The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-03-26
Behind /
MiheCunS
By
ALEX SHELL BRISCOE
l4st****ssetskk**sk *&* skkx*
DOWNRIGHT The Eropt A,,n.ox. ~


Stephen Barrow paused in his work
OF mixing dough to listen to the dis
tant pulsing of the battle. The rasp
ing rifle yolleys sounded from a point
nearer at hand and he knew that
there had been changes in the posi-
tons Of the batteries, too.
Yes, the troops were retreating
again. From the hill he could see cav.
airy already crossing the Marine.
Well, that had been the regular
thing since the English expeditionary
sorce had bumped into the German le
gion at Mons, far to the north in Bel
GUM. Stephen could hardly recall
how many days had passed since this
steady retirement had begun. II
seemed to him that 1t had been going
on for months-years.
He had been disappointed in the
campaign from the very outset-from
the day he had accepted the kings
shilling to fight for the union jack
Neither events nor his part in them
had come up to his expectations. II,
the first place he had been transferred
20 the commissary department to mix
dough and bake bread instead of fight
ing, and then he had seen the army
hurled back toward Paris In the initial
oattle-and since then the English had
been retreating to new positions as a
matter Of daily routine.
But bitter as the constant retire
ment was to the men In the battle
lines, 1t was doubly so to Stephen.
Occasionally they had an opportunity
of turning on their pursuers, but he
was eVerlastingly mixing dough with
out chance of feeling the kick OF
a rife against his shoulder
Now they were retreating again.
Infantry in small attachments was
crossing the bridge over the Marine,
and the tops of the hills beyond were
dotted with white puffs of smoke
which marked bursting shrapnel A
regiment moved past toward a posi-
ton on the river bank, and Stephen
studied ii casually.
Somehow the bearing Of the men
cheered him. They were grimmer.
leaner, dirtier than when they landed
An France, but they were still full Of
fght and confidence.
Every man seemed waiting impa-
ltiently for the day when he should
turn his face north and help even the
score with the Germans.
And the time for the stand was near
lat hand, they believed, and Stephen
did too. The imperiled left wing rest
ed against the forts of Paris; the river
provided a strong line of defense, and
to retreat farther meant severing CON-
Imunications with the capital Yes,
without doubt. the allies were about
to stop and fight
But the thought deepeued SteI,hcn's
gloom.
He was tall man oil t-Ecnty-eight
with jaw that jutted forward q. q
ipugnacious angle, anc he yearned for
an opportunity to take hand when
che big battle started. He knew how
slender his chances were of ever
reaching the firing line, but a thor
ough appreciation Of the situation
didn't make it easier to bear-didnt
soothe his resentment against the fate
that kept him mixing dough while
others did the real work of war.
IF On'T had a chance!" he
thought. Il wouldn't mind walloping
kettles the rest of my life, if could
take just one crack at them. Tomor-
row or next day the boys will be hav-
Ing it out with Kaiser Bill-and I'll
be wrestling with a camp oven"
For a moment he was silent as he
watched the infantry deploying along