fectual toss that it fell in the water. The incident
elicited shouts of laughter from the Germans. Twice again Maurice
repeated the experiment, and twice his loaf went to feed the fishes. At
last the Prussian officers, attracted by the uproar, came running up and
prohibited their men from selling anything to the prisoners, threatening
them with dire penalties and punishments in case of disobedience. The
traffic came to a sudden end, and Jean had hard work to pacify Maurice,
who shook his fists at the scamps, shouting to them to give him back his
five-franc pieces.

This was another terrible day, notwithstanding the warm, bright
sunshine. Twice the bugle sounded and sent Jean hurrying off to the shed
whence rations were supposed to be issued, but on each occasion he only
got his toes trod on and his ribs racked in the crush. The Prussians,
whose organization was so wonderfully complete, continued to manifest
the same brutal inattention to the necessities of the vanquished army.
On the representations of Generals Douay and Lebrun, they had indeed
sent in a few sheep as well as some wagon-loads of bread, but so little
care was taken to guard them that the sheep were carried off bodily and
the wagons pillaged as soon as they reached the bridge, the consequence
of which was that the troops who were encamped a hundred yards further
on were no better off than before; it was only the worst element, the
plunderers and bummers, who benefited by the provision trains. And
thereon Jean, who, as he said, saw how the trick was done, brought
Maurice with him to the bridge to keep an eye on the victuals.

It was four o'clock, and they had not had a morsel to eat all that
beautiful bright Thursday, when suddenly their eyes were gladdened by
the sight of Delaherche. A few among the citizens of Sedan had with
infinite difficulty obtained permission to visit the prisoners, to whom
they carried provisions, and Maurice had on several occasions expressed
his surprise at his failure to receive any tidings of his sister. As
soon as they recognized Delaherche in the distance, carrying a large
basket and with a loaf of bread under either arm, they darted forward
fast as their legs could carry them, but even thus they were too late;
a crowding, jostling mob closed in, and in the confusion the dazed
manufacturer was relieved of his basket and one of his loaves, which
vanished from his sight so expeditiously that he was never able to tell
the manner