“This was a keen as well as a cautious captain, and this time he did not pretend to have noticed the incident, but kept on munching his fruit.  While doing so he squinted up at the tree out of the corner of one eye.  He knew he was too far from the tree for the last apple to have fallen on him.  While he was taking a cautious look another apple came out from the foliage of the tree and fell toward him, but the officer, stepping slightly to one side, avoided being hit by it.

“He deliberately drew his revolver from its holster and, turning, aimed at the tree.

“’I think I can shoot the apples off easier than I can shake them down,’ he announced in a loud tone.

“‘Don’t shoot, monsieur l’Officer,’ cried a voice from the tree.

“‘What!  Some one up there?’

“‘Yes, yes.  It is I, Lucien,’ was the reply from the tree.

“‘Come down, Lucien.  I would like to have a look at you,’ ordered the captain.

“A very young boy, red of face and very much frightened, came sliding down the trunk of the tree and landed on all fours at its foot.  The officer eyed him sternly.

“‘What do you mean, boy, by bombarding me with apples?’ he demanded.

“Lucien hung his head.  The officer jerked him to his feet.

“‘Answer me!  What were you doing up in that tree?  Spying on us, eh?’

“’No, monsieur l’Officer, I am a Frenchman.  Frenchmen do not spy on their own people.’

“’That is true.  But how do I know you are not spying on us just the same, for the Germans have been here?’

“’Yes, monsieur le Capitaine, they have been here.  See, they have spoiled my beautiful home.  I lived there with the farmer for whom I worked—­sometimes.’

“‘Where were you when the Germans came?’

“’Up in the top of the apple tree.  I always climb a tree when I am scared.  I saw them coming and I hid myself, and I saw them when they beat in the windows and the door and carried away the food and tried to burn down the house.  I shall fight them some day for that.’

“‘Hm-m-m-m,’ mused the officer.  It was his idea that Lucien was not so stupid as he appeared.

“’Yes, monsieur, I saw them and I wish to see them again.  Shall you go and fight the Boches?’

“‘Of course, when we catch them.  How long since they were here?’

“‘Maybe an hour or an hour and a half.’

“‘How many of them?’

“‘About as many as you have here, maybe another company more.’

“‘Which way did they go?’

“‘That way.’  Lucien indicated the direction taken by the Germans by a jerk of his thumb to the right.  ’And Lucien knows pretty well where they have gone.’

“‘Oh, you do?  Kindly tell me where you think the Boches went?’ demanded the captain, now amused at the boy’s queerness.

“’They have gone to cut off the road from Etain.  I saw them going that way.’