The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1918-06-10

Now had 70 cross IL. whereas b.
fore could have turned II. I walks'
boldly into the water. not b0therlng u
take my clothes or this time. noF dl,
I ever bother 10 take them oM after
sards when swimming canals an,
flvers. found 1t was impossible Z,
teep them dry anyway. and 50 ! mi sh
Just as well swim IN them and say'
time.
All The next day spent In a forest
10 which my nights travel had branshi
ne about o'clock IN ii. morning.
kept on my way through the woods
until daylight came, aud then, thinking
the place would afford fairly good cou-
eealnen,. concluded 10 rest unti
night.
The prospects of even a good sleep
were dismal. however. FOR about the
time the suns face should have APP
peared, drizxling rain began and |
gave up my search for dry spot
which would serve me- ~ bed. Some
OF the leaves were beginning 10 fall.
but Of course there WIS not enough x
them TO form a covering for the
ground. and the daulrness seemed to
have penetrated everywhere.
wandered around through the
woods for two or three hours looking
for shelter. but without any success.
for. although the trees were large the
forest was not dense. and there was
practically no brush ar shruhbery.
Consequently one could get fairly
clear view for some distance. and I
knew II would be unwise TO drop of
10 sleep Just any place. or someone
would surely happen en- 10 me.
Once / came very near TO the ends
Of the woods and heard FoiSrs ~ men
driving by In a wagon. hut | couldn't
make out just what they were. aud
instinct told me had better not come
out of the woods. SO I turned hack,
Here and there small artificial bitches
had been dug. which a. q dry season
might have Graded weary fugitive.
but now they. too. were filled with
water. once ! singled our z good his
tree and large branches and thought
nigh, climb into II and 90 10 sleep.
but the longer | looked al Il the more
l realized that II would require more
energy than had in my present weak
and exhausted condition. So diin'; at
tempt that.
Finally chose sro, that 10 q
bit drier than the rest. cor -
take chance on being Gi ari
threw myself down for vas
nervous. ihouc.i. +.
that whole day. and would scarcyly ~
settled into a comfortable position I'D
doze of for a few minutes when.
startled by some sound in the woods
would suddenly awake.
After what Sotmed like q year or
more night finally came. and with
''dud" sky. low-hanring clouds AMI stiii
more rain. There was not i star IN the
sky. OF course. and that made II very
bad. because without the ala az TIA
stars had absolutely no way - know-
Ing which direction I WAS going. 1;
was just a case a. taking a chance.
probably would have been better or IL
| had simply picked out q place and
stayed there until the weather i'm
proved. but naturally was impatient
10 be on my way when each DAY ul-h-
put food only lesSened my strength and
my ultimate chances of reaching tie
frontier.
SO left the woods and struck oT n |
the direction which I though, was
north. hadn't been az an sure q my
bearings the day before and as Il had
rlned the sun failed entirely 20 help
De cut. hut / was almost SURE hid
he right direction and trusted 70 lCck.
That nisht l found more rivers, canals
md swsmps than ! ever found in my
fife before. hut hss the good fortune
10 stumble on 10 some celery. and after
ny diet of beets Il surely was a treat.
Perhaps it's unnecessary % add that
ook on a good supply of celery and
or days I went along chewing celery !
Ike q COW would 8 euc.
Along towards morning. Vres ! SUP !
,osed had gotten In a fairly good lap
Z my j0urney-perh1fs seven O. eight
nfies-r began 20 recognize certain Or
ecfs as familiar landmarks. Al least. 4
thought | had seen them before and :
: Travelled along knew positively l q
Iad seen certain objects very recently.
W at my right-not over a quarter - c
mlle-I noticed some fairly good
tied woods and thought I would 20 7
yer there 20 hide that day. because Il {
,oked as though the sun was going tn q
,rine and l hoped 10 get my clothes I
~. and perhaps get a decent sieen. {
had this celery and large beet. % v
knew I would be able TO live the cay c
trough. 4
Finally made NY way over 20 the
'ccds. II was still too dark in aracur .
be trees 20 do much In the way of y
siectinr my quarters for the day snd Z
could not 20 q step farther. 50 q
'slted on the edge OF the forest untl =
avn and then set out % explore the :
ACE. with q view 20 finding some nook 5
here I might sleep. Imagine ny dis !
~, and ciseogragene1t. too. whsn Al q