criticizing my sacred person. You approve of my plan?"

"I approve of all that Your Majesty ever suggests."

"Of course it makes no difference whether you do or not, but I wish you
to have the prisoners brought ashore. You must seek out their
relatives among the troops, but do not let them know why. Then fix the
execution for some day next week, and have a general parade of all the
troops on that occasion."

The Emperor's secret was well kept, and, except that a special parade
was to be held, no one knew what the object was. A glittering array of
soldiers met the war-lord's eyes when he entered the public square
where the army was drawn up. In pursuance of his orders the enlisted
men who were related to the prisoners were alined in front of the
center with a captain in command of them. The Emperor directed his
horse to the spot and addressed the whole army, applying his remarks
particularly, however, to the detail immediately before him.

"My children," said he, "when you took the oath of allegiance as my
soldiers you became members of my family, and it became your solemn
duty to do my bidding, whatever that bidding might be. My word became
for you the Word of God. You gave your consciences into my keeping,
knowing that God had commissioned me to relieve you of that
responsibility. From that moment it was your aim to become perfect
soldiers, with your minds and consciences deposited in my hands for
safe-keeping. From that day forth you no longer had minds nor
consciences--your whole duty was summed up in the obligation to obey
orders. That is the soldier's only duty. And I know, my children, that
you are perfect soldiers and that you stand ever ready to do that duty.
Soldiers in other armies may occasionally forget their calling and
indulge in the forbidden fruits of reason and conscience, but the
Tutonian soldier never! We all know this. For us no proof is necessary.
But I wish to demonstrate the fact to the world. I have brought over
with me across the sea certain of your relations who have been guilty
of the unparalleled crime of lese-majesty. I have determined that they
deserve death, and that you shall carry out the execution. I have so
arranged it that each of the condemned shall be shot by his nearest
relation, be it father, son, or brother. You will show the world that
you are ready, nay, proud to carry out these my commands. I
congratulate you on being selected for this no