“We will now,” says the chairman, “a Salamander rub” (“Einen Salamander reiben”). We all rise, and stand like a regiment at attention.
“Is the stuff prepared?” (“Sind die stoffe parat?”) demands the chairman.
“Sunt,” we answer, with one voice.
“Ad exercitium Salamandri,” says the chairman, and we are ready.
“Eins!” We rub our glasses with a circular motion on the table.
“Zwei!” Again the glasses growl; also at “Drei!”
“Drink!” (“Bibite!”)
And with mechanical unison every glass is emptied and held on high.
“Eins!” says the chairman. The foot of every empty glass twirls upon the table, producing a sound as of the dragging back of a stony beach by a receding wave.
“Zwei!” The roll swells and sinks again.