To all friends of the brave children of France

Map of the Voyage

THE FRENCH TWINS

by

Lucy Fitch Perkins

CONTENTS

 I. THE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE II. ON THE WAY HOME III. THE COMING OF THE GERMANS IV. THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH V. AT MADAME COUDERT'S VI. THE BURNING OF THE CATHEDRAL VII. HOME AGAIN VIII. REFUGEES IX. THE FOREIGN LEGION X. FONTANELLE XI. A SURPRISE XII. MORNING IN THE MEADOW XIII. CHILDREN OF THE LEGION

I. THE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE

The sunlight of the clear September afternoon shone across the roofs ofthe City of Rheims, and fell in a yellow flood upon the towers of themost beautiful cathedral in the world, turning them into two shininggolden pillars against the deep blue of the eastern sky. 

The streets below were already in shadow, but the sunshine still pouredthrough the great rose window above the western portal, lighting thedim interior of the church with long shafts of brilliant reds, blues, and greens, and falling at last in a shower of broken color upon thesteps of the high altar. Somewhere in the mysterious shadows an unseenmusician touched the keys of the great organ, and the voice of theCathedral throbbed through its echoing aisles in tremulous waves ofsound. Above the deep tones of the bass notes a delicate melodyfloated, like a lark singing above the surf. 

Though the great church seemed empty but for sound and color, therelingered among its shadows a few persons who loved it well. There werepriests and a few worshipers. There was also Father Varennes, theVerger, and far away in one of the small chapels opening from the apsein the eastern end good Mother Meraut was down upon her knees, notpraying as you might suppose, but scrubbing the stone floor. MotherMeraut was a wise woman; she knew when to pray and when to scrub, andupon occasion did both with equal energy to the glory of God and theservice of his Church. Today it was her task to make the little chapelclean and sweet, for was not the Abbe coming to examine theConfirmation Class in its catechism, and were not her own two children, Pierre and Pierette, in the class? In time to the heart-beats of theorgan, Mother Meraut swept her brush back and forth, and it was alreadynear the hour for the class to assemble when at last she set aside herscrubbing-pail, wiped her hands upon her apron, and began to dust thechairs which had been standing outside the arched entrance, and toplace them in orderly rows within the chapel. 

She had nearly completed her task, when there was a tap-tapping uponthe stone floor, and down the long aisle, leaning upon his crutch, cameFather Varennes. He stopped near the chapel and watched her as shewhisked the last chair into place and then paused with her hands uponher hips to make a final inspection of her work. 

"Bonjour, Antoinette, " said the Verger. 

Mother Meraut turned her round, cheerful face toward him. "Ah, it isyou, Henri, " she cried, "come, no doubt, to see if the chapel is cleanenough for the Abbe! Well, behold. "

The Verger peered through the arched opening, and sniffed the wet, soapy smell which pervaded the air. "One might even eat from your cleanfloor, Antoinette, " he said, smiling, "and taste nothing worse with hisfood than a bit of soap. Truly the chapel is as clean as a shrivensoul. "

"It's a bold bit of dirt that would try to stand out against me, "declared Mother Meraut, with a flourish of her dust-cloth, "for when Igo after it I think to myself, 'Ah, if I but had one of thosedetestable Germans by the nose, how I would grind it!' and the verythought brings such power to my elbow that I check myself lest I wearthrough the stones of the floor. "

The Verger laughed, then shook his head. "Truly, Antoinette, " he said, "I believe you could seize your husband's gun if he were to fall, andfill his place in the Army as well as you fill his place here in theCathedral, doing a man's work with a woman's strength, and smiling asif it were but play! Our France can never despair while there are womenlike you. "

"My Jacques shall carry his own gun, " said Mother Meraut, stoutly, "andbring it home with him when the war is over, if God wills, and may itbe soon! Meanwhile I will help to keep our holy Cathedral clean as heused to do. It is not easy work, but one must do what one can, andsurely it is better to do it with smiles than with tears!"

The Verger nodded. "That is true, " he said, "yet it is hard to smile inthe face of sorrow. "

"But we must smile--though our hearts break--for France, and for ourchildren, lest they forget joy!" cried Mother Meraut. She smiled as shespoke, though her lip trembled "I will you the truth, Henri, sometimeswhen I think of what the Germans have already done in Belgium, and mayyet do in France, I feel my heart breaking in my bosom. And then I sayto myself, 'Courage, Antoinette! It is our business to live bravely forthe France that is to be when this madness is over. Our armies arestill between us and the Boche. It is not time to be afraid. '"

"And I tell you, they shall not pass, " cried Father Varennes, strikinghis crutch angrily upon the stone floor. "The brave soldiers of Francewill not permit it! Oh, if I could but carry a gun instead of this!" Herattled his crutch despairingly as he spoke. 

Mother Meraut sighed. "Though I am a woman, I too wish I might fightthe invaders, " she said, "but since I may not carry a gun, I will putall the more energy into my broom and sweep the dirt from the Cathedralas I would sweep the Germans back to the Rhine if I could. "

"It is, indeed, the only way for women, children, and such as I, "grieved the Verger. 

"Tut, tut, " answered Mother Meraut cheerfully, "it isn't given us tochoose our service. If God had wanted us to fight he would have givenus power to do it. "

The Verger shook his head. "I wish I were sure of that, " he said, "forthere's going to be need for all the fighting blood in France if halfone hears is true. They say now that the Germans are already far overthe French border and that our Army is retreating before them. Theroads are more than ever crowded with refugees, and the word they bringis that the Germans have already reached the valley of the Aisne. "

"But that is at our very doors!" cried Mother Meraut. "It is absurd, that rumor. Chicken hearts! They listen to nothing but their fears. Asfor me, I will not believe it until I must. I will trust in the Army asI do in my God and the holy Saints. "

"Amen, " responded the Verger devoutly. 

At this moment the great western portal swung on its hinges, a patch oflight showed itself against the gloom of the interior of the Cathedral, and the sound of footsteps and of fresh young voices mingled with thetones of the organ. 

"It's the children, bless their innocent hearts, " said Mother Meraut. "I hear the voices of my Pierre and Pierrette. "

"And I of my Jean, " said the Verger, starting hastily down the aisle. "The little magpies forget they must be quiet in the House of God!" Heshook his finger at them and laid it warningly upon his lips. The noiseinstantly subsided, and it was a silent and demure little company thattiptoed up the aisle, bent the knee before the altar, and then filedpast Mother Meraut into the chapel which she had made so clean. 

Pierre and Pierrette led the procession, and Mother Meraut beamed withpride as they blew her a kiss in passing. They were children that anymother might be proud of. Pierrette had black, curling hair and blueeyes with long black lashes, and Pierre was a straight, tall, andmanly-looking boy. The Twins were nine years old. 

Mother Meraut knew many of the children in the Confirmation Class, forthey were all schoolmates and companions of Pierre and Pierrette. Therewas Paul, the sore of the inn-keeper, with Marie, his sister. There wasVictor, whose father rang the Cathedral chimes. There were David andGenevieve, and Madeleine and Virginie and Etienne, and last of allthere was jean, the Verger's son--little Jean, the youngest in theclass. Mother Meraut nodded to them all as they passed. 

Promptly on the first stroke of the hour the Abbe appeared in the northtransept of the Cathedral and made his way with quick, decided stepstoward the chapel. He was a young man with thick dark hair almostconcealed beneath his black three-cornered cap, and as he walked, hislong black soutane swung about him in vigorous folds. When he appearedin the door of the chapel the class rose politely to greet him. "Bonjour, my children, " said the Abbe, and then, turning his back uponthem, bowed before the crucifix upon the chapel altar. 

Mother Meraut and the Verger slipped quietly away to their work inother portions of the church, and the examination began. First the Abbyasked the children to recite the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the TenCommandments in unison, and when they had done this without a mistake, he said "Bravo! Now I wonder if you can each do as well alone? Let mesee, I will call upon--" He paused and looked about as if he weresearching for the child who was most likely to do it well. 

Three girls--Genevieve, Virginie, and Pierrette--raised their hands andwaved them frantically in the air, but, curiously enough, the Abbe didnot seem to see them. Instead his glance fell upon Pierre, who wasgazing thoughtfully at the vaulted ceiling and hoping with all hisheart that the Abbe would not call upon him. "Pierre!" he said, and anyone looking at him very closely might have seen a twinkle in his eye asPierre withdrew his gaze from the ceiling and struggled reluctantly tohis feet. "You may recite the Ten Commandments. "

Pierre began quite glibly, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me, "and went on, with only two mistakes and one long wait, until he hadreached the fifth. "Thou shalt not kill, " he recited, and then to savehis life he could not think what came next. He gazed imploringly at theceiling again, and at the high stained-glass window, but they told himnothing. He kicked backward gently, hoping that Pierrette, who satnext, would prompt him, but she too failed to respond. "I'll ask aquestion, " thought Pierre desperately, "and while the Abbe is answeringmaybe it will come to me. " Aloud he said: "If you please, yourreverence, I don't understand about that commandment. It says, 'Thoushalt not kill, ' and yet our soldiers have gone to war on purpose tokill Germans, and the priests blessed them as they marched away!"

This was indeed a question! The class gasped with astonishment atPierre's boldness in asking it. The Abbe paused a moment beforeanswering. Then he said, "If you, Pierre, were to shoot a man in thestreet in order to take his purse, would that be wrong?"

"Yes, " answered the whole class. 

"Very well, " said the Abbe, "so it would. But if you should see amurderer attack your mother or your sister, and you should kill himbefore he could carry out his wicked purpose, would that be just thesame thing?"

"No, " wavered the class, a little doubtfully. 

"If instead of defending your mother or sister you were simply to standaside and let the murderer kill them both, you would really be helpingthe murderer, would you not? It is like that today in France. An enemyis upon us who seeks to kill us so that he may rob us of our beautifulhome land. God sees our hearts. He knows that the soldiers of France goforth not to kill Germans but to save France! not wantonly to takelife, but because it is the only way to save lives for which theythemselves are ready to die. Ah, my children, it is one thing to killas a murderer kills; it is quite another to be willing to die thatothers may live! Our Blessed Lord--"

The Abbe lifted his hand to make the sign of the Cross--but it wasstayed in mid-air. The sentence he had begun was never finished, for atthat moment the great bell in the Cathedral tower began to ring. It wasnot the clock striking the hour; it was not the chimes calling thepeople to prayer. Instead, it was the terrible sound of the alarm bellringing out a warning to the people of Rheims that the Germans were attheir doors. 

Wide-eyed with terror, the children sprang from their seats, but theAbbe, with hand uplifted, blocked the entrance and commanded them tostay where they were. 

"Let no one leave the Cathedral, " he cried. 

At this instant Mother Meraut appeared upon the threshold searching forher children, and behind her, coming as fast as his lameness wouldpermit, came the Verger. The Abbe turned to them. "I leave thesechildren all in your care, " he said. "Stay with them until I return. "

And without another word he disappeared in the shadows. 

Mother Meraut sat down on one of the chairs she had dusted socarefully, and gathered the frightened children about her as a hengathers her chickens under her wing. "There, now, " she said cheerfully, as she wiped their tears upon the corner of her apron, "let's save ourtears until we really know what we have to cry for. There never yet wasmisery that couldn't be made worse by crying, anyway. The boys will bebrave, of course, whatever happens. And the girls--surely they willremember that it was a girl who once saved France, and meet misfortunebravely, like our blessed Saint Jeanne d'Arc. "

The Cathedral organ had ceased to fill the great edifice with sweet andinspiring sounds. Instead, there now was only the muffled tread ofmarching feet, the rumble of heavy wheels, and the low, ominous beatingof drums to break the stillness. 

Mother Meraut and the children waited obediently in the chapel, scarcely breathing in their suspense, while Father Varennes wenttap-tapping up and down the aisles eagerly watching for the Abbe toreappear. At last he came. Mother Meraut, the Verger, and the childrenall crowded about him, waiting breathlessly for him to speak. 

The Abbe was pale, but his voice was firm. "I have been to the northtower, " he said, "and there I could see for miles in every direction. Far away to the east and north are massed the hordes of the GermanArmy; they are coming toward Rheims as a thunder-cloud comes rollingover the sky. Between us and them is our Army, but alas, their facesare turned this way. They are retreating before the German hosts!Already French troops are marching through Rheims; already the streetsare filled with people who are fleeing from their homes for fear of theBoche. Unless God sends a miracle, our City is indeed doomed, for atime at least, to wear the German yoke. "

He paused, and the children burst into wild weeping. Mother Merauthushed them with comforting words. "Do not cry, my darlings, " she said. "God is not dead, and we shall yet live to see justice done and ourdear land restored to us. The soldiers now in the streets are all ourown brave defenders. We shall be able to go in safety, even though insorrow, to our homes. "

"Come, " said the Abbe, "there is no time to lose. Our Army will, without doubt, make a stand on the plains west of the City, and it willnot be long before the Germans pass through. You must go to your homesas fast as possible. Henri, you remain here with your Jean, that youmay meet any of the parents who come for their children. Tell them Ihave gone with them myself and will deliver each child safely at hisown door. "

"I can take cart of my own, " said Mother Meraut. "You need have no fearfor us. "

"Very well, " said the Abbe, and, calling the rest of the children abouthim, he marched them down the aisle and out into the street. 

Mother Meraut followed with Pierre and Pierrette. At the door theypaused and stood for a moment under the great sculptured arches tosurvey the scene before them. The great square before the Cathedral wasfilled with people, some weeping, others standing about as if dazed bysorrow. Between the silent crowds which lined the sidewalks passed thesoldiers, grim and with set faces, keeping time to the throbbing of thedrums as they marched. Above the scene, in the center of the square, towered the beautiful statue of Jeanne d'Arc, mounted upon her chargerand lifting her sword toward the sky. 

"Ah, " murmured Mother Meraut to herself, "our blessed Maid still keepsguard above the City!" She lifted her clasped hands toward the statue. "Blessed Saint Jeanne, " she prayed, "hear us in Paradise, and come oncemore to save our beautiful France!"

Then, waving a farewell to the Verger and Jean, who had followed themto the door, she took her children by the hand and plunged with theminto the sad and silent crowd. 

II. ON THE WAY HOME

For some time after leaving the Cathedral, Mother Meraut and the Twinslingered in the streets, forgetful of everything but the retreatingArmy and the coming invasion. Everywhere there were crowds surging toand fro. Some were hastening to close their places of business and putup their shutters before the Germans should arrive. Some were hurryingthrough the streets carrying babies and bundles. Others were wheelingtheir few belongings upon barrows or in baby-carriages. Still othersflew by on bicycles with packages of clothing fastened to thehandle-bars; and there were many automobiles loaded to the brim withhousehold goods and fleeing families. 

Doors were flung open and left swinging on their hinges as peopleescaped, scarcely looking behind them as they fled. These were refugeesfrom Rheims itself. There were many others wearily plodding through theCity, people who had come from Belgium and the border towns of France. Some who had come from farms drove pitiful cattle before them, and somejourneyed in farm wagons, with babies and old people, chickens, dogs, and household goods mixed in a heap upon beds of straw. In all the Citythere was not a cheerful sight, and everywhere, above all other sounds, were heard the rumble of wheels, the sharp clap-clap of horses' hoofsupon the pavement, and the steady beat of marching feet. 

