"Here, you!" ordered the German corporal advancing threateningly.
"You have been told that you must stand in line."
"But our comrade is weak from loss of blood," interposed another
French officer who spoke German.
"Take that for your meddling," retorted the corporal, landing the back of his hand stingingly on his informant's face. It was a humiliating blow, that a prisoner could not resent in kind.
"Get up," ordered the corporal, "or I shall aid you with my bayonet."
Though the words were not understood by the sufferer, the gesture was. He tried to obey, but did not rise fast enough to suit the corporal.
"Here," mocked the fellow. "That will help you!"
His bayonet point passed through the seat of the victim's trousers, more than pricking the flesh inside.
"Coward!" hissed Prescott and three of four of the French officers.
"If you don't like it, and are not civil," raged the corporal hoarsely, "I shall beat some of you with the butt of my gun."
Subsequently a French officer who had stepped a foot further than he was supposed to stand was rebuked by the corporal's gun-butt striking him on the knee-cap. After that the prisoner limped.