The Washington herald., 1916-12-10

solid enough TO bear the burden even
though digging Is impossible. The bags
were piled into breastworks eight feet
thick facing the enemy. A few machine
gunnners and bombers were on guard. I
was surprised to learn that we ha6
Travelled 9 circuitous course and were
only 100 yards from our starting point.
TITS hopeless to try to find the patrol"
said our guide, 'but something has
happened, or the Boches couldn't be
sending up SO many flares. Wen meet
some of our men; they'll be coming back
to the islands,"
We left the welcome shelter and
ploughed on through the bog, so close
at one point to the German wire that II
could be seen, dark shadow in the
swamp, even when no flares were burn
ing. Once I fancied. in the light of q
star shell. that saw q motionless form
crouching on the German parapet, but .,
may have been q shadow. Eyes and
nerves play tricks on their owners In no
mans land. r..<
Party L. ChaIlenged.
At the next island came the only
real adventure of the night. The off,
Ger was leading. my companion was
next, I was last. heard the peremp-
tory whisper. who are you?" our
guides muttered countersign, and saw
the CLINT of a lowering bayonet. We
passed on. But to the right three men
sat around a brazier. and our guide
had not seen them. One Of them call
ed suddenly, right behind rne. Who
are your" and the officer and ;orre-
spoudent in front did not hear him. I
hesitated for a moment, not knowing
the countersign, then turned and put
up my hands as I saw him reaching
for his pocket as he and his compan-
ions scrambled up. The crisis lasted q
fraction of a second. Our officer turn
ed instantly and called his name; and
later on our return trip my wouldbe
in his apology for a dugout. and re-
marked. I'm awfully glad you put
your hands up. You see. 1 hadn't heard
the sentry challenge; Boches might
walk right in here, / knew nobody
was due to make the rounds just then,
and ! especially knew there are no
caps like the one you are wearing in
the British army"
We arrived at the next island just as
weary and mud-plastered young officer
climbed in with two Of his men, first call
ing his name and the watchword to a mo-
tionless hgure standing beside a machine
gun on the parapet. He was the leader
Of the patrol. He told US Of the "Boche'
who escaped from his clutches. and Of
the one his men had taken out who had
wounded a Tommy and escaped The in
jured man was able to reach the COM
municaticn trench. where he later la
mented. we heard, that his wound was
not a 'blighty"-which means in army
argot that he must convalesce in France,
that his injury was not severe enough
to warrant a trip back to England. The
word Is OF Indian origin, and seems to
have been brought here by troops serv-
ing in the east.
One of the Germans VINO had escaped
had given the alarm. the shivering officer
said. as he squatted by a brazier scraping
mud on his face. II had to lie twenty
minutes In a shell hole full Of mud and
rats with at least one dead Boche in It. I"
he went on, while that machine gun
ranged back and forth hunting me-"
had heard II and had wondered why IT
chartered so persistently. I'VE had to call
the show of for tonight, for you can only
grab a prisoner by surprise, generally .