closing Quimby's other eye.

Smack! Right on top of that staggerer came a hook that landed
on the youngster's forehead with such force that Quimby fell over
backward. He tried to catch himself, but failed, and lurched
to the ground.

"--six, seven, eight--" counted the timekeeper.

Quimby staggered bravely to his feet, but stood there, his knees
wobbling, his arms all but hanging at his side.

Dan did not try to hit. He backed off slightly keeping only at
half-guard and watching his opponent.

"What's the matter, Quimby" called Mr. Ferris. "Can't you go on?"

"Yes; I'm going on, to the knock-out!" replied the youngster doggedly.

He tried to close in, but was none too steady on his feet. Dan,
watching him, readily footed it, merely watching for the youngster
to lead out.

"Time!"

Quimby's two seconds rushed to his side. Midshipman Ferris and
the time-keeper also gathered around.

"Quimby," spoke the referee, "you're in no shape to go on."

"I can stand up and be hit," muttered the youngster gamely.

"Mr. Dalzell, do you care to go further?" asked Mr. Ferris.

"I shan't attempt to hit Mr. Quimby, sir, unless he develops a
good deal more steam."

Ferris looked at Quimby's seconds. They shook their head.

"I award the fight to Mister Dalzell," declared Midshipman Ferris.

"Oh, give it to Mr. Quimby, if you don't mind, sir," begged Dan.
"He got the game, and might as well have the name along with it."

"Mister, don't be touge all the time," cried Mr. Ferris sharply.

"I don't mean to be, sir," replied Dan quite meekly. "What I
meant to convey, sir, is that I don't care anything about winning
fights. The decision, sir, is of very little importance to me.
I don't fight because I like it, but merely because I need the
exercise. A fight about once a week will be very much to my liking,
sir."

"You'll get it, undoubtedly," replied Midshipman Ferris dryly.

"Whee, won't it be great!" chuckled Dan, in an undertone, as he
stepped over to his seconds. "Give me that towel, Dave. I can
rub myself off."

While Dan was dressing, and Quimby was doing the same, one of
the seconds of the youngster class came over, accompanied by the
timekeeper.

"Mister, you really do fight as though you enjoyed it," remarked
the latter.

"But I don't," denied Dan. "I'm willing to do it, though, to
keep myself in condition. Say once a week, except in really hot
weather. A little game like this tones up the liv