Midshipman Pennington was trying to take his opponent's "measure." Then Dave ducked, darted, dodged and wheeled about.

Pennington had to follow him, and it made the latter angry.
"Stand up and fight, can't you," hissed Pen.
"Silence during the rounds, Mr.Pennington," admonished the referee quietly.

"Let the officials do all the talking that may be necessary." Dave, as he dodged again, and came up unscathed, grinned broadly over this rebuke.

That grin made Pen angrier than anything else could have done.
"I'll wipe that grin off his face!" muttered Pennington angrily.
And this very thing Pennington tried hard to do.

He was quick on his own feet, and for a few seconds he followed the dodging Darrin about, raining in blows that required all of Dave's adroitness to escape.
Dave's very success, however, made his opponent all the angrier.