If their comrades were surprised to see Uncle Sam standing with two children by his side while the others passed into the mess tent with cups and plates in hand, no one said anything.  It was a little irregular to be sure—­but then—­Americans were always unexpected!  For a long time the men filed by, and still there was no sign of the face they sought.  At last, however, Pierre came down solidly on Uncle Sam’s right foot, and at the same time Pierrette touched his left with her wooden shoe.  There, right in front of them, carrying his plate and cup, and twirling his mustache, was the man they sought!

The Twins stood still, and not by the quiver of an eyelash did they betray any excitement until the man had passed into the tent.  Then Uncle Sam said to them, “Now you scoot for home, or your Mother will be worried to death!  Tell your Father and Mother all about it, but don’t tell another soul at present.”  The children flew back across the meadow, picked up their basket of cress, and when they reached the Chateau, fed the hungry rabbits.  Then they found their Father and Mother and told them their morning’s adventures.

XIII.  CHILDREN OF THE LEGION

It must not be supposed, because things were more cheerful for the inhabitants of Fontanelle, that they had forgotten the war.  They were reminded of it every day, not only by the presence of soldiers, but by the sound of distant guns, and by the visits of German airplanes.  Often in the middle of the night an alarm would be given, and the people of the village would spring from their beds and seek refuge in the cellars of the.  Chateau—­that is, all but Kathleen; she obstinately refused to go, even when the Doctor reasoned with her.  “Let me die in my bed,” she pleaded.  “It’s better form.  Our best people have always done it, and besides when I’m waked suddenly that way I’m apt to be cross.”  So, when the sound of the buzzing motor was heard in the sky, she simply drew the covers over her head, and stayed where she was, while a strange, half-clad procession, recruited from stables and granary, filed into the Chateau cellar.  These raids were likely to occur on bright nights, and as the time of the full moon approached, the people of the village grew more watchful and slept less soundly.

On the night following the adventure of the Twins in the meadow, though the moon shone, no aerial visitor appeared, nor did one come the next night after.  Neither did any news from camp come to the village.  Pierre and Pierrette longed to tell Mademoiselle and the Doctor their secret, but Uncle Sam had told them to share it with no one but their parents, and they knew obedience was the first requisite of a good soldier; so they said nothing, and nearly burst in consequence.  They went no more to the meadow after cress, however.  Mother Meraut saw to that.  If they had gone there on the morning of the next day but one after their