“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.
“The young fellow fairly rose under the fearful blow and would have cried out; but in a second Little L rushed up to him, took his head in both hands and smothered it against himself.
“‘Don’t scream,’ he whispered to him; ‘don’t scream, else the whole affair will get out!’
“Big L swallowed down the cry and choked and groaned to himself.
“Long K again lifted up the cane, and a second swish resounded through the hall.
“The body of the culprit actually writhed on the table, so that the cadets were scarcely able to hold him down by his hands and feet. Little L had wrapped both arms around the head of his brother, and was crushing it with convulsive force against himself. His eyes were wide open, his face like the plaster on the wall, his whole body was quivering.