The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-11-28

40 VIC +ocAAuAu bufiCftuS were IQt
same color. and I had suffered too
many priyatlons and too many narrow
escapes to lose all ut this time By
jumping ct conclusions.
1 had just turned of the road to go
back into some bushes when out Of
the darkness heard that dread Ger
man command:
fiaIti Haiti"
He didn't need to hoIler twice. 4
heard and needed the first time. Then
heard another man come running up,
aud there WINS considerable talking.
but whether they were Germans or
Hollnnders was still uncertain. He
evidently thought someone was on the
other side of the fence.
Finally heard one Of them laugh
and saw him walk back to the sentry
station where the guard was biiieted.
and I crawied little nearer TO try to
make out just what IL meant I had
begun to think IL was all g night
mare.
Between myself and the light In the
sentry station. then noticed the
STOPPING fgure OF q man bending over
as IL to conceal himself and on his
head was the spiked helmet OF Ger
man soldier
knew then what another narrow
escape had had. for I am quite sure
he would have shot me without cere-
mony II [ had foolishiy made myself
known. would have been buried at
once and no one would have been any
wiser. even though. technically speak
ing. 1 wns on neutral territory and Inn
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 hnd lost my sense
of direction and had wandered 10 the
arc OF circle. returning to the same
fence that I had been 30 long In get
ting through. This solution Of the
mystery came 10 me suddeniy and at
oace' searched the landscape for some
thing In she- way of = Landmark 10
guide me. For once my faithful
The sky was pitch black and there
wasn't star In the heavens.
In the distance. IT about what ap-
peared to be about three miles away.
but which turned out 10 be six. could
discern the lights Of = village. and I
knew II must be 4 Dutch village. as
lights are not allowed In Belgium In
that indiscriminate way.
My course was now clear. I would
make beeline for that village. Before
had gone very far found myself In
marsh or swamp and I turned back
a little. hoping to find better path.
Finding none. I 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 I got there.
One moment would be In water up
to my knees and the next would sink
In mud clear up to my wntst. paid
merely repetition Of whnt had gone
through many times before. but this
time I had definite goal and once I
reached II knew my troubles would
be over.
II took me perhaps three hours to
reach firm ground. The path 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 q
little workshop with bright light
shining outside. II must have been
nfter midnight. but the people inside
were apparently just quitting work
There were three men and two boys
La. ~1<
1t wasn't necessary for me TO ex.
plain to them that was q refugee.
even Il had been able to speak their
language. was caked with mud up
to my shoulders and suppose my face
must have recorded some OF the ex-
periences had gone through that
memorable night.
81 want the British consult" I 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 ali they
could FOR me: evidently they realized
I was British soldier.
1t was very late when my compan-
ion finally escorted me into the VIII
Iagc. but he aroused some people he
knew from their beds and they.
dressed and came down to feed me.
/ The family conslrted Of an old lady
and hcr husband and 4 son. who was
soldier In the Dutch army. Tho cold
rllivers ran down my back while he sat
beside me. because every now and
again 1 caught glimpse Of his sray
uniform and Il resembled vefy much