_Time_!" They began dancing about a common center, sawing their arms back and forth, each looking sharply in the other's eye and on the alert for an opening.
Tom meant to make the other lead; for, before assuming the aggressive, he wished to know more about Zeigler.

It might be he possessed greater skill than Tom believed.

He meant to learn something of his style.
They had circled round several times, when Zeigler thought he saw his chance, and feinting quickly, let fly with his left.

Instead of parrying the blow, Tom dodged it by throwing his head back.

The opportunity was a capital one to counter on Zeigler, but Tom made no effort to do so.