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was something quite other than this。 He knew that from the first moment of the bout he would be fighting。 That this undoubtedly would make Mop fight back； and he was haunted by the fear that in the stress of battle he might play the coward。 Would he be able to stand up to Mop when the fight began to go against him？ And suppose he should run away； should show himself a coward？ How could he ever live after that； how look any of the boys in the face？ Worst of all； how could he face his father； whose approval in this boxing game since he had revealed himself as a 〃fighting man〃 the boy coveted more than anything else。 But his father was not present when the boy stepped into the ring。 Impelled by the dread of showing himself a coward and running away； Larry flung to the winds his father's favourite maxim； 〃Let your heels save your head；〃 a maxim which ought if ever to be observed in such a bout as this in which he was so out…classed in weight。
At the word 〃Time〃 Larry leaped for his opponent and almost before Mop was aware that the battle had begun he was being blinded； staggered and beaten all around the ring； and only a lucky blow； flung wildly into space and landing heavily upon Larry's face； saved him from complete defeat in the first round。 That single heavy blow was sufficient to give temporary pause to Larry's impetuosity； but as soon as he got back his wind he once more ran in； feinting； ducking； plunging； but ever pressing hard upon his antagonist； who； having recovered from his first surprise； began to plant heavy blows upon Larry's ribs； until at the end of the round the boy was glad enough to sink back into his corner gasping for breath。
Ben Hopper； who was acting as Larry's second； was filled with surprise and indignation at his principal's fighting tactics。 〃You blame fool；〃 he said to Larry as he ministered to his all too apparent necessities。 〃What do you think you're doing？ Do you think he's a sausage machine and you a bloody porker？ Keep away from him。 You know he's too heavy for you。 If he were not so clumsy he would have had you out before this。 One good punch from him would do it。 Why don't you do your foot work？〃
〃Corec；〃 said Joe。 〃Larree； you fight all the same Mack Morrison's ram。 Head down； jump inhead down； jump in。 Why you run so queek on dat Mop feller？ Why you not make him run after you？〃
〃He's right； Larry；〃 said Ben。 〃Use your feet； make him come after you。 You will sure get his wind。〃
But Larry stood recovering his breath； glowering meanwhile at his enemy across the ring。 He neither heeded nor heard the entreaties of his friends。 In his ears one phrase only rang with insistent reiteration。 〃He's a coward； an' his mother's a coward before him。〃 Only one obsession possessed him； he must keep hard at his enemy。
〃Time！〃 The second round was on。 Like a tiger upon his prey； Larry was upon his foe； driving fast and furious blows upon his head and face。 But this time Mop was ready for him； and bearing in； head down； he took on his left guard the driving blows with no apparent injury； and sent back some half a dozen heavy swings that broke down Larry's guard； drove him across the ring and finally brought him gasping to his knees。
〃Stay where you are；〃 yelled Ben。 〃Take your count； Larry； and keep away from him。 Do you hear me？ Keep away； always away。〃
At the ninth count Larry sprang to his feet； easily eluded Mop's swinging blow； and slipping lightly around the ring； escaped further attack until he had picked up his wind。
〃That's the game；〃 yelled Ben。 〃Keep it up； old boy； keep it up。〃
〃C'est bon stuff； Larree；〃 yelled Joe； dancing wildly in Ben's corner。 〃C'est bon stuff； Larree； for sure。〃
But once more master of his wind； Larry renewed his battering assault upon Mop's head； inflicting some damage indeed； but receiving heavy punishment in return。 The close of the round found him exhausted and bleeding。 In spite of the adjurations and entreaties of his friends； Larry pursued the same tactics in the third round； which ended even more disastrously than the second。 His condition was serious enough to bring Mack Morrison to his side。
〃What's up with you； Larry？〃 said Mack。 〃Where's your science gone？ Why don't you play the game as you know it？〃
〃Mack； Mack；〃 panted Larry。 〃It ain't a game。 I'mI'm fighting； and； Mack； I'm not afraid of him。〃
Mack whistled。 〃Who said you are afraid of him； youngster？〃
