It was quite dark, and while our noise was going on the guards changed, new men coming on duty.

Suddenly, bang! went the gun of the guard in the box about fifty feet away from us.

We knew it was a Fifty-Fifth Georgian, and supposed that, irritated at our singing, he was trying to kill some of us for spite.

At the sound of the gun we jumped up and scattered.

As no one gave the usual agonized yell of a prisoner when shot, we supposed the ball had not taken effect.