The right arm, which in this
peculiar fencing is used to parry the cut in tierce, is also protected
by bandages, and the body is covered by a leathern cuirass, heavily
padded, from the middle of the breast to the knees. It will be seen
that the whole head, excepting the eyes, is exposed, as well as the
chest and shoulders. Thrusting is forbidden as well as the cut in
second, below guard, but the latter is permitted when either of the
combatants is left-handed, owing to the difference of the position.
Novices' duels consist generally of fifteen rounds, the first being
merely a formal salute. The fellows fight during fifteen minutes,
unless one of them is severely wounded before the end of the time. An
umpire has a stop-watch in his hand, and only the exact time of actual
fencing is reckoned, which is rather a delicate and troublesome matter.
Speaking is not allowed. If both combatants are good fencers and
cautious it sometimes happens that neither is touched, but as many as
thirty slight wounds are occasionally inflicted on both sides. A
surgeon is always present and decides when a wound is too severe to
allow of further fighting. This usually occurs when a large artery is
cut, or a splinter raised upon a bone.
Meetings are generally arranged for novices, as soon as they have
learned to handle the rapier, whether they have had any quarrel or not,
and such encounters rarely lead to any result worth mentioning. The
intention is to accustom the student to fighting for its own sake, and
he must submit to the conditions or leave the Korps with ignominy.
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