down a +'curtain of fire,' hoping in this way to stop the charge. And little +Lucien and his wheelbarrow were fairly caught in it. A shell hit the +barrow and blew it, with a wounded soldier, into bits. Lucien was +hurled into the air and fell several yards away. His own comrades +charged right over him as they passed. Those near enough to hear +caught a faint cry from the lad. + +"'Vive la France!' were the words they heard him utter. + +"Stretcher bearers, following the charging men, picked the lad up and +tenderly bore him back. They saw that he was mortally wounded. While +they were dressing his wounds, Lucien tugged feebly at the surgeon's +blouse. The surgeon leaned over, for the little fellow's voice was +very weak. + +"'Lucien will climb no more trees,' murmured the lad. + +"'No, my brave boy,' answered the surgeon. + +"'Is Lucien brave, monsieur?' + +"'There are no braver. The deeds of valor you have this day performed +will live long after you, little soldier.' + +"A smile that was radiant with happiness appeared on the face of the +dying boy. + +"'Lucien is no longer a coward,' he repeated several times. 'No longer +a coward. Vive la France!' he cried, half raising himself. + +"The surgeon gently laid him back and kissed the lad on both cheeks, +but Lucien did not know. He was beyond the touch of human sympathy." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE HERO OF THE GUNS + + +"The patriotism of nearly all these children of France is something +that you boys and girls cannot fully understand. No one can unless he +has seen it displayed, as I have, in many instances," said Captain +Favor. + +"For instance, there is a little story of 'The Hero of the Guns,' as +he was called. His name was Mattia, and though only twelve years old, +he was determined to go to war and fight for France. This boy had only +his mother left, his two brothers being already in the war and his +father having fallen a victim to the Prussians when they raided the +village in which Mattia's parents then lived. + +"For a long time the lad had been studying a map of France until he +possessed a very clear idea of the territory held by the Germans, as +well as that where his countrymen were fighting. He talked over these +things with the old men of the village and learned much from them. + +"One day when he thought he knew the country well enough, this little +patriot ran away from home and was well on his way to join his +brothers when his absence was discovered. + +"Mattia's mother appealed to the police but it was not until the +following day that he was found and returned to his home. He had gone +more than twenty miles on his journey when the police got him. + +"'Unhappy child!' cried the boy's mother when he had been restored to +her. 'Why did you do this? Did you not know the danger into which you +were running? You might have been killed by German raiders or taken +captive and carried to their own country and made to work, with barely +enough food to keep you alive.' + +"'My mother,' answered the boy bravely, 'when France is in danger, +everyone, boy or man, should go to her aid just as my brothers have +done, and as my father did, and gave up his life for his country. I, +too, must go.' + +"'Yes, but they were men while you are but a child, Mattia.' + +"'Other mothers' sons have gone to war, mother; other mothers' sons +will never come back. They have been shot in the war.' + +"Mattia's mother, however, refused to give her consent, and the little +patriot was obliged to remain at home, yet with his purpose of +fighting for France still firmly fixed in his mind. One day he would +go, he told himself, and one day he would show them that even a child +could do a man's part. + +"Early in the following spring Mattia's mother grew ill and died. The +little fellow grieved for her until his face grew wan and pale. He was +now left in the care of an uncle who was not very kind to him. After +a month had passed in which Mattia had continued his study of the war +map, he determined to leave the home of his uncle and once more try to +reach his brothers. + +"One evening a troop train halted at the little village. This was the +boy's opportunity. Watching his chance, he slipped into one of the +coaches and crawled up to the luggage rack and lay down, making +himself as inconspicuous as possible. But, alas, he was discovered and +dragged out by a station employe who had seen him enter the car. + +"This ended Mattia's going to war for some time to come. He found no +opportunity to do so until nearly a month later, when he decided to +leave his uncle's home again and take his chances. This time he +planned well and carefully. Providing himself with food he set out one +evening after he was supposed to be in bed and asleep, and, proceeding +to the railroad, started walking along it. This, he had found, was the +most direct route to the front. + +"Mattia's uncle did not take enough interest in his nephew's +disappearance to have a search made for him. For days after that the +lad continued his journey on foot, stopping at farmhouses and doing +little odd jobs that were the means of providing meals for him. One +day, to his great happiness, he came up with the rear of one of the +armies of his beloved country. + +"The boy plodded in among the troops, for this was a rest camp that he +had stumbled upon, some miles distant from the front. An officer, +observing that he was a civilian, halted him in the street of the +village where the rest camp was situated. + +"'Where are you going, boy?' the officer demanded. + +"'To the war with you,' answered Mattia promptly. + +"'What! To war, at your age? It is impossible. Where is your home?' + +"Mattia told him. + +"'My mother is dead, as is my father, and my brothers are fighting at +Verdun. Mattia has only his country left to love now. Where is +Verdun?' + +"'You poor little patriot,' answered the officer sympathetically. +'Verdun is yonder where you see the smoke and where the big guns are +in action. You can hear them now.' + +"The boy nodded. + +"'But you are too young to fight. It is not permissible. Wait! You +have no family left at home?' + +"'None, sir, save my uncle, who does not want me,' + +"'And you wish to stay here?' + +"'No, sir, I wish to fight.' + +"'That cannot be, but if you wish you may remain here. If you can work +there is much that you can do in the rear and thus serve your country +well. All men who serve their country are not in the trenches. Many +are serving heroically who have not yet heard the roar of the big +guns.' + +"'What shall I do here?' + +"'Help the cooks, do little services for the officers--whatever you +may find to do. But, my son, remember you are not to try to go near +the firing line. It is not for children to be there. You do not know +what the soldiers suffer there. They must be strong and they must be +old enough to stand the terrible strain.' + +"'I care not for that. I want to fight,' replied Mattia with +determination. 'I am strong and I can endure as long as can the men. I +know, for I have worked with men. Where shall I eat and sleep?' + +"The officer told him he would speak to the mess sergeant and that the +latter would provide him with food, and would arrange for the lad to +lodge in one of the buildings where soldiers slept when off duty. + +"That was satisfactory to little Mattia. He was happy, for he was with +the army, and that night the roar of the distant artillery lulled him +to sleep. It was sweet music to him. 'Tomorrow I shall fight like the +Frenchman I am,' he murmured as he dropped off to sleep. + +"It was many days later, however, before he got the chance to take +part in actual fighting. Even that came about by chance. He had been +sent back to carry a message to the lieutenant in a high-angle gun +squad--" + +"What is that?" interjected Joe Funk. + +"I should have explained. That is what the outfit that handles the +anti-aircraft guns, the men who stay on the ground and shoot at +airplanes, is called. He was permitted to stand by and watch the +operations of the squad. Pretty soon he was assisting them by running +back and bringing up the long, slender projectiles that the gun, +pointed toward the skies, fired. He enjoyed watching the kick of the +piece and the way it ejected the case of the shell after the +projectile had soared on its way to the clouds. + +"Mattia proved himself very useful that day and earned the thanks of +the ammunition carriers for his help. He was quick and never stumbled +or dropped a shell. + +"That night he slept on the ground near the gun, which was silent all +through the night. Early in the morning he was awakened by the sharp +report of the weapon. Quickly springing up, he saw, high in the air, a +black speck which he knew to be an enemy airplane, because the gun +squad was firing at it. + +"Once more Mattia took up his work of carrying ammunition. Something +tremendous exploded not far from the squad. + +"'The Boches are bombing us,' cried a soldier. The lad knew from that +that the airplane, so far above them, was dropping bombs to destroy +the gun and its squad. The only effect of the bombing, however, was to +knock down several men, Mattia among the number, by the shock of an +exploding bomb. + +"'They're coming down!' yelled the lad as the airplane grew larger. + +"'It's a hit!' cried the lieutenant in command. + +"Mattia saw the airplane turning over and over, falling, soaring like +a leaf from a tree in the fall. + +"'Di--did we hi--hit him?' questioned the lad. + +"'Of course we hit him,' answered a soldier. 'Don't you see him +coming?' + +"For the first time the little French lad realized what war was. He +knew there was one man, and perhaps two, in that falling machine, and +that he was watching them falling to what would probably be death. + +"'It is for France,' he said to himself. 'If they are Boches they must +die.' However, Mattia did not get the picture of that scene out of his +mind for a long time. Later on he became used to it and did not even +marvel. + +"One day the gun squad was sent to another point a long distance away +and the lad returned to the rest camp. He now felt himself to be a +well-seasoned soldier and talked of high-angle guns as volubly as +could an experienced gunner. Still, he had not yet reached the +realization of his ambitions. He tried often to steal away to the +trenches, but in each instance was stopped and turned back. + +"While in billets he fell in with a machine-gun company and became +much interested in what they told him of the perilous work of that +branch of the service. He concluded that this work would suit him +better than the anti-aircraft service. While the latter squads +ordinarily were located behind the lines, the machine gunners were up +where there was trouble all the time. To join a machine-gun company +was not so easy. + +"Mattia's chance came one night. A company of machine gunners was +ordered to a remote point on the line, a journey of some fifteen +miles, where they were to establish a new emplacement, temporarily, to +clean out a nest of Prussians. The lad listened to what the men had to +say about their proposed journey and the work they expected to have to +do with the keenest interest. + +"'I too shall go,' he decided, but he told no one of his intention. +Instead, he waited until the men were well started, then followed +them. There was no difficulty about this, as they did not have to pass +any sentries on the way. + +"Shells frequently fell near them, many soared over their heads with +weird moanings. He was getting so familiar with the sound of shells +that he could tell the kind of shell that was passing by the noise +made by it. + +"Along toward the middle of the night the machine gunners reached +their destination. Mattia did not show himself until the soldiers +began preparing an emplacement for their gun. This emplacement was +located in a clump of bushes, in which they dug a short trench, +carrying the dirt far to the rear, so the enemy airplanes might not +discover that the earth had been turned over there. + +"The lieutenant in command discovered him and Mattia spent a few most +uncomfortable minutes in trying to explain why he was there. + +"'I know this boy, sir,' volunteered a sergeant. 'He is with the army +and he is always very useful. Why not, sir, let him remain in case we +need to send a messenger back?' + +"'Very good,' answered the lieutenant, after brief reflection. 'But +understand, boy, you must keep out of sight. In the daytime I want you +to go over yonder in those bushes and lie down and don't dare to show +yourself unless I give you permission.' + +"To these orders Mattia made no response. None was expected. All the +rest of the night he assisted in carrying back dirt in bags and +dumping it in a gully where it could not be seen from up in the air. +In addition to the parallel trench one was dug back through the soft +ground as a sort of communicating trench. The lad wondered how that +trench could be dug there without the enemy's seeing it, but when the +men began to plant bushes along its sides, permitting the branches to +droop over the trench, he saw the idea of the plan. This was +camouflage. + +"It was nearly daybreak when he and some of his comrades made their +way to the rear and went to sleep. When he awakened the sun was +shining brightly. Forgetful of his orders, he entered the +communicating trench and walked forward. He was amazed to find another +trench leading into the communicating trench. He asked a soldier about +it. + +"'Say, Mattia, do you think this squad is the only one in France?' +asked the soldier. 'There are other machine-gun units out here. Of +course, we know where they are and the officers know what we are going +to do. Peek through these bushes.' + +"'Boches!' gasped the lad. + +"'That is right, Mattia. They do not know we are here.' + +"'Why don't you shoot at them?' + +"'We are not ready, or rather, they are not.' + +"The Germans were digging a trench on a rise of ground, where they +always try to place them, instead of on low ground, about half a mile +away. Mattia peered at them, looking through the bushes, until he was +ordered by an officer to go back and bring up the breakfast for the +men. Thus the little Frenchman was given to understand that he was one +of them. The officer in command either had forgotten his orders to the +boy of the previous night, or else had decided to use him so long as +no fighting was going on. + +"There was much about the work that Mattia did not understand. He now +knew that there were other French detachments close at hand, but he +neither saw nor heard them. The others, undoubtedly, were camouflaged +just as his detachment was. + +"So secretly, however, had the French worked that the Germans did not +appear even to suspect the presence of the enemy. This secrecy was +maintained for two more days, Mattia in the meantime having been +initiated into the mystery of the machine gun. He was allowed by a +friendly sergeant to handle the gun and go through the motions of +firing it and putting in a fresh string of shells. It was a delight to +him. + +"On the morning of the third day he was ordered to remain behind in a +dugout that had been built. He knew by this that an action was at +hand. + +"It came about nine o'clock in the morning, when a company of French +soldiers came marching down the field in plain view of the Germans, +though no Germans were in sight. He did not know that these +infantrymen were a decoy, a part of the plan of the French to draw the +enemy down within easy range of their machine guns. + +"Rifles began to crackle from the Prussian trenches, and to his +amazement, after firing a few rounds in reply, the French infantrymen +ran for the cover of the brush. He saw the reason for this a moment +later when a big troop of German cavalry topped the rise of ground and +swept on toward the French, followed by the charging infantry of +the Germans." + +[Illustration: HIS FIRE SAVED THE DAY.] + +"Some time since, Mattia had slipped from his dugout. He was +determined to miss nothing of what was going on. He saw his own +infantrymen take to the communicating trenches and disappear, plainly +as a part of the plan. + +"Then the machine guns began to play. The mounted German detachment +was close upon them before the hidden French machine guns opened up. +All down the line to the right he could hear French machine guns +pouring their fire into the approaching horsemen. Those who were not +killed or who had not fallen wounded from their horses were turned +back. + +"Mattia, in his excitement, crawled along one side of the +communicating trench toward the machine-gun emplacement. He was +shocked to see that more than half of his machine-gun crew already +were dead or wounded. Now the German artillery, which he could not +see, began shelling the French positions. A shell exploded in the +trench occupied by his comrades, and Mattia was hurled violently into +the communicating trench. + +"When the smoke had cleared away Mattia ran forward. The machine gun +was silent, though others down the line were very busy. It was a +strange sight for a boy to gaze upon. All his comrades were now lying +in the trench, either killed or badly wounded. + +"The German infantry, in close formation--meaning close together--was +coming on steadily. Down the line the French were holding them back, +but in Mattia's trench there was no opposition. + +"The boy collected his wits, uttered a gasp, then sprang to the silent +machine gun. A half-used strip of shells was in the gun and other +strips were close at hand. + +"Little Mattia began to work the machine gun. He swept the field with +it as far as it would reach to the right and the left, sending a rain +of bullets into the enemy. Even after the strip was exhausted he kept +on working the gun, not realizing that it was out of cartridges. +Discovering this finally, he reloaded and began firing again. + +"His fire saved the day for the French, because, had Mattia failed to +serve the gun, the Germans soon would have broken through the line and +that would have lost the battle for the French. + +"At last the German line began to waver; it stopped, then began a +retreat on the run, followed by the bullets of the machine gunners. +Mattia was yelling and whooping as he pumped away with his weapon, +elevating its muzzle a little from time to time that he might be sure +to reach the fleeing men. + +"Shells had been bursting about him all the time and were still +bursting. + +"The French machine-gun fire from other trenches stopped almost as +suddenly as it had begun. Then something happened to little Mattia. +Another shell landed in his trench and burst with a deafening +explosion. The lad fell forward on his gun and lay still. + +"They found him there later, unconscious, badly wounded, his hand +still on the trigger of the gun he had worked with such success. He +was carried back to the rest billet and thence to a hospital. +Everywhere the story of the boy's heroism had preceded him. + +"One day as he lay in his cot, now well on the road to recovery, some +officers, guided by an orderly, entered the ward where he lay and +halted at his cot. The officer in charge of the party, who proved to +be a general, made a little speech to the wounded boy, then pinned the +Cross of War on his breast and finished by kissing him on both cheeks. + +"Mattia had won his reward, and though he would never fight again, he +was a happy boy. He had served his country well and had bled for her +and had won an honor that comes to few." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MARIE THE COURAGEOUS + + +"The Padré and his little niece, an orphan of twelve, lived on the +outskirts of a French village that had been taken by the Germans," +began Captain Favor, resuming his story telling for the children. + +"Marie, for that was her name, was a patriot if there ever was one. +Every fibre of her being was for France, and one could see the fires +of patriotism flaming in her eyes. That is the sort of patriotism, +Joe, that no fear of death can dim." + +Joe Funk nodded approvingly. His own patriotism had been stirred by +these tales of the heroism of the children of France. + +"While the French were in possession of the village in the early days +of the war, an officer of that army made his headquarters with the +Padré and his niece," continued Captain Favor. "He became very fond of +the child. Captain Grivelet was his name and, recognizing in Marie a +true patriot, he had explained many things to her about the war, so +that, for a child so young, Marie was able to form a very clear idea +of the situation of the two armies. + +"There were, of course, many army secrets of which Captain Grivelet +never spoke. He, too, was a patriot, you see, as he should be. Having +asked permission to store some of his personal equipment in the +Padré's cellar, they thought nothing of his going down there +frequently. Now and then Marie was certain she heard him talking to +some one down there. + +"One day, after the Prussians had pushed the French back close to the +village--this was before the Germans took the village, you +understand--Captain Grivelet had a talk with Marie. + +"'Marie, knowing that you are French in your heart and soul, I shall +confide certain secrets to you. Are you willing to serve your +country?' + +"'Yes, monsieur le Capitaine. Always, and with my life, if necessary.' + +"'Bravely spoken. You may do as your judgment dictates about repeating +what I shall tell you to the Padré, your uncle. But for the sake of +his safety I should advise that you keep your own secrets. Such +secrecy will not bring dishonor upon you, for it is in behalf of your +country.' + +"'I understand, monsieur. You may trust Marie. She is a loyal French +girl and will continue to be so no matter what comes.' + +"The captain nodded approvingly. + +"'Whether or not we shall be able to hold our lines here seems +doubtful. At least we fear the Prussians, in large force as they are, +may temporarily drive us back. But it will not be for long. We shall +recover our ground. Even now we are entrenching ourselves to the rear. +When that time comes, Marie, you and the Padré will be in peril, for +the French probably will have to shell the village. We hope it may +not come to that. What I would ask you is, do you and your uncle wish +to go to the rear while there is yet time, so you may be safe?' + +"'There is reason for believing, monsieur le Capitaine, that Marie may +be of use to her beloved France here?' she questioned. + +"'Yes; that is what I would say.' + +"'It is not necessary to ask, monsieur.' + +"'You will understand that it is better that I do not speak to the +Padré, your uncle. You may do so, and you will the better be able to +judge how to speak to him, though as I already have advised, for the +sake of his safety he should not be involved. You will not be afraid, +Marie?' + +"'No, monsieur.' + +"'It is well. You have seen me go to the cellar, many times, where I +store my equipment. This equipment I shall remove today, but in the +cellar you will find--' + +"At this instant a shell landed in the street and exploded with a +roar. It was followed by other shells that swept on to the rear and +fell beyond the village. A bugle somewhere down the street blew +insistently. The captain sprang to his feet. + +"'Marie, I shall see you later. I am called. You will be prudent and +be careful of your life?' + +"'Yes, monsieur.' + +"The captain hurried out and that was the last the brave little French +girl heard of him for some time afterward. All day the battle raged +and shells fell in the village, many times the Padré's house being +showered with bursting shrapnel and shell splinters. It was a stout +little stone house and withstood this storm of steel, save as now and +then a splinter from a shell tore through the blinds and imbedded +itself in the wall. + +"In the meantime Marie had gone out, unmindful of the danger, to fetch +her uncle home. The Padré was in his church, but Marie made him come +home. Reaching there, she said: + +"'My uncle, the Germans may come and we shall be in their power. Is it +your wish to remain here or to go to the rear where you will be safe?' + +"'I shall remain here, my child. Perhaps it would be well for you to +go to the rear and be under the protection of the French, for the +Prussians are beasts!' + +"'With your permission, my uncle, I shall stay here with you. I shall +not leave you.' + +"It is well. If the Prussians come I shall speak with them, and +perhaps they will leave the Padré and his niece to themselves. But +they shall not make us Prussians; we shall still be loyal to our +beloved France.' + +"'Yes, uncle, but it will be well that you have a care as to what you +say and do. Please heed what Marie says, for she knows whereof she +speaks.' + +"All that day the battle raged and the Padré and Marie remained in +their home, except now and then when the child went out to watch the +progress of the battle, for their house was on high ground commanding +an excellent view of the battlefield. The field, however, was so +covered with smoke that few of the details of what was going on out +there were observable. + +"With darkness the battle still continued. Later on there was rifle +fire in the street, and, acting upon the Padré's suggestion, uncle and +niece took refuge in their cellar, for the bullets were beginning to +spatter on the walls within the house. + +"It was near daylight when the firing died down, whereupon the Padré +and Marie came upstairs and went to bed for a few hours' sleep. + +"They were rudely awakened by a violent pounding on the door. It was +Marie who sprang up at the sound and who opened the door. Confronting +her was a German soldier, armed with a rifle. The girl did not quail. + +"'Is this the Padré's home?' he demanded gruffly. + +"'It is.' + +"'The Prussians are now in control of this village and the inhabitants +will govern themselves accordingly. We shall search your house. Then, +if you behave yourselves, you will be permitted to remain here and to +go out in the daytime, as usual. All food that is asked for by the +soldiers shall be given to them without question, but any attempt to +communicate with the enemy, the slightest disobedience of the orders +of the commander, will be punished by death.' + +"The soldier beckoned to several other soldiers who were in the +background and ordered them to search the house. This they did with +thoroughness. Marie had forgotten about the equipment of Captain +Grivelet in the cellar, but it was brought home to her with a shock +when the searchers came up bearing the stuff the French officer had +left. The soldier in charge eyed the Padré and his niece sternly. He +demanded to know to whom this equipment belonged. + +"Marie very frankly told him that an officer had requested permission +to leave the equipment there, and had slept in the house. Beyond that +she knew nothing, nor did she know what his luggage contained. + +"'I shall report this to my commander. I know not what he will do, but +giving aid to the enemy is a serious matter,' he warned. Then the +soldiers went away. That day neither the Padré nor Marie left the +house. Late in the afternoon an officer entered and questioned them +sharply, finally leaving, apparently satisfied with their answers. The +two were not disturbed again. + +"Next day the Padré went to his church and Marie went out to do her +marketing. She was unmolested, though soldiers frequently spoke to her +jokingly, to all of which she smiled and made some bright reply. + +"That night as she sat thinking in her room in the dark, her +conversation with Captain Grivelet suddenly came back to her. He had +been about to tell her something of importance, something that he +wished her to do for her people. + +"'The cellar!' exclaimed the child. + +"Snatching up a candle, she hurried below and holding the light above +her head, surveyed the low-ceilinged cellar keenly. + +"'I see nothing,' murmured the girl. 'But surely there is something +here. It could not have been in the equipment that the Germans carried +away with them, for they searched the Captain's belongings and found +nothing. That I plainly saw with my own eyes.' + +"Marie gave up her quest and, returning to her room, went to bed. The +greater part of the night she lay awake, disturbed now and then by +vollies of rifle shots, which she interpreted with a shudder. Some of +her neighbors were meeting a terrible fate, a fate that yet might be +hers or her uncle's, or both. + +"On the following morning, after a soldier had visited their home and +again searched it, Marie, still troubled by her failure to find that +which the French captain had started to confide in her, locked the +door after the Padré's departure for his church, and once more went to +the cellar. + +"This time her search was thorough, but she discovered nothing. +Sitting down in the middle of the cellar, with her candle placed on +the floor at one side, she gazed about her. A shadow cast by the +candlelight on the cellar wall seemed to make it appear that one of +the stones projected outward further than the others. + +"Marie got up to examine the stone. Closer examination verified this +surmise. She uttered a little exclamation when, upon taking hold of +the stone, it moved. Marie pulled and the stone came out easily. + +"'Oh!' cried the child. + +"There, before her eyes, tucked into the opening, was a telephone. The +child stared at it with wide open eyes. This, plainly, was what the +French captain wished to tell her about when he was interrupted by the +bugle summons and called away to a service from which he did not +return. But what was it that he wished her to do with the telephone? + +"'I have it!' she cried exultingly. 'It was that he wished the little +Marie to tell him what the Prussians were doing. At last the way is +opened for her to serve her country. But--' The child, with a wisdom +beyond her years, knew what the penalty would be if she were +discovered. 'I care not. If I shall have served my France I can die +with a brave heart!' + +"Taking the telephone in her hands--hands that did not even tremble, +Marie called a soft 'hello!' There was no response. Again and again +she tried, but without result. Finally the child gave it up and went +back upstairs. + +"The thought of the telephone drew her again to the cellar. Again she +called her soft 'hello.' + +"The answer came back in French with a suddenness that nearly caused +her to drop the telephone. + +"'Who is speaking?' she asked in as firm a voice as she could summon. + +"'Whom do you wish?' + +"'I would speak with Captain Grivelet' + +"'He is not here. I cannot reach him.' + +"'It is important. Find him and tell him that the little Marie would +speak with him. Tell him to come at ten o'clock this evening and Marie +will be here at the telephone. He will understand.' + +"Marie put back the telephone and carefully closed the opening. Now +she had a distinct mission to perform, and, throwing a scarf over her +head, she went out to the street. Marie was very bright of face and +very friendly with the German soldiers. No obstacle was placed in the +way of her going where she liked. That day she used her eyes and ears +to good advantage and they saw and heard many things. What especially +interested her was the massing of German troops in the forest to the +west of the village. She heard of this through a conversation between +two officers. There also was great activity behind the lines. There +the Germans were building entrenchments, which she could plainly see +from the windows of her home. + +"The child knew that what she had observed was important, but just how +important, of course, she could not know. + +"Promptly at ten o'clock that night, after the Padré had gone fast +asleep, Marie hastened to the cellar and again called over the +telephone. Captain Grivelet was quickly summoned. + +"'It is the little Marie speaking,' she called excitedly. + +"'My brave child,' answered the captain. 'I knew you would find the +way. We are defeated, but not for long, for the French are being +reinforced and are angry. Can you safely go out into the street +tomorrow and then let me know what they are doing?' + +"'I already have been out, monsieur le Capitaine, and I have seen.' + +"'I beg of you to be careful. You are in great peril. If the Boches +discover that you are in communication with us they will shoot you.' + +"'I fear them not. But I must hasten. Listen!' Marie then told the +captain all that she had learned, interrupted frequently by +exclamations of approval from the officer at the other end. + +"'Wait!' she called. 'Hold, for I hear movement above.' + +"A few minutes later Marie returned to the telephone. 'Down in the +middle of the village are many soldiers. I know not why they are +gathering there, but I think perhaps they may be going to shoot some +of our noble Frenchmen.' + +"'Down by the square?' questioned the captain. + +"'Yes.' + +"'Put away your telephone and go to the floor above. Watch the square +and you shall see what the French gunners can do. The people are in +their houses?' + +"'Yes, monsieur, they dare not go out at night. It is forbidden.' + +"'Good! Do as I have directed, and go no more to the telephone until +tomorrow night at this time, unless something of importance develops, +then call for me. I shall leave orders to be summoned immediately.' + +"Not fully understanding what the captain was about to do, the child +hastened upstairs and, opening the door slightly, peered down the +street. + +"It was at this moment that a giant shell from a French battery +exploded fairly in the middle of the square, with a terrific shock and +roar. It was followed by several other heavy explosions. Then silence +settled over the night. + +"This silence, however, did not last for long. The forest in which so +many German troops were being massed was bombarded all through the +night, as were the entrenchments to the rear of the village where the +enemy was busily engaged in fortifying themselves. + +"The child shuddered. She was troubled. + +"'It is for France that I have done this,' she said to comfort +herself. 'Already the Prussians have killed many here, and for what? +For nothing save that they are French. It is terrible.' + +"On the following day Marie picked up further information. She also +learned that the Germans had suffered heavily from the previous +night's bombardment, and that they were amazed at the exact +information possessed by the French. + +"Each night the child spoke with the French captain over the +telephone, and each night the French obtained information of great +value to them. Though Marie did not know it, the Germans had by this +time satisfied themselves that some one in the village was +communicating with the French forces, and a careful watch was being +kept on every inhabitant of the place. Marie, all ignorant of this, +continued to keep the French informed of the movements of the enemy. + +"One night, after a day of heavy fighting on both sides, during which +the Germans had been slowly pushed back, Marie was giving Captain +Grivelet her report of the operations on the German side for that day. +She had communicated everything down to the smallest detail and was +just replacing the telephone in its niche when she thought she heard a +sound behind her. Marie turned quickly. + +"The child's head grew dizzy; she nearly fainted with fright, for +there, gazing sternly at her, stood a Prussian officer. + +"'So! This is it?' + +"Marie did not answer. She could not. + +"'For this you shall be shot. Stand back. Give me that telephone!' + +"Snatching it from her hands he got the French headquarters, though he +did not know to whom he was speaking. + +"'Speaking to you is a Prussian major,' he said in French. 'He has +just discovered why the French have been so fully informed. The spy +who has thus informed you is the Padré's niece. She dies tonight!' + +"With that the major wrenched the telephone from its wires and ripped +the wires out, leaving the outside wires, that were underground, for +his engineers to destroy. Marie, eyes now flashing, was led from her +home and taken to the office of the general commanding the operations +there. Soon after her arrival her uncle came, in charge of two +soldiers. Then the examination began. Not one bit of information would +the girl give. At last the commanding officer turned to the Padré. + +"'It is my belief that you are responsible for this spying. It is not +my wish to shoot a Padré, but you shall be taken out and shot +immediately!' + +"'No, no, no!' cried Marie, now thoroughly aroused. 'He knows nothing +of what has been done. I swear it, monsieur! It is Marie who has +informed the French of what the hated Prussians were doing. I--' + +"'Ah! You admit it! It is well. Take her away. Take the Padré away +also, but keep them separated.' + +"Marie left the commander with head erect and eyes flashing. Her only +concern was for her uncle, whom she feared would be shot. She had no +doubts about herself Of course, they would shoot her and she gloried +in the thought that she was to die for France. + +"After her departure the Prussian general devoted several minutes to +deep thought. + +"'Of course, Herr General, she will be shot,' said the major who had +made the capture. + +"'No!' answered the commander, with emphasis. + +"'Not shot?' questioned the officer in amazement. + +"'No. She shall be sent to the camp at Metz and imprisoned for the +duration of the war. The Padré also shall be sent to the rear and held +during the rest of the war.' + +"'Herr General, may I ask why, when both should be executed without +delay?' + +"'Because, major, I dislike to put a Padré to death, and further, I +am satisfied that the girl told the truth when she said that he knew +nothing of this affair. He is a simple-minded man. But the girl!' The +general shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman. 'She is keen as a new +saber.' + +"'And knowing well what she was doing she should be shot,' insisted +the major. + +"'I have a daughter of her age,' replied the general, slowly. 'This +child is so like her that I should feel like murdering my own were I +to order her shot. Major, I cannot do it. See that my orders are +carried out. I shall explain my action in this matter to my superiors +for their approval.' + +"That ended it. It was an unusual thing for a Prussian to do and +perhaps the only instance in the war where so much human sympathy was +shown to a spy. Marie was taken to the prison at Metz, where she was +kept from that time on. She suffered great hardships. There was little +food and her treatment was harsh, so that her days were a misery and +her nights a nightmare. + +"A long time elapsed ere Captain Grivelet learned, through the Red +Cross, what had become of the child. His sorrow had been keen, for he +believed that she had been executed. The Padré was still in a prison +camp the last I heard of the case. I hope the beautiful little patriot +and her uncle may be reunited some day. But Marie has served her +country nobly and if she ever comes back she will be splendidly +rewarded by her government," said the captain, in conclusion. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CONCLUSION + + +"My dear children," said Captain Favor, "there are not many more +things to tell you. I knew of one brave little French lad who was +mortally wounded, when the Germans took the town in which he lived and +shot many of the inhabitants. + +"The little fellow I refer to refused the aid of the German surgeon, +declaring that he preferred to die rather than to accept the aid of a +hated Prussian. + +"Another child lost his life for his refusal to tell a German +commander in which direction a detachment of French troops had gone. +He did this with full knowledge of what would happen to him if he +refused this information. Death were preferable to betraying his own +people. + +"The full story of the deeds of heroism of the children of France +never will be fully told. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of +incidents such as I have described to you, that have occurred over +there. + +"These deeds, this spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice should be a +great lesson to us in America, whether we be young or old. You +children who are growing up have a grave responsibility to help your +fellows make patriotism a part of their lives. I know you will do, +with the lesson of the French children in mind, all you can. America +has need of patriotism, and she will have need of more in the years to +come. Start something, boys and girls, and keep the fires of +patriotism burning." + +"We will!" cried the children, with Joe Funk's voice heard above all +the rest. + +"Perhaps one of these days I shall have some other stories to tell +you. I think I have told you enough stories to last for some time. I +have told you only such little stories as I know to be true, and here +we will stop. Come in to see me any time you feel like it. I shall go +to New York in a few days to see a big, big surgeon who thinks perhaps +he may put my leg in shape so that I shall walk as well as ever." + +"Then, then," said Joe, "I'll bet that you will be going back to the +army." + +"I'll bet you win, Joe," answered the captain, laughingly. "For the +present, au revoir." + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children of France, by Ruth Royce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 16437-8.txt or 16437-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/4/3/16437/ + +Produced by Michelle Croyle, Sankar Viswanathan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Children of France + A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice of + Youthful Patriots of France During the Great War + +Author: Ruth Royce + +Release Date: August 4, 2005 [EBook #16437] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Michelle Croyle, Sankar Viswanathan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a>[1]</span> +</p> +<p class="center"> +<img src="images/image_01.jpg" alt=""I OUGHT TO DUMP YOU OUT."" width="400" height="603" /> +<span class="caption"><br /> +"I OUGHT TO DUMP YOU OUT."</span></p> + +<div class="tr"> +<p>Transcriber's Note: <br /> +Pagination for blank pages is omitted in the margin numbering.</p> +</div> + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a>[2]</span></p> + +<h1><b>THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE</b></h1> + +<h3>A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice <br /> + of Youthful + Patriots of France During <br /> + the Great War</h3> +<h4>By <br /></h4> +<h3>RUTH ROYCE</h3> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>PHILADELPHIA <br /> +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</h3> + +<h3>1918</h3> + + + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a>[3]</span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + <table summary="table of contents"> + <tr> + <td><p>CHAPTER<br /> + </p> + </td> + <td> </td> + <td><p>PAGE<br /> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>I</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_I">THEIR FIRST HERO</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>II</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_II">REMI THE BRAVE</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>III</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_III">THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>IV</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS </a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>V</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_V">THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>VI</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE </a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>VII</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>VIII</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER </a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>IX</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">GENÉ AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>X</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_X">A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>XI</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD </a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>XII</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">THE HERO OF THE GUNS </a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_143">143</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>XIII</td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">MARIE THE COURAGEOUS </a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CONCLUSION</a></td> + <td><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td> + </tr> + </table> + + + + + + + + + + + + + <p> </p> + <p> </p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>[4]</span></p> +<p> </p> +<h2>AUTHOR'S NOTE</h2> + + +<p>While the Author cannot personally vouch for the stories related in +this volume, she has full confidence in the sources of her +information—men who have seen and heard on the battlefields of +France, and who have related to her these and many other like +incidents illustrating the heroism of the Children of France. Some of +the stories the relators have learned through personal observation, +while others have come to them indirectly. The author, therefore, +believes each story set down here to be authentic, and so offers them +to the liberty-loving boys and girls of America.</p> + +<p style="text-align: right; padding-right: 3em;">THE AUTHOR</p> +<p> </p> + + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a>[5]</span></p> +<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2> + + +<p>The story of the heroism of the Children of France never will be fully +told. Many of these little patriots have suffered the supreme penalty +for their devotion to their country, leaving neither track nor trace +of themselves. That they have disappeared is all that is known of +them, and thus the stories of their deeds of valor have died with +them.</p> + +<p>In no other period of the world's history have there been so many +instances of self-sacrificing patriotism on the part of children as +have come from France during the great war. Through all such stories +as have come to light, there runs a spirit of heroism that is sublime. +Such stories should and will prove an inspiration to every boy and +girl of America and surely will lead them up to a more perfect manhood +and womanhood.