48.—Tom tried to lead off, but was stopped, and Jones planted his left on the cheek. Tom now stopped two of Jones’s hits, after which heavy exchanges took place, Tom getting well on to the left eye, and Jones on the nose. More sharp exchanges, left and right, each getting pepper in earnest, and the favours mutually divided. A break away, and to it again, ding-dong, and Tom drew the crimson from Aaron’s left peeper, which was now effectually closed. In the end Jones fell. It was now anybody’s battle; Tom had quite recovered his wind, and was nearly as strong as his heavier opponent.
49.—Both much punished. Sayers sparred until Jones tried to lead off, when he got away. Jones followed him up, but was short in his deliveries. In the end they closed, and as they were falling Tom popped his right sharply on Aaron’s back.
50.—Jones, after sparring, led off, and got home on the nose, but not heavily; Tom returned on the right peeper, and some pretty exchanges, left and right, took place, followed by a break away, and Jones then stopped Tom’s left; Tom, in return, stopped Aaron, and planted his left on the mark, and then on the left eye, and Jones got down.
51.—Jones led off, but was stopped. He persevered, and a good give-and-take rally followed, Jones getting on the left eye, and Tom on the left cheek heavily. Tom next got on the mouth, drawing the Burgundy, and then on the nose and left cheek. Another sharp rally followed, after a break away, and in the end both down.
52.—Sayers visibly improving while Jones fell off. Jones was short in his lead, and Tom returned on the smelling-bottle, and got away. Jones followed and dashed out his left, but Tom ducked his head. Tom then got home on the mouth and nose, and drew more of the ruby from the latter ornament. Jones succeeded in returning a little ’un on the left eye, and Sayers slipped down.
53.—Jones, who was bleeding from the left eye and month, led off, but was well stopped. He then missed his left, but in the end heavy exchanges, left and right, took place, Jones on the side of the nut and the neck, and in getting back he fell.
54.—Tom now essayed a lead, but was stopped. A second attempt reached Aaron’s body, but not heavily, and Jones returned on the nose. Tom tried his double, but missed, and Jones popped a little one on the mouth, and then his left on the left eye, and fell in the corner.
55.—Tom dodged about until he got within distance, and then got home heavily on the mark. Jones returned on the jaw with his right, but not heavily. After some more sparring, Jones dashed in, when Tom met him very sharply on the right cheek-bone with his left, and Aaron fell all of a heap. He was carried to his corner, where it was with the utmost difficulty he could be got round at the call of “Time.”
56.—Jones came up all abroad, and Tom popped in another spank on the same spot, whereupon Jones again fell. It was thought to be all over; but, by dint of shaking him up, Aaron was again enabled to respond to the call.
57.—Tom rushed at his man to administer the coup de grace, but, going in without precision, he contrived to run against Aaron’s left, which was swung wildly out, the blow, which alighted on Tom’s nose, regularly staggered him. He quickly recovered himself, and went in again, but Jones fell weak.