just turned eleven years
when the incidents I am about to relate occurred. For some time the
news had been coming to the village in which she lived of the wicked
deeds of a company of German lancers. These lancers were roving from
village to village, stealing whatever they could lay their hands on,
and mistreating the women and children. It was a terrible thing to do,
but nothing new for the Prussians. As in other towns of which I have
told you, all the able-bodied men of this village had gone to the war.

"To guard against surprise the inhabitants of Jeanne's home town had
placed watchers on the outskirts of the village that the people might
be notified in advance of the approach of the enemy's detachments.

"One afternoon the warning came, and, while expected, it was a shock
to the people and their hearts were filled with fear. They closed and
locked their doors, pulled down the shades and took refuge in their
cellars. Not a person was to be seen in the streets; the village
appeared to be deserted.

"'The Prussians are coming!' was the startling cry that had sent the
inhabitants flying to the cellars, after which a great silence reigned
in the little place.

"Soon after that a troop of Prussian lancers rode quietly into the
village, alert for surprises, for they had confidently expected to see
French soldiers ere this. Not a French soldier was in sight, so the
invaders concluded there was nothing to fear. However, they decided to
question some of the villagers.

"The house that Jeanne lived in was the first one the lancers came to.
Jeanne, like others, had taken to the cellar with her parents, where
they remained for a long time, tremblingly awaiting the arrival of
their enemies. Not a sound thus far having been heard, the family
wondered if the Prussians had come and gone. They fervently hoped this
were true.

"'I will go and find out,' volunteered the little girl.

"'It is not safe,' objected the mother. 'If they are still here and
should discover you, all would not be well with you, my daughter. You
might be killed. I cannot permit it.'

"'Have no fears, mother; I will listen for every sound in the street
and will go no further than the door. They shall neither see nor hear
me.'

"The mother gave a reluctant consent and Jeanne crept upstairs,
stepped quietly to the door and unbolted it, intending to open the
door a few inches and peer out.

"At that instant the door was rudely forced open from the outs