commander had been deceived, little Jeanne had not told him an
untruth. She knew the French soldiers had been at the farmhouse three
days before, for she had taken food to them, but she did not know of
her own knowledge that they still were there. If she did not tell the
officer the whole truth it was because he had not asked her, and for
the sake of her beloved France she would not volunteer information
that would aid the Germans.

"'Betrayed!' raged the Prussian when he saw how neatly he had been
tricked. He groaned when a volley rang out from the house and several
of his lancers fell.

"His men made a frantic rush for their horses; then, when they
discovered that the gate was locked and that they were caught, they
threw up their hands and surrendered to the foe that they had not yet
seen.

"The French made everyone of the lancers a prisoner. Several had been
wounded, but none was killed.

"Credit was given to little Jeanne for placing the lancers in the
hands of the French soldiers, for had she not done this the French
would have attacked the Prussians in the open and might have lost many
men in the fight that would have followed.

"For her part in this fine capture little Jeanne in time received a
letter from the President of the French Republic, thanking her in the
name of France for her quick wit and for her heroism."