The state herald., 1918-08-16

myself up to the bank. but got there.
The bank was rather high and was
shaking so violently that when took
hold Of the grass to pull myself up,
the grass shook out Of my hands. I
could not retain my grip. was afraid
l would faint then and there, but l
kept pulling and crawling frantically
up that Internal bank and finally
made II.
Then for the first time in my life I
fainted-fainted from utter exhaus-
ton.
1t was now about 4 o'clock in the
morning and was entirely unpro-
tected from observation. II anyone
had come along 1 would have been
found lying there dead to the world.
Possibly two hours passed before I
regained consciousness, and then, no
doubt. only because the rain was
beating In my face.
/ knew that I had to get away, as
1t was broad daylight. Moreover,
there was a tow-path right there and
any minute n boat might come along
and find me. But II was equally
dangerous for me to attempt to travel
very far. Fortunately l found some
shrubbery near by and hid there all
day. without food or drink.
That night I made a little head
way. but when day broke had n
dreadful fever and was delirious.
talked to myself and thereby In
creased my chances Of capture. In
my lucid intervals when I realized that
had been tnlklng, the thought sent
q chill through me. because In the
silent night even the slightest sound
carries far across the Belgian country.
began to fear that another day Of
this would about finish me.
/ have a distinct recollection Of a
ridiculous conversation l carried on
with an imaginary Pat O'Brien-a
sort Of duplicate Of myself. argued
with him us marched drearily along
and he answered me back In kind,
and when we disagreed. I called upon
my one constant friend. the North
Star. to stand by me.
There you are. you old North Star"
/ cried aloud. "You want me to get
to Holland. don't your But this Pat
O'Brien-this Pat O'Brein who calls
himself soldier-he's got n yellow
streak-North Star-and he says It
can't be done! He wants me to quit
to lie down here for the Huns to
ind me and take me back to Cour-
trai-after ali you've done, North
Start ! dent want to follow him-I
Just want to follow you-because you
you are taking me away from the
Huns and this Pat O'Brien-this fel.
low who keeps after me all the time
and leans on my neck md wants me
TO lie down--this yellow Pat O'Brein
wants me to 30 back to the Hunsi"
After spell OF foolish chatter like
that my senses would come back to
me for n while and would trudge
along without n word until the fever
came on mt agnin.
i knew that ! hnd TO have food be-
causc ! was about on my last legs.
wns very much tempted to lie down
Then aud there and cnll Il a beat.
Things seemed to be getting worse for
me the farther went. md nil the
time Ind before me tho spectre Of
that electric barrier between Belgium
and Holland. even II I ever reached
there alive. What was the use Of
further sufrerin. when I would prob.
ably be captured In the end anyway
Before giving up. however. I decided
upon one bold move. would MP
pronch one Of the houses In the vi.
ciniiy and get food there or die In
the effort.
] picked out smnll house bccnuss
] figured there would be less likeil
hood Of soldiers being billc,cd there
Then I wrapped stone In my khnk
handkerchief MS sort Of cAmouiingc,
weapon. determined to I'M the occu
pnnt of the house. German or Belgian
II ihnt step wns necessary In ordcI
to get food. tried the well In III,
ynrd, but II would not work. and thcf
! went up TO the door md Knocked.
II wns o'clock In tho morning. A,
old Indy came 10 the window ans
looked out. She could not imagin,
whnt ! wns. probably. because I wal
s,ili nttircd In that old ovcrcoat. Sh,
gavc cry snd her husband and {
boy cninr 10 the door.