Baker'sBluejayYarn[WhatStumpedtheBlueJays]
　　"WhenIfirstbeguntounderstandjaylanguagecorrectly，therewasalittleincidenthappenedhere。Sevenyearsago，thelastmaninthisregionbutmemovedaway。Therestandshishouse——beenemptyeversince；aloghouse，withaplankroof——justonebigroom，andnomore；noceiling——nothingbetweentheraftersandthefloor。Well，oneSundaymorningIwassittingouthereinfrontofmycabin，withmycat，takingthesun，andlookingatthebluehills，andlisteningtotheleavesrustlingsolonelyinthetrees，andthinkingofthehomeawayyonderinthestates，thatIhadn'theardfrominthirteenyears，whenabluejaylitonthathouse，withanacorninhismouth，andsays，'Hello，IreckonI'vestrucksomething。'Whenhespoke，theacorndroppedoutofhismouthandrolleddowntheroof，ofcourse，buthedidn'tcare；hismindwasallonthethinghehadstruck。Itwasaknot-holeintheroof。
　　Hecockedhisheadtooneside，shutoneeyeandputtheotheronetothehole，likeapossumlookingdownajug；
　　thenheglancedupwithhisbrighteyes，gaveawinkortwowithhiswings——whichsignifiesgratification，youunderstand——andsays，'Itlookslikeahole，it'slocatedlikeahole——blamedifIdon'tbelieveitIS
　　ahole!'
　　"Thenhecockedhisheaddownandtookanotherlook；
　　heglancesupperfectlyjoyful，thistime；winkshiswingsandhistailboth，andsays，'Oh，no，thisain'tnofatthing，Ireckon!IfIain'tinluck!——Whyit'saperfectlyeleganthole!'Soheflewdownandgotthatacorn，andfetcheditupanddroppeditin，andwasjusttiltinghisheadback，withtheheavenliestsmileonhisface，whenallofasuddenhewasparalyzedintoalisteningattitudeandthatsmilefadedgraduallyoutofhiscountenancelikebreathoff'narazor，andthequeerestlookofsurprisetookitsplace。Thenhesays，'Why，I
　　didn'thearitfall!'Hecockedhiseyeattheholeagain，andtookalonglook；raisedupandshookhishead；
　　steppedaroundtotheothersideoftheholeandtookanotherlookfromthatside；shookhisheadagain。
　　Hestudiedawhile，thenhejustwentintotheDetails——
　　walkedroundandroundtheholeandspiedintoitfromeverypointofthecompass。Nouse。Nowhetookathinkingattitudeonthecomboftheroofandscratchedthebackofhisheadwithhisrightfootaminute，andfinallysays，'Well，it'stoomanyforME，that'scertain；mustbeamightylonghole；however，Iain'tgotnotimetofoolaroundhere，Igotto"tendtobusiness"；Ireckonit'sallright——chanceit，anyway。'
　　"Soheflewoffandfetchedanotheracornanddroppeditin，andtriedtoflirthiseyetotheholequickenoughtoseewhatbecomeofit，buthewastoolate。
　　Heheldhiseyethereasmuchasaminute；thenheraisedupandsighed，andsays，'Confoundit，Idon'tseemtounderstandthisthing，noway；however，I'lltackleheragain。'Hefetchedanotheracorn，anddonehislevelbesttoseewhatbecomeofit，buthecouldn't。Hesays，'Well，Ineverstrucknosuchaholeasthisbefore；
　　I'moftheopinionit'satotallynewkindofahole。'
　　Thenhebeguntogetmad。Heheldinforaspell，walkingupanddownthecomboftheroofandshakinghisheadandmutteringtohimself；buthisfeelingsgottheupperhandofhim，presently，andhebrokelooseandcussedhimselfblackintheface。Ineverseeabirdtakeonsoaboutalittlething。Whenhegotthroughhewalkstotheholeandlooksinagainforhalfaminute；
　　thenhesays，'Well，you'realonghole，andadeephole，andamightysingularholealtogether——butI'vestartedintofillyou，andI'mdamnedifIDON'Tfillyou，ifittakesahundredyears!'
