Some marks of the last bout were visible when ’time’ brought the men to the scratch. Bartley had a cut on his forehead and another on his cheek-bone, while his nose and lips had swollen and become distorted; the eyelids of Bowden’s right eye were puffed and bulged. His face and breast were mottled with red; but Crocker, on the contrary, was as pale as a parsnip. David led off right and left, just touching with the first but missing with the latter. They countered heavily and then, in obedience to orders, Crocker got in suddenly, caught David’s head in chancery, and before the elder, by sheer strength, broke loose, fibbed him thrice. Mr. Fogo rolled in an ecstasy. The blows had reached David’s sound eye and done some damage. In getting away David fell and Bartley immediately went to his corner. The round had been much in his favour. Rhoda worked hard to reduce the swelling on her brother’s face, but it was not possible. He continued strong, cheerful and impatient to repay a little of Crocker’s attention in the last round. Yet from this point the fight went steadily in favour of the younger man. He was naturally quicker, neater and straighter in his hitting. The next round was a long one. David got to work first and lashed out as usual with his right, but was short. Then Bartley retreated until he had his enemy on the move, whereupon he stood and let fly both right and left at the head. Both told, though the blows were light. David slipped on to one knee but was up again instantly, and a moment later, for the first time since the beginning of the battle, he got his right home on Crocker’s ear. The hit fairly staggered Bartley but did not drop him. He recovered before Bowden could repeat the blow and some furious fighting brought the men into Bartley’s corner, where David had the worst of the rally. Crocker at last closed and might have gone far to end the fight, for he had his enemy on the ropes and was about to punish him in that position. His instinct, however, prevented it. He had raised his right and Bowden was for the moment defenceless; then the younger drew back and shook his head. "Nay, David," he said, "I’ll not take advantage of thee." A hearty cheer greeted this sportsmanlike act; but in his corner at the end of the round, Mr. Fogo took occasion to caution his man against further display of such a spirit. "You haven’t got him beat yet," he said. "’Tis all very well to play to the gallery when you’re safe, but not sooner. He’s harder than you and will take a lot of knocking out. You had it in your power then to give him pepper, and you ought to have done it till he dropped. Fight for his eyes and don’t let’s have no softness. You mind there’s a lot of money going to change hands over this job, and you’ve no right to throw away half a chance." In answer Crocker showed temper. "I’ll fight fair and be damned to you and your London ways," he said; but Mr. Fogo permitted himself no retort.