I had been transferred in April from a camp 150 kilometres from the
frontier to another much nearer to it. I had scarcely arrived at my new
abode when the idea of escaping took firm hold of me, and from that
moment I was careful to neglect nothing that might be useful to me later
on. I soon got to know some of the men who had been at the camp from its
start, and made them tell me about the escapes that had been attempted,
whether successful or otherwise. In all the stories I heard I found
matter for reflection, and I gained from them hints and details of
information that helped to swell the stock that I possessed, and should
be able to use when need arose.
I heard about the famous attempts of some ingenious fellows who, under
the noses of their keepers, dug in closets they had condemned as
insanitary on their own authority a tunnel about forty metres long. This
tunnel passed under the protecting network, and beneath the very feet of
the sentinels, to a place outside the camp. Everything failed at the
last moment. I learned of the happy success of some, of the lamentable
death or weary imprisonment of most of those who had endeavoured to
escape. These stories tended to keep my impatience within bounds, and
caused me to make up my mind not to attempt anything until I had the
best possible chance of success.
I spent long hours, by day and night, studying the camp enclosure, the
coming and going of the men on fatigue duty, the manner and uniform of
the sentinels, and the change of guard. I thought over a hundred ways of
escape, each more ingenious than the others; but finally, in spite of
the few cases I had heard of, I came to the conclusion that it was
practically impossible to get away from the camp, and that it would be
unwise to be waiting there in culpable idleness for a chance of flight
that would perhaps not come for months.
The gate of the camp was, in fact, strictly guarded during the day by a
group of sentinels. At night it was closed, and was charged by an
electric current. Sentries were always on the watch. Even supposing
that, by some fortunate stratagem, a fugitive succeeded in deceiving for
an instant the vigilance of the soldiers, he would still have to pass in
front of huts occupied by German infantry. These would not fail to
arrest on suspicion any man not in German uniform. It was best not to
cherish false hopes, but to give up all idea of getting out through the
gate.
As for getting over the barricades, it would have been mad to think of
it. Only rats and birds could have done it. The camp was surrounded not
only by a trellis of barbed wire two metres high, but also by an
electric current of 5000 volts, and again was guarded by a network of
barbed wire. Behind this wicked arrangement sentries were placed fifty
metres apart. They kept strict watch. Beyond the line of sentinels a
deep ditch, four metres deep and five wide, encircled the camp, and
beyond that again, running parallel with it, was a mound five metres
high and six wide at its base. It was consequently useless to dream of
crossing this organisation of defence.
There remained the fatigue duty!
Every day some hundreds of men were taken into neighbouring districts to
work either in the fields or in industrial enterprises of various kinds.
I went several times instead of one of the others, and that gave me the
opportunity of getting familiar with the neighbourhood and the habits of
the civil and military population. I discovered that there were no
able-bodied men under about fifty years of age left in the district. The
railway lines and the bridges were guarded by the military. Several
plans came into my mind. I thought of disguising myself as an old woman,
then as a Boche soldier, after having relieved one of my keepers of his
uniform by a process that still remained to be discovered.
But all was idle fancy! The men on fatigue duty were carefully watched,
and remained absent from the camp too short a time for a fugitive to get
far enough away before his disappearance was noticed.
Still, as I had no choice, I resolved to turn my efforts in that
direction, and I tried to obtain civilian clothes.
Those were not easily to be found in the camp. The clothes received from
France were rigorously kept back by the Germans, and were only given to
their owners when they had been adorned across the back by a wide,
coloured stripe, sewn in the place of a band of cloth which as a
precautionary measure had been cut away. The trousers were trimmed with
yellow braid. In spite of my active search I could not find a coat that
had not been cut.
One day notices were posted on the walls of the Kommandantur asking for
voluntary workers for different duties outside the camp. That seemed to
me an excellent chance for getting away, and I set myself to watch the
notices until I discovered a duty that would take me into the country in
the direction of the frontier. An opportunity occurred. I gave in my
name, and one morning, carrying on my back all my earthly possessions, I
took my place among forty men who were starting off to a neighbouring
forest to cut down trees.
At that time officers were not accepted for these duties, so I took care
to get rid of my stripes.
I could scarcely control my excitement when, as a simple private, I left
the camp which contained many of my friends, and to which I hoped I
should never return. I felt like a criminal. I imagined that all eyes
were fixed on me, and that the sentinels were watching me with special
attention. I tried to look as insignificant as possible.
I should have liked, before setting off, to have in my possession a
watch and a compass, but I did not succeed in getting them. Maps and
compasses had been carefully confiscated by the Germans in the course of
the numerous searches and examinations to which they had subjected us.