At last, weary and heartsick, the three wanderers turned into a sidestreet and stepped into a little shop where food was sold. "We musthave some supper, " said Mother Meraut to the Twins, "Germans or noGermans! One cannot carry a stout heart above an empty stomach! And ifit is to be our last meal in French Rheims, let us at least make it agood one!" Though there was a catch in her voice, she smiled almostgaily as she spoke. "Who knows?" she went on. "Perhaps after to-morrowwe shall be able to get nothing but sauerkraut and sausage!"

The shop was not far from the little home of the Merauts, and theyoften bought things of stout Madame Coudert, whose round face with itsround spectacles rose above the counter like a full moon from behind acloud. "Ah, mon amie, " said Mother Meraut as she entered the shop, "itis good to see you sitting in your place and not running away like ahare before the hounds!"

Madame Coudert shrugged her shoulders. "But of what use is it to runwhen one has no place to run to?" she demanded. "As for me, I stay bythe shop and die at least respectably among my own cakes and pies. Torun through the country and die at last in a ditch--it would not suitme at all!"

"Bravo, " cried Mother Meraut triumphantly. "Just my own idea! Mychildren and I will remain in our home and take what comes, rather thanleap from the frying-pan into the fire as so many are doing. If everyone runs away, there will be no Rheims at all. " Then to Pierre andPierrette she said "Choose, each of you. What shall we buy for oursupper?"

Pierre pointed a grimy finger at a small cake with pink frosting. "That, " he said briefly. 

His mother smiled. "Ah, Pierre, that sweet-tooth of yours!" she cried. "Like Marie Antoinette you think if one lacks bread one may eat cakes!And now it is Pierrette's turn; only be quick, ma mie, for it isalready late. "

"Eggs, " said Pierrette promptly, "for one of your savory omelets, mamma, and a bit of cheese. "

The purchases were quickly made, and, having said good-night to MadameCoudert, they hurried on to the little house in the Rue Charly wherethey lived. When they reached home, it was already quite dark. MotherMeraut hastened up the steps and unlocked the door, and in less timethan it takes to tell it her bonnet was off, the fire was burning, andthe omelet was cooking on the stove. 

Pierrette set the table. "I'm going to place father's chair too, " shesaid to her mother. "He is no doubt thinking of us as we are of him, and it will make him stem nearer. "

Mother Meraut nodded her head without speaking, and wiped her eyes onher apron as she slid the omelet on to a hot plate. Then she seatedherself opposite the empty chair and with a steady voice prayed for ablessing upon the food and upon the Armies of France. 

When they had finished supper, cleared it away, and put the kitchen inorder, Mother Meraut pointed to the clock. "Voila!" she cried, "hourspast your bedtime, and here you are still flapping about like two youngowls! To bed with you as fast as you can go. "

"But, Mother, " began Pierre. 

"Not a single 'but, '" answered his Mother, wagging her finger at him. "Va!"

The children knew protest was useless, and in a few minutes they weresnugly tucked away. Long after they were both sound asleep, theirMother sat with her head bowed upon the table, listening, listening tothe distant sound of marching feet. At last, worn out with grief andanxiety, she too undressed, said her rosary, and, after a long look ather sleeping children, blew out the candle and crept into bed besidePierrette. 

Silence and darkness settled down upon the little household, and, for atime at least, their sorrows were forgotten in the blessed oblivion ofsleep. 

III. THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

When the Twins opened their eyes the next morning, the first thing theysaw was the sun shining in at the eastern window of the kitchen, andMother Meraut bending over the fire. There was a smell of chocolate inthe air, and on the table there were rolls and butter. Pierre yawnedand rubbed his eyes. Pierrette sat up and tried to think what it wasshe was so unhappy about; sleep had, for the time being, swept theterrors of the night quite out of her mind. In an instant more thefearful truth rolled over her like a wave, and she sank back upon thepillow with a little moan. 

Her Mother heard and understood. She too had waked from sleep tosorrow, but she only cried out cheerfully, "Bonjour, my sleepy heads!Last night you did not want to go to your beds at all. This morning youwish not to leave them! Hop into your clothes as fast as you can, or weshall be late. "

"Late where?" asked Pierre. 

"To my work at the Cathedral, to be sure, " answered Mother Merautpromptly. "Where else? Did you think the Germans would make me sit athome and cry for terror while my work waits? Whoever rules in Rheims, the Cathedral still stands and must be kept clean. "

It was wonderful how the dismal world brightened to Pierre andPierrette as they heard their Mother's brave voice. They flew out ofbed at once and were dressed in a twinkling. 

While they ate their breakfast, Pierre thought of a plan. "We ought totake a lot of food with us to-day, " he said to his Mother. "There's notelling what may happen before night. Maybe we can't get home at alland shall have to sleep in the Cathedral. "

"Oh, " shuddered Pierrette, "among all those tombs?"

"There are worse places where one might sleep, " said the Mother. "Thedead are less to be feared than the living, and the Cathedral is thesafest place in Rheims. " She brought out a wicker basket and began topack it with food as she talked. First she put in two pots of jam. "There, " said she, "that's the jam Grandmother made from hergooseberries at the farm. "

She paused, struck by a new alarm. Her father and mother lived in atiny village far west of Rheims. What if the Germans should succeed ingetting so far as that? What would become of them? She shut her fearsin her breast, saying nothing to the children, and went on filling thebasket. "Here is a bit of cheese left from last night. I'll put thatin, and a pat of butter, " she said; "but we must stop at MadameCoudert's for more bread. You two little pigs have eaten every scrapthere was in the house. "

"There are eggs left, " suggested Pierrette. 

"So there are, ma mie, " said her Mother. "We will boil them all andtake them with us. There's a great deal of nourishment in eggs. " Sheflew to get the saucepan, and while the eggs bubbled and boiled on thestove, she and the children set the little kitchen in order and gotthemselves ready for the street. 

It was after nine o'clock when at last Mother Meraut took the basket onher arm and gave Pierrette her knitting to carry, and the three starteddown the steps. 

"Everything looks just the same as it did yesterday, " said Pierrette asthey walked down the street. "There's that little raveled-out dog thatalways barks at Pierre, and there's Madame Coudert's cat asleep on therailing, just as she always is. "

"Yes, " said Mother Meraut, with a sigh, "the cats and dogs are thesame, it is only the people who are different!"

They entered the shop and exchanged greetings with Madame Coudert. Theyhad bought a long loaf of bread, and Mother Meraut was just opening herpurse to pay for it, when suddenly a shot rang out. It was followed bythe rattle of falling tiles. Another and another came, and soon therewas a perfect rain of shot and shell. 

"It is the Germans knocking at the door of Rheims before they enter, "remarked Madame Coudert with grim humor. "I did not expect so muchpoliteness!"

Mother Meraut did not reply. For once her cheerful tongue found nothingcomforting to say. Pierre clung to her arm, and Pierrette put herfingers in her ears and hid her face against her Mother's breast. 

For some time the deafening sounds continued. From the window theycould see people running for shelter in every direction. A man camedashing down the street; dodging falling tiles as he ran, and burstinto Madame Coudert's shop. He had just come from the Rue Colbert andhad news to tell. "The Boches have sent an emissary to the Mayor todemand huge supplies of provisions from the City, and a great sum ofmoney besides, " he told them, as he gasped for breath. "They areshelling the champagne cellars and the public buildings of the City toscare us into giving them what they demand. The German Army will soonbe here. "

In a few moments there was a lull in the roar of the guns, and then inthe distance another sound was heard. It was a mighty song of triumphas the conquerors came marching into Rheims!

"There won't be any more shooting for a while anyway, " said thestranger, who had now recovered his breath. "They won't shell the Citywhile it's full of their own men. I'm going to see them come in. "

All Pierre's fears vanished in an instant. "Come on, " he cried, wildwith excitement; "let us go too. "

"I'll not stir a foot from my shop, " said Madame Coudert firmly. "Idon't want to see the Germans, and if they want to see me, they cancome where I am. "

But Pierre had not waited for a reply, from her or any one else. He wasalready running up the street. 

"Catch him, catch him, " gasped Mother Meraut. 

Pierrette dashed after Pierre, and as she could run like the wind, shesoon caught up with him and seized him by the skirt of his blouse. "Stop! stop!" she screamed. "Mother doesn't want you to go. "

But she might as well have tried to argue with a hurricane. Pierredanced up and down with rage, as Pierrette braced herself, and firmlyanchored him by his blouse. "Leggo, leggo!" he shrieked. "I'm going, Itell you! I'm not afraid of any Germans alive. "

Just then, panting and breathless, Mother Meraut arrived upon thescene. While Pierrette held on to his blouse, she attached herself tohis left ear. It had a very calming effect upon Pierre. He stoppedtugging to get away lest he lose his ear. 

"Foolish boy, " said his Mother, "see how much trouble you give me! Youshall see the Germans, but you shall not run away from me. If we shouldget separated, God only knows whether we should ever find each otheragain. "

The music had grown louder and louder, and was now very near. "I'llstay with you, if you'll only go, " pleaded Pierre, "but you aren't evenmoving. "

"Come, Pierrette, " said his Mother, "take hold of his left arm. I willattend to his right; he might forget again. What he really needs is abit and bridle!"

The three moved up the street, Pierre chafing inwardly, but helpless inhis Mother's grasp, and at the next crossing the great spectacle burstupon them. A whole regiment of cavalry was passing, singing at the topof their lungs, "Lieb' Vaterland, macht ruhig sein. " The sun glistenedon their helmets, and the clanking of swords and the jingling of spurskept time with the swelling chorus. After the cavalry came soldiers onfoot--miles of them. 

"Oh, " murmured Pierrette, clinging to her Mother, "it's like a river ofmen!"

Her Mother did not answer. Pierrette looked up into her face. The tearswere streaming down her cheeks, but her head was proudly erect. Shelooked at the other French people about them. There were tears on manycheeks, but not a head was bowed. Pierre was glaring at the troops andmuttering through his teeth: "Just you wait till I grow up! I'll makeyou pay for this, you pirates! I'll--"

"Hush!" whispered Pierrette. "Suppose they should hear you!"

"I don't care if they do! I wish they would!" raged Pierre. "I'mgoing--"

But the German Army was destined not to suffer the consequences ofPierre's wrath. He did not even have a chance to tell Pierrette hisplan for their destruction, for at this point his Mother, unable longerto endure the sight, dragged him forcibly from the scene. "They shallnot parade their colors before me, " she said firmly, "I will not standstill and look in silence upon my conquerors! If I could but face themwith a gun, that would be different!"

She led the children through a maze of small streets by a roundaboutway to the Cathedral, and there they were met at the entrance by theVerger, who gazed at them with sad surprise. "You've been out in thestreet during the bombardment, " he said reproachfully. "It's just likeyou, Antoinette. "

"Oh, but how was I to know it was coming?" cried Mother Meraut. "Weleft home before it began!"

"It would have been just the same if you had known, " scolded theVerger. "Germans or devils--it would make no difference to you! Youhave no fear in you. "

"You misjudge me, " cried Mother Meraut; "but what good would it do tosit and quake in my own house? There is no safety anywhere, and here atleast there is work to do. "

"You can go about your work as usual with the noise of guns ringing inyour ears and the Germans marching through Rheims?" exclaimed theVerger. 

"Why not?" answered Mother Meraut, with spirit. "I guess our soldiersdon't knock off work every time a gun goes off or a few Germans come insight! It would be a shame if we could not follow their example!"

"Antoinette, you are a wonderful woman. I have always said so, "declared the Verger solemnly. "You are as brave as a man!"

"Pooh!" said Mother Meraut, mockingly. "As if the men, bless theirhearts, were so much braver than women, anyway! Oh, la! la! the conceitof you!" She wagged a derisive finger at the Verger, and, calling thechildren, went to get her scrubbing-pail and brushes. 

All day long, while distant guns roared, she went about her dailytasks, keeping one spot of order and cleanliness in the midst of theconfusion, disorder, and destruction of the invaded city. The Twinswere busy, too; their Mother saw to that. They dusted chairs and placedthem in rows; and at noon they found a corner where the light fallingthrough one of the beautiful stained-glass windows made a spot ofcheerful color in the gloom, and there they ate part of the lunch whichthey had packed in the wicker basket. During all the excitement of themorning they had not forgotten the lunch!

When the day's work was done, they ventured out upon the streets in thegathering dusk. They found them full of German soldiers, drinking, swaggering, singing, and they saw many strange and terrifying sights inthe havoc wrought by the first bombardment. As they passed the door ofMadame Coudert's shop, they peeped in and saw her sitting stolidlybehind the counter, knitting. 

"Oh, " said Pierrette, "doesn't it seem like a year since we were herethis morning?"

Mother Meraut called out a cheerful greeting to Madame Coudert. "Stillin your place, I see, " she said. 

"Like the Pyramids, " came the calm answer; and, cheered by herfortitude, they hurried on their way to the little house in the RueCharly. 

Mother Meraut sighed with relief as she unlocked the door. "Everythingjust as we left it, " she said. "We at least shall have one more nightin our own home. " Then she drew the children into the shelter of thedear, familiar roof and locked the door from the inside. 

IV. THE RETURN OF THE FRENCH

One unhappy day followed upon another for the inhabitants of Rheims. Each night they went to bed in terror; each morning they rose to facenew trials and dangers. Yet their spirit did not fail. Each day theroar of guns toward the west grew fainter and more distant, and thepeople knew with sinking hearts that the Germans had driven the Armiesof France farther and farther back toward Paris. Each day the conductof the conquerors grew more arrogant. "Our Emperor will soon be inParis!" they said. 

On the public monuments and in the squares of the City appeared Germanproclamations printed upon green paper, warning the people of Rheims ofterrible punishments which would befall them if they in any wayrebelled against the will of the victorious invaders. It was only withgreat difficulty that Pierre could be dragged by these signs. Eachmorning as they went to the Cathedral they had to pass several of them, and Pierrette and her Mother soon learned to take precautions againstan outburst of rage which might bring down upon his rash head the wrathof the enemy. The eye of the Germans seemed everywhere. One of theseposters was fixed to the window of Madame Coudert's shop. On themorning that it first appeared, Pierre in passing made a dash for thegutter, picked up a handful of mud, and threw it squarely into themiddle of the poster. 

Madame Coudert saw him, and winked solemnly, but did not move. HisMother instantly collared Pierre, and led him up a side street just intime to escape the clutches of a German officer who had seen him ablock away, and came on the run after him. When, puffing and blowing, he at last reached the shop there was no one in sight except MadameCoudert behind her counter. The enraged officer pointed out the insultthat had been offered his country. 

Madame Coudert looked surprised and concerned. She followed the officerto the door, and gazed at the disfigured poster. "I will clean it atonce, " she said obligingly. She got out soap and a brush immediately, and when she had finished, her work had been so thoroughly done thatnot a spot of mud was left, but unfortunately the center of the posterwas rubbed through and quite illegible, and the rest of it was allstreaked and stained! "Will that do?" she asked the officer, looking athim with round, innocent eyes and so evident a desire to please that, in spite of an uneasy suspicion, he merely grunted and went his way. 

