old ramrod, don't be foolish."

"I can handle it as well tonight as at any time," Dick laughed
as coolly as ever.

"But you've taken a lot of punishment."

"Fifteen minutes is all I need, with seconds like you and Greg."

"Will it be fair to yourself, Prescott?" demanded Packard.

"Wholly," replied Dick unconcernedly.

"Let him alone," urged Greg. "Old ramrod always knows what he's
doing."

"I'm not sure that we can get Dodge out of here and attended to,
and be already for the start in fifteen minutes," replied Packard.

"Fifteen, twenty, twenty-five," insisted Dick. "Whatever time
is necessary, so that we start in time to be through before taps."

"What do you say, Dennison?" asked Packard.

"I? Oh, I'll be ready," grinned the athlete.

"Will you serve Dennison?" asked Packard, turning to Nelson

"Yes; of course."

"Then, Nelson, confer with Dennison and see whom he wants to serve
with you. The rest of us will work over Dodge. Whew! Look that
ear puff up while you watch it!"

"Beauty, isn't it?" asked Greg grimly. "It will be a cauliflower
decoration, all right."

Nelson went scurrying, soon returning with Anderson. Any yearling
would gladly have served tonight, in order to see what doughty
Dick Prescott would do against his second man in the same evening.
With Nelson and Anderson came two other yearlings who had agreed
to see Dodge safely to the door of cadet hospital.

Bert Dodge had been brought around at last. He was a bit dazed,
but he grinned, as he went out, when Dennison murmured in his
ear:

"Never you mind, old man. I'll take care of Prescott. I'll twist
the ramrod into a figure 8."

"We must proceed as promptly as possible, gentlemen," rapped out
Mr. Packard. "We must be finished before taps."

"Dennison will be finished, by that time," muttered Greg in a
cheerful undertone.

Holmes had never provoked a senseless fight. He was good-natured
almost to a fault. Yet, when a fight became inevitable, Greg
could act as principal or second with equal cheeriness.

Nelson had brought back with him togs for Dennison, and that athlete
was quickly ready.

Every minute of the time had been utilized well in getting, Dick
Prescott in condition for his second scrap of the evening. His
nose-bleed had been stopped, but it was wind and lung power that
he wanted most. He had taken some heavy body thumping, but rest
and rubbing had worked out most of the soreness.

"Get up and kick a