Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-05-25
cover the Top
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Copyright, 1911, BY Arthur Guy nmpsy)
Machine Gunner Serofns IN France

ers. It's bally conscripts like you
what's spoilin' our record. We've been
out here nigh onto eighteen months,
and you're the fret man to desert his
post. The whole battalion is laughin'
and pokin' fun at d company, bad
luck to you but you won't get another
chance to disgrace US. They'll put
your lights out in the mornin'"
After listening to this TRADE Lloyd,
In faltering voice, asked: "They are
not going to shoot me, are they2 Why,
the other sentry said they'd pardon
me. For Gods sake-don't tell me I'm
to be shotl' and his voice died away in
sob.
"Of course, they're going to shoot
you. The other sentry was Jest a-kid-
din you. Jest like old Smith. Always
a-tryin' to cheer some one. You amt
got no more chance O. bein' pardoned
than have Of gettin' to be colonel of
my 'batt.'"
When the fact that all hope was
gone finally entered Lloyd's brain, O
calm seemed to settle over him, and
rising to his knees, with his arms
stretched out to heaven, he prayed, and
all of his soul entered into the prayer.
20, good and merciful God, give me
strength to die like a mani Deliver
me from this towards death. Give me
a chance to die like my mates in the
fighting line, to die fighting for my
country. ! ask this of thee"
A peace, hitherto unknown, came to
him, and he crouched and covered no
more, but calmly waited the dawn
ready to 60 to his death. The shells
were bursting all around the guard
room, but he hardly noticed them.
While waiting there, the voice Of the
sentry, singing in low tone, came to
him. He was singing the chorus Of the
popular trench ditty:
! want to 20 home, want to 20 home.
don't want to 60 to the trenches no
more
Where the "whizxbanEs' and ''sausages
roar galore.
Take me over the sea, where the Allemand
can't ret At me.
Oh. my. don't want to diei want to 60
home.
Lloyd listened to the words with a
strange interest, and wondered what
kind Of home he would 60 to across
the Great Divide. It would be the only
home he had ever known.
Suddenly there came great rushing
through the air, a binding, q deafen-
ing report, and the sandbag walls Of
the guardroom toppledaover, and then
-blackness.
When Lloyd recovered conscious
ness, he was lying on his right side,
facing what used to be the entrance of
the guardroom. Now, 1t was only
tumble of rent and torn sandbags. His
head seemed bursting. he slowly rose
on his elbow, and there In the east the
dawn was breaking. But what was
that mangled shape lying over there
among the sandbags7 Slowly dragging
himself to 1t. he saw the body Of the
sentry. One look was enough to know
that he was dead. The soldiers head
was missing. The sentry had had his
wish gratifled. He had gone home"
He was safe at last from the "whizz-
bangs" and the Allemand.
Like flash 1t came to Lloyd that he
was free. Free to go lover the top"
with his company. Free to die like a
true Briton fighting for his king and
country. A great gladness and warmth
came over him. Carefully stepping
over the body Of the sentry. he started
on a mad race down the ruined street
Of the village, amid the bursting shells,
minding them not. lodging through or
around hurrying platoons on their way
to also go lover the top" Coming to
communication trench he could not
get through. It was blocked with laugh
Ing. cheering and cursing soldiers.
Climbing out Of the trench, he ran
wildly along the top, never needing the
rain of machine-gun bullets and shells,
not even hearing the shouts Of the of.
fcers, telling him to get back into the
trench. He was going to Join his COM
pany who were In the front line. he
was going to fight with them. He, the
despised coward. had come into his
own.
While he was racing along, Jumping
over trenches crowded with soldiers, q
ringing cheer broke out all along the
front hne, and his heart sank. BE
knew he was too late. His company
had gone over. But still he ran madly
He would catch them. He would die
with them.
Meanwhile his company had gone
"over." They. with the other com.
panies had taken the first and second
German trenches, and had pushed
steadily on to the third line. D com.
pany, led by their captain, the one who
had sent Lloyd to division headQuar.
ters for trial. charged with desertion,
had pushed steadily forward until they
found themselves far In advance OF
the rest Of the attacking force. Bomb.
ing out" trench after trench, and using
their bayonets, they came to a German
Communication trench, which ended In
a blindsap, and then the captain. and
what was left Of his men, knew they
were in q trap. They would not re-
tire. d company never retired, and
they were D company. Right in front
Of them they could see hundreds OF
Germans preparing to rush them with
bomb and bayonet. They would have
some chance II ammunition and bombs
could reach them from the rear Their