The morning came, and brought with it one of the strange adventures of a soldier in the war. I was taken on a wheeled ambulance to a part of the church which was used as an operating-room, and there my torn arm was treated, without pain to me. A nun, who like her other sisters of mercy was a nurse, had the care of me, and she was wheeling me back to my bed. There was the big entrance to the church near my bed, and as I was being wheeled I saw in that entrance many German soldiers, who were about to rush into the church and seize it. Quick as thought my nurse wheeled me back, and rushed with me to a door at the back of the church, and out into the open air. She was quite calm, which was well for me, and she hurried me to an English motor ambulance, which was standing at the door and had one English soldier in. The nun cried to the chauffeur, saying that the Germans were taking the church, and telling him to help her to push me into the ambulance. The chauffeur, who was an Englishman, quickly and calmly obeyed, and he and the nun got me inside, on my stretcher; then the chauffeur jumped up into his seat, and the motor ambulance tore away and took me into Antwerp. I was in hospital in my native city two days, when the Germans bombarded the city. I was there during the whole of the bombardment; then when the Germans took Antwerp my mother took me out of hospital. There was much excitement and commotion, and it was not a happy thing to be wounded then; but an English ambulance came, and I was asked if I could speak English. I said “Yes.” “Do you want to go to Ostende?” the man asked, and again I said “Yes.” It was a time for haste. A few minutes more, and if I had not been able to speak English I should have been too late, for the train into which I was put by an English marine was the last to leave Antwerp before the Germans entered the city. Again the Germans came to where I was, and so I had to leave Ostende. I went from there by train to France, and from France I came to England. I still stop in England. It is a good country, and I feel safe here. It is strange to see beautiful cities not bombarded and smashed by the Germans, and not to see the worst of all--the murdered little children. If the Germans were in this country it would be just the same, or worse. I think much of my country, little but beautiful, as it was; but ruined now. I am young. When I am old Belgium may be as it was before. I have an eager wish, and to have it fulfilled would make me very happy indeed--and that is to see Belgian, English, and French soldiers march into Germany! CHAPTER XI A BLINDED PRISONER OF THE TURKS