　　"Andwiththat，awayhewent。Youneverseeabirdworksosinceyouwasborn。Helaidintohisworklikeanigger，andthewayhehoveacornsintothatholeforabouttwohoursandahalfwasoneofthemostexcitingandastonishingspectaclesIeverstruck。Heneverstoppedtotakealookanymore——hejusthove'eminandwentformore。Well，atlasthecouldhardlyflophiswings，hewassotuckeredout。Hecomesa-droppingdown，oncemore，sweatinglikeanice-pitcher，droppedhisacorninandsays，'NOWIguessI'vegotthebulgeonyoubythistime!'
　　Sohebentdownforalook。Ifyou'llbelieveme，whenhisheadcomeupagainhewasjustpalewithrage。
　　Hesays，'I'veshoveledacornsenoughintheretokeepthefamilythirtyyears，andifIcanseeasignofoneof'emIwishImaylandinamuseumwithabellyfullofsawdustintwominutes!'
　　"Hejusthadstrengthenoughtocrawlupontothecombandleanhisbackaginthechimbly，andthenhecollectedhisimpressionsandbeguntofreehismind。
　　IseeinasecondthatwhatIhadmistookforprofanityinthemineswasonlyjusttherudiments，asyoumaysay。
　　"Anotherjaywasgoingby，andheardhimdoinghisdevotions，andstopstoinquirewhatwasup。Thesufferertoldhimthewholecircumstance，andsays，'Nowyonder'sthehole，andifyoudon'tbelieveme，goandlookforyourself。'
　　Sothisfellowwentandlooked，andcomesbackandsays，"Howmanydidyousayyouputinthere?''Notanylessthantwotons，'saysthesufferer。Theotherjaywentandlookedagain。Hecouldn'tseemtomakeitout，soheraisedayell，andthreemorejayscome。Theyallexaminedthehole，theyallmadethesufferertellitoveragain，thentheyalldiscussedit，andgotoffasmanyleather-headedopinionsaboutitasanaveragecrowdofhumanscouldhavedone。
　　"Theycalledinmorejays；thenmoreandmore，tillprettysoonthiswholeregion'pearedtohaveablueflushaboutit。
　　Theremusthavebeenfivethousandofthem；andsuchanotherjawinganddisputingandrippingandcussing，youneverheard。Everyjayinthewholelotputhiseyetotheholeanddeliveredamorechuckle-headedopinionaboutthemysterythanthejaythatwenttherebeforehim。Theyexaminedthehouseallover，too。
　　Thedoorwasstandinghalfopen，andatlastoneoldjayhappenedtogoandlightonitandlookin。Ofcourse，thatknockedthemysterygalley-westinasecond。
　　Therelaytheacorns，scatteredalloverthefloor……
　　Hefloppedhiswingsandraisedawhoop。'Comehere!'
　　hesays，'Comehere，everybody；hang'difthisfoolhasn'tbeentryingtofillupahousewithacorns!'Theyallcamea-swoopingdownlikeabluecloud，andaseachfellowlitonthedoorandtookaglance，thewholeabsurdityofthecontractthatthatfirstjayhadtackledhithimhomeandhefelloverbackwardsuffocatingwithlaughter，andthenextjaytookhisplaceanddonethesame。
　　"Well，sir，theyroostedaroundhereonthehousetopandthetreesforanhour，andguffawedoverthatthinglikehumanbeings。Itain'tanyusetotellmeabluejayhasn'tgotasenseofhumor，becauseIknowbetter。
　　Andmemory，too。TheybroughtjaysherefromallovertheUnitedStatestolookdownthathole，everysummerforthreeyears。Otherbirds，too。AndtheycouldallseethepointexceptanowlthatcomefromNovaScotiatovisittheYoSemite，andhetookthisthinginonhiswayback。Hesaidhecouldn'tseeanythingfunnyinit。ButthenhewasagooddealdisappointedaboutYoSemite，too。"Humor，ajayknowswhenheisanassjustaswellasyoudo——maybebetter。Ifajayain'thuman，hebettertakeinhissign，that'sall。NowI'mgoingtotellyouaperfectlytruefactaboutsomebluejays。"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　StudentLife[TheLaboriousBeerKing]
