"Are you ready?" he said as he turned to the camera-men.
"All ready," came the reply.
"Now," said the Captain winking maliciously to two of his men. "You run around and pick me up a beggar."
The soldiers started off, pushing their way through the sheepish crowd and into a side street. After walking a few hundred paces one remarked to the other: "When you don't need them, a hundred are upon you. When you want them—the devil take it."
At last they came upon Silly Peter and decided that he would answer.
"Come along, boy; the Captain wants you," they said, taking hold of his arms.
"Let me go!" The boy struggled. "I did nothing."
"Come along, you fool!"
They brought Silly Peter to the square, placed him on the spot that smelled fresh with upturned earth, placed a shovel in his hands and told him to dig his grave.
When they stepped aside, the terrified boy could see the camera before him and the six soldiers standing at attention a few paces away. Already the clicking handles started turning.