The King of the School, or, Who will Win? — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

20 some other Englishmen who were at Heidelberg; they were manly fellows, while he, though possessed of great personal strength and considerable skill with the sword, was known to be very cautious with whom he quarrelled, “On this particular evening he seemed more insulting than usual. “As I entered the tavern I heard him say— “< It’s a great pity such babies as you are allowed to go about without their nurses. Now Ivery nearly mistook you for a man.’ “¢You pride yourself upon your strength and skill, Mr. Egerton,’ replied Fritz. ‘Ihave never yet handled a sword; but you will not dare repeat those words this day six months.’ “¢JI dare pull your nose now,’ said the ruffian, but before he could carry out his threat I dashed a tankard of beer full in his face. ‘Of course, after that he could not avoid challenging me, nor could I, under any pretext, refuse to meet him. ‘Friends on either side proffered their assistance, and a meeting was arranged for the following Wednesday. “Tt was on a Saturday the quarrel took place. “We met. “It had been settled that no padded dresses were to. be worn, and that sabres were to be used—a very different affair from transforming your adversary into a cotton bale, and tilting at him with a knitting-needle. “TIT found my adversary knew the theory of sword-play quite as well as I did myself. “It was also very evident that having entered on the affair, he wished to come out of it with flying colours. “ He fought very carefully. “ At length I managed to give him a slight wound on the arm. “That seemed to fire him with a determination to be revenged, and a tew seconds afterwards I received the wound I have shown you. “T just had strength enough left to return the compliment when I fainted; THE KING OF THE SCHOOL; OR, WHO WILL WIN ? LT our seconds interposed, and declared that we had both acted like men of honour, “Tt was a week after the duel before I was permitted to leave My chamber. “ I inquired about my late antagonist, and was told that another week must elapse ere he would be permitted to rise from his bed. “A few days afterwards I was looking out of my window looking towards the Konigsthul,* when I fancied I saw people walking upon the summit. I took down my telescope, looked care- fully, and saw that one of the two persons was my late antagonist, Eger- ton, the other being a female whom I could not recognise. “Some mysterious influence urged me to go also to the Konigsthul. When I reached the spot where I had seen Egerton he had disappeared, nor have I set eyes upon him since; but I found a piece of paper which [I still preserve, partly as a memento of the combat, and partly in the hopes that some day it may prove of value to some honest man.” Thus ended the professor’s tale; but little thought he how soon he was to be called upon to fight another though less harmful combat. — * * * * #* Next morning found Baynes unable to rise. The thrashing he had received, to- gether with the mortification attendant upon a public defeat, preyed heavily upon his spirits as well as body. On being informed of the cause, Doctor Whackley at once asked Frank if it was true. “Yes, sir,” was the unhesitatin 9 reply. The doctor looked stern for a minute, and said— “I don’t approve of fighting; but, as there seems to have been some provoca- tion in the shape of a challenge, I feel compelled to overlook it. I am glad, too, that you, like most of my pupils, know how to speak the truth.” “Rather an impertinent remark,” b * King’s seat, a hill on the south side of Heidel, erg. COMICLOe SS EO mn