d tomorrow
night we'll start out south; 'cause we don't want to be traveling in the
daytime. Maybe you could give us some clothes so it'll change our looks.
It's less than a hundred miles to Basel----"

"My pappa say you could nevaire cross ze frontier. Zere are
wires--electric----"

"Electric wirres are ourr middle name," said Archer. "We eat 'em."

"We ain't scared of anything except the daylight," said Tom. "Archy can
talk some German and I got Frenchy's--Armand's--button to show to French
people. When we once get into Switzerland we'll be all right."

He waited while the girl engaged in an animated talk with her parents.
Then old Pierre patted the two boys affectionately on the shoulder
while Florette explained.

"It iss not for our sake only, it iss for yours. You cannot stay in ziss
house. It iss not safe. You aire wonderful, zee how you escape, and to
bring us news of our Armand! We must help you. But if zey get you zen we
do not help you. Iss it so? Here every day ze Prussians come. You see?
Zey do not follow you--you are what you say--too clevaire? But still zey
come."

Tom listened, his heart in his throat at the thought of being turned out
of this home where he had hoped for shelter.

"We are already suspect," Florette explained. "My pappa, he fought for
France--long ago. But so zey hate him. My name zey get--how old----All
zeze zings zey write down--everyzing. Zey come for me soon. I sang ze
_Marseillaise_--you know?"

"Yes," said Tom, "but that was years ago."

"But we are suspect. Zey have write it all down. Nossing zey forget. Zey
take me to work--out of Alsace. Maybe to ze great Krupps. I haf' to work
in ze fields in Prussia maybe. You see? Ven zey come I must go. Tonight,
maybe. Tomorrow. Maybe not yet----"

She struggled to master her emotion and continued. "Ziss is--what you
call--blackleest house. You see? So you will hide where I take you. It
iss bad, but we cannot help. I give you food and tomorrow in ze night I
bring you clothes. Zese I must look for--Armand's. You see? Come."

They rose with her and as she stood there almost overcome with grief and
shame and the strain of long suspense and apprehension, yet thinking
only of their safety, the sadness of her position and her impending fate
went to Tom's heart.

Old Pierre embraced the boys affectionately with his one arm, seeming to
confirm all his daughter had said.

"My pappa say it is best you stay not here in ziss house. I will