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Wladek looked around in terror and would have vo up He searched in every direction for help or some means of escape; no one had told hi to escape would be the loss of a foot His eyes darted around the mass of faces until he saw aa dark suit Theabout twenty yards away froust But he did not once look in Wladek’s direction, nor could he hear his shouts for help in the uproar arising froht down Was he French, Gerlish or even Polish? Wladek could not tell, but for some reason he was there to witness thisEm to look his way But he did not Wladek waved his free arain the European’s attention They untied the round towards the block When the sent up again the crowd cheered, the ust and Wladek waved frantically at hiain
The man stared at Wladek and then turned to talk to a coling with the prisoner immediately in front of Wladek He placed the prisoner’s hand under the strap; the sent up and removed the hand in one blow The crowd seeain at the Europeans They were now both looking at him He willed theuard caround, undid his shirt and rolled up his sleeve Wladek struggled futilely as he was dragged across the square He was no uard When he reached the block, he was kicked in the back of his knees and collapsed to the ground The strap was fastened over his right wrist, and there was nothing left for him to do but close his eyes as the sas raised above the executioner’s head He waited in agony for the terrible blow, and then there was a sudden hush in the crowd as the Baron’s silver band fell from Wladek’s elbon to his wrist and on to the block Ahtly in the sunlight The executioner stopped and put down his sword and studied the silver band Wladek opened his eyes He tried to pull it over Wladek’s wrist, but he couldn’t get it past the leather strap A man in uniform ran quickly forward and joined the executioner He too, studied the band and the inscription and then ran to another her authority, because he walked round and the croere now beginning to jear and hoot The second officer also tried to pull the silver band off, but could not get it over the block either and he see to undo the strap He shouted words at Wladek, who did not understand what he was saying and replied in Polish, ’I do not speak your language!
The officer looked surprised and threw his hands in the air shouting, ’Allah’ That ht Wladek
The officer walked slowly towards the twoin every direction like a disorganised windmill Wladek prayed to God; in such situations any od, be it Allah or the Ave Maria The Europeans were still staring at Wladek, and Wladek nodded his head up and down frantically One of the men in the dark suits joined the Turkish officer as he walked back towards the block The former knelt down by Wladek’s side, studied the silver band and then looked carefully at hies and prayed that the gentleman would speak one of them His heart sank when the European turned to the officer and addressed hi rotten fruit at the block The officer was nodding his agreeentlelish?’
Wladek heaved a sigh of relief ’Yes, sir, not bad I am Polish citizen’
’How did you come into possession of that silver band?’
’It belong my father, sir He die in prison by the Germans in Poland, and I captured and sent to a prison camp in Russia I escape and come here by ship I have no cat for days When stallkeeper no accept ry’
The Englishman rose slowly froin his knees, turned to the officer and spoke to him very firmly The latter, in turn, addressed the executioner who looked doubtful, but when the officer repeated the order a little louder, he bent down and reluctantly undid the leather strap This tilishe their minds’