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”.
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”.
