The man reached the shed almost before they were out of view, but it was evident that he had not seen them, for he did not glance in their direction.  He took off his hat and shook the rain-drops from it.  Then he wiped his face and neck with a soiled handkerchief and sat down on the edge of a bench that had once been used for salting cattle.  He sat still for a little while, with his feet drawn up on the bench and his hands clasping his knees, the better to escape the rain.  Then he began to grow restless.  He walked back and forth and peered out into the rain in the direction of the camp.  The children were so frightened they could hear their own hearts beat, but they had been in danger so many times, and in so many different ways that they kept their presence of mind, and were able to follow closely his every move.  Soon they heard the sound of more footsteps, and suddenly there dashed under the shed a soldier in the uniform of France.  It was evident that the first man expected him, for he showed no surprise at his coming, and the two sat down together on the bench and began to talk.

The wind had now subsided a little, and though they spoke in low tones the children could hear every word.

“Whew!” said the soldier as he shook his rain-coat.  “Nasty weather.”

“All the better for our purposes,” answered the other man.  “There’s less chance of our being seen.”

“Not much chance of that, anyway, so early in the morning as this,” answered the soldier, looking at his watch.  “It’s not yet four o’clock!”

“Best not to linger, anyway,” said the other man.  “That Captain of yours has the eyes of a hawk.  I was up at camp the other day selling cigarettes and chocolate, and he eyed me as if he was struck with my beauty.”

“I wish you’d keep away from camp,” said the soldier, impatiently.  “It isn’t necessary, and you might run into some one who knew you back in Germany.  There are all kinds of people in the Foreign Legion.  I tell you, it isn’t safe, and besides, I can get all the information we need without it.”

“All right, General,” responded the other, grinning.  “But have you got it?  That’s the question.  I expect that buzzard will be flying around again over this field in a night or so,—­the moon is ’most full now, and the nights are light,—­and I’ve got to be able to signal him just how to find the powder magazine and the other munitions.  Then he can swoop right over there and drop one of his little souvenirs where it will do the most good and fly away home.  I advise you to keep away from that section of the camp yourself.”

“Here is the map,” said the soldier, drawing a paper from his pocket, “and there are also statistics as to the number of men and all I can find out about plans for using them.  Take good care of it.  It wouldn’t be healthy to be found with it on you.”

The first man pocketed the paper.  “That’s all, is it?” he asked.