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.'