　　Thesummersemesterwasinfulltide；consequentlythemostfrequentfigureinandaboutHeidelbergwasthestudent。MostofthestudentswereGermans，ofcourse，buttherepresentativesofforeignlandswereverynumerous。Theyhailedfromeverycorneroftheglobe——forinstructionischeapinHeidelberg，andsoisliving，too。TheAnglo-AmericanClub，composedofBritishandAmericanstudents，hadtwenty-fivemembers，andtherewasstillmuchmateriallefttodrawfrom。
　　Nine-tenthsoftheHeidelbergstudentsworenobadgeoruniform；theothertenthworecapsofvariouscolors，andbelongedtosocialorganizationscalled"corps。"Therewerefivecorps，eachwithacolorofitsown；therewerewhitecaps，bluecaps，andred，yellow，andgreenones。
　　Thefamousduel-fightingisconfinedtothe"corps"boys。
　　The"KNEIP"seemstobeaspecialtyoftheirs，too。
　　Kneipsareheld，nowandthen，tocelebrategreatoccasions，liketheelectionofabeerking，forinstance。
　　Thesolemnityissimple；thefivecorpsassembleatnight，andatasignaltheyallfallloadingthemselveswithbeer，outofpint-mugs，asfastaspossible，andeachmankeepshisowncount——usuallybylayingasidealucifermatchforeachmudheempties。Theelectionissoondecided。
　　Whenthecandidatescanholdnomore，acountisinstitutedandtheonewhohasdrankthegreatestnumberofpintsisproclaimedking。Iwastoldthatthelastbeerkingelectedbythecorps——orbyhisowncapabilities——emptiedhismugseventy-fivetimes。Nostomachcouldholdallthatquantityatonetime，ofcourse——buttherearewaysoffrequentlycreatingavacuum，whichthosewhohavebeenmuchatseawillunderstand。
　　Oneseessomanystudentsabroadatallhours，thathepresentlybeginstowonderiftheyeverhaveanyworking-hours。Someofthemhave，someofthemhaven't。
　　Eachcanchooseforhimselfwhetherhewillworkorplay；
　　forGermanuniversitylifeisaveryfreelife；
　　itseemstohavenorestraints。Thestudentdoesnotliveinthecollegebuildings，buthireshisownlodgings，inanylocalityheprefers，andhetakeshismealswhenandwherehepleases。Hegoestobedwhenitsuitshim，anddoesnotgetupatallunlesshewantsto。
　　Heisnotenteredattheuniversityforanyparticularlengthoftime；soheislikelytochangeabout。
　　Hepassesnoexaminationsuponenteringcollege。
　　Hemerelypaysatriflingfeeoffiveortendollars，receivesacardentitlinghimtotheprivilegesoftheuniversity，andthatistheendofit。Heisnowreadyforbusiness——orplay，asheshallprefer。Ifheelectstowork，hefindsalargelistoflecturestochoosefrom。
　　Heselectsthesubjectswhichhewillstudy，andentershisnameforthesestudies；buthecanskipattendance。
　　Theresultofthissystemis，thatlecture-coursesuponspecialtiesofanunusualnatureareoftendeliveredtoveryslimaudiences，whilethoseuponmorepracticalandevery-daymattersofeducationaredeliveredtoverylargeones。Iheardofonecasewhere，dayafterday，thelecturer'saudienceconsistedofthreestudents——andalwaysthesamethree。Butonedaytwoofthemremainedaway。
　　Thelecturerbeganasusual——
　　"Gentlemen，"——then，withoutasmile，hecorrectedhimself，saying——
　　"Sir，"——andwentonwithhisdiscourse。
　　ItissaidthatthevastmajorityoftheHeidelbergstudentsarehardworkers，andmakethemostoftheiropportunities；
　　thattheyhavenosurplusmeanstospendindissipation，andnotimetospareforfrolicking。Onelecturefollowsrightontheheelsofanother，withverylittletimeforthestudenttogetoutofonehallandintothenext；
　　buttheindustriousonesmanageitbygoingonatrot。
　　Theprofessorsassisttheminthesavingoftheirtimebybeingpromptlyintheirlittleboxed-uppulpitswhenthehoursstrike，andaspromptlyoutagainwhenthehourfinishes。
　　Ienteredanemptylecture-roomonedayjustbeforetheclockstruck。Theplacehadsimple，unpaintedpinedesksandbenchesforabouttwohundredpersons。
