“Oh, this is great—simply great!” muttered Hodge. “Wonder if he isn’t beginning to think I knew what I was talking about when I said you could knock the packing out of him?”
“Oh, if you had on anything but those soft gloves!” said Diamond. “But you want to keep your eyes open. Some of his blows are wicked. They’d shake you up bad if they landed.”
“Have you seen any of them land yet?” asked Merry, in his quiet way.
“Not yet; and that’s why I’m happy. This is going to be the biggest surprise that ever struck the Fairmount Athletic Club.”
Hegner came hurrying back, with his companions trailing at his heels. He had succeeded in stopping the flow of blood very quickly, and now he was palpitating to be at Merriwell again.
“Come on!” he cried. “Let’s settle this thing! I haven’t got warmed up yet.”
“Give it to him, Merry!” cried Hodge.
“Crowd him this time!” whispered Diamond.
Again the lads faced each other. They began sparring slowly, Hegner making an effort to control his temper. He led at Frank a number of times, but Merry broke ground quickly each time, and it began to look as if he had resolved to hold off and keep away from Hegner. Wallace decided this was so, and attempted to press the tussle.
Right there he made his mistake. Merriwell had been trying to lead him on, and the effort was successful. One of the trainer’s rushes was met as if Frank had been nailed to the floor, and Hegner was sent spinning backward with two well-directed blows, catching his heels and sitting down heavily on the floor.