“The first part of this leg of the journey was more or less screened from the view of the enemy, but now a wide barren space, swept by shell fire, lay before him.  It was almost certain death to venture into that open field.  Rene knew it, but did not hesitate.  It was not that he feared for his own life, but that he did not wish to lose it before he had fulfilled his mission.

“For better protection the lad dropped on hands and toes and ran along like a dog, thus far untouched by bullets, though they were thick as a nest of liberated bumble bees about his head.

“‘The worst is about over now and I shall soon be in the trenches,’ he told himself encouragingly.  He already could see the tops of the helmets of the soldiers in the trenches.

“A shell exploded close by at this juncture and a shell splinter struck him in the leg, leaving a wound.  Rene rolled over on his back and grabbed the leg with both hands, then, with his first-aid bandage, bound the leg tightly above the wound so that he might not bleed to death.  He was already much weakened from loss of blood.

“Having done all he could for himself, Rene started off again, dragging himself along with great effort, determined to reach the trench and deliver his orders, which he finally succeeded in doing.

“‘You have been wounded.  You shall not go on,’ declared the commander after reading the orders and understanding fully what was still before the brave lad.  ’You should go back to the hospital.  I will send a man on to deliver the other orders.’

“’Monsieur le Capitaine, I have been ordered to this duty.  I must go on until I have fully obeyed my orders.  Time enough for others to carry them after I am killed.  But I shall not be—­not until the orders are in the hands of the commanders in the trenches on this sector.’

“‘You cannot walk; you have lost much blood,’ protested the captain.

“’It matters not, sir; I can creep.  That once was the only way I knew how to walk.’

“‘Then go, my brave lad, and God be with you.’

“Rene saluted formally, though the effort of raising his hand sent shooting pains all through his body.  He climbed laboriously from the trench and emerged into the bullet-swept plain once more.  It was with a great effort that he even dragged himself along.  He felt himself growing weaker with the moments.  Every few yards he was compelled to lie over on his back for rest and to gain fresh strength for the next spurt.  It required the most heroic courage for one in Rene’s condition to go on.  But he grimly stuck to it, creeping wearily along.

“The end of the journey was now in sight, though the way still seemed long.  No longer able to creep, the little messenger began to roll.  It was slow progress and he suffered agonies, but every roll brought him that much nearer to his destination and the fulfillment of his mission.  At last an officer in a front-line trench discovered him.  Rene made a signal to the officer.