</p> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a>[6]</span></p> + +<p>In this little volume are set down the stories of many devoted little +French boys and girls, some of whom have offered their lives for their +country, others of whom have passed through perils that would try the +strongest and bravest of men, and yet lived to be honored by a +grateful government for their deeds of heroism. How Remi the Brave, a +lad of ten, won the Cross of War; the story of Little Mathilde who +saved the French garrison from the Uhlan raiders; Marie the +Courageous, who remained at home when the Germans captured the town in +which she lived, and kept the French informed, knowing that if caught +she would surely be shot as a spy; how the Hero of the Guns saved the +day by working the machine guns when nearly all their crews were dead +or wounded; the story of the Little Soldier of Mercy who, though a +timid lad, forgot his fears, and working under fire saved the life of +many a wounded man; how Little Gené + + locked the Bavarian Dragoons in +the cellar of her home and captured the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a>[7]</span> + +lot of them, are a few of the +thrilling tales of the patriotism and heroism of the Children of +France that form one of the most fascinating chapters in the history +of the great world war. They will make the heart of every boy and girl +beat faster, they will grip the heartstrings of all who read and bring +them to a better realization of their duty to their Flag and to their +Country.</p> +<p> </p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a>[9]</span></p> + +<h3>THEIR FIRST HERO</h3> + + +<p>Before the "Squire's" son went away to war, the neighborhood children +knew him only by sight and by hearing their parents speak of him as +the son of "the richest man in Titusville," who never had done a day's +work in his life.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the parents were not quite right in this, for, even if Robert +Favor had not gone out in the fields to labor, he had graduated from +high school and college with high honors. He never spoke to the +village children nor noticed them, and was not, as a result, very +popular with the young people of his home town. The neighbors <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a>[10]</span> + +said +this was all on account of his bringing up.</p> + +<p>It was therefore a surprise to them when, at the beginning of the +great war, after Germany swept over Belgium, Robert Favor hurried to +Europe. It was later learned that he had joined what is known as the +"Foreign Legion" of the French Army. Titusville next heard that he had +been made a lieutenant for heroic conduct under fire. But Titusville +did not believe it; it said no Favor ever did anything but run away in +such circumstances. But they believed it when, later on, they read in +the newspapers how Lieutenant Favor had sprung out of the trenches and +ran to the rescue of a wounded private soldier who had lain in a shell +hole in No Man's Land since the night before.</p> + +<p>The village swelled with pride and the eyes of the children grew wide +with wonder as they listened to the story of the heroism of the +Squire's son. But this was as nothing to what occurred later. "Bob" +Favor was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a>[11]</span> + +brought home one day to the house on the hill, pale and +weak from wounds received in battle.</p> + +<p>Spring was at hand, and as soon as he was able, Captain Favor—you see +he had again been promoted—was taken out on the lawn where, in his +wheel chair he rested in the warm sunshine. The bright red top of his +gray-blue cap, and the flash of the medal on his breast excited the +wonder of the children, who pressed their faces against the high iron +fence and gazed in awe. It was the first real hero any of them ever +had seen.</p> + +<p>Finally, chancing to look their way, the Captain smiled and waved a +friendly hand. A little girl clapped her hands, others started to +cheer and a little man of ten dragged an American flag from his pocket +and waved it. The Captain beckoned to the children.</p> + +<p>"Come in, folks," he called. "I wish some one to talk to me and make +me laugh. Are you coming?"</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>[12]</span> + +</p> + +<p>They were. The children started, at first hesitatingly, then with more +confidence, led by the boy with the American flag, which he was waving +bravely now.</p> + +<p>"What's your name?" demanded the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Joe Funk, sir."</p> + +<p>The Captain laughed. "No boy so patriotic as you are should have a +name like that," he said. "We all are going to be great friends, I am +sure, and when I get this leg, that a German shell nearly blew off, in +working order again, we shall have some real sport and I'll teach you +all how to be soldiers. Just now I cannot do much of anything."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you can," interrupted Joe. "You can tell us how you rescued the +soldier when the Germans were shooting at you and—"</p> + +<p>"Master Joseph," answered the Captain gravely, "a real soldier never +brags about himself; but what you say does give me an idea. How would +you like to have me tell <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a>[13]</span> + +you about the brave little children of +France?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd rather hear about how you killed the Germans, lots of 'em; +I want to hear about battles and dead men and—"</p> + +<p>"We shall speak of the children first, and I will begin right now. Let +me see. Ah! I have it. Sit down on the grass, all of you, and be +comfortable. Be quiet until I finish the story, then ask what +questions you wish. Now listen!"</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a>[15]</span></p> + +<h3>REMI THE BRAVE</h3> + + +<p>"He was a little French peasant lad, this boy Remi that I shall tell +you about, and had just passed his tenth birthday when the Germans +invaded his beloved country," began the Captain.</p> + +<p>"Remi continued on at school in spite of the excitement about him, for +everyone was talking about the war, but his heart was with the +soldiers whom he knew were marching forth in thousands to meet the +enemy. One day his father was called to the colors and the child was +left in the care of an uncle.</p> + +<p>"Now, this uncle belonged to a military organization called the +Territorials, something like our National Guard, and a few weeks later +they also were called to march <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a>[16]</span> + +forth and join the French Army. Remi +was to be left in the care of the neighbors. That was the plan made by +the uncle. The little French lad, however, had his own ideas about +that, but kept his plans to himself. He now forgot all about going to +school, and spent his time watching his uncle's comrades +drill—watched until he knew every command, every evolution so well +that he himself could have drilled the company of his uncle.</p> + +<p>"As you children perhaps already have surmised, it was Remi's plan to +go to war and fight for his country. The order for the Territorials to +move came suddenly, as such orders most always do. They came while the +lad was having a supper of black bread and cheese with a friendly +housewife of the neighborhood. The Territorials were to march within +an hour.</p> + +<p>"Remi's eyes grew bright. He stowed what was left of his meager supper +into his blouse and strolled out. Once clear of the house, he ran +swiftly to the edge of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a>[17]</span> + +village, and from the end of a hollow log +drew forth a canvas bag. He inspected the contents, which included a +knife, some string, a clean pair of stockings and one change of +underwear. He had picked up an old pack discarded by a soldier, and +made it his own, secreting it for just such a moment as this. The +child stowed his belongings back in the pack, added the cheese and +bread, and, swinging the pack over his shoulder, started at a brisk +trot for the gathering place of the Territorials. The men of his +uncle's company already had reached the scene, loaded down with +equipment, rifles brightly polished, looking very warlike with their +outfits and tin derbies—"</p> + +<p>"What's a tin derby?" interjected Joe Funk.</p> + +<p>"There, you have interrupted me," rebuked the Captain. "Remember, a +soldier's first duty is to obey orders. A tin derby is a steel helmet +or hat which is used as a protection against the splinters thrown off + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a>[18]</span> + +from an exploding shell. Where was I?"</p> + +<p>"In a tin derby, sir," reminded Joe Funk.</p> + +<p>"Little Remi," continued the Captain, "kept in the background and, in +the excitement of the moment attracted no attention. Shortly after his +arrival the Territorials fell into line and started away. Remi melted +away in the darkness, and might have been observed legging it across a +field in a short cut to a point where he knew the soldiers would pass. +And, after they had marched by he fell in at a safe distance behind +and trudged along on his way to war.</p> + +<p>"Daylight came; the men halted for breakfast, and the boy, secreting +himself by the roadside, munched his bread and cheese and waited for +the soldiers to resume the march. All day long he followed them as +closely as he dared, but early in the second evening he made bold to +draw up to the rear rank and plodded along behind it until they halted +for rest. Suddenly the lad felt a firm <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a>[19]</span> + +hand on his shoulder. He found +his uncle frowning down upon him.</p> + +<p>"'What are you doing here?' demanded the uncle severely. 'Home with +you as fast as you can go!'</p> + +<p>"'But, uncle, I wish to be a soldier. I am little but I am strong. +See, I have marched a day and a night and you, my uncle, are weary, +while Remi is still fresh as the morning flowers.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, but what can you do in the Army, my Remi?'</p> + +<p>"'I can fight,' answered the child simply, whereat the uncle shrugged +his shoulders in token of surrender.</p> + +<p>"At first the officers were for sending the lad home, but he was +making himself so useful in many little ways, and his patriotism was +so deep and true that he finally was permitted to remain.</p> + +<p>"What most disturbed Remi was that he had no rifle. The soldiers +laughed at him when he demanded one, so he determined to get one for +himself at the first opportunity.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a>[20]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"By this time they were well within sound of the big guns. The sound +reminded him of a distant thunderstorm. It grew louder as the hours +passed and the men neared the front. All understood what the sound +meant. To Remi that distant roar was the sweetest music he ever had +heard.</p> + +<p>"The Territorials finally were halted in a shell-torn village for a +brief rest. Men were urgently needed at the front, and Remi's +companions soon entered a communicating trench that began under a +house in the village, and started for the firing line, a short +distance from the German trenches. Remi was sternly ordered to remain +behind. This order nearly broke his heart and, when he more fully +realized that he had been left behind, he sat down and gave way to, +bitter tears.</p> + +<p>"A peculiar whistling sound in the air suddenly attracted his +attention. The strange sound grew louder. He stood up. Then, with a +mighty crash and roar, the earth about him rose up and darkness +overwhelmed <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a>[21]</span> + +him. A German shell had landed fairly in the village +street hard by and half buried the child in the wreckage. Remi, +bruised and with clothing torn, dug himself out practically unharmed. +He shook his fist in the direction of the German lines.</p> + +<p>"'The Boches!' he breathed, clenching both fists. 'I <i>must</i> have a +rifle. Having none, I am good for nothing.'</p> + +<p>"For a few moments he stood observing the stretcher men gathering up +those who had been wounded in the explosion. He did not quail at sight +of the maimed forms before him—he was unafraid, but his childish face +drew down into hard lines that made him look years older. He knew now +that he must join his company and fight for France. After what he had +seen nothing should hold him back. Perhaps once at the front he might +find a gun. Remi tried to enter the communicating trench, but was +stopped by a sentry. He was still undaunted. It was the odor of +cooking that finally led to the solution of his problem. He followed + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a>[22]</span> + +his nose, as the saying goes, because he was hungry. He found the +cooks at work, as he learned, preparing food to be carried to the men +in the front-line trench. The boy promptly offered his services to +help carry in the food. You see, Remi used his head.</p> + +<p>"'What nursery do you belong to?' jeered the mess sergeant.</p> + +<p>"'Thirty-first Territorials, Company C,' answered the lad promptly, +his quick reply bringing a laugh in which the mess sergeant joined +heartily.</p> + +<p>"'All right, take a load of coffee and follow the leader, but if you +spill so much as a drop of it you'll face a firing squad at daybreak.'</p> + +<p>"Two heavy containers filled with hot coffee, suspended from a yoke +that fitted over the shoulders, were placed on the lad. The soldiers +expected to see him collapse under the heavy load, but Remi stood up +very straight and awaited the command to go forward. He was stronger +than they <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a>[23]</span> + +thought he was. The journey through the dark trenches was a +long one, made thrilling by the Germans, who were trying to drop +shells into them as the food was coming up to the front line. The +'chow' carriers, however, arrived safely at Company C's station and +Remi had every drop of coffee that he had started out with.</p> + +<p>"'Well, here I am,' he announced loudly. 'Remi wants a gun, he wants +it right away, and then he wants to see a Boche.'</p> + +<p>"'You'll see him sooner than you expect if you don't lower your +voice,' rebuked a soldier.</p> + +<p>"At that moment a star-shell shot high up into the air and, bursting, +flooded the space between the French and German lines with a brilliant +light. Remi peered over the top of the parapet and across the 'No +Man's Land' of which he had so often heard, over its barbed-wire +entanglements and on to the parapets of the German trenches.</p> + +<p>"'Why do they do that?' he questioned. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a>[24]</span></p> +<p>"'To see if any of our patrols + are out there nosing about. You see, we send out night patrols to find + out what the enemy is doing,' he was told.</p> +<p>"'I, too, shall be a night patrol,' declared the lad confidently.</p> + +<p>"Unmindful of the desperate chance he was taking, Remi, watching his +opportunity, slipped over the top of the French trench and began +crawling toward the enemy lines. He did not know where the openings in +the wire entanglements were located, but, being small, he was able to +crawl under. Now and then he saw other figures slinking about out +there, but he took good care that they should not see him, and, when +another star shell was fired, he flattened himself on the ground, face +downward, and thus avoided detection. So intent was he, however, in +watching for enemy patrols that he actually bumped into the parapet of +the German trench before he knew it. The boy flattened himself on the +ground and listened. He heard low-toned conversation <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a>[25]</span> + +mingled with +German snores in the trench, and sniffed contemptuously. Raising a +hand to pull himself up to the top of the sandbags, he struck +something sharp. It was the point of a bayonet. Remi's hand crept +cautiously along and the lad barely escaped an exclamation, for here, +right in his hand, was a German rifle aimed toward his own lines, +ready to be fired at his beloved French comrades.</p> + +<p>"Cautiously drawing the weapon over the parapet, he caressed it +affectionately, then started to crawl back toward his own lines with +his precious find.</p> + +<p>"'At last Remi has a rifle, and none shall take it from him,' he +muttered triumphantly. 'See what I have!' he cried after having been +challenged and hauled into his own trench. 'I took it from the +thickheads over there. I—' He said no more, for his comrades were +hugging him delightedly. They hurried the child off to the captain of +his company, who, after listening to the story, embraced Remi. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a>[26]</span></p> +<p>"'Ah, + you are a true Frenchman,' cried the officer. 'Keep the gun and use it + for our beloved France.'</p> +<p>"'I will,' promised Remi solemnly.</p> + +<p>"Two nights later he stole out and fetched back five more German +rifles. By this time the officers began to realize that the boy must +be taken seriously. From that night on almost every night found the +intrepid lad skulking about over 'No Man's Land,' many times with the +enemy's machine gun fire snapping about his ears, but to which he gave +not the slightest heed. Remi truly seemed to bear a charmed life.</p> + +<p>"One night after his company had returned to the front-line trench, +after a night's rest in 'billets,' he went out with the patrol, as +usual, but with a new plan in mind. By now he knew the arrangement of +the German trenches almost as well as did the men who occupied them. +There were ten in the patrol, and so great was the confidence of the +men in him that they virtually permitted Remi to act as their <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a>[27]</span> + +leader. +The patrol carried no rifles, only revolvers and stout clubs, like +policemen's night sticks. When the lad ordered the men to secret +themselves in a shell crater, they obeyed willingly.</p> + +<p>"Remi reached the German trenches, along which he crept with ears and +eyes on the alert.</p> + +<p>"'Who goes!' came a sharp, low-spoken command in German. At that +instant a German rose from the ground, where he had been crouching, +apparently watching the crawling figure of the little Frenchman. Remi +rose at the same time, a Boche bayonet pressing against his stomach.</p> + +<p>"When the German sentinel discovered that the 'man' confronting him +was only a child, he threw back his head and laughed silently, his +bulky form shaking with merriment. That laugh cost the Boche his +liberty. Like a flash little Remi swept the bayonet aside and jerked +the rifle from the sentry's hands. He sprang back and pointed the +rifle at his amazed adversary.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a>[28]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Now march!' he commanded in a low, sharp tone. Straight to the shell +crater the little Frenchman drove his prisoner, thence sent the +captive to the French trenches with an escort. He then returned to the +German trench. As he thought it over the situation became clear to +him. The Germans had placed the sentry outside the trench to keep +watch while they slept, the night being a quiet one, neither side +having fired a shot since sundown. Knowing exactly what he wished to +do, the boy began cautiously removing the rifles from the parapet, +placing them on the ground in front of the trench. He accomplished his +purpose without disturbing the snores of the Boches.</p> + +<p>"Having secured the enemy's rifles, Remi crept back to the shell hole, +where his comrades were anxiously awaiting his return.</p> + +<p>"'Come,' he urged. 'We shall now capture the stupid fellows. They +sleep, the thickheads. Their rifles I have taken, their heads our +clubs shall find. All shall have <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a>[29]</span> + +the big headache when we have +finished with them.'</p> + +<p>"The men of the patrol were amazed. They scrambled from the shell +hole, Remi already having explained what he proposed to do, ready and +eager for action. With the child in the lead they crept up to the +German trench. The Boches slept on, not a man was awake there. The +patrol spread out a little and gripped their clubs, for to use +revolvers would be to arouse the whole German line and start their +rifles, machine guns and artillery all going.</p> + +<p>"'Now!' cried the little leader.</p> + +<p>"The patrol sprang into the trench, Remi leading, encouraging his men +as they fought their way along with their stout clubs, the boy having +lost his when he slipped into the trench. He could plainly hear the +whacks of the clubs as the patrol brought them down on the heads of +the enemy, mingled with German growls and pleas for mercy, all of +which brought joy to the soul of little Remi.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a>[30]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Kamerad! Kamerad!' came cries along the length of the trench. This, +you children understand, is what the Boches say when they have had +enough.</p> + +<p>"'Stop their noise! They'll have their whole army down on us. Over the +top and home with them as fast as you can. Gather up the rifles and +take them in,' commanded the boy.</p> + +<p>"Prodded by the handy clubs, such of the Germans as had survived the +terrible beating willingly clambered over the top and were quietly +driven across 'No Man's Land' to the French trenches. Seventy-five +prisoners were taken in that raid, planned and executed by the +fearless little French boy.</p> + +<p>"The amazement of his comrades in Company C was beyond the power of +words to express. What was better still, the raid was productive of +much more than prisoners and rifles. It proved to be the most +important raid so far made on that sector, for information was +obtained from the prisoners that proved of great value to the French army.</p> + + + +<p class="center"><img src="images/image_02.jpg" alt=""NOW MARCH!" HE COMMANDED." width="400" height="576" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"NOW MARCH!" HE COMMANDED.</span></p> + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a>[31]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"A few days later the Territorials went back to their billets for +rest. On the morning following their arrival there, Company C was +called out with many other troops for review. Remi thought this was a +queer thing to do. He was puzzled and startled when his name was +called out as he stood in a rear rank. He was ordered to report to the +colonel of the regiment, who stood with his aides facing the lines of +soldiers, the latter at attention now. The heart of the little +soldier, for once, was filled with fear. He felt certain that the +colonel was going to send him home.</p> + +<p>"Approaching the stern-looking officer, Remi halted, came stiffly to +attention and saluted with precision. The colonel gravely answered the +little fellow's salute. Remi looked very small and childish beside the +commanding figure of his colonel, and he was very much embarrassed at +being so singled out. </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a>[32]</span> "'Remi, soldier of France, the Army and your + country salute you,' began the colonel. 'The hearts of both are filled + with pride at your brave deeds. You are an honor to the tri-color of + our beloved France, under the folds of which you now are standing. + Were it possible for me to do so I should make you no less than a + captain. Your lack of years puts such a reward beyond my power to + give. I can, however, and I am authorized so to do, to confer upon you + the cross of war, given only to men of proved heroism. Remi, I + decorate you with this cross,' said the colonel, stepping forward and + pinning the medal to the little soldier's breast, his aides standing + at attention during the impressive ceremony. 'Wear it with honor, my + son, for our beloved country.'</p> +<p>"The colonel then kissed the child on both cheeks.</p> + +<p>"And Remi the bold, very pale and trembling, stammered his thanks, sat +down heavily, and, burying his face in his hands, burst into tears."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a>[33]</span></p> +<h3>THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE</h3> + + +<p>"I've been thinking about that boy Remi," said Joe Funk next day when +the children had gathered on the lawn to listen to another story. "Of +course, I know he was a hero, but wasn't he something of a baby to sit +down and cry like that?"</p> + +<p>"Are you a baby, Joe?"</p> + +<p>"'Course I'm not."</p> + +<p>"Very good. You were wiping a tear out of the corner of one eye when I +finished the story," returned Captain Favor dryly.</p> + +<p>"I—I guess you are right, sir. Please tell us another one like it."</p> + +<p>"Surely; but this one will be about a little French heroine named +Mathilde. Mathilde was of nearly the same age as Remi, very diffident, +like yourself." Joe blushed <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a>[34]</span> + +and hung his head. "She was as timid as +she was diffident, but at heart she was a heroic little French girl. +They are all like Remi and Mathilde over there.</p> + +<p>"This little woman lived in a French garrison town. Not more than two +hundred soldiers were stationed there, all the others being at the +front fighting the Germans. Quite near the village was an important +fort, situated on the River Meuse. It was called Fort Montere and was +very carefully guarded by these soldiers.</p> + +<p>"The fort was situated about a mile from the village on a rise of +ground. It was the custom of the soldiers there to spend a good part +of their days in the village, never dreaming that they were in the +slightest danger, but the Germans were nearer than they thought.</p> + +<p>"One night—it was not far from morning, then—two companies of +mounted Germans rode up to the sleeping village, which they +surrounded. The commanding officer sent an aide to the mayor, ordering +him to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a>[35]</span> + +see to it that not a person left his home on pain of instant +death. The mayor refused to betray his people or the soldiers on the +hill. The aide shot him then and there. That was nothing new for a +German officer to do. Many worse acts than that have they committed. I +know, for I have fought them, and I have seen many things. The people +were then notified that disobedience meant further that the village +would be burned.</p> + +<p>"Not one of the villagers was bold enough to try to warn the French +garrison of the peril that awaited them, for it was plain that the +Germans were planning to lay in wait for the Frenchmen when they came +to the village on the following morning.</p> + +<p>"Soon German soldiers began entering the houses, one soldier to each +house, in which he took his station, cowering the occupants by +terrible threats.</p> + +<p>"Little Mathilde, when she heard the soldier assigned to their home +bang on the door with the butt of his rifle, fled to the kitchen, +where she stood listening and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a>[36]</span> +watching. She nearly cried out when the +soldier thrust the bayonet of his rifle at her +father, and all the resentment of her race at +such injustice rose up within her.</p> + +<p>"'I shall save them,' she breathed.</p> + +<p>"Mathilde slipped out through the +kitchen door into the walled garden, and, +climbing the wall, peered over. She could +see German horsemen and German infantrymen +everywhere, the moonlight flashing +on their helmets and rifles as they +moved rapidly about. How she should be +able to get over the wall without discovery +she did not know. A heavy black cloud at +this moment drifted across the sky, hiding +the face of the moon for a few moments, +and when the cloud had passed Mathilde +was no longer on the garden wall. She lay +prone on the ground in a field on the opposite side +of the wall. Horsemen were all about her. Now and then a horse narrowly +missed stepping on her, and those Uhlans +must have wondered that night why their +horses were so skittish.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a>[37]</span></p> + +<p>"Every time she saw an opening the +little heroine would dart ahead; each time +a cloud passed between earth and moon she +gained a little distance. Once a Uhlan's +horse jumped clear over her and kicked viciously +at her after it had landed on its +feet. You see, the grass in the fields was +high, there being no men to cut it. Had it +not been for the grass, Mathilde never could +have accomplished what she did.</p> + +<p>"At last she was clear of them, and then +how she did run; she fairly flew up the hill, +stopping only when a French sentry halted +her to demand what she wanted.</p> + +<p>"'I would speak with your captain,' +panted Mathilde.</p> + +<p>"The sentry laughed.</p> + +<p>"'Think you my captain sits awake all +night that he may receive calls from the +villagers?' he demanded.</p> + +<p>"'But,' begged the girl, 'the Uhlans have come. +They are even now in the houses that +they may come out and shoot you down +when you go to the village tomorrow.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a>[38]</span></p> +<p>"'You are dreaming, my pretty miss. Go + back to your sleep. It is a nightmare you are telling me. Return and + dream no more.'</p> +<p>"Mathilde begged and pleaded, to the great amusement of the sentry. +The child grew angry. She stamped and raged. Then she adopted a new +plan. Throwing herself on the ground the little girl rolled and +screamed and screamed.</p> + +<p>"'Stop it! You'll wake the garrison,' he commanded.</p> + +<p>"'That is what Mathilde is trying to do,' answered the girl, then +screamed louder than ever, and the sentry turned out the corporal's +guard. The corporal sent a messenger to the village to see if the +child was right.</p> + +<p>"'If you believe me not, look yonder in the valley,' exclaimed the +girl, impatiently. 'What see you?'</p> + +<p>"'Nothing. Wait! I see the moonlight glistening on something, I should +say on a tin sign on a tree.'</p> + +<p>"Mathilde laughed ironically. 'It is indeed <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a>[39]</span> + +a sign, a bad sign, +monsieur Corporal. What you see is the moonlight reflected on the +helmet of a German Uhlan. Ha! Now believe you the little Mathilde?'</p> + +<p>"'Call the captain,' commanded the corporal.</p> + +<p>"The commanding officer came hurrying out. He questioned the child and +ere he had finished the messenger came running back.</p> + +<p>"'The Germans are in force in the village,' cried the messenger. 'They +hide in the houses and their sentries guard the approaches to the +village.</p> + +<p>"'Summon the garrison to arms!' commanded the captain. 'You are a +noble child, Mathilde.'</p> + +<p>"While a small force was left to guard the fort the others of the +garrison went down and surrounded the village. They surprised and +captured the sentries without firing a shot. These prisoners were +taken to the fort and locked up, after which the French in the village +fired a volley into the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a>[40]</span> + +air. As they expected, the Prussians guarding +the houses rushed out and began shooting, but coming from the lighted +houses into the darkness of the early morning, their eyes were not +keen and only one volley from the French was necessary to fill the +Germans with fear. The Germans very soon laid down their arms and +surrendered. While some of the invaders were wounded, no one was +killed. The entire German force was captured and marched, humiliated, +to the fort on the hill.</p> + +<p>"Next day, when the villagers came to a realization of what Mathilde +had done, a purse was made up, every one giving of his little savings. +This purse was presented to the child by the captain, in the presence +of all his officers and many of his soldiers.</p> + +<p>"Mathilde's eyes were bright. She held the bag of money in her arms +for a moment, then, kissing it, placed it in the hands of the captain.</p> + +<p>"'And I, monsieur le Capitaine, give it to our beloved France. She +needs it more <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a>[41]</span> + +than does the Little Mathilde, and with it Mathilde +sends her love to the brave poilus of her beautiful France.'"</p> + + + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a>[43]</span></p> +<h3>FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS</h3> + + +<p>"This morning I shall tell you what little Francois did to the +Germans, as well as what the Germans did to Francois," began Captain +Favor at a following sitting on the lawn. "Joe, you will be thrilled +when you hear the story of the desperate chances this little French +boy of twelve took for his country.</p> + +<p>"He, like all of his youthful friends, was a noble fellow and a hero, +quick-witted and very bright. You would soon learn, were you in +France, how keen and clever these French children are. Their wits have +been greatly sharpened since the war began. But to our story—.</p> + +<p>"The Prussians had reached a point on the west bank of the River +R——, a narrow <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a>[44]</span> + +stream some distance back and to the left of the +battle front. On the right side of the river, a few miles from it, was +the little village in which Francois lived. A detachment of French +infantry had arrived at the town, having come there on word that the +Germans were threatening the village.</p> + +<p>"'Where are the Prussians?' demanded the captain of the mayor. He was +eager to get at them.</p> + +<p>"'On the other side of the river. Other French detachments have driven +them away twice, but each time the Boches return. We have not seen +them here in several days now,' the mayor informed him.</p> + +<p>"'I must know their exact location and the size of their force. I +cannot send one of my own soldiers. Have you a man in the village who +can pass the lines and obtain the information I seek?'</p> + +<p>"'I fear there are none, sir,' replied the mayor.</p> + +<p>"Francis, who had been an eager <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a>[45]</span> + +listener to this conversation, +stepped forward at this juncture.</p> + +<p>"'I will go, monsieur le Capitaine,' he said.</p> + +<p>"'Ah! You know where they are?'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir, but I know the country for many miles.'</p> + +<p>"'But the Germans will catch you, and if they do you will be shot. I +cannot permit one so young as you are to sacrifice himself.'</p> + +<p>"Francois smiled. 'I have a grandmother living in the other village +and she is sick. Should a lad not be permitted to visit his +grandmother who is ill?' he asked.</p> + +<p>"The French captain saw the point and smiled. 'Go, then, if you will, +but be careful. If you succeed you truly will be a hero, my lad.'</p> + +<p>"'Francois will find the Boches,' was the boy's confident reply.</p> + +<p>"Without waiting for the captain to change his mind the lad set out +and was soon out of sight of the village. Reaching <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a>[46]</span> + +the river, he +crept along the bank until he found the bridge he was looking for. +Over this he crawled on hands and knees, and, reaching the other side +of the river, he dodged along until he came to the village where the +Prussians were supposed to be. Francois halted at a farmhouse where he +was known. The farmer's wife was feeding the pigs, and she did not see +him until he said:</p> + +<p>"'Where are the Boches?'</p> + +<p>"'Francois! What do you here?' she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"'I come to see my grandmother. But I see none of the enemy.'</p> + +<p>"'Unhappy child, there are thousands of them over yonder. Do not go +on, I beg of you. You surely will be shot.'</p> + +<p>"'I go to see my grandmother. Good day, madame.' Francois plodded on +across the fields in the direction indicated by the farmer's wife. +Suddenly he saw a troop of Prussian cavalry approaching him at a +gallop.</p> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a>[47]</span> "'Halt!' commanded the captain of the troop when they drew up + near the boy. 'What do you here?'</p> +<p>"'Walking, sir. I go to see my grandmother who is ill.'</p> + +<p>"The Prussian laughed. 'Do you not know that the villagers have been +ordered to remain at home and that he who disobeys this order will be +shot?' questioned the commander, sternly.</p> + +<p>"'Ah, sir, that is well for the grown men and women, but for children +who go to see their sick grandmothers—'</p> + +<p>"'The order is for all. About face! March! You will be shot for your +disobedience.'</p> + +<p>"'But I must see my grandmother,' insisted the lad. 'She is ill, I +tell you.'</p> + +<p>"Two soldiers swung him about and marched him to their camp. As he +neared the camp he saw many cannon and machine guns, large numbers of +cavalrymen and infantry. He estimated as best he could how many of +them there were. He saw, too, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a>[48]</span> + +that the cannon were being placed so +their muzzles pointed toward the river. Francois nodded wisely.</p> + +<p>"'It is to shoot over to our side of the river,' he said to himself. +'One would not think they could shoot so far as our village. But they +shall find our fine French cannon can shoot farther.'</p> + +<p>"His reflections were broken in upon rudely when he was thrust into +what proved to be the guardhouse. In reality he was <i>thrown</i> in by the +two soldiers who had picked him up and sent him sprawling on the +floor. 'What less could one expect from a Boche?' he muttered. For +aught he knew, he soon would get worse. A sentry was posted at the +door and Francois was informed that if he tried to escape he would be +shot then and there.</p> + +<p>"The guard house also was used to store equipment in. There were, as +he observed, many rifles stacked in rows and heaps of knapsacks, +helmets and blankets. The only light in the cell-like room into which +he had <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a>[49]</span> + +been thrust came in through a narrow window high up and far +out of his reach, a window small like those in a prison cell.</p> + +<p>"It was not a pleasant situation in which little Francois found +himself, but what fears he had were for the people of his village and +the French troops there. He already had used his eyes to good +advantage, and now had a very clear idea of the size of the German +force and its equipment. 'I shall make my escape and hasten back to +tell our brave captain what I have seen,' he promised himself.</p> + +<p>"Escape, however, was not so easy. The window was too high by several +feet for him to reach and to go out through the door meant that he +surely would be shot or bayoneted. His bright little eyes swept the +room and instantly he saw a way of escape.</p> + +<p>"'The bags!' he exclaimed, and straight-way began piling the knapsacks +and blankets underneath the window. The pile grew slowly. At last it +was high enough to permit the boy to reach the window sill with <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a>[50]</span> + +his +finger tips by standing on tip-toe on the pile he had built up.</p> + +<p>"He drew himself up easily, for Francois was strong, and peered out.</p> + +<p>"'It is well that Francois is little, for the window is small even for +a dog to squeeze through,' he muttered.</p> + +<p>"Peering out to see what lay before him, he saw a garden in the rear +of the building and beyond that fields with hedges and bushes, but +there was not a soldier in sight on that side. The Prussians were busy +on the other side of the building preparing for action.</p> + +<p>"'All is well,' said Francois. A new idea came to him. He would take a +German rifle and helmet with him as souvenirs and to prove to the +French captain that Francois really had been in the camp of the +Prussians. He helped himself to a rifle and a helmet, both of which he +threw out into the garden. After a keen, sweeping glance about, the +boy crawled out head first and let himself go. Francois nearly broke +his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a>[51]</span> + +neck in the fall to the ground, landing as he did on his head and +shoulders. For a moment he lay where he had fallen, then staggered to +his feet, dizzy and a little weak from the jolt. He started away +without, as yet, having a clear idea as to which was the right +direction for him to take. The boy dodged from bush to bush and, +reaching a hedge, bored his way through it and skulked along the other +side of it, dragging the rifle behind him, the German helmet tightly +clutched under one arm.</p> + +<p>"'Where am I? Ah! The village is to the left. I must turn back and +start again,' he decided. This was risky, but there seemed no other +course for him to follow. Retracing his steps for some distance he +finally struck off in the right direction. When he came in sight of +the stream he discovered that the bridge was so far away that he could +not hope to reach it without being discovered.</p> + +<p>"'But Francois can swim,' he told himself. 'He shall yet fool the +Prussians. Look <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a>[52]</span> + +out! There they go!' German soldiers already were +running toward the bridge, and he knew that his escape had been +discovered. He believed, however, that he was far enough away so they +would not see him.</p> + +<p>"Francois swung the rifle over his shoulder and secured it there by +its carrying strap, jammed the helmet tightly over his head and rolled +down the bank into the river. The water was warm and the child was +full of joy that he had outwitted his captors.</p> + +<p>"Fortunately the river was not wide at this point, and on the opposite +side was plenty of cover in the way of trees and bushes. But discovery +came at about the time he reached the middle of the river. The sun, +reflected from his bright metal helmet, had attracted the attention of +the soldiers. A bullet splashed in the water to the right of him.</p> + +<p>"'Huh!' he grunted. 'The Boches cannot shoot. Francois could shoot as +good as that with his eyes shut. Bah! Shoot again.' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a>[53]</span> + +O-u-c-h! A bullet +had gone through the helmet, so low that it raked the top of his head. +It felt like a red-hot iron being drawn across the top of his head, +and made his head swim dizzily.</p> + +<p>"'It was a chance shot,' observed the boy. 'No Boche could shoot so +true on purpose. I shall yet fool them.'</p> + +<p>"Reaching the opposite shore he ran up the bank, not trying to conceal +himself there. A bullet struck him in the shoulder, spun him around +and laid him flat on the ground. He was on his feet almost instantly, +shaking a fist at the Germans.</p> + +<p>"'Shoot! I fear not your bullets,' he shouted. The boy then ran +skulking from shrub to shrub until he reached the forest, into which +he dashed. Both wounds were by now bleeding freely and his face was +covered with blood from the scalp wound. He dashed on, not wholly +certain of his direction, but, reaching the other side of the forest, +found himself not far out of his way. From then on he trotted, keeping +himself <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a>[54]</span> + +up by sheer pluck, for he was getting weak.</p> + +<p>"Francois saw nothing more of the enemy, and finally he staggered into +his village. A sentry, recognizing the German helmet, halted him some +distance away, and after questioning him sent the lad to the captain.</p> + +<p>"'Here, monsieur le Capitaine, see what I have taken from the Boches,' +he cried, upon espying the commander. 'Thick-heads, all of them! It is +easy to fool the Boches.'</p> + +<p>"'But, my boy, you are wounded. What has happened?' demanded the +captain.</p> + +<p>"'It is nothing; it was an accident. The Prussians hit me by mistake.'</p> + +<p>"The officer called a surgeon and while the lad's wounds were being +dressed Francois related to the captain all that he had seen in the +Prussian camp.</p> + +<p>"'And they plan to come here soon,' he added.</p> + +<p>"'What makes you think that?' asked the commander.</p> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a>[55]</span> "'Because they + have made the villagers stay in their homes. For what reason other + than that do they wish to keep the villagers in? Again, they are fast + making preparations to go into battle!'</p> +<p>"'You are a clever boy and a brave one,' cried the captain, +enthusiastically. 'You may keep the rifle. You will be proud some day +that you own it.'</p> + +<p>"'I am proud now, monsieur le Capitaine, but I shall be more proud +after you have whipped the Boches.'</p> + +<p>"'That is good, but what can we do to reward you?'</p> + +<p>"'Whip them quickly, that I may go to see my sick grandmother. I am +much put out, sir, that I did not see her.'</p> + +<p>"There was loud laughter at this, and at the earnest way in which it +was said, but Francois never changed the sober expression of his face.</p> + +<p>"'It shall be done. Reinforcements are coming and early this evening +we shall go out to meet the Prussians. I promise you <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>[56]</span> + +that you shall +soon see your grandmother, Francois.' And he did, for, acting upon his +information, the French forces were enabled to inflict heavy losses +upon the Germans and drive them from that part of the country. A few +days later Francois made the trip again, and this time did see his +dear grandmother, but she was not so ill but that she could work in +her garden.</p> + +<p>"And that, my dear little friends, is the story of another little hero +of France," concluded Captain Favor.