The state herald., 1918-08-23

way Couio cover TWO or three miles
In the daytime and gain Just SO much
time. Travelling through the wood
would be comparatively safe. There
was 4 railroad going through the
wood. but I did not figure that that
would make It any the less safe.
About three O'Clock that afternoon,
therefore. I emerged from my hiding
place and hurried into the wood.
After proceeding for half q mile or
so l came to the railroad. took q
sharp look in both directions and see
ing no signs Of trains or soldiers, I
walked boldly over the tracks and
continued on my way.
/ soon came upon a clearing and
knew that someone must be living In
the vicinity. As turned group Of
trees 1 saw small house and in the
distance an old man working in q
garden l decided to enter the house
and ask for food. figuring the woman
would probably be old and would be
no match for me even If she proved
hostile. The old woman who came
to the door in response to my knock
was older than expected. II she
wasn't close to a hundred, miss my
guess very much.
She could not speak English and l
could not speak Flemish. Of course,
but nevertheless I made her under.
stand that / wanted something to eat.
She came out of the door and hol.
loed, for her husband In q shrill voice
that would have done credit to a girl
OF eighteen The old man came In
from the garden and between the two
of them they managed to get the Idea
that i was hungry and they gave me
a piece Of bread-a very small piece
which was quite treat.
The house they lived in consisted of
Just two rooms-the kitchen and q
bedroom. The kitchen was perhaps
fourteen feet square. eight feet Of
one side being taken up by an enor-
nous fireplace. What was In the bed
room 1 had no way of telling. a. /
did not dare to be too inquisltive.
! made the old couple understand
that would like to stay In their house
all night. but the old man shook his
head. 1 bade them good-by and dis
appeared into the woods. leaving them
to speculate as to the strange for.
eigner they had entertained.
From the great density Of the popu.
lation In this section through which I
wns now passing realized that L
must be In the outskirts Of the big
city which the Belgian had mentioned
and where I was to procure q pass
port.
Village after village intercepted me,
and although I tried to skirt them
wherever possible I realized that I
would never make much progress II
! continued that course. To gain
mile would sometimes have to make
n detour Of two or three. I decided
that ] would try my luck In going
straight through the next village I
came to.
As ] approached II. I passed num-
bers Of peasants who were ambling
along the road. Twas afraid to mingle
with them because It was impossible
for one to talk to them and II was
dangerous to arouse suspicion even
among the Belgians. For all I knew,
one OF them might be treacherous
enough to deliver me to the Germans
In return for the reward he might be
sure Of receiving.
About Q O'Clock that evening I
came to point where ahead Of me on
the right was Belgian police station
Il knew II from Its red lIghts-and
on the other side Of the street were
two German soldiers In uniform
leaning sgainst q bicycle.
Here was a problem which called
for Instant decision: II I turned back
the suspicion Of the soldiers would
be instantly aroused and II ! crossed
The road no ms not TO pass so closely
to them they might be equally sus.
picious. ! decided to march brnvely
by the Huns. blum my why through
and trust to Providence. II anybody
imngines. however. that I was ut nil
comfortable ms I approached these
soldiers. he must think am a much
braver man than ! claim TO be. My
henrt beat no loud ! was afraid they
would henr II. Every step took
brought me 80 much nearer TO whnt
might prove to be tho end Of all my
hopes. 1t was q nerve-racking ordeal.
] wns now within a few feet Of
them. Another step and
They didn't turn n hniri I passed
right by thcm-henrd what they were
snying. although. Of course. / didn't
understand Il. and went right on. I
can't say ] didn't walk q little faster
~ left them behind. but I tried to
maintain an even Eait 70 ~ not to
give them any idea Of the inward ex.
ultatton was experiencing. No words
can explain. however. how relieved
really fclt-to know that ! had sue
cessfully passed through the nrst Of
series Of similar tests which real.
nA- H.