The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-11-27

the sergeant, III brisk and somewhat
impetuous manDcr, what he was again
striking the men for.
The sergeant, already much annoyed
at this interference, gave surly and un.
willing answer, and when the young officer
rebuked him in severe and perhaps
somewhat naughty manner, the violent
and passionate man, losing all self control,
lifted up his hand against his officer.
1t was but one fatal moment, quick as
lightning. The upliGed hand never de-
scended it was caught by a dozen pow
orful arms. He was felled to the ground
and disarmcd. Half an hour afterwards
lie found himself in front of the casemates.
Lifting the arm against superior is
considered capital crime. In this cnsc
it had been committed whilst both parties
were on duty, and the Austrian military
laws are the very last in the world to be
trifed with. The following day he was
tried by court martial and sentenced to
be slot. When the sentence was for
wardcd to the competent authority for
ratification, it happened to be lhe super
ior's anniversary day.
Capital punishment was committed,
the prisoner had to run the gauntlet.
a cruel act of grace was this commu-
;ation! When the first sentence had
been lcad over to him, he mad remained
cold, impossible not muscle of his
proud face stirred. lie did not fear
death he had looked it in the face many
Il time without ilinching and to die in the
open air pierced by dozen balls, a sol
dlers death, what should he care for that ?
But when he was informed that he
had to run the gauntlet twice through his
company, after having been previously
der ,del, lac tremblcl for the first time in
bis life. lie knew of many Il soldier who
had run The gauntlet thrice through Il
whole battalion, ard not even the worse
for it after all ; he knew of some that
had married afterwards AMI brought no
families Of Children; he was fully aware
that the issue of this terrible torture de.
pended entirely upun the disposition of
the mn. Drca'fd r,fl 'ction! Above
all lie thought of the shame. the di>honor.
and the proud heart WAS well nigh giving
way.
On the evening previous to the punish
mcnt, the ~ ri. battalion of Khcrcn-
butler infantry would have been unfit for
service; the men We're dri k They
had 20 up n carou-al in joy and honor OF
the coming day. But in the morning
they were sol cr enough.
The drums ceased TO beat rs soon as
the prisoner had arrived in the middle of
the. square; his escort fell back. lie
stood alone near the right wing of the
company. There was Il dead silence ;
not II respiration was to be heard from al
the oi'ln Is gathered on The spot. TnC
cOmmlnding uili,er read the sentence
tv r to him for the second time. This
done, he cXhorod the men, acc or ling t
cas- ON, to dispense with all feeling o
compas-io", and to do h if duty corior
m bly, to the law. The colonel wen
through his part of the formaIity in ;
qrick and hurried manner, as if he wer,
unwilling to perform il. SO he was hC
knew but to well, that in this instance
there was no need for exhurta,ion
These prciminaries b,ing over, the pli-O
ncI was delivered into the hands Of tn,
provost.
When the latter tore off from his uni
form the golden lace and galloons, tn
marks of his military rank, THROWN;
them at Lis feet, the face Of the unfuru
nate nal bccar13 purple, and his darl
eyes flushed fire. V hen he was srppe,
f coat and shirt, and placed at the cntr,
Of the terrible street through which h
had to plss, he became prlc again. Tw,
soldiers went ahead marched backward
with their bayonets presented 10 hi
breast, SO as to force him to keep mca.
urc to drum which brought up he rear
The drum was muilid; its slow an
small beats sounded like the music of
funcrl pr, cess;on.
When he received the fist stroke hi
features assumed an expression OF plin
and his firm set lips qnivcrcd slightly
This was, however, the only sign of sen
sa;ion. Crossing lis arms over his breast
and pressing his teeth close together hi
proud face remained hcncciorth inmoya
bic. His mcrcless enemies enjoyed bu
an incomplete triumph after all.
They might slash his body to pieces
but his prou in1o nitablc spirit the
could not break. The blows descende
with fearful violence upon him Alte
tle fir,t doz II, blood came; u nevc
di he utter ,ne sng'e * lam tion G
pain; never not even with look did h
imp'orc for mercy An expression o
scorn and disdnin was deeply set on IN
face, as pale as death. When he ha
reached at last the left wing Of the tom
pany, his lscerated back presented
trightful appearance. Even his mos
cxasperate eacmies might well have bee
satisfied now. If it had been but posi-
+ bic, the commanding officer himself wuul
have interceded in his behalf. But thi
was not even ts be thought Of; the lay
must have its course. They faced hin
right about; he had to make the sam
back ag lin.
There was one formality connecte
with this punishment which was a cruc)
barhar)uS and shameful mocGery tn
delinquent had to than. Lis execulioncr
for his tOrturrS