ead out of sight, "but he isn't
fast on his feet. That's why they call him Boots. He steps around as
though he had on waders--hip-high ones. But he's lightning hitting
from close in--in-fighting they call it--where most big fighters don't
shine. That's because he's had Flash's coaching. You want to keep away
from him--keep him at arm's length, and maybe he won't do too much
harm. I--I'd let him do all the leading, if I were you, and--and kind
of run ahead of him." The voice came half-smothered from the cluttered
bin of equipment. "That isn't running away from him because you're
afraid, you understand. It's just playing him to tire him out, you
know!"

It was silent for a moment while Bobby Ogden burrowed for the
necessary canvas shoes. Then a hushed laugh broke that quiet and
brought the latter bolt upright. With the trunks in one hand and the
rubber-soled slippers in the other, Ogden stood and stared, only half
understanding that the big boy before him was laughing at him for his
solicitude and trying to reassure him with that same mirth.

"Funny, is it?" he snorted aggrievedly. "So very--very--funny? Well, I
only hope you'll be able to laugh that way again--say even in a month
or two!"

"I wasn't laughing at you," Young Denny told him soberly. "I--I was
just thinking how strange it seemed to have somebody worried over
me--worried because they were afraid I might get hurt. Most little
mix-ups I've gone into have worried folks--lest I wouldn't."

CHAPTER XIII

When he had first looked up from the green-topped table and seen him
standing there in the entrance of the gymnasium Ogden had only sensed
the bigness of Denny Bolton's body--only vaguely felt the promise
which his smooth black suit concealed. It was the face that had
interested him most at that moment, and yet he had not even noticed
the half healed cut that ran almost to the point of the chin. Young
Denny's grave explanation of his quiet mirth caused him to look
closer--made him really wonder now what had been its cause. There was
a frankly inquisitive question half-formed behind his lips, but when
he turned to find Denny sitting stripped to the waist, waiting for the
garments which he held in his hands, he merely stood and stared. Bobby
Ogden had seen many men stripped for the ring. It took more than an
ordinary man to make him look even once--but he could not take his
eyes off this boy before him. Once he whistled softly between his
teeth in unc