I was placed in a ward where Dr. Rich was in charge, as a specialist in gas poison. I have no doubt that he understood my case, though other things engrossed my thoughts. I gave him a clear field for thought and speculation, while my thought and attention were directed to other matters. Emily visited me each day, and expressed great sympathy with my case; in fact I appeared to be, in that hospital, no longer an individual but an “interesting case.”
We talked however, about my friend, Lieutenant Nickerson, and tried so hard to account for his desertion—besides other matters—where I did so much more thinking than talking, that Chaplain John, I think, enviously, called it a case of close-communion. Even a good man tries sometimes to be too funny, as children do.
In two weeks I was pronounced cured. I can not say I was entirely pleased to be cured so quickly; for I was becoming intensely interested in scientific nursing.
CHAPTER XIX
THE GERMAN PEACE STORM
It was currently reported that the Germans were about to launch a new attack. Anticipating, in advance, a decisive victory for their arms, they designated the contemplated attack “a peace storm.”
Whatever may have been the feelings of our allied soldiers regarding this impending “drive,” the Americans were full of confidence.
“If the Boches,” I heard Captain Cross say, “will only come out and fight in the open, we will give them something hot to carry back to Germany.” And this was the confidence expressed on every side by the American doughboy.
“Shure,” said Pat Quinn, “it’s ourselves that will give them a belly-full if they will stand up like gintlemen and take what is coming to them.”
“A fair field and we will account for the rest of it,” was a sentiment that was often expressed by our soldiers of all ranks.