I felt no fear, but I was afraid my knees would shake.

I remember how relieved I was when I took the first step to find my legs did not tremble under me.
"I was resolved, too, that I would not be shot down with my hands tied behind me.

When I faced the squad I meant to shake off the ropes on my wrists and take the volley with my arms at my sides." Stevens was marched to the center of the courtyard.

Then, without a word of explanation to him his bonds were removed and he was put in an automobile and carried off to rejoin the other members of the unlucky sightseeing party.

He never did find out whether he had been made the butt of a hideous practical joke by a half-mad brute or whether his tormentor really meant to send him to death and was deterred at the last moment by fear of the consequences.