ushranger's arm, and pressed so hard that the prisoner
uttered a half suppressed cry of pain.

"You see!" the fellow exclaimed, turning to me. "Now, what are you going
to do about it?"

I saw that Mr. Brown and every person in the room were watching my
motions with considerable curiosity, and that I should be disgraced if I
retreated from my unpleasant position. The quarrel was not serious
enough to use my weapons, although I was not blind to the fact that the
bully had a knife in his hand, and looked like a fellow who would not
scruple to use it.

There was but one course for me to pursue--so, no sooner had he proposed
his question than I raised my arm and struck him a blow between his eyes
that caused a stream of claret to spurt out, and sent the bully reeling
backwards to the further end of the room.

"Good!" cried a dozen voices, and I heard Mr. Brown's deep bass foremost
in the exclamation.

"Take care," shouted the crowd; "he's got a knife, and will use it."

The warning came none too soon, for suddenly the crowd opened to the
right and left, and I caught sight of the bully, with bloody face and
inflamed eyes, rushing towards me.

There was no time to draw my revolver, or even my knife, for before I
could lay my hand upon either the fellow was within three feet of me,
with uplifted hand. I stood firm, and when I saw the weapon descending,
like lightning I sprang aside. The point of the knife touched the barrel
of my pistol, glanced aside, and such was the force of the blow that the
ruffian fell to the floor, completely at my mercy.

"You would, would ye?" I heard Mike shout, as the bully struggled to
regain his feet. "Take that, for a bad man that ye are."

The Irishman, as he spoke, snatched a boomerang from Kala's hand and
struck the fallen man a blow upon his head that I thought had crushed
his skull.

"Served him right!" I heard the laborers say, who, now that their
companion was beaten, could afford to give some expression of their
opinion.

"The d----d blackguard! he not only insults our guests, but must pick on
prisoners he never dared to face. O, the spalpeen, I've a good mind to
fetch him another winder," and Mike raised his weapon as if to do so,
but I stayed his hand, for the bully appeared to be really suffering,
and groaned as though his head ached.

"What is the cause of this disturbance?" I heard Mr. Wright ask, while
endeavoring to persuade Mike to remain quiet.

"Faith, the cause