"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.