</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>[57]</span></p> + +<h3>THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE</h3> + + +<p>"There are many like Francois among those youthful patriots," began +Captain Favor when his little friends had gathered about him on +another occasion to listen to stories about the Children of France. +"They value neither their own safety nor their lives; they are willing +and eager to make any sacrifice if by so doing they can serve their +beloved France ever so little.</p> + +<p>"One finds this spirit everywhere. It is one of the few bright and +beautiful things to be found in the great world war, though many of +the deeds of heroism of the French children will never be known. The +little heroes have made the supreme sacrifice and their lips, sealed +in death, can never tell of their deeds.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a>[58]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"That you may the better understand the spirit of patriotism that +fills the hearts of all these little French children, I will tell you +the story of little Pierre," said the captain. "This is not a long +story, but a more heroic one never has been told.</p> + +<p>"While Pierre was twelve he was small for his age, but sturdy, and he +loved his country with a fervor that you children of America also +should have in your hearts."</p> + +<p>"We have," spoke up Joe Funk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think that all of you have. I wish you to keep it, to keep the +fires of patriotism burning and never let them grow dim. As for +Pierre, I will now tell you of the noble sacrifices he made for +France.</p> + +<p>"Pierre lived with his mother in a small French village at the time +the Germans entered the town. Being hungry, as usual, they intruded +into the homes of the villagers and helped themselves to whatever they +could find, in some instances after first demanding that food and +money be turned <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a>[59]</span> + +over to them. The villagers dared not disobey nor +even raise a voice in protest.</p> + +<p>"A captain and several men entered the home of little Pierre, where +there was a wounded French sergeant that the lad's mother had been +nursing and whom the little boy loved very dearly. The sergeant's +wounds were just beginning to heal, but so weak was he that he could +scarcely stand without someone to lean upon. When the Germans burst in +the wounded man was filled with rage, but he knew better than to +attempt to thwart them.</p> + +<p>"'Give us food, all that you have. Hold back anything and you die," +bellowed the Prussian captain, smiting the table with the flat of his +saber.</p> + +<p>"Pierre's mother was stout hearted. 'We have only bread and cheese,' +she said. 'You may take it if you will, but I give not to a Prussian, +not even so much as a crumb. Take it if you will, for you are strong +while I am but a weak woman.'</p> + +<p>"'Woman, you speak truly; we are <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a>[60]</span> + +strong, and we shall take, but for +this resistance you shall suffer. See what a Prussian does to such +dogs of French as oppose him!'</p> + +<p>"With that the captain struck Pierre's mother with the flat of his +hand, hurling her clear across the room. She staggered against the +wall and sank moaning to the floor.</p> + +<p>"The captain evidently had overlooked the wounded French sergeant, who +lay on a cot in the shadows, and his men were too fully occupied with +helping themselves to food to take heed of anything else. As for +little Pierre, the lad stood trembling with rage. He was not afraid, +but he was filled with righteous indignation.</p> + +<p>"The sergeant's eyes were blazing as he fixed his gaze on the face of +the German captain.</p> + +<p>"'You Prussian fiend!' shouted the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"'What!' The captain wheeled like a flash.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a>[61]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'For that you die! And ere the German could utter another word, the +soldier leveled his revolver at the officer and fired. There followed +a loud report, and Pierre's mother was avenged, for the Prussian +captain lay dead on the floor.</p> + +<p>"For a few seconds following the shot the Prussian soldiers stood +mute, then, with one accord, they threw themselves upon the helpless +sergeant who already had twice fired his revolver at them, but without +effect. They beat him cruelly and dragged him out and before another +captain, to whom they told the story of what had occurred in Pierre's +home.</p> + +<p>"The unfortunate sergeant was ordered to be taken to the village +square, where a dozen old men of the village were being held by the +Germans under sentence of death on the flimsy charge of having +resisted the Prussians. One by one these unhappy Frenchmen were being +lined up before a firing squad and shot down. The sergeant, who, of +course, was to share a like fate, was <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a>[62]</span> + +reserved for the last that he +might have more time for fear to sink into his heart while watching +the execution of the others. The sergeant neither asked for nor +expected mercy. Well did he know what the penalty was for such an act +as his, and he was willing to die for his country as well as for the +sake of the woman who had nursed him through so many dark days of +suffering.</p> + +<p>"They tied him to a tree while engaged in their cruel work of shooting +the accused old men, where the sergeant hung weak from loss of blood, +for, under their rough handling his wounds had reopened.</p> + +<p>"Little Pierre, his eyes large and troubled, had followed his friend +to the square and stood sympathetically beside him.</p> + +<p>"'What, can I do? Tell me quickly,' urged the boy.</p> + +<p>"'Fetch me a cup of water. I am burning with the fever again. One +drink of water and I shall have the strength to die <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>[63]</span> + +bravely. Those +Prussian dogs shall not see so much as the quiver of an eyelid,' said +the sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Pierre slipped into a house and brought a cup of water which he +placed at the lips of his friend. The sergeant had taken one swallow +when a captain dashed the cup to the ground. He swung and struck +Pierre a cruel blow across the cheek with the flat of his saber, +laying the lad prostrate. Pierre staggered to his feet, eyes blazing, +an angry red welt showing where he had been struck.</p> + +<p>"'To give aid or comfort to the friends of France is to die!' hissed +the German captain. 'For this you too shall die! But first you shall +see how it goes with the others.'</p> + +<p>"'I fear you not,' retorted the child, pluckily. 'I too can die for +France with a brave heart, and so you shall die one day at the hands +of my dear countrymen, but with a coward's heart.'</p> + +<p>"'Ah! You are brave,' jeered the captain.</p> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a>[64]</span> "'I am a Frenchman,' + answered Pierre, stoutly. 'A Frenchman does not fear to die.'</p> +<p>"'Good! For that I shall give you a chance to live and you shall come +with us and fight for the Fatherland," declared the captain.</p> + +<p>"'Bah! That for the Fatherland!' The lad snapped his fingers in the +Prussian's face. Pierre's courage, instead of further angering the +German, appeared to amuse him.</p> + +<p>"'We shall see. It is for you to shoot your friend the sergeant. Shoot +him and you shall have your freedom and your life. It is well that a +Frenchman should be put to death by his own. Can you shoot?'</p> + +<p>"'I can.'</p> + +<p>"'Then here is a rifle. It is loaded. Shoot and shoot true and freedom +is yours, for yourself and the old woman yonder who insulted the +officer of my Emperor.' The captain extended the rifle, butt first, +toward the boy. Pierre was outwardly calm, but <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a>[65]</span> + +within his heart a +storm was raging. Rather to the surprise of the spectators, he took +the weapon, turned it over curiously in his hands, for it was the +first German rifle he had handled, examined the mechanism of the lock, +then raised his eyes to the motionless figure of the French sergeant.</p> + +<p>"Pierre smiled and a new light sprang into his eyes.</p> + +<p>"'Well?' demanded the captain impatiently. 'Do you shoot or do you +die?'</p> + +<p>"'I shoot!' cried the little French boy, his voice high pitched and +shrill.</p> + +<p>"Pierre turned like a flash and, raising the weapon, pointed it +straight at the German captain and pulled the trigger.</p> + +<p>"No report followed. The rifle had missed fire. And ere Pierre could +make another try the weapon was snatched from his hands and a blow +from the captain's fist again laid him low.</p> + +<p>"'Dog!' raged the Prussian officer. 'Now you <i>shall</i> die, and yonder +French sergeant shall be a witness to your punishment. Strip <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>[66]</span> + +the +blinder from that man's eyes! Bind this boy!'</p> + +<p>"'There is no need to bind me. I shall not run away. I am not afraid +to die for France. I am sorry only that I did not kill you,' answered +the lad stoutly. 'I am young—I can better be spared than others.'</p> + +<p>"There was no reply to this, but the soldiers were ordered to lead the +child out into the center of the square.</p> + +<p>"'If you run you will be shot just the same,' warned the captain.</p> + +<p>"'A Frenchman never runs away,' was the spirited retort.</p> + +<p>"The firing squad took its place, eight men comprising the squad.</p> + +<p>"'Make ready! Take aim!'</p> + +<p>"Pierre faced them fearlessly, a smile on his face, his shoulders set +well back, presenting a pathetic but brave little figure as he stood +out there alone, facing death, but unafraid.</p> + +<p>"'Fire!'</p> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a>[67]</span> "'Vive la France!' shouted the lad, waving his cap over his + head.</p> +<p>"Eight rifles crashed in volley. And the little figure of brave Pierre +crumpled down to the ground. He had died gloriously. He had died a +man, despite his tender years.</p> + +<p>"Wheeling, the squad dispatched the sergeant in the same way and their +desperate work was finished."</p> + + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a>[69]</span></p> + +<h3>A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE</h3> + + +<p>The children were eagerly waiting to give the Captain a welcome when +he limped out to meet his young friends on the lawn next morning. +There were no tardy ones at these sittings, in fact so interested were +they in the wonderful stories they were hearing, that they nearly +always were ahead of time.</p> + +<p>"We shall begin at once with a story that I know will thrill you all," +said the Captain, as Joe Funk assisted him into his chair.</p> + +<p>"The little hero that I shall tell you about today is one of the most +remarkable of the child patriots of France. I think you will agree +with me in that after you have heard the story.</p> + +<p>"His name was Rene. Rene had been <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a>[70]</span> + +with the army for some time, though +he was only fourteen years old, making himself useful in many ways and +fighting when he had the opportunity, which was more than seldom. For +valiant service he had been made a corporal, so you may know he was +brave and courageous, for the French do not encourage children to join +their army, much less do they give them men's work and +responsibilities.</p> + +<p>"At the time to which I refer, the colonel of Rene's regiment had need +of a man of courage and resource to carry certain important orders to +the commanders in front-line trenches. This was early in the war when +communication had not been worked out as scientifically as it has been +since. For this duty the child offered his services.</p> + +<p>"'This mission, I need not tell you, will prove a most perilous one,' +warned the colonel.</p> + +<p>"'I know it, my colonel. I am ready. I have but one life and that +belongs to France.'</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a>[71]</span></p> +<p>"'Bravely spoken. Now take careful heed to what I + have to say to you so that you forget not the slightest detail of it.' + Rene was then given final and detailed orders added to which was an + urgent request to be careful of himself, for his own sake as well as + for that of his country.</p> +<p>"After repeating his orders, showing that he had them well in mind, +the lad left headquarters, his face radiant with joy at being +entrusted with a mission such as this, a mission that would take him +where he knew death would face him at every step. He had not far to go +before reaching the zone of fire. Shells soon were bursting about him +and machine-gun fire was sweeping the field with a perfect rain of +steel.</p> + +<p>"'Bang away all you like,' jeered the little fellow. 'Your voices I +have heard before, but the French have stronger and more deadly voices +than have you.'</p> + +<p>"He finally arrived safely at the first trench. You understand he had +been above ground all the time, while the fighters were <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a>[72]</span> + +in the +trenches, where they had more protection. It was the over-fire that he +was obliged to plod through, and you who have never seen a battle do +not realize what a fierce thing this over-fire is. His orders having +been safely delivered, Rene proceeded on his troubled way to the +trench where he was to deliver the second orders.</p> + +<p>"The first part of this leg of the journey was more or less screened +from the view of the enemy, but now a wide barren space, swept by +shell fire, lay before him. It was almost certain death to venture +into that open field. Rene knew it, but did not hesitate. It was not +that he feared for his own life, but that he did not wish to lose it +before he had fulfilled his mission.</p> + +<p>"For better protection the lad dropped on hands and toes and ran along +like a dog, thus far untouched by bullets, though they were thick as a +nest of liberated bumble bees about his head.</p> + +<p>"'The worst is about over now and I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>[73]</span> + +shall soon be in the trenches,' +he told himself encouragingly. He already could see the tops of the +helmets of the soldiers in the trenches.</p> + +<p>"A shell exploded close by at this juncture and a shell splinter +struck him in the leg, leaving a wound. Rene rolled over on his back +and grabbed the leg with both hands, then, with his first-aid bandage, +bound the leg tightly above the wound so that he might not bleed to +death. He was already much weakened from loss of blood.</p> + +<p>"Having done all he could for himself, Rene started off again, +dragging himself along with great effort, determined to reach the +trench and deliver his orders, which he finally succeeded in doing.</p> + +<p>"'You have been wounded. You shall not go on,' declared the commander +after reading the orders and understanding fully what was still before +the brave lad. 'You should go back to the hospital. I will send a man +on to deliver the other orders.'</p> + +<p>"'Monsieur le Capitaine, I have been <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a>[74]</span> + +ordered to this duty. I must go +on until I have fully obeyed my orders. Time enough for others to +carry them after I am killed. But I shall not be—not until the orders +are in the hands of the commanders in the trenches on this sector.'</p> + +<p>"'You cannot walk; you have lost much blood,' protested the captain.</p> + +<p>"'It matters not, sir; I can creep. That once was the only way I knew +how to walk.'</p> + +<p>"'Then go, my brave lad, and God be with you.'</p> + +<p>"Rene saluted formally, though the effort of raising his hand sent +shooting pains all through his body. He climbed laboriously from the +trench and emerged into the bullet-swept plain once more. It was with +a great effort that he even dragged himself along. He felt himself +growing weaker with the moments. Every few yards he was compelled to +lie over on his back for rest and to gain fresh strength for the next +spurt. It required the most heroic courage for one in Rene's condition +to go on. But he <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a>[75]</span> + +grimly stuck to it, creeping wearily along.</p> + +<p>"The end of the journey was now in sight, though the way still seemed +long. No longer able to creep, the little messenger began to roll. It +was slow progress and he suffered agonies, but every roll brought him +that much nearer to his destination and the fulfillment of his +mission. At last an officer in a front-line trench discovered him. +Rene made a signal to the officer.</p> + +<p>"Just then another huge shell struck the ground near the boy and burst +with a terrific crash and roar that shook the earth for a long +distance all about. The brave child was again hit by a splinter and +this time mortally wounded. He knew that the end was near and his +thoughts went back to his parents, to his home in the little village +which he had left to go to war only a short time before.</p> + +<p>"Rene roused himself with a supreme effort and again began to roll +toward the trench.</p> + +<p>"Stretcher bearers, observing his plight, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a>[76]</span> + +ran to his rescue, +themselves unmindful of the storm of steel that was sweeping the plain +back of the trenches. They tenderly picked the child up and bore him +safely to the trench, where he was placed in a first-aid station in a +bomb-proof dugout.</p> + +<p>"'Tell monsieur le Capitaine that I have orders for him—important +orders,' gasped the little soldier. 'Tell him to come quickly, for I +shall not long be able to tell him what I have to say.'</p> + +<p>"The captain, having been hurriedly summoned, hastened to the dugout. +He gathered the dying lad tenderly in his arms, and, placing an ear +close to the boy's lips, received from Rene the orders of the colonel, +down to the last detail.</p> + +<p>"The final word of these orders was Rene's last. He died in the arms +of the captain, who tenderly laid him down.</p> + +<p>"'Thus dies another hero of France,' murmured the officer, striding +from the dugout, making no effort to hide the tears that were +trickling down both cheeks.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a>[77]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"This little hero, my friends, offers a lesson in courage and devotion +that each of you will do well always to remember," said Captain Favor +in conclusion. "Tomorrow I shall tell you another story, if the +weather permits of my coming out here. Au revoir, little friends."</p> + + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a>[79]</span></p> + +<h3>SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT</h3> + + +<p>"This time I will tell you about a quick-witted little French girl," +said Captain Favor. "She was a stout-hearted little woman, full of +spirit and as fearless as she was keen, as you shall see.</p> + +<p>"It is not only the French lads who are quick-witted and brave. The +girls are fully as much so, and all are filled with the same wonderful +spirit of patriotism and love of country, as you you already have +learned from the stories I have told you.</p> + +<p>"This little woman's name was Jeanne; she had just turned eleven years +when the incidents I am about to relate occurred. For some time the +news had been coming to the village in which she lived of the wicked +deeds of a company of German lancers. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a>[80]</span> + +These lancers were roving from +village to village, stealing whatever they could lay their hands on, +and mistreating the women and children. It was a terrible thing to do, +but nothing new for the Prussians. As in other towns of which I have +told you, all the able-bodied men of this village had gone to the war.</p> + +<p>"To guard against surprise the inhabitants of Jeanne's home town had +placed watchers on the outskirts of the village that the people might +be notified in advance of the approach of the enemy's detachments.</p> + +<p>"One afternoon the warning came, and, while expected, it was a shock +to the people and their hearts were filled with fear. They closed and +locked their doors, pulled down the shades and took refuge in their +cellars. Not a person was to be seen in the streets; the village +appeared to be deserted.</p> + +<p>"'The Prussians are coming!' was the startling cry that had sent the +inhabitants flying to the cellars, after which a great silence reigned +in the little place.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a>[81]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Soon after that a troop of Prussian lancers rode quietly into the +village, alert for surprises, for they had confidently expected to see +French soldiers ere this. Not a French soldier was in sight, so the +invaders concluded there was nothing to fear. However, they decided to +question some of the villagers.</p> + +<p>"The house that Jeanne lived in was the first one the lancers came to. +Jeanne, like others, had taken to the cellar with her parents, where +they remained for a long time, tremblingly awaiting the arrival of +their enemies. Not a sound thus far having been heard, the family +wondered if the Prussians had come and gone. They fervently hoped this +were true.</p> + +<p>"'I will go and find out,' volunteered the little girl.</p> + +<p>"'It is not safe,' objected the mother. 'If they are still here and +should discover you, all would not be well with you, my daughter. You +might be killed. I cannot permit it.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a>[82]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Have no fears, mother; I will listen for every sound in the street +and will go no further than the door. They shall neither see nor hear +me.'</p> + +<p>"The mother gave a reluctant consent and Jeanne crept upstairs, +stepped quietly to the door and unbolted it, intending to open the +door a few inches and peer out.</p> + +<p>"At that instant the door was rudely forced open from the outside. A +German officer and several men pushed their way in. The officer caught +Jeanne in a listening attitude.</p> + +<p>"'Halt!' he commanded, the lances of his men thrust out so close to +the little girl that it seemed as if they already had pierced her. +'Listening, are you?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur,' she answered truthfully.</p> + +<p>"'Why?'</p> + +<p>"'That I might know if you had gone so I might once more go out to the +street.'</p> + +<p>"The officer laughed. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a>[83]</span></p> +<p>"'You have nothing to fear if you tell us the + truth. We would have certain information from you, child.'</p> +<p>"'Yes, monsieur.'</p> + +<p>"'If you do not truthfully answer all my questions, you and all the +rest will be shot.'</p> + +<p>"'I do not fear you, sir. I will answer you well.'</p> + +<p>"'Good. Then tell me, are there any French soldiers here?'</p> + +<p>"'There are none here, sir.'</p> + +<p>"'Neither here nor elsewhere in the village?'</p> + +<p>"'There are none here, as I have said. I know not whether there are +any in the village or not, for I have not seen any since a detachment +passed through here two days ago.'</p> + +<p>"'Is this the truth?'</p> + +<p>"She looked at the officer with an expression of amazement that he +should doubt her word.</p> + +<p>"'Come, I will show you; I will prove to you that what I say is the +truth.'</p> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a>[84]</span> "'It is well,' answered the Prussian officer, now reassured. + 'We will pass on. It is good that you have not lied to us, child,' he + said. 'It were better if all the French were so truthful, but, alas, + they are not. Forward!'</p> +<p>"The Prussians departed, Jeanne watching them from the door. 'No, +there are no French soldiers here,' she chuckled. 'Perhaps there may be +just outside the village. And if so, alas for the Prussians!'</p> + +<p>"A short distance beyond the village stood a large farmhouse in a vast +yard, the latter being surrounded by a high stone wall. Within were +trees and shade, so the place looking very attractive to the tired +Prussians. Their commander ordered a halt and, opening the gate that +led to the grounds, he ordered his men in for a rest. They tied their +horses to trees and threw themselves down on the grass in great +content.</p> + +<p>"The place seemed deserted, but that some one was about was evidenced +when the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a>[85]</span> + +gate through which they had entered was quietly closed and +locked by no less a person than the little Jeanne herself. She had +followed the Prussians at a distance, hoping to be able to give a +signal to her friends if they might still be in the farmhouse, but, +finding a better opportunity for serving them, had locked the lancers +within the enclosure. Having done this, she ran as fast as her nimble +feet would carry her for her own home.</p> + +<p>"The tired lancers lay down to sleep while their commander strolled up +to the house and beat on the door with the hilt of his saber. To his +amazement the door was suddenly jerked open and a French dragoon +dragged him in by the collar. The commander was a prisoner.</p> + +<p>"A detachment of French soldiers were secreted in the house, where +they had been waiting for some days for this very opportunity, knowing +that the Prussians were headed that way. Yet, though the German +commander had been deceived, little Jeanne <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a>[86]</span> + +had not told him an +untruth. She knew the French soldiers had been at the farmhouse three +days before, for she had taken food to them, but she did not know of +her own knowledge that they still were there. If she did not tell the +officer the whole truth it was because he had not asked her, and for +the sake of her beloved France she would not volunteer information +that would aid the Germans.</p> + +<p>"'Betrayed!' raged the Prussian when he saw how neatly he had been +tricked. He groaned when a volley rang out from the house and several +of his lancers fell.</p> + +<p>"His men made a frantic rush for their horses; then, when they +discovered that the gate was locked and that they were caught, they +threw up their hands and surrendered to the foe that they had not yet +seen.</p> + +<p>"The French made every one of the lancers a prisoner. Several had been +wounded, but none was killed.</p> + +<p>"Credit was given to little Jeanne for placing the lancers in the +hands of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a>[87]</span> + +French soldiers, for had she not done this the French +would have attacked the Prussians in the open and might have lost many +men in the fight that would have followed.</p> + +<p>"For her part in this fine capture little Jeanne in time received a +letter from the President of the French Republic, thanking her in the +name of France for her quick wit and for her heroism."</p> + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a>[89]</span></p> + +<h3>THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER</h3> + + +<p>"You already have heard of some of the heroic little despatch bearers +of France," said Captain Favor. "I shall now tell you of little Henri, +one of the bravest and most resourceful of them all.</p> + +<p>"Despatch carrying is a desperate business, all of it exposing the +bearers to enemy fire at least part of the time, for most of the work +of these brave men is in the open where the enemy can see them. Some +go on foot, others on fast motorcycles. Ordinarily they travel in +pairs, so that in case one be killed the other may take the message +and hasten on with it to its destination. Henri, however, traveled +alone.</p> + +<p>"The Germans, at some distance from the principal battle line and at +one end of it, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a>[90]</span> + +had advanced several miles into French territory, and, +spreading out, had covered considerable ground. They were making +themselves a nuisance, as they usually did, and a French force was +sent in to drive them back. The French, too, had spread out and the +officer in command, after becoming a little more familiar with +conditions, had made his plans.</p> + +<p>"'Now,' said the French colonel, 'what I wish is a man of undoubted +courage, familiar with all this surrounding country, to carry letters +to the commanders of our various units.'</p> + +<p>"'I fear you will not find such a man,' answered one of his +lieutenants. 'All the men of this section, of course, are fighting.'</p> + +<p>"'Young Henri can do it,' suggested another officer.</p> + +<p>"'A civilian who has been attached to the army unofficially for some +few weeks.' Henri had made himself so useful that his presence with +the army was not only permitted, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a>[91]</span> + +but welcomed. While he was but +thirteen years of age, he was very strong, alert and active. The +colonel told his aide to summon the boy so the commander might look +him over.</p> + +<p>"'Why do you follow the army?' demanded the colonel, after observing +the boy critically.</p> + +<p>"'Our home has been destroyed by the Germans, my father has been taken +prisoner by them and my sisters have fled to other provinces,' he +answered simply. 'That is why I am trying to serve my country in every +way I can.'</p> + +<p>"The colonel nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>"'It is a most important mission and a very dangerous one on which I +must send a man. Do you think you can go through with it?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir.'</p> + +<p>"'You may fall into the hands of the Prussians. In that event what +would you do with the letters I shall entrust to your care?'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a>[92]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Swallow them, sir,' was the reply.</p> + +<p>"'Good! You will do. You are a real Frenchman and while you are a mere +child, I have full confidence that you will somehow manage to carry +out my orders.'</p> + +<p>"'I shall do my best, sir.'</p> + +<p>"'That is all that any man can do. Give careful heed to what I tell +you.' The colonel gave Henri careful instructions, after which he +handed the letters to the lad and bade him God-speed.</p> + +<p>"Henri set out quietly, slouching along with a carelessness not in +keeping with his all-important mission. He was soon lost sight of in +the undergrowth that covered many miles of territory in that section +of the country, and that finally merged with a dense forest. The lad +reasoned that the Germans would be found in this forest, as well as in +the more open country, but somehow he must manage to get through their +lines and reach the French on the other side. It was not an easy task, +as he well knew, yet he was undaunted.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a>[93]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"He was following a course close to the edge of the forest when all at +once he saw a Prussian soldier just outside the forest line. The boy +plunged deeper into the woods and was unseen and unheard by the +soldier, who evidently was a sentry.</p> + +<p>"Later in the day Henri heard voices—German voices. By the sound he +judged there must be a great many of them. He imagined he could hear +commands.</p> + +<p>"'I must be close to a nest of them,' he muttered. 'I must find out +about those fellows, for the commanders will wish to know about them.' +Creeping cautiously ahead he came to the edge of a clearing, a vast +open space where the timber had, he judged, been cut off some time +since, and the brush growth that followed the cutting of the trees had +by now been well trampled down by the Germans, who appeared to be +making this out-of-the-way place a sort of headquarters for their +operations. He was amazed at what he saw.</p> + +<p>"There, before Henri's eyes, was a small <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a>[94]</span> + +German army, all branches of +the service being represented. His association with the French Army +enabled him to observe very closely and understand what he saw. And in +this instance his observation told him that the Prussians were +preparing for battle; he knew, too, that the orders he was carrying +had to do with the very preparations he was witnessing. After fully +satisfying his curiosity Henri plunged again into the forest, using +great caution and watching keenly for stray Prussians. Finally he +reached the brush again, being now free of the forest itself.</p> + +<p>"'Halt!'</p> + +<p>"The command brought him up standing. He rarely had been caught +napping, but drew a breath of relief when he saw that the sentry who +had halted him was in the uniform of his own army.</p> + +<p>"'France!' was the boy's answer to the challenge. 'I have a letter for +your commander.'</p> + +<p>"'Pass!'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a>[95]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Henri easily found his way to the commander's headquarters and +delivered the letter intended for him.</p> + +<p>"'You are going further?' questioned the officer.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir. I have other orders to deliver.'</p> + +<p>"'You had better watch closely that you are not captured,' warned the +commander. 'The country through which you go is full of Prussians, and +they are ugly. Be cautious.'</p> + +<p>"Assuring the officer that he would use due caution, Henri went on his +way, apparently without a care in the world. He was a most innocent +appearing boy and it would be keen eyes indeed that would suspect him +of being other than what he appeared, an irresponsible child.</p> + +<p>"Henri now began to see German uniforms on all sides. They were +increasing in numbers.</p> + +<p>"'Henri never will get through, this with his letter,' grumbled the +lad. 'I must act while there is yet time.' Crouching down <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a>[96]</span> + +and +watching the Prussians a few moments, he finally drew the remaining +letter from his blouse; he read it carefully several times, read it +until he had memorized every word of it. Having done this, the child +tore the letter in bits and, munching them thoroughly, calmly +swallowed them with a great gulp.</p> + +<p>"'Ugh!' he grunted, making a wry face. 'That is not pleasant food, but +if the Boches can read the letter now their eyes are sharp indeed. +Henri carries his knowledge in his stomach. A queer place for +knowledge, but a good place when there are Boches about. Now I shall +be going.'</p> + +<p>"He did not get far. The lad was halted shortly after leaving his +cover. Germans sprang up on all sides of him. He saw that he had +stumbled into a nest of them and that there was no escape.</p> + +<p>"'What would you of me? I have done nothing,' cried the boy when he +was roughly dragged before an officer. 'I go to my parents in yonder +village.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>[97]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Is it for that that you crawl along and hide yourself as a spy?' +demanded the officer sternly.</p> + +<p>"'I saw the soldiers and I was afraid,' he whimpered.</p> + +<p>"'Take him away!' ordered the officer.</p> + +<p>"'Take me where? You can see I have nothing. I am but a poor peasant +boy who could do no harm even if he would.'</p> + +<p>"'You are shamming. You are a spy and you should be shot. Search him!' +commanded the officer.</p> + +<p>"They stripped the child, Henri, during the operation, weeping +bitterly, but such tears as he shed were forced, yet they appeared +real to the onlookers. His clothing was very thoroughly searched, the +soldiers even tearing out the lining of his blouse and ripping his +necktie apart to make certain that no despatches were concealed in +them. Of course, they found nothing.</p> + +<p>"'You see, I have told the truth,' he whimpered, now addressing the +officer. 'Please let me go to my parents.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a>[98]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"The officer laughed harshly.</p> + +<p>"'Lock him up. He is a fraud, and we shall yet find him to be such. +The French resort to many tricks.'</p> + +<p>"Henri was placed in charge of a soldier, by whose side he trudged +along, wiping his eyes frequently, apparently in great distress of +mind, as a boy naturally would be in his situation. Henri's eyes were +red, but they were red from rubbing rather than from the tears they +had shed, and were keenly on the alert; they missed nothing of what +was going on about them. He did not know where they proposed to take +him, but wherever it was he determined not to go, for the letter in +his stomach was a constant reminder of what was expected of him.</p> + +<p>"There was much activity about them; it was a busy scene, and Henri's +guard was plainly interested in it—he was becoming more interested in +the activity than he was in his prisoner, which fact did not escape +the lad, who appeared to be so filled with despair.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a>[99]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Soldier and prisoner finally came to the bank of a canal, along which +they walked, the soldier still watching the movements of the troops. +Now Henri saw his opportunity.</p> + +<p>"All at once he sprang away from his guard, and, taking a long leap, +plunged head first into the canal. He dove deep and shot himself half +way across before coming to the surface.</p> + +<p>"The soldier guard stood stupefied for a moment. Recovering his wits, +he began to shoot at the bobbing head of Henri that was now out of the +water then under it.</p> + +<p>"Henri, by this time, was rapidly nearing the opposite bank of the +canal, taking little heed of the bullets that were splashing all about +him.</p> + +<p>"'It is good luck to be little,' he chuckled as he scrambled up the +bank and dashed into the bushes. Bullets were singing all about him +now, showing that several soldiers had joined in the shooting, but the +plucky boy was not hit, though there were <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a>[100]</span> + +bullet holes in his jacket +and two through his cap.</p> + +<p>"'Good bye, Mr. Boche,' he called back. 'Henri thanks you that you did +not hit him in the place where he carries his orders.' He then ran +swiftly over the remaining few miles that lay between him and his +destination. Reaching the French lines safely, he was led to the +commander of the detachment in his home village.</p> + +<p>"'I have orders for you, sir,' he said, saluting the commander.</p> + +<p>"'Very good. Where are they?'</p> + +<p>"'In my stomach, sir.'</p> + +<p>"The officer was puzzled for the moment, then he began to laugh. Henri +related the circumstances that had made necessary the destruction of +the letter, and at his dictation the commander wrote down the orders, +which the lad repeated to him exactly as they had been written in the +letter. Henri's mission had been faithfully carried out.</p> + +<p>"'France has need of such as you,' said <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a>[101]</span> + + the commander approvingly. +'What shall you do now?'</p> + +<p>"'I must return to my troops and make my report to my commanding +officer,' was the simple reply. 'I shall wait for the night before +starting, for the Boches this time cannot be so easily fooled. +Remember, I still have the orders in my stomach. Would it not be sad +if the Boches discovered them and took them from me?' Henri grinned +and the commander laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>"Henri's return journey was made without disaster, though several +times he narrowly missed being captured. Late on the following morning +the plucky boy reached his regiment and made his report to his +colonel, who warmly commended the child for his patriotism and +courage."</p> + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a>[103]</span></p> + +<h3>GENÉ AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS</h3> + + +<p>"The story of Gené and the Bavarian dragoons, is one of the best, to +my mind, that has developed in this war," said Captain Favor, +beginning a new story. "Such quick thinking as hers in the face of an +emergency, is very rare in a child, which makes Gené's achievement +stand out so prominently.</p> + +<p>"Gené's mother had been ill for months. She had been bedridden all +that time, leaving to the little girl the heavy work of the home, for +the father, too, was in poor health. Gené, though only ten years o£ +age, was a resolute and capable child, as you will see when I tell you +the story of how she won two little battles of her own.</p> + +<p>"After the battle of the Marne the Prussians <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a>[104]</span> + +were pressing northward, +venting their rage on the defenseless inhabitants, killing many such +and carrying others away with them. It was desperate business that +these brutal Prussians were engaged in. Finding themselves unable to +whip the Allied soldiers, they sought to terrorize old men, women and +children.</p> + +<p>"Gené's home was situated at the edge of a village, and though they +knew the Germans were headed in their direction, they thought the +soldiers would take pity on their sad condition and leave them alone.</p> + +<p>"One day, however, a company of Bavarian dragoons entered the +outskirts of the village and halted before the child's home. Tying +their horses, they entered the house and began a systematic search of +it. They ripped up carpets and tore beds to pieces, helped themselves +to all the food in the house, then turned their attention to the +husband, who had stood helplessly by. Not Gené. She stood trembling +with anger, scarcely able to restrain herself. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a>[105]</span></p> +<p>"'We want your money!' + demanded the captain of the dragoons, turning to Gené's father. + 'Quick, or you shall suffer.'</p> +<p>"'I have none. I have spent it all on my poor wife,' replied the +father.</p> + +<p>"'Bah! The French always have money. We shall find it. Throw the old +woman out of the bed. She is but pretending to be sick. She is in bed +to hide the money of the household,' raged the captain.</p> + +<p>"Obeying his orders, his men dragged the sick woman from the bed and +dropped her on the floor, where Gené, with tears of anger in her eyes, +bent over and clasped her parent's hand. The husband protested against +their treatment of the wife and Gené pleaded with them to go away and +leave her family in peace.</p> + +<p>"'You would resist us, would you!' demanded the captain, drawing back +a fist to strike the child's father. 'Ah! He shall be taken away for +that. You shall see that it is not for cowardly French to thwart the +will of the Bavarian dragoons. He directed <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a>[106]</span> + +his men to remove the +father. Several soldiers grabbed Gené's father and dragged him from +the house.</p> + +<p>"'Now to the cellar!' cried the commander. 'There we shall at least +find wine, for the French always have wine in their cellars. Perhaps +you will tell us there is no wine there!' he said sneeringly, fixing +his eyes on the child.</p> + +<p>"'There is wine in plenty there,' she answered sweetly, favoring the +captain with a smile. 'You will find the jugs in the front part of the +cellar.' Gené lowered her eyes, that the officer might not read the +thought that she felt certain was reflected there.</p> + +<p>"'Come,' he said, leading the way to the cellar, which they gained by +raising the trapdoor in the kitchen floor and descending a ladder, +this being the customary way of getting to the cellar in a peasant's +home.</p> + +<p>"For several moments all was silent in the room where Gené and her +mother sat on the floor, the child supporting her parent with one arm. +Down cellar the voices of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a>[107]</span> + +the Germans could be faintly heard. At last +Gené laid her mother down and tripped lightly to the kitchen. +Listening a moment she cautiously lowered the trapdoor in the floor +and closed the opening, fastening it with its bolt. Not satisfied with +this, the child moved a table to the trapdoor, on which she piled +everything of weight in the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"'All is well, mother,' she said, returning to the sick woman. Gené, +for fear of exciting her mother, did not tell her what had been done. +The soldiers with the father having gone, the villagers soon appeared +in the streets, and to them Gené explained that she had captured the +captain of dragoons and several of his men. By this time there was a +great uproar in the cellar. The dragoons were shifting and beating on +the kitchen floor, raging and threatening. They had discovered that +they were in a trap. It would fare hard with Gené and her mother if +the soldiers succeeded in getting out, but of that the child <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a>[108]</span> + +had +little fear. The villagers now offered to guard the imprisoned +soldiers, but the child knew her people could do little in this +direction.</p> + +<p>"Early in the afternoon a battalion of French chasseurs came galloping +into town. The villagers set up a great shout, and, running out, the +child recognized the soldiers of her own country. To the commander of +the chasseurs she quickly made known her situation.</p> + +<p>"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' she said. 'There are in our house German +soldiers. They are in the cellar. Some of their party have taken my +father away, but the commander and some of his men I have locked in +the cellar.'</p> + +<p>"'Bravo!' cried the commander. 'Come, we shall see.'</p> + +<p>"'There,' said Gené, pointing to the barricaded trapdoor. 'Hear them +rage. They are furious, as they should be.'