The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-10

throat We then continued on our wayy
That's one of the narrowest escapes,
ever had. We are getting close up
now. We must crawl Keep your eyes
open and watch for a black object now
ing or still in the darkness"
Encounter with the Sentry.
Slowly we crawled along until we go.
into the cutting beside the railway line.
A quarter of an hour more over the
rought ground tearing our knees and
hands on the thorns and bushes, we
made our way. All at once a dark
figure loomed TIP before us. 1t moved
across a distant camp fires light which
was guiding us. Duquesne pinched my
arm.
"sh a sentry. We're got to pass his
way"
We had a talk over the plan of ae
ton ! was to attract the sentry's at
ltention while Duquesne worked around
him and if possible lay him out with
blow from his rifle or strangle him.
Anyway the trick had 20 be done r
silence so that the other sentries would
not be alarmed. The slightest noise that
would show suspicion meant death e. 9
both of us 3
The black figure moved and cut of
the fire lights as he passed across them.
Like pair of panthers waiting to spring
on their prey we watched him. With
difficulty | kept my teeth from chatter
ing. | felt cold and hot in turns. the
suppressed excitement was growing too /
much for me. How Duquesne felt J :
do not know. He gave no signs OF TIM
easiness. We heard a kissing sound I,
made in short sharp jerks from the di-
rection Of the sentry. Duquesne held /,
his mouth to my ear
"He is calling the dog" 4
"We've got him. You walk out be- )
tween the bushes on all fours Keep
his attention. DO not let him get near
you or you will be shot As long as
he thinks YOU are merely an animal and
not an enemy he won't shoot"
"If he does shoot" I asked
ole will probably miss" was the re- !
assuring answer. He'll be very ner-'
vous."
thought if he were as nervous as
at that moment, he certainly would
miss Nevertheless, it was a doubtful
consolation. | thought, how nice and
soft the beds in dear old Brussels were
at that moment. Goose flesh stood out
all over me like the roughs on a rasp.
Cant we pass between the sentries
without exciting their suspicion"
asked.
mo, we must follow the rails There
is wire fence ahead of us and We
; could not pass it without making a
noise. II is open at the line. We must
pass, that way No more questions
) Obey me You promised "
Without another word he disappeared
in the darkness. | walked on all fours
from bush to bush expecting every mo-
ment to get bullet in my ribs.
The sentry commenced kissing the air
for the dog As long as he thought l.
was the dog | felt safe | watched hirl
Iclosely He walked away from his post
land came towards me | thought | saw
him cover me two or three times. He
lcame nearer and nearer, slowly and with.
lgreat caution. | drew away trembling
and he followed heard 4 dull thunp
land in second | saw the black mass
fall with low signing groan, hardly
dscernibe knew the sentry YVES
down I waited and a few minutes.
later | saw a black body like lion
come creeping through the grass
1t whispered, "All right stay still"
| waited and Duauesne crawlcd 10 my
side. Stay down." he said 1--WE ere
safe now to pass through" (
Just then in the distance a cry arose.
I"Number one and al's WELL"
The sentries crying their nImbers.
We're lost" | said
Number two and alls well, "Numter
three and alls well" came down th:
line Number four and al's wel' L
seemed came from twenty yards ave.
from us There was pause. held
my breath.
Duqucsne cried Number FIVE and ais
well"
The next man past us cried Number
six and all'S well"
My heart almost burst as the mum
bers flew down the line Of sentr'e'
felt that a devil or a genius. someth'~y :
different from myself was at my 5; 4,
He put his hand out and taking mir:
led me 10 the sentry. lie listened at his
mouth.
81 guess he's fixed Wen pass r~-''
We were down arourd the British
camp fires when a brazen-noted bg.I.
screechcd alarm" ~
They've found out" said Duque'n.. \
"and so have |; The British advance on
MS tomorrow"
He walked over and sat beside some :
soldiers who were sitting around 4
Icamp fire telling stories and drinking
tea. He took a pannican, helped hin-
self and handed me one.
Strike me stiff" he said, in cock
ney voice, me an this bloke 'ad n
nawful time ter mite, It's awful ter be
in the colonial scouts amt IT," (
"Wat 'appened' came chorus ot !
good-natured Tommies ready for yarn
Nothing much ony we went no port |
Colenso eXpectin' ter find the bloomin' |
Beers on the Koogees an the bloody
push's skooted I'll tell yer all about il
ter-morrer, S'long"
AS we made our way back to our own !
lines thousands of voices around the
British camp fires sang Soldiers of the
Queen"
MANY a fellow there will sing his !
last song tonight" said Duquesnc.
"They're not bad fellows either when |
YOU know them How do you like scout
ing%
'I hope never to have such an ex-
perience again. Ten years have been
taken off my life"
"Well I'm frightened too, most Of the
time, but act as though wasn't"