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