r father, and in the Black
Bear had tried on the old warrior, with excellent success, the art of
winning other men, in which, as a recruiting officer, he had become an
adept.

Joyously confident of victory, he had accepted Blomberg's invitation, and
now had experienced an unprecedentedly mortifying rebuff.

With a face blanched to the pallor of death, he stood before the old man.
The wound which he had received burned so fiercely, and paralyzed his
will so completely, that the clumsy graybeard found fitting words sooner
than the ready, voluble trapper of men.

"You see," the captain began, "what is to be expected from one's own
child in these days of insubordination and rebellion, though my Wawerl is
as firm in her faith as the tower at Tunis of which I was telling you.
But trust experience, Sir Pyramus! It is easier, far easier for you to
exact obedience from a refractory squad of recruits than for a father to
guide his little daughter according to his own will. For look! If it gets
beyond endurance, you can seize the lash, or, if that won't do, a weapon;
but where a fragile girl like that is concerned, we can't give vent to
our rage, and, though she spoils the flavour of our food and drink by her
pouting and fretting, we must say kind words to her into the bargain.
Mine at least spares me the weeping and wailing in which many indulge,
but it is easier to break iron than her obstinacy when her will differs
from that of the person whom, on account of the fourth commandment,
she----"

Pyramus Kogel, with both hands resting on the large basket handle of his
long rapier, had listened to him in silence; now he interrupted the
captain with the exclamation: "Iron against iron, comrade! Throw it into
the fire, and swing the hammer. It will bend then. All that is needed is
the right man, and I know him. If I did not feel very sorry for such a
charming creature, I would laugh at the insult and go my way. But, as it
is, I have a good memory, and it will be a pleasure, methinks, to keep so
unruly a beauty and artistic nightingale in mind. It shall be done until
my turn comes. In my pursuit I do not always succeed at the first
attempt, but whoever I once fix my eyes upon comes on the roll at last,
and I will keep the foremost place open for your lovely, refractory
daughter. We shall meet again, Captain, and I haven't said my last word
to your ungracious daughter either."

He held out his hand to Blomberg as he spoke, and after