g of weight in the kitchen.

"'All is well, mother,' she said, returning to the sick woman. Gene,
for fear of exciting her mother, did not tell her what had been done.
The soldiers with the father having gone, the villagers soon appeared
in the streets, and to them Gene explained that she had captured the
captain of dragoons and several of his men. By this time there was a
great uproar in the cellar. The dragoons were shifting and beating on
the kitchen floor, raging and threatening. They had discovered that
they were in a trap. It would fare hard with Gene and her mother if
the soldiers succeeded in getting out, but of that the child had
little fear. The villagers now offered to guard the imprisoned
soldiers, but the child knew her people could do little in this
direction.

"Early in the afternoon a battalion of French chasseurs came galloping
into town. The villagers set up a great shout, and, running out, the
child recognized the soldiers of her own country. To the commander of
the chasseurs she quickly made known her situation.

"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' she said. 'There are in our house German
soldiers. They are in the cellar. Some of their party have taken my
father away, but the commander and some of his men I have locked in
the cellar.'

"'Bravo!' cried the commander. 'Come, we shall see.'

"'There,' said Gene, pointing to the barricaded trapdoor. 'Hear them
rage. They are furious, as they should be.'"

The officer quickly summoned some of his men to the kitchen, and,
after the trap had been uncovered and thrown open, he bade them
thrust their bayonets into the opening.

"'Come out of that cellar, you Bavarian hounds!' he shouted. 'You are
prisoners!'

"The uproar in the cellar died out instantly. After a brief hesitation
they came out one by one, being disarmed and herded in a corner as
they emerged into the kitchen.

"'Take them away,' commanded the officer.

"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' said Gene, tugging at his sleeve. 'These
soldiers not only have helped themselves to everything in the house,
but they have, as you saw, abused my sick mother and have taken away
my poor father. They have misused us. Please do not let them go until
they have returned my father to our home. If you do not it will kill
my mother, I fear.'

"'We shall do our best, my brave child.'

"'Ah, monsieur le Capitaine, I have an idea. Can you not exchange one
of your prisoners for my father?' questioned the little girl.

"Th