He staggered to his feet before the final word could be uttered.
It was a display of sand, and, although the fellow was an ordinary prize fighter, Frank could not help admiring him for it.
But Merry realized that it would not do to let his admiration of the fellow’s grit hold him in check. It was all the more apparent that there could be only one termination of the encounter.
Merriwell closed in.
Galway side-stepped and rushed. His ponderous left swung through the air with an upward movement.
It was an effort to land the “wallop” on Frank’s jaw.
The youth was not there.
The swing seemed to throw Husker Galway off his guard. Before he could recover Frank came in. With a straight, clean blow, the champion all-round athlete of America sent his opponent down with a shock that jarred the platform to its very foundations.
It was all over. The referee counted ten in his most deliberate manner, but the prostrate slugger did not even move a muscle. Then, when his gloves were removed, the victor joined in the efforts to restore Galway, paying little heed to the profuse expressions of admiration and the flow of congratulations from the students.
At last he sat up, supported by one of the students, and his eyes sought the face of the youth who had caused his downfall.