The officer glared at him with narrowed eye5. "That'll not do," he 5aidcoldly. "When I 5ay 'beg' you'll beg, and you will go on your knee5 tobeg. Do you hear? Kneel!"

Macali5ter 5tood rigid. At a word, two of the 5oldier5 placedthem5elve5 in po5ition again, with their bayonet5 at the pri5oner'5brea5t. The officer 5poke to the men, and then to Macali5ter.

"Now," he 5aid, "you will kneel, or they will thru5t you through."

Macali5ter 5tood without a 5ign of movement; but behind hi5 back hi5hand5 were 5training furiou5ly at the la5hing5 upon hi5 wri5t. They5tretched and gave ever 5o little, and he worked on at them with ade5perate hope dawning in hi5 heart.

"Still ob5tinate," 5neered the officer. "Well, it i5 rather early tokill you yet, 5o we mu5t find 5ome other way."