The Commandant took the flowers and smiled down at them.  “It is not my birthday, my little ones,” he said gently, “it is the birthday of our glorious France and of two of her brave soldiers, Pierre and Pierrette Meraut, as well, and the Foreign Legion is here to celebrate it!  Come up here beside me.”  He drew them up beside him on the reviewing-stand and turned their astonished faces toward the regiment.

“Men of the Foreign Legion,” he said, “these are the children who discovered two spies, and by reporting them saved our camp from probable destruction.”  Then, turning again to the children, he said:  “By your prompt and intelligent action you have prevented a terrible catastrophe.  In recognition of your services the Foreign Legion desires to make you honorary members of the regiment, and France is proud to claim you as her children!” Then he pinned upon their breasts a cockade of blue, white, and red, the colors of France, and kissed them on both cheeks, the regiment meanwhile standing at attention.

When he had finished the little ceremony, the men, responding to a signal from the Captain; burst into a hearty cheer.  “Vive Pierre!  Vive Pierrette!  Vive tous les Meraut,” they cried.

For a moment the Twins stood stunned, petrified with astonishment, looking at the cheering men and at the proud upturned faces of their parents and the people of Fontanelle.  Then Pierre was suddenly inspired.  He waved his hat in salutation to the flag which, floated above them and shouted back to the regiment, “Vive la France!” and Pierrette saluted and kissed her hand.  Then the band struck up the Marseillaise, and everybody sang it at the top of his lungs.

It was a wonderful golden time that followed, for when the children had thanked the Commandant, all the people of Fontanelle were invited to sit on the reviewing-stand and watch the regiment go through the regular drill and extra maneuvers in honor of the day, and when that was over, the guests were escorted back to the mess tent, and there they had supper with the men.  Moreover, the camp cook had made a magnificent birthday cake, all decorated with little French flags.  It was cut with the Captain’s own sword, and though there wasn’t enough for the whole regiment, every one from Fontanelle had a bite, and Pierre and Pierrette each had a whole piece.

When the beautiful bright day was over and they were back again in Fontanelle, the Twins found that even this was not the end of their joy and good fortune, for Mother Meraut told them that the regiment had put in her care a sum of money to provide for their education.  “Children of such courage and good sense must be well equipped to serve their country when they grow up,” the Commandant had said, and the men, responding to his appeal, had put their hands in their pockets and brought out a sum sufficient to make such equipment possible.

More than that, Uncle Sam and Jim had two small uniforms made for them,—­only Pierrette’s had a longer skirt to the coat,—­and on parade days and other great occasions they wore them to the camp, with the blue, white, and red cockades pinned proudly upon their breasts.  Indeed, they became the friends and pets of the whole regiment, and were quite as much at home with the soldiers as with the people of Fontanelle.