The Lamar register., 1918-07-03

as / had pictured, they pointed out,
the fact that so many of us had es-
capped would almost Inevitably result
In our recapture. The Huns would
have secured Belgium till they had
got us and then we would all be shot.
Perhaps they were right.
Nevertheless, was determined that,
no matter what the others decided to
do, was going to make one bid for
freedom. come what might.
As we passed through village after
village in Belgium and l realized that
We were getting nearer and nearer to
that dreaded reprisal camp. I con-
cluded that my one and only chance of
getting free before we reached 1t was
through the windowi / would have
to go through that window while the
train was going full-speed, because If
I waited until 1t had slowed up or
stopped entirely, 1t would be a simple
matter for the guards to overtake or
shoot me.
1 opened the window. The guard
who sat opposite me-so close that
his feet touched mine and the stock
Of his gun which he held between his
knees occasionally struck my foot
made no objection. imagining no doubt
that 1 found the car too warm or that
the smoke. with which the compart-
ment was filed, annoyed me.
As 1 opened the window. the noise
the train was making as 1t Numbered
along grew louder. 1t seemed to say:
you're fool II you do; you're fool
II you don't-you're a fool II you do
you're a fool II you don't"-and / said
to myself ''the noes have IT," and
closed down the window again.
As soon as the window was closed,
the noise of the train naturally sub
sided and Its speed seemed to dimin-
ish, and my plan appealed to me
stronger than ever.
I knew the guard in front of me
didn't understand u word of English.
and 30. in quiet tone OF voice. con-
fided to the English officer who sat
next me what ! had planned to do.
For Gods sake. Pat. chuck itI'' he
urged. Don't be a lunatic This rail-
road is double-trncked and rock-bal-
lasted and the other track is on your
side. You stand every chance In the
world of knocking your brains out
against the rails. or hitting II bridge or
n whlstllng post, and II you escape
those you will probably be hit by an
other train on the other track. You
haven't one chance In thousand to
make itT'
There was good deal OF logic in
what he said. but / figured that once
was In that reprisal camp 1 might
never have even one chance in thou
sand to escape, and the Idea of re-
! naming a prisoner of war Indefinitely
went against my grain. 1 resolved to
take my chance now at the risk of
breaking my neck.
The car was full of smoke. / looked
across at the guard. He was rather an
old man. going home on leave, and he
seemed to be dreaming of what was In
store for him rather than paying any
particular attention to me. Once in a
while had smiled at him, and I figured
that he hadn't the slightest idea Of
what was going through my mind all
the time we had been travelling
Ibegan to cough as though my throat
was badly irrltnted by the smoke and
then I opened the window again. This
time the guard looked up and showed
his disapproval. but did not say any
thing.
1t was then 4 o'clock in the morn
ing and would soon be light. l knew l
had to do 1t right then, or never. as
there would be no chance to escape in
the daytime.
I had on Il trench coat that l had
used as flying coat and wore my
knapsack. which bad constructed