Frank Merriwell at Yale | Page 9

to see fair play, you
bet!"
"And I am Diamond's second," said Roland Ditson. "Just give me a
chance in the ring there."
The appearance of the freshmen caused a brief delay. There was some
talk about rules and rounds, and Diamond said:
"If I must fight with my fists, I'll fight as I please. I don't know about
your rules, and there will be but one round--that will finish it."
"How does that suit you, Merriwell?" asked Tad Horner, who seemed
to have assumed the position of referee.
"I am willing that Mr. Diamond should arrange that matter to suit
himself."
"But there is to be no kicking," Tad Horner hastily put in.
"Certainly not," stiffly agreed the Southerner.
"All right. Shake hands."
Diamond placed both hands behind his back, and Merriwell laughed.
"Ready!" called Horner. "On guard! Now you're off!"
Barely had the words left the little referee's lips when--top, tap,
slap!--Merriwell had struck Diamond three light blows with his open
hand.
A gasp of astonishment came from the watching sophomores. Never
had they seen three blows delivered in such lightning-like rapidity, but
their ears had not fooled them, and they heard each blow distinctly.

Merriwell's guard was perfect, his pose was light and professional, and
he suddenly seemed catlike on his feet.
Diamond was astonished, but only for an instant. The tapping blows
started his blood, and he sprang toward his foe, striking out with his left
and then with his right.
Merriwell did not attempt to guard, but he dodged both blows with ease,
and then smiled sweetly into the face of the baffled Virginian.
"Oh, say!" chuckled Harry Rattleton, hugging himself in delighted
anticipation, "just you fellows wait a minute! Diamond will think he
has been struck by an earthquake!"
Bruce Browning, himself a scientific boxer, was watching every
movement of the two freshmen. He turned to Puss Parker at his side
and said:
"Merriwell handles himself like an old professional. By Jove! I believe
there's good stuff in that fellow!"
"Diamond would like to kill Merriwell," said Parker. "You can see it in
his face and eyes."
In truth there was a deadly look in the eyes of the pale-faced young
Virginian. His lips were pressed together, and a hardening of the jaws
told that his teeth were set. He was following Merriwell up, and the
latter was avoiding him with ease. Plainly Diamond meant to corner the
lad he hated and then force the fighting to a finish.
The rivals were nearly of a height and they wore built much alike,
although Frank had slightly the better chest development.
Merriwell seemed to toy with Diamond, giving him several little
pat-like blows on the breast and in the ribs. When the Virginian felt that
he had Frank cornered he was astonished to see Merriwell slip under
his arm and come up laughing behind him.

Merriwell's laughter filled Diamond's very soul with gall and
wormwood.
"Wait!" he thought. "He laughs best who laughs last."
"Give it to him, Frank!" urged Rattleton. "You'll get out of wind
dodging about, and then it will not be so easy to finish him off."
But Frank saw that in a scientific way Diamond was no match for him,
and he disliked to strike the fellow. He regretted very much that the
unfortunate affair had come about, and he felt that there could be no
satisfaction in whipping the Southerner.
Merriwell hoped to toy with Diamond till the latter should see that his
efforts were fruitless and give up in disgust.
But he did not yet recognize the kind of stuff of which John Diamond
was built.
"Come! come!" impatiently called one of the spectators. "Quit ducking
and dodging and get into the game."
"That's right! that's right!" chorused several. "This is no sport."
"And it's no six-day walking match," sneered Roland Ditson.
"Merriwell seems afraid to stand up and face Diamond."
"Is that what you think?" Frank mentally exclaimed. "Well, I suppose I
will have to hit him a few times, although it goes against my grain."
A moment later he dropped his hands by his side and took a step to
meet the Virginian. It seemed like a great opportunity for Diamond,
and he led off straight for Frank's face, striking with his left.
With a slight side movement of his head Frank avoided the blow,
allowing his enemy's fist to pass over his shoulder. At the same time he
cross countered with his right hand, cracking Jack a heavy one under
the ear.

"Hooray!" cried Harry Rattleton in delight. "That was a corker! Bet
Sparkler saw more stars than there are in the Wilky May--I mean Milky
Way."
For a few minutes the fight was hot. Again and again Frank struck his
enemy, but without putting his full strength into