to visit them during the
battle."

The Colonel turned to a young officer standing a little distance away--

"Lieutenant Osarov, is it true that you recognised in this man, when
he was brought in here last night, a person whom you saw in an English
square during the progress of the battle?"

"Yes, Colonel, I did!" was the decided reply. "I recognise him now quite
clearly. He was riding a black horse, and dashed off when we broke into
the square."

Heideck perceived that it would be useless to deny the fact, in the face
of this direct evidence, and his military honour would, in any case, not
have permitted him to do so.

"What the lieutenant has said is quite correct," he answered,
anticipating the Colonel's question; "but I did not take part in the
fighting. As a friend of Colonel Baird, who was killed, I kept as long
as possible close to him, so as to be able to bring his relations, who
were left behind in Lahore, tidings of his fate and of the issue of the
battle."

"You, a foreigner, were armed in the English square. Since you confess
this much, we need not trouble ourselves with further proceedings. You,
gentlemen, will all agree that we should treat him, according to martial
law, as a traitor?"

The last words were addressed to the other judges, and, with a silent
bow, they declared their assent.

"Since you, a citizen of a nation not at war with us, have fought in the
ranks of our enemies, the Court must therefore sentence you to death.
The judgment of the Court will be at once carried into effect. Have you
anything to say?"

Heideck was as though stunned. It appeared to him as though a black veil
was drawn across the world; and a sharp pang of grief shot through him
as he reflected that he would never see Edith again, and that she would
in vain wait for him for ever.

Then his pride was roused. No one should call him cowardly or timid.

"Is it possible to appeal against the judgment of this court-martial?"
he asked, looking firmly at the Colonel.

"No!"

"Then I must, of course, submit to your sentence, but I protest both
against the procedure of the Court and against the judgment you have
pronounced."

His protest evidently did not make the slightest impression.

"Have you drawn up the execution warrant?" the Colonel said, turning to
the secretary. He then appended his signature and handed it to one of
the attendant Cossacks.

"Lead the prisoner away."

Two of the soldiers took Heideck bet