xcuse for dispute was a good one. They one and all, including
Schubert, denied Sachse's contention that a flogging did not hurt
enough to matter.

"I bet I could take one without winking!" Sachse announced.

Schubert's little bright pig-eyes gleamed through the smoke at that.

"Kurtz und gut!" he laughed. "There is a case of champagne unopened.
I bet you that case of champagne that you lie! That you can not take a
flogging!"

There was an united yelp of delight. The sergeants rose and gathered
round Sachse. Schubert cursed them and drove them to the chairs again.

"Open that case of champagne!" he roared, and the Jew obeyed, setting
the bottles on the table in two rows.

"I bet you those twelve bottles you dare not take a regular flogging,
and that you can not endure it if you dare try!"

"I can stand as much as you!" hedged Sachse.

"Good! We will see! We will both take a flogging--stroke for stroke!
Whoever squeals first shall pay for the champagne!"

Sachse could not back out. His cheeks grew whiter, but he staggered to
his feet, swearing.

"I will show you of what material a German sergeant is made!" he
boasted. "It is not only Prussians who are men of metal! How
shall it be arranged?"

The arrangement was easy enough. Schubert shouted for an askari, and
the corporal who was doing police duty outside in the street came
running. He had a kiboko in his hand almost a yard and a half long,
and Schubert examined it with approval.

"How would you like to flog white men?" he demanded.

"I would not dare!" grinned the corporal.

"Not dare, eh? Would you not obey an order?"

"Always I obey!" the man answered, saluting.

"Good. I shall lie here. This other bwana shall lie there beside me.
You shall stand between. First you shall strike one, then the
other--turn and turn about until I give the order to cease! And
listen! If you fail once--just one little time!--to flog with all your
might, you shall have two hundred lashes yourself; and they shall be
good ones, because I will lay them on! Is it understood?"

"Yes," said the corporal, the whites of his eyes betraying doubt, fear
and wonder. But he grinned with his lips, lest the feldwebel should
suspect him of unwillingness.

"Are the terms understood?" demanded Schubert, and the sergeants yelped
in the affirmative.

"Then choose a referee!"

One of the sergeants volunteered for the post. Schubert lay down on
the floor, and S