o
that he should not be present at the execution.

"But he shook his head silently; he wished to remain on hand.

"As soon as the rattan came, Big L was made to lie face down on the
table, two cadets seized his hands and drew him forward, two others
took him by the feet so that his body lay stretched out lengthwise. The
tallow candles were taken from the table and lifted up high, and the
whole affair had an absolutely gruesome look.

"Long K, because he was the strongest, was to perform the execution; he
took the rattan in his hand, stepped to one side, and with the force
of his whole body let the cane come whistling down on to Big L, who was
clothed only in drill jacket and trousers.

"The young fellow fairly rose under the fearful blow and would have
cried out; but in a second Little L rushed up to him, took his head in
both hands and smothered it against himself.

"'Don't scream,' he whispered to him; 'don't scream, else the whole
affair will get out!'

"Big L swallowed down the cry and choked and groaned to himself.

"Long K again lifted up the cane, and a second swish resounded through
the hall.

"The body of the culprit actually writhed on the table, so that the
cadets were scarcely able to hold him down by his hands and feet. Little
L had wrapped both arms around the head of his brother, and was crushing
it with convulsive force against himself. His eyes were wide open, his
face like the plaster on the wall, his whole body was quivering.

"Throughout the hall was a stillness like death, so that one could only
hear the wheezing and puffing of the victim whom the little brother was
smothering against his breast.

"All eyes were hanging on the little fellow; we all had a feeling that
we could not look on at it any longer.

"When, therefore, the third blow had fallen and the whole performance
repeated itself just as before, a general excited whisper followed:
'Now, it is enough--strike no more!'

"Long K, who had become quite red from the exertion, was raising his
arm again for the fourth blow, but with one accord, three or four threw
themselves between him and Big L, tore the rattan from his grasp, and
thrust him back.

"The execution was at an end.

"The cadet aforesaid raised his voice once more, but only half aloud.

"'Now, the affair is over with and buried,' said he, 'let each one
give his hand to L No. I., and let him that breathes even a word of the
matter be accounted a rascal.'

"A gene