"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' she said. 'There are in our house German soldiers. They are in the cellar. Some of their party have taken my father away, but the commander and some of his men I have locked in the cellar.'
"'Bravo!' cried the commander. 'Come, we shall see.'
"'There,' said Gené, pointing to the barricaded trapdoor. 'Hear them rage. They are furious, as they should be.'
The officer quickly summoned some of his men to the kitchen, and, after the trap had been uncovered and thrown open, he bade them thrust their bayonets into the opening.
"'Come out of that cellar, you Bavarian hounds!' he shouted. 'You are prisoners!'
"The uproar in the cellar died out instantly. After a brief hesitation they came out one by one, being disarmed and herded in a corner as they emerged into the kitchen.
"'Take them away,' commanded the officer.
"'Monsieur le Capitaine,' said Gené, tugging at his sleeve. 'These soldiers not only have helped themselves to everything in the house, but they have, as you saw, abused my sick mother and have taken away my poor father. They have misused us. Please do not let them go until they have returned my father to our home. If you do not it will kill my mother, I fear.'
"'We shall do our best, my brave child.'
"'Ah, monsieur le Capitaine, I have an idea. Can you not exchange one of your prisoners for my father?' questioned the little girl.