“‘He feels it.’
“‘Does he choose that we report him to the captain or that we thrash him soundly and that the matter shall then be buried?’
“‘He prefers to be soundly thrashed.’
“A sigh of relief went through the whole hall.
“It was determined to finish the matter at once then and there.
“One of the boys was sent out to fetch a rattan, such as we used for beating our clothes.
“While he was gone we tried to induce Little L to leave the hall, so that he should not be present at the execution.
“But he shook his head silently; he wished to remain on hand.
“As soon as the rattan came, Big L was made to lie face down on the table, two cadets seized his hands and drew him forward, two others took him by the feet so that his body lay stretched out lengthwise. The tallow candles were taken from the table and lifted up high, and the whole affair had an absolutely gruesome look.
“Long K, because he was the strongest, was to perform the execution; he took the rattan in his hand, stepped to one side, and with the force of his whole body let the cane come whistling down on to Big L, who was clothed only in drill jacket and trousers.