n was given to the ground in front,
the archers had taken an entirely different road from the one they ought
to have followed if his combination were to succeed. They suddenly fell
upon him from behind, and before he could blow his whistle, they gagged
him with a handkerchief and tied his hands. Six remained to keep the
field of battle and disperse the hostile band, now deprived of its chief;
the remaining four conveyed Pierre to the little wood, while the robbers,
hearing no signal, did not venture to stir. According to agreement,
Pierre Buttel was tried by the archers, who promptly transformed
themselves into a court of justice, and as he had been taken red-handed,
and did not condescend to defend himself, the trial was not a long
affair. He was unanimously sentenced to be hung, and the execution was
then and there carried out, at the request of the criminal himself, who
wanted the game to be properly played to the end, and who actually
selected a suitable tree for his own execution.

"But, Pierre," said one of the judges, "how can you be held up there?"

"How stupid you are!" returned the captive. "I shall only pretend to be
hung, of course. See here!" and he fastened together several pieces
strong string which had tied some of the other boys' books, piled the
latter together, and standing on tiptoe on this very insecure basis,
fastened one end of the cord to a horizontal bough, and put his neck into
a running knot at the other end, endeavouring to imitate the contortions
of an actual sufferer. Shouts of laughter greeted him, and the victim
laughed loudest of all. Three archers went to call the rest to behold
this amusing spectacle; one, tired out, remained with the prisoner.

"Ah, Hangman," said Pierre, putting out his tongue at him, "are the books
firm? I thought I felt them give way."

"No," replied Antoine; it was he who remained. "Don't be afraid,
Pierre."

"It is a good thing; for if they fell I don't think the cord is long
enough."

"Don't you really think so?"

A horrible thought showed itself like a flash on the child's face. He
resembled a young hyena scenting blood for the first time. He glanced at
the pile of books Pierre was standing on, and compared it with the length
of the cord between the branch and his neck. It was already nearly dark,
the shadows were deepening in the wood, gleams of pale light penetrated
between the trees, the leaves had become black and rustled in the wind.
An