The Dolores star., 1918-08-09

mud of bottom and was able to drag
myself up to the bank, but got there.
The bank was rather high and l was
shaking so violently that when I took
hold OF the grass to pull myself up,
the grass shook out Of my hands. I
could not retain my grip. I was afraid
l would faint then and there, but l
kept pulling and crawling frantically
up that Internal bank and finally
made 1t.
Then for the first time In my life
fainted-fainted from utter exhaus-
ton.
1t was now about o'clock In the
morning and was entirely unpro-
tected from observation. II anyone
had come along l would have been
found lying there dead to the world.
Possibly two hours passed before 1
regnined 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 a boat might come along
and find me. But it 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 1 had
dreadful fever and was delirious.
talked to myself and thereby In
creased my chances Of capture. In
my lucid intervals when I realized that
l had been talking. the thought sent
a chill through me. because In the
silent night even the slightest sound
carries far across the Belgian country.
l began to fear that another day of
this would about finish me.
have a distinct recollection Of q
ridiculous conversation carried on
with an imaginary Pat O'Brien-a
sort Of duplicate Of myself. I argued
with him as marched drearily along
and he answered me back In kind,
and when we disagreed. called upon
my one constant friend. the North
Star. to stand by me.
you oASs you Olu ANOElA our,
I cried aloud. You want me to get
to Holland. don't you? But this Pat
O'Brien-this Pat O'Brein who calls
himself a soldier-he's got q yellow
streak-North Star-and he says 1t
can't be donel He wants me to quit
to lie down here for the Huns to
find me and take me back to Cour-
tral-after oil you've done. North
Start I don't 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 and wants me
to lie down-this yellow Pat O'Brein
wants me to 60 back to the Huns!"
After a spell Of foolish chatter like
that my senses would come back to
me for while and l would trudge
along without word until the fever
came on me again.
1 knew that had to have food be-
cause was about on my last legs. I
was very much tempted to lie down
then and there ami call it beat.
Things seemed to be getting worse for
me the farther 1 went, and all the
time I had before me the spectre of
that electric barrier between Belgium
and Holland, even If I ever reached
there alive. What was the use of
further suffering when I would prob
ably be captured in the end anyway?
Before giving up, however. decided
upon one bold move. I would ap-
proach one of the houses in the vi
cinity and get food there or die In
the effort.
I picked out a small house because
I figured there would be less Hkeli-
hood Of soldiers being billeted there.
Then I wrapped a stone in my khaki
handkerchief as a sort Of camouflaged
weapon, determined to XIII the occu-
pant of the house, German or Belgian,
If that step was necessary in order
to get food. I tried the we'll in the
yard, but 1t would not work, and then
went up to the door and Knocked.
1t was 1 o'clock In the morning. An
old lady came to the window and
looked out. She could not imagine
what 1 was. probably. because I was
still attired In that old overcoat. She
gave a cry end her husband and q
boy cam. to the door.