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