Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-02-18

bushes a heavy thick wood only q
short distance away. decided that
I would start earlier than usual, hurry
over to the wood and perhaps, In that
way, I could cover two or three miles
In the daytime and gain just 80 much
time. Travelling through the wood
would be comparatively safe. There
was a railroad going through the
wood, but I did not figure that that
would make 1t any the less safe.
About three o'clock that afternoon.
therefore, I emerged from my hiding
place and hurried into the wood.
After proceeding for half a mile or
so came to the railroad. I took q
sharp look in both directions and see
ing no signs of trains or soldiers, !
walked boldly over the tracks and
continued On my way.
I soon came upon q clearing and
knew that someone must be living In
the vicinity. AS I turned group OF
trees I saw q small house and in the
distance an old man working In q
garden. I decided to enter the house
and ask for food, figuring the woman
would probably be old and would be
no match for me even If she proved
hostile. The old woman who came
to the door in response to my knock
was older than I expected. II she
wasn't close to a hundred, miss my
guess very much.
She could not speak English and ]
could not speak Flemish, Of course,
but nevertheless I made her under
stand that I wanted something to eat
She came out Of the door and hol-
loed for her husband in a shrill voice
that would have done credit to girl
Of eighteen. The old man came in
from the garden and between the two
of them they managed to get the idea
that I was hungry and they gave me
a piece Of bread-a very small piece
which was quite treat.
The house they lived in consisted Of
just two roomS-the kitchen and q
bedroom. The kitchen was perhaps
fourteen feet square, eight feet Of
one side being taken up by an enor.
nous fireplace. What was in the bed
room l had no way Of telling, as l
did not dare to be too inquisitive.
I made the old couple understand
that I would like to stay in their house
all night, but the old man shook his
head. I bade them good-by and dis
appeared into the woods, leaving them
to speculate as to the strange for
eigner they had entertained.
From the great density Of the popu.
lation In this section through which l
was now passing 1 realized that l
must be in the outskirts Of the big
city which the Belgian had mentioned
and where was to procure pass
port.
Village after village intercepted me,
and although I tried to skirt them
wherever possible I realized that l
would never make much progress If
I continued that course. To gain a
mile I would sometimes have to make
a detour Of two or three. I decided
that I would try my luck In going
straight through the next village l
came to.
AS I approached 1t, I passed num-
bers Of peasants who were ambling
along the road. / was afraid to mingle
with them because it was impossible
for one to talk to them and 1t was
dangerous to arouse suspicion even
among the Belgians. For all knew,
one of them might be treacherous
enough to deliver me to the Germans
in return for the reward he might be
sure of receiving.
About 8 o'clock that evening !
came to a point where ahead Of me on
the right was a Belgian police station
Il knew it from its red lights-and
on the other side Of the street were
two German soldiers in uniform
leaning against bicycle.
Here was q problem which called
for instant decision; If turned back
the suspicion Of the soldiers would
be instantly aroused and II I crossed
the road so as not to pass so closely
to them they might be equally sus-
picious. decided to march bravely
by the Huns, bluff my way through
and trust to Providence. II anybody
imagines, however, that I was at all
comfortable as I approached these
soldiers, he must think I am much
braver man than claim to be. My
heart beat so loud I was afraid they
would hear It. Every step I took
brought me so much nearer to what
might prove to be the end Of all my
hopes. It was a nerve-racking ordeal.
I was now within few feet OF
them. Another step and
They didn't turn hairl I passed
right by them-heard what they were
saying, although. Of course, didn't
understand it, and went right on. l
can't say. I didn't walk a little faster
as I LETT them behind, but tried to
maintain an even gait so as not to
give them any idea Of the inward ex-
ultation I was experiencing. No words
can explain, however, how relieved l
really felt-to know that I had sue
cessfully passed through the first OF
series Of similar tests which I real
lied were in store for me-although
I did not know then how soon was
to be confronted with the second.
AS it was, however, the incident
gave me a world Of confidence. 1t
demonstrated to me that there was
nothing in my appearance at any rate
to attract the attention Of the German
soldiers. Apparently I looked like a
Belgian peasant, and If could only
work things so that would never
have to answer questions and thus
give away my nationality. I figured j
would be tolerably safe.
AS marched along felt so happy
I couldn't help humming an air of one
of the new patriotic songs that we
used to sing at the airdrome back In
Ypres.
In this happy frame Of mind Gov
cred the next three miles in about an
hour and then came to another httl"
village. My usual course would have
been to 90 around it-through fields,