The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-03
CHAPTER VII.
CRAWLING THROUGH Germany,

Crawling Through Germany.
The exact spot at which l made my
desperate leap don't know. Perhaps,
after the war is over, someone on that
train will be good enough to tell me
and then I may go back and look for
the dent I must have made in the rock
ballast.
I have said, l didn't stop very long
that morning after once regained my
senses.
! was bleeding profusely from the
wounds caused by the fall. but I
checked 1t somewhat with handker-
chiefs held to my face. and I also
held the tail Of my coat 50 as to catch
the blood as 1t fell and not to leave
tell-tale traces on the ground.
Before stopped I had gone about a
mile. Then took my course from the
stars and found that I had been going
inst opposite to the direction should
be making, but could not 60 back
across the track there.
Heading west. therefore, kept this
course for about two and q half hours,
but as I vas very weak from loss Of
blood I didn't cover very much ground
In that time. Just before daylight. /
came to a canal which I knew / had to
cross, and l swan it with everything
I had on.
This swim, which proved to be the
first of series that was destined to
make, taught me several things.
In the first place, I had forgotten to
remove my wrist-watch. This watch
had been broken in my fall from the
air, but had it repaired at Courtrai.
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, had not thought to take
my map out of my sock and the water
damaged that, too.
Thereafter, whenever I had any
swimming to do, was careful to take
such matters into consideration, and
my usual practice was to make a
bundle Of all the things that would be
damaged by water and tie 1t to my
head In this way ! was able to keep
them dry.
+ wss now daylight and knew that
Il would be suicidal for me to attempt
10 travel In the daytime Ny British
uniform would have been fatal 10 me.
I decided b hide IN the daytime end
tovel only at night
Not Tar from the canal I could see
haavily-wooded piece Of ground. and !
nnde my way therA BY this time I
I'D discovered that my left ankle had
been strained In my leap from the
txain. and when I got to the woods !
was glad to lie down and rest The
wound IN my mouth had been opened,
too. when I jumped, and It would have
been difficult for me to have swallowed
had not the piece Of bread, which was
to serve for my breakfast, got wet
when I swan the canal. ! found safe
hiding place In which to spend the
day and I tried to dry some Of my
clothes, but slight drizzling rainfall
made that out Of the question. ! knew
that ought y sleep, as planned to
travel at nigh, - sore as I was.
caked with mud a.. ;iood, my cloth
ing soaked through and my hunger not
nearly appeased, sleep was out of the
question. This seemed to me about
the longest day had ever spent. but
l was still to lear Tow long day can
really be and how lch longer night.
When night ca i dragged myself
togeth : and hes. ! northeast.
Nty 2thing consisted Of my Flying
rps form, two shirts, no under
rr, .e-sher leggings. heavy shoes, a
Il pair of wool s~cks and q German
I had q wal, containing sew
hundred francs paper money
d various other p.. 8. also had
jackknife which ad stolen one
day before from the ...oIerty room at
Courtrai. where all l. ; personal eff
fects taken from prisoners were kept.
For day or two / had carried knapp
sack. but - had nothing 10 carry IN