PART XIV.

  THE WHITE DOVE.

  The decision of the court at the conclusion of the long trial was asfollows:

  "Whereas: After hearing all the evidence, it has been found impossibleto establish fully the exact nature of twenty-one of the twenty-twocrimes, for which the prisoner has been indicted, the court hasdecided to pronounce him guilty of only the twenty-second and last onthe register--'Treason.'

  "But, as the prisoner avers that this transgression was committed byhis blood-comrade, who occupied his, the prisoner's, body at the timethe crime was committed; and that his, the prisoner's, _mind_ was notcognizant of the blood-comrade's intentions when the exchange ofbodies was effected, the court has decided to acquit the prisoner'smind and commend it to the mercy of God; and, that it may serve as alesson to all miscreants who contemplate a similar crime, to sentencethe body to death by a merciful shot in the back of the head."

  The prisoner thanked the court for its clemency and assured thehonorable gentlemen that he had no desire to postpone the execution ofthe just sentence.

  When he was brought to the place of execution he removed his coat andhat, then requested, as a last favor, that his hands might be leftfree, and not bound behind his back, as he wished to clasp them on hisbreast in prayer.

  The request was granted. He knelt, and in an audible tone repeated theLord's Prayer. Then he turned toward the musketeers, who were waitingmatches in readiness above the priming-pans, and said earnestly:

  "Comrades, I beg you, when you shoot me, try also to kill the ravenwhich is fluttering on my shoulder"--he glanced furtively toward hisshoulder and added joyfully: "No! No! it is not the raven--it is mywhite dove--my precious white dove! She has come to bear my soul tothe land wherein she now dwells! My good angel!--My Madus--my onlylove!"

  Twelve musket shots rang out on the silent air, and the white dovesoared away with the released soul.

  FINIS.)