Gilpin observer., 1918-09-19


izing that as was unarmed It was
perfectly safe for me to announce
myself to the Dutch authorities. I
could be interned>only If / entered
Holland, under arms.
AS 1 approached the sentry box I
noticed three men in gray uniforms,
the regulation Dutch color. was on
the verge Of shouting to them when
the thought struck me that there was
just a chance I might be mistaken,
as the German uniforms wero the
same color, and had suffered too
many privations and too many narrow
escapes to lose all at this time by
jumping at conclusions.
/ had just turned off the road to go
back into some bushes when out Of
the darkness heard that dread Ger
man command:
Halt! Haltw
He didn't need to holler twice.
heard and needed the first time. Then
heard another man come running up,
and there was considerable talking,
but whether they were Germans or
Hollanders 1 was still uncertain. He
evidently thought someone was on the
other side of the fence.
Finally I heard one of them laugh
and saw him walk back to the sentry
station where the guard was billeted.
and crawled a little nearer to try to
make out just what it meant. had
begun to think 1t was all night
mare.
Between myself and the light in the
sentry station, then noticed the
STOPPING figure of a man bending over
as If to conceal himself and on his
head was the spiked helmet of a Ger
man soldier!
1 knew then what another narrow
escape had had. for I am quite sure
he would have shot me without cere-
mony II had foolishly made myself
known. would have been buried at
once and no one would have been any
wiser. even though, technically speak
ing, was on neutral territory and i'm
mune from capture or attack.
This new shock only served to be-
wilder me more. was completely
lost. There seemed to be frontier be-
hind me and frontier in front of me.
Evidently, however, what had hap
pened was that had lost my sense
Of direction and had wandered in the
arc Of circle. returning to the same
fence that I had been SO long in get
ting through. This solution Of the
mystery came to me suddenly and at
once searched the landscape for some
thing in the way Of a landmark to
guide me. For once my faithful
friend. the North Star, had failed me.
The sky was pitch black and there
wasn't star in the heavens.
In the distance, at about what ap-
peared to be about three miles away,
but which turned out to be six, could
discern the lights Of a village, and I
knew 1t must be Dutch village, as
lights are not allowed in Belgium in
that indiscriminate way.
My course was now clear. would
make a beeline for that village. Before
I had gone very far found myself in
a marsh or swamp and turned back
a little, hoping to find better path.
Finding none, l retraced my steps
and kept straight ahead, determined
to reach that village at all costs and
to swerve neither to the right or left
until got there.
One moment would be in water up
to my knees and the next would sink
in mud clear up to my waist. paid
no attention to my condition. It was
merely repetition Of what had gone
through many times before, but this
time had a definite goal and once I
reached 1t knew my troubles would
be over. f..
1t took me perhaps three hours to
reach firm ground. The path I struck
led to within half mile Of the village
shall never forget that path; 1t was
almost as welcome to my feet as the
opposite bank Of the Meuse had.
seemed
The first habitation came to was a
little workshop with bright light
shining outside. 1t must have been
after midnight. but the people inside
were apparently just quitting work.
There were three men and two boys
engaged In making wooden shoes.
It wasn't necessary for me to ex-
plain to them that I was a refugee,
even II I had been able to speak their
language. I was caked with mud up
to my shoulders and I suppose my face
must have recorded some Of the ex-
periences I had gone through that
memorable night.
II want the British consulr' told
them.
Apparently they didn't understand.
but one of them volunteered to con-
duct me to the village. They seemed
to be only too anxious to do all they
could for me; evidently they realized
was a British soldier.
1t was very late when my compan-
Ion finally escorted me into the vii
lage, but he aroused some people he
%ro,v1 thoir hoAo onA thov