Part 6 (2/2)

”Forward, my brave men of France,” called Joan of Arc. And the little puppet saluted Jeanne. But Jeanne cried, ”My horse! Where is my horse?”

A large statue appeared before them. It was the iron statue of a horse.

It was twice the size of a real horse.

Jeanne tried to mount. She could not. She was too small. The horse was too high. But Pierrot mounted. With a graceful leap, he was upon the charger's back. Then down he flew and offered Jeanne his hand. Up flew the puppet, and Jeanne flew with him.

They sat upon the iron charger. Slowly he moved his joints, and then off, off he galloped with the little girl and the puppet.

All the time Jeanne was brandis.h.i.+ng her sword. She was Joan of Arc and she was riding at the head of her army of France as Joan of Arc had done long, long ago.

”Wait, wait!” called a voice. A policeman was running after them through the Bois. ”Stop! You have stolen a statue from the park. Bring back the iron horse!”

He was so little--that policeman--and the horse was so big that they did not mind him.

”He is only a policeman,” said Jeanne to Pierrot. ”He is always clubbed and kicked in the Guignol plays.”

Pierrot laughed, and pop!--part of his armor burst!

”Oh, he is a wicked, wicked policeman,” said Jeanne. ”The children always hate him in the Guignol plays.”

So away from the policeman they galloped.

But wait! Look! The policeman has grown, and he is now as tall as the horse! The club he carries has grown, too, and he clubs the iron horse.

It makes a terrible noise, and the horse stops.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

”Wake up, little one!” says a gruff voice.

Jeanne opens her eyes and looks into the face of a policeman standing over her in the park. She has been asleep on the bench, with the little puppet Pierrot in her arms.

It is very dark in the park. It is night.

”Come,” says the policeman. ”Tell me where you live, little one.”

Oh, the terrible policeman of the Guignol plays! Jeanne remembers how the children hate him, and she tries to run away.

But the policeman catches hold of her arm. It seems to Jeanne that his face is kind.

”Come, little one! Do not be afraid of me. I am the friend of the children. Tell me where you live and let me take you home,” he says.

It was very dark in the park, but as they walked through the city streets, the lights made everything as bright as day.

Jeanne and the policeman and Pierrot came to the door of Auntie Sue's Shop. When the policeman handed Jeanne to Auntie Sue, the little girl could not help wondering why the children hate the policeman in the Guignol plays.

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