Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1918-04-12

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on his elbow, and there In the east the
dawn was breaking, But what was
that mangled shape lying over there
among the sandbags2 Slowly dragging
himself TO II, he saw the body of the
sentry. One look was enough 10 know
that he was dead. The soldiers head
was missing, The sentry had had his
wish gratlhed. He had "gone home"
He was safe at last from the "whlzz-
bangs" and the Allemand,
Like q fash II came to Lloyd that he
was free. Free TO 60 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 mad race down the ruined street
Of the village, amid the bursting shells,
mlndng them not, lodging through or
around hurrylng platOons on their way
to also 90 "over the top" Coming to
q communication trench he could not
get through. II was blocked with laugh
Ing, cheering and curslng 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.
ficers, 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
desplsed coward, had come into his
own.
While he was racing along, jumping
over trenches crowded with soldiers, a
ringing cheer broke out all along the
front hne, and his heart sank. He
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-
tiers for trial. charged with desertlon,
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 German
communication trench, which ended In
bllndsap, and then the captain, and
what was left of his men, knew they
were in a 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 havO
some chance If ammunition and bombs
could reach them from the rear. Their
supply was exhausted and the men
realized 1t would be case Of dying
as bravely as possible, or making a run
for it. But D company would not
run. 1t was against their traditions
and principles.
The Germans would have to advance
across an open space of three to four
hundred yards before they could get
within bombing distance of the trench,
and then 1t would be all their own way.
Turning to his company, the captain
said:
"Men, it's a case of going West for
us. We are out of ammunition and
bombs, and the Boches have us In
trap. They will bomb us out Our
bayonets are useless here We will
have to 20 over and meet them, and
it's a case of thirty to one, so send
every thrust home, and die like the
men of D company should. When /
give the word, follow me, and I'D and
at them. Give Tnem T.! Lord. II
we only had a machine gun, we could
wipe them out Here they come, get
ready, men,"
Just as he finished speaking the wei
come "pup-pup" Of machine gun IL
their rear rang out, and the front line
of the onrushing Germans seemed tc
melt away. They wavered, but once
again came rushing onward. Down
went their second line. The machine
gun was taking an awful toll of lives
Then again they tried to advance, but
the machine gun moved them down
Dropping their rifles and bombs, they
broke and fled in u wild rush back t.
their trench, amid the cheers of %
company. They were forming AGAR
for another attempt, when In the real
of d company came mighty cheer
The ammunition had arrived and with
II a battalion of Scotch to REINFORCE
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
In the nick Of time.
With the re.enforcements 1t was an
easy task to take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the cap
tain and three of his nonc0mmlssionet
officers, wendell their way back to thu
position where the machine gun hat
done its deadly work. He wanted t.
thank the gunner in the name of [
company for his magnificent deed
They arrived at the gun, and an awu
sight met their eyes.
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