“Oh, he’s got lots of go yet,” declared North. “If I can close his other eye I’ll have him though.”
“Then play for that.”
North tried to, but he was so intent on this that he left his own chin unguarded. Cap did not care much about inflicting visible punishment on the bully, but he did want to end the fight, for which, truth to tell, he had no great hankering.
Once more his reliable left went boring in, and North gently went over backwards, coming heavily down in the grass. He almost took the count, but the time keeper was merciful, and allowed him a few seconds.
“He’s about all in,” whispered Bill to his brother, when after some feeble and cautious sparring the round was at an end. “Finish him up. I’m afraid McNibb or some of the profs. might come.”
“So am I. Here goes for a knock-out.”
Cap tried for it, but North was shifty. He was playing on the defensive now, for he found that Cap was more cautious and was guarding his damaged eye well. And North did not dare open his guard enough to come back strong. Therefore he clinched several times, hanging heavily on his opponent to tire him.
Cap tried to avoid this, and there was considerable leg work which was hard on the breathing apparatus. He thought he saw one good chance, and sent in an upper cut, but it fell short, and he got a blow on the ear that made his head ring.
Thereafter he was more cautious.
“You must do him up soon,” implored Bill. “Can’t you take a chance?”