CHAPTER XXI
VIVE LA FRANCE!
The peasant listened in amazement to the story that they told him. But he was a real Frenchman, out of the army because of his age.
"Come with me," he said. "You shall have the best there is in my house—it is not much! Dry clothes, too. If you will wear a peasant's blouse, there are the clothes my Jean left when he went to the war!"
"We have clothes in the boat," said Frank. "Until we knew we were safe we dared not change into them. But your food will be more than welcome!"
So it proved, indeed. It was rough fare, but it seemed to both the best that they had ever tasted. And while they ate, the peasant told them what news he had.
"We hear that the French and the English are winning now," he said. "A gentleman came past my house in an automobile this morning, and said that he had passed French troops ten miles away—cuirassiers riding this way."
"Hurrah!" cried Frank. "Henri, we must try to join them as quickly as possible. When we explain they will let us go through to where we shall be safe until we can go back to Amiens. Come on! Farewell!" This to the peasant. "We shall never forget your good food and your welcome!"
And with light hearts they set out, glad to walk, since it gave them a chance to stretch the legs that had been cramped for so many hours in the bottom of the boat.