With the same end in view we attended the execution in the afternoon, and sincerely wished before it was over that we had stayed away.
On this occasion even the chain-gangs were included among the spectators, in the front row, on the ground that, being proved criminals, they needed the lesson more than the hempen-noose-food not yet caught and tried and brought to book.
The same sort of sermon, only this time more fiery and full of ranting humbug about German righteousness, was preached by the commandant.

The miserable victims had received a simple death sentence, but he explained that in virtue of his superior office he had seen fit to add to it.

"Death" he explained, "would certainly rid the German protectorate of such conscienceless scalawags as these, but might not be enough to discourage the bad element that disliked German rule.
Natives must be taught that the very name of all that is German must be reverenced, and that German punishment is as terrible and sure as the German arm is long! And be sure of this!" he continued.

"The ear of the German government is as far-reaching as its arm! In your villages--in your homes--in your families--there is always an agent of the government listening! Your own brother--your wife--your child may be that agent of the government! Now, watch carefully and see what happens to men with bad hearts--aye, and to women with bad hearts, who conspire against German rule!" What followed was more impressive because of the determination we had heard of to bring all Africa under the German yoke.

In vain should the wretched natives in after years escape by the hundreds northward in the hope of living under British government.