"'Henri never will get through, this with his letter,' grumbled the lad. 'I must act while there is yet time.' Crouching down and watching the Prussians a few moments, he finally drew the remaining letter from his blouse; he read it carefully several times, read it until he had memorized every word of it. Having done this, the child tore the letter in bits and, munching them thoroughly, calmly swallowed them with a great gulp.
"'Ugh!' he grunted, making a wry face. 'That is not pleasant food, but if the Boches can read the letter now their eyes are sharp indeed. Henri carries his knowledge in his stomach. A queer place for knowledge, but a good place when there are Boches about. Now I shall be going.'
"He did not get far. The lad was halted shortly after leaving his cover. Germans sprang up on all sides of him. He saw that he had stumbled into a nest of them and that there was no escape.
"'What would you of me? I have done nothing,' cried the boy when he was roughly dragged before an officer. 'I go to my parents in yonder village.'
"'Is it for that that you crawl along and hide yourself as a spy?' demanded the officer sternly.
"'I saw the soldiers and I was afraid,' he whimpered.
"'Take him away!' ordered the officer.
"'Take me where? You can see I have nothing. I am but a poor peasant boy who could do no harm even if he would.'
"'You are shamming. You are a spy and you should be shot. Search him!' commanded the officer.