</p> + +<p>The officer quickly summoned some of his men to the kitchen, and, +after the trap <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a>[109]</span> + +had been uncovered and thrown open, he bade them +thrust their bayonets into the opening.</p> + +<p>"'Come out of that cellar, you Bavarian hounds!' he shouted. 'You are +prisoners!'</p> + +<p>"The uproar in the cellar died out instantly. After a brief hesitation +they came out one by one, being disarmed and herded in a corner as +they emerged into the kitchen.</p> + +<p>"'Take them away,' commanded the officer.</p> + +<p>"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' said Gené, tugging at his sleeve. 'These +soldiers not only have helped themselves to everything in the house, +but they have, as you saw, abused my sick mother and have taken away +my poor father. They have misused us. Please do not let them go until +they have returned my father to our home. If you do not it will kill +my mother, I fear.'</p> + +<p>"'We shall do our best, my brave child.'</p> + +<p>"'Ah, monsieur le Capitaine, I have an idea. Can you not exchange one +of your <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a>[110]</span> + +prisoners for my father?' questioned the little girl.</p> + +<p>"The commander reflected. 'How long have they been gone with him?'</p> + +<p>"'Only a short time, sir.'</p> + +<p>"'Good. Step forward!' he said sharply to the German officer. The +latter obeyed silently. 'Captain,' said the Frenchman, 'you and your +men have ransacked this house, abused a sick woman and carried away +her husband. A fine business for those who call themselves men. You +deserve to be shot, you and all your hounds. However, I will spare +your life on one condition. It is that the father of this household +shall be set at liberty and returned to his home before nightfall. +Your troops will not be far from here. Who in command?'</p> + +<p>"'A captain.'</p> + +<p>"'Then one of you will ride and rejoin your detachment—'</p> + +<p>"'I will go,' interjected the commander of the dragoons.</p> + +<p class="center"><img src="images/image_03.jpg" alt="A FRENCH DRAGOON DRAGGED HIM IN." width="400" height="594" /><br /> +<span class="caption">A FRENCH DRAGOON DRAGGED HIM IN.</span></p> + +<p>"'Oh, no, captain; your presence is required <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a>[111]</span> +here. Come here!' he +ordered, beckoning to one of the Bavarians, 'and listen well to what I +shall say to you. You will immediately mount your horse and as quickly +as possible rejoin your detachment.'</p> + +<p>"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.'</p> + +<p>"'You will tell the commander that we have here seven dragoons and an +officer as prisoners of the French chasseurs. You also will say that +the French commander sends warning to him that unless the father of +this child, taken as a hostage, is returned to this village before +eight o'clock this evening, your captain and seven Bavarian dragoons +in the hands of the French will be shot immediately. Can you remember +this?'</p> + +<p>"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.'</p> + +<p>"'Then go speedily.'</p> + +<p>"The dragoon departed in haste. He was eager to get away from this +stern-faced Frenchman, at whose hands he knew he could expect small +mercy after what the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a>[112]</span> + +Bavarians had done in that little peasant home.</p> + +<p>"Gené had rejoined her mother, who had been tenderly placed in her bed +by the tender-hearted French captain. The child sat clasping her +mother's hand and comforting her.</p> + +<p>"'Have no fears, my mother. The brave commander of the chasseurs will +see to it that father comes safely home,' said Gené. Yet the brave +little French girl herself was full of anxiety; she could scarcely +keep the tears back when she realized that already her father may have +been shot.</p> + +<p>"It was late in the afternoon, darkness was just falling, when Gené +heard some one approaching. By the clanking sound she knew it was one +of the chasseurs, and her heart sank within her.</p> + +<p>"The captain of the French detachment entered and halted at the door. +She searched his face and what she saw there caused Gené to utter a +little cry of joy.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a>[113]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Here,' said the officer, 'is what you have been waiting for. Here is +the father whose life you have saved. What I have done for you was +only my duty; what you have done for France is immeasurable. I salute +you, daughter of France!'</p> + +<p>"With that the captain thrust Gené's father into the room, saluted and +strode out to join his company, who were guarding the captured +Bavarians.</p> + + + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a>[115]</span></p> + +<h3>A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY</h3> + + +<p>"Jean is the name of the hero of whom I shall tell you today. He was +only twelve, and he joined the army, unofficially, something after the +fashion that little Remi did. Remi, of course, ran away to follow the +army, which, perhaps, was not wrong in view of the fact that he had no +relatives at home. With Jean it was different, for he had a mother," +said Captain Favor, resuming his story telling.</p> + +<p>"A detachment of French soldiers had been stationed in this boy's home +town, and the lad, by many little acts, had endeared himself to them +very much.</p> + +<p>"One day the detachment received orders to leave. Jean begged that +they might take him along, but the soldiers advised him to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>[116]</span> + +remain at +home because he was too young to go to war. 'Go ask your mother,' said +a young lieutenant, 'and if she says "yes" I shall not see you if you +should follow us.'</p> + +<p>"Jean, most grateful for the suggestion, ran home and burst, in upon +his mother excitedly.</p> + +<p>"'The lieutenant says I may go if you say "yes." Say "yes," mother. I +want to be a soldier.'</p> + +<p>"'I do not understand what you mean, my son,' answered the child's +mother.</p> + +<p>"'I mean I wish to go to war; I wish to help my beloved France. +Believe me, mother, though I am but a lad I can do much, oh, so much. +And Jean shall be so very careful that he may come back to his home, +and who knows but that he may some day come back a big, big general or +something like that.'</p> + +<p>"'Please my child, do not think of such a thing,' begged the mother. +'You know you might be killed.' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a>[117]</span></p> +<p>"'Should not a Frenchman be happy to + die for his country, my mother?'</p> +<p>"The argument was a good one, and Jean saw at once that his mother was +weakening in her opposition.</p> + +<p>"'The monsieur lieutenant says I may go if you will let me. Please, my +mother.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, go, my son, if you will, and God be with you,' agreed the +mother finally, clasping the little fellow in her arms and kissing him +again and again. 'Go before I forget my duty to France.'</p> + +<p>"Jean ran. He did not stop running until he had reached the camp of +the detachment, where preparations for marching were in active +progress. But Jean hung about at a distance. When the detachment +started away, he, like Remi, fell in behind and followed. Perhaps the +lieutenant—Lieutenant André—saw him, but if so the officer thought +best not to let this be known, either to the boy or to the men.</p> + +<p>"That night Jean joined the company of Lieutenant André. A soldier +shared his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a>[118]</span> + +blanket with the child. The next morning Jean made himself +useful by carrying water, by helping the cooks and by performing other +acts that relieved the soldiers.</p> + +<p>"The march was resumed soon after daylight. The lad had a further idea +and this he worked out all during the day. Providing himself with +canteens, which he took from the soldiers of his company, he stopped +every little while at farmhouses and filled the canteens. These he +restored to their owners, and then, taking other canteens, filled +these as well, running to catch up with his company to give his +comrades water. That day and following days found the child the +hardest worked person in the company.</p> + +<p>"Now and then a soldier would stagger from weariness. Jean was at his +side in a moment relieving the soldier of some of his burden which the +boy would carry until someone took it away from him.</p> + +<p>"One day the colonel of the regiment discovered him and ordered him +sent home. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a>[119]</span> + +Jean begged, all to no purpose, then ran to his friend, +the lieutenant, for help. The lieutenant took Jean back to the colonel +and explained the situation.</p> + +<p>"'This boy,' said the lieutenant, 'is one of the most useful civilians +with this outfit. We shall miss him if he is sent back. And further, +it would not be safe for him to return home alone. In all probability +he would not reach there alive.'</p> + +<p>"'Do I understand that you are willing to charge yourself with the +care of this child?' demanded the colonel.</p> + +<p>"'I do, most certainly, my Colonel.'</p> + +<p>"'Very good, then; the boy may remain. Watch over him. He is a +patriot, indeed.'</p> + +<p>"Jean's joy showed in his face only. He made no fuss, but kissed the +hand of his faithful friend the lieutenant and went about his duties.</p> + +<p>"There came a day when the regiment met the Prussians—when the +Frenchmen went over the top and the Germans came out to meet them. +Jean was with his beloved <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a>[120]</span> + +companions, but, strange to say, he carried +no rifle. One had been offered to him, but he shook his head. Instead, +he carried several canteens of water and his blouse was stuffed with +first-aid bandages. He knew what he wished to do and what he believed +he could do best.</p> + +<p>"Soon men began to fall. The stretcher bearers were too few to give +quick attention to all, but Jean was there. With his bandages he bound +as best he could the wounds of his comrades, and quenched their thirst +from his canteens. Many were the suffering poilus who blessed the +little soldier of mercy that day.</p> + +<p>"Jean's face was bleeding where a bullet had left a gash across it, +but to this he gave not the slightest heed. Time and time again he ran +back for more water; time and time again did he rush for the stretcher +bearers to get aid for a particularly badly wounded comrade. The child +seemed to be utterly fearless, or perhaps he did not even realize that +the air about him was thick with bullets <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a>[121]</span> + +and exploding shells. If he +knew he did not care.</p> + +<p>"With nightfall the troops of both sides backed away to their own +trenches. Jean's work, however, was not yet done. He remained out on +the field where lay men who would never rise again, and many more who +were suffering and dying. All night long he worked with them, until +nearly daybreak, by which time the stretcher bearers had finished +their work.</p> + +<p>"When day dawned his comrades found little Jean asleep on top of the +parapet of his own trench, with a storm of machine gun fire sweeping +over him. He was sleeping in a rain of steel. They hauled him in and +tucked him away in a dugout.</p> + +<p>"Jean might have slept the day through had not a shell blown up the +dugout and literally blown the boy over the lip with it. He was +considerably bruised and shocked, but otherwise was unhurt.</p> + +<p>"By the time he had collected his wits and got the dizziness out of +his head, his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a>[122]</span> + +comrades were once more going over the top.</p> + +<p>"'I must go,' was Jean's reply when an officer sought to hold him +back.</p> + +<p>"Gathering up all the canteens he could carry, Jean filled them with +water and was over the top and out on the storm-swept field. His eyes +glowed with admiration when he saw his lieutenant leading and +encouraging the men of his company. Jean tried to keep close to him, +but this was not wholly possible, for the lad was still performing his +work of mercy.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly he saw the lieutenant stagger and fall.</p> + +<p>"With a little cry Jean sprang up from the wounded man he was working +over and ran to the side of his friend.</p> + +<p>"'Where—where is it, my dear Lieutenant?' he begged anxiously.</p> + +<p>"'Two times they hit me, child—in the shoulder and in the side. It is +bad. But never mind, lad, go to the others; they need you more than do +I.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a>[123]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'No, you shall come with me. Let me get my back to yours.'</p> + +<p>"'You cannot carry me.'</p> + +<p>"'Jean is stronger than he looks.' With that the lad got the officer +to a sitting position and, placing his back against the lieutenant's, +his arms under those of the officer, he straightened up. Of course, he +was not strong enough to carry the man, but he was able to drag him, +and with almost as much comfort to the wounded one as if he were on a +stretcher.</p> + +<p>"In this manner Jean managed to get his friend to the trench, whence +the officer was taken to a first-aid station, then later in the day +placed in an ambulance and started for a hospital in the rear.</p> + +<p>"The road over which they were carried, for Jean had remained with +lieutenant André, was shell swept, the Germans knowing very well that +ambulances with wounded men were there.</p> + +<p>"To the hospital went the two, and there, side by side, they lay in +cots, for at last Jean <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a>[124]</span> + +had been struck and wounded by a shell that +wrecked the ambulance just before they had reached their destination. +The driver was killed but the Little Soldier of Mercy and his friend +escaped, with only a shaking up for the lieutenant and a slight wound +in the leg of Jean.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant André, on account of his wounds, was disabled for life, +but through his efforts Jean was appointed to the French military +training school, and the last I heard of him he was still fighting +heroically for France."</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a>[125]</span></p> + +<h3>A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD</h3> + + +<p>"He was a fine fellow, that Jean," observed Joe Funk, "but for myself +I think I should have shouldered a gun and sailed in to get some of +the Boches."</p> + +<p>"That was for the soldiers to do," replied Captain Favor. "Jean's +heroism was as great as that of any man who ever went into battle with +rifle or sword. Now I will tell you about another hero who was both +coward and hero, but, in the last analysis, was all hero. Lucien, he +was named, and, though he did not know it, he was a very funny fellow. +Listen to the tale of little Lucien."</p> + +<p>"Lucien's home was in a village not far from Verdun, where such +terrible fighting had been indulged in for so many, many <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a>[126]</span> + +weeks. +Battles, in fact, had been fought not far from the boy's home, and +even now angry Prussian parties were raiding these towns and robbing +the inhabitants of whatever appealed to their appetites or their +greed. Parties of them had already visited the village and Lucien was +in the habit of observing their movements from high up in a tree, +which was his favorite hiding place when danger approached. Nor was he +partial to any particular tree. Any tree that was handy would answer +his purpose.</p> + +<p>"On the afternoon that I have in mind, a farmhouse just outside the +village bore mute evidence that raiders had been there. All the +windows had been broken out, doors smashed in and blackened spots +about the windows and doors on the outside wall indicated that the +house had been set on fire on the inside, but for some reason had not +burned down. The scene was a cheerless one. Not a person was in sight.</p> + +<p>"Along the road came a detachment of French soldiers. The officer in +command, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a>[127]</span> + + a captain, halted his men for rest and, observing the +condition of the house, entered the yard to see if he could not obtain +some information from the occupants. But there were no occupants +there.</p> + +<p>"'They must have been here recently,' he said out loud, meaning that +the Germans had visited the place. 'Perhaps I shall find that which I +seek in the village.'</p> + +<p>"Strolling along, the captain halted under a large apple tree, from +which apples had fallen to the ground, though the tree had been pretty +well stripped already. He stooped over to pick up an apple and as he +did so a hard apple hit him squarely on the top of the head.</p> + +<p>"The captain said 'Ouch!' and rubbed the spot where the apple had hit +him. But he forgot all about it in his enjoyment of the apple he was +now eating while stepping out from under the tree. He was munching +away at the fruit when another apple hit him, this time squarely on +the neck.</p> + +<p>"This was a keen as well as a cautious <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a>[128]</span> + +captain, and this time he did +not pretend to have noticed the incident, but kept on munching his +fruit. While doing so he squinted up at the tree out of the corner of +one eye. He knew he was too far from the tree for the last apple to +have fallen on him. While he was taking a cautious look another apple +came out from the foliage of the tree and fell toward him, but the +officer, stepping slightly to one side, avoided being hit by it.</p> + +<p>"He deliberately drew his revolver from its holster and, turning, +aimed at the tree.</p> + +<p>"'I think I can shoot the apples off easier than I can shake them +down,' he announced in a loud tone.</p> + +<p>"'Don't shoot, monsieur l'Officer,' cried a voice from the tree.</p> + +<p>"'What! Some one up there?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes. It is I, Lucien,' was the reply from the tree.</p> + +<p>"'Come down, Lucien. I would like to have a look at you,' ordered the +captain.</p> + +<p>"A very young boy, red of face and very much frightened, came sliding +down the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a>[129]</span> + +trunk of the tree and landed on all fours at its foot. The +officer eyed him sternly.</p> + +<p>"'What do you mean, boy, by bombarding me with apples?' he demanded.</p> + +<p>"Lucien hung his head. The officer jerked him to his feet.</p> + +<p>"'Answer me! What were you doing up in that tree? Spying on us, eh?'</p> + +<p>"'No, monsieur l'Officer, I am a Frenchman. Frenchmen do not spy on +their own people.'</p> + +<p>"'That is true. But how do I know you are not spying on us just the +same, for the Germans have been here?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur le Capitaine, they have been here. See, they have +spoiled my beautiful home. I lived there with the farmer for whom I +worked—sometimes.'</p> + +<p>"'Where were you when the Germans came?'</p> + +<p>"'Up in the top of the apple tree. I always climb a tree when I am +scared. I saw them coming and I hid myself, and I saw them when they +beat in the windows and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a>[130]</span> + +the door and carried away the food and tried +to burn down the house. I shall fight them some day for that.'</p> + +<p>"'Hm-m-m-m,' mused the officer. It was his idea that Lucien was not so +stupid as he appeared.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur, I saw them and I wish to see them again. Shall you go +and fight the Boches?'</p> + +<p>"'Of course, when we catch them. How long since they were here?'</p> + +<p>"'Maybe an hour or an hour and a half.'</p> + +<p>"'How many of them?'</p> + +<p>"'About as many as you have here, maybe another company more.'</p> + +<p>"'Which way did they go?'</p> + +<p>"'That way.' Lucien indicated the direction taken by the Germans by a +jerk of his thumb to the right. 'And Lucien knows pretty well where +they have gone.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, you do? Kindly tell me where you think the Boches went?' +demanded the captain, now amused at the boy's queerness.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a>[131]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'They have gone to cut off the road from Etain. I saw them going that +way.'</p> + +<p>"'How do you know this?'</p> + +<p>"'Did I not hear them talking just before I dropped an apple on the +head of the Herr Major, the apple that stuck on his helmet and made +him very angry? It was well for Lucien that the Herr Major did not +know he threw the apple. Wait while I laugh, Captain. No, Lucien did +not throw another at the Herr Major. He saved the next one for +monsieur le Capitaine.'</p> + +<p>"'See here, child, do you know this country well?' demanded the French +Captain.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur, I know it well, as well as I know my own pocket, and +I wait only for an opportunity to serve you and my country.'</p> + +<p>"'Well spoken. My son, the opportunity is at hand. From what you tell +me I take it that the Germans went toward the forest yonder where the +road from Etain passes. Is that right?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur, the big road from Verdun. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a>[132]</span> + +But there is still another +road to Etain. It follows along the woods to the left near the river.'</p> + +<p>"'So?' The officer consulted a map. 'You speak truly. I thank you, my +son. Now, would you like to lead us, to show us the way?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur.'</p> + +<p>"'What if we are surprised by the Germans—what will you do in that +event?'</p> + +<p>"'I shall climb a tree,' replied the lad promptly. 'I do not fear the +Boches so long as there are trees to climb.'</p> + +<p>"This caused a great laugh, but the officer was satisfied that Lucien +could do all and more than he had promised.</p> + +<p>"'You shall show us the way,' he decided, and ordered his men to fall +in and proceed. They passed through the village, which they now +observed had been much abused by the Prussians, and on out into the +country, with the lad marching beside the captain with a swagger that +amused all who saw him.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a>[133]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'See, the road is there to the left,' finally said the little guide. +It leads to the bridge which we shall cross and take a short cut in +that way. Thus, my officer, we may reach Etain before the Boches do.'</p> + +<p>"'That will be fine,' said the captain.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur. But what if the Boches should change their mind and +wait for us? Surely you will not blame the little Lucien? He cannot +read the mind of a Boche when the Boche is out of sight.'</p> + +<p>"'No, we shall not blame you. You have told us well and we are +grateful, but what you say gives me a thought. We shall halt and send +out scouts.'</p> + +<p>"This was done immediately. A short distance ahead of them were a +number of farm buildings. Trees were scattered all about, giving +plenty of shade, which the troops were quick to take advantage of.</p> + +<p>"A scout came running back toward the resting detachment.</p> + +<p>"'The Prussians are coming!' he shouted.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a>[134]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Lucien made a mad dash for a tree nearby, up which he shinned and hid +far up in the foliage. There were brief smiles, but the soldiers had +other things to think of at that moment. The French moved forward +about five hundred yards and began digging themselves in; in other +words, digging temporary trenches.</p> + +<p>"The Germans already had begun shooting, the French quickly +retaliating. The former were in larger numbers than the French captain +had believed them to be. Lucien was still up the tree, peering out, +his eyes large and frightened. Bullets were clipping the foliage all +about him. He did not realize this at first, but finally, when he did, +he slid down the tree in a hurry and hid behind it.</p> + +<p>"Scouts were hastening back to the rear with messages from the +captain, who had sent for assistance, seeing that the German force was +too large for him to hold off indefinitely.</p> + +<p>"Night came on and the firing died down. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a>[135]</span> + +There had been very few +losses. During the night a large detachment of French troops joined +the captain's force and early on the following morning the battle was +resumed with great fury. Lucien had slept in a tree all night. His +captain told him to go back home, but this the boy, for some reason of +his own, did not care to do.</p> + +<p>"Early in the day the Germans, who also had entrenched themselves, +came over the top and drove the French back, taking some prisoners and +killing many. Lucien, who was hiding up in a tree, found himself +between the lines, high and dry, as it were. He made himself as small +as possible up there and gazed wonderingly at the furious battle that +was being fought beneath him. Late in the forenoon the French drove +the Prussians back. The boy took advantage of the opportunity to get +down from the tree and get behind his own lines. It was observed, +however, that he kept always within reach of a tree.</p> + +<p>"Men were falling out there on the field. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a>[136]</span> + +Plucking up courage, Lucien +went out with some stretcher bearers and helped gather up the wounded, +but there were not enough of the stretcher bearers to properly care +for the wounded; even stretchers were scarce. In the excitement of the +work Lucien forgot his fears. The lad was resourceful and, recognizing +the necessity for getting the wounded from the field, began to cast +about for some means of solving this problem.</p> + +<p>"'Ah! A wheelbarrow. The very thing,' he cried. The wheelbarrow +belonged to the farmhouse near the field, from which the occupants had +run away when the troops came. Lucien quickly possessed himself of the +barrow and proudly marched out on the field pushing the barrow ahead +of him. By tipping it up on one side he was able to roll a wounded man +in, not very gently, but he loaded his man in just the same and, red +of face, pushed the vehicle ahead of him and back to the first-aid +dressing station, where he slid his passenger to the ground, leaving + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a>[137]</span> + +him for the surgeons to attend to and then trotted back to the field.</p> + +<p>"Artillery had been brought up by both sides and shells were bursting +overhead, though none had fallen near the little Frenchman.</p> + +<p>"Lucien picked up a wounded man near the edge of the battlefield and +began wheeling the victim down the road. The going was better there +and he was enabled to make more rapid progress. Pausing for a rest he +eyed his passenger suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"'Who are you?' he demanded.</p> + +<p>"'I am a Prussian officer.' The officer was so wounded in both legs +that he could not stand.</p> + +<p>"Lucien's face flushed.</p> + +<p>"'A Prussian officer!' he cried. 'I ought to dump you out and leave +you. A Prussian—bah!'</p> + +<p>"'I am losing strength. Please give me help,' urged the officer.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, Herr Officer, I'll help you. You are a human being even if you +are a Prussian. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a>[138]</span> + +Here we go again.' Grasping the handles of the +barrow, the lad started on a run with the wounded man.</p> + +<p>"A shell burst in the road just ahead of him. Quickly dropping his +homely vehicle, little Lucien ran for a tree and shinned up it without +loss of time. His passenger had slid out into the road when the barrow +tipped over on its side.</p> + +<p>"'Herr Officer, who did that?'</p> + +<p>"'It was a Prussian shell. Take me away before they hit me,' begged +the officer.</p> + +<p>"'Why don't you tell them to stop? It's your people who are shooting +at you. They must want to be rid of you. I——'</p> + +<p>"A shell struck the tree, well down toward its base. The jolt nearly +shook the boy from his perch in a crotch of the tree. Very slowly at +first, then with increasing speed the tree began to fall. It came down +with a mighty crash, hurling little Lucien some distance ahead of it. +He was bruised and shaken and for a few minutes he lay where he had +fallen, groaning.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a>[139]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Suddenly he sprang to his feet and started to run toward the rear. +The faint voice of the German officer called to him to come back, +which brought Lucien to a standstill.</p> + +<p>"'Maybe he is afraid, too,' reflected the lad. 'I must get him.' And +get him he did. Running back, he loaded the wounded man on the barrow +and ran with him all the way to the rear.</p> + +<p>"'See! I have taken a Boche,' he cried, staggering up to the dressing +station. 'I shall now go get another one.' This he did. He was taking +a new interest in his work, and thereafter made no distinction between +Germans and Frenchmen in his work of mercy.</p> + +<p>"All during that desperate fighting little Lucien was a familiar +figure on the battlefield. He really performed many heroic deeds. Now +and then, overcome by fright, he would dash for a tree, but these +flights were becoming fewer. He began to feel a pride in the work he +was doing and this <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a>[140]</span> + +pride of achievement and the new spirit of +patriotism that had been aroused within him served to keep him up and +gave him new courage. Before that day of suffering came to an end +there was none on the battlefield more heroic and courageous than +little Lucien.</p> + +<p>"How many wounded men the lad had rescued from the field of battle no +one knew, but there were many of them, among them two majors and three +captains.</p> + +<p>"Just before nightfall the French made a great charge. Lucien was well +out between the lines when the charge started. The Germans put down a +'curtain of fire,' hoping in this way to stop the charge. And little +Lucien and his wheelbarrow were fairly caught in it. A shell hit the +barrow and blew it, with a wounded soldier, into bits. Lucien was +hurled into the air and fell several yards away. His own comrades +charged right over him as they passed. Those near enough to hear +caught a faint cry from the lad.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a>[141]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Vive la France!' were the words they heard him utter.</p> + +<p>"Stretcher bearers, following the charging men, picked the lad up and +tenderly bore him back. They saw that he was mortally wounded. While +they were dressing his wounds, Lucien tugged feebly at the surgeon's +blouse. The surgeon leaned over, for the little fellow's voice was +very weak.</p> + +<p>"'Lucien will climb no more trees,' murmured the lad.</p> + +<p>"'No, my brave boy,' answered the surgeon.</p> + +<p>"'Is Lucien brave, monsieur?'</p> + +<p>"'There are no braver. The deeds of valor you have this day performed +will live long after you, little soldier.'</p> + +<p>"A smile that was radiant with happiness appeared on the face of the +dying boy.</p> + +<p>"'Lucien is no longer a coward,' he repeated several times. 'No longer +a coward. Vive la France!' he cried, half raising himself.</p> + +<p>"The surgeon gently laid him back and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a>[142]</span> +kissed the lad on both cheeks, +but Lucien did not know. He was beyond the touch of human sympathy."</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a>[143]</span></p> + +<h3>THE HERO OF THE GUNS</h3> + + +<p>"The patriotism of nearly all these children of France is something +that you boys and girls cannot fully understand. No one can unless he +has seen it displayed, as I have, in many instances," said Captain +Favor.</p> + +<p>"For instance, there is a little story of 'The Hero of the Guns,' as +he was called. His name was Mattia, and though only twelve years old, +he was determined to go to war and fight for France. This boy had only +his mother left, his two brothers being already in the war and his +father having fallen a victim to the Prussians when they raided the +village in which Mattia's parents then lived.</p> + +<p>"For a long time the lad had been studying <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a>[144]</span> + +a map of France until he +possessed a very clear idea of the territory held by the Germans, as +well as that where his countrymen were fighting. He talked over these +things with the old men of the village and learned much from them.</p> + +<p>"One day when he thought he knew the country well enough, this little +patriot ran away from home and was well on his way to join his +brothers when his absence was discovered.</p> + +<p>"Mattia's mother appealed to the police but it was not until the +following day that he was found and returned to his home. He had gone +more than twenty miles on his journey when the police got him.</p> + +<p>"'Unhappy child!' cried the boy's mother when he had been restored to +her. 'Why did you do this? Did you not know the danger into which you +were running? You might have been killed by German raiders or taken +captive and carried to their own country and made to work, with barely +enough food to keep you alive.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a>[145]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'My mother,' answered the boy bravely, 'when France is in danger, +every one, boy or man, should go to her aid just as my brothers have +done, and as my father did, and gave up his life for his country. I, +too, must go.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, but they were men while you are but a child, Mattia.'</p> + +<p>"'Other mothers' sons have gone to war, mother; other mothers' sons +will never come back. They have been shot in the war.'</p> + +<p>"Mattia's mother, however, refused to give her consent, and the little +patriot was obliged to remain at home, yet with his purpose of +fighting for France still firmly fixed in his mind. One day he would +go, he told himself, and one day he would show them that even a child +could do a man's part.</p> + +<p>"Early in the following spring Mattia's mother grew ill and died. The +little fellow grieved for her until his face grew wan and pale. He was +now left in the care of an uncle who was not very kind to him. After + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a>[146]</span> + +a month had passed in which Mattia had continued his study of the war +map, he determined to leave the home of his uncle and once more try to +reach his brothers.</p> + +<p>"One evening a troop train halted at the little village. This was the +boy's opportunity. Watching his chance, he slipped into one of the +coaches and crawled up to the luggage rack and lay down, making +himself as inconspicuous as possible. But, alas, he was discovered and +dragged out by a station employe who had seen him enter the car.</p> + +<p>"This ended Mattia's going to war for some time to come. He found no +opportunity to do so until nearly a month later, when he decided to +leave his uncle's home again and take his chances. This time he +planned well and carefully. Providing himself with food he set out one +evening after he was supposed to be in bed and asleep, and, proceeding +to the railroad, started walking along it. This, he had found, was the +most direct route to the front.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a>[147]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Mattia's uncle did not take enough interest in his nephew's +disappearance to have a search made for him. For days after that the +lad continued his journey on foot, stopping at farmhouses and doing +little odd jobs that were the means of providing meals for him. One +day, to his great happiness, he came up with the rear of one of the +armies of his beloved country.</p> + +<p>"The boy plodded in among the troops, for this was a rest camp that he +had stumbled upon, some miles distant from the front. An officer, +observing that he was a civilian, halted him in the street of the +village where the rest camp was situated.</p> + +<p>"'Where are you going, boy?' the officer demanded.</p> + +<p>"'To the war with you,' answered Mattia promptly.</p> + +<p>"'What! To war, at your age? It is impossible. Where is your home?'</p> + +<p>"Mattia told him.</p> + +<p>"'My mother is dead, as is my father, and my brothers are fighting at +Verdun. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a>[148]</span> + +Mattia has only his country left to love now. Where is +Verdun?'</p> + +<p>"'You poor little patriot,' answered the officer sympathetically. +'Verdun is yonder where you see the smoke and where the big guns are +in action. You can hear them now.'</p> + +<p>"The boy nodded.</p> + +<p>"'But you are too young to fight. It is not permissible. Wait! You +have no family left at home?'</p> + +<p>"'None, sir, save my uncle, who does not want me,'</p> + +<p>"'And you wish to stay here?'</p> + +<p>"'No, sir, I wish to fight.'</p> + +<p>"'That cannot be, but if you wish you may remain here. If you can work +there is much that you can do in the rear and thus serve your country +well. All men who serve their country are not in the trenches. Many +are serving heroically who have not yet heard the roar of the big +guns.'</p> + +<p>"'What shall I do here?'</p> + +<p>"'Help the cooks, do little services for <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a>[149]</span> + +the officers—whatever you +may find to do. But, my son, remember you are not to try to go near +the firing line. It is not for children to be there. You do not know +what the soldiers suffer there. They must be strong and they must be +old enough to stand the terrible strain.'</p> + +<p>"'I care not for that. I want to fight,' replied Mattia with +determination. 'I am strong and I can endure as long as can the men. I +know, for I have worked with men. Where shall I eat and sleep?'</p> + +<p>"The officer told him he would speak to the mess sergeant and that the +latter would provide him with food, and would arrange for the lad to +lodge in one of the buildings where soldiers slept when off duty.</p> + +<p>"That was satisfactory to little Mattia. He was happy, for he was with +the army, and that night the roar of the distant artillery lulled him +to sleep. It was sweet music to him. 'Tomorrow I shall fight like the +Frenchman I am,' he murmured as he dropped off to sleep.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a>[150]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"It was many days later, however, before he got the chance to take +part in actual fighting. Even that came about by chance. He had been +sent back to carry a message to the lieutenant in a high-angle gun +squad—"</p> + +<p>"What is that?" interjected Joe Funk.</p> + +<p>"I should have explained. That is what the outfit that handles the +anti-aircraft guns, the men who stay on the ground and shoot at +airplanes, is called. He was permitted to stand by and watch the +operations of the squad. Pretty soon he was assisting them by running +back and bringing up the long, slender projectiles that the gun, +pointed toward the skies, fired. He enjoyed watching the kick of the +piece and the way it ejected the case of the shell after the +projectile had soared on its way to the clouds.</p> + +<p>"Mattia proved himself very useful that day and earned the thanks of +the ammunition carriers for his help. He was quick and never stumbled +or dropped a shell.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a>[151]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"That night he slept on the ground near the gun, which was silent all +through the night. Early in the morning he was awakened by the sharp +report of the weapon. Quickly springing up, he saw, high in the air, a +black speck which he knew to be an enemy airplane, because the gun +squad was firing at it.</p> + +<p>"Once more Mattia took up his work of carrying ammunition. Something +tremendous exploded not far from the squad.</p> + +<p>"'The Boches are bombing us,' cried a soldier. The lad knew from that +that the airplane, so far above them, was dropping bombs to destroy +the gun and its squad. The only effect of the bombing, however, was to +knock down several men, Mattia among the number, by the shock of an +exploding bomb.</p> + +<p>"'They're coming down!' yelled the lad as the airplane grew larger.</p> + +<p>"'It's a hit!' cried the lieutenant in command.</p> + +<p>"Mattia saw the airplane turning over <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a>[152]</span> + +and over, falling, soaring like +a leaf from a tree in the fall.</p> + +<p>"'Di—did we hi—hit him?' questioned the lad.</p> + +<p>"'Of course we hit him,' answered a soldier. 'Don't you see him +coming?'</p> + +<p>"For the first time the little French lad realized what war was. He +knew there was one man, and perhaps two, in that falling machine, and +that he was watching them falling to what would probably be death.</p> + +<p>"'It is for France,' he said to himself. 'If they are Boches they must +die.' However, Mattia did not get the picture of that scene out of his +mind for a long time. Later on he became used to it and did not even +marvel.</p> + +<p>"One day the gun squad was sent to another point a long distance away +and the lad returned to the rest camp. He now felt himself to be a +well-seasoned soldier and talked of high-angle guns as volubly as +could an experienced gunner. Still, he had not yet reached the +realization of his ambitions. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a>[153]</span> + +He tried often to steal away to the +trenches, but in each instance was stopped and turned back.</p> + +<p>"While in billets he fell in with a machine-gun company and became +much interested in what they told him of the perilous work of that +branch of the service. He concluded that this work would suit him +better than the anti-aircraft service. While the latter squads +ordinarily were located behind the lines, the machine gunners were up +where there was trouble all the time. To join a machine-gun company +was not so easy.</p> + +<p>"Mattia's chance came one night. A company of machine gunners was +ordered to a remote point on the line, a journey of some fifteen +miles, where they were to establish a new emplacement, temporarily, to +clean out a nest of Prussians. The lad listened to what the men had to +say about their proposed journey and the work they expected to have to +do with the keenest interest. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a>[154]</span></p> +<p>"'I too shall go,' he decided, but he + told no one of his intention. Instead, he waited until the men were + well started, then followed them. There was no difficulty about this, + as they did not have to pass any sentries on the way.</p> +<p>"Shells frequently fell near them, many soared over their heads with +weird moanings. He was getting so familiar with the sound of shells +that he could tell the kind of shell that was passing by the noise +made by it.</p> + +<p>"Along toward the middle of the night the machine gunners reached +their destination. Mattia did not show himself until the soldiers +began preparing an emplacement for their gun. This emplacement was +located in a clump of bushes, in which they dug a short trench, +carrying the dirt far to the rear, so the enemy airplanes might not +discover that the earth had been turned over there.</p> + +<p>"The lieutenant in command discovered him and Mattia spent a few most +uncomfortable <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a>[155]</span> + +minutes in trying to explain why he was there.</p> + +<p>"'I know this boy, sir,' volunteered a sergeant. 'He is with the army +and he is always very useful. Why not, sir, let him remain in case we +need to send a messenger back?'</p> + +<p>"'Very good,' answered the lieutenant, after brief reflection. 'But +understand, boy, you must keep out of sight. In the daytime I want you +to go over yonder in those bushes and lie down and don't dare to show +yourself unless I give you permission.'</p> + +<p>"To these orders Mattia made no response. None was expected. All the +rest of the night he assisted in carrying back dirt in bags and +dumping it in a gully where it could not be seen from up in the air. +In addition to the parallel trench one was dug back through the soft +ground as a sort of communicating trench. The lad wondered how that +trench could be dug there without the enemy's seeing it, but when the +men began to plant bushes along its sides, permitting <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a>[156]</span> + +the branches to +droop over the trench, he saw the idea of the plan. This was +camouflage.</p> + +<p>"It was nearly daybreak when he and some of his comrades made their +way to the rear and went to sleep. When he awakened the sun was +shining brightly. Forgetful of his orders, he entered the +communicating trench and walked forward. He was amazed to find another +trench leading into the communicating trench. He asked a soldier about +it.</p> + +<p>"'Say, Mattia, do you think this squad is the only one in France?' +asked the soldier. 'There are other machine-gun units out here. Of +course, we know where they are and the officers know what we are going +to do. Peek through these bushes.'</p> + +<p>"'Boches!' gasped the lad.</p> + +<p>"'That is right, Mattia. They do not know we are here.'</p> + +<p>"'Why don't you shoot at them?'</p> + +<p>"'We are not ready, or rather, they are not.