Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-10-13
CHAPTER xlx-Continued.

"Legionary, you are charged on your
own confession. Do you still insist
that you were the sole instgator and
leader of the mutinyT
yes, my colonel"
''You have no statement to make, no
explanation to offerT
None"
Colonel Destinn leaned forward on
his elbow. And suddenly 1t seemed
to the man beside him that he had
ceased to interrogate-tha he was
pleading with smothered passionate
energy.
Captain Arnaud, you were with me.
You were the sole survivor of my staff
Have you anything to say for this
MANI"
There was a brief silence. 1t 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.
"IT 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. 1t rest
ed on the prisoners gaunt untroubed
features and lit up with a flame of
awakened recollection. He relapsed.
l"No, l have nothing to say" he said
slowly and distinctly.
1t seemed that the heat became
ldenser, more sitting. There was no
Sound but the soft maddening buzz of
the flies in the circle of sunshine.
Colonel Destinn drew himself up stiffiy.
"Then l have no option but to pass
the highest sentence on you. Lee
gionary," he said. "There is only one
mitigation which lies in my power. 1
know that you are a brave man-you
shall die as one. You will be shot
unbound-at daybreak-by your COM
rades."
81 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 unfinchingy with that iu-
tensity which seeks below the surface
for the inexplicable.
The sergeant came forward and
touched the Condemned man on the
shoulder. He turned at once with
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-
lutte. 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 kept
and, without greeting, strobe out of
the courthouse. The rest followed. But
as they reached the door they hest
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.
81 have seen it coming" he said re
gretfully. 81 have seen it coming q
long time All, this terrible country
this terrible, beautiful country 1t 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. 1t drifted out on to the
courtyard. and rose with the sitting
waves of heat to the windows of the
whitewashed room where Colonel Des-
tim sat with his forehead pressed
against his clenched hands, listening