“The men of the patrol were amazed.  They scrambled from the shell hole, Remi already having explained what he proposed to do, ready and eager for action.  With the child in the lead they crept up to the German trench.  The Boches slept on, not a man was awake there.  The patrol spread out a little and gripped their clubs, for to use revolvers would be to arouse the whole German line and start their rifles, machine guns and artillery all going.

“‘Now!’ cried the little leader.

“The patrol sprang into the trench, Remi leading, encouraging his men as they fought their way along with their stout clubs, the boy having lost his when he slipped into the trench.  He could plainly hear the whacks of the clubs as the patrol brought them down on the heads of the enemy, mingled with German growls and pleas for mercy, all of which brought joy to the soul of little Remi.

“‘Kamerad!  Kamerad!’ came cries along the length of the trench.  This, you children understand, is what the Boches say when they have had enough.

“’Stop their noise!  They’ll have their whole army down on us.  Over the top and home with them as fast as you can.  Gather up the rifles and take them in,’” commanded the boy.

Prodded by the handy clubs, such of the Germans as had survived the terrible beating willingly clambered over the top and were quietly driven across ‘No Man’s Land’ to the French trenches.  Seventy-five prisoners were taken in that raid, planned and executed by the fearless little French boy.

[Illustration:  “Now march!” He commanded.]

“The amazement of his comrades in Company C was beyond the power of words to express.  What was better still, the raid was productive of much more than prisoners and rifles.  It proved to be the most important raid so far made on that sector, for information was obtained from the prisoners that proved of great value to the French army.

“A few days later the Territorials went back to their billets for rest.  On the morning following their arrival there, Company C was called out with many other troops for review.  Remi thought this was a queer thing to do.  He was puzzled and startled when his name was called out as he stood in a rear rank.  He was ordered to report to the colonel of the regiment, who stood with his aides facing the lines of soldiers, the latter at attention now.  The heart of the little soldier, for once, was filled with fear.  He felt certain that the colonel was going to send him home.

“Approaching the stern-looking officer, Remi halted, came stiffly to attention and saluted with precision.  The colonel gravely answered the little fellow’s salute.  Remi looked very small and childish beside the commanding figure of his colonel, and he was very much embarrassed at being so singled out.