ed over the ropes.

Behold them facing each other, the brown-skinned fighting man wise in
ringcraft and champion of a hundred fights, and the white-fleshed
athlete, each alike clean and bright of eye, light-poised of foot,
quivering for swift action, while the Old Un looks needfully from one to
the other, watch in one bony hand, the other upraised.

"Get ready!" he croaked. "Go!"

Comes immediately a quick, light tread of rubber-soled feet and the
flash of white arms as they circle about and about, feinting, watchful
and wary. Twice Ravenslee's fist shoots out and twice is blocked by
Joe's open glove, and once he ducks a vicious swing and lands a half-arm
jolt that makes Joe grin and stagger, whereat the Old Un, standing upon
his chair, hugs himself in an ecstasy, and forgetful of such small
matters as five-dollar bills, urges, prays, beseeches, and implores the
Guv to "wallop the blighter on the p'int, to stab 'im on the mark, and
to jolt 'im in the kidney-pit."

"Go it, Guv!" he shrieked, "go it! In an' out again, that's
it--Gorramighty, I never see sich speed. Oh, keep at 'im, Guv--make 'im
cover up--sock it into 'im, Guv! Ho, lumme, what footwork--you're as
quick as lightweights--oh, 'appy, 'appy day! Go to it, both on ye!"

And "to it" they went, with jabs and jolts, hooks and swings, with
cunning feints and lightning counters until the place echoed and
reechoed to the swift tramp of feet and dull thudding of blows, while
the Old Un, hugging himself in long, bony arms, chuckled and choked and
rocked himself to and fro in an ecstasy; moreover, when Joe, uttering a
grunt, reeled back against the ropes, the Old Un must needs shriek and
dance and crow with delight until, bethinking him of his duty, he
checked his excitement, seated himself in the armchair again, and
announced: "Time! End o' round one."

And it is to be noticed that as they sit down to take their two minutes'
rest, neither Ravenslee nor Joe, for all their exertions, seem unduly
distressed in their breathing.

"Sir," says Joe, looking his pupil over, "you're uncommon quick on your
pins; never knowed a quicker--did you, Old Un?"

"No, me lad--never in all me days!"

"An' you've sure-ly got a punch, sir. Ain't 'e, Old Un?"

"Like a perishin' triphammer!" nodded the Old Un. "Likewise, sir, you've
a wonderful judgment o' distance--but, sir, you need experience!"

"That's what I'm after, Joe."

"And you take too many chances; you ain't larned ca