　　Aboutaminutebeforetheclockstruck，ahundredandfiftystudentsswarmedin，rushedtotheirseats，immediatelyspreadopentheirnotebooksanddippedtheirpensinink。Whentheclockbegantostrike，aburlyprofessorentered，wasreceivedwitharoundofapplause，movedswiftlydownthecenteraisle，said"Gentlemen，"
　　andbegantotalkasheclimbedhispulpitsteps；andbythetimehehadarrivedinhisboxandfacedhisaudience，hislecturewaswellunderwayandallthepensweregoing。
　　Hehadnonotes，hetalkedwithprodigiousrapidityandenergyforanhour——thenthestudentsbegantoremindhimincertainwell-understoodwaysthathistimewasup；
　　heseizedhishat，stilltalking，proceededswiftlydownhispulpitsteps，gotoutthelastwordofhisdiscourseashestruckthefloor；everybodyroserespectfully，andhesweptrapidlydowntheaisleanddisappeared。
　　Aninstantrushforsomeotherlecture-roomfollowed，andinaminuteIwasalonewiththeemptybenchesoncemore。
　　Yes，withoutdoubt，idlestudentsarenottherule。
　　Outofeighthundredinthetown，Iknewthefacesofonlyaboutfifty；buttheseIsaweverywhere，anddaily。
　　Theywalkedaboutthestreetsandthewoodedhills，theydroveincabs，theyboatedontheriver，theysippedbeerandcoffee，afternoons，intheSchlossgardens。
　　Agoodmanyofthemworecoloredcapsofthecorps。
　　Theywerefinelyandfashionablydressed，theirmannerswerequitesuperb，andtheyledaneasy，careless，comfortablelife。Ifadozenofthemsattogetherandaladyoragentlemanpassedwhomoneofthemknewandsaluted，theyallrosetotheirfeetandtookofftheircaps。
　　Themembersofacorpsalwaysreceivedafellow-memberinthisway，too；buttheypaidnoattentiontomembersofothercorps；theydidnotseemtoseethem。Thiswasnotadiscourtesy；itwasonlyapartoftheelaborateandrigidcorpsetiquette。
　　ThereseemstobenochillydistanceexistingbetweentheGermanstudentsandtheprofessor；but，onthecontrary，acompanionableintercourse，theoppositeofchillinessandreserve。Whentheprofessorentersabeer-hallintheeveningwherestudentsaregatheredtogether，theseriseupandtakeofftheircaps，andinvitetheoldgentlemantositwiththemandpartake。Heaccepts，andthepleasanttalkandthebeerflowforanhourortwo，andbyandbytheprofessor，properlychargedandcomfortable，givesacordialgoodnight，whilethestudentsstandbowinganduncovered；andthenhemovesonhishappywayhomewardwithallhisvastcargooflearningafloatinhishold。Nobodyfindsfaultorfeelsoutraged；
　　noharmhasbeendone。
　　Itseemedtobeapartofcorpsetiquettetokeepadogorso，too。Imeanacorpsdog——thecommonpropertyoftheorganization，likethecorpsstewardorheadservant；
　　thenthereareotherdogs，ownedbyindividuals。
　　OnasummerafternoonintheCastlegardens，Ihaveseensixstudentsmarchsolemnlyintothegrounds，insinglefile，eachcarryingabrightChineseparasolandleadingaprodigiousdogbyastring。Itwasaveryimposingspectacle。Sometimestherewouldbeasmanydogsaroundthepavilionasstudents；andofallbreedsandofalldegreesofbeautyandugliness。Thesedogshadaratherdrytimeofit；fortheyweretiedtothebenchesandhadnoamusementforanhourortwoatatimeexceptwhattheycouldgetoutofpawingatthegnats，ortryingtosleepandnotsucceeding。However，theygotalumpofsugaroccasionally——theywerefondofthat。
　　Itseemedrightandproperthatstudentsshouldindulgeindogs；
　　buteverybodyelsehadthem，too——oldmenandyoungones，oldwomenandniceyoungladies。Ifthereisonespectaclethatisunpleasanterthananother，itisthatofanelegantlydressedyoungladytowingadogbyastring。
　　Itissaidtobethesignandsymbolofblightedlove。
　　Itseemstomethatsomeotherwayofadvertisingitmightbedevised，whichwouldbejustasconspicuousandyetnotsotryingtotheproprieties。
