Darting in, on a feint, he followed Quimby's block with a blow that jolted the youngster's chin.
Then Dan slipped away again, grinning gleefully, well aware that nothing would anger Quimby more easily than would that same grin.
"I'll wipe that disgrace off your face myself," growled Quimby, closing in briskly.
"Come over here and get it," taunted Dan, showing some of his neatest footwork.
Quimby sent in three blows fast; two of them Dalzell blocked, but one hit him on the chest, staggering him slightly.

Midshipman Quimby started to follow up his advantage.

In another moment, however, he was backing away with a cut lip.
"There's something to wipe off your own face," suggested Dan, grinning harder than ever.
Stung, Mr.Quimby made strenuous efforts to pay back with worse coin.
He was still trying when the call of time sounded.
"You didn't half go in after him, Dan," murmured Dave, as the latter and Rollins quickly toweled their man in the corner.
"If I had, I might have gotten more of him than I wanted," muttered Dalzell.
"Why don't you mix it up faster ?" queried Rollins.
"Because," proclaimed Midshipman Dan, "I don't want to fight or get hurt.

I'm doing this sort of thing just for exercise, you understand." Then they were called into the second round.

Quimby, in the meantime, had been counseled to crowd the plebe hard, and to hammer him when he got close.
So, now, Quimby started in to do broadside work.