Wells rushed twice but Peter was not where he rushed. The only damage he had done was to tear out the sleeve of Peter's shirt.
"Stand up an' fight like a man," growled Shad.
"There's no hurry," said Peter, calmly studying Shad's methods.
This bull-like rush Peter stopped with a neat uppercut, straightening Shad's head which came up with a disfigured nose and before he could throw down his guard, Peter landed hard on his midriff. Shad winced but shot out a blow which grazed Peter's cheek. Then Peter countered on Shad's injured nose. Shad's eyes were now regarding Peter in astonishment. But in a moment only one of them was, for Peter closed the other.
"We'd better stop now," gasped Peter, "and talk this over."
"No, you —— —— ——," roared Shad, for he suspected that somewhere in the bushes Beth was watching.
Peter lost what remained of his shirt in the next rush and sprained a thumb. It didn't do to fight Shad "rough and tumble." But he got away at last and stood his man off, avoiding the blind rushes and landing almost at will.
"Had enough?" he asked again, as politely as ever.
"No," gulped the other.