The state herald., 1918-08-23
CHAPTER x-centinued.

The knhck OF making FIRE with two
pieces Of dry wood / had often read
about. but had never put 1t TO test
and for various reasons I concluded
that II would be unsafe for me to
build fire even II I had matches. In
the first place. there was no absolute
need for It I didn't have anything
to cook nor utensils to cook 1t In even
II had. While the air was getting
TO be rathef cool at night, was usu-
ally on the 20 at that time and didn't
notice It. In the daytime, when I
was resting or sleeping. the sun was
usually out
To have borrowed matches from a
Delgian peasant would have been feas-
ible. but when I was willing to take
the chance Of approaching anyone. 1t
was Just as easy to ask for food ~
matches.
1t the second place, n vouc nnve
been extremely dangerous to have
built fire even If ! had needed It.
You can't build fire In Belgium,
which is the most thickly populated
country In Europe. without everyone
knowing 1t. and ! was far from anx-
ious to advertising my whereabouts.
The villages In that part Of Bel
GUM through which ] was making my
course were 10 close together that
there was hardly ever an hour passed
without my hearing some clock strike.
Every village has its clock. Many
times could hear the clocks striking
In two villages at the same time.
But the hour had very little interest
to me. Ny program was to travel ms
fast as ! could from sunset to sunrise
and pny no attention TO the hours In
between. and In the daytime / had
only two things to worry about: keep
concealed and set MS much sleep ms
possible.
The cabbage that got In Belgium
consisted Of the small heads that the
peasants had not cut. All the strength
bad concentrated In these little hcnds
ana they would be ~ bitter as gall. I
woNd have 20 be pretty hungry To-
day before ] could ever eat cabbag.
again and the same observation up.
piles 10 carrots. turnips and sugar
beets-espcclally sugar beets.
II 10 rather a remarkable thing that
today even a smell OF turnIps. raw or
cooked. makes me sick. and yet few
short months ago my life depended
upon them.
Night after night MS I searched for
food. ! was always In hopes that
might come upon some tomatoes or
celery-yegctnbles which ] really
liked. but with the exception Of once,
when ! found some celery. was never
20 fortunate. ate NO much Of the
celery the night I cnme upon II thnt
] was sick for two days thereafter.
but carried several lunches nwny
with me and used to chew on II Ms !
walked along.
OF course. ! kept my eyes open all
tho time for fruit trees. but apparently
II ~ns too late In the year for fruit, m
I'll that ! ever was able 10 find wers
two pears. which ] got out OF 4 tire.
That was one Of my rcd.letter days,
but was never able to repeat Il.
In the brooks and ponds that
passed I often nouced nsh Of different
kinds That wns either In the early
morning just before I turned In for
the day. or on moonlight nights who'd
the wnisr seemed ~ clenr In spots
N In the daytime. II occurred to me
thst II would be u simple matter to ris
q hook and line and catch some bsh
but ] hnd no means Of cooking them
and II was useless to fish for the sake
Of H.
One night In Belgium my course
took me through = dcsolnte stretch oi
country which seemed 10 be absolutely
uncuitivntcd. I must have covered
twelve miles during tho night. with1u,
pssning n single farm or cultivated
nsld. Ny stock Of turnips which
hsd picked the night before wns gone
and planned. Of course. to get enough
10 carry me through tho following
day.
The North Star wss shining brightly
that night and there was absolutely
nothing TO prevent my steering an ab
solutely direct course for Holland nnt
iibsrty. but my path seemed 10 III
through and psstures Fur 10 thu