Year: 1862

at this interference, gave a surly and
unwilling answer; and when the young
officer rebuked him, in a sewers and
perhaps naughty manner, the violent and
passionate man, losing all self control
lifted up his haud against the officer.


1t was but one fatal moment, quick
as lightning. The uphfted hand never
descended; it was caught by dozen
powerful arms He was felled to the
ground and disarmed. Half an hour
afterwards he found hims elf in irons in
the casemates.


Lifting the arm against superior is
considered a capital crime. In this case
it had been committed while both par.
ties were on duty, and the Austrian
military laws are the very last in the
world to be trihed with The following
day he was tried by court martial, and
sentenced to be shot. " hen the sen.
tence was forwarded 10 the competent I
authorities for ratification, it happened
to be the superior's anniversary day ;
capital punishment was commuted-
the criminal had to run the gauntlet.


"A cruel act of grace was this commu-
nicatiou When the first sentence had
been read over to him, he had remained
cold and impossible; not muscle of his
proud face stirred. He did not fear
death; he bad looked it 10 the face many
a time without Aincbing, and to die in
the open air, pierced by dozen balls
soldiers death--what should he care
much for that? But when lie was III.
formed that he had to run the gauntlet
twice through his company, after having
been previously degraded, he trembled
for the first time in his life. He knew
of many q soldierwh had run the gaunt-
let thrice through battalion, and not
been the worse for it after all; he knew
of some that had even married after
wards, and brought up families of chill
dren; he was fully aware that the issue
of this terrible torture depended entirely
upon the dispositions of the men. Dread
fol reflection Above all, he thought
Of the shame, the dishonor--and his
proud heart was well nigh giving way.


On the evening previous to the pun
ishment, the second rifle battalion of
Khercnhuller infantry would have been
unfit for service; the men were drunk
They had got up carousal in JOY and
honor of the coming day. But in the
morning they were sober enough. The
drums ceased to beat as soon as the prls-
oner arrived IN the square; his escort fell
back. He stood alone near the right
wing of the company. There was dead
silence; not respiration was to be heard
from all the thousands gathered on the
spot. The commanding officer read the
sentence over him for the second time.
This done, he exhorted the men, accor-
ding TO custom, to dispense with all feel
ings of compassion, and to do theirduty
conformably to the law. The colonel
went through this part of the formality
in quick and hurried manner, as if hs
were unwilling to perform it. So he
was; he knew but too well that, in this
instance, there was no need whatever for
exhortation. These preliminarics being
over, the prisoner was delivered into the
hands of the provost.


When the latter tore off from his uni
form the golden lace and galloons
marks of his military rank--throwing
them, together with the gold medal, a.
his feat, the face of the unfortunate man
became purple and his dark eyes flashed
fire. When he was stripped of his coat
and shirt, and placed in the entry of the
terrible street through which he had to
pass, he became pale again. Two SOL
diers went ahead of him, they marched
backward; with their bayonets presented
to his breast, SO as to force him to keep
measure to the drum which brought up
the rear. The drum was mufiled; it's
slow and dismal beats sounded like the
music of funeral procession.


When he received the first stroke, his
features assumed the expression of pain,
and his firm set lips quivered slightly
This was, however, the only sign of sens
alton. Crossing his arms over his breast,
and pressing his teeth close together, his
proud face remained hcnceforth immove-
able. His merciless enemies enjoyed but
an incomplete triumph after all;they might
slash his body in pieces, but his proud
and indomitable spirit they could not
break. The blows descended with fear
ful violence upon him. After the first
dozen blood came; but never did he ut
ter one single exclamation of pain; never
mot even with look--did he implore
for mercy. An expression of scorn and
disdain was deeply set OH his face, as
pale as death. When he reached at last
the left wing of the company, his lscrr-
ted back presented frightful appear
ancc. Even his most exaspcrated ene-
mics might well have been satisfied now;
They faced him right about lie had to
make the same way lack again.


There was one formality connected
with this punishment which was cruel;
barbsrous and shameful mockery; the de-
linquent had to thank his executioners
for his torture.


When the victim had arrived at the
file leader of the right wing Of his CON-
pany, and the dreadful execution was
over, at last, he threw one last long look
full Of contempt,at his tormentors. Then
he was seen staggering like drunken
man towards tho commanding officer
Il