exclaimed Stephen, in amazement.

"Ja wohl," answered Korner, puffing heavily. The slit in his nose was
plain even in the moonlight. "To keep our hands in, as you would say.
You Americans are a brave people--without the Schlager. But we fought
that we might not become effete."

It was then that Stephen ventured to ask a question that, had been long
burning within him.

"See here, Mr. Korner," said he, "how did Richter come by that scar? He
always gets red when I mention it. He will never tell me."

"Ah, I can well believe that," answered Korner. "I will recount that
matter,--if you do not tell Carl, lieber Freund. He would not forgive
me. I was there in Berlin at the time. It was a famous time. Tiefel will
bear me out."

"Ja, ja!" said Tiefel, eagerly.

"Mr. Brice," Herr Korner continued, "has never heard of the Count von
Kalbach. No, of course. We at Jena had, and all Germany. Many of us of
the Burschenschaft will bear to the grave the marks of his Schlager. Von
Kalbach went to Bonn, that university of the aristocrats, where he was
worshipped. When he came to Berlin with his sister, crowds would gather
to look at them. They were like Wodan and Freya. 'Donner'!" exclaimed
Herr Korner, "there is something in blood, when all is said. He was as
straight and strong as an oak of the Black Forest, and she as fair as a
poplar. It is so with the Pomeranians.

"It was in the year '47, when Carl Richter was gone home to Berlin
before his last semester, to see his father: One fine morning von
Kalbach rode in at the Brandenburg gate on a great black stallion. He
boasted openly that day that none of the despised 'Burschenschaft' dare
stand before him. And Carl Richter took up the challenge. Before night
all Berlin had heard of the temerity of the young Liberal of the Jena
'Burschenschaft'. To our shame be it said, we who knew and loved Carl
likewise feared for him.

"Carl chose for his second Ebhardt, a man of our own Germanian Club at
Jena, since killed in the Breite Strasse. And if you will believe me,
my friend. I tell you that Richter came to the glade at daybreak
smoking his pipe. The place was filled, the nobles on one side and
the Burschenschaft on the other, and the sun coming up over the trees.
Richter would not listen to any of us, not even the surgeon. He would
not have the silk wound on his arm, nor the padded breeches, nor the
neck covering--Nothing! So Ebhardt put on his gauntlets and peaked cap,
and his apro