full of eloquent, inspiring words about that
dignity of man which none should wound with impunity, and about that
justifiable wrath which is not only excusable, but even praiseworthy.

He intoxicated himself with his thoughts. Hope dazzled him, and
already he saw himself acquitted. He piled up argument after argument,
and planned artistically-turned periods and effective antitheses,
concluding his apology with a sublime appeal to the sense of justice of
his judges.

The hours passed. He paced incessantly up and down the narrow cell,
with a glowing face and sparkling eyes. The bowl of food which had been
brought in for his dinner stood untouched. What had he to do with food
and drink? He was contending for something higher--for his freedom.

In the afternoon he was taken before the officer who was to conduct
the inquiry, who had been summoned by telegraph from the divisional
head-quarters.

The proceedings took place in barrack-room VII. of the sixth battery,
the scene of the fatal incident. At the table sat the presiding
officer, a stout man, whose head rose red and swollen above his tight
collar. He had a couple of sheets of paper before him, and while
interrogating constantly fidgeted with a pencil. A clerk waited with
pen to paper.

The hearing began.

Findeisen, when questioned, maintained a stubborn silence. The
examining officer tried by reasoning and by scolding to get something
out of him; the gunner remained dumb. He kept his eyes on the
ground, from time to time glancing furtively at the door. But two
non-commissioned officers were posted on the threshold.

Wolf gave an accurate and connected account of what had occurred. The
clerk's pen flew swiftly over the paper. Then the examining officer
read the report aloud. "Is that correct?" he asked Wolf. "Yes, sir."

He turned to Findeisen: "I ask you also, is that correct? If you have
any objection to make, out with it! For as it stands, the account is
not exactly favourable to you. Therefore I ask you if you have anything
to say against this version?"

Then Findeisen gave his first answer during the proceedings, he shook
his head.

"Nothing, then?" asked the examining officer. The gunner repeated,
"Nothing."

Deputy sergeant-major Heimert, as the only witness, had nothing else to
depose beyond what Wolf had already said: and Findeisen again persisted
in his silence.

After this, the officer closed the judicial examination. He gave orders
that Wolf