ll not realized
on what frightful brink you stand?"

The Gadfly glanced back over his shoulder at the open grave.

"And s-s-so your reverence thinks that, when you have put me down there,
you will have done with me? Perhaps you will lay a stone on the top to
pre-v-vent a r-resurrection 'after three days'? No fear, your reverence!
I shan't poach on the monopoly in cheap theatricals; I shall lie as
still as a m-mouse, just where you put me. And all the same, WE shall
use field-guns."

"Oh, merciful God," the priest cried out; "forgive this wretched man!"

"Amen!" murmured the lieutenant of carabineers, in a deep bass growl,
while the colonel and his nephew crossed themselves devoutly.

As there was evidently no hope of further insistence producing any
effect, the priest gave up the fruitless attempt and moved aside,
shaking his head and murmuring a prayer. The short and simple
preparations were made without more delay, and the Gadfly placed himself
in the required position, only turning his head to glance up for a
moment at the red and yellow splendour of the sunrise. He had repeated
the request that his eyes might not be bandaged, and his defiant face
had wrung from the colonel a reluctant consent. They had both forgotten
what they were inflicting on the soldiers.

He stood and faced them, smiling, and the carbines shook in their hands.

"I am quite ready," he said.

The lieutenant stepped forward, trembling a little with excitement. He
had never given the word of command for an execution before.

"Ready--present--fire!"

The Gadfly staggered a little and recovered his balance. One unsteady
shot had grazed his cheek, and a little blood fell on to the white
cravat. Another ball had struck him above the knee. When the smoke
cleared away the soldiers looked and saw him smiling still and wiping
the blood from his cheek with the mutilated hand

"A bad shot, men!" he said; and his voice cut in, clear and articulate,
upon the dazed stupor of the wretched soldiers. "Have another try."

A general groan and shudder passed through the row of carabineers. Each
man had aimed aside, with a secret hope that the death-shot would come
from his neighbour's hand, not his; and there the Gadfly stood and
smiled at them; they had only turned the execution into a butchery, and
the whole ghastly business was to do again. They were seized with sudden
terror, and, lowering their carbines, listened hopelessly to the furious
curses an