Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-11-15
CHAPTER xxIv-continued.

CHAPTER xxlv-Continueo.
-22-
On his left, in the darkness, ne couio
mako ont the shadowy forms OF trees;
crawling on his hands and knees STOP
ming and crouching with fear AT eacn
shell.burst. he finally reached an Ola
orchard and covered at the base Oh
shot-scarred apple tree.
He remained there all night listen
ing to the sound of the guns and ever
praying, praying that his useless lie
would be spared.
As dawn began to break, ne couiu
s,scern little dark objects protruding
from the ground all about him. Curi-
osity mastered his fear and ne crawieo
to one of the objects, and there, In the
uncertain light, he. read on httie
wooden cross:
"Pte. II. s. Wheaton, No. 1871, Isl
London Regt. r. f. Killed In action'
April 25, 1915. r. I. r" CRest ID
I, Peace).
When II dswned on him that he had
been hiding all night In cemetery
his reason seemed to leave him, ana a
mad desire to be free from 1t all maze
him rush madly away, falling over ht-
tle wooden crosses, smashing some ana
trampling others under his feet
In his flight he came to an OLD
French dugout, half caved In and par
tally filed with Shiny and filthy wa
ter.
Like a fox being chased by the
hounds. he ducked into this hole. ana
threw himself on q pile OF old empty
sandbags wet and widowed. Then
Inconsistencies.
On the next day, he came to-; far
distant voices sounded in his ears.
Opening his eyes, in the entrance OF
the dugout he saw a corporal and TWO
men with fixed bayonets.
The corporal was addressing MIN: I.
Get ND, you white-livered Brighter
Curse you and the day you ever Joined
p company, spelling their fine rec
ord tn be you up against the wall
and a good job too. Get hold OF him.
men, and II he makes break. give him
the bayonet, and send 1t home. the cow
ardly sneak. Come on, you, move
we've been looking for you long
enough"
Lloyd, trembling and weakened by
his long fast, tottered out. assisted oy
a soldier on each side Of him.
They took him before the captain,
but could get nothing out Of him but:
"Tor Coos sake, sir, don't have me
shot, don't have me shot"
The captain. utterly disguised with
him, sent him under escort to division
HEADQUARTERS for trial by court-mar-
tial, charged with desertion under fire.
They shoot deserters in France.
During his trial, Lloyd sat as one
dazed, and could put nothing forward
In his defense, only an occasional
Don't have me shot!"
His sentence was passed: ITO be
shot at 8 :3S o'clock in the morning OF
NAV IS, 1915" This meant that he
had only one more day to live.
He did not realize the awfulness OF
his sentence; his brain seemed para
lived. He knew nothing Of his trip
under guard, in a motor lorry to the
sandbagged guardroom in the village
where he was dumped on the floor and
left, while a sentry with fixed bayo
net paced up and down in front of the
entrance.
Bully beet, water and biscuits were
left beside him for his supper.
The sentry, seeing that he ate moth
ing. came inside and shook him by the
shoulder, saying in kind voice:
"Cheero, laddie, better eat some
thing. You'll feel better. Don't give
up hope. You'll be pardoned before
morning. l know the way they run
these things. They're only trying tc
scare you, that's all. Come now, that's
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:
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 be pardoned.
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 deafening
Lloyd's fears came back with a rush
and he covered on the earthen fool
with his hands over his face.
The sentry, seeing his position. came
in and tried to cheer him by talking te
him:
.Never mind them guns, boy, they
won't hurt you. They are ours. We
are giving the Boches dose of theiI
own medicine. Our boys are going ovel
the top at dawn of the morning to take
their trenches. Well give 'em a taste
" cold steel with their sausages and