Then he stepped back and the lieutenant came in again. Feinting with his left, Frank sent his right fist crashing into the lieutenant’s sore jaw, and the latter gave ground.
Frank followed him closely, delivering a series of right- and left-handed hooks at close range. The lieutenant, apparently bewildered at this whirlwind attack, after having had it all his own way so long, continued to retreat around the ring.
Then, suddenly, he lowered his head, and rushed like an enraged bull straight at the lad. Frank stepped quickly to one side, and struck out straight from the shoulder. The blow landed flush upon the lieutenant’s chin, and he fell sprawling clear across the ring.
“Hooray, hooray!” came the cries of the sailors. “You got him that time!”
But, as Jack counted four, time was called again, and the lieutenant was saved.
“Get him this time, Frank!” cried the spectators, as the two advanced to the center of the ring for the last round. The lieutenant was very shaky, but his second had worked over him hard, and he was in a position to go on with the fight.
Frank gave him no time to rest. He bored in rapidly, keeping his guard steady the while, that no chance blow might break through, and staggered his opponent time after time with jabs, hooks and long-range blows.
The lieutenant gave back steadily before him and Frank followed up his advantage swiftly.
Now the lieutenant seemed to recover himself, and stepped forward in a final desperate effort to end the battle; and for a moment the two stood toe to toe and exchanged blows. Frank emerged from this struggle at close quarters second best, his face streaming with blood.
But the lieutenant’s blows had lost their force, and though the lad’s face was a sight, he was not badly hurt.