My first attempts at wood-cutting were not fortunate, and attracted the
attention of the sentinels and the contractor. I had to put a brave face
on things, and after a few days, when my letters had revealed my rank, I
made no secret of the fact that I was “Unteroffizier,” and that
wood-cutting was not my usual occupation. Then I set myself to win the
confidence of my jailers by talking to them in German. They understood
the motives that had made me take up the work, for I told them that the
camp was unhealthy on account of the proximity of the Russians, and that
it would become still more so in the heat of summer; that I was deadly
sick of the monotonous idleness in which we were forced to stagnate;
that work would be a healthy occupation for a man inclined to gloomy
thoughts; that fresh air and the contemplation of nature would do me
good, and that, finally, in my opinion work was liberty. These reasons
seemed to them sufficient, and from then on we got along very well
together.
All agreed that the present fatigue duty was a good one. The work
demanded from us was not excessive. We were satisfactorily lodged in a
loft, and we slept in hammocks. The food was about as good as we had in
camp. Our keepers did not consider it a matter of duty to make
themselves disagreeable, and discipline was not severe.
Our pay was three pfennigs a day more, and we were allowed to arrange
for articles of food and other wares to be bought for us in the village.
Moreover, as the result of claims we made on the strength of
conscientious and organised work, we succeeded in obtaining a daily
allowance of a litre of milk for our midday meal. All these
considerations brought it about that after some time my comrades
considered me a dangerous being, whose escape would certainly lead to a
change in the way they were treated, the withdrawal of certain
privileges, and the inauguration of a more rigorous régime. As a matter
of fact, the rumour got abroad that the “sous-off.” intended to escape,
and the French seemed to fear this event even more than the Germans.
I realised that I had to set to work in absolute secrecy, and so I did
my best to calm these fears in order to be able one day to get away
unnoticed. My comrades soon regained their confidence, and as time went
by without anything occurring to spoil my reputation, I succeeded in
withdrawing myself from notice among the crowd of workers.
In spite of the extreme prudence that I observed with every one, I never
missed a single opportunity of getting information as to the direction
of the frontier. I tried to get details about the lie of the land
separating me from the country of my dreams, about the population and
its distribution, and the names of the towns and neighbouring villages.
It was our keepers especially who, unconsciously in the course of their
conversation, furnished me with these facts.
After a week spent in working in the forest, to which we went every
morning, I was set to work with five others to do some haymaking in
connection with an important agricultural enterprise. We found it hard
work, and I discovered what it was to get hay into barns. At midday we
used to have our meal in the shade of a haystack in the meadows beside a
stream. I succeeded in persuading our sentinel that a bath would be an
excellent thing for us, and each day I disported myself under the
complacent gaze of the German. I knew that a river separated me from the
land of liberty, and I wanted to make sure that my wound would not
prevent me from swimming.
This lasted for about a fortnight.
I had for a while thought of the possibility of getting away by the
river, swimming by night and hiding by day in the tall grass on the
banks. But considering the distance to be covered I realised the
difficulty I should have in bringing off successfully such a plan. How
should I be able to escape the vigilance of the mounted patrols who kept
passing along both sides of the river? How could I pass without being
noticed through the one or two fairly important towns? I had to abandon
the plan.
Then I thought of getting on board one of the barges that used to make
their way along the river, but I learned that at the frontier the
examination by the customs officials was so thorough that that way of
escape offered not the least chance of success.
My only way, decidedly, was to get away by land. I realised this, and
turned my attention in that direction.
At the farm where I was employed labour was scarce, so most of the
workmen came from the neutral country near by. I talked with them, and
got them to tell me things that I wanted to know. For a little while I
even thought that one of them, a young fellow who was actively engaged
in smuggling (not to call it horse-stealing) would consent, for a
pecuniary consideration, to guide me at night across the frontier by
roads that he knew were safe. I should no doubt have managed to persuade
him, but we were unfortunately recalled to the forest, and replaced in
the agricultural work by others who had recently arrived from the camp.
These were mere common farm-labourers who could not claim the title of
wood-cutters. My plans fell through, and I felt furious.
From that time forward I had to rely on myself alone. Time passed, and
our keepers had recovered from their mistrust. Little by little I got
them used to not seeing me at the woodyard, first of all for a few
minutes at a time, then for nearly an hour. When, after a long absence,
they found me sitting in the shade of a heap of brushwood with a book in
my hand, they merely came and talked to me about something or other, and
then made me get back to work. They understood quite well that I was not
accustomed to continuous hard labour. At times I thought how cruelly
they would be undeceived when they knew of my departure, and discovered
that I had tricked them. But how could I act otherwise? I had to lull
their suspicions, calm their fears and abuse their confidence if I
wished to succeed.
Days passed. I often said to myself: “It will be to-morrow.” But I still
needed a civilian coat. I could not dream of escaping in uniform.
