"Nothing," said the commander. "Ten such as you would not represent the worth of one German soldier."
"We say not so over there," said François boldly, jerking his thumb in the direction of Pont-a-mousson.
And now for the first time the Prussians about him smiled.
"What is it, pray, that you do say over there?" inquired the general mockingly.
"That the worst of the Frenchmen is worth five of your best," said
François, unafraid. Why should he be afraid to speak the truth?
He was going to die.
"And one of your frog-eating generals is the equal of five of me, I suppose?" The commander's grim face relaxed into a smile. "That is good! Ha-ha! That is good!"
"So we say, excellency," said François simply. "Our Papa Joffre—ah, he is greater than all of you put in one."
The Prussian flushed. His piggish eyes glittered.
"Your Papa Joffre!" he scoffed.
"He is greater than the Kaiser,—though I die for saying it," cried the little poilu recklessly.