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a>[157]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"The Germans were digging a trench on a rise of ground, where they +always try to place them, instead of on low ground, about half a mile +away. Mattia peered at them, looking through the bushes, until he was +ordered by an officer to go back and bring up the breakfast for the +men. Thus the little Frenchman was given to understand that he was one +of them. The officer in command either had forgotten his orders to the +boy of the previous night, or else had decided to use him so long as +no fighting was going on.</p> + +<p>"There was much about the work that Mattia did not understand. He now +knew that there were other French detachments close at hand, but he +neither saw nor heard them. The others, undoubtedly, were camouflaged +just as his detachment was.</p> + +<p>"So secretly, however, had the French worked that the Germans did not +appear even to suspect the presence of the enemy. This secrecy was +maintained for two more days, Mattia in the meantime having been + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a>[158]</span> + +initiated into the mystery of the machine gun. He was allowed by a +friendly sergeant to handle the gun and go through the motions of +firing it and putting in a fresh string of shells. It was a delight to +him.</p> + +<p>"On the morning of the third day he was ordered to remain behind in a +dugout that had been built. He knew by this that an action was at +hand.</p> + +<p>"It came about nine o'clock in the morning, when a company of French +soldiers came marching down the field in plain view of the Germans, +though no Germans were in sight. He did not know that these +infantrymen were a decoy, a part of the plan of the French to draw the +enemy down within easy range of their machine guns.</p> + +<p>"Rifles began to crackle from the Prussian trenches, and to his +amazement, after firing a few rounds in reply, the French infantrymen +ran for the cover of the brush. He saw the reason for this a moment +later when a big troop of German cavalry topped the rise of ground and +swept on toward the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a>[159]</span> +French, followed by the charging infantry of +the Germans.</p> + +<p class="center"><img src="images/image_04.jpg" alt="HIS FIRE SAVED THE DAY." width="400" height="618" /><br /> +<span class="caption">HIS FIRE SAVED THE DAY.</span></p> + +<p>"Some time since, Mattia had slipped from his dugout. He was +determined to miss nothing of what was going on. He saw his own +infantrymen take to the communicating trenches and disappear, plainly +as a part of the plan.</p> + +<p>"Then the machine guns began to play. The mounted German detachment +was close upon them before the hidden French machine guns opened up. +All down the line to the right he could hear French machine guns +pouring their fire into the approaching horsemen. Those who were not +killed or who had not fallen wounded from their horses were turned +back.</p> + +<p>"Mattia, in his excitement, crawled along one side of the +communicating trench toward the machine-gun emplacement. He was +shocked to see that more than half of his machine-gun crew already +were dead or wounded. Now the German artillery, which he could not +see, began shelling the French <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a>[160]</span> + +positions. A shell exploded in the +trench occupied by his comrades, and Mattia was hurled violently into +the communicating trench.</p> + +<p>"When the smoke had cleared away Mattia ran forward. The machine gun +was silent, though others down the line were very busy. It was a +strange sight for a boy to gaze upon. All his comrades were now lying +in the trench, either killed or badly wounded.</p> + +<p>"The German infantry, in close formation—meaning close together—was +coming on steadily. Down the line the French were holding them back, +but in Mattia's trench there was no opposition.</p> + +<p>"The boy collected his wits, uttered a gasp, then sprang to the silent +machine gun. A half-used strip of shells was in the gun and other +strips were close at hand.</p> + +<p>"Little Mattia began to work the machine gun. He swept the field with +it as far as it would reach to the right and the left, sending a rain +of bullets into the enemy. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>[161]</span> + +Even after the strip was exhausted he kept +on working the gun, not realizing that it was out of cartridges. +Discovering this finally, he reloaded and began firing again.</p> + +<p>"His fire saved the day for the French, because, had Mattia failed to +serve the gun, the Germans soon would have broken through the line and +that would have lost the battle for the French.</p> + +<p>"At last the German line began to waver; it stopped, then began a +retreat on the run, followed by the bullets of the machine gunners. +Mattia was yelling and whooping as he pumped away with his weapon, +elevating its muzzle a little from time to time that he might be sure +to reach the fleeing men.</p> + +<p>"Shells had been bursting about him all the time and were still +bursting.</p> + +<p>"The French machine-gun fire from other trenches stopped almost as +suddenly as it had begun. Then something happened to little Mattia. +Another shell landed in his trench and burst with a deafening +explosion. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a>[162]</span> + +The lad fell forward on his gun and lay still.</p> + +<p>"They found him there later, unconscious, badly wounded, his hand +still on the trigger of the gun he had worked with such success. He +was carried back to the rest billet and thence to a hospital. +Everywhere the story of the boy's heroism had preceded him.</p> + +<p>"One day as he lay in his cot, now well on the road to recovery, some +officers, guided by an orderly, entered the ward where he lay and +halted at his cot. The officer in charge of the party, who proved to +be a general, made a little speech to the wounded boy, then pinned the +Cross of War on his breast and finished by kissing him on both cheeks.</p> + +<p>"Mattia had won his reward, and though he would never fight again, he +was a happy boy. He had served his country well and had bled for her +and had won an honor that comes to few."</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a>[163]</span></p> + +<h3>MARIE THE COURAGEOUS</h3> + + +<p>"The Padré + and his little niece, an orphan of twelve, lived on the +outskirts of a French village that had been taken by the Germans," +began Captain Favor, resuming his story telling for the children.</p> + +<p>"Marie, for that was her name, was a patriot if there ever was one. +Every fibre of her being was for France, and one could see the fires +of patriotism flaming in her eyes. That is the sort of patriotism, +Joe, that no fear of death can dim."</p> + +<p>Joe Funk nodded approvingly. His own patriotism had been stirred by +these tales of the heroism of the children of France.</p> + +<p>"While the French were in possession of the village in the early days +of the war, an officer of that army made his headquarters <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a>[164]</span> + +with the +Padré and his niece," continued Captain Favor. "He became very fond of +the child. Captain Grivelet was his name and, recognizing in Marie a +true patriot, he had explained many things to her about the war, so +that, for a child so young, Marie was able to form a very clear idea +of the situation of the two armies.</p> + +<p>"There were, of course, many army secrets of which Captain Grivelet +never spoke. He, too, was a patriot, you see, as he should be. Having +asked permission to store some of his personal equipment in the +Padré's cellar, they thought nothing of his going down there +frequently. Now and then Marie was certain she heard him talking to +some one down there.</p> + +<p>"One day, after the Prussians had pushed the French back close to the +village—this was before the Germans took the village, you +understand—Captain Grivelet had a talk with Marie.</p> + +<p>"'Marie, knowing that you are French in your heart and soul, I shall +confide certain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a>[165]</span> + +secrets to you. Are you willing to serve your +country?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur le Capitaine. Always, and with my life, if necessary.'</p> + +<p>"'Bravely spoken. You may do as your judgment dictates about repeating +what I shall tell you to the Padré +, your uncle. But for the sake of +his safety I should advise that you keep your own secrets. Such +secrecy will not bring dishonor upon you, for it is in behalf of your +country.'</p> + +<p>"'I understand, monsieur. You may trust Marie. She is a loyal French +girl and will continue to be so no matter what comes.'</p> + +<p>"The captain nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>"'Whether or not we shall be able to hold our lines here seems +doubtful. At least we fear the Prussians, in large force as they are, +may temporarily drive us back. But it will not be for long. We shall +recover our ground. Even now we are entrenching ourselves to the rear. +When that time comes, Marie, you and the Padré + will be in peril, for +the French probably will have to <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a>[166]</span> + +shell the village. We hope it may +not come to that. What I would ask you is, do you and your uncle wish +to go to the rear while there is yet time, so you may be safe?'</p> + +<p>"'There is reason for believing, monsieur le Capitaine, that Marie may +be of use to her beloved France here?' she questioned.</p> + +<p>"'Yes; that is what I would say.'</p> + +<p>"'It is not necessary to ask, monsieur.'</p> + +<p>"'You will understand that it is better that I do not speak to the +Padré, your uncle. You may do so, and you will the better be able to +judge how to speak to him, though as I already have advised, for the +sake of his safety he should not be involved. You will not be afraid, +Marie?'</p> + +<p>"'No, monsieur.'</p> + +<p>"'It is well. You have seen me go to the cellar, many times, where I +store my equipment. This equipment I shall remove today, but in the +cellar you will find—'</p> + +<p>"At this instant a shell landed in the street and exploded with a +roar. It was followed <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>[167]</span> + +by other shells that swept on to the rear and +fell beyond the village. A bugle somewhere down the street blew +insistently. The captain sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p>"'Marie, I shall see you later. I am called. You will be prudent and +be careful of your life?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur.'</p> + +<p>"The captain hurried out and that was the last the brave little French +girl heard of him for some time afterward. All day the battle raged +and shells fell in the village, many times the Padré +'s house being +showered with bursting shrapnel and shell splinters. It was a stout +little stone house and withstood this storm of steel, save as now and +then a splinter from a shell tore through the blinds and imbedded +itself in the wall.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime Marie had gone out, unmindful of the danger, to fetch +her uncle home. The Padré + was in his church, but Marie made him come +home. Reaching there, she said:</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>[168]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'My uncle, the Germans may come and we shall be in their power. Is it +your wish to remain here or to go to the rear where you will be safe?'</p> + +<p>"'I shall remain here, my child. Perhaps it would be well for you to +go to the rear and be under the protection of the French, for the +Prussians are beasts!'</p> + +<p>"'With your permission, my uncle, I shall stay here with you. I shall +not leave you.'</p> + +<p>"It is well. If the Prussians come I shall speak with them, and +perhaps they will leave the Padré and his niece to themselves. But +they shall not make us Prussians; we shall still be loyal to our +beloved France.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, uncle, but it will be well that you have a care as to what you +say and do. Please heed what Marie says, for she knows whereof she +speaks.'</p> + +<p>"All that day the battle raged and the Padré and Marie remained in +their home, except now and then when the child went <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a>[169]</span> + +out to watch the +progress of the battle, for their house was on high ground commanding +an excellent view of the battlefield. The field, however, was so +covered with smoke that few of the details of what was going on out +there were observable.</p> + +<p>"With darkness the battle still continued. Later on there was rifle +fire in the street, and, acting upon the Padré +'s suggestion, uncle and +niece took refuge in their cellar, for the bullets were beginning to +spatter on the walls within the house.</p> + +<p>"It was near daylight when the firing died down, whereupon the Padré +and Marie came upstairs and went to bed for a few hours' sleep.</p> + +<p>"They were rudely awakened by a violent pounding on the door. It was +Marie who sprang up at the sound and who opened the door. Confronting +her was a German soldier, armed with a rifle. The girl did not quail.</p> + +<p>"'Is this the Padré's home?' he demanded gruffly.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a>[170]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'It is.'</p> + +<p>"'The Prussians are now in control of this village and the inhabitants +will govern themselves accordingly. We shall search your house. Then, +if you behave yourselves, you will be permitted to remain here and to +go out in the daytime, as usual. All food that is asked for by the +soldiers shall be given to them without question, but any attempt to +communicate with the enemy, the slightest disobedience of the orders +of the commander, will be punished by death.'</p> + +<p>"The soldier beckoned to several other soldiers who were in the +background and ordered them to search the house. This they did with +thoroughness. Marie had forgotten about the equipment of Captain +Grivelet in the cellar, but it was brought home to her with a shock +when the searchers came up bearing the stuff the French officer had +left. The soldier in charge eyed the Padré and his niece sternly. He +demanded to know to whom this equipment belonged.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a>[171]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Marie very frankly told him that an officer had requested permission +to leave the equipment there, and had slept in the house. Beyond that +she knew nothing, nor did she know what his luggage contained.</p> + +<p>"'I shall report this to my commander. I know not what he will do, but +giving aid to the enemy is a serious matter,' he warned. Then the +soldiers went away. That day neither the Padré nor Marie left the +house. Late in the afternoon an officer entered and questioned them +sharply, finally leaving, apparently satisfied with their answers. The +two were not disturbed again.</p> + +<p>"Next day the Padré went to his church and Marie went out to do her +marketing. She was unmolested, though soldiers frequently spoke to her +jokingly, to all of which she smiled and made some bright reply.</p> + +<p>"That night as she sat thinking in her room in the dark, her +conversation with Captain Grivelet suddenly came back to her. He had +been about to tell her something of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a>[172]</span> + +importance, something that he +wished her to do for her people.</p> + +<p>"'The cellar!' exclaimed the child.</p> + +<p>"Snatching up a candle, she hurried below and holding the light above +her head, surveyed the low-ceilinged cellar keenly.</p> + +<p>"'I see nothing,' murmured the girl. 'But surely there is something +here. It could not have been in the equipment that the Germans carried +away with them, for they searched the Captain's belongings and found +nothing. That I plainly saw with my own eyes.'</p> + +<p>"Marie gave up her quest and, returning to her room, went to bed. The +greater part of the night she lay awake, disturbed now and then by +vollies of rifle shots, which she interpreted with a shudder. Some of +her neighbors were meeting a terrible fate, a fate that yet might be +hers or her uncle's, or both.</p> + +<p>"On the following morning, after a soldier had visited their home and +again searched it, Marie, still troubled by her failure <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a>[173]</span> + +to find that +which the French captain had started to confide in her, locked the +door after the Padré's departure for his church, and once more went to +the cellar.</p> + +<p>"This time her search was thorough, but she discovered nothing. +Sitting down in the middle of the cellar, with her candle placed on +the floor at one side, she gazed about her. A shadow cast by the +candlelight on the cellar wall seemed to make it appear that one of +the stones projected outward further than the others.</p> + +<p>"Marie got up to examine the stone. Closer examination verified this +surmise. She uttered a little exclamation when, upon taking hold of +the stone, it moved. Marie pulled and the stone came out easily.</p> + +<p>"'Oh!' cried the child.</p> + +<p>"There, before her eyes, tucked into the opening, was a telephone. The +child stared at it with wide open eyes. This, plainly, was what the +French captain wished to tell her about when he was interrupted by the +bugle summons and called away to a service <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>[174]</span> + +from which he did not +return. But what was it that he wished her to do with the telephone?</p> + +<p>"'I have it!' she cried exultingly. 'It was that he wished the little +Marie to tell him what the Prussians were doing. At last the way is +opened for her to serve her country. But—' The child, with a wisdom +beyond her years, knew what the penalty would be if she were +discovered. 'I care not. If I shall have served my France I can die +with a brave heart!'</p> + +<p>"Taking the telephone in her hands—hands that did not even tremble, +Marie called a soft 'hello!' There was no response. Again and again +she tried, but without result. Finally the child gave it up and went +back upstairs.</p> + +<p>"The thought of the telephone drew her again to the cellar. Again she +called her soft 'hello.'</p> + +<p>"The answer came back in French with a suddenness that nearly caused +her to drop the telephone.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a>[175]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Who is speaking?' she asked in as firm a voice as she could summon.</p> + +<p>"'Whom do you wish?'</p> + +<p>"'I would speak with Captain Grivelet'</p> + +<p>"'He is not here. I cannot reach him.'</p> + +<p>"'It is important. Find him and tell him that the little Marie would +speak with him. Tell him to come at ten o'clock this evening and Marie +will be here at the telephone. He will understand.'</p> + +<p>"Marie put back the telephone and carefully closed the opening. Now +she had a distinct mission to perform, and, throwing a scarf over her +head, she went out to the street. Marie was very bright of face and +very friendly with the German soldiers. No obstacle was placed in the +way of her going where she liked. That day she used her eyes and ears +to good advantage and they saw and heard many things. What especially +interested her was the massing of German troops in the forest to the +west of the village. She heard of this through a conversation between +two officers. There <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a>[176]</span> + +also was great activity behind the lines. There +the Germans were building entrenchments, which she could plainly see +from the windows of her home.</p> + +<p>"The child knew that what she had observed was important, but just how +important, of course, she could not know.</p> + +<p>"Promptly at ten o'clock that night, after the Padré had gone fast +asleep, Marie hastened to the cellar and again called over the +telephone. Captain Grivelet was quickly summoned.</p> + +<p>"'It is the little Marie speaking,' she called excitedly.</p> + +<p>"'My brave child,' answered the captain. 'I knew you would find the +way. We are defeated, but not for long, for the French are being +reinforced and are angry. Can you safely go out into the street +tomorrow and then let me know what they are doing?'</p> + +<p>"'I already have been out, monsieur le Capitaine, and I have seen.'</p> + +<p>"'I beg of you to be careful. You are in great peril. If the Boches +discover that you <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a>[177]</span> + +are in communication with us they will shoot you.'</p> + +<p>"'I fear them not. But I must hasten. Listen!' Marie then told the +captain all that she had learned, interrupted frequently by +exclamations of approval from the officer at the other end.</p> + +<p>"'Wait!' she called. 'Hold, for I hear movement above.'</p> + +<p>"A few minutes later Marie returned to the telephone. 'Down in the +middle of the village are many soldiers. I know not why they are +gathering there, but I think perhaps they may be going to shoot some +of our noble Frenchmen.'</p> + +<p>"'Down by the square?' questioned the captain.</p> + +<p>"'Yes.'</p> + +<p>"'Put away your telephone and go to the floor above. Watch the square +and you shall see what the French gunners can do. The people are in +their houses?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, monsieur, they dare not go out at night. It is forbidden.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a>[178]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"'Good! Do as I have directed, and go no more to the telephone until +tomorrow night at this time, unless something of importance develops, +then call for me. I shall leave orders to be summoned immediately.'</p> + +<p>"Not fully understanding what the captain was about to do, the child +hastened upstairs and, opening the door slightly, peered down the +street.</p> + +<p>"It was at this moment that a giant shell from a French battery +exploded fairly in the middle of the square, with a terrific shock and +roar. It was followed by several other heavy explosions. Then silence +settled over the night.</p> + +<p>"This silence, however, did not last for long. The forest in which so +many German troops were being massed was bombarded all through the +night, as were the entrenchments to the rear of the village where the +enemy was busily engaged in fortifying themselves.</p> + +<p>"The child shuddered. She was troubled.</p> + +<p>"'It is for France that I have done this,' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a>[179]</span> + +she said to comfort +herself. 'Already the Prussians have killed many here, and for what? +For nothing save that they are French. It is terrible.'</p> + +<p>"On the following day Marie picked up further information. She also +learned that the Germans had suffered heavily from the previous +night's bombardment, and that they were amazed at the exact +information possessed by the French.</p> + +<p>"Each night the child spoke with the French captain over the +telephone, and each night the French obtained information of great +value to them. Though Marie did not know it, the Germans had by this +time satisfied themselves that some one in the village was +communicating with the French forces, and a careful watch was being +kept on every inhabitant of the place. Marie, all ignorant of this, +continued to keep the French informed of the movements of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"One night, after a day of heavy fighting on both sides, during which +the Germans <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a>[180]</span> + +had been slowly pushed back, Marie was giving Captain +Grivelet her report of the operations on the German side for that day. +She had communicated everything down to the smallest detail and was +just replacing the telephone in its niche when she thought she heard a +sound behind her. Marie turned quickly.</p> + +<p>"The child's head grew dizzy; she nearly fainted with fright, for +there, gazing sternly at her, stood a Prussian officer.</p> + +<p>"'So! This is it?'</p> + +<p>"Marie did not answer. She could not.</p> + +<p>"'For this you shall be shot. Stand back. Give me that telephone!'</p> + +<p>"Snatching it from her hands he got the French headquarters, though he +did not know to whom he was speaking.</p> + +<p>"'Speaking to you is a Prussian major,' he said in French. 'He has +just discovered why the French have been so fully informed. The spy +who has thus informed you is the Padré's niece. She dies tonight!'</p> + +<p>"With that the major wrenched the telephone <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a>[181]</span> + +from its wires and ripped +the wires out, leaving the outside wires, that were underground, for +his engineers to destroy. Marie, eyes now flashing, was led from her +home and taken to the office of the general commanding the operations +there. Soon after her arrival her uncle came, in charge of two +soldiers. Then the examination began. Not one bit of information would +the girl give. At last the commanding officer turned to the Padré.</p> + +<p>"'It is my belief that you are responsible for this spying. It is not +my wish to shoot a Padré, but you shall be taken out and shot +immediately!'</p> + +<p>"'No, no, no!' cried Marie, now thoroughly aroused. 'He knows nothing +of what has been done. I swear it, monsieur! It is Marie who has +informed the French of what the hated Prussians were doing. I—'</p> + +<p>"'Ah! You admit it! It is well. Take her away. Take the Padré away +also, but keep them separated.'</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a>[182]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"Marie left the commander with head erect and eyes flashing. Her only +concern was for her uncle, whom she feared would be shot. She had no +doubts about herself Of course, they would shoot her and she gloried +in the thought that she was to die for France.</p> + +<p>"After her departure the Prussian general devoted several minutes to +deep thought.</p> + +<p>"'Of course, Herr General, she will be shot,' said the major who had +made the capture.</p> + +<p>"'No!' answered the commander, with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"'Not shot?' questioned the officer in amazement.</p> + +<p>"'No. She shall be sent to the camp at Metz and imprisoned for the +duration of the war. The Padré also shall be sent to the rear and held +during the rest of the war.'</p> + +<p>"'Herr General, may I ask why, when both should be executed without +delay?'</p> + +<p>"'Because, major, I dislike to put a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a>[183]</span> + +Padré to death, and further, I +am satisfied that the girl told the truth when she said that he knew +nothing of this affair. He is a simple-minded man. But the girl!' The +general shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman. 'She is keen as a new +saber.'</p> + +<p>"'And knowing well what she was doing she should be shot,' insisted +the major.</p> + +<p>"'I have a daughter of her age,' replied the general, slowly. 'This +child is so like her that I should feel like murdering my own were I +to order her shot. Major, I cannot do it. See that my orders are +carried out. I shall explain my action in this matter to my superiors +for their approval.'</p> + +<p>"That ended it. It was an unusual thing for a Prussian to do and +perhaps the only instance in the war where so much human sympathy was +shown to a spy. Marie was taken to the prison at Metz, where she was +kept from that time on. She suffered great hardships. There was little +food and her treatment was harsh, so that her days were a misery and +her nights a nightmare.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a>[184]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"A long time elapsed ere Captain Grivelet learned, through the Red +Cross, what had become of the child. His sorrow had been keen, for he +believed that she had been executed. The Padré was still in a prison +camp the last I heard of the case. I hope the beautiful little patriot +and her uncle may be reunited some day. But Marie has served her +country nobly and if she ever comes back she will be splendidly +rewarded by her government," said the captain, in conclusion.</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a>[185]</span></p> + +<h3>CONCLUSION</h3> + + +<p>"My dear children," said Captain Favor, "there are not many more +things to tell you. I knew of one brave little French lad who was +mortally wounded, when the Germans took the town in which he lived and +shot many of the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>"The little fellow I refer to refused the aid of the German surgeon, +declaring that he preferred to die rather than to accept the aid of a +hated Prussian.</p> + +<p>"Another child lost his life for his refusal to tell a German +commander in which direction a detachment of French troops had gone. +He did this with full knowledge of what would happen to him if he +refused this information. Death were preferable to betraying his own +people.</p><p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a>[186]</span> + +</p> + +<p>"The full story of the deeds of heroism of the children of France +never will be fully told. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of +incidents such as I have described to you, that have occurred over +there.</p> + +<p>"These deeds, this spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice should be a +great lesson to us in America, whether we be young or old. You +children who are growing up have a grave responsibility to help your +fellows make patriotism a part of their lives. I know you will do, +with the lesson of the French children in mind, all you can. America +has need of patriotism, and she will have need of more in the years to +come. Start something, boys and girls, and keep the fires of +patriotism burning."</p> + +<p>"We will!" cried the children, with Joe Funk's voice heard above all +the rest.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps one of these days I shall have some other stories to tell +you. I think I have told you enough stories to last for some time. I +have told you only such little stories as I know to be true, and here +we will stop. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a>[187]</span> + +Come in to see me any time you feel like it. I shall go +to New York in a few days to see a big, big surgeon who thinks perhaps +he may put my leg in shape so that I shall walk as well as ever."</p> + +<p>"Then, then," said Joe, "I'll bet that you will be going back to the +army."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet you win, Joe," answered the captain, laughingly. "For the +present, au revoir."</p> + +<p class="center"> </p> +<p class="center"><b><span class="smcap">The End</span></b></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children of France, by Ruth Royce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 16437-h.htm or 16437-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/4/3/16437/ + +Produced by Michelle Croyle, Sankar Viswanathan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Children of France + A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice of + Youthful Patriots of France During the Great War + +Author: Ruth Royce + +Release Date: August 4, 2005 [EBook #16437] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Michelle Croyle, Sankar Viswanathan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: "I OUGHT TO DUMP YOU OUT."] + + + + THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE + + A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice + of Youthful Patriots of France During + the Great War + + + + By + + RUTH ROYCE + + + + + + + + + PHILADELPHIA + HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + + 1918 + + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + +I. THEIR FIRST HERO + +II. REMI THE BRAVE + +III. THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE + +IV. FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS + +V. THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE + +VI. A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE + +VII. SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT + +VIII. THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER + +IX. GENE AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS + +X. A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY + +XI. A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD + +XII. THE HERO OF THE GUNS + +XIII. MARIE THE COURAGEOUS + +XIV. CONCLUSION + + + + + +AUTHOR'S NOTE + + +While the Author cannot personally vouch for the stories related in +this volume, she has full confidence in the sources of her +information--men who have seen and heard on the battlefields of +France, and who have related to her these and many other like +incidents illustrating the heroism of the Children of France. Some of +the stories the relators have learned through personal observation, +while others have come to them indirectly. The author, therefore, +believes each story set down here to be authentic, and so offers them +to the liberty-loving boys and girls of America. + +THE AUTHOR + + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +The story of the heroism of the Children of France never will be fully +told. Many of these little patriots have suffered the supreme penalty +for their devotion to their country, leaving neither track nor trace +of themselves. That they have disappeared is all that is known of +them, and thus the stories of their deeds of valor have died with +them. + +In no other period of the world's history have there been so many +instances of self-sacrificing patriotism on the part of children as +have come from France during the great war. Through all such stories +as have come to light, there runs a spirit of heroism that is sublime. +Such stories should and will prove an inspiration to every boy and +girl of America and surely will lead them up to a more perfect manhood +and womanhood. + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +In this little volume are set down the stories of many devoted little +French boys and girls, some of whom have offered their lives for their +country, others of whom have passed through perils that would try the +strongest and bravest of men, and yet lived to be honored by a +grateful government for their deeds of heroism. How Remi the Brave, a +lad of ten, won the Cross of War; the story of Little Mathilde who +saved the French garrison from the Uhlan raiders; Marie the +Courageous, who remained at home when the Germans captured the town in +which she lived, and kept the French informed, knowing that if caught +she would surely be shot as a spy; how the Hero of the Guns saved the +day by working the machine guns when nearly all their crews were dead +or wounded; the story of the Little Soldier of Mercy who, though a +timid lad, forgot his fears, and working under fire saved the life of +many a wounded man; how Little Gene locked the Bavarian Dragoons in +the cellar of her home and captured the lot of them, are a few of the +thrilling tales of the patriotism and heroism of the Children of +France that form one of the most fascinating chapters in the history +of the great world war. They will make the heart of every boy and girl +beat faster, they will grip the heartstrings of all who read and bring +them to a better realization of their duty to their Flag and to their +Country. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THEIR FIRST HERO + + +Before the "Squire's" son went away to war, the neighborhood children +knew him only by sight and by hearing their parents speak of him as +the son of "the richest man in Titusville," who never had done a day's +work in his life. + +Perhaps the parents were not quite right in this, for, even if Robert +Favor had not gone out in the fields to labor, he had graduated from +high school and college with high honors. He never spoke to the +village children nor noticed them, and was not, as a result, very +popular with the young people of his home town. The neighbors said +this was all on account of his bringing up. + +It was therefore a surprise to them when, at the beginning of the +great war, after Germany swept over Belgium, Robert Favor hurried to +Europe. It was later learned that he had joined what is known as the +"Foreign Legion" of the French Army. Titusville next heard that he had +been made a lieutenant for heroic conduct under fire. But Titusville +did not believe it; it said no Favor ever did anything but run away in +such circumstances. But they believed it when, later on, they read in +the newspapers how Lieutenant Favor had sprung out of the trenches and +ran to the rescue of a wounded private soldier who had lain in a shell +hole in No Man's Land since the night before. + +The village swelled with pride and the eyes of the children grew wide +with wonder as they listened to the story of the heroism of the +Squire's son. But this was as nothing to what occurred later. "Bob" +Favor was brought home one day to the house on the hill, pale and +weak from wounds received in battle. + +Spring was at hand, and as soon as he was able, Captain Favor--you see +he had again been promoted--was taken out on the lawn where, in his +wheel chair he rested in the warm sunshine. The bright red top of his +gray-blue cap, and the flash of the medal on his breast excited the +wonder of the children, who pressed their faces against the high iron +fence and gazed in awe. It was the first real hero any of them ever +had seen. + +Finally, chancing to look their way, the Captain smiled and waved a +friendly hand. A little girl clapped her hands, others started to +cheer and a little man of ten dragged an American flag from his pocket +and waved it. The Captain beckoned to the children. + +"Come in, folks," he called. "I wish some one to talk to me and make +me laugh. Are you coming?" + +They were. The children started, at first hesitatingly, then with more +confidence, led by the boy with the American flag, which he was waving +bravely now. + +"What's your name?" demanded the Captain. + +"Joe Funk, sir." + +The Captain laughed. "No boy so patriotic as you are should have a +name like that," he said. "We all are going to be great friends, I am +sure, and when I get this leg, that a German shell nearly blew off, in +working order again, we shall have some real sport and I'll teach you +all how to be soldiers. Just now I cannot do much of anything." + +"Yes, you can," interrupted Joe. "You can tell us how you rescued the +soldier when the Germans were shooting at you and--" + +"Master Joseph," answered the Captain gravely, "a real soldier never +brags about himself; but what you say does give me an idea. How would +you like to have me tell you about the brave little children of +France?" + +"Well, I'd rather hear about how you killed the Germans, lots of 'em; +I want to hear about battles and dead men and--" + +"We shall speak of the children first, and I will begin right now. Let +me see. Ah! I have it. Sit down on the grass, all of you, and be +comfortable. Be quiet until I finish the story, then ask what +questions you wish. Now listen!" + + + + +CHAPTER II + +REMI THE BRAVE + + +"He was a little French peasant lad, this boy Remi that I shall tell +you about, and had just passed his tenth birthday when the Germans +invaded his beloved country," began the Captain. + +"Remi continued on at school in spite of the excitement about him, for +everyone was talking about the war, but his heart was with the +soldiers whom he knew were marching forth in thousands to meet the +enemy. One day his father was called to the colors and the child was +left in the care of an uncle. + +"Now, this uncle belonged to a military organization called the +Territorials, something like our National Guard, and a few weeks later +they also were called to march forth and join the French Army. Remi +was to be left in the care of the neighbors. That was the plan made by +the uncle. The little French lad, however, had his own ideas about +that, but kept his plans to himself. He now forgot all about going to +school, and spent his time watching his uncle's comrades +drill--watched until he knew every command, every evolution so well +that he himself could have drilled the company of his uncle. + +"As you children perhaps already have surmised, it was Remi's plan to +go to war and fight for his country. The order for the Territorials to +move came suddenly, as such orders most always do. They came while the +lad was having a supper of black bread and cheese with a friendly +housewife of the neighborhood. The Territorials were to march within +an hour. + +"Remi's eyes grew bright. He stowed what was left of his meager supper +into his blouse and strolled out. Once clear of the house, he ran +swiftly to the edge of the village, and from the end of a hollow log +drew forth a canvas bag. He inspected the contents, which included a +knife, some string, a clean pair of stockings and one change of +underwear. He had picked up an old pack discarded by a soldier, and +made it his own, secreting it for just such a moment as this. The +child stowed his belongings back in the pack, added the cheese and +bread, and, swinging the pack over his shoulder, started at a brisk +trot for the gathering place of the Territorials. The men of his +uncle's company already had reached the scene, loaded down with +equipment, rifles brightly polished, looking very warlike with their +outfits and tin derbies--" + +"What's a tin derby?" interjected Joe Funk. + +"There, you have interrupted me," rebuked the Captain. "Remember, a +soldier's first duty is to obey orders. A tin derby is a steel helmet +or hat which is used as a protection against the splinters thrown off +from an exploding shell. Where was I?" + +"In a tin derby, sir," reminded Joe Funk. + +"Little Remi," continued the Captain, "kept in the background and, in +the excitement of the moment attracted no attention. Shortly after his +arrival the Territorials fell into line and started away. Remi melted +away in the darkness, and might have been observed legging it across a +field in a short cut to a point where he knew the soldiers would pass. +And, after they had marched by he fell in at a safe distance behind +and trudged along on his way to war. + +"Daylight came; the men halted for breakfast, and the boy, secreting +himself by the roadside, munched his bread and cheese and waited for +the soldiers to resume the march. All day long he followed them as +closely as he dared, but early in the second evening he made bold to +draw up to the rear rank and plodded along behind it until they halted +for rest. Suddenly the lad felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He found +his uncle frowning down upon him. + +"'What are you doing here?' demanded the uncle severely. 'Home with +you as fast as you can go!' + +"'But, uncle, I wish to be a soldier. I am little but I am strong. +See, I have marched a day and a night and you, my uncle, are weary, +while Remi is still fresh as the morning flowers.' + +"'Yes, but what can you do in the Army, my Remi?' + +"'I can fight,' answered the child simply, whereat the uncle shrugged +his shoulders in token of surrender. + +"At first the officers were for sending the lad home, but he was +making himself so useful in many little ways, and his patriotism was +so deep and true that he finally was permitted to remain. + +"What most disturbed Remi was that he had no rifle. The soldiers +laughed at him when he demanded one, so he determined to get one for +himself at the first opportunity. + +"By this time they were well within sound of the big guns. The sound +reminded him of a distant thunderstorm. It grew louder as the hours +passed and the men neared the front. All understood what the sound +meant. To Remi that distant roar was the sweetest music he ever had +heard. + +"The Territorials finally were halted in a shell-torn village for a +brief rest. Men were urgently needed at the front, and Remi's +companions soon entered a communicating trench that began under a +house in the village, and started for the firing line, a short +distance from the German trenches. Remi was sternly ordered to remain +behind. This order nearly broke his heart and, when he more fully +realized that he had been left behind, he sat down and gave way to, +bitter tears. + +"A peculiar whistling sound in the air suddenly attracted his +attention. The strange sound grew louder. He stood up. Then, with a +mighty crash and roar, the earth about him rose up and darkness +overwhelmed him. A German shell had landed fairly in the village +street hard by and half buried the child in the wreckage. Remi, +bruised and with clothing torn, dug himself out practically unharmed. +He shook his fist in the direction of the German lines. + +"'The Boches!' he breathed, clenching both fists. 'I _must_ have a +rifle. Having none, I am good for nothing.' + +"For a few moments he stood observing the stretcher men gathering up +those who had been wounded in the explosion. He did not quail at sight +of the maimed forms before him--he was unafraid, but his childish face +drew down into hard lines that made him look years older. He knew now +that he must join his company and fight for France. After what he had +seen nothing should hold him back. Perhaps once at the front he might +find a gun. Remi tried to enter the communicating trench, but was +stopped by a sentry. He was still undaunted. It was the odor of +cooking that finally led to the solution of his problem. He followed +his nose, as the saying goes, because he was hungry. He found the +cooks at work, as he learned, preparing food to be carried to the men +in the front-line trench. The boy promptly offered his services to +help carry in the food. You see, Remi used his head. + +"'What nursery do you belong to?' jeered the mess sergeant. + +"'Thirty-first Territorials, Company C,' answered the lad promptly, +his quick reply bringing a laugh in which the mess sergeant joined +heartily. + +"'All right, take a load of coffee and follow the leader, but if you +spill so much as a drop of it you'll face a firing squad at daybreak.' + +"Two heavy containers filled with hot coffee, suspended from a yoke +that fitted over the shoulders, were placed on the lad. The soldiers +expected to see him collapse under the heavy load, but Remi stood up +very straight and awaited the command to go forward. He was stronger +than they thought he was. The journey through the dark trenches was a +long one, made thrilling by the Germans, who were trying to drop +shells into them as the food was coming up to the front line. The +'chow' carriers, however, arrived safely at Company C's station and +Remi had every drop of coffee that he had started out with. + +"'Well, here I am,' he announced loudly. 