The children were eagerly waiting to give the Captain a welcome when
he limped out to meet his young friends on the lawn next morning.
There were no tardy ones at these sittings, in fact so interested were
they in the wonderful stories they were hearing, that they nearly
always were ahead of time.

"We shall begin at once with a story that I know will thrill you all,"
said the Captain, as Joe Funk assisted him into his chair.

"The little hero that I shall tell you about today is one of the most
remarkable of the child patriots of France. I think you will agree
with me in that after you have heard the story.

"His name was Rene. Rene had been with the army for some time, though
he was only fourteen years old, making himself useful in many ways and
fighting when he had the opportunity, which was more than seldom. For
valiant service he had been made a corporal, so you may know he
was brave and courageous, for the French do not encourage children
to join their army, much less do they give them men's work and
responsibilities.

"At the time to which I refer, the colonel of Rene's regiment had need
of a man of courage and resource to carry certain important orders to
the commanders in front-line trenches. This was early in the war when
communication had not been worked out as scientifically as it has been
since. For this duty the child offered his services.

"'This mission, I need not tell you, will prove a most perilous one,'
warned the colonel.