Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-07

it fell and not leave telltale traces on
the ground.
Before I stopped I had gone about
mile. Then 1 took my course from the
stars and found that 1 had been goinG
just opposite to the direction I should
be making but 7 could not go back
across the track there.
Weak From Loss of Blood
Heading west therefore, l kept this
course for about two and a half hours,
but as ! was very weak from loss of
blood I didn't cover very much ground
in that time. Just before daylight,
came to a canal which 1 knew 1 had
to cross. and l swan it with everything
1 had on.
This swim. which proved to be the
first of a series that 1 was destined to
make, taught me several things.
In the first place l had forgotten %
remove my wrist watch. This watch
had been broken in my fall from the
air. but 1 had had it repaired at CouT-
trail In the leap from the train the
crystal had been broken again, but it
was still going and would probably
have been of great service to me in my
subsequent adventures, but the swim
across the canal ruined it.
Then. too, 1 had not thought to take
nv map out of my sock and the water
damaged that, too
Thereafter, whenever had any swim
ming to do, I was careful to take such
matters into consideration. and my
usuai practice was to make oundie
of all the things that would be dam
nd n
In this way I was able to keep them
dry.
Hdes by Day; Travels at Night
1t was now daylight and knew that
it would be suicidal for me to attempt
to travel in the daytime. My British
uniform would have been fatal to me.
1 decided to hide in the daytime and
travel only at night.
Not far from the canal / could see
a heavily wooded piece of ground and
I made my way there. By this time
I had discovered that my left ankle had
been strained in my leap from the train,
and when / got to the woods l was
glad to lie down and rest. The wound
in nv mouth had been opened, too, when
l jumped and it would have been diff
cult for me to have swallowed had not
the piece of bread, which was to serve
the canal
I found a safe hiding place in which
to spend the day and | tried to dry
some of my clothes, but slight drlZ-
cling rainfall made that out of the ques-
ton. | knew that | ought to sleep, as
I planned to travel at night. but sore
as l was, caked with mud and blood, my
clothing soaked through and my hunger
not nearly appeased, sleep was out or
the question.
This seemed to me about the long
est day I ever spent, but 1 was still
to learn how long a day can really
be and how much longer a night.
When Night Came
When night came 1 dragged myself
together and headed northeast.
My clothing consisted of my flying
corps uniform, two shirts, no under
wear. leather leggings, heavy shoes, a
good pair of wool socks and Il German
cap. | had a wallet containing several
hundred francs in paper money and
various other papers. 1 also had a
jackknife which l had stolen one day
from the property room at Courtrai,
where all the personal effects taken
from prisoners were kept. For a day
or two 1 carried the knapsack, but as
had nothing to carry in it 1 discard
ed it.
I travelled rapidly. considering my
difficulties, and swan a couple of can
nails that night, covering in all perhaps
ten miles before daylight. Then I To-
Gated in some low bushes, lying there
all day in my wet clothes and finish
ing my sausage for food. That was
the last of my rations.
That night l made perhaps the same
but became very hungry and
thirsty before the night was over.
Lives on Raw Vegetables
For the next six days l still figured
that l was in Germany, and l was liv-
ing on nothing but cabbage, sugar bcets
and an occasional carrot, always IN
the raw state, just as 1 got them out
of the fields. The water / drank was
often very rank, as 1 had to get it from
canals and pools. One night 1 lay in a