〃He did； Mack； he called me a cowardyou remember； Ben； up in the cedar bush that day we played hookeyyou remember； Ben？〃 Ben nodded。 〃He called me a coward and〃grinding the words between his teeth〃he called my mother a coward。 But I am not afraid of him； Mackhe can't make me afraid； he can't make me run away。〃 What with his rage and his secret fear； the boy had quite lost control of himself。
〃So that's it；〃 said Mack； reading both rage and fear in his eyes。 〃Listen to me； Larry；〃 he continued in a voice low and stern。 〃You quit this monkey work right now or； by the jumping Jehoshaphat； I will lick the tar out of you myself when this is over。 You're not afraid of him； I know thatwe all know that。 But you don't want to kill him； eh？ No。 What you want is to make him look like a fool。 Well； then； fight； if you want to fight； but remember your rules。 Play with him； make him follow you round until you get his wind； there's your chance。 Then get him hard and get away。〃
But the boy spoke no word in reply。 He was staring gloomily； desperately； before him into space。
Mack seized him； and shaking him impatiently； said； 〃Larry boy； listen to me。 Don't you care for anybody but yourself？ Don't you care for me at all？〃
At that Larry appeared to wake up as from a sleep。
〃What did you say； Mack？〃 he answered。 〃Of course I care； you know that； Mack。〃
〃Then；〃 said Mack； 〃for God's sake； get a smile on your face。 Smile； confound you； smile。〃
The boy passed his gloved hand over his face； looked for a moment into Mack's eyes； and the old smile came back to his lips。
〃Now you're all right；〃 cried Mack in triumph。 〃Remember your father's rule； 'Keep your head with your heels。'〃 And Larry did remember！ For on the call of 〃Time〃 he slipped from Ben's knees and began to circle lightly about Mop； smiling upon him and waiting his chance。 His chance soon came； for Mop； thinking that his enemy had had about enough and was ready to quit； adopted aggressive tactics； and； feinting with his right； swung heavily with his left at the smiling face。 But the face proved elusive； and upon Mop's undefended head a series of blows dealt with savage fury took all the heart out of him。 So he cried to the referee as he ducked into his corner：
〃He's fightin'。 He's fightin'。 I'm not fightin'。〃
〃You'd better get busy then；〃 called Ben derisively from his corner。 〃Now； Larry； sail into him；〃 and Larry sailed in with such vehemence that Mop fairly turned tail and ran around the ring； Larry pursuing him amid the delighted shouts of the spectators。
This ended the contest； the judges giving the decision to Mop； who； though obviously beaten at the finish； had showed a distinct superiority on points。 As for Larry； the decision grieved him not at all。 He carried home a face slightly disfigured but triumphant； his sole comment to his mother upon the contest being； 〃I was not afraid of him anyway； mother； he could not make me run。〃
〃I am not so sure of this boxing； Lawrence；〃 she said； but the boy caught the glint in her eyes and was well enough content。
In the late evening Ben； with Larry and Joe following him； took occasion to look in upon Mop at the butcher shop。
〃Say； Mop；〃 said Ben pleasantly； 〃what do you think of Larry now？ Would you say he was a coward？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mop； suspecting trouble。
〃Just what I say；〃 said Ben； while Larry moved up within range； his face white； his eyes gleaming。
〃I ain't saying nothing about nobody；〃 replied Mop sullenly； with the tail of his eye upon Larry's white face and gleaming eyes。
〃You say him one tamin de cedar swamp；〃 said Joe。
〃Would you say Larry was a coward？〃 repeated Ben。
〃No； I wouldn't say nothing of the sort；〃 replied Mop promptly。
〃Do you think he is a coward？〃 persisted Ben。
〃No；〃 said Mop； 〃I know he ain't no coward。 He don't fight like no coward。〃
This appeared to satisfy Ben； but Larry； moving slightly nearer； took up the word for himself。
〃And would you say my mother was a coward？〃 he asked in a tense voice； his body gathered as if for a spring。
〃Larry； I wouldn't say nothing about your mother；〃 replied Mop earnestly。 〃I think your mother's a bully good woman。 She was awfully good to my mother last winter； I know。〃
The spring went out of Larry's body。 He backed away from Mop and the boys。
〃Who said your mother was a coward？〃 inquired Mop indignantly。 〃If anybody says so； you bring him to me； and I'll punch his head good； I will。〃
Larry looked foolishly at Ben； who looked foolishly back at him。
〃Say； Mop；〃 said Larry； a smile like a warm light passing over his face； 〃come on up and see my new rabbits。〃
CHAPTER IV
SALVAGE
Another and greater enterprise was diverting Mr。 Gwynne's attention from the delin