r slowly mounted.

"What's the matter with you, Bascomb?" he finally asked. "What do you
want to draw me into this affair for? I don't know as I have any
desire to put on the gloves with Rains."

The big fellow grinned in a way that was distinctly insulting.

"I don't think you have," he said. "You wouldn't cut any ice with him."

"You may be right; but I don't quite understand how you know, as I have
never stood up with you."

"Oh, that wasn't necessary; I've seen you spar, and I have your gage.
You don't run in the class with Rains."

At this juncture Rains made a move as if he would quiet Bascomb, but
the big fellow quickly went on:

"I'm not going to keep still any longer. You're too modest, Rains.
You keep in the background, and let fellows like Merriwell take the
lead in everything, when you should be a leader. You are a better
all-round man than Merriwell any day, and you can knock corners off him
any time he has nerve enough to put on the mitts with you. He's a
dandy to push himself to the front, but----"

That was a little more than Frank could stand. The jolly look had
vanished from his face, and he faced Bascomb, saying sharply:

"Look here, my friend, I reckon you are saying one word for Rains and
two for yourself. I haven't mixed up with you for reasons that you
very well understand, but I don't propose to take much of your talk.
If there is any difference between Mr. Rains and myself, we will settle
it at another time; but if you want to get a rap at me, now is the
accepted occasion, and I will put on the gloves with you."

Bascomb had not been looking for this, and he was taken aback for a
moment. Still, although he knew Merriwell was a far better all-round
athlete, he believed he could more than match him in boxing, so he
eagerly accepted the opportunity.

"I'm your man," he said. "Peel off and get into gear. It won't take
me long to show you there are a few things you do not know."

He laughed in a disagreeable way, and Hodge, who had overheard all, bit
his lips to repress an outburst of anger.

"The sneak!" whispered Bart to Frank, as the latter stepped aside to
take off his coat and vest. "He means to use his sledgehammer blow on
you. He won't box for points, but he will try to soak you. Look out
for him."

"I am not afraid of him."

"That's all right; but you know he has been practicing that blow, and
they say it is terrible. He is cut out for a prizefighter, and is n