　　Itwouldbeamistaketosupposethattheeasy-goingpleasure-seekingstudentcarriesanemptyhead。
　　Justthecontrary。Hehasspentnineyearsinthegymnasium，underasystemwhichallowedhimnofreedom，butvigorouslycompelledhimtoworklikeaslave。Consequently，hehasleftthegymnasiumwithaneducationwhichissoextensiveandcomplete，thatthemostauniversitycandoforitistoperfectsomeofitsprofounderspecialties。
　　Itissaidthatwhenapupilleavesthegymnasium，henotonlyhasacomprehensiveeducation，butheKNOWSwhatheknows——itisnotbefoggedwithuncertainty，itisburntintohimsothatitwillstay。Forinstance，hedoesnotmerelyreadandwriteGreek，butspeaksit；thesamewiththeLatin。Foreignyouthsteerclearofthegymnasium；
　　itsrulesaretoosevere。Theygototheuniversitytoputamansardroofontheirwholegeneraleducation；
　　buttheGermanstudentalreadyhashismansardroof，sohegoestheretoaddasteepleinthenatureofsomespecialty，suchasaparticularbranchoflaw，ordiseasesoftheeye，orspecialstudyoftheancientGothictongues。
　　SothisGermanattendsonlythelectureswhichbelongtothechosenbranch，anddrinkshisbeerandtowshisdogaroundandhasageneralgoodtimetherestoftheday。
　　Hehasbeeninrigidbondagesolongthatthelargelibertyoftheuniversitylifeisjustwhatheneedsandlikesandthoroughlyappreciates；andasitcannotlastforever，hemakesthemostofitwhileitdoeslast，andsolaysupagoodrestagainstthedaythatmustseehimputonthechainsoncemoreandentertheslaveryofofficialorprofessionallife。
　　CHAPTERV
　　AttheStudents'Dueling-Ground[DuelingbyWholesale]
　　Onedayintheinterestofsciencemyagentobtainedpermissiontobringmetothestudents'dueling-place。Wecrossedtheriveranddroveupthebankafewhundredyards，thenturnedtotheleft，enteredanarrowalley，followeditahundredyardsandarrivedatatwo-storypublichouse；
　　wewereacquaintedwithitsoutsideaspect，foritwasvisiblefromthehotel。Wewentupstairsandpassedintoalargewhitewashedapartmentwhichwasperhapsfiftyfeetlongbythirtyfeetwideandtwentyortwenty-fivehigh。
　　Itwasawell-lightedplace。Therewasnocarpet。
　　Acrossoneendanddownbothsidesoftheroomextendedarowoftables，andatthesetablessomefiftyorseventy-fivestudents[1。SeeAppendixC]weresitting。
　　Someofthemweresippingwine，otherswereplayingcards，otherschess，othergroupswerechattingtogether，andmanyweresmokingcigaretteswhiletheywaitedforthecomingduels。Nearlyallofthemworecoloredcaps；
　　therewerewhitecaps，greencaps，bluecaps，redcaps，andbright-yellowones；so，allthefivecorpswerepresentinstrongforce。Inthewindowsatthevacantendoftheroomstoodsixoreight，narrow-bladedswordswithlargeprotectingguardsforthehand，andoutsidewasamanatworksharpeningothersonagrindstone。
　　Heunderstoodhisbusiness；forwhenaswordlefthishandonecouldshavehimselfwithit。
　　Itwasobservablethattheyounggentlemenneitherbowedtonorspokewithstudentswhosecapsdifferedincolorfromtheirown。Thisdidnotmeanhostility，butonlyanarmedneutrality。Itwasconsideredthatapersoncouldstrikeharderintheduel，andwithamoreearnestinterest，ifhehadneverbeeninaconditionofcomradeshipwithhisantagonist；therefore，comradeshipbetweenthecorpswasnotpermitted。Atintervalsthepresidentsofthefivecorpshaveacoldofficialintercoursewitheachother，butnothingfurther。Forexample，whentheregulardueling-dayofoneofthecorpsapproaches，itspresidentcallsforvolunteersfromamongthemembershiptoofferbattle；threeormorerespond——buttheremustnotbelessthanthree；thepresidentlaystheirnamesbeforetheotherpresidents，withtherequestthattheyfurnishantagonistsforthesechallengersfromamongtheircorps。
