Stoertebecker was a great German pirate 300 years ago, who robbed out the merchantships of the Hanse in the Northern sea. Finaly he was catched by the German justice and condemned to death. The judge said to Stoertebecker after that verdict was declared: "We will cut off your head. You can try to stand up after that execution and pass runing beside your fellowpirates, who were lined up nearby. The pirates who you pass will be freed at once.
Stoertebecker ran in reality then without his head along the line of his comrates a long way until he broke down dead. The pirates he passed were freed, the others were also executed to death.

Huh, I don't get it.

I get it.

Would be upsetting if he ran the other way.