ifully. "I was a carrier. My horse
and cart were all I had in the world. If I had not gone with them
they were lost for ever. What was I to do?"

No one could answer him but, when the party had broken up, Ralph
went up to him.

"How much are your horse and cart worth?" he asked.

"The horse is worth five hundred francs," he said. "The cart is an
old one--two hundred and fifty would pay for it. It is not much,
you see, but it is all I have."

"Look here, old man," Ralph said, "I am not what I look. I am a
French officer, and I want to get down near the Prussian outposts,
but without passes I could not get on. Besides I have been wounded,
and am too weak to walk far. I will give you the seven hundred and
fifty francs which are the value of your horse and cart, and will
take your place as driver; so that you can start back, at once, to
your wife. Do you agree?"

The old man was so affected with joy that he burst into tears.

"God bless you, sir," he said. "You have saved my life, and my poor
wife's life, too."

"Very well, it is a bargain, then," Ralph said. "Here is half the
money. You shall have the rest tomorrow.

"Now you must go with me tomorrow morning, at the hour for
starting; and tell the officer in charge that I am a nephew of
yours--living here, but out of work, at present--and that you have
arranged with me to drive the cart, as long as it's wanted, and
then to take it home again."

After a few more words, the peasant took him back and showed him
his cart; in order that he might know where to find him, in the
morning.

"We start at daybreak," he said, "so you had better be here by
half-past six."

"Where do you sleep?" Ralph asked.

"I? Oh, I don't sleep much. I lie down for a bit, underneath the
carts; and then walk about to warm myself."

"Take this warm fur coat of mine," Ralph said. "It will keep you
warm tonight, anyhow. I shan't want it; I shall get a bed
somewhere."

The coat was the one Ralph had worn on his night walk, after being
wounded. He had had all the braid, and the fur of the collar and
cuffs taken off; and had had it purposely dirtied, so that it was
no longer a garment which could attract attention, on the back of a
man with a cart.

After some difficulty, Ralph got a bed; and was at the agreed place
at the appointed time. The old man went up to the Prussian sergeant
in command, and told the tale Ralph had dictated to him. The
sergeant agreed to the arrangement, with a