LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 598, 19 May 1876, Page 3

LITERATURE.

HOW I FOUGHT MY FIRST DUEL,

(Concluded.)

'Bitte, den Blutigen zn erklaren' (Please to make a note of that wound), pointing to the blood trickling down my right temple.

Immediately on receiving Klein's blow, I felt a sharp, sudden, burning sensation just above my temple, followed by an exquisite feeling of pleasurable relief as the blood welled slo-vly forth—a feeling indescribably grateful and delicious, but, unhappily, fleeting and transient as the reflection of distant lightning. Fischer, Dornberg, and the doctor were wich me in an instant; but only for a moment.

' " Schmiss" or " Blutiger "?' (A ' Schmiss' is a wound requiring to be sown; a 'Blutiger,'one for which plaster sufhces.) I asked of Fischer as he was turning away.

'O, it's nothing; a strong "Blutiger" about an inch and a half long, but not deep. Look out for sabre cartes now,' he whispered, and took up his old position. 1 took the hint and planned accordingly. When cousin Fritz gave the word, I waited cautiously, and parrying the terrific sabre carte that Klein led with, 1 retm ml a ' Durchgerissener' as strongly and quickly as I could.

' Halt!' cried Dornberg, triumphantly, springing in between us as he pointed to Klein, who had ducked forward to lot the blood, which was pouring fast from his forehead, fall clear of his clothes. Then, with a sarcastic smile, he sneeringl repeated the remark which had called forth such derision from the Vinumer at beginning of the duel.

' Please to examine head on other side.' Brauntwein nodded coldly, and without stirring from his place, jotted down the report in his note-book; while the other side acknowledging our sarcastic cheers with furious glances. . Fischer, who had been casting inquisitive looks at Klein's wound, now came up and slapped me on the back encouragingly. ' Three needles at least, you young beggar,' said he, thus intimating that the wound was rather severe. When the doctor had stanched the wound for a minute or two, he retired, and we prepared for a frpsh round. Klein's appearance now was anything but one tending to inspire confidence-his lips set, his eyes gleaming, and the blood gushing from his wound with every breath he drew. Put it made no impressioa on me : I had tasted blood, and as Dornberg had said, I thirsted for more. My feelings then were of savage brutality, and my most passionate desire a wish to wound afresh. When, how, I did not care ; but do ill must. Again the blows fell; but this time the attack came from me, Klein exerting himself but little—playing, in fact, a waiting game. Once 1 attempted his head with high carte ; but my blow fell short—the screw of the«blade, which projects beyond the hilt, had caught in my wrist bandage. Eeturn on guard I could not, and I gave myself up for lost as I saw Klein's sword sweep on with a rush like lightning. That half second was an hour of torture. I heard Dornberg's shriek of ' Halt!' saw some- • thing black flit past my eyes, and then the ' grating rush of Klein's sword fell on my , ears as it pwept harmlessly up the blade of '' Dornberg's weapon. A murmur of admiration from friend and foe greeted this brilliant example of my second's skill. • Warum eingespsungen ?' (Why interposed ?) cried Fritz. ' Sword caught,' was Dornberg's quiet answer. I held it out to Brauntwein. ' It is so,' was his decision. * Proceed,' said Fritz angrily, although he was my cousin. Three or four short rounds, in which nothing beyond a few scratches occurred, and then Klein suddenly took the aggressive go unexpectedly that he was successful. A feint in tierce, a parry in the same, and then a horizontal tierce came crashing through my right cheek. Now it was my turn to lower my head and spit out the blood that came rushing into my mouth ; while our fellows were too anxious and too disconsolate to care for the triumphant glances of the Vinumer. Again was I examined by the doctor, Dornberg, and Fischer 5 but this time they did not turn away after a superficial glance. ' Stiff,' muttered the doctor when he had concluded his examination. ! ' Bad !' asked Dornberg. 'Yes,' was the answer. 'I don't know whether I ought not to advise an " Abfuhr," : for it will leave a nasty scar unless soon looked after.' ' Damn the scar!' said Fischer testily; 'who cares about that? Can he go on without much risk ?' ' Yes,' returned the doctor in a pet—for he didn't relish Fischer's tone—' if you keep the rounds short and the rests long, and stanch the blood effectually; but if he gets another tap on the top of that, he—' 'All right,' interrupted Fischer rudely. for he was not in a very pleasant humour. Then to me: ' Never mind the scratch, youngster; it's not worth speaking of; and if it won't heal nicely you must let your beard grow. Go in with tierce as hard as you can, and look out sharp for horizontal returns. Are you ready, or will you rest a little longer ?' * Nur zu' (Drive ahead), I answered. • All right, my lad. That's the way to do your work,' he added, with a pleased smile. ' What did Fischer tell you to do ?' asked Dornberg, coming up. ' High tierce as hard as I could.' He looked grave for a moment as he muttered, 'lt will leave him confoundedly open.' Then, 'What parry?' ' Against horizontal returns.' ' Ah,' said Dornberg, with a quiet chuckle, ' that fellow knows his business and Klein's ways to aT. Now be quick with your attack, and you'll have him; mind, wrist well up.' Again in position. As the last word of command dropped from my cousin's mouth, 1 obeyed the orders given to me. A shrill hiss, a crashing thud, and Klein, jerking up his hand, staggered backwards and fell into the arms of one of his corps-brothers, who sprang forward to catch him. Intense excitement and commotion followed. My corps-brothers gathered round me with noi&y and joyous congratulations. Suddenly Fischer broke his way through. ' Quiet, you brutes !' he cried savagely, as he t imed on a laughing couple. Then to me, ' Strip and dress. Lotz of the Sfchnapsia will stitch your cut up. Now, you youngter3, what are you staring at ? Pack the thiugs up at once, and hold your tongues, and off witt you.' ' What's the matter?' I askeu anxiously, as the fellows silently dispersed. 'A toss-up whether he lives or dies,'.he answered curtly, but not unkindly, as he caught sight of my face. # * * # * ■ For three days and nights did Klein's life hang on a thread. How I suffered during that time I will not say ; but at last the " doctors gave signs of hope, and after a long weary illness Klein once more appeared 'among us. He never fought again; another wound on the same place would have caused instant death. The anxious inquiries made by our fellows during Klein's illness, and their evident sympathy and concern, promoted a better feeling between the Vinumer and us, resulting in the recall of their last ' murder list,' and the substitution of one unassailable iii its impartiality.