The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-08-29

AO~AA AN "a
room, but he hardly noticed them.
While waiting there, the voice Of the
sentry, singing in a low tone, came to
him. He was singing the chorus Of the
popular trench ditty:
I want to go home. I wan to go home.
l don't a to go to the trenches no
more.
Where the "~whizzbangs" and "~sausaees'
roar galore.
Take me over the sea, where the Allemano
can't get at me.
Oh. my, I don't val to die! I want to 60
home.
Lloyd listened to the words with a
strange interest, and wondered what
kind of a home he would 60 to across
the Great Divide. It would be the only
home he had yer known.
Suddenly there came a great rushing
| through the air, a binding, a deafen.
ing report, and the sandbag walls of
the guardroom toppled over, and then
thickness.
When Lloyd recovered conscious
ness, he was lying on his right side,
facing what used to be the entrance Of
the. guardroom. Now, it was only a
tumble of rent and torn sandbags. His
head seemed bursting. He slowly rose
on his elbow, and there in the east the
dawn was breaking. But what was
that mangled shape lying over there
among the sandbags? Slowly dragging
himself to it, he saw the body Of the
sentry. One look was enough to know
that he was dead. The soldiers head
was missing. The sentry had had his
wish gratified. He had "gone home."
He was safe at last from the "whizz-
bangs" and the Allemand.
Like a flash 1t came to Lloyd that he
was free. Free to go "over the top
with his company. Free to die like a
true Brlton 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 a mad race down the ruined street
of the village, amid the bursting SHELLS,
minding them not, lodging through or
around hurrying platoons on their way
to also go lover the top" Coming to
a communication trench he could not
get through. 1t was blocked with laugh
ing, cheering and cursing soldiers.
Climbing out of the trench, he ran
wildly along the top, never needing the
rain of m%achine-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
despised coward, had come into his
own
While he was racing along, juruplne
over trenches crowded with soldiers, Q
ringing cheer broke out all along the
front line, 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
pani"s had taken the first and second
German trenches, and had pushed
steadily. on to the third line. D com
parry, led by their captain, the one who
had sent Lloyd to division headquar
tiers for trial, charged with desertion
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 a German
communication trench, which ended iI
a blindsap, and then the captain, ant
what was left Of his men, knew the!
were in a trap. They would not re
tire. D company never retired, ant
they we're D company. Right in from
Of them they could see hundreds OF
Germans preparing to fush them will
bomb and bayonet. They would have
some chance If ammunition and bomb!
could reach them from the rear. Theil
supply was exhausted, and the mel
realized 1t would be a cas- Of dying
as bravely as possible, or making a ru1
for It. But D company would no
run. It was against their traditions
and principles.
The Germans would have to advance
across an open space Of three to fou'
bundled yards before they could ge
within bombing distance of the trench
and then it would be all their own way
Turning to his company, the captain
said:
"Blen, it's a case Of going West To-
us. We are out Of ammunition ant
bombs, and the Boches have us in {
trap. They will bomb us out. Oul
bayonets are useless here. We viii
have to go over and meet them. ant
its a case of thirty to one. so sem
every thrust home, and die like tn
men Of D company should. When
give the word, folloY me, and up ant
at them. Give them b! Lord, II
we only had a machine gun, we COULD
wipe them outl Here they come, gel
ready, men,"