second, and Gretzschel, who was brought chiefly to look
after the horses.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the hill. Kauerhof got out, with
the pistol cases in his hand, and after him the surgeon-major and his
assistant, both with instrument cases. The three other men rode slowly
behind them up the steep incline.

Before the shed, brief polite greetings were exchanged, Gretzschel
remaining there with the horses.

There was a singular expression of shyness on the faces of all. One
might have fancied that these men were assembled for some guilty
purpose. Guentz alone looked frank and unembarrassed.

The prescribed attempts at reconciliation were unsuccessful. Guentz
shook his head in refusal.

Then Kauerhof began to measure the distance. He had long legs, and he
made the fifteen paces as lengthy as possible.

Just at this moment the sun rose above the mountains on the other side
of the valley.

Kauerhof loaded the pistols, and the seconds carried them to their
principals. Guentz nodded cheerfully to Reimers as he took his weapon.

The umpire then took up his position and convinced himself with a
glance that all was prepared. The duellists were standing at their
marked lines, the seconds at a little distance alongside of them. He
took out his watch, and glancing at it said: "I shall count: ready,
one, then three seconds; two, and again three seconds; then, stop!
Between one and stop, the gentlemen may fire."

He glanced round once more. The four officers stood motionless in the
clear light of the sun, Landsberg sideways, Guentz with his broad chest
facing his opponent. The junior surgeon wiped the moisture from his
brow; Andreae tugged nervously at his hair.

The umpire counted.

Landsberg raised his pistol at once and fired. Guentz heard the bullet
whizz past on his left. He had directed his barrel a little to the side
of his opponent's shoulder, and pressed the trigger. The shot missed
fire. He had forgotten to cock the pistol.

The second attempt at reconciliation was also unsuccessful.

Again Kauerhof gave the word.

Guentz saw Landsberg's pistol aimed directly at his breast. Then
Landsberg looked up, and for the hundredth part of a second caught his
opponent's gaze.

Landsberg's aim was unerringly directed on his man, when suddenly his
hand began to shake, and he fired blindly, just as he heard Guentz's
bullet whistle past him.

Guentz stood unharmed, a happy smile on his good-natured, open f