“You’re not in it, either,” lazily laughed Bruce Browning, who was half sitting, half reclining on the couch, watching the boxing bout and smoking a pipe at the same time. “Well, you weren’t such a much when you got up against Merriwell that time you tried to do him,” snapped Rattleton, backing out as Frank slowly followed him up. “That’s ancient history,” declared the big fellow. “But Merriwell found me a pretty warm baby!” “Get up and try him now!” cried Harry. “I’ll bet he’ll bang you all over the room before you touch him.” “Thanks!” grinned Bruce. “I’ve quit the ring. I’m not looking for pugilistic glory any more.” “Stand up to him, Rattleton,” advised Diamond. “You do too much running away.” “Oh, you know!” flung back Rattleton. “You’ve had your turn, too, and you wasn’t so good.” “You can’t do anything with him if you don’t try to hit him,” said Bart Hodge, who was sitting astride a chair in the corner. “More thanks! If you’ll put the gloves on, I’ll guarantee you will not hit him any oftener than I have. I believe he gave you a dose of medicine once on a time. I’m the only fellow in the room who hasn’t been punched in earnest by him. You chaps are good talkers, but---- No you don’t.” Then he went under Frank’s arm like a cat, giving Merry a sharp jab in the ribs. “Keep it up.” “Well, that wasn’t so worse!” yawned Browning. But Frank whirled swiftly and followed Harry, sparring for an opening, which he quickly got. Biff! biff!--bang! “Oh, my!” gurgled Harry. “That last one was on the nose! She’s beginning to bleed! I’m knocked out!” He flung off the boxing gloves and got out his handkerchief in a hurry, for the blow on his nose had started the blood. “Didn’t mean to hit you hard enough for that, Rattles,” said Frank, apologetically. “Don’t mention it,” grinned Rattleton. “It’s nothing much. I don’t mind a little thing like that.” Frank took off his gloves and hung the set up, after which he quickly set the room in order. Rattleton’s nose bled very little, and he soon recovered. “It seems to me you are worse than ever since your trip into Maine, Merriwell,” said Harry. “You’ll be a swift one on the football team this fall.” “I shall not give much time to football,” Frank declared. “No?” shouted Rattleton, Diamond and Hodge. “Is that so?” grunted Browning. “You talked like that last fall, and you know what came of it. You had to get into gear in order to save Old Eli from being thrown down.” Merriwell nodded. “I know all about that; but it seems to me that I have done my part in the way of upholding the honor of Old Eli, and there should be somebody to fill my place by this time.” “Why do you want anybody to fill your place?” asked Hodge. “The time has come for me to study. Fooling must be dropped.” “The time has come for you to ease up on your studies,” said Diamond. “You know the first year or two are the hardest in college.”