Jim sat up at once and rubbed his eyes, and, after a hurried consultation, the two men turned the two children with their faces to the wall in one corner of the tent, while they made a hasty toilet in the other.

“Now, then, out with it,” said Uncle Sam a few moments later.  “Que vooly-voo?  What’s up?”

Jim sat down beside him on the edge of the cot, and the two men listened in amazement to the story the two children had to tell.  When they had finished, Uncle Sam wasted no words.  “Come with me to the Captain tooty sweet,” he said.  And Jim added, as he patted the Twins tenderly on the head, “By George, mes enfants, you ought to get the war cross for this day’s work.”

A few moments more, and the children and Uncle Sam were ushered by an orderly into the presence of the Captain, who was just in the act of shaving.  Uncle Sam’s message to him had been so imperative that they were admitted at once to his presence, even though his face was covered with lather and he was likely to fill his mouth with soap if he opened it.  Uncle Sam saluted, and the Twins, wishing to be as polite as possible, saluted too.  The Captain returned the salute, and went on shaving as he listened to their story, grunting now and then emphatically instead of speaking, on account of the soap.  When Pierre came to what the soldier had said under the shed, he was so much interested that he cut his chin.

“So that’s their program, is it?” he sputtered, soap and all, mopping his chin.  “But how on earth did you happen to be in such a place as that at such an hour in the morning?”

Pierre explained about the rabbits and the cress, and Uncle Sam added:  “They’re from Fontanelle.  Their father is a soldier wounded at the Marne, and they lived under fire in Rheims for eight months before coming here.  They’re some kids, believe me!  They know what war is.”

“Yes,” said the Captain, “I remember them; they came up the river some weeks ago.”  Then he turned to the children.  “Would you know that soldier if you were to see him again?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” said the children.

“Very well,” said the Captain, “the men will go to breakfast soon.  You stay with Sam and watch them, and if you see that man go by you step on Sam’s foot.  No one must see you do it.  Be sure you don’t make a mistake now,” he added, “and if you really do unearth the rascal, it’s the best day’s work you ever did, for yourselves as well as for France.  Sam, you report to me afterwards, and be sure you give no occasion for suspicion to any one.”

“Yes, sir,” said Sam, and saluted.  Pierre and Pierrette saluted also.

The Captain returned the salute with ceremony.  “You are true soldiers of France,” he said to the Twins as they left his tent.