Subsequently we discovered that the non-commissioned officer, thoroughly alarmed at his rifle snapping in twain, not knowing how he would be able to explain the circumstance of his weapon being broken, and having heard that we had hastened to the Commandant to lodge our complaint, darted into the guard-room, concealed the conclusive evidence of his guilt, and appropriated the sound rifle of a comrade.  This was the weapon he had produced before Major Bach so triumphantly.  We never heard how the non-commissioned officer ultimately explained away his broken rifle upon parade when the trick was certain to be discovered, but bearing in mind the iron method which prevails in the German army he must have been hard put to it to have advanced a plausible excuse when arraigned.  Doubtless there was considerable trouble over the episode but we never heard anything more about it, although we would have dearly loved to have been acquainted with the sequel.

Foiled in our attempt to secure redress for an outraged prisoner we considered the episode closed.  But it was not.  Directly we had left the office Major Bach sent for the Pole who had been attacked.  He related his story which was naturally a confirmation of our charge.  But he was set down as an unprincipled liar, and one of whom an example must be made.  Forthwith he was condemned to four hours at the post on the charge of fighting and endeavouring to impugn the probity of the German guard, who can do no wrong.

The misery endured by this poor wretch is indescribable.  In this instance, in order to secure enhanced effect, according to the lights of Major Bach, the prisoner was forced to stand on tip-toe against the post, while the upper rope was passed around his neck.  This rope was left somewhat loose, and as nearly as I can describe, was looped in the form of a double knot.  Being on tip-toe the hapless wretch was speedily transferred, by his toes giving way, to a hanging position.  His head fell forward, as he gradually lapsed into unconsciousness, until it pressed against the restraining slip-knot.  The consequence was that he suffered the agonies of slow strangulation in addition to the searing of his hands and ankles, while the weight of his body dragged his neck more tightly than otherwise would have been the case, against the upper rope.  His face presented a terrifying sight, being quite blue, from his inability to breathe, except with the greatest difficulty.  His mouth was wide open and his tongue, which protruded, was exceedingly swollen.  His eyes were half out of their sockets.  But he had to serve the sentence of four hours, and although he became unconscious time after time and had to be released, water always brought him to his senses to undergo a further spell upon the fiendish rack until the sentence had been well and truly served.

On one occasion a poor wretch condemned to this torture, after having become unconscious, was taken down, revived, and incarcerated for the night in the guard-room.  The next morning he was marched out again and re-tied up to complete his sentence.