t the meaning of all this is?"

"Herr Winthrop, the idyl has come to an end; the epic now begins."

CHAPTER XII

The golden summer moon was far up now, and the yellow light of it came
into the window and illumined the grim face of the innkeeper, throwing
a grotesque shadow of him onto the floor. The leaves rustled and
purred against the eaves. As the branches moved so did the light and
darkness move over the innkeeper's visage. He was silent and
meditative.

"An epic?" I said.

"An epic."

"Innkeeper," said I, "if I give you my word of honor not to molest you
or leave this room, will you let me be a witness?"

He passed into the gloom, then back into the light.

"This is no trick?" suspiciously. "I have a deal of regard for my
bones, old as they are."

"On my honor."

"Well, I'll do it. It is in the blood of us all. But a false move on
your part, and I promise you that this knife shall find a resting place
in you."

He cut the ropes and I was free. But my arms ached.

The two of us took our stand by the window and waited for the
principals in the drama about to be enacted in the clearing. I confess
that my conscience was ill at ease; why, I knew not. I was dreading
something, I knew not what. The inn-keeper's hand trembled on my arm.

"Sh! they come," he whispered.

As I looked beyond his finger I saw four figures advance over the
sward. One of them, a slight boyish form, was new to me. The fellow
walked briskly along at the side of Stahlberg, who was built on the
plan of a Hercules. When they came to the clearing they stopped. The
seconds went through the usual formalities of testing the temper of the
swords. Somehow, I could not keep my eyes off the youngster, who was
going to do battle with the veteran; and I could not help wondering
where in the world he had come from, and why in the world he had chosen
this place to settle his dispute in. There were plenty of convenient
places in the village, in and around the barracks. He took his
position, back to me, so I could not tell what he was like. The moon
shone squarely in the lieutenant's face, upon which was an expression
of contempt mingled with confidence. My heart thumped, for I had never
seen a duel before.

"I do not know where you came from," I heard the lieutenant say; "but
you managed nicely to pick a quarrel. It is all on your own head. It
is too bad that cur of an Englishman had to run away."

The innkeeper's k