'Remi wants a gun, he wants +it right away, and then he wants to see a Boche.' + +"'You'll see him sooner than you expect if you don't lower your +voice,' rebuked a soldier. + +"At that moment a star-shell shot high up into the air and, bursting, +flooded the space between the French and German lines with a brilliant +light. Remi peered over the top of the parapet and across the 'No +Man's Land' of which he had so often heard, over its barbed-wire +entanglements and on to the parapets of the German trenches. + +"'Why do they do that?' he questioned. + +"'To see if any of our patrols are out there nosing about. You see, we +send out night patrols to find out what the enemy is doing,' he was +told. + +"'I, too, shall be a night patrol,' declared the lad confidently. + +"Unmindful of the desperate chance he was taking, Remi, watching his +opportunity, slipped over the top of the French trench and began +crawling toward the enemy lines. He did not know where the openings in +the wire entanglements were located, but, being small, he was able to +crawl under. Now and then he saw other figures slinking about out +there, but he took good care that they should not see him, and, when +another star shell was fired, he flattened himself on the ground, face +downward, and thus avoided detection. So intent was he, however, in +watching for enemy patrols that he actually bumped into the parapet of +the German trench before he knew it. The boy flattened himself on the +ground and listened. He heard low-toned conversation mingled with +German snores in the trench, and sniffed contemptuously. Raising a +hand to pull himself up to the top of the sandbags, he struck +something sharp. It was the point of a bayonet. Remi's hand crept +cautiously along and the lad barely escaped an exclamation, for here, +right in his hand, was a German rifle aimed toward his own lines, +ready to be fired at his beloved French comrades. + +"Cautiously drawing the weapon over the parapet, he caressed it +affectionately, then started to crawl back toward his own lines with +his precious find. + +"'At last Remi has a rifle, and none shall take it from him,' he +muttered triumphantly. 'See what I have!' he cried after having been +challenged and hauled into his own trench. 'I took it from the +thickheads over there. I--' He said no more, for his comrades were +hugging him delightedly. They hurried the child off to the captain of +his company, who, after listening to the story, embraced Remi. + +"'Ah, you are a true Frenchman,' cried the officer. 'Keep +the gun and use it for our beloved France.' + +"'I will,' promised Remi solemnly. + +"Two nights later he stole out and fetched back five more German +rifles. By this time the officers began to realize that the boy must +be taken seriously. From that night on almost every night found the +intrepid lad skulking about over 'No Man's Land,' many times with the +enemy's machine gun fire snapping about his ears, but to which he gave +not the slightest heed. Remi truly seemed to bear a charmed life. + +"One night after his company had returned to the front-line trench, +after a night's rest in 'billets,' he went out with the patrol, as +usual, but with a new plan in mind. By now he knew the arrangement of +the German trenches almost as well as did the men who occupied them. +There were ten in the patrol, and so great was the confidence of the +men in him that they virtually permitted Remi to act as their leader. +The patrol carried no rifles, only revolvers and stout clubs, like +policemen's night sticks. When the lad ordered the men to secret +themselves in a shell crater, they obeyed willingly. + +"Remi reached the German trenches, along which he crept with ears and +eyes on the alert. + +"'Who goes!' came a sharp, low-spoken command in German. At that +instant a German rose from the ground, where he had been crouching, +apparently watching the crawling figure of the little Frenchman. Remi +rose at the same time, a Boche bayonet pressing against his stomach. + +"When the German sentinel discovered that the 'man' confronting him +was only a child, he threw back his head and laughed silently, his +bulky form shaking with merriment. That laugh cost the Boche his +liberty. Like a flash little Remi swept the bayonet aside and jerked +the rifle from the sentry's hands. He sprang back and pointed the +rifle at his amazed adversary. + +"'Now march!' he commanded in a low, sharp tone. Straight to the shell +crater the little Frenchman drove his prisoner, thence sent the +captive to the French trenches with an escort. He then returned to the +German trench. As he thought it over the situation became clear to +him. The Germans had placed the sentry outside the trench to keep +watch while they slept, the night being a quiet one, neither side +having fired a shot since sundown. Knowing exactly what he wished to +do, the boy began cautiously removing the rifles from the parapet, +placing them on the ground in front of the trench. He accomplished his +purpose without disturbing the snores of the Boches. + +"Having secured the enemy's rifles, Remi crept back to the shell hole, +where his comrades were anxiously awaiting his return. + +"'Come,' he urged. 'We shall now capture the stupid fellows. They +sleep, the thickheads. Their rifles I have taken, their heads our +clubs shall find. All shall have the big headache when we have +finished with them.' + +"The men of the patrol were amazed. They scrambled from the shell +hole, Remi already having explained what he proposed to do, ready and +eager for action. With the child in the lead they crept up to the +German trench. The Boches slept on, not a man was awake there. The +patrol spread out a little and gripped their clubs, for to use +revolvers would be to arouse the whole German line and start their +rifles, machine guns and artillery all going. + +"'Now!' cried the little leader. + +"The patrol sprang into the trench, Remi leading, encouraging his men +as they fought their way along with their stout clubs, the boy having +lost his when he slipped into the trench. He could plainly hear the +whacks of the clubs as the patrol brought them down on the heads of +the enemy, mingled with German growls and pleas for mercy, all of +which brought joy to the soul of little Remi. + +"'Kamerad! Kamerad!' came cries along the length of the trench. This, +you children understand, is what the Boches say when they have had +enough. + +"'Stop their noise! They'll have their whole army down on us. Over the +top and home with them as fast as you can. Gather up the rifles and +take them in,'" commanded the boy. + +Prodded by the handy clubs, such of the Germans as had survived the +terrible beating willingly clambered over the top and were quietly +driven across 'No Man's Land' to the French trenches. Seventy-five +prisoners were taken in that raid, planned and executed by the +fearless little French boy. + +[Illustration: "NOW MARCH!" HE COMMANDED.] + +"The amazement of his comrades in Company C was beyond the power of +words to express. What was better still, the raid was productive of +much more than prisoners and rifles. It proved to be the most +important raid so far made on that sector, for information was +obtained from the prisoners that proved of great value to the French +army. + +"A few days later the Territorials went back to their billets for +rest. On the morning following their arrival there, Company C was +called out with many other troops for review. Remi thought this was a +queer thing to do. He was puzzled and startled when his name was +called out as he stood in a rear rank. He was ordered to report to the +colonel of the regiment, who stood with his aides facing the lines of +soldiers, the latter at attention now. The heart of the little +soldier, for once, was filled with fear. He felt certain that the +colonel was going to send him home. + +"Approaching the stern-looking officer, Remi halted, came stiffly to +attention and saluted with precision. The colonel gravely answered the +little fellow's salute. Remi looked very small and childish beside the +commanding figure of his colonel, and he was very much embarrassed at +being so singled out. + +"'Remi, soldier of France, the Army and your country salute you,' +began the colonel. 'The hearts of both are filled with pride at your +brave deeds. You are an honor to the tri-color of our beloved France, +under the folds of which you now are standing. Were it possible for me +to do so I should make you no less than a captain. Your lack of years +puts such a reward beyond my power to give. I can, however, and I am +authorized so to do, to confer upon you the cross of war, given only +to men of proved heroism. Remi, I decorate you with this cross,' said +the colonel, stepping forward and pinning the medal to the little +soldier's breast, his aides standing at attention during the +impressive ceremony. 'Wear it with honor, my son, for our beloved +country.' + +"The colonel then kissed the child on both cheeks. + +"And Remi the bold, very pale and trembling, stammered his thanks, sat +down heavily, and, burying his face in his hands, burst into tears." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE HEROINE OF FORT MONTERE + + +"I've been thinking about that boy Remi," said Joe Funk next day when +the children had gathered on the lawn to listen to another story. "Of +course, I know he was a hero, but wasn't he something of a baby to sit +down and cry like that?" + +"Are you a baby, Joe?" + +"'Course I'm not." + +"Very good. You were wiping a tear out of the corner of one eye when I +finished the story," returned Captain Favor dryly. + +"I--I guess you are right, sir. Please tell us another one like it." + +"Surely; but this one will be about a little French heroine named +Mathilde. Mathilde was of nearly the same age as Remi, very diffident, +like yourself." Joe blushed and hung his head. "She was as timid as +she was diffident, but at heart she was a heroic little French girl. +They are all like Remi and Mathilde over there. + +"This little woman lived in a French garrison town. Not more than two +hundred soldiers were stationed there, all the others being at the +front fighting the Germans. Quite near the village was an important +fort, situated on the River Meuse. It was called Fort Montere and was +very carefully guarded by these soldiers. + +"The fort was situated about a mile from the village on a rise of +ground. It was the custom of the soldiers there to spend a good part +of their days in the village, never dreaming that they were in the +slightest danger, but the Germans were nearer than they thought. + +"One night--it was not far from morning, then--two companies of +mounted Germans rode up to the sleeping village, which they +surrounded. The commanding officer sent an aide to the mayor, ordering +him to see to it that not a person left his home on pain of instant +death. The mayor refused to betray his people or the soldiers on the +hill. The aide shot him then and there. That was nothing new for a +German officer to do. Many worse acts than that have they committed. I +know, for I have fought them, and I have seen many things. The people +were then notified that disobedience meant further that the village +would be burned. + +"Not one of the villagers was bold enough to try to warn the French +garrison of the peril that awaited them, for it was plain that the +Germans were planning to lay in wait for the Frenchmen when they came +to the village on the following morning. + +"Soon German soldiers began entering the houses, one soldier to each +house, in which he took his station, cowering the occupants by +terrible threats. + +"Little Mathilde, when she heard the soldier assigned to their home +bang on the door with the butt of his rifle, fled to the kitchen, +where she stood listening and watching. She nearly cried out when the +soldier thrust the bayonet of his rifle at her father, and all the +resentment of her race at such injustice rose up within her. + +"'I shall save them,' she breathed. + +"Mathilde slipped out through the kitchen door into the walled garden, +and, climbing the wall, peered over. She could see German horsemen and +German infantrymen everywhere, the moonlight flashing on their helmets +and rifles as they moved rapidly about. How she should be able to get +over the wall without discovery she did not know. A heavy black cloud +at this moment drifted across the sky, hiding the face of the moon for +a few moments, and when the cloud had passed Mathilde was no longer on +the garden wall. She lay prone on the ground in a field on the +opposite side of the wall. Horsemen were all about her. Now and then a +horse narrowly missed stepping on her, and those Uhlans must have +wondered that night why their horses were so skittish. + +"Every time she saw an opening the little heroine would dart ahead; +each time a cloud passed between earth and moon she gained a little +distance. Once a Uhlan's horse jumped clear over her and kicked +viciously at her after it had landed on its feet. You see, the grass +in the fields was high, there being no men to cut it. Had it not been +for the grass, Mathilde never could have accomplished what she did. + +"At last she was clear of them, and then how she did run; she fairly +flew up the hill, stopping only when a French sentry halted her to +demand what she wanted. + +"'I would speak with your captain,' panted Mathilde. + +"The sentry laughed. + +"'Think you my captain sits awake all night that he may receive calls +from the villagers?' he demanded. + +"'But,' begged the girl, 'the Uhlans have come. They are even now in +the houses that they may come out and shoot you down when you go to +the village tomorrow.' + +"'You are dreaming, my pretty miss. Go back to your sleep. It is a +nightmare you are telling me. Return and dream no more.' + +"Mathilde begged and pleaded, to the great amusement of the sentry. +The child grew angry. She stamped and raged. Then she adopted a new +plan. Throwing herself on the ground the little girl rolled and +screamed and screamed. + +"'Stop it! You'll wake the garrison,' he commanded. + +"'That is what Mathilde is trying to do,' answered the girl, then +screamed louder than ever, and the sentry turned out the corporal's +guard. The corporal sent a messenger to the village to see if the +child was right. + +"'If you believe me not, look yonder in the valley,' exclaimed the +girl, impatiently. 'What see you?' + +"'Nothing. Wait! I see the moonlight glistening on something, I should +say on a tin sign on a tree.' + +"Mathilde laughed ironically. 'It is indeed a sign, a bad sign, +monsieur Corporal. What you see is the moonlight reflected on the +helmet of a German Uhlan. Ha! Now believe you the little Mathilde?' + +"'Call the captain,' commanded the corporal. + +"The commanding officer came hurrying out. He questioned the child and +ere he had finished the messenger came running back. + +"'The Germans are in force in the village,' cried the messenger. 'They +hide in the houses and their sentries guard the approaches to the +village. + +"'Summon the garrison to arms!' commanded the captain. 'You are a +noble child, Mathilde.' + +"While a small force was left to guard the fort the others of the +garrison went down and surrounded the village. They surprised and +captured the sentries without firing a shot. These prisoners were +taken to the fort and locked up, after which the French in the village +fired a volley into the air. As they expected, the Prussians guarding +the houses rushed out and began shooting, but coming from the lighted +houses into the darkness of the early morning, their eyes were not +keen and only one volley from the French was necessary to fill the +Germans with fear. The Germans very soon laid down their arms and +surrendered. While some of the invaders were wounded, no one was +killed. The entire German force was captured and marched, humiliated, +to the fort on the hill. + +"Next day, when the villagers came to a realization of what Mathilde +had done, a purse was made up, everyone giving of his little savings. +This purse was presented to the child by the captain, in the presence +of all his officers and many of his soldiers. + +"Mathilde's eyes were bright. She held the bag of money in her arms +for a moment, then, kissing it, placed it in the hands of the captain. + +"'And I, monsieur le Capitaine, give it to our beloved France. She +needs it more than does the Little Mathilde, and with it Mathilde +sends her love to the brave poilus of her beautiful France.'" + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +FRANCOIS OUTWITS THE PRUSSIANS + + +"This morning I shall tell you what little Francois did to the +Germans, as well as what the Germans did to Francois," began Captain +Favor at a following sitting on the lawn. "Joe, you will be thrilled +when you hear the story of the desperate chances this little French +boy of twelve took for his country. + +"He, like all of his youthful friends, was a noble fellow and a hero, +quick-witted and very bright. You would soon learn, were you in +France, how keen and clever these French children are. Their wits have +been greatly sharpened since the war began. But to our story--. + +"The Prussians had reached a point on the west bank of the River +R----, a narrow stream some distance back and to the left of the +battle front. On the right side of the river, a few miles from it, was +the little village in which Francois lived. A detachment of French +infantry had arrived at the town, having come there on word that the +Germans were threatening the village. + +"'Where are the Prussians?' demanded the captain of the mayor. He was +eager to get at them. + +"'On the other side of the river. Other French detachments have driven +them away twice, but each time the Boches return. We have not seen +them here in several days now,' the mayor informed him. + +"'I must know their exact location and the size of their force. I +cannot send one of my own soldiers. Have you a man in the village who +can pass the lines and obtain the information I seek?' + +"'I fear there are none, sir,' replied the mayor. + +"Francis, who had been an eager listener to this conversation, +stepped forward at this juncture. + +"'I will go, monsieur le Capitaine,' he said. + +"'Ah! You know where they are?' + +"'No, sir, but I know the country for many miles.' + +"'But the Germans will catch you, and if they do you will be shot. I +cannot permit one so young as you are to sacrifice himself.' + +"Francois smiled. 'I have a grandmother living in the other village +and she is sick. Should a lad not be permitted to visit his +grandmother who is ill?' he asked. + +"The French captain saw the point and smiled. 'Go, then, if you will, +but be careful. If you succeed you truly will be a hero, my lad.' + +"'Francois will find the Boches,' was the boy's confident reply. + +"Without waiting for the captain to change his mind the lad set out +and was soon out of sight of the village. Reaching the river, he +crept along the bank until he found the bridge he was looking for. +Over this he crawled on hands and knees, and, reaching the other side +of the river, he dodged along until he came to the village where the +Prussians were supposed to be. Francois halted at a farmhouse where he +was known. The farmer's wife was feeding the pigs, and she did not see +him until he said: + +"'Where are the Boches?' + +"'Francois! What do you here?' she exclaimed. + +"'I come to see my grandmother. But I see none of the enemy.' + +"'Unhappy child, there are thousands of them over yonder. Do not go +on, I beg of you. You surely will be shot.' + +"'I go to see my grandmother. Good day, madame.' Francois plodded on +across the fields in the direction indicated by the farmer's wife. +Suddenly he saw a troop of Prussian cavalry approaching him at a +gallop. + +"'Halt!' commanded the captain of the troop when they drew up near the +boy. 'What do you here?' + +"'Walking, sir. I go to see my grandmother who is ill.' + +"The Prussian laughed. 'Do you not know that the villagers have been +ordered to remain at home and that he who disobeys this order will be +shot?' questioned the commander, sternly. + +"'Ah, sir, that is well for the grown men and women, but for children +who go to see their sick grandmothers--' + +"'The order is for all. About face! March! You will be shot for your +disobedience.' + +"'But I must see my grandmother,' insisted the lad. 'She is ill, I +tell you.' + +"Two soldiers swung him about and marched him to their camp. As he +neared the camp he saw many cannon and machine guns, large numbers of +cavalrymen and infantry. He estimated as best he could how many of +them there were. He saw, too, that the cannon were being placed so +their muzzles pointed toward the river. Francois nodded wisely. + +"'It is to shoot over to our side of the river,' he said to himself. +'One would not think they could shoot so far as our village. But they +shall find our fine French cannon can shoot farther.' + +"His reflections were broken in upon rudely when he was thrust into +what proved to be the guardhouse. In reality he was _thrown_ in by the +two soldiers who had picked him up and sent him sprawling on the +floor. 'What less could one expect from a Boche?' he muttered. For +aught he knew, he soon would get worse. A sentry was posted at the +door and Francois was informed that if he tried to escape he would be +shot then and there. + +"The guard house also was used to store equipment in. There were, as +he observed, many rifles stacked in rows and heaps of knapsacks, +helmets and blankets. The only light in the cell-like room into which +he had been thrust came in through a narrow window high up and far +out of his reach, a window small like those in a prison cell. + +"It was not a pleasant situation in which little Francois found +himself, but what fears he had were for the people of his village and +the French troops there. He already had used his eyes to good +advantage, and now had a very clear idea of the size of the German +force and its equipment. 'I shall make my escape and hasten back to +tell our brave captain what I have seen,' he promised himself. + +"Escape, however, was not so easy. The window was too high by several +feet for him to reach and to go out through the door meant that he +surely would be shot or bayoneted. His bright little eyes swept the +room and instantly he saw a way of escape. + +"'The bags!' he exclaimed, and straight-way began piling the knapsacks +and blankets underneath the window. The pile grew slowly. At last it +was high enough to permit the boy to reach the window sill with his +finger tips by standing on tip-toe on the pile he had built up. + +"He drew himself up easily, for Francois was strong, and peered out. + +"'It is well that Francois is little, for the window is small even for +a dog to squeeze through,' he muttered. + +"Peering out to see what lay before him, he saw a garden in the rear +of the building and beyond that fields with hedges and bushes, but +there was not a soldier in sight on that side. The Prussians were busy +on the other side of the building preparing for action. + +"'All is well,' said Francois. A new idea came to him. He would take a +German rifle and helmet with him as souvenirs and to prove to the +French captain that Francois really had been in the camp of the +Prussians. He helped himself to a rifle and a helmet, both of which he +threw out into the garden. After a keen, sweeping glance about, the +boy crawled out head first and let himself go. Francois nearly broke +his neck in the fall to the ground, landing as he did on his head and +shoulders. For a moment he lay where he had fallen, then staggered to +his feet, dizzy and a little weak from the jolt. He started away +without, as yet, having a clear idea as to which was the right +direction for him to take. The boy dodged from bush to bush and, +reaching a hedge, bored his way through it and skulked along the other +side of it, dragging the rifle behind him, the German helmet tightly +clutched under one arm. + +"'Where am I? Ah! The village is to the left. I must turn back and +start again,' he decided. This was risky, but there seemed no other +course for him to follow. Retracing his steps for some distance he +finally struck off in the right direction. When he came in sight of +the stream he discovered that the bridge was so far away that he could +not hope to reach it without being discovered. + +"'But Francois can swim,' he told himself. 'He shall yet fool the +Prussians. Look out! There they go!' German soldiers already were +running toward the bridge, and he knew that his escape had been +discovered. He believed, however, that he was far enough away so they +would not see him. + +"Francois swung the rifle over his shoulder and secured it there by +its carrying strap, jammed the helmet tightly over his head and rolled +down the bank into the river. The water was warm and the child was +full of joy that he had outwitted his captors. + +"Fortunately the river was not wide at this point, and on the opposite +side was plenty of cover in the way of trees and bushes. But discovery +came at about the time he reached the middle of the river. The sun, +reflected from his bright metal helmet, had attracted the attention of +the soldiers. A bullet splashed in the water to the right of him. + +"'Huh!' he grunted. 'The Boches cannot shoot. Francois could shoot as +good as that with his eyes shut. Bah! Shoot again.' O-u-c-h! A bullet +had gone through the helmet, so low that it raked the top of his head. +It felt like a red-hot iron being drawn across the top of his head, +and made his head swim dizzily. + +"'It was a chance shot,' observed the boy. 'No Boche could shoot so +true on purpose. I shall yet fool them.' + +"Reaching the opposite shore he ran up the bank, not trying to conceal +himself there. A bullet struck him in the shoulder, spun him around +and laid him flat on the ground. He was on his feet almost instantly, +shaking a fist at the Germans. + +"'Shoot! I fear not your bullets,' he shouted. The boy then ran +skulking from shrub to shrub until he reached the forest, into which +he dashed. Both wounds were by now bleeding freely and his face was +covered with blood from the scalp wound. He dashed on, not wholly +certain of his direction, but, reaching the other side of the forest, +found himself not far out of his way. From then on he trotted, keeping +himself up by sheer pluck, for he was getting weak. + +"Francois saw nothing more of the enemy, and finally he staggered into +his village. A sentry, recognizing the German helmet, halted him some +distance away, and after questioning him sent the lad to the captain. + +"'Here, monsieur le Capitaine, see what I have taken from the Boches,' +he cried, upon espying the commander. 'Thick-heads, all of them! It is +easy to fool the Boches.' + +"'But, my boy, you are wounded. What has happened?' demanded the +captain. + +"'It is nothing; it was an accident. The Prussians hit me by mistake.' + +"The officer called a surgeon and while the lad's wounds were being +dressed Francois related to the captain all that he had seen in the +Prussian camp. + +"'And they plan to come here soon,' he added. + +"'What makes you think that?' asked the commander. + +"'Because they have made the villagers stay in their homes. For what +reason other than that do they wish to keep the villagers in? Again, +they are fast making preparations to go into battle!' + +"'You are a clever boy and a brave one,' cried the captain, +enthusiastically. 'You may keep the rifle. You will be proud some day +that you own it.' + +"'I am proud now, monsieur le Capitaine, but I shall be more proud +after you have whipped the Boches.' + +"'That is good, but what can we do to reward you?' + +"'Whip them quickly, that I may go to see my sick grandmother. I am +much put out, sir, that I did not see her.' + +"There was loud laughter at this, and at the earnest way in which it +was said, but Francois never changed the sober expression of his face. + +"'It shall be done. Reinforcements are coming and early this evening +we shall go out to meet the Prussians. I promise you that you shall +soon see your grandmother, Francois.' And he did, for, acting upon his +information, the French forces were enabled to inflict heavy losses +upon the Germans and drive them from that part of the country. A few +days later Francois made the trip again, and this time did see his +dear grandmother, but she was not so ill but that she could work in +her garden. + +"And that, my dear little friends, is the story of another little hero +of France," concluded Captain Favor. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE + + +"There are many like Francois among those youthful patriots," began +Captain Favor when his little friends had gathered about him on +another occasion to listen to stories about the Children of France. +"They value neither their own safety nor their lives; they are willing +and eager to make any sacrifice if by so doing they can serve their +beloved France ever so little. + +"One finds this spirit everywhere. It is one of the few bright and +beautiful things to be found in the great world war, though many of +the deeds of heroism of the French children will never be known. The +little heroes have made the supreme sacrifice and their lips, sealed +in death, can never tell of their deeds. + +"That you may the better understand the spirit of patriotism that +fills the hearts of all these little French children, I will tell you +the story of little Pierre," said the captain. "This is not a long +story, but a more heroic one never has been told. + +"While Pierre was twelve he was small for his age, but sturdy, and he +loved his country with a fervor that you children of America also +should have in your hearts." + +"We have," spoke up Joe Funk. + +"Yes, I think that all of you have. I wish you to keep it, to keep the +fires of patriotism burning and never let them grow dim. As for +Pierre, I will now tell you of the noble sacrifices he made for +France. + +"Pierre lived with his mother in a small French village at the time +the Germans entered the town. Being hungry, as usual, they intruded +into the homes of the villagers and helped themselves to whatever they +could find, in some instances after first demanding that food and +money be turned over to them. The villagers dared not disobey nor +even raise a voice in protest. + +"A captain and several men entered the home of little Pierre, where +there was a wounded French sergeant that the lad's mother had been +nursing and whom the little boy loved very dearly. The sergeant's +wounds were just beginning to heal, but so weak was he that he could +scarcely stand without someone to lean upon. When the Germans burst in +the wounded man was filled with rage, but he knew better than to +attempt to thwart them. + +"'Give us food, all that you have. Hold back anything and you die," +bellowed the Prussian captain, smiting the table with the flat of his +saber. + +"Pierre's mother was stout hearted. 'We have only bread and cheese,' +she said. 'You may take it if you will, but I give not to a Prussian, +not even so much as a crumb. Take it if you will, for you are strong +while I am but a weak woman.' + +"'Woman, you speak truly; we are strong, and we shall take, but for +this resistance you shall suffer. See what a Prussian does to such +dogs of French as oppose him!' + +"With that the captain struck Pierre's mother with the flat of his +hand, hurling her clear across the room. She staggered against the +wall and sank moaning to the floor. + +"The captain evidently had overlooked the wounded French sergeant, who +lay on a cot in the shadows, and his men were too fully occupied with +helping themselves to food to take heed of anything else. As for +little Pierre, the lad stood trembling with rage. He was not afraid, +but he was filled with righteous indignation. + +"The sergeant's eyes were blazing as he fixed his gaze on the face of +the German captain. + +"'You Prussian fiend!' shouted the sergeant. + +"'What!' The captain wheeled like a flash. + +"'For that you die! And ere the German could utter another word, the +soldier leveled his revolver at the officer and fired. There followed +a loud report, and Pierre's mother was avenged, for the Prussian +captain lay dead on the floor. + +"For a few seconds following the shot the Prussian soldiers stood +mute, then, with one accord, they threw themselves upon the helpless +sergeant who already had twice fired his revolver at them, but without +effect. They beat him cruelly and dragged him out and before another +captain, to whom they told the story of what had occurred in Pierre's +home. + +"The unfortunate sergeant was ordered to be taken to the village +square, where a dozen old men of the village were being held by the +Germans under sentence of death on the flimsy charge of having +resisted the Prussians. One by one these unhappy Frenchmen were being +lined up before a firing squad and shot down. The sergeant, who, of +course, was to share a like fate, was reserved for the last that he +might have more time for fear to sink into his heart while watching +the execution of the others. The sergeant neither asked for nor +expected mercy. Well did he know what the penalty was for such an act +as his, and he was willing to die for his country as well as for the +sake of the woman who had nursed him through so many dark days of +suffering. + +"They tied him to a tree while engaged in their cruel work of shooting +the accused old men, where the sergeant hung weak from loss of blood, +for, under their rough handling his wounds had reopened. + +"Little Pierre, his eyes large and troubled, had followed his friend +to the square and stood sympathetically beside him. + +"'What, can I do? Tell me quickly,' urged the boy. + +"'Fetch me a cup of water. I am burning with the fever again. One +drink of water and I shall have the strength to die bravely. Those +Prussian dogs shall not see so much as the quiver of an eyelid,' said +the sergeant. + +"Pierre slipped into a house and brought a cup of water which he +placed at the lips of his friend. The sergeant had taken one swallow +when a captain dashed the cup to the ground. He swung and struck +Pierre a cruel blow across the cheek with the flat of his saber, +laying the lad prostrate. Pierre staggered to his feet, eyes blazing, +an angry red welt showing where he had been struck. + +"'To give aid or comfort to the friends of France is to die!' hissed +the German captain. 'For this you too shall die! But first you shall +see how it goes with the others.' + +"'I fear you not,' retorted the child, pluckily. 'I too can die for +France with a brave heart, and so you shall die one day at the hands +of my dear countrymen, but with a coward's heart.' + +"'Ah! You are brave,' jeered the captain. + +"'I am a Frenchman,' answered Pierre, stoutly. 'A Frenchman does not +fear to die.' + +"'Good! For that I shall give you a chance to live and you shall come +with us and fight for the Fatherland," declared the captain. + +"'Bah! That for the Fatherland!' The lad snapped his fingers in the +Prussian's face. Pierre's courage, instead of further angering the +German, appeared to amuse him. + +"'We shall see. It is for you to shoot your friend the sergeant. Shoot +him and you shall have your freedom and your life. It is well that a +Frenchman should be put to death by his own. Can you shoot?' + +"'I can.' + +"'Then here is a rifle. It is loaded. Shoot and shoot true and freedom +is yours, for yourself and the old woman yonder who insulted the +officer of my Emperor.' The captain extended the rifle, butt first, +toward the boy. Pierre was outwardly calm, but within his heart a +storm was raging. Rather to the surprise of the spectators, he took +the weapon, turned it over curiously in his hands, for it was the +first German rifle he had handled, examined the mechanism of the lock, +then raised his eyes to the motionless figure of the French sergeant. + +"Pierre smiled and a new light sprang into his eyes. + +"'Well?' demanded the captain impatiently. 'Do you shoot or do you +die?' + +"'I shoot!' cried the little French boy, his voice high pitched and +shrill. + +"Pierre turned like a flash and, raising the weapon, pointed it +straight at the German captain and pulled the trigger. + +"No report followed. The rifle had missed fire. And ere Pierre could +make another try the weapon was snatched from his hands and a blow +from the captain's fist again laid him low. + +"'Dog!' raged the Prussian officer. 'Now you _shall_ die, and yonder +French sergeant shall be a witness to your punishment. Strip the +blinder from that man's eyes! Bind this boy!' + +"'There is no need to bind me. I shall not run away. I am not afraid +to die for France. I am sorry only that I did not kill you,' answered +the lad stoutly. 'I am young--I can better be spared than others.' + +"There was no reply to this, but the soldiers were ordered to lead the +child out into the center of the square. + +"'If you run you will be shot just the same,' warned the captain. + +"'A Frenchman never runs away,' was the spirited retort. + +"The firing squad took its place, eight men comprising the squad. + +"'Make ready! Take aim!' + +"Pierre faced them fearlessly, a smile on his face, his shoulders set +well back, presenting a pathetic but brave little figure as he stood +out there alone, facing death, but unafraid. + +"'Fire!' + +"'Vive la France!' shouted the lad, waving his cap over his head. + +"Eight rifles crashed in volley. And the little figure of brave Pierre +crumpled down to the ground. He had died gloriously. He had died a +man, despite his tender years. + +"Wheeling, the squad dispatched the sergeant in the same way and their +desperate work was finished." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE + + +The children were eagerly waiting to give the Captain a welcome when +he limped out to meet his young friends on the lawn next morning. +There were no tardy ones at these sittings, in fact so interested were +they in the wonderful stories they were hearing, that they nearly +always were ahead of time. + +"We shall begin at once with a story that I know will thrill you all," +said the Captain, as Joe Funk assisted him into his chair. + +"The little hero that I shall tell you about today is one of the most +remarkable of the child patriots of France. I think you will agree +with me in that after you have heard the story. + +"His name was Rene. Rene had been with the army for some time, though +he was only fourteen years old, making himself useful in many ways and +fighting when he had the opportunity, which was more than seldom. For +valiant service he had been made a corporal, so you may know he +was brave and courageous, for the French do not encourage children +to join their army, much less do they give them men's work and +responsibilities. + +"At the time to which I refer, the colonel of Rene's regiment had need +of a man of courage and resource to carry certain important orders to +the commanders in front-line trenches. This was early in the war when +communication had not been worked out as scientifically as it has been +since. For this duty the child offered his services. + +"'This mission, I need not tell you, will prove a most perilous one,' +warned the colonel. + +"'I know it, my colonel. I am ready. I have but one life and that +belongs to France.' + +"'Bravely spoken. Now take careful heed to what I have to say to you +so that you forget not the slightest detail of it.' Rene was then +given final and detailed orders added to which was an urgent request +to be careful of himself, for his own sake as well as for that of his +country. + +"After repeating his orders, showing that he had them well in mind, +the lad left headquarters, his face radiant with joy at being +entrusted with a mission such as this, a mission that would take him +where he knew death would face him at every step. He had not far to go +before reaching the zone of fire. Shells soon were bursting about him +and machine-gun fire was sweeping the field with a perfect rain of +steel. + +"'Bang away all you like,' jeered the little fellow. 'Your voices I +have heard before, but the French have stronger and more deadly voices +than have you.' + +"He finally arrived safely at the first trench. You understand he had +been above ground all the time, while the fighters were in the +trenches, where they had more protection. It was the over-fire that he +was obliged to plod through, and you who have never seen a battle do +not realize what a fierce thing this over-fire is. His orders having +been safely delivered, Rene proceeded on his troubled way to the +trench where he was to deliver the second orders. + +"The first part of this leg of the journey was more or less screened +from the view of the enemy, but now a wide barren space, swept by +shell fire, lay before him. It was almost certain death to venture +into that open field. Rene knew it, but did not hesitate. It was not +that he feared for his own life, but that he did not wish to lose it +before he had fulfilled his mission. + +"For better protection the lad dropped on hands and toes and ran along +like a dog, thus far untouched by bullets, though they were thick as a +nest of liberated bumble bees about his head. + +"'The worst is about over now and I shall soon be in the trenches,' +he told himself encouragingly. He already could see the tops of the +helmets of the soldiers in the trenches. + +"A shell exploded close by at this juncture and a shell splinter +struck him in the leg, leaving a wound. Rene rolled over on his back +and grabbed the leg with both hands, then, with his first-aid bandage, +bound the leg tightly above the wound so that he might not bleed to +death. He was already much weakened from loss of blood. + +"Having done all he could for himself, Rene started off again, +dragging himself along with great effort, determined to reach the +trench and deliver his orders, which he finally succeeded in doing. + +"'You have been wounded. You shall not go on,' declared the commander +after reading the orders and understanding fully what was still before +the brave lad. 'You should go back to the hospital. I will send a man +on to deliver the other orders.' + +"'Monsieur le Capitaine, I have been ordered to this duty. I must go +on until I have fully obeyed my orders. Time enough for others to +carry them after I am killed. But I shall not be--not until the orders +are in the hands of the commanders in the trenches on this sector.' + +"'You cannot walk; you have lost much blood,' protested the captain. + +"'It matters not, sir; I can creep. That once was the only way I knew +how to walk.' + +"'Then go, my brave lad, and God be with you.' + +"Rene saluted formally, though the effort of raising his hand sent +shooting pains all through his body. He climbed laboriously from the +trench and emerged into the bullet-swept plain once more. It was with +a great effort that he even dragged himself along. He felt himself +growing weaker with the moments. Every few yards he was compelled to +lie over on his back for rest and to gain fresh strength for the next +spurt. It required the most heroic courage for one in Rene's condition +to go on. But he grimly stuck to it, creeping wearily along. + +"The end of the journey was now in sight, though the way still seemed +long. No longer able to creep, the little messenger began to roll. It +was slow progress and he suffered agonies, but every roll brought him +that much nearer to his destination and the fulfillment of his +mission. At last an officer in a front-line trench discovered him. +Rene made a signal to the officer. + +"Just then another huge shell struck the ground near the boy and burst +with a terrific crash and roar that shook the earth for a long +distance all about. The brave child was again hit by a splinter and +this time mortally wounded. He knew that the end was near and his +thoughts went back to his parents, to his home in the little village +which he had left to go to war only a short time before. + +"Rene roused himself with a supreme effort and again began to roll +toward the trench. + +"Stretcher bearers, observing his plight, ran to his rescue, +themselves unmindful of the storm of steel that was sweeping the plain +back of the trenches. They tenderly picked the child up and bore him +safely to the trench, where he was placed in a first-aid station in a +bomb-proof dugout. + +"'Tell monsieur le Capitaine that I have orders for him--important +orders,' gasped the little soldier. 'Tell him to come quickly, for I +shall not long be able to tell him what I have to say.' + +"The captain, having been hurriedly summoned, hastened to the dugout. +He gathered the dying lad tenderly in his arms, and, placing an ear +close to the boy's lips, received from Rene the orders of the colonel, +down to the last detail. + +"The final word of these orders was Rene's last. He died in the arms +of the captain, who tenderly laid him down. + +"'Thus dies another hero of France,' murmured the officer, striding +from the dugout, making no effort to hide the tears that were +trickling down both cheeks. + +"This little hero, my friends, offers a lesson in courage and devotion +that each of you will do well always to remember," said Captain Favor +in conclusion. "Tomorrow I shall tell you another story, if the +weather permits of my coming out here. Au revoir, little friends." