Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-02-04
CHAPTER WI.
Crawling Through Germany.

| we
Crawling Through Germany.
The exact spot at which / made my
desperate leap don't know. Perhaps,
after the war Is over, someone on that
train will be good enough to tell me
and then / may go back and look for
the dent / must have made In the rock
ballast.
/ have said, I didn't stop very long
that morning after once regained my
senses.
/ was bleeding profusely from the
wounds caused by the fall, but I
checked 1t somewhat with handker-
chiefs / held to my face, and also
held the tail of my coat so as to catch
the blood as it fell and not to leave
tell-tale traces on the ground.
Before stopped I had gone about a
mile. Then I took my course from the
stars and found that had been going
just opposite to the direction should
be making, but I could not 60 back
across the track there.
Heading west. therefore, I kept this
course for about two and half hours,
but as was very weak from loss of
blood didn't cover very much ground
in that time. Just before daylight, I
came to canal which / knew had to
cross, and I swan 1t with everything
I had on.
This swim, which proved to be the
first of series that was destined to
make, taught me several things.
In the first place, had forgotten to
remove my wrist-watch. This watch
had been broken in my fall from the
air, but I had it repaired at Courtrai.
In the leap from the train, the crystal
had been broken again, but it was
still going and would probably have
been of great service to me In my
subsequent adventures, but the swim
across the canal ruined 1t.
Then, too, had not thought to take
my map out of my sock and the water
damaged that, too.
Thereafter, whenever I had any
swimming to do, was careful to take
such matters into consideration, and
my usual practice was to make
bundle of all the things that would be
damaged by water and tie 1t to my
head. In this way was able to keep
them dry.
1t was now daylight and knew that
1t would be suicidal for me to attempt
to travel in the daytime. My British
uniform would have been fatal to me.
I decided to hide in the daytime and
travel only at night.
Not far from the canal could see
heavily-wooded piece Of ground, and
made my way there. BY this time
had discovered that my left ankle had
been strained in my leap from the
train, and when / got to the woods /
was glad to lie down and rest. The
wound In my mouth had been opened,
too, when I jumped, and 1t would have
been difficult for me to have swallowed
had not the piece of bread, which was
to serve for my breakfast, got wet
when swan the canal. found safe
hiding place In which to spend the
day and I tried to dry some OF my
clothes, but a slight drizzling rainfall
made that out Of the question. I knew
that ought to sleep, as I planned to
travel at night, but sore as / was,
caked with mud and blood, my cloth
ing soaked through and my hunger not
nearly appeased, sleep was out OF the
question. This seemed to me about
the longest day had ever spent. but
/ was still to learn how long a day can
really be and how much longer night.
When night came I dragged myself
together and headed northeast.
My clothing consisted Of my Flying
Corps uniform, two shirts, no under
wear, leather leggings. heavy shoes, a
good pair of wool socks and German
cap. had a wallet containing sew
eral hundred francs in paper money
and various other papers. also had
iackknife which / had stolen one
day before from the property room at
Courtrai, where all the personal ef-
fects taken from prisoners were kept.
For day or two I had carried KNAPP
sack, but as L had nothing to carry IN
1t discarded it.
I. travelled rapidly, considering my
difficulties, and swan q couple OF
canals that night, covering in all per
haps ten miles before daylight. Then
II located In some low bushes, lying
there all day in my wet clothes and
finishing my sausage for food. That
was the last Of my rations.
That night I made perhaps the same
distance, but became very hungry and
thirsty before the night was over.
For the next six days I still figured
that / was in Germany. and I was hv-
ing on nothing but cabbage, sugar
beets and an occasional carrot, always
In the raw state just as I, got them
out of the fields. The water / drank
was often very rank. One night ] lay
In a cabbage patch for an hour tapping
the dew from the leaves with my
tongue!
During this period realized that ]
must avoid, meeting anyone at'all haz-
ards. 1 was in the enemy's country and
my uniform would have been dead
give-away. Anyone who captured me
| or who gave information from which
INV capture resulted might have been
sure Of handsome reward. I knew
| that it was necessary for me to make
| progress as fast as possible, but the
main consideration was to keep out OF
sight, even If 1t took me year to get
| to Holland, which was my objective.
From my map estimated that was
Eabout thirty-hve miles from Strasshurg
when made my leap from the train
and II I could travel, in aFstraisht line
lI had perhaps one hundred and fifty
miles to travel sAs 1t was. however
1 was compelled to make many detours,
land I figured that two hundred anc
fifty miles was nearer the extent OF the
journey ahead of me-. rrrs&
In several parts Of this country I had
to travel through forests Of young pine