Page:Czechoslovak stories.pdf/129

 An unspeakable sorrow gripped me of a sudden. I wished to quickly dodge back to my former place, but the Captain caught sight of me.

“Stay in your place!” he roared, and turned ruddy to his forehead. His large eyes bulged out noticeably. “Whoever moves will be shot on the spot!”

All became silent. My heart seemed to pound furiously within me, but only at intervals. I looked around at Vaněk. He was smiling as he gazed out on the plain lying before us, over which the Colonel with some officers came riding towards us. Behind them advanced a company of some infantry regiment unfamiliar to me. All this happened quickly, rigorously, silently and withal mysteriously and ominously. My eyes roved from place to place while I waited an opportune moment to draw back Vaněk to his former place. But I dared not move again. The Captain watched me constantly.

Just then Lieutenant Schuster stepped up to our line and, seeming somehow taller and more dignified, counted out in his high-pitched voice, “One, two, three, four, five!” And seizing the soldier indicated by the number “five” by the collar he pulled him out in front of the line.

“One, two, three, four, five!” Vaněk was now drawn out in front. In embarrassment he smiled and looked about him good-naturedly as if he thought that he was to be elevated in rank or to be honored in some manner. He did not yet grasp what was really hap-