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAVED BY A CHILD'S WIT + + +"This time I will tell you about a quick-witted little French girl," +said Captain Favor. "She was a stout-hearted little woman, full of +spirit and as fearless as she was keen, as you shall see. + +"It is not only the French lads who are quick-witted and brave. The +girls are fully as much so, and all are filled with the same wonderful +spirit of patriotism and love of country, as you already have +learned from the stories I have told you. + +"This little woman's name was Jeanne; she had just turned eleven years +when the incidents I am about to relate occurred. For some time the +news had been coming to the village in which she lived of the wicked +deeds of a company of German lancers. These lancers were roving from +village to village, stealing whatever they could lay their hands on, +and mistreating the women and children. It was a terrible thing to do, +but nothing new for the Prussians. As in other towns of which I have +told you, all the able-bodied men of this village had gone to the war. + +"To guard against surprise the inhabitants of Jeanne's home town had +placed watchers on the outskirts of the village that the people might +be notified in advance of the approach of the enemy's detachments. + +"One afternoon the warning came, and, while expected, it was a shock +to the people and their hearts were filled with fear. They closed and +locked their doors, pulled down the shades and took refuge in their +cellars. Not a person was to be seen in the streets; the village +appeared to be deserted. + +"'The Prussians are coming!' was the startling cry that had sent the +inhabitants flying to the cellars, after which a great silence reigned +in the little place. + +"Soon after that a troop of Prussian lancers rode quietly into the +village, alert for surprises, for they had confidently expected to see +French soldiers ere this. Not a French soldier was in sight, so the +invaders concluded there was nothing to fear. However, they decided to +question some of the villagers. + +"The house that Jeanne lived in was the first one the lancers came to. +Jeanne, like others, had taken to the cellar with her parents, where +they remained for a long time, tremblingly awaiting the arrival of +their enemies. Not a sound thus far having been heard, the family +wondered if the Prussians had come and gone. They fervently hoped this +were true. + +"'I will go and find out,' volunteered the little girl. + +"'It is not safe,' objected the mother. 'If they are still here and +should discover you, all would not be well with you, my daughter. You +might be killed. I cannot permit it.' + +"'Have no fears, mother; I will listen for every sound in the street +and will go no further than the door. They shall neither see nor hear +me.' + +"The mother gave a reluctant consent and Jeanne crept upstairs, +stepped quietly to the door and unbolted it, intending to open the +door a few inches and peer out. + +"At that instant the door was rudely forced open from the outside. A +German officer and several men pushed their way in. The officer caught +Jeanne in a listening attitude. + +"'Halt!' he commanded, the lances of his men thrust out so close to +the little girl that it seemed as if they already had pierced her. +'Listening, are you?' + +"'Yes, monsieur,' she answered truthfully. + +"'Why?' + +"'That I might know if you had gone so I might once more go out to the +street.' + +"The officer laughed. + +"'You have nothing to fear if you tell us the truth. We would have +certain information from you, child.' + +"'Yes, monsieur.' + +"'If you do not truthfully answer all my questions, you and all the +rest will be shot.' + +"'I do not fear you, sir. I will answer you well.' + +"'Good. Then tell me, are there any French soldiers here?' + +"'There are none here, sir.' + +"'Neither here nor elsewhere in the village?' + +"'There are none here, as I have said. I know not whether there are +any in the village or not, for I have not seen any since a detachment +passed through here two days ago.' + +"'Is this the truth?' + +"She looked at the officer with an expression of amazement that he +should doubt her word. + +"'Come, I will show you; I will prove to you that what I say is the +truth.' + +"'It is well,' answered the Prussian officer, now reassured. 'We will +pass on. It is good that you have not lied to us, child,' he said. +'It were better if all the French were so truthful, but, alas, they +are not. Forward!' + +"The Prussians departed, Jeanne watching them from the door. 'No, +there are no French soldiers here,' she chuckled. 'Perhaps there may be +just outside the village. And if so, alas for the Prussians!' + +"A short distance beyond the village stood a large farmhouse in a vast +yard, the latter being surrounded by a high stone wall. Within were +trees and shade, so the place looking very attractive to the tired +Prussians. Their commander ordered a halt and, opening the gate that +led to the grounds, he ordered his men in for a rest. They tied their +horses to trees and threw themselves down on the grass in great +content. + +"The place seemed deserted, but that some one was about was evidenced +when the gate through which they had entered was quietly closed and +locked by no less a person than the little Jeanne herself. She had +followed the Prussians at a distance, hoping to be able to give a +signal to her friends if they might still be in the farmhouse, but, +finding a better opportunity for serving them, had locked the lancers +within the enclosure. Having done this, she ran as fast as her nimble +feet would carry her for her own home. + +"The tired lancers lay down to sleep while their commander strolled up +to the house and beat on the door with the hilt of his saber. To his +amazement the door was suddenly jerked open and a French dragoon +dragged him in by the collar. The commander was a prisoner. + +"A detachment of French soldiers were secreted in the house, where +they had been waiting for some days for this very opportunity, knowing +that the Prussians were headed that way. Yet, though the German +commander had been deceived, little Jeanne had not told him an +untruth. She knew the French soldiers had been at the farmhouse three +days before, for she had taken food to them, but she did not know of +her own knowledge that they still were there. If she did not tell the +officer the whole truth it was because he had not asked her, and for +the sake of her beloved France she would not volunteer information +that would aid the Germans. + +"'Betrayed!' raged the Prussian when he saw how neatly he had been +tricked. He groaned when a volley rang out from the house and several +of his lancers fell. + +"His men made a frantic rush for their horses; then, when they +discovered that the gate was locked and that they were caught, they +threw up their hands and surrendered to the foe that they had not yet +seen. + +"The French made everyone of the lancers a prisoner. Several had been +wounded, but none was killed. + +"Credit was given to little Jeanne for placing the lancers in the +hands of the French soldiers, for had she not done this the French +would have attacked the Prussians in the open and might have lost many +men in the fight that would have followed. + +"For her part in this fine capture little Jeanne in time received a +letter from the President of the French Republic, thanking her in the +name of France for her quick wit and for her heroism." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE CHILD DESPATCH BEARER + + +"You already have heard of some of the heroic little despatch bearers +of France," said Captain Favor. "I shall now tell you of little Henri, +one of the bravest and most resourceful of them all. + +"Despatch carrying is a desperate business, all of it exposing the +bearers to enemy fire at least part of the time, for most of the work +of these brave men is in the open where the enemy can see them. Some +go on foot, others on fast motorcycles. Ordinarily they travel in +pairs, so that in case one be killed the other may take the message +and hasten on with it to its destination. Henri, however, traveled +alone. + +"The Germans, at some distance from the principal battle line and at +one end of it, had advanced several miles into French territory, and, +spreading out, had covered considerable ground. They were making +themselves a nuisance, as they usually did, and a French force was +sent in to drive them back. The French, too, had spread out and the +officer in command, after becoming a little more familiar with +conditions, had made his plans. + +"'Now,' said the French colonel, 'what I wish is a man of undoubted +courage, familiar with all this surrounding country, to carry letters +to the commanders of our various units.' + +"'I fear you will not find such a man,' answered one of his +lieutenants. 'All the men of this section, of course, are fighting.' + +"'Young Henri can do it,' suggested another officer. + +"'A civilian who has been attached to the army unofficially for some +few weeks.' Henri had made himself so useful that his presence with +the army was not only permitted, but welcomed. While he was but +thirteen years of age, he was very strong, alert and active. The +colonel told his aide to summon the boy so the commander might look +him over. + +"'Why do you follow the army?' demanded the colonel, after observing +the boy critically. + +"'Our home has been destroyed by the Germans, my father has been taken +prisoner by them and my sisters have fled to other provinces,' he +answered simply. 'That is why I am trying to serve my country in every +way I can.' + +"The colonel nodded approvingly. + +"'It is a most important mission and a very dangerous one on which I +must send a man. Do you think you can go through with it?' + +"'Yes, sir.' + +"'You may fall into the hands of the Prussians. In that event what +would you do with the letters I shall entrust to your care?' + +"'Swallow them, sir,' was the reply. + +"'Good! You will do. You are a real Frenchman and while you are a mere +child, I have full confidence that you will somehow manage to carry +out my orders.' + +"'I shall do my best, sir.' + +"'That is all that any man can do. Give careful heed to what I tell +you.' The colonel gave Henri careful instructions, after which he +handed the letters to the lad and bade him God-speed. + +"Henri set out quietly, slouching along with a carelessness not in +keeping with his all-important mission. He was soon lost sight of in +the undergrowth that covered many miles of territory in that section +of the country, and that finally merged with a dense forest. The lad +reasoned that the Germans would be found in this forest, as well as in +the more open country, but somehow he must manage to get through their +lines and reach the French on the other side. It was not an easy task, +as he well knew, yet he was undaunted. + +"He was following a course close to the edge of the forest when all at +once he saw a Prussian soldier just outside the forest line. The boy +plunged deeper into the woods and was unseen and unheard by the +soldier, who evidently was a sentry. + +"Later in the day Henri heard voices--German voices. By the sound he +judged there must be a great many of them. He imagined he could hear +commands. + +"'I must be close to a nest of them,' he muttered. 'I must find out +about those fellows, for the commanders will wish to know about them.' +Creeping cautiously ahead he came to the edge of a clearing, a vast +open space where the timber had, he judged, been cut off some time +since, and the brush growth that followed the cutting of the trees had +by now been well trampled down by the Germans, who appeared to be +making this out-of-the-way place a sort of headquarters for their +operations. He was amazed at what he saw. + +"There, before Henri's eyes, was a small German army, all branches of +the service being represented. His association with the French Army +enabled him to observe very closely and understand what he saw. And in +this instance his observation told him that the Prussians were +preparing for battle; he knew, too, that the orders he was carrying +had to do with the very preparations he was witnessing. After fully +satisfying his curiosity Henri plunged again into the forest, using +great caution and watching keenly for stray Prussians. Finally he +reached the brush again, being now free of the forest itself. + +"'Halt!' + +"The command brought him up standing. He rarely had been caught +napping, but drew a breath of relief when he saw that the sentry who +had halted him was in the uniform of his own army. + +"'France!' was the boy's answer to the challenge. 'I have a letter for +your commander.' + +"'Pass!' + +"Henri easily found his way to the commander's headquarters and +delivered the letter intended for him. + +"'You are going further?' questioned the officer. + +"'Yes, sir. I have other orders to deliver.' + +"'You had better watch closely that you are not captured,' warned the +commander. 'The country through which you go is full of Prussians, and +they are ugly. Be cautious.' + +"Assuring the officer that he would use due caution, Henri went on his +way, apparently without a care in the world. He was a most innocent +appearing boy and it would be keen eyes indeed that would suspect him +of being other than what he appeared, an irresponsible child. + +"Henri now began to see German uniforms on all sides. They were +increasing in numbers. + +"'Henri never will get through, this with his letter,' grumbled the +lad. 'I must act while there is yet time.' Crouching down and +watching the Prussians a few moments, he finally drew the remaining +letter from his blouse; he read it carefully several times, read it +until he had memorized every word of it. Having done this, the child +tore the letter in bits and, munching them thoroughly, calmly +swallowed them with a great gulp. + +"'Ugh!' he grunted, making a wry face. 'That is not pleasant food, but +if the Boches can read the letter now their eyes are sharp indeed. +Henri carries his knowledge in his stomach. A queer place for +knowledge, but a good place when there are Boches about. Now I shall +be going.' + +"He did not get far. The lad was halted shortly after leaving his +cover. Germans sprang up on all sides of him. He saw that he had +stumbled into a nest of them and that there was no escape. + +"'What would you of me? I have done nothing,' cried the boy when he +was roughly dragged before an officer. 'I go to my parents in yonder +village.' + +"'Is it for that that you crawl along and hide yourself as a spy?' +demanded the officer sternly. + +"'I saw the soldiers and I was afraid,' he whimpered. + +"'Take him away!' ordered the officer. + +"'Take me where? You can see I have nothing. I am but a poor peasant +boy who could do no harm even if he would.' + +"'You are shamming. You are a spy and you should be shot. Search him!' +commanded the officer. + +"They stripped the child, Henri, during the operation, weeping +bitterly, but such tears as he shed were forced, yet they appeared +real to the onlookers. His clothing was very thoroughly searched, the +soldiers even tearing out the lining of his blouse and ripping his +necktie apart to make certain that no despatches were concealed in +them. Of course, they found nothing. + +"'You see, I have told the truth,' he whimpered, now addressing the +officer. 'Please let me go to my parents.' + +"The officer laughed harshly. + +"'Lock him up. He is a fraud, and we shall yet find him to be such. +The French resort to many tricks.' + +"Henri was placed in charge of a soldier, by whose side he trudged +along, wiping his eyes frequently, apparently in great distress of +mind, as a boy naturally would be in his situation. Henri's eyes were +red, but they were red from rubbing rather than from the tears they +had shed, and were keenly on the alert; they missed nothing of what +was going on about them. He did not know where they proposed to take +him, but wherever it was he determined not to go, for the letter in +his stomach was a constant reminder of what was expected of him. + +"There was much activity about them; it was a busy scene, and Henri's +guard was plainly interested in it--he was becoming more interested in +the activity than he was in his prisoner, which fact did not escape +the lad, who appeared to be so filled with despair. + +"Soldier and prisoner finally came to the bank of a canal, along which +they walked, the soldier still watching the movements of the troops. +Now Henri saw his opportunity. + +"All at once he sprang away from his guard, and, taking a long leap, +plunged head first into the canal. He dove deep and shot himself half +way across before coming to the surface. + +"The soldier guard stood stupefied for a moment. Recovering his wits, +he began to shoot at the bobbing head of Henri that was now out of the +water then under it. + +"Henri, by this time, was rapidly nearing the opposite bank of the +canal, taking little heed of the bullets that were splashing all about +him. + +"'It is good luck to be little,' he chuckled as he scrambled up the +bank and dashed into the bushes. Bullets were singing all about him +now, showing that several soldiers had joined in the shooting, but the +plucky boy was not hit, though there were bullet holes in his jacket +and two through his cap. + +"'Good bye, Mr. Boche,' he called back. 'Henri thanks you that you did +not hit him in the place where he carries his orders.' He then ran +swiftly over the remaining few miles that lay between him and his +destination. Reaching the French lines safely, he was led to the +commander of the detachment in his home village. + +"'I have orders for you, sir,' he said, saluting the commander. + +"'Very good. Where are they?' + +"'In my stomach, sir.' + +"The officer was puzzled for the moment, then he began to laugh. Henri +related the circumstances that had made necessary the destruction of +the letter, and at his dictation the commander wrote down the orders, +which the lad repeated to him exactly as they had been written in the +letter. Henri's mission had been faithfully carried out. + +"'France has need of such as you,' said the commander approvingly. +'What shall you do now?' + +"'I must return to my troops and make my report to my commanding +officer,' was the simple reply. 'I shall wait for the night before +starting, for the Boches this time cannot be so easily fooled. +Remember, I still have the orders in my stomach. Would it not be sad +if the Boches discovered them and took them from me?' Henri grinned +and the commander laughed heartily. + +"Henri's return journey was made without disaster, though several +times he narrowly missed being captured. Late on the following morning +the plucky boy reached his regiment and made his report to his +colonel, who warmly commended the child for his patriotism and +courage." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +GENE AND THE BAVARIAN DRAGOONS + + +"The story of Gene and the Bavarian dragoons, is one of the best, to +my mind, that has developed in this war," said Captain Favor, +beginning a new story. "Such quick thinking as hers in the face of an +emergency, is very rare in a child, which makes Gene's achievement +stand out so prominently. + +"Gene's mother had been ill for months. She had been bedridden all +that time, leaving to the little girl the heavy work of the home, for +the father, too, was in poor health. Gene, though only ten years of +age, was a resolute and capable child, as you will see when I tell you +the story of how she won two little battles of her own. + +"After the battle of the Marne the Prussians were pressing northward, +venting their rage on the defenseless inhabitants, killing many such +and carrying others away with them. It was desperate business that +these brutal Prussians were engaged in. Finding themselves unable to +whip the Allied soldiers, they sought to terrorize old men, women and +children. + +"Gene's home was situated at the edge of a village, and though they +knew the Germans were headed in their direction, they thought the +soldiers would take pity on their sad condition and leave them alone. + +"One day, however, a company of Bavarian dragoons entered the +outskirts of the village and halted before the child's home. Tying +their horses, they entered the house and began a systematic search of +it. They ripped up carpets and tore beds to pieces, helped themselves +to all the food in the house, then turned their attention to the +husband, who had stood helplessly by. Not Gene. She stood trembling +with anger, scarcely able to restrain herself. + +"'We want your money!' demanded the captain of the dragoons, turning +to Gene's father. 'Quick, or you shall suffer.' + +"'I have none. I have spent it all on my poor wife,' replied the +father. + +"'Bah! The French always have money. We shall find it. Throw the old +woman out of the bed. She is but pretending to be sick. She is in bed +to hide the money of the household,' raged the captain. + +"Obeying his orders, his men dragged the sick woman from the bed and +dropped her on the floor, where Gene, with tears of anger in her eyes, +bent over and clasped her parent's hand. The husband protested against +their treatment of the wife and Gene pleaded with them to go away and +leave her family in peace. + +"'You would resist us, would you!' demanded the captain, drawing back +a fist to strike the child's father. 'Ah! He shall be taken away for +that. You shall see that it is not for cowardly French to thwart the +will of the Bavarian dragoons. He directed his men to remove the +father. Several soldiers grabbed Gene's father and dragged him from +the house. + +"'Now to the cellar!' cried the commander. 'There we shall at least +find wine, for the French always have wine in their cellars. Perhaps +you will tell us there is no wine there!' he said sneeringly, fixing +his eyes on the child. + +"'There is wine in plenty there,' she answered sweetly, favoring the +captain with a smile. 'You will find the jugs in the front part of the +cellar.' Gene lowered her eyes, that the officer might not read the +thought that she felt certain was reflected there. + +"'Come,' he said, leading the way to the cellar, which they gained by +raising the trapdoor in the kitchen floor and descending a ladder, +this being the customary way of getting to the cellar in a peasant's +home. + +"For several moments all was silent in the room where Gene and her +mother sat on the floor, the child supporting her parent with one arm. +Down cellar the voices of the Germans could be faintly heard. At last +Gene laid her mother down and tripped lightly to the kitchen. +Listening a moment she cautiously lowered the trapdoor in the floor +and closed the opening, fastening it with its bolt. Not satisfied with +this, the child moved a table to the trapdoor, on which she piled +everything of weight in the kitchen. + +"'All is well, mother,' she said, returning to the sick woman. Gene, +for fear of exciting her mother, did not tell her what had been done. +The soldiers with the father having gone, the villagers soon appeared +in the streets, and to them Gene explained that she had captured the +captain of dragoons and several of his men. By this time there was a +great uproar in the cellar. The dragoons were shifting and beating on +the kitchen floor, raging and threatening. They had discovered that +they were in a trap. It would fare hard with Gene and her mother if +the soldiers succeeded in getting out, but of that the child had +little fear. The villagers now offered to guard the imprisoned +soldiers, but the child knew her people could do little in this +direction. + +"Early in the afternoon a battalion of French chasseurs came galloping +into town. The villagers set up a great shout, and, running out, the +child recognized the soldiers of her own country. To the commander of +the chasseurs she quickly made known her situation. + +"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' she said. 'There are in our house German +soldiers. They are in the cellar. Some of their party have taken my +father away, but the commander and some of his men I have locked in +the cellar.' + +"'Bravo!' cried the commander. 'Come, we shall see.' + +"'There,' said Gene, pointing to the barricaded trapdoor. 'Hear them +rage. They are furious, as they should be.'" + +The officer quickly summoned some of his men to the kitchen, and, +after the trap had been uncovered and thrown open, he bade them +thrust their bayonets into the opening. + +"'Come out of that cellar, you Bavarian hounds!' he shouted. 'You are +prisoners!' + +"The uproar in the cellar died out instantly. After a brief hesitation +they came out one by one, being disarmed and herded in a corner as +they emerged into the kitchen. + +"'Take them away,' commanded the officer. + +"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' said Gene, tugging at his sleeve. 'These +soldiers not only have helped themselves to everything in the house, +but they have, as you saw, abused my sick mother and have taken away +my poor father. They have misused us. Please do not let them go until +they have returned my father to our home. If you do not it will kill +my mother, I fear.' + +"'We shall do our best, my brave child.' + +"'Ah, monsieur le Capitaine, I have an idea. Can you not exchange one +of your prisoners for my father?' questioned the little girl. + +"The commander reflected. 'How long have they been gone with him?' + +"'Only a short time, sir.' + +"'Good. Step forward!' he said sharply to the German officer. The +latter obeyed silently. 'Captain,' said the Frenchman, 'you and your +men have ransacked this house, abused a sick woman and carried away +her husband. A fine business for those who call themselves men. You +deserve to be shot, you and all your hounds. However, I will spare +your life on one condition. It is that the father of this household +shall be set at liberty and returned to his home before nightfall. +Your troops will not be far from here. Who in command?' + +"'A captain.' + +"'Then one of you will ride and rejoin your detachment--' + +"'I will go,' interjected the commander of the dragoons." + +[Illustration: A FRENCH DRAGOON DRAGGED HIM IN.] + +"'Oh, no, captain; your presence is required here. Come here!' he +ordered, beckoning to one of the Bavarians, 'and listen well to what I +shall say to you. You will immediately mount your horse and as quickly +as possible rejoin your detachment.' + +"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.' + +"'You will tell the commander that we have here seven dragoons and an +officer as prisoners of the French chasseurs. You also will say that +the French commander sends warning to him that unless the father of +this child, taken as a hostage, is returned to this village before +eight o'clock this evening, your captain and seven Bavarian dragoons +in the hands of the French will be shot immediately. Can you remember +this?' + +"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.' + +"'Then go speedily.' + +"The dragoon departed in haste. He was eager to get away from this +stern-faced Frenchman, at whose hands he knew he could expect small +mercy after what the Bavarians had done in that little peasant home. + +"Gene had rejoined her mother, who had been tenderly placed in her bed +by the tender-hearted French captain. The child sat clasping her +mother's hand and comforting her. + +"'Have no fears, my mother. The brave commander of the chasseurs will +see to it that father comes safely home,' said Gene. Yet the brave +little French girl herself was full of anxiety; she could scarcely +keep the tears back when she realized that already her father may have +been shot. + +"It was late in the afternoon, darkness was just falling, when Gene +heard some one approaching. By the clanking sound she knew it was one +of the chasseurs, and her heart sank within her. + +"The captain of the French detachment entered and halted at the door. +She searched his face and what she saw there caused Gene to utter a +little cry of joy. + +"'Here,' said the officer, 'is what you have been waiting for. Here is +the father whose life you have saved. What I have done for you was +only my duty; what you have done for France is immeasurable. I salute +you, daughter of France!' + +"With that the captain thrust Gene's father into the room, saluted and +strode out to join his company, who were guarding the captured +Bavarians." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY + + +"Jean is the name of the hero of whom I shall tell you today. He was +only twelve, and he joined the army, unofficially, something after the +fashion that little Remi did. Remi, of course, ran away to follow the +army, which, perhaps, was not wrong in view of the fact that he had no +relatives at home. With Jean it was different, for he had a mother," +said Captain Favor, resuming his story telling. + +"A detachment of French soldiers had been stationed in this boy's home +town, and the lad, by many little acts, had endeared himself to them +very much. + +"One day the detachment received orders to leave. Jean begged that +they might take him along, but the soldiers advised him to remain at +home because he was too young to go to war. 'Go ask your mother,' said +a young lieutenant, 'and if she says "yes" I shall not see you if you +should follow us.' + +"Jean, most grateful for the suggestion, ran home and burst, in upon +his mother excitedly. + +"'The lieutenant says I may go if you say "yes." Say "yes," mother. I +want to be a soldier.' + +"'I do not understand what you mean, my son,' answered the child's +mother. + +"'I mean I wish to go to war; I wish to help my beloved France. +Believe me, mother, though I am but a lad I can do much, oh, so much. +And Jean shall be so very careful that he may come back to his home, +and who knows but that he may some day come back a big, big general or +something like that.' + +"'Please my child, do not think of such a thing,' begged the mother. +'You know you might be killed.' + +"'Should not a Frenchman be happy to die for his country, my mother?' + +"The argument was a good one, and Jean saw at once that his mother was +weakening in her opposition. + +"'The monsieur lieutenant says I may go if you will let me. Please, my +mother.' + +"'Yes, go, my son, if you will, and God be with you,' agreed the +mother finally, clasping the little fellow in her arms and kissing him +again and again. 'Go before I forget my duty to France.' + +"Jean ran. He did not stop running until he had reached the camp of +the detachment, where preparations for marching were in active +progress. But Jean hung about at a distance. When the detachment +started away, he, like Remi, fell in behind and followed. Perhaps the +lieutenant--Lieutenant Andre--saw him, but if so the officer thought +best not to let this be known, either to the boy or to the men. + +"That night Jean joined the company of Lieutenant Andre. A soldier +shared his blanket with the child. The next morning Jean made himself +useful by carrying water, by helping the cooks and by performing other +acts that relieved the soldiers. + +"The march was resumed soon after daylight. The lad had a further idea +and this he worked out all during the day. Providing himself with +canteens, which he took from the soldiers of his company, he stopped +every little while at farmhouses and filled the canteens. These he +restored to their owners, and then, taking other canteens, filled +these as well, running to catch up with his company to give his +comrades water. That day and following days found the child the +hardest worked person in the company. + +"Now and then a soldier would stagger from weariness. Jean was at his +side in a moment relieving the soldier of some of his burden which the +boy would carry until someone took it away from him. + +"One day the colonel of the regiment discovered him and ordered him +sent home. Jean begged, all to no purpose, then ran to his friend, +the lieutenant, for help. The lieutenant took Jean back to the colonel +and explained the situation. + +"'This boy,' said the lieutenant, 'is one of the most useful civilians +with this outfit. We shall miss him if he is sent back. And further, +it would not be safe for him to return home alone. In all probability +he would not reach there alive.' + +"'Do I understand that you are willing to charge yourself with the +care of this child?' demanded the colonel. + +"'I do, most certainly, my Colonel.' + +"'Very good, then; the boy may remain. Watch over him. He is a +patriot, indeed.' + +"Jean's joy showed in his face only. He made no fuss, but kissed the +hand of his faithful friend the lieutenant and went about his duties. + +"There came a day when the regiment met the Prussians--when the +Frenchmen went over the top and the Germans came out to meet them. +Jean was with his beloved companions, but, strange to say, he carried +no rifle. One had been offered to him, but he shook his head. Instead, +he carried several canteens of water and his blouse was stuffed with +first-aid bandages. He knew what he wished to do and what he believed +he could do best. + +"Soon men began to fall. The stretcher bearers were too few to give +quick attention to all, but Jean was there. With his bandages he bound +as best he could the wounds of his comrades, and quenched their thirst +from his canteens. Many were the suffering poilus who blessed the +little soldier of mercy that day. + +"Jean's face was bleeding where a bullet had left a gash across it, +but to this he gave not the slightest heed. Time and time again he ran +back for more water; time and time again did he rush for the stretcher +bearers to get aid for a particularly badly wounded comrade. The child +seemed to be utterly fearless, or perhaps he did not even realize that +the air about him was thick with bullets and exploding shells. If he +knew he did not care. + +"With nightfall the troops of both sides backed away to their own +trenches. Jean's work, however, was not yet done. He remained out on +the field where lay men who would never rise again, and many more who +were suffering and dying. All night long he worked with them, until +nearly daybreak, by which time the stretcher bearers had finished +their work. + +"When day dawned his comrades found little Jean asleep on top of the +parapet of his own trench, with a storm of machine gun fire sweeping +over him. He was sleeping in a rain of steel. They hauled him in and +tucked him away in a dugout. + +"Jean might have slept the day through had not a shell blown up the +dugout and literally blown the boy over the lip with it. He was +considerably bruised and shocked, but otherwise was unhurt. + +"By the time he had collected his wits and got the dizziness out of +his head, his comrades were once more going over the top. + +"'I must go,' was Jean's reply when an officer sought to hold him +back. + +"Gathering up all the canteens he could carry, Jean filled them with +water and was over the top and out on the storm-swept field. His eyes +glowed with admiration when he saw his lieutenant leading and +encouraging the men of his company. Jean tried to keep close to him, +but this was not wholly possible, for the lad was still performing his +work of mercy. + +"Suddenly he saw the lieutenant stagger and fall. + +"With a little cry Jean sprang up from the wounded man he was working +over and ran to the side of his friend. + +"'Where--where is it, my dear Lieutenant?' he begged anxiously. + +"'Two times they hit me, child--in the shoulder and in the side. It is +bad. But never mind, lad, go to the others; they need you more than do +I.' + +"'No, you shall come with me. Let me get my back to yours.' + +"'You cannot carry me.' + +"'Jean is stronger than he looks.' With that the lad got the officer +to a sitting position and, placing his back against the lieutenant's, +his arms under those of the officer, he straightened up. Of course, he +was not strong enough to carry the man, but he was able to drag him, +and with almost as much comfort to the wounded one as if he were on a +stretcher. + +"In this manner Jean managed to get his friend to the trench, whence +the officer was taken to a first-aid station, then later in the day +placed in an ambulance and started for a hospital in the rear. + +"The road over which they were carried, for Jean had remained with +lieutenant Andre, was shell swept, the Germans knowing very well that +ambulances with wounded men were there. + +"To the hospital went the two, and there, side by side, they lay in +cots, for at last Jean had been struck and wounded by a shell that +wrecked the ambulance just before they had reached their destination. +The driver was killed but the Little Soldier of Mercy and his friend +escaped, with only a shaking up for the lieutenant and a slight wound +in the leg of Jean. + +"Lieutenant Andre, on account of his wounds, was disabled for life, +but through his efforts Jean was appointed to the French military +training school, and the last I heard of him he was still fighting +heroically for France." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A BRAVE LITTLE COWARD + + +"He was a fine fellow, that Jean," observed Joe Funk, "but for myself +I think I should have shouldered a gun and sailed in to get some of +the Boches." + +"That was for the soldiers to do," replied Captain Favor. "Jean's +heroism was as great as that of any man who ever went into battle with +rifle or sword. Now I will tell you about another hero who was both +coward and hero, but, in the last analysis, was all hero. Lucien, he +was named, and, though he did not know it, he was a very funny fellow. +Listen to the tale of little Lucien." + +"Lucien's home was in a village not far from Verdun, where such +terrible fighting had been indulged in for so many, many weeks. +Battles, in fact, had been fought not far from the boy's home, and +even now angry Prussian parties were raiding these towns and robbing +the inhabitants of whatever appealed to their appetites or their +greed. Parties of them had already visited the village and Lucien was +in the habit of observing their movements from high up in a tree, +which was his favorite hiding place when danger approached. Nor was he +partial to any particular tree. Any tree that was handy would answer +his purpose. + +"On the afternoon that I have in mind, a farmhouse just outside the +village bore mute evidence that raiders had been there. All the +windows had been broken out, doors smashed in and blackened spots +about the windows and doors on the outside wall indicated that the +house had been set on fire on the inside, but for some reason had not +burned down. The scene was a cheerless one. Not a person was in sight. + +"Along the road came a detachment of French soldiers. The officer in +command, a captain, halted his men for rest and, observing the +condition of the house, entered the yard to see if he could not obtain +some information from the occupants. But there were no occupants +there. + +"'They must have been here recently,' he said out loud, meaning that +the Germans had visited the place. 'Perhaps I shall find that which I +seek in the village.' + +"Strolling along, the captain halted under a large apple tree, from +which apples had fallen to the ground, though the tree had been pretty +well stripped already. He stooped over to pick up an apple and as he +did so a hard apple hit him squarely on the top of the head. + +"The captain said 'Ouch!' and rubbed the spot where the apple had hit +him. But he forgot all about it in his enjoyment of the apple he was +now eating while stepping out from under the tree. He was munching +away at the fruit when another apple hit him, this time squarely on +the neck. + +"This was a keen as well as a cautious captain, and this time he did +not pretend to have noticed the incident, but kept on munching his +fruit. While doing so he squinted up at the tree out of the corner of +one eye. He knew he was too far from the tree for the last apple to +have fallen on him. While he was taking a cautious look another apple +came out from the foliage of the tree and fell toward him, but the +officer, stepping slightly to one side, avoided being hit by it. + +"He deliberately drew his revolver from its holster and, turning, +aimed at the tree. + +"'I think I can shoot the apples off easier than I can shake them +down,' he announced in a loud tone. + +"'Don't shoot, monsieur l'Officer,' cried a voice from the tree. + +"'What! Some one up there?' + +"'Yes, yes. It is I, Lucien,' was the reply from the tree. + +"'Come down, Lucien. I would like to have a look at you,' ordered the +captain. + +"A very young boy, red of face and very much frightened, came sliding +down the trunk of the tree and landed on all fours at its foot. The +officer eyed him sternly. + +"'What do you mean, boy, by bombarding me with apples?' he demanded. + +"Lucien hung his head. The officer jerked him to his feet. + +"'Answer me! What were you doing up in that tree? Spying on us, eh?' + +"'No, monsieur l'Officer, I am a Frenchman. Frenchmen do not spy on +their own people.' + +"'That is true. But how do I know you are not spying on us just the +same, for the Germans have been here?' + +"'Yes, monsieur le Capitaine, they have been here. See, they have +spoiled my beautiful home. I lived there with the farmer for whom I +worked--sometimes.' + +"'Where were you when the Germans came?' + +"'Up in the top of the apple tree. I always climb a tree when I am +scared. I saw them coming and I hid myself, and I saw them when they +beat in the windows and the door and carried away the food and tried +to burn down the house. I shall fight them some day for that.' + +"'Hm-m-m-m,' mused the officer. It was his idea that Lucien was not so +stupid as he appeared. + +"'Yes, monsieur, I saw them and I wish to see them again. Shall you go +and fight the Boches?' + +"'Of course, when we catch them. How long since they were here?' + +"'Maybe an hour or an hour and a half.' + +"'How many of them?' + +"'About as many as you have here, maybe another company more.' + +"'Which way did they go?' + +"'That way.' Lucien indicated the direction taken by the Germans by a +jerk of his thumb to the right. 'And Lucien knows pretty well where +they have gone.' + +"'Oh, you do? Kindly tell me where you think the Boches went?' +demanded the captain, now amused at the boy's queerness. + +"'They have gone to cut off the road from Etain. I saw them going that +way.' + +"'How do you know this?' + +"'Did I not hear them talking just before I dropped an apple on the +head of the Herr Major, the apple that stuck on his helmet and made +him very angry? It was well for Lucien that the Herr Major did not +know he threw the apple. Wait while I laugh, Captain. No, Lucien did +not throw another at the Herr Major. He saved the next one for +monsieur le Capitaine.' + +"'See here, child, do you know this country well?' demanded the French +Captain. + +"'Yes, monsieur, I know it well, as well as I know my own pocket, and +I wait only for an opportunity to serve you and my country.' + +"'Well spoken. My son, the opportunity is at hand. From what you tell +me I take it that the Germans went toward the forest yonder where the +road from Etain passes. Is that right?' + +"'Yes, monsieur, the big road from Verdun. But there is still another +road to Etain. It follows along the woods to the left near the river.' + +"'So?' The officer consulted a map. 'You speak truly. I thank you, my +son. Now, would you like to lead us, to show us the way?' + +"'Yes, monsieur.' + +"'What if we are surprised by the Germans--what will you do in that +event?' + +"'I shall climb a tree,' replied the lad promptly. 'I do not fear the +Boches so long as there are trees to climb.' + +"This caused a great laugh, but the officer was satisfied that Lucien +could do all and more than he had promised. + +"'You shall show us the way,' he decided, and ordered his men to fall +in and proceed. They passed through the village, which they now +observed had been much abused by the Prussians, and on out into the +country, with the lad marching beside the captain with a swagger that +amused all who saw him. + +"'See, the road is there to the left,' finally said the little guide. +It leads to the bridge which we shall cross and take a short cut in +that way. Thus, my officer, we may reach Etain before the Boches do.' + +"'That will be fine,' said the captain. + +"'Yes, monsieur. But what if the Boches should change their mind and +wait for us? Surely you will not blame the little Lucien? He cannot +read the mind of a Boche when the Boche is out of sight.' + +"'No, we shall not blame you. You have told us well and we are +grateful, but what you say gives me a thought. We shall halt and send +out scouts.' + +"This was done immediately. A short distance ahead of them were a +number of farm buildings. Trees were scattered all about, giving +plenty of shade, which the troops were quick to take advantage of. + +"A scout came running back toward the resting detachment. + +"'The Prussians are coming!' he shouted. + +"Lucien made a mad dash for a tree nearby, up which he shinned and hid +far up in the foliage. There were brief smiles, but the soldiers had +other things to think of at that moment. The French moved forward +about five hundred yards and began digging themselves in; in other +words, digging temporary trenches. + +"The Germans already had begun shooting, the French quickly +retaliating. The former were in larger numbers than the French captain +had believed them to be. Lucien was still up the tree, peering out, +his eyes large and frightened. Bullets were clipping the foliage all +about him. He did not realize this at first, but finally, when he did, +he slid down the tree in a hurry and hid behind it. + +"Scouts were hastening back to the rear with messages from the +captain, who had sent for assistance, seeing that the German force was +too large for him to hold off indefinitely. + +"Night came on and the firing died down. There had been very few +losses. During the night a large detachment of French troops joined +the captain's force and early on the following morning the battle was +resumed with great fury. Lucien had slept in a tree all night. His +captain told him to go back home, but this the boy, for some reason of +his own, did not care to do. + +"Early in the day the Germans, who also had entrenched themselves, +came over the top and drove the French back, taking some prisoners and +killing many. Lucien, who was hiding up in a tree, found himself +between the lines, high and dry, as it were. He made himself as small +as possible up there and gazed wonderingly at the furious battle that +was being fought beneath him. Late in the forenoon the French drove +the Prussians back. The boy took advantage of the opportunity to get +down from the tree and get behind his own lines. It was observed, +however, that he kept always within reach of a tree. + +"Men were falling out there on the field. Plucking up courage, Lucien +went out with some stretcher bearers and helped gather up the wounded, +but there were not enough of the stretcher bearers to properly care +for the wounded; even stretchers were scarce. In the excitement of the +work Lucien forgot his fears. The lad was resourceful and, recognizing +the necessity for getting the wounded from the field, began to cast +about for some means of solving this problem. + +"'Ah! A wheelbarrow. The very thing,' he cried. The wheelbarrow +belonged to the farmhouse near the field, from which the occupants had +run away when the troops came. Lucien quickly possessed himself of the +barrow and proudly marched out on the field pushing the barrow ahead +of him. By tipping it up on one side he was able to roll a wounded man +in, not very gently, but he loaded his man in just the same and, red +of face, pushed the vehicle ahead of him and back to the first-aid +dressing station, where he slid his passenger to the ground, leaving +him for the surgeons to attend to and then trotted back to the field. + +"Artillery had been brought up by both sides and shells were bursting +overhead, though none had fallen near the little Frenchman. + +"Lucien picked up a wounded man near the edge of the battlefield and +began wheeling the victim down the road. The going was better there +and he was enabled to make more rapid progress. Pausing for a rest he +eyed his passenger suspiciously. + +"'Who are you?' he demanded. + +"'I am a Prussian officer.' The officer was so wounded in both legs +that he could not stand. + +"Lucien's face flushed. + +"'A Prussian officer!' he cried. 