One of the wolf dogs started sniffing over our heads

TCD MS 10823 folio 31 recto

TCD MS 10823 folio 31 recto

[Sept 1918] We had unfortunately to cross the road some four hundred yards lower down and were of course seen doing so; we then ran into the wood on the far side of the road, but on trying to debouch from it met some sentries coming back from leave who chased us into the wood again. We went on a little way and then lay down and waited, trying to regain our breath, but on hearing them start to beat the wood systematically with a line of men and dogs, we moved farther on, as there was no cover where we were. At the far end of the strip of wood which was only a couple of hundred yards wide was the town of Furstenberg, but between it and the town was a ditch with reeds in it, by the side of the path and adjoining a potato field. We got down into the water and then lay down under <cover of> some nettles and reeds at the bottom of the ditch. We could hear our pursuers beating the wood thoroughly and several times they passed within a couple of yards of us. At one time one of the wolf dogs started sniffing just over our heads and I thought we were bound to be found out; he parted the reeds and then came down to drink not three feet from us. We remained absolutely motionless and I thought they must have  <got our wind if he did not hear> our hearts beating, but at length after what seemed hours he finished drinking and went off again. After this we were not disturbed, except by the nettles which were very troublesome.