Horrible as the death was to be, the man saw, or fancied he saw, an English soldier level his gun at him.
He became hysterical.
His shrieks rent the air.
He was asked what had so suddenly unnerved him.
He pointed to the soldier, who was only practicing the manual of arms, and gasped out nervously that he was afraid the gun might go off and he would be killed.
And yet ten minutes later that very man assisted his executioners to strap him to the cannon which was to blow him into eternity.
It was so with Max.
He had nerved himself for death in the flames to which the boat was speeding, but he was afraid he might fall overboard and be drowned.
Selim sat as rigid as stone.
Save the movement of his chest no sign of life was perceptible.