"'You will tell the commander that we have here seven dragoons and an officer as prisoners of the French chasseurs. You also will say that the French commander sends warning to him that unless the father of this child, taken as a hostage, is returned to this village before eight o'clock this evening, your captain and seven Bavarian dragoons in the hands of the French will be shot immediately. Can you remember this?' "'Oui, monsieur le Capitaine.' "'Then go speedily.' "The dragoon departed in haste. He was eager to get away from this stern-faced Frenchman, at whose hands he knew he could expect small mercy after what the Bavarians had done in that little peasant home. "Gene had rejoined her mother, who had been tenderly placed in her bed by the tender-hearted French captain. The child sat clasping her mother's hand and comforting her. "'Have no fears, my mother. The brave commander of the chasseurs will see to it that father comes safely home,' said Gene. Yet the brave little French girl herself was full of anxiety; she could scarcely keep the tears back when she realized that already her father may have been shot. "It was late in the afternoon, darkness was just falling, when Gene heard some one approaching. By the clanking sound she knew it was one of the chasseurs, and her heart sank within her. "The captain of the French detachment entered and halted at the door. She searched his face and what she saw there caused Gene to utter a little cry of joy. "'Here,' said the officer, 'is what you have been waiting for. Here is the father whose life you have saved. What I have done for you was only my duty; what you have done for France is immeasurable. I salute you, daughter of France!' "With that the captain thrust Gene's father into the room, saluted and strode out to join his company, who were guarding the captured Bavarians." CHAPTER X A LITTLE SOLDIER OF MERCY "Jean is the name of the hero of whom I shall tell you today. He was only twelve, and he joined the army, unofficially, something after the fashion that little Remi did. Remi, of course, ran away to follow the army, which, perhaps, was not wrong in view of the fact that he had no relatives at home. With Jean it was different, for he had a mother," said Captain Favor, resuming his story telling. "A detachment of French soldiers had been stationed in this boy's home town, and the lad, by many little acts, had endeared himself to them very much. "One day the detachment received orders to leave. Jean begged that they might take him along, but the soldiers advised him to remain at home because he was too young to go to war. 'Go ask your mother,' said a young lieutenant, 'and if she says "yes" I shall not see you if you should follow us.' "Jean, most grateful for the suggestion, ran home and burst, in upon his mother excitedly. "'The lieutenant says I may go if you say "yes." Say "yes," mother. I want to be a soldier.'