The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-07

to the next village. and there to get a conveyance If possible. I told the driver that I was going to do so, and promising to send him assistance if 1t could be obtained. I took my hand bag and set out. If I were over taken, there might yet be 0 chance of bluffing the Germans into the belief that I was an American citizen, and I began to talk American to myself as I walked, with many a reflection upon the futtlity of it.
 Hunted.
 Daylight appeared shortly after this. and with daylight certain hap renings on the road.
 A German regiment of cavalry ap- proacEcd, and with 1t a battery of ar tiIlery. By the best piece of good luck in the world 1t chanced that I found myself in place where many groups of young trees bordered the way, and 1t was comparatively an easy matter to hide while the Ger mans passed. Nevertheless, their presence was disconcerting, and it occurred to me that the moment must come when should be caught in tho open and inevitably trapped, and with this in my mind determined to quit this most inconvenient thorough fare and to seek another.
 Whither I was going I knew no more than the dead. The downs were covered with good crisp grass and the woods were frequent. Yet even there saw parties of. Germans from time to time, and was often dodging in and out between the trees or lying in the bracken, or even throwing myself flat down upon the grass. And be 1t mentioned that I had no food on me, and was now ravenously hungry. The sun had risen with great power, and the day prom ised to be terribly hot. It seemed to me in the end and most dangerous to proceed, and I threw myself down in the very centre of a little copse, and slept and watched until sun- down.
 It was the hour Of twin~ht when I awoke, and the country al around apparently deserted. I heard no sounds either near or afar of troops marching, and my condition becom- ing desperate, I determined to push on at all hazard.
 An hours hard walking brought me to 6 village. It stood in a cup Of
  like g. needle of stone against the Hall telling of the wonders of the Middle Ages.
 Nobody seemed about here yet, and I was afraid to go in. The shuttered houses might harbor Germans, and what then?
 Perplexed and driven by hunger, I skirted the hamlet on the western side, and Providence thus brought me face to face with a very old Bel gian woman who was drawing water at an ancient well.
 Friends.
 She started back at the sight of me, and dropped her bucket with a loud crash; but I had 1eaped ths low palings in an instant, and, telling her that I was an Englishman, beg bed her not to be afraid. It was quite in vain- She trembled like an aspen leaf, and I believe she would have fainted had not her son, a, fine lad of eighteen years of age, came running from the house to ask me angrily who 1 was
 "An Englishman," repeated-and added that I was as anxious to avoid the Boche as he was.
 'I am trying to get into France '' said. My car broke down ten kilo- metres CT so from here, and I have walked across the downs. You, I see, are a Civil Guard. Well. the Ger mans will shoot you on sight, so there are two of us. Let us help each other if we can.''
 He was still not a, little increduIous, and, with a prudence which might have been Scottish, he asked me a clever question.
 What was the name of the man who drove your he inquired. I answered as quickly that his name was. let us say. X. It could not have been more fortunate.
 The son of Count x, of Malines, '' he exclaimed. I told him it was so, whereon he rejoined that he knew both father and son very well, and was only too willing to serve me.
 'tCcme into the house. he said. eve never know when the Boche will appear. It is dangerous here. and it may be dangerous there; but we must think what is to be done" And. turning, he spoke some rapid words in Flemish to the old lady. She look ed at me with curious wonder at this, but I doubt if she were wholly con- vinced.
 A Horse Wanted.
 The Fleming is a suspicious animal, and too many tales of Gerann spies had been told that this old lady should be entirely conforta bic. Never theless, upon her sons word, he set about preparing me some food, and presently brought a great round loaf of theiY bread, some thick, meaty soup, and a bottle of excellent red wine. In return I gave the boy two or three of my cigars. and while he smoked he talked.
 He was one of the Civil Guards. es I thought. and his neck was certainly in peril. The Germans had recently declared these guards to be outlaws, and were shooting them on sight The fact that they held their commissions from the King of the Belgians him self availed them nothing, and soma of them had already returned to civil life, and left their arms, SC to speak, behind them.
 My young friend, however, I found to be of another kidney. He and 8 dozen of his fellows were determined to harrass the Roche to the last, and they were following him as he cross