Have you any reason to offer why sentence of death should not be passed upon you ?" "Sir," I answered, "I am not here to plead for my life, which already I have risked a score of times in the service of your people.

Yet I would say this.

On the night of the outbreak I was set on, four to one, for no crime, as you have heard, and did but protect myself.

Afterwards, when I was about to be slain, the Northmen, my comrades, protected me unasked; then I did my best to save the life of the Empress, and, in fact, succeeded.

My only offence is that when the great charge took place and your regiments were defeated, remembering only that I was a soldier, I led that charge.