"
The short man came nearer to Pierre and shouted at him as if he
were deaf. "Avvy-voo-doo faim?"
Pierre withdrew a step nearer his mother and Pierrette. "Je ne
comprends pas!" he said politely. "Pardon."
The tall man took off his cap and rumpled his hair. "Try it
again, Jim," he said, "even if he is scared. They look to me like
refugees, and as if a good bowl of soup wouldn't strike their
insides amiss, but your French would stampede a herd of
buffaloes!"
"Try it yourself, then," said the short man, grinning.
The tall man sat down on a box at the door of the tent and
beckoned to Pierre. "I say, kid," he began, "avvy-voo-doo-fam--
fam?" He rubbed his stomach in expressive pantomime.
"Mamma," cried poor puzzled Pierre, "he asks me if I have a wife,
and rubs his stomach as if he had a stomach-ache. What does he
mean?"
Mother Meraut came forward, trying hard not to laugh. "Que voulez-
vous, Messieurs?" she said politely.
The tall man was on his feet instantly with his cap in his hand.
"You see, ma'am," he began, "we're from the States-des Etats-
Unis! We've come here to fight le Boche--savez-vows? --combattre
le Boche!" He waved his arms frantically and made a motion as if
shooting with a gun.
A smile broke over Mother Meraut's face, and she held out both
hands. "Les Americains!"she cried joyfully, "des Etats-Unis, dans
l'uniforme de la France! Mais maintenant nous exterminons le
Boche!" She called Pierrette and Pierre to her side.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71