The first time they came into the shop after this episode MadameCoudert gave Pierre a cake with pink frosting on it. 

In this way a whole week dragged itself by, and, on the morning of theeighth day after the German entry into Rheims, Mother Meraut and theTwins left home earlier than usual in order to reach the Cathedralbefore the bombardment, which they had learned daily to expect, shouldbegin. They found Madame Coudert in front of her shop; washing thewindow. A large corner of the poster was now gone. "It rained lastnight, " she said to Mother Meraut, "and the green color ran down on mywindow. I had to wash it, and accidentally I rubbed off a corner of theposter. It can't be very good paper. " She looked solemnly at Pierre. "Too bad, isn't it?" she said, and closed one eye behind her roundspectacles. 

"The weather seems to have damaged a good many of them, I notice, "answered Mother Meraut, with just a suspicion of a smile. "The weatherhas been quite pleasant too, --strange!"

"Weather--nothing!" said Pierre, scornfully. "I'll bet you that--"

It seemed as if Pierre was always being interrupted at just the mostexciting moment of his remarks, but this time he interrupted himself. "What's that?" he said, stopping short. Madame Coudert, his Mother, andPierrette, all stood perfectly still, their eyes wide, their lipsparted, listening, listening! They heard cannon-shots, thenmusic--toward the west--coming nearer--nearer. 

"It is--oh, it is the Marseillaise!" shrieked Pierrette. 

Mother Meraut and the Twins ran toward the sound. Now shouts wereheard--joyous shouts--from French throats! Never had they heard such asound! People came tumbling out of their houses, some not fullydressed--but who cared? The French were returning victorious from thebattle of the Marne. They were coming again into Rheims, driving theGermans before them! Ah, but when the red trousers actually appeared inthe streets the populace went mad with joy! They embraced the soldiers;they marched beside them with tears streaming down their cheeks, singing "March on! March on!" as though they would split their throats. Pierre and Pierrette marched and sang with the others, their Motherclose beside them. 

On and on came the singing, joy-maddened people, right past MadameCoudert's shop, and there, standing on the curb, with a tray in herarms piled high with goodies, was Madame Coudert herself. The greenposter was already torn in shreds and lying in the gutter. It evenlooked as if some one had stamped on it, and above her door waved thetricolor of France! "Come here, " she cried to Pierre and Pierrette, "Quick! Hand these out to the soldiers as long as there's one left!"

Pierre seized a pink frosted cake, and ran with it to a Captain. Pierrette gave a sugar roll to the first soldier she could reach; otherhands helped. Mother Meraut ran into the shop and brought out morecakes. Shop-keepers all along the way followed Madame Coudert'sexample, and soon people everywhere were bringing offerings of candy, chocolate, and cigars to the soldiers, and the streets suddenlyblossomed with blue, white, and red flags. At the corner, near MadameCoudert's shop, Pierre had the joy of seeing the German officer who hadtried to catch him surrender to the Captain who had taken the pinkcake. Oh, what a moment that was for Pierre! He sprang into the gutteras the German passed and savagely jumped up and down upon the fragmentsof the green poster! It was a matter for bitter regret to him longafter that the German did not seem to notice him. 

The whole morning passed in such joy and excitement that it was nearlynoon when at last Mother Meraut, beaming with happiness, andaccompanied by a radiant Pierre and Pierrette, entered the Cathedral. They were astonished to find it no longer the silent and dim sanctuaryto which they were accustomed. The Abbe' was there, and the Verger, looking quite distracted, was directing a group of men in moving thepraying-chairs from the western end of the Cathedral, and the spacewhere they had been was already covered with heaps of straw. Under thegreat choir at the western end there were piles of broken glass. Partof the wonderful rose window had been shattered by a shell, and lay ina million fragments on the stone floor. 

Mother Meraut clasped her hands in dismay. "What does it all mean?" shedemanded of the Verger, as he went tap-tapping by after the workmen. "What do you wish me to do?"

"Gather up every fragment of glass, " said the Verger briefly, "and putthem in a safe place. The wounded are on the way, and are to be housedin the Cathedral. We must be ready for them. There is no time to lose. "

As Mother Meraut flew to carry out his directions, the Abbe' beckonedto the children. "Can you be trusted to do an errand for me?" he said. 

"Yes, Your Reverence, " answered Pierre. 

"Very well, " said the Abbe. "I want you to get for the towers two RedCross flags. They must be the largest size, and we must have them soon. The wounded may arrive at any moment now, and the Red Cross willprotect the Cathedral from shell-fire, for not even Germans woulddestroy a hospital. " He gave them careful directions, and a note forthe shop-keeper. "Now run along, both of you, " he said. "Tell yourMother where you are going, and that I sent you. "

In two minutes the Twins were on their way, but it was more than anhour before they got back. First, the shop-keeper was out, and when hegot back it took him some time to find large enough flags. At last, however, they returned, each carrying one done up in a paper parcel. 

"Here are the flags, " Pierre announced proudly to the Verger, who metthem at the entrance. 

"Yes, " said Father Varennes, "here they are, and here you are. Come in, your Mother wants to see you. " The children followed him through thedoor, and although they had been told that the wounded were to bebrought to the Cathedral, they were not prepared for the sight that mettheir eyes as they entered. On the heaps of straw lay tossing moaningmen, in the gray uniforms of the German army. 

Pierrette seized Pierre's hand. "Oh, " she shuddered, "I didn't thinkthey'd be Germans!"

"They aren't--all of them, " said the Verger, a little huskily. "Some ofthem are French. The Church shelters them all. "

Doctors in white aprons were already in attendance upon the wounded, and nurses with red crosses on the sleeves of their white uniformsflitted silently back and forth on errands of mercy. The two children, clinging to each other and gazing fearfully about them, followed theVerger down the aisle. As they passed a heap of straw upon which awounded German lay, something bright rolled from it to them and droppedat Pierrette's feet. Pierre sprang to pick it up. It was a Germanhelmet. Across the front of it were letters. Pierre spelled them--"Gottmit uns. " "What does that mean?" he asked the Verger. 

"God with us, " snorted Father Varennes. "I suppose the poor wretchesactually believe He is. "

The Abbe' was waiting for them in the aisle, and he took from them theflags and the helmet. He had heard the Verger's reply, and guessed whatthe question must have been. "My boy, " he said, laying his hand gentlyupon Pierre's head for an instant, "God is not far from any of hischildren. It is they who, through sin, separate themselves from Him!But never mind theology now. Your Mother is waiting for you. I willtake you to her. "

The Twins thought it strange that the Abbe' should himself guide themto their Mother. They followed his broad back and swinging blacksoutane to the farthest corner of the hospital space. There, beside amound of straw upon which was stretched a wounded soldier in Frenchuniform, knelt their Mother, and the Twins, looking down, met the eyesof their own Father gazing up at them. 

"Gently! my dears, gently!" cautioned their Mother, as the childrenfell upon their knees beside her in an agony of tears. "Don't cry! heis wounded, to be sure, but he will get well, though he can never againfight for France. We shall see him every day, and by and by he will beat home again with us. "

Too stunned for speech, the Twins only kissed the blood-stained hands, and then their Mother led them away. Under the western arches shekissed them good-by. "Go now to Madame Coudert, " she said, "and tellher your Father is here, and that I shall stay in the Cathedral. Askher to take care of you for the night. In the morning, if it is quiet, come again to me. "

Dazed, happy, grieved, the children obeyed. They found Madame Coudertbeaming above her empty counter. "Bless you, " she cried, when they gaveher their Mother's message, "of course you can stay! There are no pinkcakes for Pierre, but who cares for cakes now that the French are oncemore in Rheims! And to think you have your Father back again! Surelythis is a happy day for you, even though he came back with a wound!"

V. AT MADAME COUDERT'S

The joy of the people of Rheims was short-lived. The Germans had beendriven out, it is true, but they had gone only a short distance to theeast, and there, upon the banks of the Aisne, had securely entrenchedthemselves, venting their rage upon the City by daily bombardments. From ten until two nearly every day the inhabitants of the strickenCity for the most part sat in their cellars listening to the whistlingof shells and the crash of falling timbers and tiles. When the noiseceased, they returned to the light and air once more and looked aboutto see the extent of the damage done. Dur ing the rest of the day theywent about their routine as usual, hoping against hope that the FrenchArmies, which were now between Rheims and the enemy, would be able notonly to defend the City but to drive the Germans still farther towardthe Rhine. 

When the Twins reached the Cathedral the morning after the return ofthe French troops, they found their Father resting after an operationwhich had removed from his leg a piece of shell, which had nearly costhis life and would make him permanently lame. Their Mother met them asthey came in. She was pale but smiling. "What a joy to see you!" shecried, as she pressed them to her breast. "You may take one look atyour Father and throw him a kiss; then you must go back to MadameCoudert. "

"Mayn't we stay with you and help take care of Father?" begged Pierre. 

"No, " answered his Mother firmly, "the sights here are not for youngeyes. I can wait upon the nurses and keep things clean: My place ishere for the present, but tomorrow, if all goes well, we will sleeponce more in our own little home, if it is still standing. In the meantime, be good children, and mind Madame Coudert. Now run along beforethe shells begin to fall. "

The Twins obediently trotted away, and regained the little shop just asthe clock struck ten. The day seemed long to them, for their thoughtswere with their parents, but Madame Coudert was so cheerful herself;and kept them so busy they had no time to mope. Pierrette helped makethe little cakes, and Pierre scraped the remains of the icing from themixing-bowl and ate it lest any be wasted. In some ways Pierre was avery thrifty boy. Then, too, Madame Coudert allowed them to standbehind the counter and help wait upon the customers. Moreover, therewas Fifine, the cat, for Pierrette to play with, and the littleraveled-out dog lived only two doors below; so they did not lack forentertainment. 

The next evening their Mother called for them, as she had promised todo, and they once more had supper and slept beneath their own roof. Forthree days they followed this routine, going with their Mother toMadame Coudert's, where they spent the day, returning at night. On thefourth day they were again allowed to visit the Cathedral and to seetheir Father. "It will do him good to be with his children, " the doctorhad said, and so, while Mother Meraut attended to her duties, Pierreand Pierrette sat on each side of the straw bed where he lay, proud andresponsible to be left in charge of the patient. 

Pierre was bursting with curiosity to know about the Battle of theMarne. Not another boy of his acquaintance had a wounded father, andthough his opportunities for seeing his friends had been few, he hadalready done a good deal of boasting; and was pointed out by other boyson the street as a person of special distinction. "Tell me about thebattle, Father, " he begged. 

His Father lifted his tired eyes to a statue of Jeanne d'Arc, which wasin plain sight from where he lay. "Well, my boy, " he said after apause, "there is much I should not wish you to know, but this I willtell you. On the day the battle turned, the watchword of the Army wasJeanne d'Arc. Our soldiers sprang to the attack with her name upontheir lips, and some have sworn to me that they saw her ride before usinto battle on her white charger, carrying in her hand the very bannerwhich you see there upon the altar. I do not know whether or not it istrue, but certainly the victory was with us, and I for my part find iteasy to be lieve that our blessed Saint Jeanne has not forgottenFrance. " He raised himself a little on his elbow and pointed to a placenot far distant in the nave. "There, " he said, "is the very spot uponwhich she knelt while her king was being crowned here in our Cathedralafter she had driven our enemies from French soil and had given him histhrone! The happiest moments of her life were here! What place shouldbe revisited by her pure spirit if not Rheims? My children, I wish youevery day to pray that she may come again to deliver France!" Exhaustedby emotion and by the effort he had made, he sank back upon the strawand closed his eyes. 

Pierrette took his hand. "Dear papa, " she said, "every day we will prayto her as you say, and give thanks to the Bon Dieu that your life hasbeen spared to us. If only your poor leg--" she stopped, overcome bytears. 

Her Father opened his eyes and smiled. "Ah, little one, what is a legmore or less;--or a life either for that matter, --when our France is indanger?" he said. "Is it not so, Pierre?"

Pierre gulped. "France can have all of my legs!" he cried, in a burstof patriotism. "And when I'm big enough, I'm going to dig a hole in theground and put in millions of tons of dynamite and blow up the whole ofGermany! That's what I'm going to do!"

His Father's eyes twinkled. "It seems a long while to wait, " he said, "because now you are only nine, you see. "

Just then their Mother came toward the little group. "Magpies!" shecried, "it seems that you are talking my patient to death. Run alongnow to Madame Coudert. " At the Cathedral entrance she kissed them, andthen stood for a moment to watch them as they hurried down the streetout of sight. 

VI. THE BURNING OF THE CATHEDRAL

On the evening of the 18th of September, Mother Meraut was late inleaving the Cathedral, and it was nearly dark when she reached MadameCoudert's door. Pierrette sat on the steps waiting for her, withFifine, the cat, in her arms. Madame Coudert was knitting, as usual, and Pierre was trying to teach the little raveled-out dog to stand onhis hind legs. As their Mother appeared, the children sprang to meether. 

"How is Father?" cried Pierrette. It was always the first question whenthey saw her. 

"Better, " answered her Mother. "In another week or two the doctorthinks he can be moved. "

She was about to enter the shop to speak to Madame Coudert, when theair was suddenly rent by a fearful roar of sound. She clasped herchildren in her arms. "It's like thunder, " she said, patting themsoothingly; "if you hear the roar you know at once that you aren'tkilled. Come, we must hurry to the cellar. " But before she could take asingle step in that direction there was another terrible explosion. 

"Look, oh look!" screamed Pierre, pointing to the Cathedral towers, which were visible from where they stood; "they are shelling theCathedral!"

For an instant they stood as if rooted to the spot. Was it possible theGermans would shell the place where their own wounded lay--a placeprotected by the cross? They saw the scaffolding about one of thetowers burst suddenly into flames. In another moment the fire hadcaught and devoured the Red Cross flag itself and then sprang like athing possessed to the roof. An instant more, and that too was burning. 

"Father!" screamed Pierre, and before any one could stop him or evensay a word, the boy was far up the street, running like a deer towardthe Cathedral. Pierrette was but a few steps behind him. 

When she saw her children rushing madly into such danger, MotherMeraut's exhausted body gave way beneath the demands of her spirit. IfMadame Coudert had not caught her, she would have sunk down upon thestep. It was only for an instant, but in that instant the children hadpassed out of sight. Not stopping even to close her door, MadameCoudert seized Mother Meraut's hand, and together the two women ranafter them. But they could not hope to rival the speed of fleet youngfeet, and when they reached the Cathedral square the flames werealready roaring upward into the very sky. The streets were crowded bythis time, and their best speed brought them to the square ten minutesafter the children had reached the burning Cathedral, and, heedless ofdanger, had dashed in and to the corner where their helpless Father lay. 

The place was swarming with doctors and nurses working frantically tomove the wounded. The Abbe' was there, and the Archbishop also. Alreadythe straw had caught fire in several places from falling brands. "Outthrough the north transept, " shouted the Abbe. 