'I ought to dump you out and leave +you. A Prussian--bah!' + +"'I am losing strength. Please give me help,' urged the officer. + +"'Yes, Herr Officer, I'll help you. You are a human being even if you +are a Prussian. Here we go again.' Grasping the handles of the +barrow, the lad started on a run with the wounded man. + +"A shell burst in the road just ahead of him. Quickly dropping his +homely vehicle, little Lucien ran for a tree and shinned up it without +loss of time. His passenger had slid out into the road when the barrow +tipped over on its side. + +"'Herr Officer, who did that?' + +"'It was a Prussian shell. Take me away before they hit me,' begged +the officer. + +"'Why don't you tell them to stop? It's your people who are shooting +at you. They must want to be rid of you. I--' + +"A shell struck the tree, well down toward its base. The jolt nearly +shook the boy from his perch in a crotch of the tree. Very slowly at +first, then with increasing speed the tree began to fall. It came down +with a mighty crash, hurling little Lucien some distance ahead of it. +He was bruised and shaken and for a few minutes he lay where he had +fallen, groaning. + +"Suddenly he sprang to his feet and started to run toward the rear. +The faint voice of the German officer called to him to come back, +which brought Lucien to a standstill. + +"'Maybe he is afraid, too,' reflected the lad. 'I must get him.' And +get him he did. Running back, he loaded the wounded man on the barrow +and ran with him all the way to the rear. + +"'See! I have taken a Boche,' he cried, staggering up to the dressing +station. 'I shall now go get another one.' This he did. He was taking +a new interest in his work, and thereafter made no distinction between +Germans and Frenchmen in his work of mercy. + +"All during that desperate fighting little Lucien was a familiar +figure on the battlefield. He really performed many heroic deeds. Now +and then, overcome by fright, he would dash for a tree, but these +flights were becoming fewer. He began to feel a pride in the work he +was doing and this pride of achievement and the new spirit of +patriotism that had been aroused within him served to keep him up and +gave him new courage. Before that day of suffering came to an end +there was none on the battlefield more heroic and courageous than +little Lucien. + +"How many wounded men the lad had rescued from the field of battle no +one knew, but there were many of them, among them two majors and three +captains. + +"Just before nightfall the French made a great charge. Lucien was well +out between the lines when the charge started. The Germans put down a +'curtain of fire,' hoping in this way to stop the charge. And little +Lucien and his wheelbarrow were fairly caught in it. A shell hit the +barrow and blew it, with a wounded soldier, into bits. Lucien was +hurled into the air and fell several yards away. His own comrades +charged right over him as they passed. Those near enough to hear +caught a faint cry from the lad. + +"'Vive la France!' were the words they heard him utter. + +"Stretcher bearers, following the charging men, picked the lad up and +tenderly bore him back. They saw that he was mortally wounded. While +they were dressing his wounds, Lucien tugged feebly at the surgeon's +blouse. The surgeon leaned over, for the little fellow's voice was +very weak. + +"'Lucien will climb no more trees,' murmured the lad. + +"'No, my brave boy,' answered the surgeon. + +"'Is Lucien brave, monsieur?' + +"'There are no braver. The deeds of valor you have this day performed +will live long after you, little soldier.' + +"A smile that was radiant with happiness appeared on the face of the +dying boy. + +"'Lucien is no longer a coward,' he repeated several times. 'No longer +a coward. Vive la France!' he cried, half raising himself. + +"The surgeon gently laid him back and kissed the lad on both cheeks, +but Lucien did not know. He was beyond the touch of human sympathy." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE HERO OF THE GUNS + + +"The patriotism of nearly all these children of France is something +that you boys and girls cannot fully understand. No one can unless he +has seen it displayed, as I have, in many instances," said Captain +Favor. + +"For instance, there is a little story of 'The Hero of the Guns,' as +he was called. His name was Mattia, and though only twelve years old, +he was determined to go to war and fight for France. This boy had only +his mother left, his two brothers being already in the war and his +father having fallen a victim to the Prussians when they raided the +village in which Mattia's parents then lived. + +"For a long time the lad had been studying a map of France until he +possessed a very clear idea of the territory held by the Germans, as +well as that where his countrymen were fighting. He talked over these +things with the old men of the village and learned much from them. + +"One day when he thought he knew the country well enough, this little +patriot ran away from home and was well on his way to join his +brothers when his absence was discovered. + +"Mattia's mother appealed to the police but it was not until the +following day that he was found and returned to his home. He had gone +more than twenty miles on his journey when the police got him. + +"'Unhappy child!' cried the boy's mother when he had been restored to +her. 'Why did you do this? Did you not know the danger into which you +were running? You might have been killed by German raiders or taken +captive and carried to their own country and made to work, with barely +enough food to keep you alive.' + +"'My mother,' answered the boy bravely, 'when France is in danger, +everyone, boy or man, should go to her aid just as my brothers have +done, and as my father did, and gave up his life for his country. I, +too, must go.' + +"'Yes, but they were men while you are but a child, Mattia.' + +"'Other mothers' sons have gone to war, mother; other mothers' sons +will never come back. They have been shot in the war.' + +"Mattia's mother, however, refused to give her consent, and the little +patriot was obliged to remain at home, yet with his purpose of +fighting for France still firmly fixed in his mind. One day he would +go, he told himself, and one day he would show them that even a child +could do a man's part. + +"Early in the following spring Mattia's mother grew ill and died. The +little fellow grieved for her until his face grew wan and pale. He was +now left in the care of an uncle who was not very kind to him. After +a month had passed in which Mattia had continued his study of the war +map, he determined to leave the home of his uncle and once more try to +reach his brothers. + +"One evening a troop train halted at the little village. This was the +boy's opportunity. Watching his chance, he slipped into one of the +coaches and crawled up to the luggage rack and lay down, making +himself as inconspicuous as possible. But, alas, he was discovered and +dragged out by a station employe who had seen him enter the car. + +"This ended Mattia's going to war for some time to come. He found no +opportunity to do so until nearly a month later, when he decided to +leave his uncle's home again and take his chances. This time he +planned well and carefully. Providing himself with food he set out one +evening after he was supposed to be in bed and asleep, and, proceeding +to the railroad, started walking along it. This, he had found, was the +most direct route to the front. + +"Mattia's uncle did not take enough interest in his nephew's +disappearance to have a search made for him. For days after that the +lad continued his journey on foot, stopping at farmhouses and doing +little odd jobs that were the means of providing meals for him. One +day, to his great happiness, he came up with the rear of one of the +armies of his beloved country. + +"The boy plodded in among the troops, for this was a rest camp that he +had stumbled upon, some miles distant from the front. An officer, +observing that he was a civilian, halted him in the street of the +village where the rest camp was situated. + +"'Where are you going, boy?' the officer demanded. + +"'To the war with you,' answered Mattia promptly. + +"'What! To war, at your age? It is impossible. Where is your home?' + +"Mattia told him. + +"'My mother is dead, as is my father, and my brothers are fighting at +Verdun. Mattia has only his country left to love now. Where is +Verdun?' + +"'You poor little patriot,' answered the officer sympathetically. +'Verdun is yonder where you see the smoke and where the big guns are +in action. You can hear them now.' + +"The boy nodded. + +"'But you are too young to fight. It is not permissible. Wait! You +have no family left at home?' + +"'None, sir, save my uncle, who does not want me,' + +"'And you wish to stay here?' + +"'No, sir, I wish to fight.' + +"'That cannot be, but if you wish you may remain here. If you can work +there is much that you can do in the rear and thus serve your country +well. All men who serve their country are not in the trenches. Many +are serving heroically who have not yet heard the roar of the big +guns.' + +"'What shall I do here?' + +"'Help the cooks, do little services for the officers--whatever you +may find to do. But, my son, remember you are not to try to go near +the firing line. It is not for children to be there. You do not know +what the soldiers suffer there. They must be strong and they must be +old enough to stand the terrible strain.' + +"'I care not for that. I want to fight,' replied Mattia with +determination. 'I am strong and I can endure as long as can the men. I +know, for I have worked with men. Where shall I eat and sleep?' + +"The officer told him he would speak to the mess sergeant and that the +latter would provide him with food, and would arrange for the lad to +lodge in one of the buildings where soldiers slept when off duty. + +"That was satisfactory to little Mattia. He was happy, for he was with +the army, and that night the roar of the distant artillery lulled him +to sleep. It was sweet music to him. 'Tomorrow I shall fight like the +Frenchman I am,' he murmured as he dropped off to sleep. + +"It was many days later, however, before he got the chance to take +part in actual fighting. Even that came about by chance. He had been +sent back to carry a message to the lieutenant in a high-angle gun +squad--" + +"What is that?" interjected Joe Funk. + +"I should have explained. That is what the outfit that handles the +anti-aircraft guns, the men who stay on the ground and shoot at +airplanes, is called. He was permitted to stand by and watch the +operations of the squad. Pretty soon he was assisting them by running +back and bringing up the long, slender projectiles that the gun, +pointed toward the skies, fired. He enjoyed watching the kick of the +piece and the way it ejected the case of the shell after the +projectile had soared on its way to the clouds. + +"Mattia proved himself very useful that day and earned the thanks of +the ammunition carriers for his help. He was quick and never stumbled +or dropped a shell. + +"That night he slept on the ground near the gun, which was silent all +through the night. Early in the morning he was awakened by the sharp +report of the weapon. Quickly springing up, he saw, high in the air, a +black speck which he knew to be an enemy airplane, because the gun +squad was firing at it. + +"Once more Mattia took up his work of carrying ammunition. Something +tremendous exploded not far from the squad. + +"'The Boches are bombing us,' cried a soldier. The lad knew from that +that the airplane, so far above them, was dropping bombs to destroy +the gun and its squad. The only effect of the bombing, however, was to +knock down several men, Mattia among the number, by the shock of an +exploding bomb. + +"'They're coming down!' yelled the lad as the airplane grew larger. + +"'It's a hit!' cried the lieutenant in command. + +"Mattia saw the airplane turning over and over, falling, soaring like +a leaf from a tree in the fall. + +"'Di--did we hi--hit him?' questioned the lad. + +"'Of course we hit him,' answered a soldier. 'Don't you see him +coming?' + +"For the first time the little French lad realized what war was. He +knew there was one man, and perhaps two, in that falling machine, and +that he was watching them falling to what would probably be death. + +"'It is for France,' he said to himself. 'If they are Boches they must +die.' However, Mattia did not get the picture of that scene out of his +mind for a long time. Later on he became used to it and did not even +marvel. + +"One day the gun squad was sent to another point a long distance away +and the lad returned to the rest camp. He now felt himself to be a +well-seasoned soldier and talked of high-angle guns as volubly as +could an experienced gunner. Still, he had not yet reached the +realization of his ambitions. He tried often to steal away to the +trenches, but in each instance was stopped and turned back. + +"While in billets he fell in with a machine-gun company and became +much interested in what they told him of the perilous work of that +branch of the service. He concluded that this work would suit him +better than the anti-aircraft service. While the latter squads +ordinarily were located behind the lines, the machine gunners were up +where there was trouble all the time. To join a machine-gun company +was not so easy. + +"Mattia's chance came one night. A company of machine gunners was +ordered to a remote point on the line, a journey of some fifteen +miles, where they were to establish a new emplacement, temporarily, to +clean out a nest of Prussians. The lad listened to what the men had to +say about their proposed journey and the work they expected to have to +do with the keenest interest. + +"'I too shall go,' he decided, but he told no one of his intention. +Instead, he waited until the men were well started, then followed +them. There was no difficulty about this, as they did not have to pass +any sentries on the way. + +"Shells frequently fell near them, many soared over their heads with +weird moanings. He was getting so familiar with the sound of shells +that he could tell the kind of shell that was passing by the noise +made by it. + +"Along toward the middle of the night the machine gunners reached +their destination. Mattia did not show himself until the soldiers +began preparing an emplacement for their gun. This emplacement was +located in a clump of bushes, in which they dug a short trench, +carrying the dirt far to the rear, so the enemy airplanes might not +discover that the earth had been turned over there. + +"The lieutenant in command discovered him and Mattia spent a few most +uncomfortable minutes in trying to explain why he was there. + +"'I know this boy, sir,' volunteered a sergeant. 'He is with the army +and he is always very useful. Why not, sir, let him remain in case we +need to send a messenger back?' + +"'Very good,' answered the lieutenant, after brief reflection. 'But +understand, boy, you must keep out of sight. In the daytime I want you +to go over yonder in those bushes and lie down and don't dare to show +yourself unless I give you permission.' + +"To these orders Mattia made no response. None was expected. All the +rest of the night he assisted in carrying back dirt in bags and +dumping it in a gully where it could not be seen from up in the air. +In addition to the parallel trench one was dug back through the soft +ground as a sort of communicating trench. The lad wondered how that +trench could be dug there without the enemy's seeing it, but when the +men began to plant bushes along its sides, permitting the branches to +droop over the trench, he saw the idea of the plan. This was +camouflage. + +"It was nearly daybreak when he and some of his comrades made their +way to the rear and went to sleep. When he awakened the sun was +shining brightly. Forgetful of his orders, he entered the +communicating trench and walked forward. He was amazed to find another +trench leading into the communicating trench. He asked a soldier about +it. + +"'Say, Mattia, do you think this squad is the only one in France?' +asked the soldier. 'There are other machine-gun units out here. Of +course, we know where they are and the officers know what we are going +to do. Peek through these bushes.' + +"'Boches!' gasped the lad. + +"'That is right, Mattia. They do not know we are here.' + +"'Why don't you shoot at them?' + +"'We are not ready, or rather, they are not.' + +"The Germans were digging a trench on a rise of ground, where they +always try to place them, instead of on low ground, about half a mile +away. Mattia peered at them, looking through the bushes, until he was +ordered by an officer to go back and bring up the breakfast for the +men. Thus the little Frenchman was given to understand that he was one +of them. The officer in command either had forgotten his orders to the +boy of the previous night, or else had decided to use him so long as +no fighting was going on. + +"There was much about the work that Mattia did not understand. He now +knew that there were other French detachments close at hand, but he +neither saw nor heard them. The others, undoubtedly, were camouflaged +just as his detachment was. + +"So secretly, however, had the French worked that the Germans did not +appear even to suspect the presence of the enemy. This secrecy was +maintained for two more days, Mattia in the meantime having been +initiated into the mystery of the machine gun. He was allowed by a +friendly sergeant to handle the gun and go through the motions of +firing it and putting in a fresh string of shells. It was a delight to +him. + +"On the morning of the third day he was ordered to remain behind in a +dugout that had been built. He knew by this that an action was at +hand. + +"It came about nine o'clock in the morning, when a company of French +soldiers came marching down the field in plain view of the Germans, +though no Germans were in sight. He did not know that these +infantrymen were a decoy, a part of the plan of the French to draw the +enemy down within easy range of their machine guns. + +"Rifles began to crackle from the Prussian trenches, and to his +amazement, after firing a few rounds in reply, the French infantrymen +ran for the cover of the brush. He saw the reason for this a moment +later when a big troop of German cavalry topped the rise of ground and +swept on toward the French, followed by the charging infantry of +the Germans." + +[Illustration: HIS FIRE SAVED THE DAY.] + +"Some time since, Mattia had slipped from his dugout. He was +determined to miss nothing of what was going on. He saw his own +infantrymen take to the communicating trenches and disappear, plainly +as a part of the plan. + +"Then the machine guns began to play. The mounted German detachment +was close upon them before the hidden French machine guns opened up. +All down the line to the right he could hear French machine guns +pouring their fire into the approaching horsemen. Those who were not +killed or who had not fallen wounded from their horses were turned +back. + +"Mattia, in his excitement, crawled along one side of the +communicating trench toward the machine-gun emplacement. He was +shocked to see that more than half of his machine-gun crew already +were dead or wounded. Now the German artillery, which he could not +see, began shelling the French positions. A shell exploded in the +trench occupied by his comrades, and Mattia was hurled violently into +the communicating trench. + +"When the smoke had cleared away Mattia ran forward. The machine gun +was silent, though others down the line were very busy. It was a +strange sight for a boy to gaze upon. All his comrades were now lying +in the trench, either killed or badly wounded. + +"The German infantry, in close formation--meaning close together--was +coming on steadily. Down the line the French were holding them back, +but in Mattia's trench there was no opposition. + +"The boy collected his wits, uttered a gasp, then sprang to the silent +machine gun. A half-used strip of shells was in the gun and other +strips were close at hand. + +"Little Mattia began to work the machine gun. He swept the field with +it as far as it would reach to the right and the left, sending a rain +of bullets into the enemy. Even after the strip was exhausted he kept +on working the gun, not realizing that it was out of cartridges. +Discovering this finally, he reloaded and began firing again. + +"His fire saved the day for the French, because, had Mattia failed to +serve the gun, the Germans soon would have broken through the line and +that would have lost the battle for the French. + +"At last the German line began to waver; it stopped, then began a +retreat on the run, followed by the bullets of the machine gunners. +Mattia was yelling and whooping as he pumped away with his weapon, +elevating its muzzle a little from time to time that he might be sure +to reach the fleeing men. + +"Shells had been bursting about him all the time and were still +bursting. + +"The French machine-gun fire from other trenches stopped almost as +suddenly as it had begun. Then something happened to little Mattia. +Another shell landed in his trench and burst with a deafening +explosion. The lad fell forward on his gun and lay still. + +"They found him there later, unconscious, badly wounded, his hand +still on the trigger of the gun he had worked with such success. He +was carried back to the rest billet and thence to a hospital. +Everywhere the story of the boy's heroism had preceded him. + +"One day as he lay in his cot, now well on the road to recovery, some +officers, guided by an orderly, entered the ward where he lay and +halted at his cot. The officer in charge of the party, who proved to +be a general, made a little speech to the wounded boy, then pinned the +Cross of War on his breast and finished by kissing him on both cheeks. + +"Mattia had won his reward, and though he would never fight again, he +was a happy boy. He had served his country well and had bled for her +and had won an honor that comes to few." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +MARIE THE COURAGEOUS + + +"The Padre and his little niece, an orphan of twelve, lived on the +outskirts of a French village that had been taken by the Germans," +began Captain Favor, resuming his story telling for the children. + +"Marie, for that was her name, was a patriot if there ever was one. +Every fibre of her being was for France, and one could see the fires +of patriotism flaming in her eyes. That is the sort of patriotism, +Joe, that no fear of death can dim." + +Joe Funk nodded approvingly. His own patriotism had been stirred by +these tales of the heroism of the children of France. + +"While the French were in possession of the village in the early days +of the war, an officer of that army made his headquarters with the +Padre and his niece," continued Captain Favor. "He became very fond of +the child. Captain Grivelet was his name and, recognizing in Marie a +true patriot, he had explained many things to her about the war, so +that, for a child so young, Marie was able to form a very clear idea +of the situation of the two armies. + +"There were, of course, many army secrets of which Captain Grivelet +never spoke. He, too, was a patriot, you see, as he should be. Having +asked permission to store some of his personal equipment in the +Padre's cellar, they thought nothing of his going down there +frequently. Now and then Marie was certain she heard him talking to +some one down there. + +"One day, after the Prussians had pushed the French back close to the +village--this was before the Germans took the village, you +understand--Captain Grivelet had a talk with Marie. + +"'Marie, knowing that you are French in your heart and soul, I shall +confide certain secrets to you. Are you willing to serve your +country?' + +"'Yes, monsieur le Capitaine. Always, and with my life, if necessary.' + +"'Bravely spoken. You may do as your judgment dictates about repeating +what I shall tell you to the Padre, your uncle. But for the sake of +his safety I should advise that you keep your own secrets. Such +secrecy will not bring dishonor upon you, for it is in behalf of your +country.' + +"'I understand, monsieur. You may trust Marie. She is a loyal French +girl and will continue to be so no matter what comes.' + +"The captain nodded approvingly. + +"'Whether or not we shall be able to hold our lines here seems +doubtful. At least we fear the Prussians, in large force as they are, +may temporarily drive us back. But it will not be for long. We shall +recover our ground. Even now we are entrenching ourselves to the rear. +When that time comes, Marie, you and the Padre will be in peril, for +the French probably will have to shell the village. We hope it may +not come to that. What I would ask you is, do you and your uncle wish +to go to the rear while there is yet time, so you may be safe?' + +"'There is reason for believing, monsieur le Capitaine, that Marie may +be of use to her beloved France here?' she questioned. + +"'Yes; that is what I would say.' + +"'It is not necessary to ask, monsieur.' + +"'You will understand that it is better that I do not speak to the +Padre, your uncle. You may do so, and you will the better be able to +judge how to speak to him, though as I already have advised, for the +sake of his safety he should not be involved. You will not be afraid, +Marie?' + +"'No, monsieur.' + +"'It is well. You have seen me go to the cellar, many times, where I +store my equipment. This equipment I shall remove today, but in the +cellar you will find--' + +"At this instant a shell landed in the street and exploded with a +roar. It was followed by other shells that swept on to the rear and +fell beyond the village. A bugle somewhere down the street blew +insistently. The captain sprang to his feet. + +"'Marie, I shall see you later. I am called. You will be prudent and +be careful of your life?' + +"'Yes, monsieur.' + +"The captain hurried out and that was the last the brave little French +girl heard of him for some time afterward. All day the battle raged +and shells fell in the village, many times the Padre's house being +showered with bursting shrapnel and shell splinters. It was a stout +little stone house and withstood this storm of steel, save as now and +then a splinter from a shell tore through the blinds and imbedded +itself in the wall. + +"In the meantime Marie had gone out, unmindful of the danger, to fetch +her uncle home. The Padre was in his church, but Marie made him come +home. Reaching there, she said: + +"'My uncle, the Germans may come and we shall be in their power. Is it +your wish to remain here or to go to the rear where you will be safe?' + +"'I shall remain here, my child. Perhaps it would be well for you to +go to the rear and be under the protection of the French, for the +Prussians are beasts!' + +"'With your permission, my uncle, I shall stay here with you. I shall +not leave you.' + +"It is well. If the Prussians come I shall speak with them, and +perhaps they will leave the Padre and his niece to themselves. But +they shall not make us Prussians; we shall still be loyal to our +beloved France.' + +"'Yes, uncle, but it will be well that you have a care as to what you +say and do. Please heed what Marie says, for she knows whereof she +speaks.' + +"All that day the battle raged and the Padre and Marie remained in +their home, except now and then when the child went out to watch the +progress of the battle, for their house was on high ground commanding +an excellent view of the battlefield. The field, however, was so +covered with smoke that few of the details of what was going on out +there were observable. + +"With darkness the battle still continued. Later on there was rifle +fire in the street, and, acting upon the Padre's suggestion, uncle and +niece took refuge in their cellar, for the bullets were beginning to +spatter on the walls within the house. + +"It was near daylight when the firing died down, whereupon the Padre +and Marie came upstairs and went to bed for a few hours' sleep. + +"They were rudely awakened by a violent pounding on the door. It was +Marie who sprang up at the sound and who opened the door. Confronting +her was a German soldier, armed with a rifle. The girl did not quail. + +"'Is this the Padre's home?' he demanded gruffly. + +"'It is.' + +"'The Prussians are now in control of this village and the inhabitants +will govern themselves accordingly. We shall search your house. Then, +if you behave yourselves, you will be permitted to remain here and to +go out in the daytime, as usual. All food that is asked for by the +soldiers shall be given to them without question, but any attempt to +communicate with the enemy, the slightest disobedience of the orders +of the commander, will be punished by death.' + +"The soldier beckoned to several other soldiers who were in the +background and ordered them to search the house. This they did with +thoroughness. Marie had forgotten about the equipment of Captain +Grivelet in the cellar, but it was brought home to her with a shock +when the searchers came up bearing the stuff the French officer had +left. The soldier in charge eyed the Padre and his niece sternly. He +demanded to know to whom this equipment belonged. + +"Marie very frankly told him that an officer had requested permission +to leave the equipment there, and had slept in the house. Beyond that +she knew nothing, nor did she know what his luggage contained. + +"'I shall report this to my commander. I know not what he will do, but +giving aid to the enemy is a serious matter,' he warned. Then the +soldiers went away. That day neither the Padre nor Marie left the +house. Late in the afternoon an officer entered and questioned them +sharply, finally leaving, apparently satisfied with their answers. The +two were not disturbed again. + +"Next day the Padre went to his church and Marie went out to do her +marketing. She was unmolested, though soldiers frequently spoke to her +jokingly, to all of which she smiled and made some bright reply. + +"That night as she sat thinking in her room in the dark, her +conversation with Captain Grivelet suddenly came back to her. He had +been about to tell her something of importance, something that he +wished her to do for her people. + +"'The cellar!' exclaimed the child. + +"Snatching up a candle, she hurried below and holding the light above +her head, surveyed the low-ceilinged cellar keenly. + +"'I see nothing,' murmured the girl. 'But surely there is something +here. It could not have been in the equipment that the Germans carried +away with them, for they searched the Captain's belongings and found +nothing. That I plainly saw with my own eyes.' + +"Marie gave up her quest and, returning to her room, went to bed. The +greater part of the night she lay awake, disturbed now and then by +vollies of rifle shots, which she interpreted with a shudder. Some of +her neighbors were meeting a terrible fate, a fate that yet might be +hers or her uncle's, or both. + +"On the following morning, after a soldier had visited their home and +again searched it, Marie, still troubled by her failure to find that +which the French captain had started to confide in her, locked the +door after the Padre's departure for his church, and once more went to +the cellar. + +"This time her search was thorough, but she discovered nothing. +Sitting down in the middle of the cellar, with her candle placed on +the floor at one side, she gazed about her. A shadow cast by the +candlelight on the cellar wall seemed to make it appear that one of +the stones projected outward further than the others. + +"Marie got up to examine the stone. Closer examination verified this +surmise. She uttered a little exclamation when, upon taking hold of +the stone, it moved. Marie pulled and the stone came out easily. + +"'Oh!' cried the child. + +"There, before her eyes, tucked into the opening, was a telephone. The +child stared at it with wide open eyes. This, plainly, was what the +French captain wished to tell her about when he was interrupted by the +bugle summons and called away to a service from which he did not +return. But what was it that he wished her to do with the telephone? + +"'I have it!' she cried exultingly. 'It was that he wished the little +Marie to tell him what the Prussians were doing. At last the way is +opened for her to serve her country. But--' The child, with a wisdom +beyond her years, knew what the penalty would be if she were +discovered. 'I care not. If I shall have served my France I can die +with a brave heart!' + +"Taking the telephone in her hands--hands that did not even tremble, +Marie called a soft 'hello!' There was no response. Again and again +she tried, but without result. Finally the child gave it up and went +back upstairs. + +"The thought of the telephone drew her again to the cellar. Again she +called her soft 'hello.' + +"The answer came back in French with a suddenness that nearly caused +her to drop the telephone. + +"'Who is speaking?' she asked in as firm a voice as she could summon. + +"'Whom do you wish?' + +"'I would speak with Captain Grivelet' + +"'He is not here. I cannot reach him.' + +"'It is important. Find him and tell him that the little Marie would +speak with him. Tell him to come at ten o'clock this evening and Marie +will be here at the telephone. He will understand.' + +"Marie put back the telephone and carefully closed the opening. Now +she had a distinct mission to perform, and, throwing a scarf over her +head, she went out to the street. Marie was very bright of face and +very friendly with the German soldiers. No obstacle was placed in the +way of her going where she liked. That day she used her eyes and ears +to good advantage and they saw and heard many things. What especially +interested her was the massing of German troops in the forest to the +west of the village. She heard of this through a conversation between +two officers. There also was great activity behind the lines. There +the Germans were building entrenchments, which she could plainly see +from the windows of her home. + +"The child knew that what she had observed was important, but just how +important, of course, she could not know. + +"Promptly at ten o'clock that night, after the Padre had gone fast +asleep, Marie hastened to the cellar and again called over the +telephone. Captain Grivelet was quickly summoned. + +"'It is the little Marie speaking,' she called excitedly. + +"'My brave child,' answered the captain. 'I knew you would find the +way. We are defeated, but not for long, for the French are being +reinforced and are angry. Can you safely go out into the street +tomorrow and then let me know what they are doing?' + +"'I already have been out, monsieur le Capitaine, and I have seen.' + +"'I beg of you to be careful. You are in great peril. If the Boches +discover that you are in communication with us they will shoot you.' + +"'I fear them not. But I must hasten. Listen!' Marie then told the +captain all that she had learned, interrupted frequently by +exclamations of approval from the officer at the other end. + +"'Wait!' she called. 'Hold, for I hear movement above.' + +"A few minutes later Marie returned to the telephone. 'Down in the +middle of the village are many soldiers. I know not why they are +gathering there, but I think perhaps they may be going to shoot some +of our noble Frenchmen.' + +"'Down by the square?' questioned the captain. + +"'Yes.' + +"'Put away your telephone and go to the floor above. Watch the square +and you shall see what the French gunners can do. The people are in +their houses?' + +"'Yes, monsieur, they dare not go out at night. It is forbidden.' + +"'Good! Do as I have directed, and go no more to the telephone until +tomorrow night at this time, unless something of importance develops, +then call for me. I shall leave orders to be summoned immediately.' + +"Not fully understanding what the captain was about to do, the child +hastened upstairs and, opening the door slightly, peered down the +street. + +"It was at this moment that a giant shell from a French battery +exploded fairly in the middle of the square, with a terrific shock and +roar. It was followed by several other heavy explosions. Then silence +settled over the night. + +"This silence, however, did not last for long. The forest in which so +many German troops were being massed was bombarded all through the +night, as were the entrenchments to the rear of the village where the +enemy was busily engaged in fortifying themselves. + +"The child shuddered. She was troubled. + +"'It is for France that I have done this,' she said to comfort +herself. 'Already the Prussians have killed many here, and for what? +For nothing save that they are French. It is terrible.' + +"On the following day Marie picked up further information. She also +learned that the Germans had suffered heavily from the previous +night's bombardment, and that they were amazed at the exact +information possessed by the French. + +"Each night the child spoke with the French captain over the +telephone, and each night the French obtained information of great +value to them. Though Marie did not know it, the Germans had by this +time satisfied themselves that some one in the village was +communicating with the French forces, and a careful watch was being +kept on every inhabitant of the place. Marie, all ignorant of this, +continued to keep the French informed of the movements of the enemy. + +"One night, after a day of heavy fighting on both sides, during which +the Germans had been slowly pushed back, Marie was giving Captain +Grivelet her report of the operations on the German side for that day. +She had communicated everything down to the smallest detail and was +just replacing the telephone in its niche when she thought she heard a +sound behind her. Marie turned quickly. + +"The child's head grew dizzy; she nearly fainted with fright, for +there, gazing sternly at her, stood a Prussian officer. + +"'So! This is it?' + +"Marie did not answer. She could not. + +"'For this you shall be shot. Stand back. Give me that telephone!' + +"Snatching it from her hands he got the French headquarters, though he +did not know to whom he was speaking. + +"'Speaking to you is a Prussian major,' he said in French. 'He has +just discovered why the French have been so fully informed. The spy +who has thus informed you is the Padre's niece. She dies tonight!' + +"With that the major wrenched the telephone from its wires and ripped +the wires out, leaving the outside wires, that were underground, for +his engineers to destroy. Marie, eyes now flashing, was led from her +home and taken to the office of the general commanding the operations +there. Soon after her arrival her uncle came, in charge of two +soldiers. Then the examination began. Not one bit of information would +the girl give. At last the commanding officer turned to the Padre. + +"'It is my belief that you are responsible for this spying. It is not +my wish to shoot a Padre, but you shall be taken out and shot +immediately!' + +"'No, no, no!' cried Marie, now thoroughly aroused. 'He knows nothing +of what has been done. I swear it, monsieur! It is Marie who has +informed the French of what the hated Prussians were doing. I--' + +"'Ah! You admit it! It is well. Take her away. Take the Padre away +also, but keep them separated.' + +"Marie left the commander with head erect and eyes flashing. Her only +concern was for her uncle, whom she feared would be shot. She had no +doubts about herself Of course, they would shoot her and she gloried +in the thought that she was to die for France. + +"After her departure the Prussian general devoted several minutes to +deep thought. + +"'Of course, Herr General, she will be shot,' said the major who had +made the capture. + +"'No!' answered the commander, with emphasis. + +"'Not shot?' questioned the officer in amazement. + +"'No. She shall be sent to the camp at Metz and imprisoned for the +duration of the war. The Padre also shall be sent to the rear and held +during the rest of the war.' + +"'Herr General, may I ask why, when both should be executed without +delay?' + +"'Because, major, I dislike to put a Padre to death, and further, I +am satisfied that the girl told the truth when she said that he knew +nothing of this affair. He is a simple-minded man. But the girl!' The +general shrugged his shoulders like a Frenchman. 'She is keen as a new +saber.' + +"'And knowing well what she was doing she should be shot,' insisted +the major. + +"'I have a daughter of her age,' replied the general, slowly. 'This +child is so like her that I should feel like murdering my own were I +to order her shot. Major, I cannot do it. See that my orders are +carried out. I shall explain my action in this matter to my superiors +for their approval.' + +"That ended it. It was an unusual thing for a Prussian to do and +perhaps the only instance in the war where so much human sympathy was +shown to a spy. Marie was taken to the prison at Metz, where she was +kept from that time on. She suffered great hardships. There was little +food and her treatment was harsh, so that her days were a misery and +her nights a nightmare. + +"A long time elapsed ere Captain Grivelet learned, through the Red +Cross, what had become of the child. His sorrow had been keen, for he +believed that she had been executed. The Padre was still in a prison +camp the last I heard of the case. I hope the beautiful little patriot +and her uncle may be reunited some day. But Marie has served her +country nobly and if she ever comes back she will be splendidly +rewarded by her government," said the captain, in conclusion. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +CONCLUSION + + +"My dear children," said Captain Favor, "there are not many more +things to tell you. I knew of one brave little French lad who was +mortally wounded, when the Germans took the town in which he lived and +shot many of the inhabitants. + +"The little fellow I refer to refused the aid of the German surgeon, +declaring that he preferred to die rather than to accept the aid of a +hated Prussian. + +"Another child lost his life for his refusal to tell a German +commander in which direction a detachment of French troops had gone. +He did this with full knowledge of what would happen to him if he +refused this information. Death were preferable to betraying his own +people. + +"The full story of the deeds of heroism of the children of France +never will be fully told. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of +incidents such as I have described to you, that have occurred over +there. + +"These deeds, this spirit of patriotism and self-sacrifice should be a +great lesson to us in America, whether we be young or old. You +children who are growing up have a grave responsibility to help your +fellows make patriotism a part of their lives. I know you will do, +with the lesson of the French children in mind, all you can. America +has need of patriotism, and she will have need of more in the years to +come. Start something, boys and girls, and keep the fires of +patriotism burning." + +"We will!" cried the children, with Joe Funk's voice heard above all +the rest. + +"Perhaps one of these days I shall have some other stories to tell +you. I think I have told you enough stories to last for some time. I +have told you only such little stories as I know to be true, and here +we will stop. Come in to see me any time you feel like it. I shall go +to New York in a few days to see a big, big surgeon who thinks perhaps +he may put my leg in shape so that I shall walk as well as ever." + +"Then, then," said Joe, "I'll bet that you will be going back to the +army." + +"I'll bet you win, Joe," answered the captain, laughingly. "For the +present, au revoir." + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Children of France, by Ruth Royce + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHILDREN OF FRANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 16437.txt or 16437.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/4/3/16437/ + +Produced by Michelle Croyle, Sankar Viswanathan and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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