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 sprang forward and bent above the lad.  Lord Hastings raised the boy’s head to his knee.

“Water,” he said to Jack.

The latter hastened to get it, and after a few drops had been sprinkled over his face, Frank opened his eyes.  He glanced up curiously at Lord Hastings.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.  “What’s happened?”

“Matter is,” returned Jack quietly, “that you have just been convinced that you are not such a terrible fighter as you have been thinking.”

“You mean he licked me?” demanded Frank, suddenly realizing just what had happened.

“He did,” returned Jack dryly; “and he did a pretty good job of it.”

“But I tell you I had him,” cried Frank.  “One more blow and—­and——­”

“The one more blow didn’t land,” replied his chum.

“But I tried——­”

“Yes, you tried, all right.  I saw you.  You just missed him and then he landed on you—­twice, and hard.  That’s why you’re here.”

“He couldn’t do it again,” said Frank feebly.

“Maybe not and maybe yes,” said Jack.  “However, you’re not going to have another trial.  You’ve been licked, and licked good and proper, and that’s all there is to it.  See if you can get up now.  I’ll take you to our own quarters.”

Frank pulled himself to his feet, and, leaning on Jack, walked from the room.