The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-02-04
An Inspiring
Sight
b. F. A. Mitchell

oA61N
b. F. A. mitchell
Jacques Gigneaux. who was lighting
IN the French army in the north of
France. suddenly felt bis knees giv0
way beneath him and collapsed. going
down With thousands Of explosions
ringing In bis ears Mingled With
these were the shouting Of odicsrs.
neighing Of horses. shrieks, groans-
indeed. every conceivable sound incl
dent to battle. But be did not bear
them long. for he became unconscious.
Jacques awoka he heard no sound
but the piping Of bird in a tree near
BY. Opening bis eyes, be saw only
the blue heavens and q light cloud
sailing ever % peacefully. for he was
lying on his back. He felt Of himself
and came upon a spot In his side where
pressure gave him pain. A little fur
Their investigation with his hand told,
him that he had been wounded there,
and his clothing had stanched the dow
Of blood.
Jacques lay still. he did not dare 70,
move for fear that his wound would
be opened. He was not sure that he
could move. He had no desire to move
unless 1t was to get water. He won
dered whether there had been victory
or defeat for the side on which he had,
fought Was he in the French or Ger
man lines3 How long had he been,
there? He tried to lift his head to see
about him, but he could not. It was
lonely to be out there on the battlefield.
left to die with no one even to take q
message for loved ones at home. :
War, which had brought him to such
pass, came to console him, at least to
occupy his mind. What seemed to 30
huge bird sailed gracefully into hls
field of view. then another and an.
other. They were all moving In the
same direction. From the foremost a
little pun Of smoke appeared and float
ed listlessly away to the rear.
In another moment two aeroplanes,
moving side BY side and In the oppo.
site direction to those Jacques had al.
ready seen. appeared In the heavens.
They were driving straight at the 9th.
ers. He Judged that the three were
French and was sure the two were
German. because they were obeying
the German method Of attack He had
learned that there was no defense In
Tho Nornoon a nm, q. a. mo. oil o<rsbo -
Another shot, this time from one In
a German airship. 1t evidently caused
some damage to one Of his enemy's
wings. for there appeared a spot
through which Jacques could see light
Several shots were fred in quick sue
cession by the Frenchmen. There was
no report, for sound rises. The only
indication Of the shots was the little
puns of smoke.
The aeroplanes were now maneuves.
ing, circling. each side trying to get IN
q shot that would strike an enemy's
vital part The Germans, though the
attacking party. seemed sensible Of the
fact that they were inferior In mum.
bers and used their skill to secure q
favorable position By separating the
Frenchmen and attacking In detail.
Jacques heard report and a slight
vibration Of the earth on which be was
stretched and In q few seconds saw
one Of the French aeroplanes stagger
like wounded bird. One of its wings
was broken. 1t sank In circles, soon
falling below the range of the soldiers
vision.
The numbers on each side were now
even One Of the German ships tried
to ram one of the Frenchmen, but
missed it by what seemed to Jacques
a hairs breadth. At the same time al
shot from the other Frenchman wound.
ed a German bird.
Jacques was no longer a lonely
wounded man on deserted battlefield.
The spirit Of contention was again
aroused In him. He wished he were
up in the air In one Of the aeropianes.
He saw an advantage Of position for |
one Of the aerial Frenchmen. Forget
ting that he could not be heard, he
shouted:
"Y0U're on bis broadside! Strike bis
propellerr'
The sound Of his voice seemed to i
mock him. For a moment the still.
ness that followed 1t seemed like that
Of death. Then a voice near BY came
somberly:
"Comrade. have you any water1' !
"Wateri No." cried Jacques. 'That
man up there had an advantage, and
! can't make him hear. There! He
has lost IT.
Il don't care for the man up there. |
am only interested In the man down
here-myself. am suffering from a.
horrible thirst"
Another puff Of smoke from q \
Frenchman and one Of the German
aeroplanes dropped ike lead. re-
port from below and Frenchman
followed to earth. Another report and
the remaining Frenchman turned and
fed. The German followed for short
distance. but his propeller had been int
jured, and he. too. was obliged to turn
IN hio NUN roOiOno