and the freshmen foes faced each other.

Then the door of the room where the other freshmen were confined was
thrust open, and Harry Rattleton excitedly cried:

"Whee jiz--I mean jee whiz! what do you fellows think? Do you imagine we
are going to stay penned in here while there is a scrap going on? Well,
I guess not! We're coming out!"

Harry came with a rush, and the other freshmen followed at his heels,
the party having been abandoned by the sophs who had been placed on
guard over them.

"Hold on! hold on!" commanded Harry, forcing his way toward the
fighters. "I am Merriwell's second, and I'm going to see fair play, you
bet!"

"And I am Diamond's second," said Roland Ditson. "Just give me a chance
in the ring there."

The appearance of the freshmen caused a brief delay. There was some talk
about rules and rounds, and Diamond said:

"If I must fight with my fists, I'll fight as I please. I don't know
about your rules, and there will be but one round--that will finish it."

"How does that suit you, Merriwell?" asked Tad Horner, who seemed to
have assumed the position of referee.

"I am willing that Mr. Diamond should arrange that matter to suit