Finally Fortune smiled on me. I managed one day to get hold of a thin
cotton coat. I already had a waistcoat, and a cap made at the camp out
of worn-out clothes, so that my wardrobe was sufficient. I resolved to
set off the very next day if an occasion that was at all propitious
presented itself.
I cannot attempt to describe in detail my last day of captivity. To make
matters worse it was a Sunday, a day of rest. As a consequence my
thoughts, not being distracted by any manual labour, would persist, in
spite of all my efforts, in returning to the very subjects I should have
liked to avoid, to the journey I had resolved to undertake. Now that I
had made up my mind, my escape seemed to be fraught with infinite danger
and peril. I tried to shake off my thoughts in the company of my
comrades and the amusement of their games; but I could not succeed. I
had continually before my eyes a picture, remarkable in its clearness,
of my home people, who at times smiled and encouraged me in my
adventure, at others reproached me with sad looks for being too rash.
Painful moments! My will proved firm, and yet I was oppressed by fear,
anguish and apprehension. Had I the right to risk my life? Was I not
yielding to the impulse of the moment? Was I the victim of
hallucinations, of my daily “auto-suggestion”? A moment of silent
communion with those dearest to me made me realise clearly that the hour
of action had at last come, that I must not let it pass, that it was a
question of a strong effort of will, and that I was as ready then as I
should ever be. I firmly decided not to put it off any longer, but to
try my fortune the next day.
My heart was beating with unusual emotion when I wrote to my people a
letter that should be given to them in case I lost my life in the
attempt. Then I began my preparations, and stuffed some things into my
bag. When that was done I went down, and in order not to awaken the
suspicions of my companions I spent the remainder of the day in playing
and chatting and joking with them. But it seemed to me that my smile was
somewhat forced and my laugh unnatural. Night came, and soon in our loft
I was the only one awake, thinking over my project.
Only a few hours more! I examined myself to see if I really had the
courage and energy necessary for the enterprise. I found myself more
doggedly determined than ever, and I pictured, far away, the joy and
delight of those who were holding out their arms to strengthen and
welcome me.
Sleep surprised me in the act of weaving fantastic plans.
* * * * *
I woke on Monday morning long before the others, long before the
sentinel came at five o’clock to call out in his muffled voice, “Auf
stehen.” As a precaution against the coldness of the nights that were to
come, I put two shirts on, one over the other, with a woollen coat in
between. I got into two pairs of pants and wore two pairs of socks. At
six o’clock we started. That day I was told off to go and take part in
clearing some land. I considered it providential, for the new work would
take me two or three kilometres nearer the frontier. I realised,
however, that on account of the bareness of the land I should find it
more difficult to get away than I should have done in the forest, where
the trees would have sheltered me from observation.
I marched among my comrades, with my thoughts elsewhere and apprehension
at my heart.
With seven other Frenchmen, under the strict guard of a sentinel, I
started work with an ardour unknown before. The sentry was at our heels,
and took care to count us frequently. He was a newcomer who, imbued with
a feeling of his own importance and of the responsibility that had
devolved upon him, took his work very seriously. I kept my eye on him,
and watched his slightest movements in the hope of discovering an
instant’s inattention which would favour my flight. No occasion
presented itself during the morning. At about eleven o’clock a
countryman came to ask for our help in turning his hay while the sun was
shining. We floundered about in a swampy meadow, and I felt the water
coming through my worn-out shoes. I fumed at the idea that my feet
would soften, and that I should be less able to bear fatigue. Should I
succeed in getting off? There seemed to be no sign of it. At length noon
arrived, and, abandoning our tools, we went to the place chosen for our
meal.
Our sentinels went off half at a time to have their _déjeuner_ in a
neighbouring farm. The prisoners were now all together, so that it
became more difficult to see at a glance whether the number was
complete. My time was approaching. I decided to wait for the return of
the first sentinels before leaving. In the meantime I forced myself to
swallow some food, though I had difficulty in getting it down. I felt no
appetite, and it was only by persuading and reasoning with myself that I
could manage to swallow an egg and a few sardines.
The first group of sentries came back. They went and stretched
themselves at full length in the sunshine to digest their food. I
strapped my bag over my shoulder and then lay down on my coat, quite
close to the keepers. Under the caressing rays of the sun, yielding to
the influence of the beer they had absorbed, and made drowsy by their
meal, the German soldiers, with heads nodding, closed their eyes in
spite of themselves and gave themselves up to a state of
semi-consciousness. I determined to take advantage of this relaxed
vigilance and get off at once. I gradually edged farther away, and
managed to crawl to a little hollow in the ground.
