to his blouse and strolled out. Once clear of the house, he ran
swiftly to the edge of the village, and from the end of a hollow log
drew forth a canvas bag. He inspected the contents, which included a
knife, some string, a clean pair of stockings and one change of
underwear. He had picked up an old pack discarded by a soldier, and
made it his own, secreting it for just such a moment as this. The
child stowed his belongings back in the pack, added the cheese and
bread, and, swinging the pack over his shoulder, started at a brisk
trot for the gathering place of the Territorials. The men of his
uncle's company already had reached the scene, loaded down with
equipment, rifles brightly polished, looking very warlike with their
outfits and tin derbies--"

"What's a tin derby?" interjected Joe Funk.

"There, you have interrupted me," rebuked the Captain. "Remember, a
soldier's first duty is to obey orders. A tin derby is a steel helmet
or hat which is used as a protection against the splinters thrown off
from an exploding shell. Where was I?"

"In a tin derby, sir," reminded Joe Funk.

"Little Remi," continued the Captain, "kept in the background and, in
the excitement of the moment attracted no attention. Shortly after his
arrival the Territorials fell into line and started away. Remi melted
away in the darkness, and might have been observed legging it across a
field in a short cut to a point where he knew the soldiers would pass.
And, after they had marched by he fell in at a safe distance behind
and trudged along on his way to war.

"Daylight came; the men halted for breakfast, and the boy, secreting
himself by the roadside, munched his bread and cheese and waited for
the soldiers to resume the march. All day long he followed them as
closely as he dared, but early in the second evening he made bold to
draw up to the rear rank and plodded along behind it until they halted
for rest. Suddenly the lad felt a firm hand on his shoulder. He found
his uncle frowning down upon him.

"'What are you doing here?' demanded the uncle severely. 'Home with
you as fast as you can go!'

"'But, uncle, I wish to be a soldier. I am little but I am strong.
See, I have marched a day and a night and you, my uncle, are weary,
while Remi is still fresh as the morning flowers.'

"'Yes, but what can you do in the Army, my Remi?'

"'I can fight,' answered the child simply, whereat the uncle shrugged
his shoulders in token of surrender.

"