The preparations being complete, the two private soldiers stepped aside and each drew away the plank upon which he had been standing.
T.
The end upon which the civilian stood almost, but not quite, reached a fourth.
These movements left the condemned man and the sergeant standing on the two ends of the same plank, which spanned three of the cross-ties of the bridge.
The sergeant turned to the captain, saluted and placed himself immediately behind that officer, who in turn moved apart one pace.
The preparations being complete, the two private soldiers stepped aside and each drew away the plank upon which he had been standing