New Britain herald., 1927-06-18
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 suit than the overturning and reaching of his stomach.
 He found himself crying Ike { hurt child, in utter misery.
 Again and again he swore at him. self for losing his nerve at the firs' suggestion of hardship. He Sai-ly trembled with contempt q he asked himself If he were going to be | coward-would hs find out that he was yellow? With . groan hs .urn- ed over on his face and praped. "O God. don't let me be afraid-don't lot me be afraid" l Frantically he started for the deck, he could not stand 1t longer When at last hs reached the open air he found Rod looking pale. calmly sitting down close to the rail.
 Have you been down in that hell hole. Rod?" he asked. weakly.
 "Yes. I just came up."
 "How did you stand it?"
 I'm afraid didn't stand it. wynne. It makes one feel very small not to be able to control ones stomach. doesn't it?"
 Phil. to whom the fresh air of the deck had acted like . tonic. sat down by the side of his friend.
 Rod" he confessed. T don't mind not controlling my stomach 50 much. although that is rather awful -but I cannot control my thoughts. Rod. If you sec mo acting as If ] were afraid. will you please knock me on the head?"
 Rodney Maxwell put his hand on his chum's head as if ho were years older than he. There. there." he said. T don't think you're different from the rest of us who have an ina agination. I don't believe any man can be . hero when he's sick at his stomach"
 I'm not afraid, Rod" muttered Wynne. shakily, but. oh. I'm 50 damn afraid I'll be afraid. There is such | thing as becoming used to misery, Phil found. in the next week. and although it seemed as though the nights only stretched out further if possible than the end less days when he managed to roll out for formation and meals he grew to bear 1t all in a kind of semi mi-unconsciousness.
 At last. after standing hours be- side their packs at their proper deck stations through the danger zone. there came the sight of land through the mist and rain. Phil took a long breath. The storm was blowing off shore. The air had very different smell frcm that which had only blown across the bitter salt brine.
 Phil almost thought he could de- feet the odor of damp earth. but he told himself not to be a fool.
 Utterly weary and uncaring for what should como to him next, he was surprised by the Hit of | wo- mans laugh.
 He looked up. On an upper deck where officers. nurses and war cor respondents were standing watching the approaching land. he saw in a beautifully fitting. smart "" uni- form. Marta Tennis. Phils first thought was to try and cover his dirty hands and wrists and he was aware that probably his neck was black. as he turned away to avoid Marta's eyes. Soon he real ized, however. that he need not have worried. She did not see him. It was evident now that all sol- diers in the ranks looked alike to her.
 Lieutenant Andrews came up and 1 spoke to her. He wondered if now she would say-if she recognized him down there-that he was better looking than the natty officer in his spick and span uniform. Almost involuntarily he moved behind another man. as he looked down on the mob huddled below her. tired and miserable = and smiled.
 Evidently the condition of the men had not reached her conscious- ness.
 So that was the way she was so- ing to make it pleasant for the boys overseas.
 From now on. Marta Tennis woud probably not even recognize an enlisted man. except across a counter.
 ITO hell with her. and all her kind"
 What are you swearing about, buddy? Amt you glao we're at last in Francc?"
 T wish to God we'd been rammed by U-boat and left in the bottom of the sea-" was Phil's surly an- swer.
 The man looked at him as though he had suddenly gone crazy.
 At .ast his feet wore on land once Elore.
 AS Rod passed hin in the blur of ieepentng twilight. lie said. Well. Wynne, we're here"
 50 are General Pershing and lafayette" answered Phil, between [ growl and a grin.
 It was the first ghost of a smile hat had been on his lips since the ny he started from America.
 Rod was pleased to sec 1t and with . hand on his shoulder for a moment. he said: "All right, Wynne. we must surely see each other in he morning. Wish you were still a serEeant."
 "Osl. shut up, Rod. I know you're wishing that for me, for you're not