　　Thisispromptlydone。Itchancedthatthepresentoccasionwasthebattle-dayoftheRedCapCorps。
　　Theywerethechallengers，andcertaincapsofothercolorshadvolunteeredtomeetthem。ThestudentsfightduelsintheroomwhichIhavedescribed，TWODAYSINEVERYWEEK
　　DURINGSEVENANDAHALFOREIGHTMONTHSINEVERYYEAR。
　　ThiscustomhadcontinuedinGermanytwohundredandfiftyyears。
　　Toreturntomynarrative。Astudentinawhitecapmetusandintroducedustosixoreightfriendsofhiswhoalsoworewhitecaps，andwhilewestoodconversing，twostrange-lookingfigureswereledinfromanotherroom。
　　Theywerestudentspanopliedfortheduel。Theywerebareheaded；
　　theireyeswereprotectedbyirongoggleswhichprojectedaninchormore，theleatherstrapsofwhichboundtheirearsflatagainsttheirheadswerewoundaroundandaroundwiththickwrappingswhichaswordcouldnotcutthrough；fromchintoankletheywerepaddedthoroughlyagainstinjury；theirarmswerebandagedandrebandaged，layeruponlayer，untiltheylookedlikesolidblacklogs。
　　Theseweirdapparitionshadbeenhandsomeyouths，cladinfashionableattire，fifteenminutesbefore，butnowtheydidnotresembleanybeingsoneeverseesunlessinnightmares。Theystrodealong，withtheirarmsprojectingstraightoutfromtheirbodies；theydidnotholdthemoutthemselves，butfellow-studentswalkedbesidethemandgavetheneededsupport。
　　Therewasarushforthevacantendoftheroom，now，andwefollowedandgotgoodplaces。Thecombatantswereplacedfacetoface，eachwithseveralmembersofhisowncorpsabouthimtoassist；twoseconds，wellpadded，andwithswordsintheirhands，tooktheirstations；
　　astudentbelongingtoneitheroftheopposingcorpsplacedhimselfinagoodpositiontoumpirethecombat；
　　anotherstudentstoodbywithawatchandamemorandum-booktokeeprecordofthetimeandthenumberandnatureofthewounds；agray-hairedsurgeonwaspresentwithhislint，hisbandages，andhisinstruments。Afteramoment'spausetheduelistssalutedtheumpirerespectfully，thenoneafteranothertheseveralofficialssteppedforward，gracefullyremovedtheircapsandsalutedhimalso，andreturnedtotheirplaces。Everythingwasreadynow；
　　studentsstoodcrowdedtogetherintheforeground，andothersstoodbehindthemonchairsandtables。
　　Everyfacewasturnedtowardthecenterofattraction。
　　Thecombatantswerewatchingeachotherwithalerteyes；
　　aperfectstillness，abreathlessinterestreigned。
　　IfeltthatIwasgoingtoseesomewarywork。Butnotso。
　　Theinstantthewordwasgiven，thetwoapparitionssprangforwardandbegantorainblowsdownuponeachotherwithsuchlightningrapiditythatIcouldnotquitetellwhetherIsawtheswordsoronlyflashestheymadeintheair；therattlingdinoftheseblowsastheystrucksteelorpaddingswassomethingwonderfullystirring，andtheywerestruckwithsuchterrificforcethatIcouldnotunderstandwhytheopposingswordwasnotbeatendownundertheassault。Presently，inthemidstofthesword-flashes，Isawahandfulofhairskipintotheairasifithadlainlooseonthevictim'sheadandabreathofwindhadpuffeditsuddenlyaway。
　　Thesecondscried"Halt!"andknockedupthecombatants'
　　swordswiththeirown。Theduelistssatdown；astudentofficialsteppedforward，examinedthewoundedheadandtouchedtheplacewithaspongeonceortwice；
　　thesurgeoncameandturnedbackthehairfromthewound——
　　andrevealedacrimsongashtwoorthreeincheslong，andproceededtobindanovalpieceofleatherandabunchoflintoverit；thetally-keepersteppedupandtalliedonefortheoppositioninhisbook。
