Part 34 (2/2)

Soon in between the measured paces of the led horse came the sound of a quicker step. Guntz recognised the fidgety trot for that of Reimers horse ”Jay.” He went out of the house and through the iron gate into the street.

”Morning, my boy!” he said, and offered his hand to Reimers. Then he mounted, and both trotted down the street in silence.

Once outside the town Guntz let his mare slow down. ”We are in plenty of time,” he said.

Suddenly he stopped and listened. A horse's trot and the rumbling of a carriage could be heard coming from the town.

”The others,” said the senior-lieutenant. ”Let us get on.”

The pistol practice-ground lay half way up the incline upon a shelf-like terrace of the hillside, a smooth gra.s.sy s.p.a.ce, surrounded on both sides by high bushes; at the lower end there was a shed built of strong boards, in which tools and targets were stored.

Guntz and Reimers dismounted at the shed, and fastened up their horses by the bridle. Reimers pressed his friend's hand once more, gazing at him with anxious eyes. He could not speak.

They stood side by side on the edge of the terrace, whence they could look down upon the country road in the valley below. A carriage was approaching, followed by three riders: Landsberg, little Dr. von Froben, his second, and Gretzschel, who was brought chiefly to look after the horses.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the hill. Kauerhof got out, with the pistol cases in his hand, and after him the surgeon-major and his a.s.sistant, both with instrument cases. The three other men rode slowly behind them up the steep incline.

Before the shed, brief polite greetings were exchanged, Gretzschel remaining there with the horses.

There was a singular expression of shyness on the faces of all. One might have fancied that these men were a.s.sembled for some guilty purpose. Guntz alone looked frank and unembarra.s.sed.

The prescribed attempts at reconciliation were unsuccessful. Guntz shook his head in refusal.

Then Kauerhof began to measure the distance. He had long legs, and he made the fifteen paces as lengthy as possible.

Just at this moment the sun rose above the mountains on the other side of the valley.

Kauerhof loaded the pistols, and the seconds carried them to their princ.i.p.als. Guntz nodded cheerfully to Reimers as he took his weapon.

The umpire then took up his position and convinced himself with a glance that all was prepared. The duellists were standing at their marked lines, the seconds at a little distance alongside of them. He took out his watch, and glancing at it said: ”I shall count: ready, one, then three seconds; two, and again three seconds; then, stop!

Between one and stop, the gentlemen may fire.”

He glanced round once more. The four officers stood motionless in the clear light of the sun, Landsberg sideways, Guntz with his broad chest facing his opponent. The junior surgeon wiped the moisture from his brow; Andreae tugged nervously at his hair.

The umpire counted.

Landsberg raised his pistol at once and fired. Guntz heard the bullet whizz past on his left. He had directed his barrel a little to the side of his opponent's shoulder, and pressed the trigger. The shot missed fire. He had forgotten to c.o.c.k the pistol.

The second attempt at reconciliation was also unsuccessful.

Again Kauerhof gave the word.

Guntz saw Landsberg's pistol aimed directly at his breast. Then Landsberg looked up, and for the hundredth part of a second caught his opponent's gaze.

Landsberg's aim was unerringly directed on his man, when suddenly his hand began to shake, and he fired blindly, just as he heard Guntz's bullet whistle past him.

Guntz stood unharmed, a happy smile on his good-natured, open face.

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