Plainly Diamond meant to corner the lad he hated and then force the fighting to a finish.
The rivals were nearly of a height and they wore built much alike, although Frank had slightly the better chest development.
Merriwell seemed to toy with Diamond, giving him several little pat-like blows on the breast and in the ribs.

When the Virginian felt that he had Frank cornered he was astonished to see Merriwell slip under his arm and come up laughing behind him.
Merriwell's laughter filled Diamond's very soul with gall and wormwood.
"Wait!" he thought.

"He laughs best who laughs last." "Give it to him, Frank!" urged Rattleton.

"You'll get out of wind dodging about, and then it will not be so easy to finish him off." But Frank saw that in a scientific way Diamond was no match for him, and he disliked to strike the fellow.

He regretted very much that the unfortunate affair had come about, and he felt that there could be no satisfaction in whipping the Southerner.
Merriwell hoped to toy with Diamond till the latter should see that his efforts were fruitless and give up in disgust.
But he did not yet recognize the kind of stuff of which John Diamond was built.
"Come! come!" impatiently called one of the spectators.