It was the unyielding Southern spirit--the spirit that led the soldiers of the South to make one of the pluckiest struggles known in history.
While the fellow's grit had won Frank's admiration, still Merriwell had learned that it would not do to let up.

The only way out of the fight was to end it, and he set about trying to accomplish that with as little delay as possible.
Once Diamond succeeded in getting in another blow, and it left a slight swelling over one of the other lad's eyes.
But Merriwell did not seem to know that he had been hit.

He soon cracked the Virginian upon the uninjured eye, and that began to swell.

In a few seconds it seemed that Diamond must soon go blind.
"Finish him, old man--finish him!" urged Harry.
Frank was looking for the chance, but it was some time before he found it.

It came at last, and his left landed on the jaw beneath Diamond's ear.
Over went the Southerner, and he lay like a log where he fell.
At a glance, it was evident to all that he was knocked out.
The boys crowded around Merriwell, eager to congratulate him, but he thrust them back, saying: "It's the first time in my life I ever did a thing of which I was ashamed! Look after him.