The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1918-08-23

tected from observation. If anyone
had come along I would have been
found lying there dead to the world.
Possibly two hours passed before l
regained consciousness. and then, no
| doubt, only because the rain was
beating in my face.
l knew that l had to get away, as
it was broad daylight Moreover,
there was Il tow-path night there and
any minute boat night come along
and find me. But it was equally
dangerous for me to attempt to travel
very far. Fortunately l found some
shrubbery near by and l hid there all
day, without food or drink.
That night l made a little head
way, but when day broke l had a
dreadful fever and was delirious. 1
talked to myself and thereby in
creased my chances of capture. In
my lucid intervals when l realized that
l had been talking, the thought sent
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.
/ have a distinct recollection of a
ridiculous conversation l carried on
with an imaginary Pat OBrien-a
sort Of duplicate of myself. l argued
with him as l marched drearily along
and he answered me back in kind,
and when we disagreed, l called upon
my one constant friend, the North
Star, to stand by me.
''There you are, you old North Star," )"
cried aloud. you want me to get
to Holland, don't you? But this Pat
O'Brien-this Pat O'Brein who calls
himself soldier-he's got yellow
streak-North Star-and he says it
can't be done! He wants me to quit
to 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 fell
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 while and | would trudge
along without a word until the fever
came on me again.
l knew that l had to have food be-
cause l was about on my last legs. l
was very much tempted to lie down
then and there an call it q beat.
Things seemed to be getting worse for
me the farther l went, and all the
time l had before me the spectre of
that electric barrier between Belgium
and Holland, even if | ever reached
there alive. What was the use of
further suffering when l would prob
ably be captured in the end anyway?
Before giving up, however, l 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.
l picked out small house because
| | figured there would be less likeIi-
I hood of soldiers being billeted there.
Then l wrapped a stone in my khaki
! handkerchief as a sort of camouflaged
weapon, determined to kill the occu
! pant of the house, German or Belgian
| if that step was necessary in order
to get food. l tried the we'll in the
yard, but it would not work, and then
| l went up to the door and knocked.
1t was l o'clock in the morning. An
old lady came to the window and
looked out. She could not imagine
what l was, probably, because l was
still attired in that old overcoat. She
/. gave a cry and her husband and &
boy came to the door.
They could not speak English and
! could not speak Flemish. but | pointed
to my flying coat and then to the sky
and said "Fleger" Qier), which ]
! thought would tell them What l was.
Whether they understood or were
intimidated by the hard-boking ap
pearance, I don't know, but certainly
it would have to be Il brave old MAI
. and boy who would start an argument
with such a viIlainous looking char
acter rs stood before them that night
| | had not shaved for IL month, my
| clothes were wet, torn and dirty, my
leggin-s were gone-they had g0tter
50 heavy 1 had to discard them-my
hair was matted and my cheeks were
flushed with fever. In my hand
carried the rock in my handkerchief
and I made no effort to conceal il:
presence or its mission.
Anyway, they motioned me indoors
gave me my first hot meal in more
than Il month True, it consisted only
Of warm potatoes. They had beer
previously cooked, but the old woman
warmed them up in milk in one Of tn,
dfrtiest kettles | had ever seen.
asked for bread, but she sNooE he1
mead, although I thini, it must hav,
been for lack OF il Iather than he
cause she begrudged It to me. Fo.
if ever man showed he -Yas FINISHED
I did that night. [ awailoweu Eaos,