The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-12-13

ham was filed to the brim with
disgust and loathing. Nor was
this disgust and loathing entire.
ly without reason. Months of wallow-
ing like a pig in the mud of trenches
does not sweeten the soul, and when
it is combined with endless duties in
the cold fall rains of a shell-swept re-
gion that IS akin to the borders of
inferno, the nerves become ragged.
Hence had come about the curdling of
the milk of human kindness which had
previously existed within him.
Nor had a few little midnight sur
prise parties over the top in which the
bayonet had been the principal piece
de resistance tended to decrease these
sensations. Even being bowled 20
feet by the conclusion of a shell had
not cheered him. But 1t had remain
ed for a Whit of poison gas and a
squirt Of liquid fire to set and solidify
his mind to its present condition.
Alive, dead, or as yet unborn, Ser
geant Lyndham was Of the fixed opin.
ion that he did not like the Boches.
And the last "a hours had been
particularly obnoxious from the fact
that they had been entirely sleepless.
The horizon was still lurid with can.
ncn flashes and the uproar remained
1iendish despite the fact that it was
hours after midnight, but he was &C.
customed to such things, and knew
fh0f nn0o oc0n0r {hov x,c,,1d mt kr,o,,
BILE him. Also. for all he knew, he
might dce..c C. something pleasant. He
was free now for a few hours within
his blankets, and was in the act OF
removing his boots when his captain
thrust his head within and motioned
for him to come forth. Knowing that
something both new and disagreeable
confronted him, he arose and stepped
out as commanded.
For a quarter Of a mile they silent.
~ wound their way along a muddy
road until the dim lights of a partially
shell-ruined house appeared before
them. Into this they entered, and the
sergeant, casting his eyes about, saw
the colonel of his regiment sitting al
a table. Saluting he stood at atten'
ton.
sergeant Lyndham," said the colo
mel thoughtfully. "A few months age
when you accompanied n of our air
men over the line and destroyed 9
plant Of the enemy, you did a very
brave and skillful thing. For thai
act you were made a sergeant. To.
night W. must have another duty per.
formed, and I have selected you be.
cause Of my confidence in your cour.
age and ability. 1t is very likely that
you will not return, yet wal demands
its sacrifices. Without knowing more
of this new duty do you volunteer to
try and accomplish it," It was plain
enough now that there would be no
rest or sleep for him again this night,
and the sergeant's disgust and loath.
ing mounted accordingly. Yet he man,
aged to swallow them.
Eyes, SIR" he grunted. The colonel
nodded.
"You are a brave and willing soldier,
sergeant. Were it not for the fact that
the regiment contains so many men
like you l would sometimes become
Tiled with fear and sadness. Now
for the reason I sent for you. You
will remember the trenches which run
through Theirs woods, do you not?'
"Slightly, colonel. I helped cap
ture them from the Boches at the point
Of the bayonet."
"And in turn were driven from
them by the same amiable gentlemen"
Lyndham made a wry face.
YES, colonel. But they surprised
us most unfairly. It was all very dis,
gushing and made me loathe them"
Il have no doubt. But now listen.
We have reason to believe that they
have evacuated the position, while it
has become important that we regain
It. You will follow my reasoning. If
the enemy has deserted the ditch we
wish to know it, while if he has not,
It is equally important that we should
know, since w must be advised before
hand what we may expect when we
make our advance-whether resistance
or unopposed occupancy. Therefore,
we are compelled to send someone as
q scout to ascertain the conditions"
"And because Of the darkness and
treetops the airmen are useless?"
Exactly. Therefore, you will crawl
upon your stomach to the wood, going
alone the better to escape observation.
BY working your way fiat upon the