"'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.'