CHAPTER VI

A LITTLE SOLDIER OF FRANCE

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.

“’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.