Both men welcomed the gong that announced a chance to breathe.

The grateful rubbing down, fanning, and sponging of the lightning-like seconds between the rounds restored both men somewhat to their enthusiasm, though the furious rate at which they had taken the two previous rounds left them bodily weak.

Jaynes’ second told him, during the pause, that Bobbles had decidedly the best of it thus far on form, and Jaynes’ temper was aroused.  Bobbles, having been told by his second that he had the better of it, had grown a trifle rash and impudent, and dared to take the aggressive.  He went straight into Jaynes’ zone of fire, and managed to plant several good hooks and upper cuts.

While Bobbles was playing in the upper regions for Jaynes, Jaynes made a reach for Bobbles’ body, several times; but Bobbles was not there.  When Jaynes made a careless lead, Bobbles countered and dodged with remarkable skill.

All these things, while they increased Bobbles’ score and standing with the judges, increased Jaynes’ temper; and finally he gave a vicious right swing, which Bobbles avoided unintentionally by slipping and falling.  So he found himself on the floor, with Jaynes standing over him in expectant anticipation of landing him another ebonizing blow.  He heard, also, the referee beginning to count slowly the seconds.  His first impulse was to rise to his feet and assail Jaynes with all his might; then he realized that he had nine seconds for refreshment, and there he waited on one hand and one knee, while the seconds were slowly intoned, until the referee sang out: 

“Nine!”

Then he made a sidelong scramble to his feet, and succeeded in dodging the blow with which Jaynes welcomed him back.

Jaynes charged now after Bobbles like a Spanish bull; but the wiry Lakerimmer dodged him, and smote back at him while he dodged; while Jaynes, losing his head completely, wasted his strength in futile rushes and wild blows that bruised nothing except the atmosphere.  Before the end of the round both men were decidedly tired, because the pace had been very rapid.  The blows they dealt at each other were now hardly more than velvety shoves, and the air seemed to be the chief obstacle in their way.  When by some chance they clinched, they leaned lovingly upon each other till the referee had to pry them apart.  There was a little revival of interest just before the gong sounded to end the third and last round; for Bobbles, having regained some of his wind, began to pommel Jaynes with surprising rapidity and accuracy.  The end of the bout found them in a happy-go-lucky mix-up, each striking blindly.

The judges now met to discuss the verdict they were to render; and, there being some dispute as to the number of blows landed by each, the two men were brought forward for inspection.  Bobbles’ face and neck were as black as a piccaninny’s, but there were few dark spots upon his chest.  Jaynes, however, was like a leopard, for the blacking on Bobbles’ gloves had mottled him all up and down and around.