The Red Cloud chief., 1902-01-24
CHAPTER Nv.
"Hoch! The Americana"

IL was Indeed q pretty sight, II n
could only overlook the designation
Of the principals necessitated by their
armament, and both men handled
their rapiers in fierce and guard with
a c%leverness that would have brought
out cheers from an American audience
to make the very rafters ring, while
three score of Germans sat or stood
around, watching every move, with a
grim silence that was only broken by
the clash OF steel upon steel, or the
sharp cries of the umpire directing
the affair.
Those lights had never shone upon
a more gallant fight, and each student
Rugged himself with delight because
fortune had been kind enough to
make him a witness to 1t.
Those most experienced in such
matters saw, however. that when ten
minutes of this terrific work had pass
ed by with but a few slight cuts on
either side, Hoffman was gathering his
forces and preparing to end the duel
with one Of his hitherto invincible
tactics, and they trembled for the
brave American.
To Karl's eager inquiries during an
interval between the bouts, Paul only
gave a short laugh and assured his
second he was but playing with his OPP
ponent.
Again the rivals faced, but this time
Paul was in deadly earnest, and amid
a clash of steel 1t was seer that Hoff-
mans face was covered with blood.
Then the sonorous voice Of the UNI
pire was heard calling a halt while
the surgeons ascertained just how
serious the Prussian's wound might be.
Hoffman seemed to be wildly pleading
with him to tel! the battle to go IN
II was his first defeat and unusually
bitter-but the doctor, realizing the
gravity of the wound, was memorable.
"Abfuhr!" he called out, signifying
that the Prussian should be allowed to
fight no more.
The umpire repeated the word. and
in a loud voice declared the result in
the s~tereotyped phrase:
"Saxo-Prussian Is led away"
Then something occurred that had
p%erchance, never been heard upon a
similar o~ccasion-the glorious result
the signal downfall of the proud duel.
list who had lorded it over them sc
long. vas too much for the students
to witness without giving relief tc
their pent-up feelings.
"Hoch, hoch, hoch the American
they shouted. And "hoch. hoch, hoch'
It was while they bore Rhinelander
bloody as he was, into the ante-roon
to resume his street dress.
Paul had received a few slight
scratches, but fortune had been yer,
kind to him in this respect, for none
Of them were more than bagatelles.
AS he, dressed again for the street
was about to break away from the ad'
miring groups that surrounded him, hi
saw a tall figure pressing through the
throng, and recognized the Englishmar
who had been assisting the surgeon
who attended his bout. His eyes. blue
as the summer skies, beamed with goot
nature, and Paul was drawn to him un,
consciously.
Then, too, the impulsive clasp Of hi
hand. how hearty 1t was after almos'
formal congratulations Of the Ger
mans! Well, blood seems thicker thar
water, after all, and the day is surely
coming when these cousins may stant
shoulder to shoulder for peac,
throughout the whole world.
"A thousand congratulations, my
dear boy. 1t was beautifully done
and l am proud to have been a wit
ness to your victory. l hope We ma,
meet again. Sir Noel Travers Is m,
name. and l am probing into the col
leges and hospitals of our German
cousins"
Paul was dragged away by his com
rades at this j%uncture, but he had
singular p%remonition that he would
run across this big, frank Briton agail
at some uncertain future date.
To Paul's lodgings they rode. Tn,
day passed as had others, but Paul dis
covered what he had not known before
that he had many warm friends in tn,
university.
And, Of course, he was by courtes.
compelled to accept their invitation
to be a guest Of honor at the gran,
meeting in the Kneipe or korps drink
ing all that night, where the famou
Salamander with Its chorus and pound
ing Of empty beakers on the tabl
opened and closed the festivities.
Still he was glad when the end cam
and he could leave the hall withou
giving offense, for other matters OF
more personal nature demanded his at
tention.
One Of the objects that had brough
him to E%urope-to Germany-gav
promise of being attained.
He had seen the one he sought, tn
sister who had for so many years bee
lost to him.
How the memory of her thrilled him
and what agony swept through hi
mind as he remembered In who's
company he had seen her.