Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-04-01
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that indiscriminate way.
My course was now clear. I would
make beeline for that village. Before
I had gone very far found myself in
marsh or swamp and turned back
little, hoping to find better path.
Finding none, l 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 got there.
One moment / would be in water up
to my knees and the next would sink
in mud clear up to my waist. paid
no attention to my condition. 1t was
merely repetition of what / had gone
through many times before, but this
time / had definite goal and once l
reached 1t I knew my troubles would
be over.
It took me perhaps three hours to
reach firm ground. The path l struck
led to within half mile Of the village.
I 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 I came to was
little workshop with bright light
shining outside. It must have been
after midnight. but the people inside
were apparently just quitting work.
There were three men and two boys
engaged in making wooden shoes.
1t wasn't necessary for me to e1-
plain to them that was refugee,
even If had been able to speak their
language. I was caked with mud up
10 my shoulders and suppose my face
must have recorded some Of the ex.
periences I had gone through that
memorable night.
II want the British consul !" I told
them.
Apparently they didn't understand,
but one Of them volunteered to con-
duct me to the village. They seemed
% be only too anxious to do all they
could for me; evidently they realized
was a British soldier.
1t was very late when my compan-
ion finally escorted me into the vii
lage, but he aroused some people he
knew from their beds and they
dressed and came down to feed me.
The family consisted Of an old lady
and her husband and son, who was
soldier In the Dutch army. The cold
shivers ran down my back while he sat
)eside me, because every now and
again caught glimpse Of his gray
aniform and it resembled very much
hat Of the German soldiers.
Some Of the neighbors, aroused by
he commotion. got up to see what 1t
was all about, and came In and
watched while I ate the meal those
good Dutch people prepared for me.
Ordinarily I suppose I would have
been embarrassed with so many peo-
pie staring at me while / ate as
though I were some strange animal
that has just been captured, but just
then I was too famished to notice or
care very much what other people did.
There will always be warm place
in my heart for the Dutch people. l
had heard lots Of persons say that
they were not inclined to help refu-
gees, but my experience did not bear
these reports out. They certainly did
more for me than ever expected.
I had a little German money left,
but as the value Of German money Is
only about half in Holland, didn't
have enough to pay the fare to Rot
terdam, which was my next objective.
It was due to the generosity Of these
people that was able to reach the
British consul as quickly as I did.
Some day hope to return to Holland
and repay every single soul who
played the part Of the good Samari-
tan to me.
With the money that these people
gave me I was able to get third.
class ticket to Rotterdam, and was
glad that I didn't have to travel first
class, for would have looked as much
out Of place In q first-class carriage
as a Hun would appear in heaven.
That night l slept in the house Of
my Dutch friends, where they fixed
me up most comfortably. In the morn
ing they gave me breakfast and then
escorted me to the station.
While I was waiting at the station
crowd gathered round me and soon
it seemed as If the whole town had
turned out to get look at me. 1t was
very embarrassing, particularly as ]
could give them 70 information re-
garding the cause OF my condition, al
though, Of course, they all knew that
I was a refugee from Belgium.
As the train pulled out Of the sta.
ton, the crowd gave loud cheer and
the tears almost came to my eyes as
I contrasted in my mind the conduct
of this crowd and the one that had
gathered at the station in Client when
I had departed prisoner en- route
for the reprisal camp. I breathed a
sigh Of relief us / thought Of that re-
prisal camp and how fortunate ! had
really been, despite all my sufferings,
; to have escaped it. Now, at any rate,
I was free man and would soon be
sending home the joyful news that J
had made good my escape!
At Einhoffen two Dutch officers got
into the compartment with me. They
looked at me with very much disfavor,
not knowing, of course, that was a
British officer. My clothes were still
pretty much in the condition they
were when crossed the border, al.
though had been able to scrape of
some Of the mud had collected the
night before. I had not shaved nor
trimmed my beard for many days,
and / must have presented sorry
appearance. could hardly blame
them for edging away from me.
The trip from Elnhoffen to Rotter.
dam passed without special incident
At various stations passengers would
get In the compartment and, observ'
ing my unusual appearance, would
endeavor to start q conversation with
me. None of them spoke English,
however, and they had to use their
own Imagination as to my identity.
When I arrived at Rotterdam j
asked policeman who stood In front
Of the station where could find the
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