finding the enemy had been immensely reinforced, they perceived the extreme importance of discovering the reason for the arrival of the reinforcements, and their intention. With a coolness and tact which does them the greatest credit, they contrived to arrive and to remain within hearing of a number of officers, and then learnt the whole particulars of the treachery of this man, and of the intention of our enemies. So important was the secret judged, that the Germans were afraid of telling it in German or in French lest they might be overheard. To prevent the possibility of this they conversed in English, and the consequence is that we are saved almost by a miracle. Ralph and Percy Barclay, your names will be inserted in the order of the day, being the first of the corps to whom that honour has been given; and I hereby offer you, in the name of myself, my officers, and the whole corps, my hearty thanks for your courage, coolness, and devotion. The parade is dismissed. The men will assemble at five o'clock in full marching order, with all necessaries and accoutrements."

As Major Tempé ceased speaking the men broke up from the order in which they had been standing, and crowded round the young Barclays, shaking them by the hand, patting them on the shoulder, and congratulating them heartily upon the service that they had rendered, and upon the terms in which their Commandant had thus publicly acknowledged it.

At five o'clock the corps assembled again in heavy marching order, and, after inspection, the second, third, and fourth companies marched off, with their officers,

who alone knew their destination, at their head. Major Tempé remained on the ground with the first company. After waiting for a few minutes they were marched off in the direction which the others had taken, but after getting out of sight of the village, and fairly entering the forest, they turned sharp off and took the direction of Saverne.

I

1

CHAPTER VIII.

A

THE TRAITOR.

FTER the company had marched for half an hour a halt was called, and their commandant said, "I dare say you have all guessed the object which we have in view. We are going to carry out the sentence pronounced by the whole corps. We are going to have that schoolmaster, that traitor, who has sold our lives to the Prussians, and who, which is of infinitely greater importance, has done immense injury to France by betraying our intention of blowing up the tunnel. That traitor I intend to have to-night, and if I have him I will hang him as sure as fate. This lane which we are following leads to Grunsdorf, which, according to the information I collected before leaving, cannot be above a mile distant. Now we must be cautious. It is quite possible that a detachment of the enemy may have been sent up to the village, and in that case we might catch a Tartar. Even if there are no Germans there we must be cautious, or the bird will escape.

We neither know him nor the house he lives in, and as he would naturally guess that his treachery had been discovered, and that we had come for him, he would slip out into the forest the instant he saw the first bayonet approaching. It is essential therefore that we should obtain accurate information of the state of affairs, and of the position of this traitor's house. In another half-hour it will be dusk. The Barclays have again volunteered to go in and find out what we require. They will go on at once, and in an hour we will follow, and remain concealed just outside the village until they return. Sergeant, you will go forward with them, and agree upon the place where we shall remain hid until they join us. Now, my lads, you have already received your instructions, change your things and go forward at once."

The distance was farther than they had expected, and it was nearly dark before the boys entered Grunsdorf. There was no one moving in the quiet village, for a fine rain was falling as the boys walked slowly along.

"There is no one to ask, Percy. We must go into the public-house, as arranged, and ask where the priest's house is. It would not do for two strangers to ask for the schoolmaster. The priest will tell us where he lives."

So saying they entered the little cabaret, walked down a long passage leading from the door, and paused for a moment at the threshold, for in the room were some eight or ten Prussian soldiers.

"It is too late to retreat, Percy; come in boldly."

Lifting their caps they walked up to an unoccupied table, and called for some bread, cheese, and beer. The landlord brought the refreshments, and the boys had

scarcely begun to eat when a Prussian sergeant, who had exchanged a word with the landlord evidently in reference to them, strode up to them, and laying his hand upon Ralph's shoulder, said,

"Who are you, young fellows? you do not belong to the village."

The landlord says

"We belong to a party of woodcutters, from Colmar," Ralph said quietly.

"Oh, indeed!" the sergeant said in an incredulous voice; "and where are your party ?”

"Out in the forest, at the place where we have begun to fell trees," Ralph said.

"But people do not come to cut wood without horses or carts to take it away," the sergeant persisted.

"They are up in the forest with our father," Ralph said.

"Have you heard any thing about this party?" the sergeant asked the landlord.

The man hesitated a moment; he evidently suspected also that the boys might belong to the franc-tireurs, and was anxious to say nothing which could harm them.

"No," he said, after a pause, "I can't say that I have heard of them, but I know some of the forest was sold not long ago, and they might have come from Colmar without coming this way."

"We only arrived this morning," Percy said quietly, "so that you could hardly have heard of us unless some of the people of your place happened to pass when we were at work, and we have not seen any one all day."

"At any rate," the sergeant said, "I shall see if your