"'Please my child, do not think of such a thing,' begged the mother.
'You know you might be killed.'

"'Should not a Frenchman be happy to die for his country, my mother?'

"The argument was a good one, and Jean saw at once that his mother was
weakening in her opposition.

"'The monsieur lieutenant says I may go if you will let me. Please, my
mother.'

"'Yes, go, my son, if you will, and God be with you,' agreed the
mother finally, clasping the little fellow in her arms and kissing him
again and again. 'Go before I forget my duty to France.'

"Jean ran. He did not stop running until he had reached the camp of
the detachment, where preparations for marching were in active
progress. But Jean hung about at a distance. When the detachment
started away, he, like Remi, fell in behind and followed. Perhaps the
lieutenant--Lieutenant André--saw him, but if so the officer thought
best not to let this be known, either to the boy or to the men.

"That night Jean joined the company of Lieutenant André. A soldier
shared his blanket with the child. The next morning Jean made himself
useful by carrying water, by helping the cooks and by performing other
acts that relieved the soldiers.

"The march was resumed soon after daylight. The lad had a further idea
and this he worked out all during the day. Providing himself with
canteens, which he took from the soldiers of his company, he stopped