Part 33 (2/2)
”No; I could not think of it.”
”You wish to go on with the match?”
”Yes, unless Kester is willing to call it a draw.”
”Not much,” growled the bully. ”We'll fight!”
”Good for you, Dan,” whispered Sam, while the spectators were shouting their approval. Even if Dan were defeated, now, the Battles.h.i.+p Boy had won the admiration and respect of his s.h.i.+pmates. He had established his reputation on board the ”Long Island” for all time for bravery.
”I thought this was to be a boxing match,” muttered Dan.
”It is.”
”I call it pretty close to a prize fight. That was an awful wallop he gave me. I can feel it yet.”
The call of ”time” interrupted the conversation. Once more the contestants faced each other in the center of the ring. Dan still was a bit unsteady on his feet as the result of the blow that had knocked him down. He exhibited not the slightest indication of excitement, however, and though suffering great pain, he was cool and calm, presenting a smiling face to his adversary.
Kester suddenly rushed him and Dan rushed Kester. They met with a bang, neither giving ground to the other for several seconds. The big man was the first to back away. Dan's sole object in life now appeared to be to land his eight-ounce gloves on the unfortunate nose of his antagonist.
He played for the nose with all the skill and cunning that he possessed.
In the meantime Bill was reaching wildly for the younger man's stomach, upon which he seemed unable to land, and getting a bang on the nose nearly every time he attempted it, much to his disgust.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”This for Hickey-and This for Me!”]
”We had better call it a draw now, had we not?” begged Davis during a lull. ”You've had enough. I don't want to hurt you more.”
”No!” bellowed Kester, enraged at the suggestion. ”Not till I've put you to sleep for the rest of the night.”
”Then we had better end it right here. This for Hickey-and this for me!”
The men said afterwards that they saw no blows struck, but that they heard two distinct impacts. What they did see was Kester hurled clear across the ring, after two eight-ounce gloves had landed on the very point of his jaw, directed by all the strength of Dan Davis's well-trained muscles.
Kester went clear through the ropes.
”Catch him!” shouted Dan.
Others had discovered the defeated bully's danger. Half a dozen tars sprang to his rescue. Already Bill Kester's head and shoulders were through the s.h.i.+p's rope railing, and in another second he would plunge headlong into the sea.
CHAPTER XVIII-THE ORDERLY TAKES A HEADER
”He's going overboard!” roared a chorus of voices. ”Nail him!”
They did ”nail” him, but not a second too soon, and Kester was hauled back into the ring amid a great uproar. Dan was standing in the center of the roped enclosure, his face a bit more pale than usual, but in no other way did he exhibit emotion. By this time Sam was at his side, rapidly stripping the gloves from the hands of the victor.
”It was great-the greatest fight I ever saw in my life!” cried the red-headed boy excitedly.
<script>