My heart was beating as if it would burst. I wanted to go, and yet I
felt as if an invisible chain was holding me back. I was running no risk
so far, for even if it had been noticed that I was farther away than
the others, this would not yet have caused suspicion. I reached a little
bush that hid me from the sight of our sentinels. The next minute I made
a complete change in my appearance. I had now broken the laws and was
really an escaped prisoner. In a moment I got into my coat, put on the
civilian’s cap that I had brought, and with a rapid movement I tore off
the braid that was fastened by a few stitches only to the seams of my
trousers. My toilette was complete. I was no longer a prisoner. I had
passed the Rubicon, and was on my way towards prison and death--or
liberty.
Hastily through the foliage I looked to make sure the Germans were not
disturbing themselves. Then I drew myself up, and with the steady
ordinary walk of a workman returning from his work, set off quickly. The
chains were broken. I went off without casting a glance behind. A
minute’s walking brought me behind a ridge, and soon I could no longer
be seen by our keepers, though it seemed to me as if they must pursue
and arrest me.... Feeling myself free, I was tempted to rush along madly
and joyfully, so as to put kilometres between me and my pursuers. But
for a long time past I had been preparing for this moment, and I knew I
must not yield to the impulse; I forced myself to walk more slowly than
I wished, for it was prudent not to awaken the suspicions of the workers
in the fields.
I soon reached a little village, which I crossed at a slow pace, limping
as I went along. I thought thus to baffle pursuit, for a young
able-bodied civilian could not fail to arouse suspicion. My wisest plan
was to avoid towns and villages, so I made my way to a wood that I saw a
little to the north. But there again I met women and children gathering
whortleberries, so I abandoned the paths and made my way through the
undergrowth.
After an hour’s walking, directed so far as possible towards the west, I
had the impression of being followed by dogs, whose barking was
certainly coming nearer. I crawled into a close thicket, and crouched
down in the darkest part of it under the bracken. I heard a dog bark
close to me, and I clenched my teeth at the thought that I was tracked.
But it must have been simply the dog belonging to a ranger who lived a
little way off, for I could soon distinguish the noise of the animal’s
chain and the crowing of a cock in the poultry yard. I should have to
wait now till nightfall, and I spent long hours there listening
anxiously for the least sound.
I was an escaped prisoner. I had succeeded in deceiving the vigilance of
my keepers. That was a great deal, but I did not fail to realise that
the most painful and difficult part was before me.
For some weeks past I had managed to get our sentinels to talk, and even
the non-commissioned officers who were guarding us. They had confided to
me the following details: the frontier was a dozen kilometres away as
the crow flies; news of a prisoner who had escaped would be transmitted
all over the neighbourhood by one hundred and fifty telegrams and three
battalions of Landsturm stationed at X----; and in another town a
search-party would be organised, with police dogs to help. Civilians
themselves, on the demand of the military authorities, would have to
give up to them their own bloodhounds. A certain sum of money was
promised to any one who should bring about the capture of the fugitive.
More often than not it had been women or old men who had prevented our
escaped comrades from getting successfully away. The punishment, always
carefully announced in camp, was, in case of capture, forty-two days’
solitary confinement, during which the prisoner only received one
platter of food (and that a prisoner’s portion) every two days. Often an
“accident” happened and a man was killed. An adjutant who had escaped
was one day fired at point-blank and killed as he was peacefully
returning, surrounded by the sentinels who had caught him.
I had neither map nor watch nor compass. Geographically my position was
as follows: to the north-west a railroad, to the west a river to cross,
then a railroad; X----, the last German town, was a little way this side
of the frontier. The river Z---- was a little beyond the frontier. Once,
then, I had crossed this river I should be safe.
I had hoped to get over the ground straight away in twenty-four hours at
most, taking advantage of the surprise of the Germans, and so I had not
troubled to bring much in the way of food. My estimate was at fault, as
I discovered later to my cost.
As provisions for my journey, my pockets contained a pound of chocolate,
a box of kola pastilles, some meat lozenges and some lumps of sugar.
I had started work in the forest wearing a long beard, the cut and
colour of which were described on my description-slip. I shaved off this
beard a little while after, and the day before my escape I sacrificed my
moustache. Through motives of prudence, not of vanity, I had slipped
into my pocket a glass and a comb, with which to perform my toilette.
My absence must apparently have passed unnoticed until an hour and a
half after my disappearance, at the time when work began afresh.
My life as a hunted beast began.
Even for those who have no taste for violent emotion, this life presents
a certain charm. It allows you to enjoy the majestic calm of the forest,
to observe at close range the birds who, mistaking you perhaps for the
trunk of an old tree, come flying round without fear and twitter and
sing before going to sleep.
As night fell gently in the quiet forest I allowed my thoughts to wander
towards the dear land of France that perhaps I should never reach,
towards the loved ones I might never see again. They were sad thoughts,
it is true, but my will gained from them new strength and energy.
