on until I have fully obeyed my orders. Time enough for others to
carry them after I am killed. But I shall not be--not until the orders
are in the hands of the commanders in the trenches on this sector.'

"'You cannot walk; you have lost much blood,' protested the captain.

"'It matters not, sir; I can creep. That once was the only way I knew
how to walk.'

"'Then go, my brave lad, and God be with you.'

"Rene saluted formally, though the effort of raising his hand sent
shooting pains all through his body. He climbed laboriously from the
trench and emerged into the bullet-swept plain once more. It was with
a great effort that he even dragged himself along. He felt himself
growing weaker with the moments. Every few yards he was compelled to
lie over on his back for rest and to gain fresh strength for the next
spurt. It required the most heroic courage for one in Rene's condition
to go on. But he grimly stuck to it, creeping wearily along.

"The end of the journey was now in sight, though the way still seemed
long. No longer able to creep, the little messenger began to roll. It
was slow progress and he suffered agonies, but every roll brought him
that much nearer to his destination and the fulfillment of his
mission. At last an officer in a front-line trench discovered him.
Rene made a signal to the officer.

"Just then another huge shell struck the ground near the boy and burst
with a terrific crash and roar that shook the earth for a long
distance all about. The brave child was again hit by a splinter and