Oxford eagle., 1918-07-18

ing came inside and shook him Dy the
shoulder. saving In kind voice:
"Cheero, laddie, better eat some
thing. You'll feel better. Don't give
mn hone. You'll be pardoned before
morning. 1. know the way they run
these things. They're only trying 10
scare YOU. liat . All. Uonie now, unaCs
a good lad. eat something. It'll make
the world look different to you"
The good-hearted sentry knew he
was lying about the pardon. He knew
nothing short of a miracle could save
the poor lad.
Lloyd listened eagerly to his sentry's
words, and believed them. A look of
hope came into his eyes, and he raven
ously ate the meal beside him.
In about an hours time the chap
lain came to see him, but Lloyd would
have none of him. He wanted no par
son; he was to he pardoned. eae -
The artillery behind the lines sud-
denly opened up with everything they
had. An intense bombardment OF the
enemy's lines had commenced. The
roar of the guns was deafemng.
Lloyd's fears came back with rush.
and he covered on the earthen floor
with his hands over his face.
The sentry, seeing his position, came
In and tried to cheer him by talking to
him: . fUr.=.t-
"Never mind them guns, boy, they
won't hurt you. They are ours. We
are giving the Boches dose of their
own medicine. Our boys are going over
the top at dawn of the morning to take
their trenches Well give 'em a taste
of cold steel with their sausages and
beer. You just sit tight now until they
relieve you. I'll have to go now, lad.
rs It's nearly time for my relief, and I
don't want them to see me a-talkin'
with you. So long, laddie, cheero.'
With this, the sentry resumed the
pacing of his post. In about ten MIN
utes' time he was relieved, and a d
company man took his place. ----
Looking into the guardhouse, the
sentry noticed the covering attitude OF
Lloyd. and, with a sneer, said TO him:
"Instead of whimpering In that cor
ner, you ought to be saying your pray
ers. It's bally conscripts like you
what's spoilin' our record. We've been
out here nigh onto eighteen months,
and you're the first man 10 desert his
post. The whole battalion is laughin'
and pokin' fun at D company. bad
luck to you but you won't get another
chance to disgrace us. They'll put
your lights out In the mornin'."
After listening 10 this TRADE. Lloyd.
In faltering voice. asked: They are
not going to shoot me, are theyi Why,
the other sentry said they'd pardon
me. For Gods sake-don't tell me I'm
TO be shot rs and his voice died away In
q sob. -zzz
"Of course. they're going TO shoot
you. The other sentry was Jest a-kid-
din you Jest like old Smith. Always
a-tryin' to cheer some one You amt
got no more chance o. bein' pardoned
than / have OF gettin' to be colonel OF
my batt.'"
When the fact that all hope was
gone finally entered Lloyd's brain, a
calm seemed TO settle over him. and
rising TO his knees, with his arms
stretched out TO heaven. he prayed, and
all Of his soul entered into the prayer.
| 20, good and merciful God, give me
strength to die like a man! Deliver
me from this coward's death. Give me
a chance to die like my mates In the
nghting line. to die fighting for nv
country. ask this Of thee"
A peace. hitherto unknown. came to
him. and he crouched and covered no
more. but calmly waited the dawn,
ready to 90 TO his death. The shells
were bursting all around the guard
room, but he hardly noticed them.
While waiting there, the voice Of the
sentry, singing in low tone. came to
him. He was singing the chorus of the
popular trench ditty:
! want to go home. / want to 20 home. s.
cont want to go to the trenches no
more.
Where the 'whixzbangs' ana .sausaxes''
Take me over the sea, where the Allemand
can't get at me :
ON. my. don't want to diei want to 70
home.
Lloyd listened to the words with 4
strange interest, and wondered what
kind OF home he would 90 to across
the Great Divide. II would be the only
home he had ever known.
Suddenly there came great rushing
through the air. binding, a deafen-
Ing report, and the sandbag walls Of
the gunrdroom toppled over, and then
-blackness. 1N -,
When Lloyd recovered conscious
ness. he was lying on his right side.
facing what used 10 be the entrance of
the guardroom. Now. II 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 oxer there
among the sandbagsi Slowly dragging