He fondled the weapon lovingly for a moment, carefully cleaned and reloaded it, and thrust it in his belt.
Just then a French colonel passed by, accompanied by two orderlies. The French had been holding a section of the line at the right of the Americans and their uniform was a familiar sight, so that the boys only gave the group a passing glance. But Frank's eyes lighted with pleasure when the colonel detached himself from the others and came over with extended hand.
Frank wrung the hand heartily.
"Why, Colonel Pavet!" he exclaimed. "This is a great pleasure! I didn't know that you were in this locality."
"My regiment is only two miles from here," replied the colonel, his face beaming. "I need not say how glad I always am to see the brave young soldier who saved my life."
"What I did any one else would have done," responded Frank lightly.
"But no one else did," laughed the colonel. "And from what I hear from your commander you've been doing similar things ever since. I just heard of your daring escape last night. It was gallantly done, mon ami."
"Luck was with me," replied Frank.
"It usually is in such exploits," was the visitor's reply. "You know the old saying that 'fortune favors the brave.' But I'll spare your blushes and come down to something that will probably interest you more. Did you get that letter from Andre, my brother, about your mother's property?"
"Why, no, I didn't," answered Frank. "When was it written?"