Dick’s middle knuckles raked that already swollen lip, but the lower knuckles landed against the tip of Dodge’s jaw with a force which, while not complete, nevertheless sent Bert to the floor, where he lay on his side.

“One, two, three, four-----” began Maitland, his gaze on the slipping
second hand of his watch.

“Take the full count, Bert!” warned Dennison.

“Nine, ten!” finished Maitland.

In that instant Dodge was on his feet again, head down and working with great caution.

“Time!”

The third round ended ere Prescott could put in any finishing touches.  Yet, under the skillful hands of his seconds, Dodge came up rather smilingly at the call for the opening of the fourth.

There was almost murder in Dodge’s eyes now.  He felt that he was the better man, and yet he had been getting slightly the worst of it so far.  But he would show them!

Yet, after forty seconds of this work, when Dodge had just let fly a blow intended to land over Prescott’s heart, his fist touched only air and he lurched forward.  In the same instant Dick swung a smashing blow on Bert’s left ear.  Bert went down, lying there like a log.

In the silence that followed the finish of the count, and the referee’s awarding words, Dick Prescott’s voice broke in, as soft and cool as ever: 

“In fifteen minutes, Mr. Dennison, I’ll be ready for you!”

CHAPTER XIX

MR. DENNISON’S TURN IS SERVED

Furlong sprang forward to protest.

“See here, old ramrod, don’t be foolish.”

“I can handle it as well tonight as at any time,” Dick laughed as coolly as ever.

“But you’ve taken a lot of punishment.”

“Fifteen minutes is all I need, with seconds like you and Greg.”

“Will it be fair to yourself, Prescott?” demanded Packard.

“Wholly,” replied Dick unconcernedly.

“Let him alone,” urged Greg.  “Old ramrod always knows what he’s doing.”

“I’m not sure that we can get Dodge out of here and attended to, and be already for the start in fifteen minutes,” replied Packard.

“Fifteen, twenty, twenty-five,” insisted Dick.  “Whatever time is necessary, so that we start in time to be through before taps.”

“What do you say, Dennison?” asked Packard.

“I?  Oh, I’ll be ready,” grinned the athlete.

“Will you serve Dennison?” asked Packard, turning to Nelson

“Yes; of course.”

“Then, Nelson, confer with Dennison and see whom he wants to serve with you.  The rest of us will work over Dodge.  Whew!  Look that ear puff up while you watch it!”

“Beauty, isn’t it?” asked Greg grimly.  “It will be a cauliflower decoration, all right.”

Nelson went scurrying, soon returning with Anderson.  Any yearling would gladly have served tonight, in order to see what doughty Dick Prescott would do against his second man in the same evening.  With Nelson and Anderson came two other yearlings who had agreed to see Dodge safely to the door of cadet hospital.