An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

by Ambrose Bierce

Death is a dignitary who when he comes announced is to be received with formal manifestations of respect, even by those most familiar with him. In the code of military etiquette silence and fixity are forms of deference.

Even Farquhar, who was not a solider, gets this

neck was in the hemp.

hemp noose

He had not known that he lived in so wild a region. There was something uncanny in the revelation.

Looking back, this might/might not be true. Is it even true? This whole section never happened!