aflamme's
hut. For this kindness and interposition the lad was grateful and
devoted. He had been set to labour in the nickel mines; but that came
near to killing him, and again through Laflamme's pleading he had been
made a prisoner of the first class, and so relieved of all heavy tasks.
Not even he suspected the immediate relations of Laflamme and Carbourd;
nor that Laflamme was preparing for escape.

As Laflamme waited for the summons to huts, a squad of prisoners went
clanking by him, manacled. They had come from road-making. These never
heard from wife nor child, nor held any commerce with the outside world,
nor had any speech with each other, save by a silent gesture--language
which eluded the vigilance of the guards. As the men passed, Laflamme
looked at them steadily. They knew him well. Some of them remembered his
speeches at the Place Vendome. They bore him no ill-will that he did not
suffer as they. He made a swift sign to a prisoner near the rear of the
column. The man smiled, but gave no answering token. This was part of
the unspoken vocabulary, and, in this instance, conveyed the two words:
I escape.

A couple of hours later Laflamme rose from a hammock in his hut, and
leant over the young lad, who was sleeping. He touched him gently.

The lad waked: "Yes, yes, monsieur."

"I am going away, my friend."

"To escape like Carbourd?"

"Yes, I hope, like Carbourd."

"May I not go also, monsieur? I am not afraid."

"No, lad. If there must be death one is enough. You must stay.
Good-bye."

"You will see my mother? She is old, and she grieves."

"Yes, I will see your mother. And more; you shall be free. I will see to
that. Be patient, little comrade. Nay, nay, hush!... No, thanks. Adieu!"
He put his hands on the lad's shoulder and kissed his forehead.

"I wish I had died at the Barricades. But, yes, I will be brave--be sure
of that."

"You shall not die--you shall live in France, which is better. Once
more, adieu!" Laflamme passed out. It was raining. He knew that if he
could satisfy the first sentinel he should stand a better chance of
escape, since he had had so much freedom of late; and to be passed by
one would help with others. He went softly, but he was soon challenged.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

"Condemned of the Commune--by order."

"Whose order?"

"That of the Commandant."

"Advance order."

The sentinel knew him. "Ah, Laflamme," he said, and raised the point of
his bayonet. The pap