Homeland, parents and friends seemed doubly dear, and I hoped with all
my heart that no one over there would have any suspicion of the risks I
was running, to which I had voluntarily exposed myself.
Night had now come; the sky was starry, all was silent in the sleeping
villages. There was no sound except that made now and then by a
half-awakened bird fluttering his wings. I made up my mind to start;
the thick undergrowth of young firs was not favourable for walking, and
the displaced foliage made a noise as I made my way through it, so I had
to creep along under the lowest branches. I went on for about a hundred
metres, and then found myself at the edge of the wood. The coldness of
the wind made me shiver. The Great Bear was shining brightly, and the
Pole Star showed me which way I had to go for the west. I went
cautiously on, feeling a little uneasy at the noise of my steps over the
fields of beetroot or potatoes. I often stopped to listen; a sound would
startle me; I would discover that it was a crackling branch, or a
frightened hare scuttling off; then I would continue my way across
fields and pasture-land, climbing over fences and crawling under hedges.
I carefully avoided habitations where the barking of dogs would draw
attention to me as I passed, and so I had to go rather slowly. At one
time I had to cross another wood, which soon became very dense. It was a
thorny thicket that was almost impossible to get through. Suddenly a
sound similar to that which my own feet were making on the dead leaves
attracted my attention. I stood motionless for a few minutes and
listened. The sound stopped. Feeling reassured, I started off again, but
immediately from the same spot I heard the same crackling noise. I
peered into the darkness and then saw, a few metres away behind a thick
bush, two phosphorescent eyes fixed on me. It is a dog that is watching
me, thought I, and his master cannot be far off. All is up. Then, as all
was still again, I decided to go on, and left the wood without being
pursued.
Day was beginning to dawn, and I could already hear men in the farmyards
harnessing their horses. It would be dangerous to continue, so I stopped
in a wood about two kilometres farther on. During the day I received a
visit from a wild cat. It was he, no doubt, who had given me my little
fright the night before.
The place I had chosen was near the edge of the wood, so that during the
whole day I could hear the peasants working in the fields. I was even
afraid sometimes, when the sound of their voices came nearer, that they
were coming into my wood, where there was scarcely anything to hide me.
I was lying in the bed of a dried-up stream.
The day seemed long, and towards evening I was continually annoyed by
mosquitoes, which took a malicious pleasure in alighting on my hands and
face and biting them. Later on there was a heavy storm that lasted about
two hours. The rain began to drench me. From that time I felt as if I
had not a dry thread on me. It was Tuesday evening.
At nightfall I should have liked to go on, but I was troubled by the
sound of people talking near me. Were they on my track? At last there
was absolute silence. I came out from my hiding-place and continued my
way to the west. In the meadows the long grass wetted me to my knees,
inquisitive cows came to look at me as I passed by. All at once I heard
the iron wire of a fence creak. I stopped uneasily in the middle of a
field of pasture-land and saw a man getting slowly over the fence. I
thought that perhaps a signal had been sent and that some one was
waiting for me there. I did not feel much more easy in my mind when I
heard the man jump on a bicycle and go off at a great speed. I wanted,
nevertheless, to continue on my way, for I met nobody; still, as I heard
noises in the distance, I thought it more prudent to hide in a potato
field. I remained there some time, flat on the ground, feeling very
anxious. Then, getting on to the high road, I walked along it without
meeting a living soul.
Towards morning I left the road and entered pasture-land again, in the
middle of which there was a small thicket which offered shelter until
the evening; it was terribly wet there, and I often regretted having
stopped in that place, near which some shepherd boys kept constantly
passing.
The day seemed interminable. I suffered from time to time from cramp in
my legs. Then for the first time I could hear the German soldiers who,
sent out in pursuit of me, were firing blank cartridges into the
undergrowth. Several times I heard them a little way off in different
directions talking. I waited motionless, weighing the chances I had of
remaining undiscovered.
It rained again, frequently and heavily. I had had nothing to drink,
since I started, and I was beginning to feel thirsty. In the evening a
few birds came and sang over my head, and their warbling helped to pass
the long hours that still separated me from night.
On Wednesday evening, when it was quite dark, and when all sounds of
voices were stilled, I came out from my retreat and crawled to the edge
of the little wood.
There again I heard a wire fence creak. I went cautiously forward and
discovered that the noise was made this time by a poor cow, who,
frightened by my appearance, had started rushing madly off. I made my
way once more over meadows, cornfields and beetroot fields, with pauses
more or less prolonged at each disturbing noise. I succeeded in getting
past the farms without making any noise, without even waking the
watchdogs; but in the fields it was different; suddenly some pheasants,
disturbed in their sleep, rose from under my feet, flying heavily away
and uttering loud cries. Would they betray me?