　　Thenthedueliststookpositionagain；asmallstreamofbloodwasflowingdownthesideoftheinjuredman'shead，andoverhisshoulderanddownhisbodytothefloor，buthedidnotseemtomindthis。Thewordwasgiven，andtheyplungedateachotherasfiercelyasbefore；
　　oncemoretheblowsrainedandrattledandflashed；
　　everyfewmomentsthequick-eyedsecondswouldnoticethataswordwasbent——thentheycalled"Halt!"struckupthecontendingweapons，andanassistingstudentstraightenedthebentone。
　　Thewonderfulturmoilwenton——presentlyabrightsparksprungfromablade，andthatbladebrokeninseveralpieces，sentoneofitsfragmentsflyingtotheceiling。
　　Anewswordwasprovidedandthefightproceeded。
　　Theexercisewastremendous，ofcourse，andintimethefightersbegantoshowgreatfatigue。Theywereallowedtorestamoment，everylittlewhile；theygototherrestsbywoundingeachother，forthentheycouldsitdownwhilethedoctorappliedthelintandbandages。
　　Thelawsisthatthebattlemustcontinuefifteenminutesifthemencanholdout；andasthepausesdonotcount，thisduelwasprotractedtotwentyorthirtyminutes，Ijudged。Atlastitwasdecidedthatthemenweretoomuchweariedtodobattlelonger。Theywereledawaydrenchedwithcrimsonfromheadtofoot。Thatwasagoodfight，butitcouldnotcount，partlybecauseitdidnotlastthelawfulfifteenminutesofactualfighting，andpartlybecauseneithermanwasdisabledbyhiswound。
　　Itwasadrawnbattle，andcorpslawrequiresthatdrawnbattlesshallberefoughtassoonastheadversariesarewelloftheirhurts。
　　Duringtheconflict，Ihadtalkedalittle，nowandthen，withayounggentlemanoftheWhiteCapCorps，andhehadmentionedthathewastofightnext——andhadalsopointedouthischallenger，ayounggentlemanwhowasleaningagainsttheoppositewallsmokingacigaretteandrestfullyobservingthedueltheninprogress。
　　Myacquaintanceshipwithapartytothecomingcontesthadtheeffectofgivingmeakindofpersonalinterestinit；Inaturallywishedhemightwin，anditwasthereverseofpleasanttolearnthatheprobablywouldnot，because，althoughhewasanotableswordsman，thechallengerwasheldtobehissuperior。
　　Theduelpresentlybeganandinthesamefuriouswaywhichhadmarkedthepreviousone。Istoodcloseby，butcouldnottellwhichblowstoldandwhichdidnot，theyfellandvanishedsolikeflashesoflight。Theyallseemedtotell；theswordsalwaysbentovertheopponents'
　　heads，fromtheforeheadbackoverthecrown，andseemedtotouch，alltheway；butitwasnotso——aprotectingblade，invisibletome，wasalwaysinterposedbetween。
　　Attheendoftensecondseachmanhadstrucktwelveorfifteenblows，andwardedofftwelveorfifteen，andnoharmdone；thenaswordbecamedisabled，andashortrestfollowedwhilstanewonewasbrought。EarlyinthenextroundtheWhiteCorpsstudentgotanuglywoundonthesideofhisheadandgavehisopponentonelikeit。
　　Inthethirdroundthelatterreceivedanotherbadwoundinthehead，andtheformerhadhisunder-lipdivided。
　　Afterthat，theWhiteCorpsstudentgavemanyseverewounds，butgotnoneoftheconsequenceinreturn。Attheendoffiveminutesfromthebeginningoftheduelthesurgeonstoppedit；thechallengingpartyhadsufferedsuchinjuriesthatanyadditiontothemmightbedangerous。
　　Theseinjurieswereafearfulspectacle，butarebetterleftundescribed。So，againstexpectation，myacquaintancewasthevictor。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　[ASportthatSometimesKills]
　　Thethirdduelwasbriefandbloody。Thesurgeonstoppeditwhenhesawthatoneofthemenhadreceivedsuchbadwoundsthathecouldnotfightlongerwithoutendangeringhislife。
　　Thefourthduelwasatremendousencounter；butattheendoffiveorsixminutesthesurgeoninterferedoncemore:
