“Done!” cried Ready, in satisfaction, while the rest of the crowd shouted with delight.
“A minute is a long time,” said one. “You’ll be sure to hit him inside of that time, Jack.”
“Remember, that you are to strike at nothing but my head,” warned Merry. “If you hit me anywhere else, it doesn’t count.”
“That’s all right.”
“And I want a space of at least six feet in which I can move about.”
“You shall have it, and I’ll hit you inside of fifteen seconds, for all of your clever dodging.”
Ready was confident. It did not take long to prepare for the affair. In a short time they were ready. One of the spectators had been chosen as timekeeper, and he sat with his watch in his hand. Frank had stripped off his coat, and stood in his shirt-sleeves.
“It will be pretty warm work,” he smiled.
“It’ll be the hottest work you ever went up against,” declared Ready.
Then the word was given for them to start, and the peculiar match began.