nd.

Frank followed up this advantage quickly and followed his man around the
room, striking out whenever opportunity offered. Plainly Davis was
becoming rattled. He continued to retreat. Now Frank backed him into a
corner and drove a hard uppercut to the chin. Davis' head jerked
backward and struck the hard wood of the wall. Frank stepped back and
allowed Davis to come out of the corner.

Davis, it could be plainly seen, was furiously angry; but he held
himself in check, apparently realizing that victory depended upon
coolness and caution.

Frank advanced swiftly, swung and missed by a fraction of an inch, as
Davis jerked his head sharply to one side. Before the lad could recover,
Davis struck out viciously and landed flush on Frank's jaw. The lad
staggered back, but before Davis could follow up his advantage, Frank
covered and held his opponent off. The blow had been the hardest of the
fight so far.

Davis, with more confidence since this blow, stepped forward
aggressively, feinted quickly two or three times, and sent a hard right
to Frank's sore jaw. Again Frank covered up and gave ground. Believing
that he had the lad at his mercy, Davis advanced quickly and swung hard
with his left.

With dazzling rapidity, Frank stepped inside and, catching the swing
with his left arm, planted his right fist squarely upon Davis' nose.
Davis uttered a cry of pain and leaped back. Frank followed, pressing
him closely.

Davis seemed content to remain on the defensive now, and for the space
of perhaps a minute warded off all the lad's blows with a really
remarkable defense. Even Jack was forced to give him his due.

"He can box," he muttered, "but I doubt if he can keep his head."

But the end of the battle came now with sudden and unexpected swiftness.
Frank, seeking to put an end to the fight, stepped forward, feinted with
his left, and drove his right straight for Davis' chin, swinging from
the floor.

Davis jerked his head back sharply, and the lad missed. Before he could
recover Davis had swung hard with both hands and both blows went home,
one catching Frank in the abdomen, doubling him up, and the other
straightening him again as it landed squarely on his chin.

Frank dropped to the floor and lay still.

CHAPTER XVIII.

MISTAKEN FOR AN ENEMY.

Davis had won--fairly and cleanly--there was no doubt about that.

But Jack and Lord Hastings wasted no time in considering the merits of
the encounter. Each sp