They paused and stood, expectant.
There was a silence.
Finally, the chest of the doomed soldier began to heave with a strained motion.

It increased in violence until it was as if an animal was within and was kicking and tumbling furiously to be free.
This spectacle of gradual strangulation made the youth writhe, and once as his friend rolled his eyes, he saw something in them that made him sink wailing to the ground.

He raised his voice in a last supreme call.
"Jim--Jim--Jim--" The tall soldier opened his lips and spoke.

He made a gesture.

"Leave me be--don't tech me--leave me be--" There was another silence while he waited.
Suddenly his form stiffened and straightened.