o'er lagoon and dike of sand,
"I am Roland! I am Roland! there is victory in the land!"

Then the sound of drums aroused me. The awakened city's roar
Chased the phantoms I had summoned back into their graves once more.

Hours had passed away like minutes; and, before I was aware,
Lo! the shadow of the belfry crossed the sun-illumined square.

On entering Normandy, Master Lewis engaged passages on diligences,
wherever a promise of a route amid pleasant scenery offered itself. It
seemed to be the boys' greatest delight to ride on the top of a
diligence.

These French stage-coaches are lofty, lumbering vehicles, composed of
three parts. The front division is called _coupe_, and is shaped
somewhat like an old-time chariot. It holds three persons. Next is the
_interieur_ or inside, holding six persons, an apartment much shunned
in pleasant weather in summer time. Behind is the _rotonde_ which
collects "dust, dirt, and bad company." Over all is the _banquette_, a
castle-like position on the top of the coupe, a seat protected by a
hood, or head, and leather apron.

To secure this seat beside the "driver" was Tommy Toby's highest
ambition, when about to leave a newly visited place.

In one of these rides, when Tommy and Wyllys Wynn occupied this high
seat, Tommy said to the driver,--

"It seems strange to me to find such great forests in old countries
like England, Belgium, and France. I fancied that great tracts of wood
only existed in new lands like America, or half-civilized places. Are
there wild animals in the woods here?"

The driver was a French soldier, quite advanced in life. He spoke
English well, and seemed to enjoy giving the largest possible
information to his seat companions.

"Yes, there are some wild animals left in the forest," he said,--"of
the harmless kind. _Wild people_ have sometimes been found in the
largest tracts of forest."

"Wild people?" asked Tommy, his curiosity greatly excited. "Did you
ever see a wild man?"

"No, not myself. Did you ever hear of Peter the Wild Boy found in the
woods in Hanover?"

"Yes," said Tommy.

"There was a wild girl found in the French woods, not far from Paris,
about the same time."

"Will you not tell us the story?" asked Tommy.

The diligence lumbered along among the cool forest scenery, between
the walls of green trees which now and then, like suddenly opened
windows, afforded extended views; and the good-natured, well-informed
d