nk Bruederschaft together, and
swore I don't know how many eternal friendships. The devil was just
amusing himself with us all this time though, as you 'll see presently;
for we soon got into an argument about the charge in which our brigade
captured the guns. He said that if the ammunition had not failed we
never would have dared the attack; and I swore that the discharges were
pouring in while we rode down on the battery.

"We grew warm with the dispute, and drank deeper to cool us; and, what
between the wine and our own passion, we became downright angry, and
went so far as to interchange something not like Bruederschaft.

"'Ah, how unfortunate I always am!' said I, sighing. 'If I had only the
good luck to be the prisoner now, and you the escort--'

"'What then?' said he.

"'How easily, and how pleasantly too, could we settle this little
affair. The ground is smooth as velvet; there is no sun; all still, and
quiet, and peaceful.'

"'No, no,' said the Austrian; 'I couldn't do what you propose,--I should
be dishonored forever if I took such an advantage of you. You must
know, Francois,' for he called me so, recurring at once to his tone of
kindliness, 'I am the first swordsman of my brigade.'

"I could scarcely avoid throwing myself into his arms as he spoke; never
was there such a piece of fortune. 'And I,' cried I, in ecstasy, 'I the
first of the whole French army!' You know, Comrades, I only said that
_en gascon_, and to afford him the greater pleasure in our _rencontre_.

"We soon measured our swords and threw off our jackets. 'Francois,' said
he, 'I ought to mention to you that my lunge _en tierce_ is my famous
stroke; I rarely miss running my adversary through the chest with it.'

"'I know the trick well,' said I; 'take care of my "pass" outside the
guard.'

"'Oh! if that's your game,' said he, laughing, 'I'll make short work of
it. Now, to begin.'

"'All ready,' said I; 'en garde!' And we crossed our weapons. For
a German he was a capital swordsman, and had a very pretty trick of
putting in his point over the hilt, and wounding the sword-arm; but if
it had not been for all the wine I drank the affair would have been over
in a second or two. As it was, we both fenced loose, and without any
judgment whatever.

"'Ah! you got that,' said I, 'at last!' as I pierced him in the back,
outside the guard.

"'No, no!' cried he, passionately; for his temper was up, and he would
not confess a touch.

"'Well,