striking him on the arm. The other men at once
threw themselves between the two, and held Landsberg fast. The young
fellow, perfectly mad with rage, kicked out with his feet and literally
foamed at the mouth.

Schrader had him taken home in a carriage by his adjutant and Captain
Madelung. To Reimers he said: "My dear Reimers, you will see that your
friend Guentz goes home quietly, won't you?" And Reimers replied: "Yes,
sir."

Guentz signed to his friend to remain behind. From the dark
skittle-alley they could watch their comrades starting for the town,
all much depressed by the untoward occurrence, speaking in undertones,
and accompanying their whispered words with restrained gestures.

For a few minutes Guentz walked silently up and down the gravel-strewn
skittle-alley. Reimers sat down in a small arbour, where the empty
barrel still lay upon a bed of ice. When Guentz stood still, Reimers
could hear the drops of the melting ice falling into the earthen basin.
Otherwise all was silent, until the steps on the crunching gravel
approached once more.

"I think we can go now," said Guentz, in his calm voice, which only
sounded a little harder than usual.

Reimers answered: "All right, if you like."

"Yes. Let us go."

In the courtyard the senior-lieutenant suddenly stood still. "The
devil! I am horribly thirsty!" he said, clearing his throat.

"Shall I fetch you a glass of beer from the bar?" suggested Reimers.

"No, don't bother. Water will do me more good," replied Guentz.

He returned to the arbour, fetched a glass, and went to the well. The
pump creaked discordantly in the stillness of the night.

In the moonlight Reimers saw how his friend drank the clear water with
eager gulps, filled the glass again, and again emptied it.

Then they went towards the shed in which the bicycles had been stored.

"That was delicious water," said Guentz, with a sigh of satisfaction.
"The strength of the forest and of the earth!"

The shed was badly lighted by a miserable oil lamp. The two machines
were leaning against the wall. Outside was a third--Landsberg's. Guentz
pushed it in under cover.

"It would be a pity," he said, "for the night dew to spoil the nickel."

They wheeled their bicycles slowly through the gate, and as they were
starting Guentz said: "Look here, dear boy; will you go to Landsberg
early to-morrow morning and take him a challenge? I will see about the
announcement to the court of honour myself."