racks and get the colonel's weapons--the rapiers."

The word "rapier" sent an icy chill up my spine. A duel!

"The devil!" said I, under my breath. I knew less about fencing than I
did about aerial navigation, which was precious little. The fact that
Gretchen was now smiling aggravated the situation. I could not help
the shudder. Why, the fellow would make a sieve out of me!

"Will you look at my passports now?" I asked. "You may not have the
opportunity again."

"Your passports from now on will be void," was the retort. "But I
shall be pleased to give you a passport to the devil. I shall kill
you," complacently.

"Think of my family," said I, a strange humor taking possession of me.

"You should have thought of your family before you struck me that
blow," he replied.

My laughter was genuine; even Gretchen smuggled a smile. The
lieutenant had taken my remark in all seriousness.

"You will not run away?" he asked.

"I shall probably be obliged to run away to-morrow," said I, smoothly.
"I should not be able to account for your presence here. But I shall
await your return from the barracks, never fear." All this was mere
bravado; honestly, I shrunk within my clothes and shivered in my shoes.
But I had an unfailing mental nerve. Some call it bluff.

Gretchen had been whispering to the innkeeper. When he moved from her
side, she was smiling.

"What the deuce is she smiling about?" I wondered. "Does the woman
take me for a modern D'Artagnan?"

"Innkeeper," said the lieutenant, "if this man is not here when I
return, I'll take satisfaction out of your hide."

The innkeeper shrugged. "I have never heard of an Englishman running
away."

"And I have seen many a German do that," I put in. "How am I to know
that your going to the barracks is not a ruse?"

He gasped. The words would not come which would do justice to his
feelings. He drew off one of his gloves and threw it into my face. It
stung me. I should have knocked him down, but for the innkeeper
stepping between.

"No, Herr," he said; "do not disable him."

"You had best go to the barracks at once," said I to the lieutenant.
My clothes were too small for me now, and I did not shiver in my shoes.
My "Yankee" blood was up. I would have fought him with battle axes.

"Herr," said the innkeeper, when the two had made off for the barracks,
"you are a man of courage."

"Thanks," said I.

"Do you know anything about rapiers?" he asked.