MAC'S WOUND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 12 (Supplement)

MAC'S WOUND.

Fritz Plays Lowdown Trick Hughie Mae was a fine, well set up second lieutenant, and the latest addition to the battery. He was new to the duties of an officer, a late reinforcement officer, I believe. He had that kindly, genial disposition that is very characteristic of all colonial-born Scots; at least, that is what I notice about them, and 1 notice also they have behind their geniality a hidden force that asserts itself when stirred. He came to a battery whose officers were a fine, jovial lot."and strange to say I knew all of them years before. I remember when some started work as

office boys, some I went to school with, or knew of their families well. '"Wilkie" and "Eski" were wags, and Toddy as dry as sawdust. Burns a minx. They took Mac to their hearts at once. "I say, Mac. I suppose you would like to get right into the business and know what's what?" said Wilkie. '"Well, I suppose so," smiled Mac. "What's to be done ?" "A turn on the O. Pip (observation post) will be a dam good way to start off, Mac," said Wilkie. Plenty of fatherly advice was forthcoming from all the rest, and so Mac was taken up to the ''Butte," swag and all, to meet the hard heads. We didn't see him for some days, but eventually he came back in great distress, with a wound where he usually sits down. "Mood lor', Mac." said F.ski. "what happened?" He was looking at Mac, limping back to the pill boxes, holding his hindqmtrter* tenderly, but still trying to smile. "I got hit just a few minutes ago, and it's sore," lie replied.

A thorough examination was made, and sure enough a nasty flesh wound was there, and soon iodine and bandages were applied before any more questions were asked.

mi 11 have to go to a dressing station with that, and it looks like a little holiday, too," said Wilkie, Mae was thoroughly disgusted, but now told his story. "You know, bovs, that 'Butte' water up there is pretty rotten. I ve had dysentery pretty bad'the last day or two, so was glad when mv turn was yp. I was taken bad when'l was nearly here, so for decency's sake I wandered as far off the duck walks as I thought would meet the case and would have been all right if onlv for that dam Fritz shooting over ' that woolly bear.

I hat was enough to set all laughing e saw it. He was ranging on our guns, most likely," said Todd v. "Well, he hit me." said Mae. "Here's J! 1 /? "/ shrapnel, and this is what he did. Oh, now," said Eski, "you cant pitch us that tale. Are you sure ou weren't running away from the enemy at the O. Tip"' New °7 L V We t0 S ° baek to Thev'H 7l v a WoUnd ,ike ' ~/7. oall lfc cowardice there" said Wilkie, all doubled up with laughter ,"i r Vu eVer ' Vbod - v Wi,s and ' ' ,n '7 that ]t would have to be reBnt At ;<n . probabl . v ),e would be shot. But Mae grinned from ear to ear. and J dle«in J ,im?el f 1 ° be "listed to h dressing station, with instructions to one at the Ritz for all and sundrv and love to all the girls. ' WESTHOKK * * ♦ ♦