Hal drew a great breath of pure relief and advanced.  He was within ten feet of the German officer, when the latter suddenly sprang forward.  His sword again leaped forth, and he made a furious thrust at the lad.

Although surprised at this attack, Hal was not caught completely off his guard.  With a single movement his own sword leaped from its scabbard and parried the thrust of the German officer.

Chester took a sudden step forward to interfere, but Hal, perceiving his friend’s move out of the corner of his eye, cried out: 

“Stand back, Chester.  I’ll dispose of this cowardly dog alone.”

But the German was an accomplished swordsman, which Hal was not.  True, the lad had had some experience with the sword and had already fought one successful duel; but, in spite of this, he was no match for the more experienced German officer.

The German pressed the lad hard and, secure in the knowledge that he would not be interfered with, he tried his best to run the lad through.  Fortunately, however, the lad’s blade met his at every thrust.  Tiring of this, the German took a step backward, and, raising his sword, grasped it by the point and hurled it at Hal.

The lad escaped being impaled only by a quick spring aside.  The German turned to flee, and as he did so, bumped squarely into Anthony Stubbs, who accidentally barred his path at that moment.  The two collided with a crash, and were soon rolling about on the ground.

To attack the German officer had been farthest from Stubbs’s mind; but the German officer, believing that the little American had barred his path purposely, struck out at him heavily.  More by good fortune than anything else, Stubbs evaded the blow by rolling quickly over, and as he did so his right hand accidentally descended upon the German’s face.

Stubbs was as greatly surprised as was his opponent, but the latter became furiously angry.

“Hit me, will you!” he cried.

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” exclaimed Stubbs, greatly alarmed by the anger of the German.

Quickly he rolled over again, once more escaping by a hair’s breadth a heavy blow of the German’s fist.  Then he arose quickly and started to run; but the German was close behind him.

Realizing that he could not possibly outrun his opponent, Stubbs turned suddenly and dived at the German’s legs, crying out as he did so: 

“Help!  Help!  Anthony, you will be killed.”

His sudden maneuver had taken the German by surprise, and again the two rolled over and over upon the ground in a tangled heap.

In some unaccountable manner Stubbs was the first to extricate himself, and, absolutely certain that his adversary meant to kill him, he rolled over quickly and sat upon his enemy’s breast.

In vain did the German attempt to shake himself free.  Stubbs, still crying for help and moaning to himself, was as immovable as the Rock of Gibraltar.