Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1919-02-14

even nOI1ce us. never SdIQ Il WOrU,
just filled his water bottle from the
water in the bucket, and went back
to the billet. We followed, my mess
tin was still sending S. o. S.
Happy, though dripping wet, silent
ly fixed up the milk for the dog. In
appetite the canine was a close Sec
ond to Hungry Foxcroft. After lap
ping all he could hold. our mascot
closed his eyes and his tail ceased
wagging. Sailor Bill took dry f1aIf-
mel shirt from his pack, wrapped the
dog in it and informed us:
"Me and my mate are going below,
so the rest of you lubbers batten down
and turn in."
We all wanted the honor of sleeping
with the dog, but did not dispute Sail
or Bills right to the privilege. BY
this time the bunch were pretty sleepy
and tired, and turned in without much
coaxing, as it was pretty near day
break
Next day we figured out that per-
hapS one of the French kiddies had
put the dog in the grain bin, and, in
the excitement of packing up and leav-
ing, had forgotten he was there.
Sailor Bill was given the right to
christen our new mate. He called him
Jim. In a couple of days Jim came
around all right, and got very frisky.
Every man in the section loved that
dog.
Sailor Bill was court-martialed for
his mixup with the quartermaster-ser
geant, and got seven days field pun
ishment No. I. This meant that two
hours each day for week he would
be tied to the wheel of timber. Dur
ing these two-hour periods Jim would
be at Bills feet, and, no matter how
much we coaxed him with choice NOR
sells of food, he would not leave until
Bill was united. When Bill was loose
Jim would have nothing to do with him
just walked away in contempt. Jim
respected the kings regulations, and
had no use for defaulters.
At a special meeting held by the
section Jim had the oath of allegiance
read to him. He barked his consent,
so we solemnly Swore him in as
soldier of the Imperial British army,
fighting for king and country. Jim
made better soldier than any one
OF us, and died for his king and cOun-
try. Died without whimper of COM
plant.
From the village we made several
trips to the trenches; each time Jim
accompanied us. The first time under
fire he put the stump of his tail be-
tween his legs, but stuck to his post.
When carrying in" if we neglected to
give jim something to carry, he would
make such noise barking that we
soon fixed him up.
Each day Jim would pick out diff
ferent man of the section to follow.
He would stick to this man. eating and
sleeping with him, until the next LAY,
and then it would be some one elSe'S
turn. When a man had Jim with him,
it seemed as if his life were charmed.
No matter what he went through he
would come out safely. We looked up
on Jim as a gOod-luck sign, and be-
lieve me, he was.
Whenever it came key Honney's
turn for Im's company, he was over
joyed, because Jim would sit in digni-
fed silence, listening to the jew's-harp.
Honey claimed that Jim had soul
for music, which was more than he
would say about the rest of us.
Once, at daybreak, we had to go
over the top in an attack. A man in
the section named Dalton was select
ed by Jim as his mate in this affair.
The crew of gun No. 2 were to stay
in the trench for overhead fire pur-
poses, and, if necessary, to help re-
pei a probable counter-attack by the
enemy. Dalton was very merry, and
hadn't the least fear or misgivings as
to his safety, because Jim would be
with him through it all.
In the attack, Dalton, closely follow
ed by Jim, had got about sixty yards
into No Mans land, when Jim was hit
in the stomach by bullet. Poor old
Jim toppled over, and lay still. Dalton
turned around, and, just as he did so,
we saw him throw up his hands and
fall face forward.
key Honey, who was No. 8 on our
gun, seeing Jim fall, scrambled over
the parapet, and, through that rain Of
shells and bullets, raced to where Jim
was, picked him up, and tucking him
under his arm, returned to our trench
in safety. If he had gone to rescue a
wounded man in this way he would
have no doubt been awarded the Vic
toria Cross. But he only brought in
poor bleeding, dying Jim.
key laid him on the firestep along
side of our gun, but we could not at
tend to him, because we had important
work to do. So he died like soldier.
without a look of reproach for our
heartless treatment. Just watched our |