The Pulaskian., 1918-10-18


 myself up to the bank, but got tbere The bank was rather high and I was shaking so violently that when I took noid of the grass to pull my Jeff up the grass shook out of my hands. l could not retain my grip. was afraid l would faint then and there, but l Kept pulling and crawling frantically up that internal bank and finally made it.
 Then for the first time in my life l fainted-fainted from utter exhaus- tion.
 It was now about 4 o'clock in the morning and I was entirely unpro- tected from observation. If anyone had come along I would have been found lying there dead to the world.
 Possibly two hours passed before I regained consciousness, and then, no doubt only because the rain was beating in my face.
 1 knew that had to get away, as it was broad daylight. Moreover, there was tow-path right there and any minute boat might come along and find me. But it was equally dangerous for me to attempt to travel very far. Fortunately I found some shrubbery near by and I hid there all day, without food or drink.
 That night I made a little head way, but when day broke I had a dreadful fever and was delirious. I talked to myself and thereby in- creased my chances of capture. In my lucid intervals when I realized that l had been talking, the thought sent a chill through me, because in the silent night even the slightest sound carries far across the Belgian country. l began to fear that another day of this would about finish me.
 I have a distinct recollection of a ridiculous conversation I carried on with an imaginary Pat O'Brien-a sort of duplicate of myself. I argued with him as marched drearily along and he answered me back in kind, and when we disagreed, called upon my one constant friend, the North Star, to stand by me.
 "There you are, you old North Star," I cried aloud. You want me to get to Holland, don't you? But this Pat O'Brien-this Pat OBrein who calls himself a soldier-he's got a yellow streak-North Star-and he says it can't be done! He wants me to quit ito lie down here for the Huns to find me and take me back to Cour- trai-after all you've done, North Star? l don't want to follow him-I just want to follow you-because you you are taking me away from the Huns and this Pat O'Brien-this fel- low who keeps after me all the time and leans on my neck and wants me to lie down-this yellow Pat O'Brein wants me to go back to the Huns ]"
 After a spell of foolish chatter like that my senses would come back to me for a while and I would trudge along without a word until the fever came on me again.
 I knew that had to have food be- cause l was about on my last legs. l was very much tempted to lie down then and there and call it a beat. Things seemed to be getting worse for me the farther I went, and all the time I had before me the spectre of that electric barrier between Belgium and Holland, even if I ever reached there alive. What was the use of further suffering when would prob ably be captured in the end anyway?
 Before giving up, however, I decided upon one bold move. l would ap- proach one of the houses in the vi- cinity and get food there or die in the effort.
 I picked out small house because I figured there would be less likeli- hood of soldiers being billeted there.
 Then wrapped stone in my khaki handkerchief as sort of camoufiaged weapon, determined to kill the occu- pant of the house, German or Belgian, if that step was necessary in order to get food. I tried the well in the yard, but it would not work, and then I went up to the door and knocked.
 It was 1 o'clock in the morning. An old lady came to the window and looked out. She could not imagine what I was, probably, because l was still attired in that old overcoat. She gave a cry and her husband and a boy came to the door.