"Well," said the soldier, "what's the matter? Don't I look like a
Frenchman?"
"You'd deceive the devil himself," answered the man with a short
laugh. "No one would ever think you were born in Bavaria. Don't
forget and stick up the corners of your mustache, though. That
might give you away. When do you think you can get over to see
that fort?"
"I don't know," answered the soldier sharply, " but I'll meet you
here day after to-morrow at the same hour. Auf Wiedersehen," and
he was gone.
After his departure, his companion lingered a moment, lit a
cigarette, looked up at the sky, and, seeing that the shower was
nearly over, strolled off in the opposite direction.
The children, looking after him, saw him come upon their basket
near the brook, examine it carefully, and then look about in
every direction as if searching for the owners. Seeing no one, he
gave it a kick and passed on. They watched him, not daring to
move until he turned toward the river and was out of sight. Later
they saw a boat come from the shelter of some bushes on the bank,
and slip quietly down the stream with the man in it.
When they dared move once more they crawled out from under the
straw, and Pierrette said, "Well, what do you think of that?"
"Think!" Pierre said, choking with wrath. "I think he's a
miserable dog of a spy! They are both spies! And they are going
to try to blow up the whole camp! You come along with me." He
seized Pierrette by the hand, and the two flew over the wet
meadow toward the distant camp.
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