Pierre and Pierrette knew well what they had come to do. For them therewas but one person in the Cathedral, and that person was their Father. They had but one purpose--to get him out. Young as they were, they werealready well used to danger, and it scarcely occurred to them that theywere risking their lives. Certainly they were not afraid. When theyreached their Father's side, they found him vainly struggling to rise. 

"Here we are, Father, " shouted Pierre: "Lean on us!" He flew to oneside; Pierrette was already struggling to lift him on the other. As hisbed was the one farthest from the spot where the fire first appeared, the doctors and nurses had sought to rescue those in greatest danger, and so the children for the time being were alone in their effort tosave him. 

The flames were now leaping through the Cathedral aisles, devouring thestraw beds as if they were tinder. In vain Father Meraut ordered themto leave him. For once his children refused to obey. Somehow they gothim to his feet, and he, for their sakes making a superhuman effort, succeeded in staggering between them, using their lithe young bodies ascrutches. How they reached the door of the north transept they neverknew, but reach it they did, before the burning flames. And there a newterror appeared. 

The people of Rheims, infuriated by the long abuse which they hadsuffered, stood with guns pointed at the wounded and helpless Germanswhom the doctors and nurses had succeeded in getting so far on the wayto safety. Above the roar of flames rose the roar of angry voices. "Itis the Germans who burn our Cathedral. Let them die with it, " shoutedone. 

Between the helpless Germans and the angry mob; facing their guns, towered the figures of the Abby and the Archbishop! "If you kill them, you must first kill us, " cried the Archbishop. Kill the Archbishop andthe Abbe'! Unthinkable! The guns were immediately lowered, and the workof rescue went on. 

Out of the north door crept Father Meraut, supported by his bravechildren. "Bravo! Bravo!" shouted the crowd, and then hands that wouldhave killed Germans willingly, were stretched in instant sympathy andhelpfulness to the wounded French soldier and his brave children. Twomen made a chair of their arms, and Father Meraut was carried in safetyto the square before the Cathedral, Pierre and Pierrette followingclose behind. At the foot of the statue of Jeanne d'Arc they stopped torest and change hands, and there, frantic with joy, Mother Meraut foundthem. 

"A soldier of France--wounded at the Marne!" shouted the crowd, and ifhe had been able to endure it, they would have borne him upon theirgrateful shoulders. As it was, he was carried in no less grateful armsclear to Madame Coudert's door, and there, lying upon an improvisedstretcher, and attended by his wife and children, he rested from hisjourney, while Madame Coudert ran to prepare a cup of coffee for astimulant. From Madame Coudert's door they watched the furtherdestruction of the beautiful Cathedral which Mother Meraut had so oftencalled the "safest place in Rheims. " As it burned, a wonderful thinghappened. High above the glowing roof there suddenly flamed the bluefleur-de-lis of France!

"See! See!" cried Mother Meraut. "A Miracle! The Lily of France! Oh, surely it is a sign sent by the Bon Dieu to keep us from despair!"

"It is only the gas from an exploding shell, bursting in blue flame, "said her husband. "Yet--who knows?--it may also be a true promise thatFrance shall rise in beauty from its ruins. "

VII. HOME AGAIN

The next day, they were able to move Father Meraut to his own home. Inspite of the excitement and strain, he seemed but little the worse forhis experience, and the happiness of being again with his family quiteoffset the effect of his dangerous journey. Mother Meraut was a famousnurse, and when he was safely installed in a bed in a corner of theroom which was their living-room and kitchen in one, she was able togive him her best care. There he lay, following her with his eyes asshe made good things for him to eat or carried on the regularactivities of her home. Pierre and Pierrette sat beside his bed andtalked to him, or, better still, got him to tell them stories of thethings that had happened during his brief stay in the Army. Pierrebrought the little raveled-out dog, with which he was now on thefriendliest terms, to see him, and Madame Coudert also came to call nowand then, bringing a cake or some other dainty to the invalid. 

If only the Germans had gone from their trenches on the Aisne, they andevery one else in Rheims would have been quite comfortable, but alas!this was not to be. The Germans stayed where they were, and each daysent a new rain of shells upon the unfortunate City. The inhabitantsgrew accustomed to it, as one grows used to thundershowers in April. "Hello! it's beginning to sprinkle, " they would say when a shell burst, spattering mud and dirt upon the passers-by. Signs appeared upon thestreet, "Safe Cellars Here, " and when the bombardment began, peoplewould dash for the nearest shelter and wait until the storm was over. 

Pierre and Pierrette played out of doors every day, though they did notgo far from their home, and had no one but each other to play with. Pierrette made a play-house in one corner of the court. Here in alittle box she kept a store of broken dishes, and here she sat longhours with her doll Jacqueline. Sometimes Pierre, having no betteroccupation, played with her. He even took a gingerly interest inJacqueline, although he would not for the world have let any of theboys know of such a weakness. 

When the shells began to fall, they would leave their corner and runquickly to the cellar. As Father Meraut could not go up or down, hiswife stayed in the kitchen beside him. In this way several weary weekswent by. Mother Meraut went no more to the Cathedral. There was nothingthere that she could do. The great, beautiful church which had been thevery soul of Rheims and the pride of France was now nothing but aruined shell, its wonderful windows broken, its roof gone, its verywalls of stone so burned that they crumbled to pieces at a touch. Eventhe great bronze bells had been melted in the flames and had fallen inmolten drops, like tears of grief, into the wreckage below. All thebeautiful treasures--the tapestries, wrought by the hands of queens, and even the sacred banner of Jeanne d'Arc itself--had been destroyed. 

Mother Meraut knew, but she did not tell her children, that preciouslives had also been lost, and that buried somewhere in the ruins werethe bodies of doctors and nurses who had given their own in trying tosave the lives of others, and of brave citizens of Rheims who hadfallen in an attempt to save the precious relics carefully treasuredthere. Neither did she tell them that little Jean, the Verger's son, was one of that heroic band. These sorrows she bore in her own breast, but she never passed near the Cathedral after that terrible night. Sometimes, when a necessary errand took her to that part of the City, she would pause at a distance to look long at the statue of Jeanned'Arc, standing unharmed in the midst of the destruction about herstill lifting her sword to the sky. In all the rain of shells which hadfallen upon the City not one had yet touched the statue. Only the tipof the sword had been broken off. It comforted Mother Meraut to see itstanding so strangely safe in the midst of such desolation. "Itstands, " she thought, "even as her pure spirit stood safe amidst theflames of her martyrdom. But I cannot, like her, pray for my enemieswhile I burn in the fires they have kindled. "

There was yet another burden which she carried safely hidden in herheart. She had not heard from her father and mother since the Battle ofthe Marne. That the Germans had passed through the village where theylived she knew, but what destruction they had wrought she could onlyguess. It was impossible for her at that time to go to them; so shewaited in silence, hoping that some time good news might come. The slowweeks lengthened into months, and at last Father Meraut was strongenough to get about on a crutch like Father Varennes. It was a greatday when first he was able to hobble down the steps and out upon thestreet, leaning on Mother Meraut's arm on one side, and his crutch uponthe other, with Pierre and Pierrette marching before him like a guardof honor. 

It was now cold weather; winter had set in, and life became moredifficult as food grew scarce and there was not enough fuel to heat thehouses. School should have begun in October, but school-buildings hadnot been spared in the bombardment, and it was dangerous to permitchildren to stay in them. At last, however, a new way was found tocheat the enemy of its prey. Schools were opened in the great champagnecellars of Rheims, and Pierre and Pierrette were among the firstscholars enrolled. Every day after that they hastened through thestreets before the usual hour of the bombardment, went down into one ofthe great tunnels cut in chalk, and there, in rooms deep underground, carried on their studies. It was a strange school, but it was saferthan their home, even though there was danger in going back and forthin the streets. By spring the children of Rheims had lived so much incellars that they were as pale as potato-sprouts. 

Mother Meraut watched her two with deepening anxiety. Then, one day inthe spring, a corner of their own roof was blown off by a shell. No onewas hurt, but when a few moments later a second explosion blew a catthrough the hole and dropped it into the soup, Mother Meraut'sendurance gave way. 

It was the last straw! She put the cat out, yowling but unharmed, andsilently cleared away the debris. Then, when the bombardment was over, she put on her bonnet and went out. She came back an hour later, tofind the Twins sitting, one on each side of their Father, holding hishands, and all three the picture of despair. Mother Meraut stood beforethem, her eyes flashing, her cheeks burning a deep red, and this iswhat she said: "I will not live like this another day. Life in Rheimsis no longer possible. I will not stay here to be killed by inches. Ihave made arrangements to get a little row-boat, and to-morrow morningwe will take such things as we can carry and leave this place. Whatevermay happen to us elsewhere, it cannot be worse than what is happeninghere, and it may possibly be better. "

Her husband and children looked at her in amazement. She did not asktheir opinion about the matter, but promptly began the necessarypreparations and told them what to do. Clothing was brought to FatherMeraut to be packed in compact bundles and tied up with string. Thenblankets were made into another bundle; a third held a frying-pan, acoffee-pot, and a kettle, with a few knives, forks, and spoons, while afourth contained food. The Twins were sent to say good-by to MadameCoudert, and to give her a key to the door, and then all the rest oftheir household goods were packed away as carefully as time permitted, in the cellar. 

Mother Meraut put the Twins to bed early, but she herself remained atwork most of the night; yet when morning came and the children woke, she was up and neatly dressed, and had their breakfast ready. She didnot linger over their sad departure, nor did she shed a tear as theyleft the little house which had been their happy home. Instead, shelocked the door after them with a snap, put the key in her pocket, andwalked down the steps with the grim determination of a soldier goinginto battle, carrying a big bundle under each arm. 

VIII. REFUGEES

The Twins and their Father followed the resolute figure of MotherMeraut down the street, not knowing at all where she was leading them, but with implicit confidence that she knew what she was about. She wascarrying the heaviest bundles, and the Twins carried the rest betweenthem, packed in a clothes-basket. On her other arm Pierrette bore herdearly loved Jacqueline. Father Meraut could carry nothing but suchsmall articles as could be put in his pockets, but it was joy enoughthat he could carry himself, and it was quite wonderful to see howspeedily he got over the ground with his crutch. 

Not far from their house in the Rue Charly ran the River Vesle, whichflows through Rheims, and as the Merauts knew well a man whose businessit was to let boats to pleasure parties in summer, the children werenot surprised to see their Mother walk down the street toward thelittle wharf where his boats were kept. He was waiting to receive them, and, drawn up to the water's edge was a red and white row-boat, withthe name "The Ark" painted upon her prow. Mother Meraut smiled when shesaw the name. "If we only had the animals to go in two by two, weshould be just like Noah and his family, shouldn't we?" she said, asshe put the bundles in the stern. 

In a few moments they were all seated in the boat, with their fewbelongings carefully balanced, and Jacqueline safely reposing inPierrette's lap. The boatman pushed them away from the pier. "Aurevoir, " called Mother Meraut as the boat slid into the stream. "Wewill come back again when the Germans are gone, and in some way I shallhave a chance to send your boat to you, I know. Meanwhile we will takegood care of it. "

"There will be few pleasure-seekers on the Vesle this summer, " answeredthe boat-man, "and the Ark will be safer with you than rotting at thepier, let alone the chance of its being blown up by a shell. I'm gladyou've got her, and glad you are going away from Rheims. It will beeasy pulling, for you're going down-stream, and about all you'll haveto do is to keep her headed right. Au revoir, and good luck. " He stoodon the pier looking after them and waving his hat until they were wellout in the middle of the stream. 

Father Meraut had the oars, and, as his arms had not been injured, hewas able to guide the boat without fatigue, and soon the current hadcarried them through the City and out into the open country which laybeyond. Mother Meraut sat in the prow, looking back toward theCathedral she had so loved, until the blackened towers were hidden fromview by trees along the riverbank. They had started early in order tobe well out of Rheims before the daily bombardment should begin. 

Spring was already in the air, and as they drifted along they heard theskylarks singing in the fields. The trees were turning green, and therewere blossoms on the apple trees. The wild flowers along the riverbankwere already humming with bees, and the whole scene seemed so peacefuland quiet after all they had endured in Rheims, that even theshell-holes left in the fields which had been fought over in the autumnand the crosses marking the graves of fallen soldiers did not saddenthem. 

Mother Meraut sat for a long time silent, then heaved a deep sigh ofrelief. "I feel like Lot's wife looking back upon Sodom and Gomorrah, "she said. Suddenly her eyes filled with tears and she kissed herfinger-tips and blew the kiss toward Rheims. "Farewell, my beautifulCity!" she cried. "It is not for your sins we must leave you! And somehappy day we shall return. "

There was a report, and a puff of smoke far away over the City, thenthe sound of a distant explosion. The daily bombardment had begun!

"Your friends are firing a farewell salute, " said Father Meraut. 

All the morning they slipped quietly along between greening banks, carried by the current farther and farther down-stream. At noon theydrew the boat ashore beneath some willow trees, where they ate theirlunch, and then spent an hour in such rest as they had not had for manyweary months. 

It was then, and not until then, that Father Meraut ventured to askhis wife her plans. "My dear, " he said, as he stretched himself out ina sunny spot and put his head in Pierrette's lap, "I have greatconfidence in you, and will follow you willingly anywhere, but I shouldreally like to know where we are going. "

Mother Meraut looked at him in surprise. "Why, haven't I told you?" shesaid "My mind has been so full of it I can't believe you didn't knowthat we are going to my father's, if we can get there! You know theirvillage is on a little stream which flows into the Aisne some distancebeyond its junction with the Vesle. We could drift down to the placewhere the two rivers join, and go on from there to the little streamwhich flows past Fontanelle. Then we could row up-stream to thevillage. "

"It's as plain as day, now you tell it, " answered her husband, "and avery good plan, too. "

"You see, " said Mother Meraut, as she packed away the remains of thelunch, "I haven't heard a word from them all winter. I don't knowwhether they are dead or alive. I haven't said anything about it, because you were so ill and there were so many other worries, but thisplan has been in my mind all the time. What we shall do when we get toFontanelle I do not know, but we shall be no worse off than otherrefugees, and at any rate we shall not be under shell-fire every day. "

"If we can't find any place to stay there, why can't we go on and ondown the river, until we get clear to the sea, " said Pierre withenthusiasm. 

"It's just like being gypsies, isn't it?" added Pierrette. 

"So far as I can see, " said Mother Meraut, "we've got to go on and on!Certainly we can't go back. "

"No, we can't go back, " echoed her husband, with a sigh. 

All the pleasant afternoon they drifted peacefully along, and nightfallfound them in open country. It began to grow colder as darkness cameon. "We shall need all our blankets if we are to sleep in the fields, "said Mother Meraut at last. "It's time for supper and bed, anyway. Let's go ashore. "

"We'll build a fire on the bank and cook our supper there, " said herhusband. 

"What is there, Mother, that we can cook?"

"There are eggs to fry, and potatoes to roast in the ashes, " sheanswered, "and coffee besides. "

"I am as hungry as a wolf, " said Pierrette. 

