S. D. Gordon, in “The Sychar Revival,” gives an incident several times
paralleled in the histories of warfare:
There is a simple story told about the time when the British
were putting down a rebellion among the Ashanti tribes on the
west coast of Africa. One morning the officer in command came to
speak to the soldiers as they were drilling on the level stretch
of land. He said, “Soldiers, I have a dangerous enterprise
to-day. I need so many men. Every man that goes may lose his
life. It is as serious as that. I am telling you frankly. I
could draft you, but I don’t want to. I would like to ask for
volunteers. I want those who will volunteer for Her Majesty’s
sake to advance a pace.” They were drawn up in a straight line,
and thinking the men might be influenced by his look he swung on
his heel, and off, then back again and looked. The line stood as
straight as before. His eye flashed fire. “What, not a single
man to volunteer?” Then a fellow standing at the end of the line
next to him saluted and said, modestly, “If you please, sir,
every man has advanced one pace.”
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