There was nothing more to be said. I had to abandon my equipment and flee. Before leaving, however, my comrade said to me: "Don't be discouraged. Go to the Bureau de la Place--military headquarters--and tell them that, being an orphan, you left Monaco to follow a regiment, and see what they say. _Bonne chance._" Having embraced him, I set off and went straight to headquarters. Entering the first office I came to, I saw four or five officers, including a doctor, in conversation. Hardly had I crossed the threshold than one of them exclaimed: "What do you want here, boy?" "Let me tell you, please, that I was at Monaco----" "And now you're at Belfort!" "----at the beginning of the war. My father had left to join his corps, and being alone I left in a train to come here and go on campaign with the soldiers." "You've come here, then, to enlist?" "No, I cannot do that; I'm not old enough." "Ah, _bon!_ Why are you here then?" "To see if you can pass me into some regiment or ambulance." All the officers had listened attentively during this examination. The doctor then spoke. "Since you wish to enter an ambulance, it's to work there?" he asked. "Yes, sir." "In that case I'll take you." "Thank you, sir." "Go downstairs and wait for me at the door, and when I come you shall go with me to the ambulance." I descended the staircase more joyfully than I had mounted it, and waited at the appointed spot. It was not long before the doctor followed and took me off with him to the military hospital. V--"WE FIGHT ON SOIL OF ALSACE" I had already been two days at the ambulance when, at half-past five on the morning of the third day, the réveillé sounded and we were informed that we were to leave for Alsace. Preparations were made immediately, and at seven o'clock we set off. The cavalry marched away first; then the infantry, whilst we others formed the rearguard. The Red Cross section including myself, were in the lead, followed by the ambulances and motor-buses containing the ladies of the Red Cross and the doctors. We set foot on the annexed soil of Alsace at nine o'clock. What a sight it was to see the frontier posts overthrown and the Alsatians cheering our troops! Our soldiers had already passed that way, for tricolor flags were to be seen everywhere. The sight touched our men and filled their hearts with courage.