Dade backed away, but he put up his hands, for he saw that Starbright meant to strike him.
“Why, you puppy!” he snarled.
The freshman’s big fist caught him on the cheek and almost lifted him from his feet.
The blow drove away every atom of fear from the heart of Morgan and filled him with inconceivable wrath. Gathering himself, he rushed at Starbright with the ferocity of a mad dog. But again that huge fist met him and knocked him backward.
“Come again!” said Starbright, as coolly as if he were merely sparring in the gymnasium. “I want to hammer that villainous smile off your face. Your friends won’t think you so handsome in the morning!”
Morgan tried to calm his raging heart. He saw that if he did not he would be knocked out in short order. So, instead of making another mad rush, he called to his aid all his undoubted skill, and began to circle slowly about Starbright, looking warily for an opening.
Twice Starbright lunged at him, and twice Morgan dodged out of the way. Then, with a quick leap, Morgan sprang in and landed a resounding blow.
Dick, finding an opening, then drove his terrible right with such weight that Morgan went down on the grass with stunning force.
Thud! A club in the hands of Dion Santenel fell on Starbright’s head, blinding and stunning him. The club was lifted again and hung poised in the air.
Then there was a swish of a rope, which was preceded by light, springy footsteps, and the club, while poised in mid-air, was plucked from the hand of Santenel.