The next morning Arwed was walking silently up and down the banks of
the Peckholm with lieutenant general Rank, awaiting the arrival of the
boat which was to bring his adversary. Arwed's pistols with their
apparatus were lying upon his cloak, which was spread out under a tall
pine tree.
'You are so tranquil, my friend!' said Rank, breaking the long silence;
'indeed, the moments passed in awaiting a duel are most intolerable. I
know it by my own experience. Perhaps you begin to regret your
proceeding? It is not to be doubted that the pistol shot which you are
about to exchange will be the burial salute of your happiness in this
kingdom--for the queen will never pardon you. Therefore, if your
resolution has become somewhat weaker, it is yet time. Major general
Baumgardt is too happy with his new promotion and his new orders, not
to wish to wear his honors some years yet, and will very willingly
agree to any other reparation.'
'No, general,' answered Arwed; 'God forbid that I should meanly convert
an honorable combat into a piece of buffoonery. A reconciliation
between a challenge and a duel, I have always deemed a contemptible
proceeding. It was the firmness, even, of my resolution, that made me
still, as it places me near the gates of death, which to me is a
consideration of great solemnity, and as I shall contend for the
innocence of our friend before the eyes of all Europe.'
'Brave youth!' cried Rank, embracing him with much emotion. 'In
heaven's name fight. If you fall, I will revenge your death as a good
second should.'
At this moment the clock of St. Katharine's tower struck ten, and
directly afterwards Baumgardt's boat landed through the splashing waves
of the lake. In company with another officer he jumped ashore, and gave
a coldly polite greeting to those who had been waiting his arrival.
With silent activity the two assistants placed the barriers, and,
thrusting their swords into the ground some distance apart, stretched a
cord from one to the other.
'How many paces, general?' asked Rank, stepping midway of the cord.
'Twenty!' answered Baumgardt morosely.
'That is a great distance!' calmly remarked Arwed, and each measured
twenty paces from the cord and marked the points.
'Here, Gyllenstierna!' cried Rank, and Arwed took his place, whilst
Baumgardt stepped to the opposite point, which his second had marked.
Both stood eyeing each other with folded arms. The weapons were not yet
placed in their hands, but the glances of hatred exchanged were more
deadly than the bullets.
The seconds had loaded the pistols, and the combatants now received
them from their hands. 'Let him prevail who has the right!' whispered
Rank to Arwed, stepping aside.
'It is yet proper to ask,' said Baumgardt's second, 'whether this
affair may not be arranged in some other way?'
'In no other possible way!' cried Arwed. 'In this the major general
will certainly agree with me.'
'In no other way!' muttered the general. His second then left his side,
and the two combatants began slowly advancing, and with each step
mentally measuring the distance which divided them from each other.
They had advanced scarcely five steps, when with Baumgardt the fear of
death prevailing, and with Arwed his eagerness for the fight conquering
all prudence and discretion, they both fired almost at the same moment.
Arwed's ball struck Baumgardt's hat from his head, and his opponent's
grazed Arwed's left arm. But the latter, throwing away the discharged
pistol, and taking the loaded one in his right hand, cautiously
advanced.
Baumgardt followed his example, and advanced with a pale face, blue
lips and bristling hair. While Arwed was observing the alteration which
extreme anxiety caused in the countenance of his adversary, the latter
elevated his weapon and continued slowly to approach, with his eye
intently fixed upon Arwed's breast. Then swelled Arwed's heart, and the
thirst for blood which now sparkled in Baumgardt's eyes, reminded him
of the fiendlike expression of his face on the morning of the execution
of Goertz.
'Your time has come! Forward!' cried the youth, in the same words
Baumgardt had used on that occasion, raising his arm at the same
moment. With sudden terror Baumgardt fired and missed--whilst his arm,
struck and shattered by Arwed's ball, fell helplessly by his side.
'My God!' cried his second, springing to his side, and supporting the
fainting man.
'My arm is gone!' said Baumgardt, grating his teeth and sinking upon
the grass over which his blood was streaming. 'I am an invalid for
life. Why could not the booby's bullet have struck my heart or head,
and so have ended the matter at once!'
Arwed now approached his adversary with Rank, who had bound a
handkerchief upon his bleeding arm.
'I am sorry, general,' said he, kindly, 'and my anger vanishes with
your running blood. May this misfortune awaken in you a true and
heartfelt repentance for what you have done. I am appeased,--make your
peace with God!'
'What are you chattering there?' cried Rank indignantly, whilst
Baumgardt scornfully rejected Arwed's proffered hand.
'Take my hand,' said Arwed; 'it is the hand of reconciliation. Imagine
that it is offered to you by the innocent Goertz, whom your conduct led
to the scaffold.'
'Did not I tell you,' cried Baumgardt to his second, 'that this
senseless quarrel had a political origin? You will be a witness for me
with her majesty.'
Overcome by pain, he fell back powerless.
'Your thoughtless words will cost you your head,' said Rank, hastily
dragging the youth with him down to the shore.