I had the impression of walking towards my death in the darkness. Each
rick of oats seemed to me to be hiding a soldier whose cold bayonet
would nail me to the earth without a sound. The night was cold, and I
kept shivering as I lay with my ear to the ground, anxiously listening
till all sound of rustling had ceased. I walked on slowly, peering into
the darkness as I went, for the few stars there were did not shed much
light. Going at right angles to the Great Bear, which I left on my right
hand, I kept on my way towards the west. I thus reached the edge of a
stream. As it was not deep I took off my shoes and stockings and crossed
it easily. There at last, for the first time for two days, I was able to
quench my thirst. Then followed meadows upon meadows. A light mist
covered the ground, which looked like silver. It was getting light.
Where should I find a hiding-place in the flat fields without trees or
bushes? Having got through a hedge, I found myself on a high road. I was
going to cross it when I heard, quite close to me, about fifty metres
away, sounding mournfully in the grey morning light, the melancholy
notes of the German réveillé. These sounds, made by lips that were only
half-awake, caused my knees to give way under me. I had thought never
again to hear the German bugle. An indescribable terror took possession
of me, and I felt that I was going to be caught. To avoid the barracks I
bore to the right. A hundred metres farther on a stream barred my way;
there was no possibility of hesitating, and so, at four o’clock in the
morning, without taking time to remove any of my clothes, I plunged in.
I was out of my depth almost immediately, and swam to the opposite bank,
a distance of about forty metres.
Had I been noticed by the sentinels on duty along the banks or by some
one in the neighbourhood who liked early rising? Out of breath through
swimming and with my clothes weighed down with water, I tried to hurry
along in quest of shelter. I should have liked to continue walking so as
to warm my chilled body, but I soon had to stop. I was in open country.
I heard the voices of peasants going to their work, and I could not risk
meeting even a civilian, for my soaked clothing would have betrayed me.
Carefully moving aside the ears of corn, I got right into a cornfield
and lay down in the middle of it. It was sunrise on Thursday.
I was wet to the skin, and I shivered in the cool morning air. My first
care was to empty my pockets; blades of grass and leaves were sticking
to the packets of chocolate; water had penetrated to the meat lozenges;
instead of sugar I found nothing but sweet water. My stock of sugar was
gone.
In my inner pockets I had some little photographs, the only things that
I had brought with me in my flight. I drew them out in a pitiful state.
I spread out the chocolate, the photographs and my handkerchief in the
warm rays of the rising sun. All round me men, women and children were
busy reaping. I hoped they would not have the unfortunate idea of
cutting the corn in the field where I lay hidden. Then the Boche
soldiers came out from their barracks and went off singing. As on the
previous day, they organised a search, and I felt as if their nets were
closing in around me. A few men on patrol came to speak to the
harvesters. At one time I heard one of them whistle to a dog in the next
field. I trembled every instant at the thought of being discovered.
It was a good thing that I had crossed a river, for it was thanks to
that that the police dogs had lost my track. There is no doubt but for
that blessed circumstance I should certainly have been discovered. I
lived through agonised moments, imagining every minute that I heard
steps in the cornfield or saw the head of a hound rise above the yellow
grain. Then noon came, and in its heavy heat I slept, unconscious of all
around me.
Towards evening the search was renewed; shots were frequently fired. The
sun, warm when it succeeded in piercing the clouds, dried my clothes;
but suddenly a fresh shower soaked me once more. I began to feel weary.
I had cramp in my legs, and I reckoned that my provisions could not last
longer than till Sunday evening. I should have to reach the frontier
some time during Monday at latest. Until then I had to content myself
with two tablets of chocolate, ten meat lozenges and a few kola
pastilles each day. I became feverish with thirst, the approach of night
made me shiver with cold, and I waited impatiently for darkness and
silence so that I could start off again. I was just going to get up when
some German soldiers left the barracks singing. I could not think of
starting until I knew which way they were going. One party went towards
the west in a direction where I could hear the rumble of trains; the
others went southwards. They fired for a long while and the noise echoed
through the quiet fields. I heard in the distance the church clock
strike the hours. Midnight, one o’clock, and still the Boches did not
return. Finally, towards morning, after having been cold all night, I
dozed and did not hear them come back. A night had passed and I had not
advanced a step. Moreover, the cold and my wet clothes had cramped me
and I could not manage to get warm.
Friday passed much as Thursday had done. Towards evening there was a
heavy storm which again drenched me, but I was thankful it came; my
thirst was such that I was glad to open my now empty sugar-box to catch
the big drops that were falling. I succeeded in getting in this way a
little water that refreshed me; I sucked, too, the wet ears of corn. But
I began to feel ill, my teeth were chattering violently; I was trembling
all over and my head was aching.
