Frank had always had a fondness for the sport even before he joined the army. He and Bart had often put on the gloves in a friendly bout at the Camport gymnasium. He was as quick as a cat on his feet, a good judge of distance, and unerring in picking out the weak points of his opponent's offense. Under the skillful training that he received from McGrath, who was a well-known amateur boxer and had been put in charge of the athletic sports of the camp where the boys were stationed, he had made surprising progress and was admitted to be easily the best soldier with the gloves in his own special battalion. One night a boxing programme had been staged for Frank's regiment and a series of interesting bouts was looked for. "Are you going on to-night, Frank?" asked Bart. "Yes," Frank replied. "And I feel in dandy shape. I never felt more full of pep than I do just now." "Who's McGrath going to put against you?" asked Tom. "I'm slated to meet Thompson, of company F," replied Frank. "And he's a crackajack, too," put in Billy. "He cleaned up the champs of all the other companies when the old Thirty-seventh was down on the Mexican border. You've got your work cut out for you, Frank." And Billy's prediction was verified, for on that night Frank found that Thompson was an opponent to be reckoned with. It was a slashing, four-round bout with the scales hanging even most of the time, but in the closing round Frank had a shade the better of it and was announced the victor. Amid tumultuous handclapping of company B, whose champion he was, Frank waved his hand smilingly and was about to go off the platform when Corporal Wilson, who was acting as master of ceremonies, stopped him with a gesture. "Pretty well winded, Sheldon?" he asked. "Not a bit," laughed Frank. "I'm as fresh as a daisy. Like John Paul Jones, I've just begun to fight." "That's good," smiled Wilson, "because I'm short a match. One of the pair who were to come on after you and Thompson is rather under the weather and the doctor won't let him take part, though he's game as a fighting cock and wants to go on anyway. If you felt in shape for it I thought perhaps you might help out by taking on some other fellow for a few minutes so that the boys won't be disappointed." "Sure thing," said Frank. "Bring him along." "I haven't got anyone picked out, just this minute," said the corporal a little perplexedly. "Send out a call for volunteers," Frank suggested. "It will make it all the more interesting." "That's the idea," said the corporal. "Any of you fellows want to put on the gloves with Sheldon?" he called out. There was a momentary hush and then a figure rose from the throng and Nick Rabig pushed his way through to the platform. CHAPTER XXI PAYING A DEBT Frank gave a start of surprise as he saw who his opponent was to be, and Bart, who was acting as Frank's second, leaned over him with a word of warning.