Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/222

 the seventh also passed the same way with a blot of oil on it which pursued it through all the copies, and that at last only two rolls were left.

When the last but one was hauled up, the last but one: ‘Ready!’ was called. And again spindle and waterfall were set in motion. Once more, for this last chance, the demon bestrode Kuba’s soul and heated his brain with the thought: ‘If I don’t do it now, it will never be done.’

Although he bit his teeth together to master the unendurable pain, they chattered, and he gulped and struggled for breath from time to time. His hands and feet trembled as though he were in a fever, and when he reached out for the brake, his fingers shook violently. In all his life he had never experienced so much searing rage, such intense passion as he did now, while the moments rushed on madly, and yet too slowly for his murderous intention. At last!

They were hauling up the last roll. Kuba had to hold on to something, else he would have fallen down. If he had been commanded to stir from his place, he would have been unable to do so. He could not even turn his head and look at his victim, so as to be ready