I felt then that I could not stand another night out of doors; I had to
get free the next day or else give up the hope of leaving Germany.
I waited impatiently for night. It came at last, but the soldiers who
had set out in the evening had not returned and were still scouring the
country. To move would be dangerous. Long hours passed. Should I have to
keep still until the next day, as I had done the night before? At last,
towards midnight, the patrol returned, shouting hoarsely into the night;
but the moon was up and I had to wait until it had set. It went down
with provoking slowness. When it had disappeared below the horizon I
resolved to continue on my way. It was about two o’clock. My limbs
refused to obey me; I kept saying, “Now I must get up,” but I did
nothing. I was a prey to fear greater than any I had ever before
experienced. My imagination was so excited that I seemed to feel
Prussian bullets piercing my skull at the very thought of raising my
head above the quivering corn. But at last, feeling ashamed of my
cowardice, I drew myself up to my full height, making my joints crack,
started off across the fields, and soon reached the high road leading to
the last German town. Just as I was getting into it I heard steps behind
me. I did not dare to turn round, but I gradually slackened my speed so
as not to seem to be running away, and also, I might say, so as to be
taken up as soon as possible if it really had to be. It was too
unnerving to feel oneself followed. The heavy step came closer; soon the
man and I were on a level. I saluted him with a rather husky “Guten
Morgen”; he replied and went on. It was not he who would arrest me.
I continued on my way for several kilometres. I saw a bicycle left in a
ditch. I had a great mind to jump on it and set off, but judging that it
might belong to some one stationed to look out for me who had gone off
to get help, I went on without yielding to the temptation.
Later, I crossed a railroad, which luckily was not guarded just there.
Farther on, in the moving mist, rose the houses and church towers of a
fairly large town. It was X----. I had to avoid the town, and started
going round it, some distance away, by lanes and paths.
At a corner by a hedge I turned and saw two men some way behind me; half
a kilometre farther on they were still following me. Was I caught? I
tried to walk in a natural manner, not hesitating when I had to choose
between two paths. I went through sleepy villages where I saw very few
people. Then I had to get into a more frequented path, and already I
kept meeting cyclists, mostly young men who were going to their work at
X----. I even met some of the customs officers and a forest ranger. I
spoke to them as I passed as if they were old acquaintances. To give
myself a more jaunty look I had between my lips a piece of honeysuckle,
gathered from a hedge as I came along. It hid the lines furrowed by
fatigue and made me look more confident.
I can’t think why I was not arrested. My clothes were drenched and
covered with mud from my having had to sleep in the fields. My face was
that of a man absolutely worn out, as I could see from my glass. My
feet, that had been wet for five days and were cut by nails in my shoes,
were swollen and hurt me, particularly at the ankles; my gait could not
look natural. Anyhow, it seems as if the Germans are not very keen as
detectives.
My road led me through a little village whose doors were only just
beginning to open. A peasant woman was walking along a few steps in
front of me. On leaving the houses we came both at the same time to a
kind of turnstile. It creaked mournfully as the woman passed through. I
was following directly behind her when I saw coming towards me an armed
sentinel of the frontier guard. I had the feeling that there my journey
would end, that this man was the one destined to put an end to my
wanderings. I had been seen, so that it was useless to hide myself, and
dangerous to run away. I could have overcome the man with a blow, no
doubt, but others would hear his cries, the alarm would be given and I
should not be able to escape. I did not know how far I was from the
frontier, and, to tell the truth, I was so tired that I had not the
strength for a violent physical effort. If my legs had had their
strength of former days the Germans would not have caught me, but as it
was, it would have been impossible for me to go far. The woman passed
without seeming disturbed. The sentinel was about ten metres away. All
the plans that came into my mind seemed useless and had to be rejected
one after the other, so I just behaved quite calmly. Arriving level with
the sentry, I looked him coolly straight in the face and said “Guten
Morgen” to him in my best German. He replied and stopped, thinking I was
going to do the same. I continued on my way, however. He did not speak,
but walked along close behind me. I thought he was there simply to cut
off my retreat and that later on I should fall into the trap. For about
fifty metres he followed me; then my regular and leisurely walk inspired
him no doubt with confidence, and he turned and let me go on.
The description had probably been given of a Frenchman with a brown
beard, and the poor sentry, meeting a polite young man in civilian
clothes and close-shaven, walking along as innocently as possible, was
completely deceived and did not even think of following his
instructions.
It is not a pleasant thing, when one’s conscience is not quite clear and
free from reproach, to feel oneself being eyed by an enormous soldier
armed to the teeth. It is scarcely more pleasant to be followed by this
same individual without daring to turn round. It is a test of strength
that I should be incapable of undergoing a second time. I feel sure that
the very appearance of a sentinel in similar circumstances would result
in my complete demoralisation. My determination to succeed must have
been great for it to have given me the strength to walk on, and to walk
on without trembling.
