As we turned our backs on them they started off toward the neat white dwelling on the hill.
The court was a round, grass-roofed affair, with white-washed walls of sun-dried brick.

For about four-fifths of the circumference the wall was barely breast-high, the roof being supported on wooden pillars bricked into the wall, as well as by the huge pole that propped it up umbrella-wise in the center.
The remaining fifth of the wall continued up as high as the roof, forming a back to the platform.

Facing the platform was the entrance, and on either side benches arranged in rows followed the curve of the wall.

There was a long table on the platform, at which sat the lieutenant who had summoned us, with a sergeant seated on either hand.
The sergeants were acting as court clerks, scribbling busily on sheets of blue paper, and in books.
Behind the lieutenant, in a great gilt frame on the white-washed wall, was a full-length portrait of the Kaiser in general's uniform.

The Kaiser was depicted scowling, his gloved hands resting on a saber almost as ferocious-looking as the one the lieutenant kept winding his leg around.
All the benches were crowded with spectators, prisoners, witnesses, and litigants.