Looking up I saw that the proprietress and her two daughters had
disappeared.

"_Au secours! Au secours!_"

The boys and I made a rush for the house. As we entered the _grande
sale_, we saw a man bearing a human form in his arms staggering through
the door. Through the blood and dust that smeared the unfortunate boy's
clothing, I recognized the uniform of a chasseur. Not even an emergency
bandage stopped the stream that was flowing from his cheek.

"Quick--a mattress!" I shouted.

The proprietress stood as though nailed to the doorway leading to the
kitchen.

"Is he wounded?"

"No matter--a mattress!"

"But he might soil it--"

"Then I'll pay for it--but for the love of heaven, be quick!"

Just then the boy's head lurched forward and the blood poured from his
mouth. Leon jumped to help the old man who was holding him, and I had
just time to catch the proprietress as she swooned on the floor.

"Put the boy on the billiard table and stuff this blanket under his
head," I said, grabbing the article mentioned from the top of a bundle