Lucy
Little. Despite his name, Little was not a "sissy," and he was no mean
antagonist, as Punch found out. It was nip and tuck between them, and
neither seemed to have the best of it.

Some of the sophs were able to down their men, but they were so
outnumbered by the freshmen that they could not hold an advantage very
long.

The struggle between Browning and Merriwell waxed furious. The big
sophomore exerted himself to his utmost, and he found that it was
necessary that he should do so if he had any thought of holding his own
with the freshman leader.

Frank knew all the time that he was pitted against a hard man, and so
his muscles were strained and his nerves were taut.

"Now, fresh, we'll see what we can do for you," Browning said, as he
made a mighty effort to land Frank on his back.

"You are very kind," laughed Merriwell. "I will not forget your
kindness."

"You are not the only one," panted Browning. "There are others."

"Are you going to the party this evening?" chuckled Frank.

"Not till I have done you up, my friend with the swelled head."

"Then you expect to be rather late?"

"We'll see!"

Frank resorted to all the tricks he knew, but Browning was familiar with
every one of them. They gave up trying to down each other by main
strength, and science cut quite a figure in their battle.

At length Browning got Frank foul, and to his dismay the leader of the
freshmen felt himself falling. Browning fell with him, a cry of triumph
coming to his lips.

That cry turned to an exclamation of dismay, for Merriwell seemed to
twist about in the air, and they fell side by side on the ground. In a
twinkling they were at it again, and over and over they went, till they
finally stopped and got upon their feet together.

"Very good thus far," laughed Merriwell. "But I see your wind will not
hold out. I am bound to do you in the end."

That was the very thing Browning feared.

"Well, I don't know about that," he said as he broke Frank's grip. "This
may settle the whole business."

He struck hard and straight at Merriwell's face!

CHAPTER XIII.

JUBILANT FRESHMEN.

Spat!

Merriwell staggered.

"Down you go!"

Browning followed the freshman closely, launching out again, with the
full expectation that the second blow would be a settler.

Frank had been taken slightly off his guard, so that he had failed in
getting away from the first blow, but he skillfully ducked the second,
countering a