s "support"--that is to say,
vertical in front of the left shoulder, the hammer resting on the forearm
thrown straight across the chest--a formal and unnatural position,
enforcing an erect carriage of the body. It did not appear to be the duty
of these two men to know what was occurring at the center of the bridge;
they merely blockaded the two ends of the foot-plank which traversed it.

[Footnote A: This story is taken from "In the Midst of Life," a volume of
Mr. Bierce's tales--Copyright, 1898, by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York.]

Beyond one of the sentinels, nobody was in sight; the railroad ran
straight away into a forest for a hundred yards, then, curving, was lost
to view. Doubtless there was an outpost farther along. The other bank of
the stream was open ground--a gentle acclivity crowned with a stockade of
vertical tree-trunks, loopholed for rifles, with a single embrasure
through which protruded the muzzle of a brass cannon commanding the
bridge. Midway of the slope between bridge and fort were the spectators--a
single company of infantry in line, at "parade rest," the butts of the
rifles on the ground, the barrels inclining slightly backward against the
right shoulder, the hands crossed upon the stock. A lieutenant stood at
the right of the line, the point of his sword upon the ground, his left
hand resting upon his right. Excepting the group of four at the center of
the bridge, not a man moved. The company faced the bridge, staring
stonily, motionless. The sentinels, facing the banks of the stream, might
have been statues to adorn the bridge. The captain stood with folded arms,
silent, observing the work of his subordinates, but making no sign. Death
is a dignitary who, when he comes announced, is to be received with formal
manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him. In the
code of military etiquette, silence and fixity are forms of deference.

The man who was engaged in being hanged was apparently about thirty-five
years of age. He was a civilian, if one might judge from his habit, which
was that of a planter. His features were good--a straight nose, firm
mouth, broad forehead, from which his long, dark hair was combed straight
back, falling behind his ears to the collar of his well-fitting frock
coat. He wore a mustache and pointed beard, but no whiskers; his eyes were
large and dark-gray and had a kindly expression which one would hardly
have expected in one whose neck was in the hemp. E