And he
heaved and swayed, and they crashed about the room, the soldiers hopping,
the furniture bumping.
The young soldier had got the rope once round, the brisk sergeant helping
him. The woman sank heavily lower, they got the rope round several times.
In the struggle the victim fell over against the table. The ropes
tightened till they cut his arms. The woman clung to his knees. Another
soldier ran in a flash of genius, and fastened the strange man's feet
with the pair of braces. Seats had crashed over, the table was thrown
against the wall, but the man was bound, his arms pinned against his
sides, his feet tied. He lay half fallen, sunk against the table, still
for a moment.
The woman rose, and sank, faint, on to the seat against the wall. Her
breast heaved, she could not speak, she thought she was going to die. The
bound man lay against the overturned table, his coat all twisted and
pulled up beneath the ropes, leaving the loins exposed. The soldiers
stood around, a little dazed, but excited with the row.
The man began to struggle again, heaving instinctively against the ropes,
taking great, deep breaths. His face, with its golden skin, flushed dark
and surcharged, he heaved again. The great veins in his neck stood out.
But it was no good, he went relaxed. Then again, suddenly, he jerked his
feet.
'Another pair of braces, William,' cried the excited soldier. He threw
himself on the legs of the bound man, and managed to fasten the knees.
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