"We'll have to have a referee and a timekeeper," said Dave. "Who shall they be?"
"A referee and a timekeeper?" repeated Link Merwell. "Why don't you start her up and have done with it?"
"This is to be no prize fight, Merwell. I shall box you for points only."
"Oh!" The bully put as much of a sneer into the exclamation as possible. "Afraid to finish it up, eh?"
"Perhaps you'll get all you want before we stop," answered Dave, calmly.
"What kind of gloves do you want? The thickest in the place, I suppose."
"No, a medium glove will do for me. Mr. Dodsworth recommends the number five."
"Humph! I'm willing to box with a number one if you wish!"
"We might as well box without gloves as with number ones. This is to be no slugging match, as I intimated before. If you are afraid to box for points say so."
"Oh, I'll box you any way you please. Who do you want for timekeeper and referee?"
"Any boy with a good watch can keep time. I think Mr. Dodsworth ought to be the referee."
"Nat Poole can judge it all right," growled Merwell.
"He's not acceptable to me," answered Dave, promptly.
"The gym. teacher is all right," said Roger. "He'll know just what every move counts."
Link Merwell wished to argue, but Dave would not listen, and in the end the services of the new gymnasium teacher were called in. Mr. Dodsworth smiled when told of what was on foot.
"Very well, I'll be referee," he said. "Now, let me warn you against all foul moves. You both know the rules. Let this be a purely scientific struggle for points. Length of each round two minutes, with two minutes intermission. How many rounds do you want to have?"
"To a finish," said Link Merwell, and he glared wickedly at Dave.
"No, I'll not allow that, for it is too exhausting. Let us say ten rounds. That will give you twenty minutes of hot work. Here, I will give my watch to Lambertson and he can keep the time." And he passed the watch over to the student mentioned.
The way matters had been arranged did not suit Link Merwell at all, yet he felt forced to submit or acknowledge that he was afraid of Dave. He had wished for a free-and-easy match and had hoped, on the sly, to get in a foul blow or two which might knock Dave out. Now, under the keen eyes of the gymnasium instructor, he knew he would have to be careful of his every movement.