"I'm as hungry as two wolves, " said Pierre. 

They found a landing-place, and the Ark was drawn ashore. Pierre andPierrette ran at once to gather sticks and leaves. These they broughtto their Father, and soon a cheerful fire flamed red against theshadows. Then the smell of coffee floated out upon the evening air, andthe sputter of frying eggs gave further promise to their hungrystomachs. 

Before they had finished their supper the stars were winking down atthem, and over the brow of a distant hill rose a slender crescent moon. Pierrette saw it first. "Oh, " she cried, "the new moon! And I saw itover my right shoulder, too! We are sure to have wonderful luck thismonth. "

Pierre shut his eyes. "Which way is it?" he cried. Pierrette turned himcarefully about so that he too might see it over his right shoulder, and then, this ceremony completed, they washed the dishes and helpedpack the things carefully away in the clothes-basket once more. 

They slept that night under the edge of a straw-stack in the meadownear the river, and though they were homeless wanderers without a roofto cover them, they slept well, and awakened next morning to the musicof bird-songs instead of to the sound of guns and the whistling ofshells. 

IX. THE FOREIGN LEGION

Fortunately for our pilgrims the weather remained clear and unusuallywarm for the season of year, and they were able to continue theirjourney the following day in comfort. That night they slept in acowshed, where no cows had been since the Germans passed through somany months before, and on the morning of the third day they reachedthe large market town which marked the junction of the little riverupon which the village of Fontanelle was situated with the Aisne. 

Mother Meraut was now upon familiar territory, among the scenes of herchildhood. She had often come here with her father when he had broughta load of produce to sell in the town market. Here they disembarked, bought a load of provisions, and once more resumed their journey. Progress from this point on was slower than that of previous days, fornow the current was against them. Father and Mother Meraut took turnsat the oars, and they had gone some four or five miles up the streamwhen they came in sight of something quite unfamiliar to Mother Meraut. Stretching across the level meadows beside the river, as far, as theeye could see, were rows and rows of tents. Companies of soldiers inFrench uniforms were drilling in an open field. Groups of cavalryhorses were herded in an enclosure, and everywhere there were theactivities of a great military encampment. 

"It's a French training-camp, " cried Father Meraut, and he waved hiscap on the end of an oar and shouted "Vive la France" at the top of hislungs. Pierre and Pierrette waved and shouted too, and Mother Meraut, caught by the general excitement, snatched up Jacqueline, who had beenreposing in the basket, and frantically waved her. Some soldiersanswered their signal, and shouted to them. 

Father Meraut looked puzzled. "That's not French, " he said; "I can'tunderstand what they say. But they have on French uniforms! I wonderwhat regiment it can be. I'm going to find out. "

"We're not far from Fontanelle now, " said Mother Meraut; "don't youthink we'd better go on?"

"We can't get there without stopping somewhere to eat, anyway, " saidFather Meraut. "It's already eleven o'clock, and I'd rather find outabout the soldiers than eat. " So they tied the Ark to a willow tree andwent ashore. 

In a moment more they were in a city of soldiers, and Father Meraut wasmaking friends with some of the men who were lounging near thecook-house, sniffing the savory smell of soup which issued from it inappetizing gusts. Pierre and Pierrette sniffed too, and even MotherMeraut could not help saying appreciatively, "That cook knows how tomake soup. " Pierre laid his hand upon his stomach and smacked his lips. "Pierre, " said his mother, reprovingly, "where are your manners, child?"

At that moment two soldiers were passing--one a tall, thin man, and onemuch smaller. They paused and laughed, and the tall man laid his handon his stomach, too, and smacked his lips. 

"Are you hungry, kid?" he said genially to Pierre. Pierre looked blank. 

The short man punched the tall man in the ribs. "Don't you see he'sFrench, " he said derisively. "Did you think you were back home inIllinois? Why don't you try some of your parley-voo on him? You're notgetting on with the language; here's your chance for a real Parisianaccent. "

"Oh, g'wan, " answered the tall man. "Try your own French on him! Iguess it won't kill him; he looks strong. "

The short man came nearer to Pierre and shouted at him as if he weredeaf. "Avvy-voo-doo faim?"

Pierre withdrew a step nearer his mother and Pierrette. "Je necomprends pas!" he said politely. "Pardon. "

The tall man took off his cap and rumpled his hair. "Try it again, Jim, " he said, "even if he is scared. They look to me like refugees, and as if a good bowl of soup wouldn't strike their insides amiss, butyour French would stampede a herd of buffaloes!"

"Try it yourself, then, " said the short man, grinning. 

The tall man sat down on a box at the door of the tent and beckoned toPierre. "I say, kid, " he began, "avvy-voo-doo-fam--fam?" He rubbed hisstomach in expressive pantomime. 

"Mamma, " cried poor puzzled Pierre, "he asks me if I have a wife, andrubs his stomach as if he had a stomach-ache. What does he mean?"

Mother Meraut came forward, trying hard not to laugh. "Que voulez-vous, Messieurs?" she said politely. 

The tall man was on his feet instantly with his cap in his hand. "Yousee, ma'am, " he began, "we're from the States-des Etats-Unis! We'vecome here to fight le Boche--savez-vows?--combattre le Boche!" He wavedhis arms frantically and made a motion as if shooting with a gun. 

A smile broke over Mother Meraut's face, and she held out both hands. "Les Americains!" she cried joyfully, "des Etats-Unis, dans l'uniformede la France! Mais maintenant nous exterminons le Boche!" She calledPierrette and Pierre to her side. "These are Americans, " she explainedin French, "come from the United States of America to fight with us. Shake hands with them. "

The Twins obeyed shyly, and when their Father rejoined the family a fewmoments later, their friendship had progressed to such an extent thatPierre was seated on one side of the tall man and Pierrette on theother, and they were all three studying a French phrase-book. The shortman, called Jim, was gesticulating wildly, and talking to MotherMeraut, and she, good soul, looked so wise, and said "Oui" and "Non, "and nodded her head so intelligently to encourage him, that he neversuspected that she did not understand one word in ten, and casttriumphant glances at the tall man to see if he was observing hissuccess. 

At this moment a French Captain came by. The men sprang to their feet, clicked their heels together, and saluted. Father Meraut stiffened intomilitary position and saluted also. The officer returned the salute, then stopped and spoke to him. "You are a soldier of France, I see, " hesaid. "Where did you get your wound?"

"With Joffre, at the Marne, mon Capitaine, " answered Father Meraut, proudly. And then he told the Captain of his being brought wounded tothe Cathedral in Rheims, of its bombardment and burning, and of hisrescue by Pierre and Pierrette. 

The Captain turned to the Americans and said to them in English: "Wehave here three heroes of France instead of one! These children havelived under constant fire since last September, and they rescued theirwounded father from the burning Cathedral of Rheims at the risk oftheir own lives. " The Americans saluted Father Meraut, then theysaluted Pierre and Pierrette, while Mother Meraut stood by, beamingwith pride. 

"We will ask them to dine with us as our guests, " said the Captain, and, turning to Father Meraut, he spoke again in French. "This is theForeign Legion, " he said. "It is made up of friends of France, bravemen of different countries who came voluntarily to fight with usagainst the Boche. Here they receive special training under Frenchofficers before going to the front. These Americans have only justcome. They do not know much French, but they wish you to dine withthem. "

Ah, what a day that was for Pierre and Pierrette! Their story waspassed about from one to another, and, instead of being homeless, wandering refugees, they found themselves suddenly treated asdistinguished guests, by real soldiers. Pierre swelled with pride, andif he had only been able to speak their language, how glad he wouldhave been to tell the Americans about the return of the French toRheims, the green poster, Madame Coudert, and many other things! Alas, he could only eat his soup and gaze about him at all the activitiesthat were going on in camp. When at last it was time for them to go, itwas with the greatest difficulty that Pierre could be torn away fromhis new-found friends. 

"Come again, old pal, " said the tall man, slapping Pierre cordially onthe back as he said good-by. "Come again and see your Uncle Sam! Comeand bring your family!"

Pierre grinned, although he did not understand a word, shook hands, andran down the river-bank to join his parents and Pierrette, who werealready climbing into the boat. 

"Jim" and "Uncle Sam" looked after them as the Ark swung out into thestream. "Au revoir, " shouted Pierre, waving his hand. "Vive la France!"And back came the reply like an echo, "You bet your life, vive laFrance!"

X. FONTANELLE

The shadows were beginning to lengthen across the valley as the Arkrounded a bend in the stream and the little church spire of Fontanellecame into view. "There it is--at last!" cried Mother Meraut. "ThankGod, something of the village still stands!" She gazed eagerly into thedistance. "And there is the Chateau, " she added joyfully, pointing to alarge gray stone building half hidden by a fringe of trees. "Oh, surelythings are not going to be so bad as I had feared. Hurry! hurry! Itseems as though my heart must take wings and fly before my body, nowthat we are so near!"

Father Meraut bent to the oars. "I will stay with the boat while youand the children go to the village, " he said, when, a few momentslater, he found a favorable spot to land. 

Mother Meraut was out of the boat almost before it was beached, theTwins sprang out after her, and the three started up the road to thevillage on a run. Groves of trees just bursting into leaf lay betweenthem and the one street of the little town, and it was not until theyhad passed it that they could tell how much damage had been done. Thesight that met their eyes as they entered the village was notreassuring, but, hoping against hope, they ran on to the little housewhich had been Mother Meraut's childhood home. At the threshold theypaused, and the tears which Mother Meraut had resolutely refused toshed when she had said good-by to her own home in Rheims fell freely asshe gazed upon the ruins of the home of her parents. The house wasempty, the windows were gone, the door was wrenched from its hinges, and the roof was open to the sky. The whole village was in much thesame condition. Every house was empty, the street deserted. 

Neither Mother Meraut nor the Twins said a word. With heavy hearts theyturned from the gaping doorway and started toward the Chateau, whichlay half a mile beyond the village. Not a soul did they meet until theyarrived at the great gate which marked the entrance to the park, andthen they saw that the Chateau too had suffered. It had been partlyburned out, but as its walls were standing and one wing lookedhabitable, their spirits rose a little. At the gate a child wasplaying. They stopped. "Can you tell me, ma petite, " said MotherMeraut, her voice trembling, "whether there is any one here by the nameof Jamart?"

"Mais--oui, " answered the child, surveying the strangers withcuriosity. "Voila!" She pointed a stubby finger toward the Chateau, andthere, just disappearing behind a corner of the wall, was the bentfigure of an old woman carrying a pail of water. 

With a cry of joy, Mother Meraut sprang forward, and Pierre andPierrette for once in their lives, run as they would, could not keep upwith her. She fairly flew over the ground, and when the Twins at lastreached her side, the pail of water was spilled on the ground, and thetwo women were weeping in each other's arms. An old man now came towardthem and the children flung themselves upon him. "Grandpere!Grandpere!" they shouted, and then such another embracing as there was!

Grand'mere kissed the Twins, and Grandpere hugged Mother Meraut, andthen, because the tears were still running down their cheeks, Grandperepointed to the overturned pail, and the water flowing in littlewiggling streams through the dust. "Come, dear hearts, " he cried, "arethese your tears? Weep no more, then, lest we have a flood after ourfire! This is a time to rejoice! Wipe your eyes, my Antoinette, andtell us how you came here. It is as if the sky had opened to let downthree angels--and where, then, is Jacques?"

By this time a group of people had gathered about them--the littleremnant of the old prosperous village of Fontanelle. "Here we are, yousee, " said Grandpere, "all that are left of us. Every able-bodied youngwoman was driven away by the Germans to work in their fields--whileours lie idle. Every able-bodied man is in the army. There are onlytwenty-seven of us left--old women, children, and myself. There youhave our history. "

Mother Meraut shook each old friend by the hand, looked at all thebabies and children, and proudly showed her Twins to them in return, before she said a word about the sorrows they had endured in Rheims, and the desperation which had at last driven them from their home. Thepeople listened without comment. They had all suffered so much thatthere was no room left in their hearts for new grief, but when she toldthem of the boat and her lame husband they rejoiced with her that shehad the happiness at least of a united family. There was plenty of roomin their hearts for joy! "Come with us, " they said. "We cannot bepoorer. Our cattle are driven away; we have no strong laborers to tillour fields, no seeds to plant in them. We live in one wing and theouthouses of the Chateau, but hope is not yet dead, and your hands arestrong. Your husband, too, can help, and we shall be at least no worseoff for your being here. "

Grand'mere spoke. "We live in the cow-stalls of the stable, " said she. "It is not so bad; there is still hay in the loft, and there are otherstalls not occupied. "

Mother Meraut crossed herself. "If the Blessed Mother of Our Lord couldlive in a stable, " she said, "such shelter is surely good enough forus. "

Father Meraut, sitting patiently in the boat, was surprise, a littlelater as he looked anxiously toward the village, to see a crowd ofpeople coming toward him, waving caps and hands in salutation. Beforethe others ran Pierre and Pierrette, and when they reached him theypoured forth a jumble of excited words, from which he was able togather that Grandpere and Grand'mere were alive and well, and thatthere was a place for them to stay. He got out of the boat to greet thepeople, and their willing hands took the bundles and helped hide theArk in the bushes, and the whole company then started back to theChateau, Grandpere lingering behind the others to keep pace with theslow progress of Father Meraut. 

When Grand'mere, the Twins, and their Mother reached the stable theytook their bundles from the hands of their friends, and went in toinspect their new home. The stable had been swept and scrubbed until itwas as clean as it could be made. The large box stall served as abedroom for Grand'mere and Grandpere. Above their bed of hay, coveredwith old blankets and quilts, was hung a wooden crucifix. This, withtwo boxes for seats, was all the furniture it contained. A few articlesof clothing hung about on nails, and in the open space before thestalls a stove was placed, the pipe running through a pane of glass ina window near by. 

When Grandpere and Father Meraut arrived, Mother Meraut met them at thedoor. "Behold our new apartment!" she said, and she led her husband toone of the clean stalls, where she had already begun to set uphousekeeping. The Twins were at that moment in the loft overhead, getting hay for their beds, and Jacqueline, exhausted by her journey, had been put to bed in the manger. 

Father Meraut looked about. "This is not bad for the summer, " he said, "and who knows what good luck may come to us by fall? Perhaps theGermans will be driven out of France by that time, and surely we shallbe able to do some planting even now. "

"We have dug up the ground for gardens as best we could with the fewtools we have, " said Grandpere. "The government would send us seeds, but the roads are very bad, and we have no horses, and supplies arehard to get even though we have money to pay for them. The nearest townwhere provisions can be obtained lies six miles below, at the mouth ofthe river, and it is very little one can carry on one's back. "

"Is there no way to get help from the soldiers' camp?" asked FatherMeraut. "They must get supplies. "

"Yes, but they cannot of themselves at this time take care of thecivilian population, " said Grandpere. "There are many villages in thesame condition, and the soldiers' business is to fight for France. "

"True, " said Father Meraut. Then he exclaimed: "I have it! The Ark! Itwill indeed be our salvation as it was Father Noah's. "

Grandpere looked anxiously at Mother Meraut and touched his forehead. "He is not mad?" he asked. 

