During the summer months all eyes, even as early as Thursday, were watching the weather.  When Saturday evening proved pleasant and Barop had given his consent, there was great rejoicing in the institute, and the morning hours must have yielded the teachers little satisfaction.

Directly after dinner everybody seized his pole and the other “Bergwacht” equipments.  The alliances were formed under the captain’s guidance.  We will say that the contest was to begin with the first and third Bergwacht pitted against the second and fourth, and be followed by another, with the first and second against the third and fourth.

We assembled in the court-yard just before sunset.  Barop made a little speech, exhorting us to fight steadily, and especially to observe all the rules and yield ourselves captives as soon as an enemy’s pole touched us.  He never neglected on these occasions to admonish us that, should our native land ever need the armed aid of her sons, we should march to battle as joyously as we now did to the Bergwacht, which was to train us to skill in her defence.

Then the procession set off in good order, four or six pupils harnessing themselves voluntarily to the cart in which the kegs of beer were dragged up the Kolm.  Off we went, singing merrily, and at the top the women were waiting for us with a lunch.  Then the warriors scattered, the fire was lighted on every hearth, the plan of battle was discussed, some were sent out to reconnoitre, others kept to defend the citadel.

At last the conflict began.  Could I ever forget the scenes in the forest!  No Indian tribe on the war-path ever strained every sense more keenly to watch, surround, and surprise the foe.  And the hand-to-hand fray!  What delight it was to burst from the shelter of the thicket and touch with our poles two, three, or four of the surprised enemies ere they thought of defence!  And what self-denial it required when—­spite of the most skilful parry—­we felt the touch of the pole, to confess it, and be led off as a prisoner!

Voices and shouts echoed through the woods, and the glare of five fires pierced the darkness—­five—­for flames were also blazing where the women were cooking the supper.  But the light was brightest, the shouts of the combatants were loudest, in the vicinity of the forts.  The effort of the besiegers was to spy out unguarded places, and occupy the attention of the garrison so that a comrade might leap over the wall and set his foot on the hearth.  The object of the garrison was to prevent this.

What was that?  An exulting cry rang through the night air.  A warrior had succeeded in penetrating the hostile citadel untouched and setting his foot on the hearth!