It was about six o’clock in the morning, and this last German village
was, as I discovered afterwards, about three kilometres from the
frontier. Continuing my journey, I came, at a cross roads; to a
sentry-box, whose occupant ought to have been guarding the roads, but it
was empty. Another sentry at fault; fortune was favouring me.
Next I had to pass by footpaths through a wood. In order not to wander
in the wrong direction, now that I could not see the stars, I had to
keep turning round to guide myself by the light of the rising sun.
I passed a woodman’s hut, then a gipsy caravan. From that time meadows
took the place of woods and I hoped I was out of danger. I saw in the
distance windmills on the summits of little hills. I found a piece of a
newspaper printed in a language that was not German, but I did not yet
dare to take that for a sure sign.
I had come to the end of my strength. I could scarcely breathe, and I
felt a sharp pain in my chest and back. An iron band seemed to be
pressing on my brain. I stopped and lay down, completely dazed, under a
hedge. I remained there a little while, and then, coming to myself, I
realised that it would be too stupid to let myself be captured there,
for the frontier could not be far off. I must be certain that I was
safe, and for that I had to reach the river. I rose, but when I came to
the end of the meadow I did not have the strength to get over the hedge,
and lay down again in the grass, enjoying the genial warmth of the sun.
But suddenly, at the other end of the meadow I had just crossed, beyond
the hedge, I saw shining the helmets of horsemen. Were they Germans, and
was I to be retaken so near my goal? No, not while I had any strength
left.
So, stimulated by what I had seen, I made a last effort and succeeded in
hoisting myself over the hedge. Once on the other side I hurried forward
for a few hundred metres over beautiful green meadow-land. Then suddenly
I saw flowing peacefully before my delighted eyes the sign of my
liberty--the river bordered with posts bearing neutral colours.
It was difficult for me to understand that at last I was free, and that
all danger was past. Free! I was free!
On the other side of the river was the ferryman’s house. I hailed him
and made signs that I wanted to cross. Soon a boat came alongside, and
with a few strokes of the oar I was on the other bank in perfect
security. The German patrols could not get as far as that. I told the
ferryman who I was. With a kindly smile lighting up his tanned face he
joyfully took my hand in a hearty clasp. When I wished, in payment for
crossing over, to give him a few small coins, he refused them, muttering
hatred for his neighbours across the water and a blessing on me. Dear
old fellow! I shall never forget his kind, smooth, smiling face.
The village was ten minutes’ walk farther on. From the banks I could see
the church tower and the houses in a nest of green. The Mayor, to whom
I went, did not seem quite to know what to do with me. He sent me to the
police station. There I again nearly fainted and asked for a doctor. The
corporal’s wife, while I was waiting, gave me a cup of warm milk. The
doctor was not long in arriving. He was a charming man, who
congratulated me; and after he had sounded me he expressed his sympathy
for France. He found my lungs in excellent condition, and said that the
pains I felt were due entirely to fatigue. He offered to keep me for a
few days in a hospital; but I thanked him and refused, preferring to set
off the next day, at any rate if I was better.
I went to the hotel, where I was made very welcome. Some refugees came
to visit me. The kindly doctor who had greeted me so warmly thought, no
doubt, that my dirty and untidy clothes would attract undue attention to
me, for he was good enough to send me one of his suits. I no longer
looked like a tramp. I got a new pair of shoes to replace those worn out
that hurt my feet. A collar and a tie enabled me to take a decent place
among civilised people. I was free!
A telegram carried the good news to parents and friends. I sent, out of
politeness, a card to the German General in charge of the camp telling
him that, to my great regret, he could not count on me in the future. I
hoped that he would have an apoplectic fit on reading my missive, and
that my comrades would thus be relieved of this tyrannical individual.
He received it, but survived.
The next day I took the train to go and report myself at the Consulate
as having returned. Everything seemed strange, and life in civilised
regions astonished me immensely. It was with great difficulty that I
managed to persuade myself that I was not dreaming. How delightful it
was to be free after long months of captivity! Oh, if only my friends
could also be breathing the air of liberty!
In a few days I should see my family. In a few days I should set foot in
my own land.
The nightmare was over.
[Illustration]
PRINTED BY MORRISON AND GIBB LTD., EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND
* * * * *
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Probably the modern German version of _Bureau_.
[2] It is to be noticed that this took place at the beginning of
our captivity. From the month of January 1915 it was impossible to
introduce the smallest parcel of bread, the system of bread cards
being then in force.
Typographical error corrected by the etext transcriber:
had left the the faces=> had left the faces {pg 121}