CHAPTERXIII

chapterxiii

therewereothermenwhocouldnotstandshell-fire.itfilledthemwithananimalterrorandtookallwill-poweroutofthem.oneyoungofficerwaslikethatmanwho“didnotmindrifle-fire.”he,bysomestrangefreakofpsychology,wasbraveundermachine-gunfire.hehaddoneseveralgallantthings,andwasbrightandcheerfulinthetrenchesuntiltheenemybarragedthemwithhighexplosive.thenhewasseenwanderingbacktothesupporttrenchesinadazedway.ithappenedthreetimes,andhewassentencedtodeath.beforegoingoutatdawntofacethefiring-squadhewascalm.therewasalightedcandleonthetable,andhesortedouthispersonalbelongingsandmadesmallpackagesofthemaskeepsakesforhisfamilyandfriends.hishanddidnottremble.whenhistimecameheputoutthecandle,betweenthumbandfinger,raisedhishand,andsaid,“righto!”

anotherman,shotforcowardiceinfaceoftheenemy,wassullenandsilenttoonewhohopedtocomforthiminthelasthour.thechaplainaskedhimwhetherhehadanymessageforhisrelatives.hesaid,“ihavenorelatives.”hewasaskedwhetherhewouldliketosayanyprayers,andhesaid,“idon'tbelieveinthem.”thechaplaintalkedtohim,butcouldgetnoanswer—andtimewascreepingon.thereweretwoguardsintheroom,sittingmotionless,withloadedriflesbetweentheirknees.outsideitwassilentinthecourtyard,exceptforlittlenoisesofthenightandthewind.thechaplainsuffered,andwastornwithpityforthatsullenmanwhoselifewasalmostatanend.hetookouthishymn—bookandsaid:“iwillsingtoyou.itwillpassthetime.”hesangahymn,andonceortwicehisvoicebrokealittle,buthesteadiedit.thenthemansaid,“iwillsingwithyou.”heknewallthehymns,wordsandmusic.itwasanunusual,astonishingknowledge,andhewentonsinging,hymnafterhymn,withthechaplainbyhisside.itwasthechaplainwhotiredfirst.hisvoicecrackedandhisthroatbecameparched.sweatbrokeoutonhisforehead,becauseofthenervousstrain.butthemanwhowasgoingtodiesangoninaclear,hardvoice.afaintglimmerofcomingdawnlightenedthecottagewindow.therewerenotmanyminutesmore.thetwoguardsshiftedtheirfeet.“now,”saidtheman,“we'llsing'godsavetheking.'”thetwoguardsroseandstoodatattention,andthechaplainsangthenationalanthemwiththemanwhowastobeshotforcowardice.thenthetrampofthefiring-partycameacrossthecobblestonesinthecourtyard.itwasdawn.