“I pray you do!” muttered Roland. “I shall be guyed to death if you don’t.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll soon show you that I can count on him at will in fencing; I will throw him twice out of three times when we wrestle, and I’ll wind up by putting him out in the boxing-match.”
“Do it!” panted Packard, “and this will be the happiest day I’ve seen in a year!”
“Are you ready?” called the voice of Hodge.
“We are,” answered Packard.
The foils were offered for Hawkins to make his selection, which he quickly did. Then the masks were adjusted, and the two young athletes stood face to face, with Merriwell’s breathless friends looking on.
“Gentlemen, salute!” sounded the clear voice of Hodge, to whom had fallen the privilege of giving the signal.
The contestants responded with a sweep of their foils.
“On guard!”
The proper positions were assumed.