his face was
covered with blood from the scalp wound. He dashed on, not wholly
certain of his direction, but, reaching the other side of the forest,
found himself not far out of his way. From then on he trotted, keeping
himself up by sheer pluck, for he was getting weak.

"Francois saw nothing more of the enemy, and finally he staggered into
his village. A sentry, recognizing the German helmet, halted him some
distance away, and after questioning him sent the lad to the captain.

"'Here, monsieur le Capitaine, see what I have taken from the Boches,'
he cried, upon espying the commander. 'Thick-heads, all of them! It is
easy to fool the Boches.'

"'But, my boy, you are wounded. What has happened?' demanded the
captain.

"'It is nothing; it was an accident. The Prussians hit me by mistake.'

"The officer called a surgeon and while the lad's wounds were being
dressed Francois related to the captain all that he had seen in the
Prussian camp.

"'And they plan to come here soon,' he added.

"'What makes you think that?' asked the commander.

"'Because they have made the villagers stay in their homes. For what
reason other than that do they wish to keep the villagers in? Again,
they are fast making preparations to go into battle!'

"'You are a clever boy and a brave one,' cried the captain,
enthusiastically. 'You may keep the rifle. You will be proud some day
that you own it.'

"'I am proud now, monsieur le Capitaine, but I shall be more proud
after you have whipped the Boches.'

"'That is good, but what can we do to reward you?'

"'Whip them quickly, that I may go to see my sick grandmother. I am
much put out, sir, that I did not see her.'

"There was loud laughter at this, and at the earnest way in which it
was said, but Francois never changed the sober expression of his face.

"'It shall be done. Reinforcements are coming and early this evening
we shall go out to meet the Prussians. I promise you that you shall
soon see your grandmother, Francois.' And he did, for, acting upon his
information, the French forces were enabled to inflict heavy losses
upon the Germans and drive them from that part of the country. A few
days later Francois made the trip again, and this time did see his
dear grandmother, but she was not so ill but that she could work in
her garden.

"And that, my dear little friends, is the story of another little hero
of France," concluded Captain Favor.

CHAPTER V

THE SACRIFICE OF