k. "It's just about here that I was
calling a Heinie a jackass. And at that same minute I was thinking
that my life wasn't worth a plugged nickel."

"Wonder how the fellow made out that you left in the shell hole,"
chuckled Billy.

"Oh, he was all right," replied Frank. "I shouldn't wonder if he was
rather chilly during the night, but no doubt they hauled him out in the
morning."

"He got off lucky, though," put in Bart. "It's the sentry who got the
hot end of the poker. I wonder what he thought when he heard that
watchword."

"He didn't have much time to think," guessed Billy, "and to tell the
truth, I don't think he's done much thinking since. That revolver must
have hit him a fearful crack."

"It's safe to say that it gave him a headache anyway," remarked Bart
drily.

"Speaking of the revolver," said Frank, rising to his feet, "I'm going
to take a look for it. It was just over near that tree that I plugged
the sentry and it's probably there yet."

He searched industriously among the welter of debris and after a few
minutes arose with a shout.

"Here's it is," he said, as he held up his recovered treasure, which
had his initials scratched upon the butt. "Same old trusty and as good
as ever. It's saved my life many a time through the muzzle, but last
night was the first time it saved it through the butt."

He fondled the weapon lovingly for a moment, carefully cleaned and
reloaded it, and thrust it in his belt.

Just then a French colonel passed by, accompanied by two orderlies.
The French had been holding a section of the line at the right of the
Americans and their uniform was a familiar sight, so that the boys only
gave the group a passing glance. But Frank's eyes lighted with
pleasure when the colonel detached himself from the others and came
over with extended hand.

Frank wrung the hand heartily.

"Why, Colonel Pavet!" he exclaimed. "This is a great pleasure! I
didn't know that you were in this locality."

"My regiment is only two miles from here," replied the colonel, his
face beaming. "I need not say how glad I always am to see the brave
young soldier who saved my life."

"What I did any one else would have done," responded Frank lightly.

"But no one else did," laughed the colonel. "And from what I hear from
your commander you've been doing similar things ever since. I just
heard of your daring escape last night. It was gallantly done, _mon
ami_."

"Luck was with me," rep