As they passed out of the enclosure Frisky followed, apparently cured of his singular actions. Half way up the hill they met a tottering old man, carrying a bundle of faggots. "Do you know anything about the people who lived in that ruined cottage?" said Ralph. The old man shook his head. "He doesn't understand English," said Alfred, who put the question in French. He looked at the dog and replied: "The cottage was struck by the first shell that the Germans fired from yonder hill when they came through here on their way to Paris. The house was torn to pieces and all were killed." Ralph pointed to the dog. The old man nodded. "He goes up there every day; they can't keep him away. The soldiers have stolen him many times, but he always comes back." The boys looked at each other in silence. "Come here, Frisky!" finally said Alfred, as he held out his hand. He leaped toward the boys, and put up his paws on each of them in turn, while the old man turned sadly away and shambled down the hill. CHAPTER XI DISCOVERING A GERMAN RANGE FINDER It seemed as though every one they met knew Frisky, for some of them whistled to him, and a few tried to entice him to follow, but on the journey to the west of the hill he followed the boys' footsteps, and seemed to recognize no one but them. "That must be a battery up there," almost shouted Ralph, as he gazed ahead, and pointed to a ridge newly made, apparently, of fresh earth. "It certainly looks like it," answered Alfred, with enthusiasm, as he bounded forward eagerly to reach the top. Evidences of the effect of shells now became more pronounced, although holes in the earth and the fallen debris had been noticed everywhere, even before they had reached the hillside. "It must be a battery of big guns up there," remarked Ralph, as they sat down for a few moments of rest. "Yes, that last shot sounded bigger than a 75," answered Alfred. "I wonder what Frisky is doing over there?" said Ralph, glancing across a small ravine to the left, where the animal was engaged in briskly pawing the earth. "I suppose he has treed something; suppose we investigate," replied Alfred. They quickly found their way through the tangled brush and broken stone down the little hollow and up again to the mound-like structure where Frisky was engaged. "What have you found?" asked Ralph, as they neared the scene. Frisky answered with a quick yelp, and kept on digging. Evidently there was something in the burrow before him. "What kind of animals do they have here in France?" said Ralph. "I don't think I ever saw even a field mouse since we came here." "No wonder; we've never been anywhere except in spots like this, and it is certain animals wouldn't last long in such places," replied Alfred. "We might help Frisky out a little," said Ralph, as he grasped a stick, and began to rake out the earth.