The Lamar register., 1918-07-24

IN tne brooks and ponds that
passed 1 often noticed fish of different
kinds. That was either In the early
morning just before 1 turned in for
the day, or on moonlight nights when
the water seemed as clear In spots
as In the daytime. 1t occurred to me
that It would be simple matter to rig
II hook and line and catch some fish,
but l had no means of cooking them
and 1t was useless to fish for the sake
of 1t.
One night In Belgium my course
took me through "A desolate stretch of
country which seemed to be absolutely
uncultlvated. / must have covered
twelve miles during the night, without
passing single farm or cultivated
field My stock of turnips which |
had picked the night before was gone
and planned, of course, to get enough
to carry me through the following
day.
The North Star vas shining brightly
that night and there was absolutely
nothing to prevent my steering an alb
solutely direct course for Holland and
liberty. but my path seemed to lie
through arid pastures. Far to the
east or to the west l could hear
family the striking of village bells,
and 1 knew that II / changed my
course 1 would undoubtedly strike
farms and vegetables, but the North
Star seemed to plead with me to fol-
low 1t and would not turn aside.
When daylight came, the conse-
quence was was empty handed and
had to find hiding place for the day.
1 thought 1 would approach the first
peasant / came to and ask for food.
but that day / had misgivlngs-a
hunch-that 1 would get into trouble
II did, and decided to go without
food altogether for that day.
1t was a foolish thing to do. I found.
because I not only suffered greatly
from hunger all that day. but 1t inter-
fered with my sleep. ] would drop on
to sleep for hslf an hour. perhaps.
md during that time would dream
that / was free. back home. living a
life of comparative ease, and then i
would wake up with a start and catch
a glimpse OF the bushes surrounding
me, feel the hard ground beneath me
and the hunger pangs gnawing at my
sides, and then / would realize how
far from home / really was, and i
would lie there and wonder whether
/ would ever really see my home
again. Then I would fall asleep again
and dream this time, perhaps OF the
days / spent In Courtrai, or my leap
from the train window. Of the Bava-
rian pilot whom I sent to eternity In
my last air fight. Of my tracer bullets
getting closer and closer to his head.
and then / would wake up again with
a start and thank the Lord that l was
only dreaming It all again instead OF
living through 1t!
That night I got an early start be-
cause knew had to have food, and
i decided that rather than look for
vegetables 1 would take a chance and
apply to the first Belgian peasant
whom I came to.
It was about 8 o'clock when came
to small house. l had picked up
heavy stone and had bound 1t In my
handkerchief and / was resolved to use
II as a weapon II It became necessary.
After all 1 had gone through, 1 was
resolved to win my liberty eventually
at whatever cost.
As 1t happened. found that night
the first real friend had encountered
in all my travelling. When 1 knocked
timidly on the door. II was opened by
a Belgian peasant. about fifty years OF
age He asked me in Flemish what L
wanted, but 1 shook my head and
pointing to my ears and mouth inti-
mated that I was deaf and dumb, and
then 1 opened and closed my mouth
several times to show him that
wanted food.
He showed me inside and sat me at
the table. He apparently lived alone
for his ill-furnished room had but one
chair, and the plate and knife and
fork he put before me seemed to be all
he had. He brought me some cold
potatoes and several slices of stale
bread, and he warmed me some milk
on q small oil stove.
ate ravenously and all the time 1
was engaged 1 knew that he was eye
ing me closely.
Before / was half through he came
over to me, touching me on the shoul-
der, and STOPPING over so that his lips
almost touched my ear, he said In
hrotan ENGLISH "You are an Eng