LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 597, 18 May 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW 1 FOUGHT MY FIRST DUEL.

[Continued .)

‘ I suppose so,’ grunted Fischer. ‘ Ah ; here they come, thank goodness ! ’ And going forward to meet them, he touched his cap to Mulheim, who, returning the greeting, stepped aside with him for a moment. * May we go on now ? suggested our second officer. ‘ Both men here.’ ‘Very well, Herr Fischer, * 111 see to it at once. But how about the sentries ? ’ <O, let the “ Fuchs-Majoren ” (junior officer) ‘ settle that. ‘As you like ; only r as the youngsters seem very excited about this affair, I promised to'see if we could manage for reliefs every ten minutes. Vv c shall only want three sentries, one at the end of the chaut'&ie, another at the cross-roads, and a third on the skirts of the forest. If you don’t object to this arrangement 1 shall be happy to furnish the first relaj.’ < Much obliged, Herr Mulheim; quite agreeable. But it’s hardly fair to send so many of your youngsters off at once. I’ll supply one for the cross-roads, and yon send the other two; then in ten minutes we change about. ’ _ ‘ Thanks ; that will do admirably. ’ ‘ Then we may get ready ? ’ ‘ Yours to command, Herr Fischer.’

And the two officers, separating with renewed cap-touching, called upon their respective men to strip. While the youngsters were bandaging me, after I had stripped to the waist, Dornberg, Fischer, and one or two others kept my mind fully occupied by enumerating Klein’s favorite tricks, and telling me how to avoid and how to meet them.

In Schlager duels the only parts attempted aie the] head andjbreast, yet, although my right arm was bandaged with thick rolls of silk to enable me to parry the attacks of my adversary, I nevertheless felt myself open on every side, and wondered how on earth Klein would be able to miss hitting me; whereas, when 1 looked at him, I quite despaired of ever touching him, so thoroughly protected did he seem to be. The bandages were as follows:—the axillarius, which protects the armpit; the arm and wrist bandages, a thick roll of silk round the neck in form of a cravat, to prevent the jugular from being cut; a coarse old shirt, and canvas or leather half-trousers protecting the stomach and thighs, although no man ever dreams of attacking those parts, on account of the tremendous risks he would incur in doing so. Small thin plates of iron, known as .duelling spectacles, which cover the socket and protect the eyeball, complete the equipment. Tke Schlager itself is a splendidly-balanced weapon, with a straight double-edged blade about threequarters of an inch broad near the hilt and half an inch at the point. The blade is not only narrow, but thin, pliable, and, for about eighteen inches from the point, sharp as a razor. It is so light that strangers to the weapon ridicule the idea that it is possible to do much damage with it, but a true swordsman who appreciates delicate manipulation cannot praise it too highly. In a word, it is to the sabre what the foil is to the bayonet. The seconds wear thick caps with deep broad peaks, leather pads before the neck, short padded aprons, and thick padded leather gauntlets that reach to the shoulder; they are also provided with dull swords. Everything being now ready, wo were marched out to our respective positions, each of us having his bandaged arm supported by a youngster, so that the heavy weight should tire us as little as possible. Dornberg took his place behind me; Mulheim in the rear of Klein ; Brauntwein of the Spirituser occupied his place as judge midway on one side ; while Busch of the Vinumia and Fischer, as our witnesses, stood on our right, and held the swords we were going to use. Such was the case, though 1 did not see the different persons I have mentioned ; I saw nothing but Klein’s pale face and his dark eye* gleaming behind the black-rimmed spectacles ; but I know it must have been so, these being the positions usually occupied. After trying a few * Lufthiebe ’ with our swords to see that they sat well in the hand, and were set truly, duriug which exercise I was delighted to find that my cuts whistled as merrily as those of my opponent, we handed the weapons back to our witnesses. A slight pause, and then Brauntwein drew out his watch, note-book, and

pencil. * All ready ?’ he asked. * All ready,’ came echoed from both sides * Silentium for the duel. ’ Cousin Fritz now took the word.

‘ Cross your blades, ready, go !’ Immediately following the List word came Klein’s attack with surpassing force. I parried, returned, parried again; and then, with a sudden cry of ‘ Halt !’ Dornberg sprang in and covered me from any possible attack.

He had determined to allow only short rounds, so that my being a little weaker than Klein should not be made use of to my disadvantage by my opponent wearying me with long rounds. Seconds interpose and stop the round (Gang) on various pretexts —a pretended belief that the other .side ha» been wounded, tire slightest disorder in the bandages of their own principal, a bend in one of the swords, a supposititious irregularity committed by the opponents, and other reasons of like nature. This enables them to curtail the rounds at pleasure as their judgment prompts, thus rendeii ig of great importance the post of second, as he must not only be cool, judicious, and quicksighted, swift in decision and prompt in action, but also quick-witted enough to invent an excuse for his interposition. Should his excuse be considered invalid, he is warned for the first time : the third warning is followed by dismissal from his post, which is taken by another. It naturally follows that the opposite side do their utmost to remove a good second by this means, not only because it gives their man a better chance, but also because it cists a reflection upon the honour of their adversaries. Such munceuvres are only resorted to when a very bitter feeling exists between the two corps, or when the second is personally objectionable. When corps are on a friendly footing, it is tacitly understood that the rounds may be stopped at any time without any excuse being necessary. But between rrs and the Vinumer the hatred was so intense that every means was employed to harass each other.

When Dornberg sprang in and covered me, cousin Fritz asked sharply, ‘ Why halt ? ’ This question was addressed to the judge, who is supposed to be the medium of communication between the seconds. Brauntwein simply turned to Dornberg without speaking, and received for reply.

< Please to examine head on other side.’

The judge’s eyes twinkled comically as he gravely stalked up to Klein ; and passing his hand through my hair, looked at it to sec if it was stained with blood. ‘ Nichts da’ (Nothing there), was the decision.

Whereupon the Vininner crew howlod decisively; while we answered with a contemptuous smile, to the great amusement of the two neutral corps.

‘ The Herr Uupartheuscher is requested to order the seconds “ ‘ ou the cross,” * said cousin Fritz.

‘ The seconds requested to take up position crosswise,’ echoed Brauutwein, retiring a little to make room for the change of position effected by Dornberg and Fritz placing themselves equidistant from Klein and myself, so that the principals and seconds stood on the points of an imaginary cross, thus rendering the interference of the seconds more difficult and dangerous. This done, Dornberg intimated that all was ready, whereupon Fritz gave the word of command, and again did Klein’s attack follow with incredible swiftness, while my return blow was stopped by Fritz, who hur* riedly appealed to the judge. [To he continued)