“That’s the way to do it!”
As Jack dropped to the floor Reff Ritter again mounted, and now the bully “put in his best licks.” There was cheering and hand-clapping. Ritter had already been awarded the first trial, and now it looked as if he would win the second also.
“Now, Jack, brace up and show ’em what you can do when your mind is on it,” said Pepper.
“You can do better than he did, I am sure you can,” said Andy. “Don’t go at it quite so slowly.”
“I—I’m feeling unusually dull to-night,” answered the young major. “I really don’t know what to make of it.”
“Maybe you had better postpone the affair, then?” said Stuffer.
“This isn’t going to be postponed!” cried Coulter, who heard the remark.
“Humph!” murmured Pepper. “Are you running this affair?”
“No, but Ritter is winning, and Jack Ruddy has no right to withdraw.”
“I am not going to withdraw,” answered Jack, gritting his teeth. “I am going ahead, and I am going to win.”