Young Hilda at the Wars

d dressings for the wounded. One morning when the three nurses were up in the trenches, a shell had dug down into their cellar and spilled ruin. Now, it is not well t

use, which had one whole living-room on the ground floor, good for wounded and for the servi

her two assistants as she mounted

Hilda. "Bring back some

e hot toil of the autumn attack and counter-attack, there had come a deadlock to the wearied troops. They were eaten up with the

had chosen the battle-front in Flanders as the perfect place for vindicating woman's courage, coolness, and capacity for roughing it. She was determined to leave not one quality of initiative

en a sturdy woman. She climbed out over the dashboard from the wheel side, and entered the door-yard. The barn had been demolished by shells. The ground around the house was pitted with shell-holes, a foot deep, three feet deep, one hole six feet deep. The chimney of the house had collapsed from a well-aimed obus. Mrs. Bra

here?" she asked of

e located it exactly with a couple of their guns. Not

rmerie over to the Hotel at the south-west, she saluted General de Wette standing on the steps of the Municipal Building. He, of course, knew her. Who of the Belgian army did not know those three unquenchable women living up by the trenches on the Yser? He gravely saluted the streak of yellow as it flashed by. Just when she was due to bend the curb or telescope her front wheel, she threw in the clutch, and, with a shriek

he. "If you are not careful, you wi

Bracher, firmly; "it

al women lived in the chilly house, caring for "les blessés" among the entrenched soldiers. So he extended himself in or

sked, after she had brok

Liège and Namur, and later at Alost. But since Antwerp, his division has been disbanded, and he has been wandering about. We

ll he go out with?"

ng-car of his own," r

he was a cyclist," o

Doctor. "He went down there and selected a spee

o the Grand Place, there was depth on depth of black space, from which came the throb of a motor, the whistle of a soldier, the clatter of hooves on c

nted for speed. The same rays of the window lamp sufficed to light up the features of

Donnell, enthusiastically;

een-clad warrior entered the c

or work,

d Dr. McDonnell. "Will y

must first go across the

t for speed," put

ered the new-comer. "Let me see, in your language t

uble tires?

ys the extra tires, you never know in war where t

her, saluted the Doc

" exclaimed

," agreed Mrs. Bra

," continued

," answered

is straight form; the leather jacket, which made him look like some craftsman; the jaunty cap, which emphasized the high cheek-bones in the lean face. Both his face and his figure being spare, he promised energy. He had the knack of making a sensation whenever he appeared. Only a few among mortals are gifted that way. Most of us have to get our own slippers and light our own cigars. But he was able to convey the idea that it was a privilege to serve him. The busy superintendent of the hospital, a charming Italian woman, cooked special meals for him, and

wells.' So the Corps named their new member Rollo. How wonderful he was with his pride of bearing, and

ueried Rollo during one of Mrs.

ull of shrapnel. The road outside our door is dented with shell holes. Every house in the village is shot full of metal. Ther

out and see you," h

requent visit

nderful," ex

ul?" asked M

is field-glasses, which he had taken from the b

ital he showed me a sable helmet. Scarlet cloth and gold braid, and t

et it?" asked

icer in the ski

sy man with his rifle,"

a. "Why, he's shot fifty-on

es on his rifle?" q

s brave as he is going out with us," repl

. Bracher, "trotting around with a Red Cross Ambul

her were having an

the trenches," said the nurse

" commented she, after they had

o walk me to Fur

rted Mrs. Bracher. "You ought to be gl

ned Hilda, holding up a boot, which had

in a minute,"

there?" a

" answered M

use where she had once met with her d

e," she

arks," s

cks," correcte

ad into the door-yard of the farm-h

ne's here now,"

wered the nurse.

rm was shot at, every day, from over the Yse

it?" as

er. "It always pays to get u

girl, dubiously. She was foot

rning," concluded the nurse, wi

ink it was,"

to their dre

e. Overhead hung a lamp, with a base so broad that it cast a heavy shadow on the table under it. There was a fire of coals in the little corner stove

erhaps fifty-two or three years of age. His eyebrows slanted down and his moustache slanted up. His eyes were level and keen in their beam of light, and they puckered into genial lines when he smiled. His nose was bent in just at the bridge, w

the ring. He had a message for the Commandant. Jost held it high up to read it by the lamp. Hilda brought a lighted candle, and placed it on the table. H

to go?" as

ack," he answered

me?" ask

en the mists begin to rise, and the enemy can see even dimly,

you?" asked Hilda. "W

f my men and guard the section in front of the rai

n in the trenches, to

handful. Not mor

rs. Bracher. "How many mitrail

ory of the house, and four

be enough to r

the rafts. They can come down on both sides of the trench, and rake the trench. What can fifty men do against four or five machi

rmans get on top of the tre

of the trench, and rake this whole town. They can rake the roa

ugh the back-yard, and over fields knee-deep in mud, w

r do?" asked Hilda. "To leave n

you'll have a little time. If you hear rifle fire or mitrailleuse fire on the trenches, then go, as fast as you can run. If

led out a note-book from his pocket. He consulted it with care. He sat down at the table, wrote his reply, and gave it to

s left to each gun," he said, "and the

ns," prom

e guns fire," he said, "that means eigh

or. A captain entered, throwing

aid-"the men have nothing. I'

excited, the C

" Hilda pressed her

to hold them. They'll come through. If they come, they'll take you women prisoner

you know," said Hilda, "eve

a long-distance bombardment that had kill

ut from shelter, crank up the engine, and run it for five minutes to get it thoroughly heated. Then h

eed into the car," s

r bags, and went to

of chill and blackness. They could not see ten feet in front of them. It was moon-time bu

tart," said t

g from the north, from

ing their advan

re falling short about 1800 yards, but t

ight down the road a lamp suddenly shone in the gloom. It moved to and fro, and up and down. There was

t, "over there to the enemy guns beyond Ramskappele. Some spy down

Hilda. "That light doesn't look to b

answered Jost; "that's all of a mile a

ictor by the arm, and

hidden," she cried.

ndant nod

mmanded in a sharp, high voice,

them back

our men," she said

house," she s

dered. "Victor, you take the wh

inutes, till her quick eye picke

on't stop it. We six must dismount while it is moving. Surround th

ad. The six silently filed into the door-yard. The four soldiers melted into the night. Mrs. Bracher caught the handle of the door firmly and shoved. The door gave way. She and Jost stepped inside. The Commandant drew his pistol. He fl

here was triumph in her voice. The Commandant put a whistle to h

. She had stooped and lifted out a large

mandant, saluting Mrs. Bracher. "H

double tires on a wet

he enemy that our reinforcements and ammunition have arrived, and that an attack to-night will be hopeless. He m

d Rollo to the field, and thrust

said. He turned

erican girl to-n

ere she always is. The very place where you wan

yse, then I signal, as you suggest"-he turned to the Commanda

er sniffed

bluffer, as Hilda wou

the mud of the field, the tall g

mes from left to right. Then he swung the light in full circles, till it became a pinwheel of flame. Four miles away by the sea to the

is postpon

THERHOO

the French doctors and dressers, the Belgian infantry. The lantern light was white and yellow on their faces. He drew out from the inner pocket of his mouse-colored co

knife, ran it lightly across his own throat, and