"Humph! I'm willing to box with a number one if you wish!"
"We might as well box without gloves as with number ones. This is to be no slugging match, as I intimated before. If you are afraid to box for points say so."
"Oh, I'll box you any way you please. Who do you want for timekeeper and referee?"
"Any boy with a good watch can keep time. I think Mr. Dodsworth ought to be the referee."
"Nat Poole can judge it all right," growled Merwell.
"He's not acceptable to me," answered Dave, promptly.
"The gym. teacher is all right," said Roger. "He'll know just what every move counts."
Link Merwell wished to argue, but Dave would not listen, and in the end the services of the new gymnasium teacher were called in. Mr. Dodsworth smiled when told of what was on foot.
"Very well, I'll be referee," he said. "Now, let me warn you against all foul moves. You both know the rules. Let this be a purely scientific struggle for points. Length of each round two minutes, with two minutes intermission. How many rounds do you want to have?"
"To a finish," said Link Merwell, and he glared wickedly at Dave.