The new hero had here certain paraphernalia of his delightful calling--a punching bag, small dumb-bells, a skipping rope, boxing gloves.

Here the neophyte had been taught the niceties of feint and guard and lead, of the right cross, the uppercut, the straight left, to duck, to side-step, to shift lightly on his feet, to stop protruding his jaw in cordial invitation, to keep his stomach covered.
He proved attentive and willing and quick.

He was soon chewing gum as Spike Brennon chewed it, and had his hair clipped in Brennon manner.

He lived his days and his nights in dreams of delivering or evading blows.
Often while dressing of a morning he would stop to punish an invisible opponent, doing an elaborate dance the while.

It was better than linotypes or motor busses.
In the early days of this new study he had been fearful of hurting Spike Brennon.