[7] This happened in Alouville, on Dec. 11, 1914. The German eagle with a deformed left wing fluttered down in an exhausted state into the hands of a French gamekeeper. It was widely heralded as an omen of victory. [8] Later (in 1915) the Germans added a 3.9-inch and a 5.1-inch field-gun, with ranges of 6 and 8 miles respectively. CHAPTER IV THE PERILS OF ESCAPE The German firing-party, sobered by superstitious terror and stunned by the lightning flash, looked blankly at the charred body of their officer. Before they could make a move, however, from a house near by ran a gray-haired woman, a small starred banner in her hand. Aunt Abigail faced the men with a fine scorn. "You call yourselves German soldiers!" she cried in tones of utter contempt, "so much the worse for Germany! You sow the seeds of the Tree of Hate and for years to come you will eat its bitter fruit. Mark my words! Is that the work of men--" she pointed to the foot of the cross, "or of drunken, ignorant and fear-ridden brutes? And you are cowards, too, like all bullies," she cried, her voice rising as she shook the flag in their faces, "you dare not fire on this flag, for well you know that if you did, our young, clean-living American boys would come over here and drive decency into your souls with your own weapons!" One of the men, half understanding English, lurched forward savagely, but a non-commissioned officer pushed him back. "Let her alone," he said, "we've gone far enough." Aunt Abigail saw the action. "You're a man," she said, "at least." Then stepping out before the rifles, she knelt beside the groaning form of little Jacques Oopsdiel. Horace, who had followed his aunt, realized that the Germans might hold back from murder while they were still shaken by their lieutenant's death by lightning, but it was quite likely that they would shake off this merciful mood. A reckless desire on the part of each soldier to show his comrades that he was not afraid might spur them to any extremity. The moment must be seized. So, stepping forward quietly, he picked up the body of Jacques in his arms and started up the street. "Where are you going, Horace?" his aunt demanded. "To the house, Aunt," the boy replied, "this little chap needs nursing." The word "nursing" was as a battle cry to Aunt Abigail. Ever since the first wounded man had been brought into Beaufays, she had slaved night and day, giving her time to Germans and Belgians alike. Hence, when Horace carried the injured lad toward the house, his aunt followed without further question. [Illustration: _Courtesy of "Le Monde Illustré."_ FRENCH CAVALRY ON PATROL. The dashing force which harassed and hindered the German advance upon Paris and twice routed the Uhlans.]