e commander reflected. 'How long have they been gone with him?'

"'Only a short time, sir.'

"'Good. Step forward!' he said sharply to the German officer. The
latter obeyed silently. 'Captain,' said the Frenchman, 'you and your
men have ransacked this house, abused a sick woman and carried away
her husband. A fine business for those who call themselves men. You
deserve to be shot, you and all your hounds. However, I will spare
your life on one condition. It is that the father of this household
shall be set at liberty and returned to his home before nightfall.
Your troops will not be far from here. Who in command?'

"'A captain.'

"'Then one of you will ride and rejoin your detachment--'

"'I will go,' interjected the commander of the dragoons."

[Illustration: A FRENCH DRAGOON DRAGGED HIM IN.]

"'Oh, no, captain; your presence is required here. Come here!' he
ordered, beckoning to one of the Bavarians, 'and listen well to what I
shall say to you. You will immediately mount your horse and as quickly
as possible rejoin your detachment.'

"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.'

"'You will tell the commander that we have here seven dragoons and an
officer as prisoners of the French chasseurs. You also will say that
the French commander sends warning to him that unless the father of
this child, taken as a hostage, is returned to this village before
eight o'clock this evening, your captain and seven Bavarian dragoons
in the hands of the French will be shot immediately. Can you remember
this?'

"'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.'

"'Then go speedily.'

"The dragoon departed in haste. He was eager to get away from this
stern-faced Frenchman, at whose hands he knew he could expect small
mercy after what the Bavarians had done in that little peasant home.

"Gene had rejoined her mother, who had been tenderly placed in her bed
by the tender-hearted French captain. The child sat clasping her
mother's hand and comforting her.

"'Have no fears, my mother. The brave commander of the chasseurs will
see to it that father comes safely home,' said Gene. Yet the brave
little French girl herself was full of anxiety; she could scarcely
keep the tears back when she realized that already her father may have
been shot.

"It was late in the afternoon, darkness was just falling, when Gene
heard some one approaching. By the clanking sound she knew it was one
of the chasseurs, and her heart sank within her.

"The captain of the French detac