Not wanting in a certain amount of animal courage, he rushed at Dave, only to be met with a blow in the mouth that floored him again.

The fop's lip was cut and bleeding when he rose.
"You cur!" bellowed the fellow.
"The opinion of a person like you can't matter very much," Dave retorted coolly.
A little crowd was beginning to gather.

Dave's pallor increased, for his very soul writhed at the thought of having Belle's name involved in a brawl in this fashion.
"You're a--" began Ardmore, but Dave Darrin moved quickly up to him.
"Do you retract the statement you made ?" demanded the midshipman in a low voice.
"I retract nothing," quivered Ardmore.

"I repeat, and repeat--" Dave closed in like lightning, Ardmore attempted to guard himself, but he was all but helpless before such a fast, trained hitter as Dave.

The fop went down under two well-aimed blows delivered almost together.
Once more Ardmore leaped to his feet, while Darrin disdainfully awaited him.
But two or three men in the crowd leaped between the enemies, forcing the fop back.
"Don't be a fool, Ardmore!" urged one of the men, speaking in the fellow's ear.