Page images
PDF
EPUB

becomes permissible to-to overlook some of them. Whether we do so or not depends upon your judgment. Lieutenant Edwards, as you

know, was captured by the enemy four days ago.

(There is a general murmur of assent.)

Anstruther. Lieutenant Edwards escaped to-day. Lieutenant Edwards told me to-day what took place in the interim. It appears that the Boers wanted information as to the disposition of our forces-as to our strength -as to our plans-information which Lieutenant Edwards could give them.

Parker (to Edwards). You did n't tell them, did you?

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Anstruther. He refused to speak, Captain Parker. Then Edwards, tell them what followed.

Edwards. They could n't get anything out of me, so-so they put me to the torture.

A Lieutenant. Good God!

Edwards. They held my feet to the fire-they tied a cord around my forehead

sir.

Anstruther (interrupting coldly). The details are of no consequence,

Edwards. No, sir.

Anstruther. They tortured you to make you tell. Did you tell?

Bates. You did n't, man!

Grantham. Of course he did n't!

Anstruther. Did you tell, sir?

Edwards. They tortured me, sir, they were killing me

Anstruther (insistently). Did you tell?
Edwards (after a tense pause). Yes, sir.

MacLaurin (rushing at him).
Anstruther (arresting him).

Sit down, gentlemen!

You-you traitor!

Stop!

(To the others, who have risen.)

Edwards (sobbing). I could n't help it! I swear I could n't help it! I stood it for ten hours-for ten livelong hours-I fainted twice, and they waited till I came to, each time and then

MacLaurin. You told!

Edwards. I could n't stand the pain. It was killing me.

MacLaurin. You coward!

Edwards (springing up). Major!

Anstruther (sternly). Sit down, sir! (There is a pause.) Gentlemen, I have asked you here to judge this man.

Parker. Why, there's nothing to do but

Anstruther (interrupting). Just a minute, Captain. The Articles of War prescribe death. (There is an affirmatory murmur.) Lieutenant Edwards has betrayed military secrets. But whether one man dies or does not die is of no great consequence. This is not a court-martial: no report of what takes place here will ever reach the outside world. Lieutenant

Edwards was compelled to do what he did: it was not a voluntary act. He claims-well, it is not necessary for me to repeat what he said: you can imagine what it was. It is for you to decide what is to be done: it is for you to punish—or not to punish. Gentlemen, the matter is in your hands. (He walks to the door of the tent. The officers rise, and form a group.)

Edwards (seizing Grantham's sleeve as he passes). Billy!

(Grantham shakes him off in silence.) A Lieutenant. What a thing to happen to the regiment! Edwards (turning to him eagerly). Gerald, if you knewThe Lieutenant (cutting him short). I don't want to. (He turns his back.)

MacLaurin. to you

Gentlemen, as senior officer present I put the question

Edwards. But hear me first

MacLaurin. There is nothing you can say, sir. (He turns to the others.) The Articles of War prescribe death for the officer who forgets his oath of allegiance to his Sovereign. I so vote. Gentlemen? (A chorus of "Ayes"; a single "Nay.”)

MacLaurin. Again, gentlemen?

(There is still one "Nay.")

MacLaurin (frowning). The "ayes" have it.

(He crosses silently to Anstruther.)

Edwards (hysterically). You're not going to see me killed, are you? Why, I could n't do anything else

A Lieutenant. Edwards, you were an officer and a gentleman once. Try to remember it.

Anstruther (returning). I believe you have voted, gentlemen?

MacLaurin. There is only one against, sir.

Anstruther (addressing the officers). And you are still of the same opinion?

(A general murmur of assent.)

Anstruther. Major MacLaurin.

MacLaurin Yes, sir.

Anstruther. Some time to-morrow you will go for a walk with Lieutenant Edwards.

MacLaurin. Yes, sir.

Anstruther. You will go some distance from camp-not less than a mile, I should say.

MacLaurin. Yes, sir.

Anstruther. On this walk there will be an accident. What kind of an accident does not matter. Revolvers have been known to explode while being cleaned. Or, if you prefer, there is a dangerous cliff towards the south. At any rate, there will be an accident.

MacLaurin. Yes, sir.

Anstruther. From this accident Lieutenant Edwards will not recover. And you will make it your business to see that there is such an accident. MacLaurin. Yes, sir.

Anstruther (to Edwards).

You may write what letters you please to-
There is to be nothing
They will be ordinary let-

night-under Major MacLaurin's supervision. which would lead persons to suspect the truth. ters-such as you might write any time-no farewells. You understand, sir? (Edwards does not answer. He repeats the question.) You understand, sir?

