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THE FLEDGLING
THE FLEDGLING
By
CHARLES BERNARD NORDHOFF
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
The Riverside Press Cambridge
1919
COPYRIGHT, 1917 AND 1918, BY THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY CHARLES BERNARD NORDHOFF
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CONTENTS
| I. | A Watcher of the Skies | 1 |
| II. | The Fledgling | 70 |
| III. | Full-Fledged | 94 |
THE FLEDGLING
I A WATCHER OF THE SKIES
January 22, 1917
We were put on active duty at the front about the first of the year; infact, I spent New Year's night in a dugout within pistol-shot of theGermans. It was quite a celebration, as the French Government hadprovided champagne, cakes, and oranges for all, and every one wasfeeling in a cheery mood. When dinner was over, each of us chipped inhis day's ration of army wine (about a pint), and with a little brandy,some oranges, sugar, and a packet of spices I had been commissioned toget, we brewed a magnificent bowl of hot punch, or mulled wine. First"The Day of Victory" was toasted, then, "France"; then, with typical[Pg 2]French consideration, "The United States." After that, each man'sfamily at home received a health; so you may be interested to know thatyour health and happiness for 1917 were drunk in a first-class abri by acrowd of first-class fellows, as all French soldiers are.
The next day was a typical one, so I will sketch it for you, to give anidea of how we live and what we do. When the party broke up it was late,so we turned in at once, in a deep strong dugout, which is safe againstanything short of a direct hit by a very heavy shell. Once or twice, asI dropped off to sleep, I thought I heard furtive scamperings andgnawings, but all was quiet until just before daybreak, when we wereawakened by a terrifying scream from a small and inoffensive soldier who