She laughed. "The name of our boat is the Ark, " she explained. "We canuse it to go down the river to buy provisions if there are any to behad. "

Grand'mere, who had been listening, looked cautiously about, then feltunder the straw of her bed and brought out a stocking. "See!" she said. "I have money. The others have money too, but of what use is money whenthere is nothing to buy and no place to buy it?"

"We must find a place to buy things, " said Mother Meraut with decision. "Grandpere and Jacques can take the Ark and go down the river on avoyage of discovery, and bring back the supplies that we most need. "

After supper the whole village gathered about the stable door to hearall the news which the Meraut family had brought from the outsideworld. For months they had not seen a newspaper, and there had been novisitors in Fontanelle. And when Father Meraut had finished tellingthem all the story of Rheims, of the burning of the Cathedral, of themiraculous safety of the statue of Saint Jeanne, of his own escape, andthe final destruction of the roof over their heads, and their flightfrom the city, the pressing needs of the little village and his andGrandpere's proposed voyage were discussed, and it was very late whenat last the people separated and the little village settled down forthe night. 

XI. A SURPRISE

The next morning the whole village was up early, and plans wereperfected for the voyage of Father Meraut and Grandpere. A long list ofnecessary articles was made out, and the money for their purchasesafely hidden away in their inside pockets. They were just about tostart down the road to the river, when suddenly a wonderful thinghappened. Right through the great gate of the Chateau rumbled a largemotor truck with an American flag fluttering from the radiator! It wasdriven by a strange young woman in a smart gray uniform. Beside her onthe driver's seat sat an older woman dressed the same way and carryingin her hand a black medicine-case. 

The girl stopped her engine, climbed down to the ground, and approachedthe astonished people of Fontanelle: "Bon jour, " she said, smiling. Then in excellent French she explained her errand. "We are Americans, "she said, and at that name every face smiled back at her. "We have cometo help you restore your homes. America loves and admires the Frenchpeople, and since we women cannot fight with you, we wish at least tohelp in the reconstruction of your beautiful France. Your governmenthas given us permission to start our work here, and has promised helpfrom the soldiers whose camp is near. The money we bring from Americawill purchase materials, and with your labor and the help of thesoldiers we shall soon see what can be done. "

For a moment after she had ceased speaking there was silence. Thepeople of Fontanelle were too astonished for words. So much goodfortune after all their sorrow left them stunned. It was Pierre whofirst found his voice. He took off his cap, swung it in the air andshouted, "Vive l'Amerique, " at the top of his lungs, and "Vivel'Amerique, " chorused the whole village, relieved to be able to venttheir feelings in sound. 

Mademoiselle laughed. "Vive la France, " she answered, and then, turningto the truck, she cried, "Come and see what we have in our little shopon wheels. But first let me introduce to you Dr. Miller. She is anAmerican doctor who has come to take care of any who may be sick. "

The Doctor had already climbed down from her high seat and was openingthe back of the truck. She smiled and shook hands with the people. "Isthere not something here you wish to buy?" she asked. "The prices areplainly marked. "

Everybody now crowded about the truck, and in it, --oh, wonderful, --piled on the floor and hanging from the top and sides, werethe very things for which they had been longing so eagerly! There werehoes, and shovels, and rakes, and garden seeds of all kinds. There werebolts of cloth and woolen garments and wooden shoes, and yarn forknitting. There were even knitting-needles! And, best of all, there wasfood, food such as they had not seen in many weary months. Ah, it wasindeed marvelous what that truck contained!

The buying began at once, and never before had any one been able topurchase so much for a franc! Soon there was nothing left in the truckbut some bedding and other articles belonging to the Doctor andMademoiselle, as the people at once began to call her. 

"Will you not come with me to my apartment in the stable?" said MotherMeraut cordially to the two women. "You must be tired from yourjourney. "

"We must first see the Commandant at the camp, " said the Doctor, "andthen we shall be happy if you will find some lunch for us. It isnecessary to see at once if our houses have come. "

"Your houses!" cried Pierre, so surprised that he quite forgot hismanners. "But, Madame, it is not possible that you carry your houseswith you like the snails?"

The Doctor laughed. "Not just like the snails, " she said; "our houseshave been sent on ahead of us in sections, with the army supplies, andare no doubt here in the care of the Commandant. "

"Go, my Pierre, conduct them to the camp, " said his Mother, "and whenyou come back, " she added, turning to the two women, "I will have readyfor you the best that my poor house affords. " The Doctor andMademoiselle thanked Mother Meraut, and then, following Pierre, starteddown the river road toward the camp a mile or more away. 

The next few days seemed to Pierre and Pierrette, and indeed to all theinhabitants of Fontanelle, little less than a series of miracles. Inthe first place, the Doctor and Mademoiselle had scarcely finished thegood lunch which Mother Meraut had waiting for them on their returnfrom camp, when a great truck, loaded with sections of the portablehouses, entered the great gate of the Chateau. It was followed by adetachment of soldiers from the Foreign Legion, sent by the Commandantto erect them. The soldiers were also Americans, and Pierre andPierrette were delighted to find that both "Jim" and "Uncle Sam" wereamong them. Indeed Uncle Sam was in command of the squad, and when hepresented himself and his men to the Doctor and Mademoiselle, heexplained that the Commandant had detailed Americans to this duty, ashe thought that they would more easily understand what the ladieswished to have done. 

The whole place now swarmed with people working as busily as bees in ahive. By night one house was fit to be occupied. The following nighttwo more had been erected, and the soldiers had laid tent floors in allof them. The day after that six more young women in gray came, bringingmore supplies. Under the generalship of the Doctor, Mother Meraut wasinstalled in the carriage-house which opened from the stable, and hereshe prepared meals for her family and for all the new-comers as well. The Doctor established a dispensary in one room of the Chateau, andMademoiselle opened a store in the basement, keeping there for sale alarge quantity of the supplies which had been brought by the six youngwomen. Father Meraut and Grandpere worked hard on the gardens, assistedby Pierre and Pierrette and any other person in the village who wascapable of wielding a hoe. Soon people began to come in from theneighboring hamlets, bringing their sick babies to the Doctor fortreatment. The great truck was loaded with supplies received throughthe Army Service and the Red Cross, and the young women took turns indriving the "Shop on Wheels" into other, less favored districts, tostart there work similar to that begun at Fontanelle. 

Uncle Sam and Jim came so often to the village that they were soon onfriendly terms with every one in it. They acted as emissaries betweenthe camp and the village, and if anything was needed which was beyondthe power of these determined women to supply, Uncle Sam and Jim seemedalways by some miracle to accomplish it. One day the Doctor said to Jim"I wish there were some way of getting a good cow here. These littlechildren cannot get rosy and strong without fresh milk, and theyhaven't had any since the Germans drove away their cows. "

A week later Jim appeared at the Chateau gate leading a cow! There wasa card tied to one horn. The Doctor removed it and read, "To Dr. Millerfor the little children of Fontanelle. "

"It's from the Commandant, " said Jim, beaming with pride. 

The cow proved such a success, and the babies and young children showedat once such improvement, that the Doctor determined that they shouldhave not only milk but fresh eggs, and Mademoiselle was sent to Paristo make investigations, and, if possible, place an order for more cowsand some hens. Upon her return she announced that a load of live-stockfrom southern France would soon arrive at the nearest railroad station, five miles away. 

"It's going to be a regular menagerie, " said Mademoiselle, when shetold Mother Meraut about it. "There will be two more cows, two pigs, apair of goats, ten pairs of rabbits, and sixty fowls. "

"Mercy upon us!" cried Mother Meraut. "Where in the world can we putthem all? Must we move out of our apartment to admit the cows?"

"No, " laughed Mademoiselle, "we must find another way to take care ofthem. The cows can stay out of doors now, and there is grass to feedthem and the goats. They can all be tethered by ropes, if necessary, but we must find a secure place to keep the pigs and the rabbits, andthe chicken-house must be mended and put in order for the fowls. "

"But Madame Corbeille now resides in the chicken-house. What willbecome of her and her children?" cried Mother Meraut. 

"Easy enough, " said Mademoiselle; "there is still room in your stable, is there not? For example, there is the granary! It will do excellentlyfor the Corbeilles. Pierre and Pierrette will help build therabbit-hutch, I know, and there we are, all provided for!"

So it was arranged, and that afternoon another family came to liveunder the same roof with the Merauts. Grandpere, with his new hammerand some nails, mended the chicken-house, and then helped Pierre andPierrette build enclosures for the rabbits and pigs out of stones andrubble from the fallen walls. 

At last the day came when all the creatures were to arrive, andMademoiselle arranged that the Twins, Mother Meraut, and four of herown party of young women should go to the railroad station to get them. The great truck was brought out, ropes were then thrown in, and all thepeople who composed what Mademoiselle called the "Reception Committee"climbed in and sat on the floor, while Mademoiselle and the Doctoroccupied the driver's seat. The soldiers had done some work on theroads, so they were not as bad as they had been earlier in the spring;but they were still bad enough, and the people in the truck werebounced about like kernels of corn in a popper. 

"Now, " said Mademoiselle, when they arrived at the station, "the fowlsand the rabbits will have to go back in the truck. That will be easy, for they came in crates; but the cows, the goats, and the pigs must beeither led or driven. "

"It sounds simple enough, " said the Doctor, "but have any of you everknown any cows or pigs? Do you know how to manage them?"

"I have an acquaintance with cows, " said Mother Meraut, "but to goatsand pigs I am a stranger. "

"Very well, " said Mademoiselle, "Mother Meraut shall lead the way withthe cows. You, Kathleen and Louise, " she said, turning to two of thegray-uniformed girls, "you shall attend the goats. Mary and Martha maytackle the pigs. Pierre and Pierrette will serve excellently asshort-stops in case any of our live-stock gets away, and the Doctor andI will bring up the rear. "

"It's going to be a regular circus!" said Kathleen. "I feel as if weought to wear spangles and be led by a band. "

"We haven't any clown, though, " said Martha. 

"I shouldn't wonder, " said Mary, "if we'd all look like clowns in thisparade. "

The car with the creatures in it was standing on a side track, and thestation agent, looking doubtfully at the girls, led the way to it, andafter the rabbits and fowls had been loaded into the truck, placed agangplank for the cows to walk down, and opened the door of the car. But nothing happened; the cows obstinately refused to step down theplank. 

"Here's a rope, " said Mademoiselle, at last, throwing one up to theagent. "I hoped we shouldn't need it, but I guess we do. "

The agent fixed the rope to the horns of one of the cows, and threw theother end to Mademoiselle. "Now, " said he, "pull gently to begin with. "

Mademoiselle, pale but valiant, pulled, quietly at first, then harder. The cow put her head down, braced her feet and backed. 

"Come on, " cried Mademoiselle to the others, "we'll all have to pulltogether. "

Any one who could get hold of it seized the rope. 

"I never played 'pom pom pull away' with a cow before, " quaveredLouise. "I--I--don't feel sure she knows the rules of the game!"

"She'll soon learn, " said Mademoiselle, grimly. "Don't welch. Now, then, one--two--three--pull!"

At the word, they all leaned back and pulled. The cow, yieldingsuddenly, shot out of the car like a cork out of a champagne bottle, and the girls attached to the rope went down like a row of bricks. Therope flew out of their hands, and the cow went careering down the trackwith the rope dangling wildly after her, while the other cow, fired byher example, came bawling after. When they found grass by the roadsidethey became reasonable at once. Mother Meraut then took charge of them, and, as Kathleen remarked, "that ended the first movement. " The secondbegan when the goats were unloaded. Mademoiselle took no chances withthem. She got the agent to put ropes on them in the first place, andKathleen and Louise, cautiously advancing to the plank, held uppropitiatory offerings of grass. 

"That's right, " laughed Mademoiselle, "leading citizens with bouquets!Perhaps a speech of welcome might help. They aren't the first old goatsto be received that way. "

"Hush!" implored Louise. "My knees are knocking together so I canhardly stand up now, and suppose they should butt!"

"In the words of the immortal bard 'butt me no butts, '" murmuredKathleen, as they reached the gang-plank. 

The agent, having attached the rope and released the goats from theirmoorings, stood back and gave them full access to the open door, holding the other end of the rope firmly in his hands. "You can takethe ropes when they are safely down the plank, " he cried gallantly. "They need a man to handle them. "

"Oh, thank you, " said Kathleen and Louise with one voice. 

The goats accepted the suggestion of the open door at once and gallopeddown the gang-plank with such reckless speed that the agent lost hisfooting and came coasting down after them. "Mille tonneurs!" heexclaimed, as he reached the end of the gang-plank and struck a bed ofgravel. "Those goats are possessed of the devil!"

The Doctor was beside him in an instant. "I hope you are not injured, "she cried. "Is there anything I can do for you? I am a doctor. "

"No, Madame, " said the agent, bowing politely, as he got himself on hisfeet again, "I am hurt only in my pride, and you have no medicine forthat!"

"Oh, " cried Mademoiselle, "how brave it was of you! It's as yousay--they need a man to manage them!"

The station agent looked at the goats, who were now grazing peacefully, attended by Kathleen and Louise, and then, a little thoughtfully, atMademoiselle. "It is indeed better that a man should take these risks, "he said, throwing out his chest. "And there are still the pigs! I doubtnot they are as full of demons as the Gadarene Swine themselves!"

"What should we do without your help?" said Mademoiselle. "The pigscannot be roped!"

"No, " said the agent sadly, "they cannot. " He considered a moment. Thenhe motioned to Pierre and Pierrette, who were standing with Mary andMartha at a respectful distance. "Come here, all of you, " he said, addressing them from the top of the gang-plank; "pigs must be taken bystrategy. I am an old soldier. I will engineer an encircling movement. Mademoiselle; will you stand here at the left, and, Madame la Docteur, will you station yourself at my right? The rest of you arrangeyourselves in a curved line extending westward from Madame. Then I willrelease the pigs, and you, watching their movements, will head them offif they start in the wrong direction. Voila! We will now commence. "

He went back into the car, and in another moment the pigs, squealingvociferously, thundered down the gang-plank, gave one look at the"encircling movement, " and, wheeling about, instantly dashed under thecar and out on the other side into an open field. It was not until theyhad made a complete tour of the village, pursued by the entirepersonnel of the "encircling movement" that they were at last turnedinto the Fontanelle road. 

"This isn't--the way--this parade--was advertised!" gasped Kathleen, asshe struggled with her goat in an effort to take her appointed place inthe caravan. "The--cows--were to--go--first!"

"Never mind, " answered Louise cheerfully, as she pulled her goat intothe road. "A little informality will be overlooked, I'm sure. "

Mother Meraut followed them with the cows, and last of all Mademoiselleand the Doctor climbed into the truck and brought up the rear of theprocession, with all the roosters crowing at the top of their lungs. 

