For a few minutes Güntz walked silently up and down the gravel-strewn skittle-alley. Reimers sat down in a small arbour, where the empty barrel still lay upon a bed of ice. When Güntz stood still, Reimers could hear the drops of the melting ice falling into the earthen basin. Otherwise all was silent, until the steps on the crunching gravel approached once more. "I think we can go now," said Güntz, in his calm voice, which only sounded a little harder than usual. Reimers answered: "All right, if you like." "Yes. Let us go." In the courtyard the senior-lieutenant suddenly stood still. "The devil! I am horribly thirsty!" he said, clearing his throat. "Shall I fetch you a glass of beer from the bar?" suggested Reimers. "No, don't bother. Water will do me more good," replied Güntz. He returned to the arbour, fetched a glass, and went to the well. The pump creaked discordantly in the stillness of the night. In the moonlight Reimers saw how his friend drank the clear water with eager gulps, filled the glass again, and again emptied it. Then they went towards the shed in which the bicycles had been stored. "That was delicious water," said Güntz, with a sigh of satisfaction. "The strength of the forest and of the earth!" The shed was badly lighted by a miserable oil lamp. The two machines were leaning against the wall. Outside was a third--Landsberg's. Güntz pushed it in under cover. "It would be a pity," he said, "for the night dew to spoil the nickel." They wheeled their bicycles slowly through the gate, and as they were starting Güntz said: "Look here, dear boy; will you go to Landsberg early to-morrow morning and take him a challenge? I will see about the announcement to the court of honour myself." Reimers answered simply, "Yes." And then he added: "But what are the conditions?" The senior-lieutenant considered for a moment. "Oh, well," he said at last, "the court of honour will decide as to that. Meanwhile, say fifteen paces, and three exchanges of shots." "Right." "Well, off then! But look out, it's horribly dark." The two friends rode in silence until they reached the garden gate of Güntz's house. The senior-lieutenant would have said a mere brief farewell, but Reimers held him fast. "Güntz," he said, "I can't help thinking that a challenge on grounds connected with the service is incorrect. And--I believe that it is so in the present instance." "Yes," replied Güntz, "the private reason is undoubtedly connected with the service. Landsberg wishes to revenge himself because I reprimanded him sharply. But overtly the affair has arisen quite otherwise. I have no alternative but to challenge him." "Yes, you are right," acknowledged Reimers. He stood awhile leaning against his bicycle, deep in thought, until Güntz pressed his hand, and said, "Good night, dear boy!"