The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-08-22
CHAPTER VII.
crawIlnu Through Germany.

The exact spot at which | made my
dosperate leap don't know. Perhaps,
.,,or tbe war is over, someone on that
,r,In will be good enough to tell Inc
and then may go back and look for
,bo dent must have made in the rock
ballast.
Il hive said, didn't stop very long
thot morning after | once regained my
senses
4 was bleeding profusely from the
/ wounds caused by the fall, but
checked It somewhat with handker-
chiefs | held to my face, and also
held the tail of my coat so as to eaten
tbe blood as II fell and not to leave
tell.tale traces on the ground.
Before | stopped had gone about a
mile. Then took my course from the
stars and found that | had been going
iuSt OppOsite TO the direction | should
be making, but l could not go back
across the track there.
Heading west, therefore, ! kept this
course for about two and n half hours,
but as was very weak from loss OF
blood didn't cover very much ground
in that time. Just before daylight,
came to canal which | knew had to
cross aud | swan 1t with everything
had on.
This swim, which proved to be the
first of n series that | was destined &c
make, taught me several things.
In the first place. had forgotten to
remove my wrlst-watch. This watch
had been broken In my fall from the
air, but | had 1t repaired ut Courtral.
In the leap from the train, the crystal
had been broken again, but 1t was
still going and would probably have
been Of great service to me In my
subsequent adventures, but the swim
across the canal ruined 1t.
Then, too, had not thought to take
my map out of my sock and the water
damaged that too.
Thereafter. whenever l had any
swimming to do, was careful to take
such matters into consideration, ana
my usual practice WIS to make n
bundle Of all the things that would he
damaged by water and tie 1t to my
head In this way was able to keep
them dry.
1t was now daylight ana | knew that
Il would be suicidal for me to attempt
to travel in the daytime. My British
uniform would have been fatal to me.
decided to hide in the daytime and
travel only at night.
Not far from the canal could see n
heavlly.wooded piece of ground, and L
made my way there. BY this time l
had discovered that my left ankle had
been strained In my leap from the
train, and when got TO the woods |
was glad to lie down and rest. The
wound In my mouth had been opened,
too, when jumped, and II would have
been difficult for me TO have swallowed
mad not the piece Of bread, which was
TO serve for my breakfast, got wet
when swan the canal. ! found Safe
hiding place In which to spend the
Jay and | tried to dry some OF my
clothes, but slight drlzaling rainfall
made that out of the question knew
That | ought to sleep, as planned to
travel at night, but sore as | was,
caked with mud and blood, my cloth
ing soaked through and my hunger not
nearly npptused, sleep was out of the
question. This seemed to me about
The longest day had ever spent but
was still to learn how long Il day can
really be and how much longer night.
When night came l dragged myself
together and headed northeast,
My clothing consisted of my Flying
corps uniform, two shirts, no under
wear leather legglngs. heavy shoes, n
good pair Of wool socks and German
cap. had Il wallet containing sew.
'Val hundred francs In paper money
Nhu various other papers. also had
v lackknlie which | had stolen one
dNy before from the property room at
NourlraI. where all the personal ef.
Iects taken from prisoners were kept
For dny or two had carried knnp-
sack, but ns had nothing to carry In
IL discarded II.
Travelled rapidly, considering my
difficulties, and swan couple OF
eohals that night, covering In all per
nops ten miles before daylight. Then
located In some low bushes, lying
mere all day In my wet clothes ant
"hiShlhg my sausage for food. That
was the lass Of my ratlons.
That night mnde perhaps the sam,
Instance, but became very hungry ant
ulrsty before the night was over.
hor the next six days still figured
,'a' was In Germany, and | was llv
ing on nothing but cabbage, suga
oeets and nm occasional carrot, alway.
:" 'he raw state just as got then
ou' OF the fields. The water drnnl
"M oiten very rank. One night Ia,
~ cabbage patch for an hour lappln,
"e dew from the leaves with m,
tongue
curing ihls period rcnllzed that
must avoid meeting anyone Mt aIl hnz