There is not time to tell of all the adventures that befell them on theeventful journey back to Fontanelle. One can merely guess that it musthave been full of excitement, since the Reception Committee did notreach the village with their charges until some time after dark. MotherMeraut was worried because she was not home in time to get a hot supperfor the tired girls, but when they arrived they found that Grand'merehad stepped into the breach, and had made steaming hot soup for everyone. Grandpere and Father Meraut took charge of the live-stock, andMother Corbeille milked the cows. 

As they dragged themselves wearily to bed that night, Kathleendecorated Mademoiselle with a huge cross, --cut out of paper, --which shepinned upon her nightgown. "For extreme gallantry, " she explained, "inleading your forces into action in face of a fierce charge by twogoats, and for taking prisoner two rebellious pigs!" Then she salutedceremoniously and tumbled into bed. 

XII. MORNING IN THE MEADOW

As summer came on, life seemed less and less sad to the people ofFontanelle. With the coming of the Americans the outlook had so changedthat, although the war was not yet over, they could look forward to thefuture with some degree of hope. The news brought from Rheims byoccasional refugees was always sad. The Germans continued to shell thedefenseless city, and the Cathedral sustained more and more injuries, but the beautiful stained-glass windows had been carefully taken down, the broken pieces put together as far as possible, and the wholeshipped to safer places in France. The statue of Jeanne d'Arc withinthe church had also been taken from its niche, while the one before theCathedral doors still remained unharmed by shot and shell. 

It comforted Mother Meraut to think of that valiant figure standingalone amid such desolation. She had other things to comfort her aswell. With food and fresh air the roses bloomed again in the cheeks ofher children. Soon, too, the gardens began to yield early vegetables. In the morning, instead of hearing the sound of guns, they wereawakened by bird-songs, or by the crowing of cocks and the bleating ofgoats. These were pleasant sounds to the people of Fontanelle, for theybrought memories of peaceful and prosperous days, and the promise ofmore to come. 

The rebuilding of the village was begun by the end of June, and thesound of saws and hammers cheered them with the prospect of comfortablehomes before cold weather should come again. The work proceeded slowly, for the workers were few, even though their good friend the Commandantgave them all the help he could. There were now a multitude of littlechicks running about on what had been the stately lawns of the Chateau, and there were twenty new little rabbits in the rabbit-hutch. As therabbits could not forage for themselves, it was necessary for others toforage for them, and this work fell to the lot of Pierre and Pierrette. 

One summer morning one of the roosters crowed very, very early, and theTwins, having no clock, supposed it was time for them to get up and gofor fresh leaves and roots for the rabbits, as they did every day. Theyrose at once, and the sun was just peering above the eastern horizon asthey came out of the stable door. They went to the rabbit-hutch, andthe rabbits, seeing them, stood up on their hind legs and wiggled theirnoses hungrily. 

"Rabbits do have awful appetites, " said Pierre, a little ruefully, ashe looked down at the empty food-box. "Just think what a pile of thingswe brought them yesterday. "

"There's nothing to do but get them more, I suppose, " answeredPierrette. 

"I know where there's just bushels and bushels of water-cress, " saidPierre, "but it's quite a long distance off. You know the brook thatflows through the meadow between here and camp? It's just stuffed withit, and rabbits like it better than almost anything. "

"Let's go and get some now, " said Pierrette. "We can take theclothes-basket and bring back enough to last all day. "

Pierre went for the basket, and the two children started down the roadwhich ran beside the meadow toward the camp. It was so early that notanother soul in the village was up. Even the rooster had gone to sleepagain after his misguided crowing. One pale little star still winked inthe morning sky, but the birds were already winging and singing, as thechildren, carrying the basket between them, set forth upon their quest. 

When they reached the brook, they set down the basket, took off theirwooden shoes, and, wading into the stream, began gathering greatbunches of the cress. They were so busy filling their basket that theydid not notice the sun had gone out of sight behind a cloud-bank, andthat the air was still with that strange breathless stillness thatprecedes a storm. It was not until a loud clap of thunder, accompaniedby a flash of lightning, suddenly broke the silence, that they knew thestorm was upon them. When they looked up, the meadow grasses were bending low before a sudden wind, and the trees were swaying to and fro asif in terror, against the background of an angry sky. 

"Wow!" said Pierre. "I guess we're in for it! We can't possibly gethome before it breaks. "

"Oh, " gasped Pierrette, as another peal of thunder shook the air, "Idon't want to stay out in it. What shall we do?"

Pierre looked about him. A little distance beyond the brook, toward thecamp, there was a straw-stack with a rough straw-thatched shed besideit, half hidden under a group of small trees. Pierre pointed to it. "We'll leave the basket here, " he said, "and hide under the straw untilthe storm is over. Then we can come back again, get it, and go home. "

Another clap of thunder, louder still, sent them flying on their way, and they did not speak again until they were under the shelter of theshed. The first big drops fell as they reached it, and then the stormbroke in a fury of wind and water. The children cowered against thestack itself as far as possible out of reach of the driving rain. 

They had been there but a few moments, when they heard a new sound inaddition to the roar of the wind and the patter of the rain upon theleaves. It was the dull tread of heavy footsteps, and they weresurprised to see a man running toward the straw-stack, his head bent toshield his face from the rain, under the brim of an old hat. Hisclothes were rough and unkempt, and altogether his appearance was soforbidding that the children instinctively dived under the straw at theedge of the stack like frightened mice, and burrowed backward untilthey were completely hidden, though they could still peep out throughthe loose straw. 

The man reached the shed almost before they were out of view, but itwas evident that he had not seen them, for he did not glance in theirdirection. He took off his hat and shook the rain-drops from it. Thenhe wiped his face and neck with a soiled handkerchief and sat down onthe edge of a bench that had once been used for salting cattle. He satstill for a little while, with his feet drawn up on the bench and hishands clasping his knees, the better to escape the rain. Then he beganto grow restless. He walked back and forth and peered out into the rainin the direction of the camp. The children were so frightened theycould hear their own hearts beat, but they had been in danger so manytimes, and in so many different ways that they kept their presence ofmind, and were able to follow closely his every move. Soon they heardthe sound of more footsteps, and suddenly there dashed under the shed asoldier in the uniform of France. It was evident that the first manexpected him, for he showed no surprise at his coming, and the two satdown together on the bench and began to talk. 

The wind had now subsided a little, and though they spoke in low tonesthe children could hear every word. 

"Whew!" said the soldier as he shook his rain-coat. "Nasty weather. "

"All the better for our purposes, " answered the other man. "There'sless chance of our being seen. "

"Not much chance of that, anyway, so early in the morning as this, "answered the soldier, looking at his watch. "It's not yet four o'clock!"

"Best not to linger, anyway, " said the other man. "That Captain ofyours has the eyes of a hawk. I was up at camp the other day sellingcigarettes and chocolate, and he eyed me as if he was struck with mybeauty. "

"I wish you'd keep away from camp, " said the soldier, impatiently. "Itisn't necessary, and you might run into some one who knew you back inGermany. There are all kinds of people in the Foreign Legion. I tellyou, it isn't safe, and besides, I can get all the information we needwithout it. "

"All right, General, " responded the other, grinning. "But have you_got_ it? That's the question. I expect that buzzard will be flyingaround again over this field in a night or so, --the moon is 'most fullnow, and the nights are light, --and I've got to be able to signal himjust how to find the powder magazine and the other munitions. Then hecan swoop right over there and drop one of his little souvenirs whereit will do the most good and fly away home. I advise you to keep awayfrom that section of the camp yourself. "

"Here is the map, " said the soldier, drawing a paper from his pocket, "and there are also statistics as to the number of men and all I canfind out about plans for using them. Take good care of it. It wouldn'tbe healthy to be found with it on you. "

The first man pocketed the paper. "That's all, is it?" he asked. 

"All for this time, anyway, " answered the soldier. 

The man looked at him narrowly. 

"Well, " said the soldier, "what's the matter? Don't I look like aFrenchman?"

"You'd deceive the devil himself, " answered the man with a short laugh. "No one would ever think you were born in Bavaria. Don't forget andstick up the corners of your mustache, though. That might give youaway. When do you think you can get over to see that fort?"

"I don't know, " answered the soldier sharply, "but I'll meet you hereday after to-morrow at the same hour. Auf Wiedersehen, " and he was gone. 

After his departure, his companion lingered a moment, lit a cigarette, looked up at the sky, and, seeing that the shower was nearly over, strolled off in the opposite direction. 

The children, looking after him, saw him come upon their basket nearthe brook, examine it carefully, and then look about in every directionas if searching for the owners. Seeing no one, he gave it a kick andpassed on. They watched him, not daring to move until he turned towardthe river and was out of sight. Later they saw a boat come from theshelter of some bushes on the bank, and slip quietly down the streamwith the man in it. 

When they dared move once more they crawled out from under the straw, and Pierrette said, "Well, what do you think of that?"

"Think!" Pierre said, choking with wrath. "I think he's a miserable dogof a spy! They are both spies! And they are going to try to blow up thewhole camp! You come along with me. " He seized Pierrette by the hand, and the two flew over the wet meadow toward the distant camp. 

"Whatever should we do if we met that soldier?" gasped Pierrette, breathless with running and excitement. 

"Look stupid, " said Pierre promptly. "He didn't see us, and he'd neverdream we had seen him; but, by our blessed Saint Jeanne, this is whereI get even with the Germans! Let's find Jim and Uncle Sam. "

Reveille was just sounding as they entered the camp and presentedthemselves at the door of Uncle Sam's tent. During the weeks that hadelapsed since their arrival in France, Jim and Uncle Sam had acquired afair working knowledge of the language, and, though it still remained aqueer mixture of French and English, they and the children managed tounderstand each other very well. 

"Bonjour, kids!" cried Uncle Sam in astonishment, when he saw the twochildren at the tent door. "What on earth are you doing here? Don't youknow visitors are not expected in camp at this hour?"

"Sh--sh!" said Pierre, laying his finger on his lips. "Nobody must seeus! We have important news!"

Uncle Sam sat up in bed. "Why, I believe you have, " he said, lookingattentively at their pale faces. "Just wait a minute while I get myclothes on. Here, you--Jim, " he added, poking a recumbent figure in theadjoining cot. "Roll out! It's reveille!"

Jim sat up at once and rubbed his eyes, and, after a hurriedconsultation, the two men turned the two children with their faces tothe wall in one corner of the tent, while they made a hasty toilet inthe other. 

"Now, then, out with it, " said Uncle Sam a few moments later. "Quevooly-voo? What's up?"

Jim sat down beside him on the edge of the cot, and the two menlistened in amazement to the story the two children had to tell. Whenthey had finished, Uncle Sam wasted no words. "Come with me to theCaptain tooty sweet, " he said. And Jim added, as he patted the Twinstenderly on the head, "By George, mes enfants, you ought to get the warcross for this day's work. "

A few moments more, and the children and Uncle Sam were ushered by anorderly into the presence of the Captain, who was just in the act ofshaving. Uncle Sam's message to him had been so imperative that theywere admitted at once to his presence, even though his face was coveredwith lather and he was likely to fill his mouth with soap if he openedit. Uncle Sam saluted, and the Twins, wishing to be as polite aspossible, saluted too. The Captain returned the salute, and went onshaving as he listened to their story, grunting now and thenemphatically instead of speaking, on account of the soap. When Pierrecame to what the soldier had said under the shed, he was so muchinterested that he cut his chin. 

"So that's their program, is it?" he sputtered, soap and all, moppinghis chin. "But how on earth did you happen to be in such a place asthat at such an hour in the morning?"

Pierre explained about the rabbits and the cress, and Uncle Sam added:"They're from Fontanelle. Their father is a soldier wounded at theMarne, and they lived under fire in Rheims for eight months beforecoming here. They're some kids, believe me! They know what war is. "

"Yes, " said the Captain, "I remember them; they came up the river someweeks ago. " Then he turned to the children. "Would you know thatsoldier if you were to see him again?" he asked. 

"Oh, yes, " said the children. 

"Very well, " said the Captain, "the men will go to breakfast soon. Youstay with Sam and watch them, and if you see that man go by you step onSam's foot. No one must see you do it. Be sure you don't make a mistakenow, " he added, "and if you really do unearth the rascal, it's the bestday's work you ever did, for yourselves as well as for France. Sam, youreport to me afterwards, and be sure you give no occasion for suspicionto any one. "

"Yes, sir, " said Sam, and saluted. Pierre and Pierrette saluted also. 

The Captain returned the salute with ceremony. "You are true soldiersof France, " he said to the Twins as they left his tent. 

If their comrades were surprised to see Uncle Sam standing with twochildren by his side while the others passed into the mess tent withcups and plates in hand, no one said anything. It was a littleirregular to be sure--but then--Americans were always unexpected! For along time the men filed by, and still there was no sign of the facethey sought. At last, however, Pierre came down solidly on Uncle Sam'sright foot, and at the same time Pierrette touched his left with herwooden shoe. There, right in front of them, carrying his plate and cup, and twirling his mustache, was the man they sought!

The Twins stood still, and not by the quiver of an eyelash did theybetray any excitement until the man had passed into the tent. ThenUncle Sam said to them, "Now you scoot for home, or your Mother will beworried to death! Tell your Father and Mother all about it, but don'ttell another soul at present. " The children flew back across themeadow, picked up their basket of cress, and when they reached theChateau, fed the hungry rabbits. Then they found their Father andMother and told them their morning's adventures. 

XIII. CHILDREN OF THE LEGION

It must not be supposed, because things were more cheerful for theinhabitants of Fontanelle, that they had forgotten the war. They werereminded of it every day, not only by the presence of soldiers, but bythe sound of distant guns, and by the visits of German airplanes. Oftenin the middle of the night an alarm would be given, and the people ofthe village would spring from their beds and seek refuge in the cellarsof the Chateau--that is, all but Kathleen; she obstinately refused togo, even when the Doctor reasoned with her. "Let me die in my bed, " shepleaded. "It's better form. Our best people have always done it, andbesides when I'm waked suddenly that way I'm apt to be cross. " So, whenthe sound of the buzzing motor was heard in the sky, she simply drewthe covers over her head, and stayed where she was, while a strange, half-clad procession, recruited from stables and granary, filed intothe Chateau cellar. These raids were likely to occur on bright nights, and as the time of the full moon approached, the people of the villagegrew more watchful and slept less soundly. 

On the night following the adventure of the Twins in the meadow, thoughthe moon shone, no aerial visitor appeared, nor did one come the nextnight after. Neither did any news from camp come to the village. Pierreand Pierrette longed to tell Mademoiselle and the Doctor their secret, but Uncle Sam had told them to share it with no one but their parents, and they knew obedience was the first requisite of a good soldier; sothey said nothing, and nearly burst in consequence. They went no moreto the meadow after cress, however. Mother Meraut saw to that. If theyhad gone there on the morning of the next day but one after theirencounter with the spies, they would have had a still more thrillingexperience, for at midnight Uncle Sam, Jim, and the Captain had quietlystolen away from camp and hidden themselves in the straw. There theystayed until in the gray of the early dawn they saw a boat come up theriver, and the slouching figure of the spy stalk across the meadow tohis rendez-vous under the shed. They stayed there until the soldierappeared, and until they had heard with their own ears the plan forsignaling the German airplane that night, and for giving informationwhich would en able the aviator to blow up their stores of powder andammunition. Then, suddenly and swiftly, at a prearranged signal, thethree men sprang from the straw, and the astonished spies foundthemselves surrounded and covered by the muzzles of three guns. Theysaw at once that resistance was useless, and sullenly obeyed theCaptain's order to throw up their hands. They were then marched back tocamp, turned over to the proper authorities, and the next morning atsunrise they met the fate of all spies who are caught. 

