When he had finished the little ceremony, the men, responding to
a signal from the Captain; burst into a hearty cheer. "Vive
Pierre! Vive Pierrette! Vive tous les Meraut," they cried.
For a moment the Twins stood stunned, petrified with
astonishment, looking at the cheering men and at the proud
upturned faces of their parents and the people of Fontanelle.
Then Pierre was suddenly inspired. He waved his hat in salutation
to the flag which, floated above them and shouted back to the
regiment, "Vive la France!" and Pierrette saluted and kissed her
hand. Then the band struck up the Marseillaise, and everybody
sang it at the top of his lungs.
It was a wonderful golden time that followed, for when the
children had thanked the Commandant, all the people of Fontanelle
were invited to sit on the reviewing-stand and watch the regiment
go through the regular drill and extra maneuvers in honor of the
day, and when that was over, the guests were escorted back to the
mess tent, and there they had supper with the men. Moreover, the
camp cook had made a magnificent birthday cake, all decorated
with little French flags. It was cut with the Captain's own
sword, and though there wasn't enough for the whole regiment,
every one from Fontanelle had a bite, and Pierre and Pierrette
each had a whole piece.
When the beautiful bright day was over and they were back again
in Fontanelle, the Twins found that even this was not the end of
their joy and good fortune, for Mother Meraut told them that the
regiment had put in her care a sum of money to provide for their
education.
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