"'Halt!' he commanded, the lances of his men thrust out so close to the little girl that it seemed as if they already had pierced her. 'Listening, are you?' "'Yes, monsieur,' she answered truthfully. "'Why?' "'That I might know if you had gone so I might once more go out to the street.' "The officer laughed. "'You have nothing to fear if you tell us the truth. We would have certain information from you, child.' "'Yes, monsieur.' "'If you do not truthfully answer all my questions, you and all the rest will be shot.' "'I do not fear you, sir. I will answer you well.' "'Good. Then tell me, are there any French soldiers here?' "'There are none here, sir.' "'Neither here nor elsewhere in the village?' "'There are none here, as I have said. I know not whether there are any in the village or not, for I have not seen any since a detachment passed through here two days ago.' "'Is this the truth?' "She looked at the officer with an expression of amazement that he should doubt her word. "'Come, I will show you; I will prove to you that what I say is the truth.' "'It is well,' answered the Prussian officer, now reassured. 'We will pass on. It is good that you have not lied to us, child,' he said. 'It were better if all the French were so truthful, but, alas, they are not. Forward!' "The Prussians departed, Jeanne watching them from the door. 'No, there are no French soldiers here,' she chuckled. 'Perhaps there may be just outside the village. And if so, alas for the Prussians!' "A short distance beyond the village stood a large farmhouse in a vast yard, the latter being surrounded by a high stone wall. Within were trees and shade, so the place looking very attractive to the tired Prussians. Their commander ordered a halt and, opening the gate that led to the grounds, he ordered his men in for a rest. They tied their horses to trees and threw themselves down on the grass in great content. "The place seemed deserted, but that some one was about was evidenced when the gate through which they had entered was quietly closed and locked by no less a person than the little Jeanne herself. She had followed the Prussians at a distance, hoping to be able to give a signal to her friends if they might still be in the farmhouse, but, finding a better opportunity for serving them, had locked the lancers within the enclosure. Having done this, she ran as fast as her nimble feet would carry her for her own home. "The tired lancers lay down to sleep while their commander strolled up to the house and beat on the door with the hilt of his saber. To his amazement the door was suddenly jerked open and a French dragoon dragged him in by the collar. The commander was a prisoner.