Suddenly Dave swung his right in on the point of Pen’s chin with a force that jolted the larger midshipman.  As part of the same movement, Darrin’s left crashed against Pennington’s nose.

Then, out of chivalry, Dave dropped back, to give Pen a few moments, in case he needed them, to get his wits back.

“Time!” roared Dawley, and Pennington’s seconds pounced upon him and bore him away to his corner.

“Now I know how that fellow Darrin wins his fights,” growled Pennington in an undertone.  “He keeps on running away until he has the other man gasping for breath.  Then Darrin jumps in and wins.”

“The method doesn’t much matter,” commented Briggs dryly, as he and Decker worked over their man.  “It’s the result that counts.  Rush Darry into a tight corner, Pen, and then slam him hard and sufficiently.”

“Thanks, fellows; now I’m all right for the second round.” muttered Midshipman Pennington.

In a few seconds more Dave and his opponent were hard at work.

Dave still used his footwork, and most cleverly.  Yet, wherever he went, Pen followed him nimbly.  It didn’t look so one sided now.

Then Pennington, at last, managed to deliver one blow on Darrin’s right short ribs.  It took a lot of Dave’s spare wind; he raced about, seeking to regain his wind before allowing close quarters.  But at last Pennington closed in again, and, after a swift feint, tried to land the same short-rib blow.

Darrin was watching, and blocked.  Then, his temples reddening with anger, Dave swung in a huge one that crashed in under Pennington’s right ear.

“Time!” shouted Dawley, just as Pen went to the floor in a heap.  That saved the larger midshipman from having to take the count.  His seconds had him ready at the call for the third round.

Now, suddenly, Darrin seemed to change not only his tactics, but his whole personality.  To his opponent Dave seemed suddenly transformed into a dancing demon.

It was about the same old footwork, but it was aggressive now, instead of being defensive.

First, Dave landed a light tap on the already suffering nose.  A few seconds later he landed on the point of Pen’s chin, though not hard enough to send his man down.  Then a rather light blow on the jaw, just under Pen’s right ear again.  The larger midshipman was now thoroughly alarmed.  He feared that Darrin could do whatever he willed, and shivered with wonder as to when the knockout blow would come.

The truth was, Pennington was still putting up a better battle than he himself realized, and Darrin was not disposed to take any foolish chances through rushing the affair.  Thus, the third round ended.

By the time that they came up for the fourth round, after both men had undergone some vigorous handling by their respective seconds, Pennington was a good deal revived and far more confident.

Dave’s tactics were the same in the fourth round.  Pennington didn’t find time to develop much in the way of tactics for himself, save to defend himself.