"'I am proud now, monsieur le Capitaine, but I shall be more proud after you have whipped the Boches.'
"'That is good, but what can we do to reward you?'
"'Whip them quickly, that I may go to see my sick grandmother. I am much put out, sir, that I did not see her.'
"There was loud laughter at this, and at the earnest way in which it was said, but Francois never changed the sober expression of his face.
"'It shall be done. Reinforcements are coming and early this evening we shall go out to meet the Prussians. I promise you that you shall soon see your grandmother, Francois.' And he did, for, acting upon his information, the French forces were enabled to inflict heavy losses upon the Germans and drive them from that part of the country. A few days later Francois made the trip again, and this time did see his dear grandmother, but she was not so ill but that she could work in her garden.
"And that, my dear little friends, is the story of another little hero of France," concluded Captain Favor.
CHAPTER V
THE SACRIFICE OF LITTLE PIERRE
"There are many like Francois among those youthful patriots," began Captain Favor when his little friends had gathered about him on another occasion to listen to stories about the Children of France. "They value neither their own safety nor their lives; they are willing and eager to make any sacrifice if by so doing they can serve their beloved France ever so little.