er snug about the nervousness of this outfit. And
pride cometh also before a cough. After three days of intermittent
rain, without overcoat, I had acquired a cold. And now my throat
tickled and my nose itched, and I was headed straight for a healthy
bark. I sunk my teeth around my forearm--the good one--and let go. It
was pretty well smothered and attracted no attention, for the fellow
with all the superfluous ammunition remained quiet.

Seemingly secure from discovery, I was in no great rush to decide on
future plans. But some sort of campaign had to be laid out, for dawn
was not many hours away. I think it was about two-thirty, and before
light I had to be out of those environs, if ever I was to get out. But
at the moment it would have been suicidal to move. The night had
become so quiet that I hardly dared raise my head for fear the edge of
the helmet would scrape against something. Once, when my head dropped
from sleepiness, the helmet brought up against the muzzle of my gun.
It sounded like the crack of Doomsday to me.

I studied my compass to prevent drowsing. I was satisfied that
whatever way I crawled--farther away from or closer to more funk
holes--it would be a matter of pure guesswork, so I determined to hit
out south when move I did. The sky was sown with stars. As I looked
at them I thought of all the untroubled people they were shining upon;
saw the theatre crowds on Broadway. "Old stars," I thought, "I wonder
if ever I'll see you again." And then smiled at myself for finding
time to wax sentimental when practical matters should be engaging me!
Next I deplored my luck that there should be stars at all on this
night. Wind and rain were what I wanted. Under their cover I stood a
fair chance at weaseling off.

A visual reconnoissance of the ground immediately in front of me to the
south showed, within reach, the stump of a sapling. I couldn't see
whether it had been cut by shell fire or for camouflage. Wriggling
forward a few feet, I extended my arm outside the bush. It was too
clean a cut for shell fire, my fingers told me. Nothing but a sharp ax
had severed it so smoothly. Here was one spot I'd circuit before going
south--if I would avoid "going west."

The night was wearing on, and I caught myself half dozing several
times. I kept looking at my watch and telling myself that I
mustn't--mustn't sleep. The rawness of early morning did much to keep
me awake in my muddy, soggy clothe