d of Guentz, and this hatred took an important
place in his previously empty life. He vowed Guentz must stand in front
of his pistol, even if it cost him his officer's sword-knot. With every
reprimand this fury increased, till Landsberg determined to pick a
quarrel with Guentz and somehow positively insult him, when a duel would
be unavoidable.

At last an accident brought things to a climax.

The officers of the second division of the regiment were in the habit
of going occasionally to the Auer, a lonely forest tavern, during the
summer months, to play skittles. The Auer was about an hour's distance
from the garrison, and lay nearly in the middle of the pine forest,
which extended over the mountains and beyond the frontier. The younger
men bicycled there and back, while their elders either rode or drove.
Major Schrader arranged these excursions, and bore the expenses
himself. They were partly intended to provide opportunities for
personal intercourse between him and his officers.

He declared himself a lover of rural life, and the party always fell in
with country ways quite contentedly. Pilsener beer was the tipple, or,
at most, a little brandy or gin; and in the way of food, fresh eggs and
butter, black country bread and strong ham, played the principal parts.
Scandal-mongers of course wanted to know whether, the Auer's landlady
had been a former sweetheart of the major's, and Schrader defended
himself laughingly against the insinuation; although he need not have
been ashamed of the dignified, buxom woman, so scrupulously neat and
clean. It certainly was a fact that no one ever saw the landlord of the
Auer, and that the landlady's two smart boys, who helped so cheerfully
in picking up the skittles, bore a striking resemblance to the major.

It was in the courtyard of the Auer tavern, when, after one of these
excursions of Major Schrader's, they were getting their bicycles out of
the shed, that Landsberg's rancour broke out.

He had not been thinking about his grievances at the moment. He had
preferred a stronger drink than the light beer, had almost emptied a
half bottle of gin, and was more inclined for sleep than for anything
else, so that he did not find his bicycle quickly. Guentz made some
harmless chaffing remark, and a violent quarrel broke out.

Finally Guentz turned away, shrugging his shoulders. He considered that
Landsberg was drunk. But the lieutenant suddenly ran after him and
aimed a blow at him,