　　anothermansoseverelyhurtastorenderitunsafetoaddtohisharms。IwatchedthisengagementasIwatchedtheothers——withraptinterestandstrongexcitement，andwithashrinkandashudderforeveryblowthatlaidopenacheekoraforehead；andaconsciouspalingofmyfacewhenIoccasionallysawawoundofayetmoreshockingnatureinflicted。Myeyeswereupontheloserofthisduelwhenhegothislastandvanquishingwound——itwasinhisfaceanditcarriedawayhis——butnomatter，Imustnotenterintodetails。Ihadbutaglance，andthenturnedquickly，butIwouldnothavebeenlookingatallifI
　　hadknownwhatwascoming。No，thatisprobablynottrue；
　　onethinkshewouldnotlookifheknewwhatwascoming，buttheinterestandtheexcitementaresopowerfulthattheywoulddoubtlessconquerallotherfeelings；andso，underthefierceexhilarationoftheclashingsteel，hewouldyieldandlookafterall。Sometimesspectatorsoftheseduelsfaint——anditdoesseemaveryreasonablethingtodo，too。
　　Bothpartiestothisfourthduelwerebadlyhurtsomuchthatthesurgeonwasatworkuponthemnearlyorquiteanhour——afactwhichissuggestive。Butthiswaitingintervalwasnotwastedinidlenessbytheassembledstudents。
　　Itwaspastnoon，thereforetheyorderedtheirlandlord，downstairs，tosenduphotbeefsteaks，chickens，andsuchthings，andthesetheyate，sittingcomfortableattheseveraltables，whilsttheychatted，disputedandlaughed。Thedoortothesurgeon'sroomstoodopen，meantime，butthecutting，sewing，splicing，andbandaginggoingoninthereinplainviewdidnotseemtodisturbanyone'sappetite。
　　Iwentinandsawthesurgeonlaborawhile，butcouldnotenjoy；itwasmuchlesstryingtoseethewoundsgivenandreceivedthantoseethemmended；thestirandturmoil，andthemusicofthesteel，werewantinghere——one'snerveswerewrungbythisgrislyspectacle，whilsttheduel'scompensatingpleasurablethrillwaslacking。
　　Finallythedoctorfinished，andthemenwhoweretofighttheclosingbattleofthedaycameforth。Agoodmanydinnerswerenotcompleted，yet，butnomatter，theycouldbeeatencold，afterthebattle；thereforeeverybodycrowdedforthtosee。Thiswasnotaloveduel，buta"satisfaction"affair。Thesetwostudentshadquarreled，andwereheretosettleit。Theydidnotbelongtoanyofthecorps，buttheywerefurnishedwithweaponsandarmor，andpermittedtofightherebythefivecorpsasacourtesy。
　　Evidentlythesetwoyoungmenwereunfamiliarwiththeduelingceremonies，thoughtheywerenotunfamiliarwiththesword。Whentheywereplacedinpositiontheythoughtitwastimetobegin——andthendidbegin，too，andwithamostimpetuousenergy，withoutwaitingforanybodytogivetheword。Thisvastlyamusedthespectators，andevenbrokedowntheirstudiedandcourtlygravityandsurprisedthemintolaughter。Ofcoursethesecondsstruckuptheswordsandstartedthedueloveragain。
　　Attheword，thedelugeofblowsbegan，butbeforelongthesurgeononcemoreinterfered——fortheonlyreasonwhicheverpermitshimtointerfere——andtheday'swarwasover。Itwasnowtwointheafternoon，andI
　　hadbeenpresentsincehalfpastnineinthemorning。
　　Thefieldofbattlewasindeedaredonebythistime；
　　butsomesawdustsoonrightedthat。TherehadbeenoneduelbeforeIarrived。Initoneofthemenreceivedmanyinjuries，whiletheotheroneescapedwithoutascratch。
　　Ihadseentheheadsandfacesoftenyouthsgashedineverydirectionbythekeentwo-edgedblades，andyethadnotseenavictimwince，norheardamoan，ordetectedanyfleetingexpressionwhichconfessedthesharppainthehurtswereinflicting。Thiswasgoodfortitude，indeed。Suchenduranceistobeexpectedinsavagesandprize-fighters，fortheyarebornandeducatedtoit；
　　buttofinditinsuchperfectioninthesegentlybredandkindlynaturedyoungfellowsismatterforsurprise。