For ordinary occasions the larger and more padded species met
with his approval. Steve, during these daily sparring encounters, was
amiability itself; but he could not be counted upon not to forget
himself for an occasional moment in the heat of the fray; and though
Kirk was courageous enough, he preferred to preserve the regularity of
his features at the expense of a little extra excitement.
Once, after a brisk rally, he had gone about the world looking as if he
was suffering from mumps, owing to a right hook which no one regretted
more than Steve himself.
But to-day was different; and Kirk felt that even a repetition of that
lethal punch would be welcome.
Steve, when the contest opened, was disposed to be consolatory in word
as well as deed. He kept up a desultory conversation as he circled and
feinted.
"You gotta look at it this way," he began, side-stepping a left, "it
ain't often you hear of anything going wrong at times like this. You
gotta remember"--he hooked Kirk neatly on the jaw--"that" he concluded.
Kirk came back with a swing at the body which made his adversary grunt.
"That's true," he said.
"Sure," rejoined Steve a little breathlessly, falling into a clinch.
They moved warily round each other.
"So," said Steve, blocking a left, "that ought to comfort you some."
Kirk nodded.
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