That was not the end of the affair, however, for, knowing that theairplane which the spy had referred to as the "Buzzard" was to beexpected that night, and that the German aviator would look for signalsfrom the straw-stack, plans were made for his reception, and this partof the drama was witnessed from the village as well as from the camp. The night was clear, and at about eleven o'clock the whirr of a motorwas heard in the distance. The Doctor, who had returned late from avisit to a sick patient in an adjoining village, heard it, and at oncegave the alarm. Out of their beds tumbled the sleepy people ofFontanelle, and, wrapping themselves in blankets or any garment theycould snatch, they ran out of doors and gazed anxiously into the sky. 

Pierre and Pierrette, with their parents and grandparents, were amongthe first to appear. They saw the black speck sail swiftly from theeast, and hover like a bird of ill omen over the meadows. No alarmsounded from the camp, but suddenly from the shadows three Frenchplanes shot into the air. Two at once engaged the enemy, while a thirdcut off his retreat. The battle was soon over. There were sharp reportsof guns and blinding flashes of fire as the great machines whirled andmaneuvered in the air, and then the German, finding himself outnumberedand with no way of escape, came to earth and was taken prisoner. 

"Three of 'em bagged, by George, " exclaimed Jim to Uncle Sam, when theaviator was safely locked up in the guardhouse, "and all due to thepluck and sense of those two kids. If it hadn't been for them, thechances are we'd all have been ready for cold storage by this time. They've saved the camp--that's what they've done! There are explosivesenough stored here to have blown every one of us to Kingdom-come!"

"Right you are, Jim, " replied Uncle Sam with hearty emphasis, "wesurely do owe them something, and that's a cinch. Let's talk with theboys. "

That night Uncle Sam and Jim made eloquent use of all the French theyknew as they sat about the camp-fire, and told the story of Pierre andPierrette to their comrades in arms. Not only did they tell of theirfinding the spies and saving the camp from destruction, but of theirFather, wounded at the Marne, of their experience in the Cathedral atRheims, and of all they had suffered there, and especially of theirplucky Mother whose spirit no misfortune could break. And when they hadfinished the tale, the men gave such a hearty cheer for the wholeMeraut family that it was heard in the village a mile away, though noone there had the least idea what the noise was about. 

The next day Uncle Sam and Jim appeared in Fontanelle and told thestory of the spies to the Doctor and Mademoiselle, and then they held along private conference with Mother Meraut. The children were on pinsand needles to know what they were talking about, and why Mother Merautlooked so happy afterward, but she only shook her head when they beggedher to tell them, and said, "Someday you'll find out. "

Two days later an orderly rode into the Chateau gate on horseback, andinquired for Pierre and Pierrette Meraut. At the moment he arrived theTwins were feeding the rabbits, but they came running to the gate whentheir Mother called them, and the orderly handed them an envelope withtheir names on it in large letters. The Twins were so excited theycould hardly wait to know what was inside. They had never beforereceived a letter. Their Mother opened it and read the contents to theastonished children. This was the note:--

"The Commandant and men of the Foreign Legion request the pleasure ofthe company of Pierre and Pierrette Meraut, and of all the people ofFontanelle at a birthday party to be held at Camp (of course the exactname of the camp has to be left out on account of the Censor) on July14th at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. R. S. V. P. "

The eyes of Pierre and Pierrette almost popped out of their heads withsurprise. "Why, Mother, " they cried, "that's our birthday! And it'sBastille Day too! Do you suppose it is the birthday of the Commandantalso?"

"Maybe, " said their Mother, smiling. "Anyway it is the birthday of ourdear France. "

The orderly smiled, too, and touched his hat. "Is there an answer?" heasked. 

"There will be, " said Mother Meraut, "but first the others must betold. "

The Twins ran with their wonderful letter to the dispensary and toldthe Doctor. Then they found Mademoiselle, who, with Kathleen'sassistance, was putting a new tire on one wheel of the truck. Theyfound Louise mending a chicken-coop, and Mary and Martha sortingsupplies in the storeroom. They found all the other people of thevillage, some in the garden and some working elsewhere, and everysingle one said they should be delighted to go. 

"Now, " said Mademoiselle, when they returned to her and reported, "youmust write your acceptance. "

The Twins looked blank. "Can't we just tell him?" they asked anxiously. "We can't write very well--not well enough to write to the Commandant. "

"Oh, but, " said Mademoiselle, "I'm sure he will expect a letter, andyou must just write the very best you can, and it will be good enough, I'm sure. Get writing-materials, and I will help you. "

At her direction Pierre brought paper and ink from her little house, and the two children sat down on the ground beside the truck. 

"Now, what shall we say?" asked Pierrette. 

"I know, " said Pierre; "let's say: 'Thank you for asking us to yourparty. We are all coming. Amen!' Don't you think that would do?"

Mademoiselle bent over her tire. "Yes, " she said, "I think he will likethat, but I'd both sign it if I were you. "

So the Twins signed it and put it in an envelope and gave it to theorderly, who promptly put it in his pocket, saluted, wheeled his horse, and galloped away toward camp. 

The days before the party were full of excitement for the Twins. Theythought of nothing else, and how strange it was that Bastille Day andthe Commandant's birthday both should be the same as theirs. MotherMeraut bought some cloth, and made Pierrette a new dress, and Pierre anew blouse, to wear on the great occasion, and when the day finallycame, the children searched the fields to find flowers for a bouquetfor the Commandant; since they had no other birthday gift to offer him. 

At three o'clock in the afternoon the whole village was ready to start. Mademoiselle drove the truck with the old people and little childrensitting in it on heaps of straw. Kathleen was the driver of the Fordcar, and had as passengers Father Meraut, because he was lame, andGrandpere because he was Grandpere, and the Twins because it was theirbirthday; and everybody else walked. 

When they reached the camp, they found Jim and Uncle Sam ready to actas guard of honor to conduct them to the Commandant, who, with theCaptain beside him, waited to receive them beside the flagstaff at thereviewing-stand of the parade-ground. It seemed very strange to Pierreand Pierrette that they should walk before their parents, and evenbefore the Doctor and Mademoiselle, but Uncle Sam and Jim arranged theprocession, and placed them at its head. So, carrying their bouquet offlowers, they followed obediently where their escort led. "Now, kids, "said Uncle Sam in a low voice as they neared the reviewing-stand, "walkright up and mind your manners. Salute and give him the bouquet, andspeak your piece. "

"We haven't any piece to speak, " quavered Pierrette, very muchfrightened, "except to wish him many happy returns of his birthday. "

Uncle Sam's eyes twinkled. "That'll do all right, " he said; only ofcourse he said it in French. 

The regiment was massed before the reviewing-stand as the littlecompany came forward to meet their host, and when at last Pierre andPierrette stood before the Commandant, with the beautiful flag ofFrance floating over them, though they had been fearless undershell-fire, their knees knocked together with fright, and it was in avery small voice that they said, together, "Bonjour, Monsieur leCommandant, accept these flowers and our best wishes for many happyreturns of your birthday. "

The Commandant took the flowers and smiled down at them. "It is not mybirthday, my little ones, " he said gently, "it is the birthday of ourglorious France and of two of her brave soldiers, Pierre and PierretteMeraut, as well, and the Foreign Legion is here to celebrate it! Comeup here beside me. " He drew them up beside him on the reviewing-standand turned their astonished faces toward the regiment. 

"Men of the Foreign Legion, " he said, "these are the children whodiscovered two spies, and by reporting them saved our camp fromprobable destruction. " Then, turning again to the children, he said:"By your prompt and intelligent action you have prevented a terriblecatastrophe. In recognition of your services the Foreign Legion desiresto make you honorary members of the regiment, and France is proud toclaim you as her children!" Then he pinned upon their breasts a cockadeof blue, white, and red, the colors of France, and kissed them on bothcheeks, the regiment meanwhile standing at attention. 

When he had finished the little ceremony, the men, responding to asignal from the Captain; burst into a hearty cheer. "Vive Pierre! VivePierrette! Vive tous les Meraut, " they cried. 

For a moment the Twins stood stunned, petrified with astonishment, looking at the cheering men and at the proud upturned faces of theirparents and the people of Fontanelle. Then Pierre was suddenlyinspired. He waved his hat in salutation to the flag which, floatedabove them and shouted back to the regiment, "Vive la France!" andPierrette saluted and kissed her hand. Then the band struck up theMarseillaise, and everybody sang it at the top of his lungs. 

It was a wonderful golden time that followed, for when the children hadthanked the Commandant, all the people of Fontanelle were invited tosit on the reviewing-stand and watch the regiment go through theregular drill and extra maneuvers in honor of the day, and when thatwas over, the guests were escorted back to the mess tent, and therethey had supper with the men. Moreover, the camp cook had made amagnificent birthday cake, all decorated with little French flags. Itwas cut with the Captain's own sword, and though there wasn't enoughfor the whole regiment, every one from Fontanelle had a bite, andPierre and Pierrette each had a whole piece. 

When the beautiful bright day was over and they were back again inFontanelle, the Twins found that even this was not the end of their joyand good fortune, for Mother Meraut told them that the regiment had putin her care a sum of money to provide for their education. "Children ofsuch courage and good sense must be well equipped to serve theircountry when they grow up, " the Commandant had said, and the men, responding to his appeal, had put their hands in their pockets andbrought out a sum sufficient to make such equipment possible. 

More than that, Uncle Sam and Jim had two small uniforms made forthem, --only Pierrette's had a longer skirt to the coat, --and on paradedays and other great occasions they wore them to the camp, with theblue, white, and red cockades pinned proudly upon their breasts. Indeed, they became the friends and pets of the whole regiment, andwere quite as much at home with the soldiers as with the people ofFontanelle. 

Then one day Uncle Sam had a letter from home in which there waswonderful news. It said that the city of Rheims had been "adopted" bythe great, rich city of Chicago far away across the seas, and that somehappy day when the war should be over and peace come again to thedistracted world, Rheims should rise again from its ashes, rebuilt byits American friends. 

In this hope the Twins still live and work, performing their dutiesfaithfully each day, like good soldiers, and praying constantly to theBon Dieu and their adored Saint Jeanne that the blessings which havecome to them may yet come also to all their beloved France. 

PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY

KEY

ale, care, am, arm, ask; eve, end; menu, ice, ill; old, obey, orb, odd;food; zh = z in azure; N = the French nasal. ' An apostrophe indicatesa short sounding of the preceding consonant. 

_Proper Names_

 Aisne Amerique Boche Charly Corbeille Coudert Fifine Jacqueline Jacques Jeanne d'Arc Marseillaise Meraut Pierre Rheims Varennes Vesle

_French Words and Phrases_

Abbe

Bon Dieu (Heavenly Father)

Bonjour (Good-day; hello; how do you do?)

chateau (castle)

combattre le Boche (fight the Boche)

grand'mere (grandmother)

grandpere (grandfather)

"Les Americains des Etats-Unis, duns l'uniforme de la France. Maismaintenant nous exterminons le Boche. " ("Americans from the UnitedStates, in the uniform of France. Surely now we shall crush out theBoche. ")

Mille tonneurs! (Great heavens!)

Que voulez-vous? (What do you wish?)

Verger

Vive (Long live)

Vive la France (Long life to France!)

Vive tous les Meraut (Long life to all the Meraut family. )

"Auf Wiedersehen" (German: "Till we meet again, " or "Good-bye. ")

"Lieb' Vaterland, macht ruhig sein" (German national anthem: "DearFatherland, be tranquil. ")

SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS

The French Twins offers a valuable supplement to the study of currentevents. In the first place, there is no problem of arousing interest inthe nation which this book represents. France and the French peoplehave from the outbreak of the Great War compelled new and intenseinterest and sympathy from all Americans; and each fresh insight intothe character, life, and ideals of the country is eagerly welcomed. Moreover, in any class there will be few children who cannot claimeither a relative or a friend who has served in the War; and many, likePierre and Pierrette Meraut, will have had soldier fathers, therebycreating a bond between themselves and the Merauts strong enough toguarantee the pupils' interest throughout the reading of the book. Likethe other books of the "Twins Series, " _The French Twins_ adapts itselfreadily to dramatization. 

In providing adequate background for the story, the teacher will findfertile resources in newspapers and magazines. _The Red CrossMagazine_, _The National Geographic Magazine_, the Boy Scout and theGirl Scout publications, are readily accessible and contain muchvaluable supplementary material for classroom use. The Foreign Legion, the Battles of the Marne, Joffre's visit to the United States, RheimsCathedral, important events near the scenes of the story, etc. , can bemade clear and real to the children by the aid of maps, illustrations, and articles in these magazines, and by means of picture post-cards, and other material from other sources. The story of the founding of theRed Cross, the origin of its flag, etc. , will help to vivify theincidents connected with this organization. 

As for French history, the two focus points are the stoniest of Joan ofArc and Bastille Day. Both furnish abundance of colorful detail andincident upon which to build the pupils' conceptions of the spirit andideals of the French people. In the case of Bastille Day, correlationshould be made between that day and our own Independence Day, comparingthe French and American Revolutions and indicating the similarcircumstances in the two movements. Lafayette's part in our War of theRevolution and America's payment of our debt to France in the Great Warform another means of making familiar to the children the story of ourhistoric friendship with France. 

While _The French Twins_ is a war story, soldiers and trenches andbattle-fields are nevertheless not the main features; on the contrary, _The French Twins_ depicts the necessary part played by women, children, and old people during the War, and shows how the spirit andaims of the soldiers' families have been the same as those of thesoldiers themselves. Self-control, endurance, and cheerfulness at homeare proved to be as much a part of true bravery as fearlessness inbattle. Since the soldier's part in the War has been held closely toeveryone's attention, the reading of this story will supply a balancingview of the other side of war; and the pupils' perspective of the wholecannot fail to gain in scope. 

Books which may be commended to the teacher, for descriptions ofvarious aspects of the Great War, are: Hay's _The First HundredThousand_; Nicolas's _Campaign Diary of a French Officer_; Aldrich's _AHilltop on the Marne_; Hall's _High Adventure_ and _Kitcheners Mob_;Buswell's _Ambulance No. 10_; Haigh's _Life in a Tank_; Stevenson's_From "Poilu" to "Yank"_; two anonymous books, _The Retreat from Mons_and _Friends of France_; Paine's _The Fighting Fleets_; and Root andCrocker's _Over Periscope Pond_. 

For children's reading, we suggest Mrs. Perkins's _The Belgian Twins_, Sara Cone Bryant's _I am an American_, Thwaites and Kendall's _Historyof the United States_, Tappan's _Little Book of the War_, and suchcompilations as _Stories of Patriotism_ and _The Patriotic Reader_.