the barricade had disappeared entirely.

"But it will not be for long; no, my friends," Henri told his party.
"That dash is in the form of a reconnaissance, I expect; though, no
doubt, they hardly expected to meet with such resistance."

"Bien! We shall hear from them again shortly," Jules laughed; while
the bearded veteran banged one broad hand down on his thigh and
chuckled loudly.

"Yes, indeed! Yes, indeed! We shall hear from them, and they shall
hear from us, and our voices will be as loud as any Prussian's. But,
my Henri, though you are already a commander, and have won our hearts,
yet your inexperience of command has led you to forget one thing which
is essential."

Henri started. Unconsciously he had been carrying on the work just as
he would have done had he and Stuart and Jules been alone together;
that is to say, he had just done his best, and no one could do more.
Then what was it that he had forgotten, this essential point which a
commander of experience would certainly not have omitted? He gaped at
the veteran, who thereupon laughed and chuckled even more loudly.

"Listen, then, my Henri. You ask us to fight these Boches, to drive
them back, to keep them out so that we may hold the fort for France and
for Grand-pere Joffre, and, of a truth, we would gladly do that. But
listen, then. Men must eat to fight, and drink also, to retain their
strength; for if men are not strong, how then can they fight as
soldiers, my Henri? The hour has come for food, and is there not food
and drink here in abundance?"

There were smiles all round at that; and presently the little garrison
were seated close behind their barricade, where two men kept watch upon
the enemy so that the rest could not be surprised, while the others ate
the rations which forethought had caused them to bring into the fort,
and took cautious draughts from their store of water. Then, having
finished their meal, they drew cigarettes and pipes from their pockets,
and presently a thick cloud of smoke almost hid the faces of Henri's
detachment, and quite a column of it blew out from the aperture through
which the gun, long since removed, had been wont to project its muzzle.

"Begins to look as though they intended to leave us alone, or perhaps
they have been driven out of the fortress," said Jules, tiptoeing along
from one of the loopholes. "There's not a sound down below, and not a
single Prussian has put in an appearance. Perhaps our f