He found Dodge a really worthy opponent.

Both boys soon had bruised faces to show.
Smash! That blow, delivered by Bert, almost ended the fight.
Dick staggered backward, the blood beginning to flow from his nose.
Dodge followed it up, driving in another hard blow.

The pain stung Dick, not to madness, but into a more resolute defense, with more of offense in it.
Then Dick so manoeuvred that he had Dodge between himself and the shore of the lake.

This advantage gave young Prescott slightly higher ground on the gentle slope toward the lake.

Bert tried to manoeuvre for a more level footing, but Prescott drove him slowly backward.
Suddenly one of Dick's blows landed, with staggering force, on the tip of Dodge's chin.