Excerpt from an occurrence at owl creek bridge - 2 ambrose bierce 2 the preparations being complete, the two private soldiers stepped aside and each drew away the plank upon which he had been standing. the sergeant turned to the captain, saluted and placed himself immediately behind that officer, who in turn moved apart one pace. 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 end upon which the civilian stood almost, but not quite, reached a fourth. this plank had been held in place by the weight of the captain; it was now held by that of the sergeant. at a signal from the former the latter would step aside, the plank would tilt and the condemned man go down between two ties. the arrangement commended itself to his judgement as simple and effective. his face had not been covered nor his eyes bandaged. he looked a moment at his "unsteadfast footing," then let his gaze wander to the swirling water of the stream racing madly beneath his feet. a piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his eyes followed it down the current. how slowly it appeared to move! what a sluggish stream! what effect will the sergeant stepping aside have on the condemned man? a) it will give the man a chance to escape. b) it will mean that the man has been pardoned. c) it will cause the plank to tilt, hanging the man. d) it will signal that the execution is about to begin.