First World War Centennial

WHEN I again became con­scious of what was going on around me, I felt that my hind legs were all wrapped up so that I could not even try to move them, and I was lying somewhere in the dark, alone. There was nothing I could do, so I had to wait as patiently as I could, and it was not so very long, for presently I heard men's voices and saw a faint light.

One of the men came and looked at me and seeing that my eyes were open, he smoothed my head gently, and I heard him say to the others, "I've got permission ter carry the dog back ter the 'Orspital, w'ere I'ope I'll find somebody to 'elp me with 'im."

"Sure enough ye will, an' I'll go along ter tell the story ter the Surgeon, fer ye'll niver lat 'im know it all yerself, if I knows ye, Jack Rice," said another. The first man, the one they called Rice, whom I knew at once to be the kind friend who had saved me at the risk of his own life, picked me up as gently as he could, and though it hurt me terribly, I licked his hand to show that I was grateful, for wag my tail I could not. He carried me out into the night, all the time whispering in my ear, "Poor little laddie, no need ter be frightened, ye're with friends now." And then I heard him say to his pal: "The poor little bloke's just skin an' bones. I'll bet 'e's 'ad a good long run from somew'eres."

As we went what seemed to me a long, long way, I could see stars shining above; and all along by the roadside the shadows of big wagons, and of horses standing about, and I supposed this must be the "army" I had heard my oldest Master talk about, that time, now so far away, before he left home to join it.

Before long we came to a bright light in front of a fine big house which appeared to be in the midst of many other houses, and on the door I saw a white doth hanging, with red marks across it. I had never seen such a thing before, but now of course I know that it was the sign of the Red Cross, to show every­body that it is the place where they can find help and comfort.

We went in, and I could see Rice trying, with difficulty, having me in his arms, to touch his cap to somebody who asked what he wanted, and I heard him say that he had brought a poor homeless dog wounded by the Germans, and he wanted the Surgeon to see if he couldn't do something for him. We waited some time, and then we went into a room where everybody had the oddest looking white clothes on, and I heard Rice's friend telling all about how he and Rice were "snipers" and had seen me coming down through "No Man's Land" from their lookout, and how, "He cum a trottin' along jist the same's ef he'd bin in Hyde Park, his head an' tail up jist as sassy as yer please"; and then all the rest of the story.

Before he finished they had taken me from Rice and put me on a table, though he stood close to me and kept his hand on me.

Then they gave me something very nasty to smell, and I strug­gled as hard as I could, but had to give in at last feeling very miserable indeed. My only com­fort, the thought that this kind man, who had done so much for me, would surely not let anybody harm me now.

After what seemed only a few minutes I heard a strange voice say, "There, my man, I have done all I can, and my very best, in spite of it's being only a dog, and glad to do it for the brave fellow you have shown yourself to be."

There it was again, "only a dog," and feeling quite cross with the Surgeon, I showed my teeth when he put his hand on me and determined that I would certainly try to do something if I lived, to show People that they really were the ones who had not proper understanding. However, he had at least praised my kind friend, and for that I was grateful, so I listened quietly while he explained that he thought if I were kept very quiet, and well looked after, I might get well, and that I could be left there if Rice wished. You can imagine how delighted I was to hear my friend say he thought it would be best to take me back with him, where he could look after me himself.

When we got back it was be­ginning to be light, and I could see that we went down into the earth where there were quite nice rooms dug out, and I was made comfortable on a sort of bed in the corner of one of them. As the days went by, everybody tried to do something for me, and the men would come and bring me things to eat, until Rice said, "'E'll be dead spoilt, the little beggar." They all had something to say too about what I should be called, for after they had tried every name they could think of and I would not answer, they said I must have a new name. They suggested all kinds of names which did not interest me at all, and at last my dear Master said I should be called "Army," because I belonged to it; and that made me feel very proud.

Of course I was often alone while I was too ill to move, and had a great deal of time to think. I felt very sorry that I had never found my little Master Jean nor any of his dear People, but I could not see that it was my fault, and I realized that I never again should be able to travel about the country looking for them, so it was best to put them out of my mind, and to take this good kind friend for my Master.

The time I came to this con­clusion was one morning when my dear Master was getting ready to go out to his sniping post, and feeling for the first time that I could move a little, I crawled off the bed and dragged myself to where he stood and laid myself down at his feet. He seemed very delighted and began to talk to me just as if he understood per­fectly how I felt. He did under­stand, for he said, Oh! so kindly, "Yes, boy, I know ye're grateful, and so am I, for I used ter be so lonely, an' now ye're gettin' well, we'll be chums tergether allus, won't we?" I licked his hand and did my best, weak as I was, to show my joy, and then he put me back on my bed and went out.

After this began the very hap­piest time of my life, for although I never got well enough to run hard as before, I was able to trot about after my dear Master, and am glad to think I never left him day or night.

Most of the men had to sleep in the daytime, and work at night, but my Master, because he was a "sniper," had to sit or stand all day looking out for the enemy; and every now and then shooting. I stayed always with him, and he talked to me con­stantly, and always told me what he saw and whether he had hit anyone. Once I got so excited when he was particularly pleased, I jumped about and barked out loud, but I never did it again, for in a second the bullets began to come around us and my Master had to crouch down on the ground with me for safety. He was never angry, but he spoke very seriously to me about this, and said: "Army must never do such a thing again, because it shows the h'enemy jus' w'ere the lookout is."

There were days when every­thing was quiet, and it seemed hardly worth while for us to keep such close watch. Then my Master would say, "It's dull, Army, me boy, but I'll just keep watchin' an' maybe I'll get a shot at Fritzie w'en 'e ain't a thinkin'"; and there were other days when there would be the most frightful noises, and he would say, "Frit­zie's puttin' over some 'eavy stuff terday, boy; it's gettin' a bit too close fer my taste." But whatever came, he was always at his post, and I with him.