The Pulaskian., 1916-10-06
CHAPTER xIx--continued.


 "LegionaIy, you are charged on your own confession. Do you still insist that you were the sole instigator and leader of the mutiny?"
 "Yes, my colonel"
 'You have no statement to make, no explanation to offer?"
 "None.n
 Colonel Destinn lea1ed forward on his elbow. And suddenly it seemed to the man beside him that he had ceased to interrogate-th he was pleading with smothered passionate energy.
 Captain Arnaud, you were with me- You were lhe sole survivor of my staff. Have you anything to say for this manT
 There was a brief silence. It seemed as though Arnaud had not heard He was still staring in front of him, and full minute passed before he lifted his eyes slowly, reluctantly to Des- tinn's face.
 'I?" And then suddenly he half arose, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "I-I-have-" He stopped. His blank gaze had passed on. It rest ed on the prisoners gaunt untroubled features and lit up with flame of awakened recollection. He relapsed. No, have nothing to say" he said slowly and distinctly.
 It seemed that the heat became denser, more stifing. There was no sound but the soft maddening buzz of the flies in the circle of sunshine. Colonel Destinn drew himself up stiffiy.
 "Then I have no option but to pass the highest sentence on you. Le- gionary," he said "There is only one mitigation which lies in my power. know that you are brave man-yOu shall die as one You will be shot unbound-at daybreak-by your com rades.'
 "I thank you, Colonel Destinn."
 The major looked up shyly. Through out he had been conscious of something unseen passing between these two men; he saw now that they gazed at each other unfinchingly with that in-
 
 for the inexplicable.
 The sergeant came forward and touched the condemned man on the shoulder. He turned at once with a little whimsical shrug of apology, bowed tremendously to the whole court, and to his own horror the major realized that he had returned the sa- lute. He glanced anxiously around him, and recognized on the faces of his companions the same uncertainty and bewilderment. Destinn looked at no one.
 Richard Nameless was led out into the sunshine. With his passing the spirit of tension passed also; there re- turned the old torpor, touched with the petulant irritation of exhausted nerves that have been too highly strung. Colonel Destinn picked up his kepi and, without greeting, strode out of the courthouse The rest followed. But as they reached the door they hesi- tated. Someone had laughed. 1t was no usual sound; in the heavy stiffness it rang shrill and unnatural. They turned and saw that Desire Arnaud had not moved. He sat at the table with his hands spread out before him and laughed.
 The major shrugged his shoulders. "I have seen it coming" he said re- gretfully. T have seen 1t coming long time An, this terrible country this terrible, beautiful country! It is pitiable-and his poor wife! Well, shall give our friend, the doctor, hint. He will know better"
 He too went out, but the laughter followed him. It drifted out on to the courtyard, and rose with the stifilng waves of heat to the windows Of the whitewashed room where Colonel Des- tim sat with his forehead pressed against his clenched hands, listening