He would have done better to have kept quiet, since he took his attention from Jack's fists, which, in the darkness, were hard enough to see at best. A second later Jerry found his nose stopping a solid blow, straight from the shoulder. "Ow!" yelled Jerry, in spite of himself. Then he clenched with Jack, and the two went at it rough-and-tumble. Jack got in a number of good blows, and Jerry tried his best to get away and deliver some in return. He did manage to punch Jack on the body, causing that worthy's breath to come in gasps. Back and forth went the fighters, the two spectators dancing about to see all they could of it, They kept their word not to interfere, and it was a fair struggle between Jack and Jerry. Though Jack did his best he could not avoid getting some severe blows, and one, on his eye, he felt had done considerable damage. But he more than paid Jerry back for it, and, in a little while the bully was fairly howling for mercy. "Help!" he cried. "He's not fighting fair." "Don't be a baby!" Jerry's friends called to him, somewhat disgusted with his actions. "Give it to him!" Jerry made one more effort to deal Jack a blow that would win the victory, but in his eagerness he lowered his guard. Our hero shot out a swift left, and it landed full on Jerry's chin. He staggered for a second, and then went down in a heap. He was up again in a couple of seconds, not much the worse, but all the fight was gone out of him. He held his head in his hands for a while, and then fairly ran up the dark street, while his two friends, surprised at the sudden outcome of the fight, followed more slowly. "I'll get even with you yet!" Jerry called back. "Well, if you do I still will have the satisfaction of knowing that I trounced you good and proper," Jack said, as he held a cold stone to his bruised eye. Just then, from across the lots there came a hail: "Hey, Jack! Where are you?" "Coming," was Jack's reply. He heard some one running toward him as he began to pick up his coat, and put on his hat. CHAPTER XI A GRAND WIND UP "What's the matter?" demanded John Smith, as he and Nat joined their comrade. "Did you get lost?" asked Nat. "No, only sort of delayed," answered Jack. "What makes you talk so funny?" inquired John. "I expect it's because my lips are swollen," was the reply. "Did some one hold you up and try to rob you?" cried Nat, in alarm. "Well, it was a hold-up, but no robbery," said Jack, and then he related what had happened. "Why didn't you yell for help?" asked John. "We'd have come back." "I didn't need any," replied Jack. "It was a fair fight enough. I guess he'll not forget that one on the chin in a hurry," and he laughed in spite of his swollen lips and blackened eye. "Much damaged?" asked Nat. "I'm afraid I've got a shiner," Jack replied. "They're sure to notice it at the Hall, and what will I say?" "Steal their thunder," advised John. "Let's hurry back, and report at once to the doctor."