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The Children of France - A Book of Stories of the Heroism and Self-sacrifice of Youthful Patriots of France During the Great War by Ruth Royce
page 15 of 115 (13%)
his company, who, after listening to the story, embraced Remi.

"'Ah, you are a true Frenchman,' cried the officer. 'Keep
the gun and use it for our beloved France.'

"'I will,' promised Remi solemnly.

"Two nights later he stole out and fetched back five more German
rifles. By this time the officers began to realize that the boy must
be taken seriously. From that night on almost every night found the
intrepid lad skulking about over 'No Man's Land,' many times with the
enemy's machine gun fire snapping about his ears, but to which he gave
not the slightest heed. Remi truly seemed to bear a charmed life.

"One night after his company had returned to the front-line trench,
after a night's rest in 'billets,' he went out with the patrol, as
usual, but with a new plan in mind. By now he knew the arrangement of
the German trenches almost as well as did the men who occupied them.
There were ten in the patrol, and so great was the confidence of the
men in him that they virtually permitted Remi to act as their leader.
The patrol carried no rifles, only revolvers and stout clubs, like
policemen's night sticks. When the lad ordered the men to secret
themselves in a shell crater, they obeyed willingly.

"Remi reached the German trenches, along which he crept with ears and
eyes on the alert.

"'Who goes!' came a sharp, low-spoken command in German. At that
instant a German rose from the ground, where he had been crouching,
apparently watching the crawling figure of the little Frenchman. Remi
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