onished faces toward the regiment.

"Men of the Foreign Legion," he said, "these are the children who
discovered two spies, and by reporting them saved our camp from
probable destruction." Then, turning again to the children, he said:
"By your prompt and intelligent action you have prevented a terrible
catastrophe. In recognition of your services the Foreign Legion desires
to make you honorary members of the regiment, and France is proud to
claim you as her children!" Then he pinned upon their breasts a cockade
of blue, white, and red, the colors of France, and kissed them on both
cheeks, the regiment meanwhile standing at attention.

When he had finished the little ceremony, the men, responding to a
signal from the Captain; burst into a hearty cheer. "Vive Pierre! Vive
Pierrette! Vive tous les Meraut," they cried.

For a moment the Twins stood stunned, petrified with astonishment,
looking at the cheering men and at the proud upturned faces of their
parents and the people of Fontanelle. Then Pierre was suddenly
inspired. He waved his hat in salutation to the flag which, floated
above them and shouted back to the regiment, "Vive la France!" and
Pierrette saluted and kissed her hand. Then the band struck up the
Marseillaise, and everybody sang it at the top of his lungs.

It was a wonderful golden time that followed, for when the children had
thanked the Commandant, all the people of Fontanelle were invited to
sit on the reviewing-stand and watch the regiment go through the
regular drill and extra maneuvers in honor of the day, and when that
was over, the guests were escorted back to the mess tent, and there
they had supper with the men. Moreover, the camp cook had made a
magnificent birthday cake, all decorated with little French flags. It
was cut with the Captain's own sword, and though there wasn't enough
for the whole regiment, every one from Fontanelle had a bite, and
Pierre and Pierrette each had a whole piece.

When the beautiful bright day was over and they were back again in
Fontanelle, the Twins found that even this was not the end of their joy
and good fortune, for Mother Meraut told them that the regiment had put
in her care a sum of money to provide for their education. "Children of
such courage and good sense must be well equipped to serve their
country when they grow up," the Commandant had said, and the men,
responding to his appeal, had put their hands in their pockets and
brought out a sum sufficien