Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-03
CHAPTER V.
Mud, Hats and Shells.

YcSultS from cream ShcctS ana SOFT lbli-
bows, but tho sleep that comes from
: :old. wet and sheer exhaustion.
Suddenly the earth seemed to shake,
3ird Il thundcrclap burst in my ears. I
tpencd my cycg-I was spiaEhcd all
over with sticky mud, and men Were
picking themselves UP from the bot
ON Of the trench. The parapet on my
eft had topplcd into the trench com
Dietciy blocking ii with wall OF
osscd-up earth. The man on my left
ay still. rubbed the mud from my
acc. and m awful sight met my gaze
his head was smashed To pulp. and
lis steel helmet was fun Of brains
nd blood. y German minnie" ftrcnCh
nortar) had exploded in the next
ravcrsc. Men were digging into the
loft mass OF mud in frenzy Of haste.
Ptretcher bearers came UP the trench
pm the double. After :, few minutes OF
iiSginG. three still. muddy forms on
trctchcrs were carried down the com
uunication trench to the rear. soon
hoy would he resting somewhere in
france" with little wooden cross over
heir heads. They had done their bit
Tor King and country. had died with
'ut firing shot, but their services
we're appreciated. nevertheless.
Later on. found ont their names.
They belonged to ouv draft.
was dazcd and motionlcss. sud
cnly "a shovel was pushed into my
lands. and a rough but kindly voice
aid:
Here. my lad lend hand clearing
he trench. but keep YOUR head down.
nd look out for snipcrs. one OF the
'ri,z's is IL daisy. and he'll get you II
cure not careful"
Lying oh my belly on the bottom Of
he trench. / flied sandbngs with the
ticky mud they were dragged TO nay
car 10y the other men. and tho work
rebuilding the parapct Was on. The
ardcr worked. the better fclt
Though the weather was cold | Was
oakcd with sweat.
Occasionally It bullet would crack
vcrhead. aud "a machine gun would
lex ,p the mud on the dashed i'm para
ct. ~ each crach would duck and
held my face with my arm ono Of
hc Older men noticed this action OF
zinc, and whispered:
Don't duck at tho crack OF Il bullet,
amk: the danger has passed-yo on
ever hear the one that wings YOU. Al
a!s remember that If YOU are going
<ct IT, youll get 1t. so never worry"
This made "A great impression on me-
the time, and from then on |
loptcd his motto. IF you're going to
At it. your get it
|, helped me wonderfully. used It
often afterwards that some OF my
atcs dubbed me. III you're going to
II 1t; youil get 1t"
After an hours hard work. all my
crvousncss left nc. and | was laugh
kS and Joking with tho rest.
At | o'clock, dinner came up in tho
,ym OF dixie OF hot stow.
4 looked for my cantecn. Il had
Rillcn of the fire step. and was half
iricd In the mud. The man on my left
lticcd this. and told the corporal. dish
Iatg out tho rations. 10 nut my share
" his mess tin. Then he whispered to
G. Always take care OF your mess
n mate"
had learned another maxim Of the
cnches.
THAT stow tasted fine was as
hungry as bear We had Sec
IDS" or another helping. because three
the mon had gone west" killed by
e explosion OF the German trench
ortar and VIC ate their share. but
i'll was hungry. so | filled in with
Illy beef and biscuits. Then drained
water bottle. Later on learned
hothcr maxim of the front linc--"Go
(aringly with your water The bully
CT made me thirsty. and by tea time
was dying for a drink. hut my pride
Guild not allow me 10 ask my mates
r water was fast learning the
hics OF the trenches.
That night ! was put on guard with
older man. We stood on tho fire
cD with our heads oTcr the top, peer
e out into mo mans land" 1t was
.rvouS work for me, but the other
low seemed To take ii as part OF
nights routine.
Then something shot past my face.
hear. stopped beating. and duc'lcd
y head below tho parapct. y soft
uckle from my mate brought mc to
$ senses. and fechly asked, For
DDS sake what was that
IL comfy "a TAX ing a
omenadc along the sandbass." felt
kry shecpish.
About every twenty minutes tho SEN
y in the next traverse would fire a
ar she'll from his fare pistol. The
Ion" would give me start Of fright.
never got used to this noise during
service i'm the trenches.
would watch the arc described by
:, star shell. and then stare into mo
ans land" waiting for II To burst.
its lurid light the barbed wire and
,kes would be silhoucttcd against it's
;ht like latticed window. Then
rkncsS.
Once, out in front Of our wire. (
ard n noise and saw dark forms NOV
e. MY rifle was lying across the
ndbaggcd parapct. reached for it,,
Il was taking aim 10 fire, when my
tie graspcd my arm and whispered.
bon't fire" He challenged in IL low
ice. The reply came pack instantly
I'm the dark forms:
|.Shut your hlinkin mouth. you
,omin idiot; do you want us to click
from the Rochcs?"
b.atcr we learned that the word. "No
ElllcnEing or firing. wiring party out
front" had been given to the sentry
our right. but he had failed to pass
down the trench. An officer had
crheard our challenge and the reply,
, Immediately putthe offending SEN
= under arrest. The sentry click cd
enty-onc days on tho wheel, that is.
received twcnty-onc days Field
nishment No. l. or "cruci(xion." as
mmy terms It,
This consists of being spread cagled
tho wheel Of II Timber two hours a
y for twcnty-onc days. regardless OF
b weather. During this period your