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。