The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-09-19

IL. IL had probably been an Overcoat
for the Belgian who had worn II.
Some days later got q scarf from
a Belgian peasant and with this equip
ment I was able to conceal my uni.
form entirely.
Later on, however. decided that II
was too dangerous to keep the uniform
on anyway and when night came
dug hole and buried II.
never realized until had 10 part |
with II Just how much I thought Of |
that uniform. II had been with me |
through hard trials and felt as II I |
were abandoning a friend when |
parted with It. I was tempted to keep
the wings on the tunic. but thought |
that would be dangerous concession |
10 sentiment In the event that l was
ever captured. II was the only dis
.inction I had left. us had given
the Royal Flying Corps badges and
the stars of my rank to the German
flying officers ms souvenirs, but l felt
that II was safer to discard It. As
II finally turned out. through all my
subsequent experiences. my escape
would never hnve been jeopardixed
had kept my uniform but. Of course.
had no Idea what was In store for
me-
There was one thing which surprised
me very much as journeyed through
Belgium and that wns the scarcity Of
dogs. Apparently most Of them had
been taken by the Germans and what
are left are beasts Of burden who are
too tired at night to bark or bother
intruders. This was q mighty good
thing for me. for I would certainly
have stirred them up In passing
through back-yards as I sometimes
did when was making q short cut.
One night ~ I came out Of . yard
Il was 10 pitch dark that could not
see ten feet ahead Of me and I was
right In the back Of q little village.
although did not know It. crawled
along fearing I might come to cross
roads at which there would In all
probability be q German sentry.
Ny precaution served me In good
stead for had come out In the main
street Of the village and within twenty
feet Of me. sitting ON some bricks
where they were building little store.
I could see the dim outline Of Q Ger
man spiked helmsti
I could not cross the street and the
only thing b do was to back track.
It meant making . long detour and
losing two hours of precious tims and
effort but there was no help for u.
20 I plodded wearily back. cursins
the Huns at every step.
The next night while crossing some
fields came to q road. It was one Of
the main roads Of Belgium and was
paved with cobble stones. On these
roads you can hear q wagon or horse
about mile or two away. listened
intently before I moved ahead and
hearing nothing concluded that the
way was clear.
As emerged from the field and got
my FIRST glimpse Of the road. got the
shock Of my lifei In either direction.
as far, ~ could see. the road was
lined with German soldiersl What
they were doing In that part Of Bel
gium did not know. but you can be
mighty sure didn't spend any time
trying to and out
Again Il was necessary to change
my course and lose q certain amount
Of ground. but BY this time had be-
come fairly well reconciled to these
rsverses and they did not depress me
a. much a. they did at nrst.
At this period Of my adventure. II Z
day or night passed without Its thrill
began to feel almost diappointed
but such disappolntments wsrs
rather rare.
One evening a. was about to swim
canal about two hundred feet WIDE
suddenly noticed about one hundred
yards away canal boat moored Ia
the side.
Il was at q sort of out-of. f.the-way
place and wondered what the canal
boat had stopped for. crawled w
to see. A. nearsd the boat Ave mer
were leaving It and I noticed them
cross over into the fields. At q SAFE
distance followed them and they had
not gone very far before saw what
they were after. They were commit
ting the common but hsinous crime Of
stealing potatoesl
Without the means to cook them
potatoes didn't interest me bit and
thought that The boat itself would
probably yield me more than the 20
tat0 patch. Knowing the canal.handl
would probably take their time In the
; fields. climbed up the stern Of thu
boat lsisurely and without any partic
ular plans to conceal myself. Just q
my head appeared above the stern Of
the boat saw dlhouetted against
! the sky. the dread outline Of Ger
! man soldier-spiked helmet and all
A chill ran down my spine a.
dropped to the bank Of the canal and