his feet as he
spoke, and grasping the hilt of his sword glared round upon
them--'should dare to hint at insult to a comrade!' and he drove the
blade home with a clatter into its scabbard and strode out of the room
as he had come, like a thunderstorm.

The men waited in silence until the echo of his footsteps died away, and
in the mind of each rose a vivid memory. It happened, from causes which
might in the case of the Guard of Maasau be called natural, that the
three present lieutenants, viz. Unziar, Varanheim, and Adolf, had joined
on the same day, and by way of supporting the traditions of their
immediate predecessors each instantly agreed to challenge each of the
others, the result of which would in all probability have been the
speedy occurrence of three fresh vacancies, in the list of officers.

Wallenloup heard of this and sent for the lieutenants, whom he
considered too valuable to be thus easily lost.

'Gentlemen,' he began, 'I am about to enforce an old order that
expressly forbids quarrels amongst the members of our corps. If you want
to fight, fight some one else. There are plenty of men who stand badly
in need of being killed. Turn your attention to them. But if any trouble
should arise between any two of you, come to me. There has been enough
of this kind of scandal about us lately, and therefore for the future we
will do the thing quietly with a pack of cards, or, if you prefer it,
with dice. The man who loses can--go. There is the river, or for choice,
his own pistol. You understand me?'

Varanheim looked at Unziar and Unziar looked at Adolf, and they smiled.

'I think,' said little Adolf, 'we _might_ find others to brawl with.'

'The river is abominably cold,' added Unziar.

'And the same dish is served for us all,' concluded Varanheim.

Wallenloup laughed.

'I have laid the alternative before you, gentlemen,' he said, 'the cards
or the dice.'

This was the story that rose in the minds of the men round the mess
table, and a minute later they joined in a simultaneous shout of
laughter. Adiron's big face was flushed as he called for a special brand
of champagne wherein to drink the Colonel's health.

'He's magnificent--the old man!' he said when he could speak. 'Let him
alone. He's equal to any mortal occasion! He reminds me of the day when
his Imperial Majesty over the border complimented him on the appearance
of the Guard, saying he should feel proud to number us amongst the
regiments of th