Edwards (saluting with an effort). Yes, sir.

Anstruther. That is all.

Edwards (offering his hand).

Good-by, sir.

Anstruther (turning his back). I said that was all, sir.
Captain Willoughby. No, sir, that is not all!

Anstruther (wheeling in surprise). Sir?

Willoughby. It is hellish, what you are doing! It's not right; it's not fair that you should send this poor boy to his death like this! You would have done the same thing if you had been in his place! He told, that is true, but you would have told, too! Just look at him: see the mark of the cord around his forehead: imagine what he went through! He did what he had to, and you, you sanctimonius beggars, you would have done no better!

(Edwards bursts into an hysterical laugh.) Willoughby (continuing excitedly). I was the one who voted against death! You would n't hear him, no, you would n't listen to a word in his defense. And it's murder that you 're doing! Murder! (He pauses as he notices the peculiar expression on Anstruther's face. He finishes weakly): You must let him go, sir! You must let him go! Anstruther (after a pause, in a grim tone). Yes. MacLaurin (voicing a general protest). What are you doing, Colonel? Anstruther (silences him with a gesture).

Willoughby. You will do what is right, Colonel!

Anstruther (emphatically). Yes. (He detains the officers as they start to leave the tent.) Wait a minute, gentlemen. (He pauses; then, quietly): Gentlemen, there has been a traitor amongst you for a long time. I was unable to find out who it was; so Lieutenant Edwards and I put together this story. Lieutenant Edwards was never captured by the enemy: he was never tortured: he never told. But it was sure that one man would be merciful to a traitor: the man who himself might be discovered any day. (He pauses; then, suddenly): Captain Willoughby, at dawn a firing squad will escort you out of camp-and shoot you!

CURTAIN

OPTIONAL READINGS IN THE MODERN DRAMA

Note.-Report on as many plays as you have time for. Give for each the name of play and author; classify according to main class of plays represented, giving reasons for classification; classify, where possible, as to sub-class. What points of difference did you note between this and an older play? How did it compare in interest? Give in a sentence or two what the play is about.

"The Doll's House".

"Strife"

"Justice"

"The Silver Box"

"The Pigeon"

"On the Road," from "Daily Bread".
"The Night Shift," from "Daily Bread".
"The First Born," from "Daily Bread".
"The Shirt," from "Daily Bread”.....
"The Furnace," from "Daily Bread”.
"Riders to the Sea"

"The Travelling Man".
"The White Cockade"
"The Gaol Gate".

"The Rising of the Moon"

"McDonough's Wife"

"The Work-House Ward”.
"Spreading the News".

"The Land of Heart's Desire"
"The Hour Glass"
"On Baile's Strand".
"Cathleen ni Houlihan".
"The Countess Cathleen".
"A Pot of Broth"
"Sherwood"

"Herod"

"Ulysses"

"The Bluebird"

"The Piper".

"Marlowe"

"The Wolf of Gubbio".

"The Servant in the House".

"The Passing of the Third Floor Back".

"Fanny and the Servant Problem".

"The Amazons".

"Sweet Lavender"

"The Manoeuvres of Jane".

Henrik Ibsen
..John Galsworthy
.John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy
Wilfrid W. Gibson
Wilfrid W. Gibson
Wilfrid W. Gibson
Wilfrid W. Gibson
Wilfrid W. Gibson
John Millington Synge
Lady Augusta Gregory
Lady Augusta Gregory

Lady Augusta Gregory

Lady Augusta Gregory
Lady Augusta Gregory
Lady Augusta Gregory
Lady Augusta Gregory
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats

William Butler Yeats

. Alfred Noyes

Stephen Phillips
Stephen Phillips
Maurice Maeterlinck

Josephine Preston Peabody
. Josephine Preston Peabody
Josephine Preston Peabody
Charles Rann Kennedy

. Jerome K. Jerome
Jerome K. Jerome
Arthur Wing Pinero
Arthur Wing Pinero
H. A. Jones

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

1. Before turning to Book Two, sum up what you have gained from a study of poetry. How do you think the three main classes of poetry compare in interest? Can you distinguish one kind from another instantly? Can you easily distinguish the main types under each general class? Can you take a poem and prove its classification by pointing out its characteristics? Do you feel that you know some of the best writers of each type? Have you enjoyed the work?

2. For your theme work try dramatizing a short-story by O. Henry or some other author who has given a good deal of dialogue. Be sure to notice whether it would be actable. Look over examples of modern plays to see just what methods are used as to general arrangement, and the indication of speakers and of stage directions.

1 This usually marks the end of the first semester's work.

« PreviousContinue »