EXECUTION

THREE MEN AWAITED EXECUTION BY FIRING SQUAD

IN THE CONDEMNED CELL, FROM WHICH THE SITE OF

THEIR FORTHCOMING ORDEAL COULD BE CLEARLY SEEN.

THE FIRST, AN ENGLISHMAN, WAS TAKEN OUT

AND STOOD AGAINST THE WALL.

AS THE FIRING SQUAD RAISED THEIR RIFLES,

HE SUDDENLY SHOUTED "AVALANCHE!"

AT THE TOP OF HIS VOICE.

THE SOLDIERS LOOKED ABOUT IN ALARM,

THREW DOWN THEIR RIFLES AND TURNED TO RUN.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MOMENTARY CHAOS,

THE ENGLISHMAN SCUTTLED AWAY AS FAST AS

HIS LEGS WOULD CARRY HIM AND ESCAPED.

THE SECOND CONDEMNED MAN. A SCOT,

SEEING THE SUCCESS OF THIS PLOY,

WHEN HIS TURN CAME SHOUTED

"FLOOD!",

WITH EXACTLY THE SAME HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL

EFFECT, AND OFF HE SCAMPERED.

THE THIRD MAN, AN IRISHMAN,

IMPRESSED BY THE INITIATIVE OF HIS COLLEAGUES,

DETERMINED TO FOLLOW SUIT.

AS THE RIFLES WERE RAISED AND FINGERS

CURLED AROUND THE TRIGGERS, HE SHOUTED

"FIRE’