The deck was as light as if
the red setting sun were casting his rays upon it. Roland seated himself
on a bale, and said to the captain:
"Turn all these men face upward," and the captain did so.
"Ebearhard, you said execution should take place after a fair trial.
There is no necessity to call witnesses, or to go through any court of
law formalities. You two are perfectly cognizant of everything that has
taken place, and no testimony will either strengthen or weaken that
knowledge. As a preliminary, take Kurzbold, the new president, and
Gensbein, his lieutenant, from among that group, and set them apart. Two
members of the crew will carry out this order," which was carried out
accordingly.
Roland rose, walked along the prostrate row, and selected, apparently at
haphazard, four others, then said to the members of his crew:
"Place these four men beside their leader. Left to myself," he continued
to his lieutenants, "I should hang the six. However, I shall take no
hand in the matter. I appoint you, Joseph Greusel, and you, Gottlieb
Ebearhard, as judges, with power of life and death.
Pages:
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391