n, to add to Pete's
discomfiture; but the latter got him cornered at last, and the thud,
thud, thud of the blows stirred the crowd to enthusiasm once more. Pete
got after Jim smartly when the latter broke ground, and landed his best
blow, a heavy right swing on the temple that sent Done down, and left him
confused for a few seconds. Quigley's friends shouted themselves hoarse
as Mike helped his mate to the chair.

'How goes it, Jim?' asked Burton anxiously.

'He's beaten, but my hat won't fit me for a day or two,' answered Done,
smiling through the water.

Quigley showed his bad condition very markedly when he came up, and Jim,
excepting for a cut chin and a big lump over his temple, appeared none
the worse. Pete maintained his wild policy, rushing the young man about
the ring, wasting energy in terrible blows that were rarely within a foot
of their object, while Done, who scarcely seemed to be fighting at all,
slipped in every now and again and battered Pete's body, chary of hitting
his cut and swollen face. This was maintained for two rounds more, and
three times Quigley went down. When time was called for the seventh round
Jim said decisively:

'I'll fight the man no more! He's beaten!'

There was a yell from Quigley's corner, and Pete rushed Jim, forcing him
back among the men. Again they clinched, but Jim broke away, and Quigley
followed, almost blind, and scarcely able to stagger. Done put him off
with the left, and drove in a right-hand blow that took Pete on the point
of the chin, sending him to earth, helpless and hopelessly beaten.

'Jimmy Done's the winner,' said Kyley authoritatively, when a measure of
quiet was restored, 'an' I don't mind sayin' I ain't seen a prettier bit
o' fightin' this five year. You've got a lot o' Tom Sayers's dainty
tricks, my lad!' he added, shaking Done by the hand.

XI

THE miners pressed about the victor, eager to shake hands with him, and
invitations to drink were showered upon him. Aurora clamoured on the out
skirts of this crowd, trying to fight her way through, still half
delirious with excitement and exultation, calling Jim's name. Her rapture
was uncouth, half savage; she had many of the instincts of the primitive
woman. But Mike dragged Done's shirt over his head and led his mate away.
Burton prepared a hot tub for Jim that night, and after nine hours' sleep
the hero awakened on Sunday morning with only a bruise or two, a lump on
his forehead, and a stiff and bat