you, Saunders," said the chairman. "You've done
just right to call our attention to this matter. These beasts must be
taught their place. The only manly way to settle it is by having
Starkie fight him. You have acted like a gentleman and a soldier."

The fight was arranged for a Saturday afternoon on the familiar
hazing-ground near the old fort. Sam selected Cleary and another
classmate for his seconds, and Starkie chose Saunders and Smith.

"Jinks," said Smith in a moment of unwonted affability, "you've got a
chance now to distinguish yourself. I'll see that you get fair play. Of
course, you'll have to fight to a finish, but you must take your
medicine like a man."

"Did General Gramp ever have to fight here?" asked Sam, touching
his cap.

"Of course," said Smith, "and on that very ground, too. You don't seem
to have read much history."

The prospect of the fight gave Sam intense joy. His sense of glory
seemed to obliterate all anticipation of pain. This was his first
opportunity to become a real hero. When he was hazed he only had to
suffer; now, on the other hand, he was called upon to act. He got
Cleary to show him some of the simplest rules of boxing, and he
practised what little he could during the three intervening days. He
was quite determined to knock Starkie out or die in the attempt.

At four o'clock on the day indicated a crowd of first-and third-class
men were collected to see the great event. No fourth-class men were
allowed to attend except the two seconds. A ring was formed; Captain
Clark was chosen as referee; and the two combatants, stripped to the
waist, put on their hard gloves and entered the ring. Starkie eyed his
antagonist critically, while Sam with a heavenly smile on his face did
not focus his eyes at all, but seemed to be dreaming far away. When the
word was given, however, he dashed in and made some desperate lunges at
Starkie. It was easy to see in a moment that Sam could do nothing. He
could not even reach his opponent, his arms were so much shorter. If
Starkie held one of his arms out stiffly, Sam could not get near him
and was entirely at his mercy. The third-class man consequently set
himself leisurely to work at the task of punishing the unfortunate
Jinks. Two or three blows about the face and jaw which started the
blood in profusion ended the first round. Sam did not recognize the
inevitable result of the fight, and was anxious to begin again