Oxford eagle., 1918-07-18
CHAPTER XIV.
The Firing Squad.

about thirty kilos behind the line.
reported TO the a. P. NJ. assistant pro-
vost marshaD. BE told me to report
10 billet No. rs for quarters and ra-
lions.
II was about eight O'Clock at night
md was tired aud soon fell asleep In
the straw Of the billet. II was a mis-
cradle night outside. cold. and drizziy
rain was falling
About two In the morning | was
awakened by some one shaking me by
the shoulder. Opening my eyes / saw
regimental sergeant major bending
over me. BE had a lighted lantern IN
his right hand | started 10 ask him
what was the matter. when he put his
finger TO his lips for silence and whis-
pered:
''Get on your equipment. and. with
out any noise, come with me"
This greatly mystlfed me. but
obeyed his order.
Outside Of the billet l asked him
what was up. bur he shut me up with:
Don't ask questions, It's against or
I
II was raining IKE the mischief
We splashec along muddy road fer
about fifteen minutes. finslly stepping
at the entrance Of what must have
been an old barn 10 the darkness. l
could hear pigs granting as II they
had Just been disturbed L. front u
The door stood an officer In mack
tmsckintosh). The T. S. VI went ur
20 him. whispered something and then
left. This officer eadled - L.e. asked
my name. number aud regiment st
Eame tu3e. S. t-a a-ht = -
was holding making a notation in a
little book
When ne had finished writing. ne
Whispered:
Go into That bIfet and wait orders,
and no talking. CnderstsndT-
stumbled into the barn and sat on.
the floor in tl. darkness ] c01ld Sc
no one but could hear men breathing
and moviu-; they seemed nervous and
restless. ] know I was.
During my wait three other men
entered. Then the officer poked his
head In the door and ordered:
Fall IN. outside the billet, In single
rank"
We fell in. standing at ease. Then
he commanded:
"Squad-'Shun, Number"
There were Twelve of us.
-Right-Tuu Left-wheeli onick
March !" And away We went. The
rain was trieklins down my back and
] was shivering from the cold. H. .- \
With the officer leading, we must
have marched over an hour. plowing
through the mud ana occasionally
stumbling into n shell hole in the road,
when suddenly the officer made a left
wheel, and We found ourselves in a sort
OF enclosed courtyard.
The dawn was breaking and the
rain had ceased.
In front Of us were four stacks OF
rifles, three 10 a stack
The officer brought us 20 attention
and gave the order "a unplle arms. We
each took q rife Giving us Stand at
ease" In nervous and shaky voice,
he Informed:
Men, you are here on a very solemn
duty. You have been selected as .
fring squad for the execution OF sol
der. who. having open found guilty
country, has-beea fe1aitariy and duly
tried and sentenced to be shot at 3 :2s
a. N. this date. This sentence has been
Improved by the reviewing authority
and ordered carried out. 1t is our duty
60 carry on with the sentence OF the
court.
There are twelve rifles, one OF
which contains blank cartridge, the
pther eleven containing ball cartridges
Every man is expected TO do his duty
and fire to kin. lake your orders from
me. Squad Shunr" #Ef#
We came TO attention. Then he left
~ heart was of lead and my knee,
shook.
After standing at attention" fol
what seemed week though in reality
II could not have been over five nhn
ntes, We heard a low whispering In ou,
rear and footsteps on the stone flag
G1ng OF the courtyard.
Our officer reappeared and In q low
but firm voice, ordered:
sAbout-Turn
We turned about In the gray ngh
of dawn, a few yards in front Of me,
could make out brick wall. Agains
this wall was dark form with a whit,
square pinned on its breast We wer,
supposed TO aim at this square. To tn,
right of the form noticed white spo
on the wall This would be my target
Ready Aiml Firer -~A -
The dark form sank into s-huddle1
heap. Ny bullet sped on its way, an,
hit the whidsh spot on the wall;
could see the spl.nteEs ill.,. Some on
eisz- had raeetxad Ehr riise oonfaanin
me blank cartridge. but my mind wa
n - sAsA thsra was no hlooa OF