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The Children of France - A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice of Youthful Patriots of France During the Great War by Ruth Royce
page 42 of 115 (36%)
"'I know it, my colonel. I am ready. I have but one life and that
belongs to France.'

"'Bravely spoken. Now take careful heed to what I have to say to you
so that you forget not the slightest detail of it.' Rene was then
given final and detailed orders added to which was an urgent request
to be careful of himself, for his own sake as well as for that of his
country.

"After repeating his orders, showing that he had them well in mind,
the lad left headquarters, his face radiant with joy at being
entrusted with a mission such as this, a mission that would take him
where he knew death would face him at every step. He had not far to go
before reaching the zone of fire. Shells soon were bursting about him
and machine-gun fire was sweeping the field with a perfect rain of
steel.

"'Bang away all you like,' jeered the little fellow. 'Your voices I
have heard before, but the French have stronger and more deadly voices
than have you.'

"He finally arrived safely at the first trench. You understand he had
been above ground all the time, while the fighters were in the
trenches, where they had more protection. It was the over-fire that he
was obliged to plod through, and you who have never seen a battle do
not realize what a fierce thing this over-fire is. His orders having
been safely delivered, Rene proceeded on his troubled way to the
trench where he was to deliver the second orders.

"The first part of this leg of the journey was more or less screened
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