!"

The next two rounds had somewhat similar results to the first, I keeping
up a steady defence and hitting my antagonist pretty nearly in the same
place each time, while he gave me a couple of swinging blows, one of
which made my mouth bleed, whereat his admirers were in high glee,
especially Matthews, his second, for I heard the latter say to him,
"Only go on and you'll soon settle him now, Sam!"

My friend the boatswain, however, was equally sanguine as to the result,
as his encouraging advice to me showed.

"Kape y'r pecker up, Misther Gray-ham. Sure, he's gittin' winded, as
all av thim lane an' lanky chaps allers does arter a bit," said Tim,
wiping the blood away that was trickling from my lip with his soft silk
handkerchief, which he took off from his own neck for the purpose.
"Begorra, ye've ownly to hammer at his chist an' body, me lad; an' ye'll
finish him afore ye can say `Jack Robinson,' an' it's no lie I'm
tellin'!"

Hitherto I had been merely acting on the defensive, and parrying the
blows rained on me by Weeks in his impetuous rushes, more than hitting
in return; for only keeping my left fist well out and allowing him to
meet it as he so pleased, and which, strange to say, whether he wished
it or not, he did so meet.

But now, thinking it time to end matters, the sight of the blood the
boatswain had wiped from my face somehow or other bringing out what I
suppose was the innate savagery of my nature, I determined to carry the
war into the enemy's camp; or, in other words, instead of standing to be
struck at, to lead the attack myself.

As Weeks, therefore, advanced with a grin, confidently as before,
thinking that I should merely remain on guard, I threw my left straight
out, swinging all the weight of my body in the blow; and then, stepping
forwards, I gave him the benefit of my right fist, the one following up
the other in quick succession, although I acted on Tim's advice, and
directed my aim towards his body.

The result of these new tactics of mine altered alike the complexion not
only of the fight but that of my antagonist as well; for he went down on
the deck with a heavy dull thud, almost all his remaining breath knocked
out of him.

"Hurrah, the little un wins!" cheered some of the hands; while others
rejoined in opposition, "The lanky one ain't licked yet!"

But, to my especial friend the boatswain the end of the contest was now
a foregone conclusion and victory assured to me.

"Bed