"Call it a draw, lads," yelled the miners.
"Not till I give him back for that last one," roared Bob, making a vicious lunge at his companion.
The blow barely grazed the left cheek of the smaller of the lads, he having moved his head slightly to one side to avoid the blow.
"I'll hand it out to you, Bob," said Steve.
Once more Jarvis was lifted from his feet and this time he was laid on his back on the ground, while Steve leaned against the wall of the drift, panting heavily.
"Call it off! Call it off, or we'll take a hand in the game," warned the miners.
Jarvis had staggered to his feet and Rush was lurching to meet him.
There was a slow exchange of blows and the lads clinched, each with an arm about the other's neck. For a full minute they stood thus, panting, striving to collect their strength to continue the battle.
Jarvis made a feeble effort to deliver a right-hand hook on his opponent's jaw, but there was not enough steam in the blow to do any damage.