ruffian, instead of answering Fred's speech, burst
into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, which lasted for some minutes.

"If this 'ere ain't jolly!" he said, after recovering his breath; "why,
you fools, don't you know me? hain't you ever heard of me afore? I'm
Pete Burley, the bully of Ballarat, and can lick any two men in the
mines! Bah, greenies, don't be putting on airs afore you've been in
this ere town two hours. Where's this hoss's bridle?"

"I have told you once," replied Fred, a small, red spot beginning to
appear on each cheek, "that the animal is not at your disposal. We are
strangers here, it is true, but we are not disposed to be imposed upon."

"Now, I've half a mind to hammer the whole party till you're black and
blue, and then drive you from the mines. Why, you fools, who am I? what
do you take me for? am I a fighting man or not?'" roared the ruffian,
his eyes beginning to grow bloodshot, and his bloated face livid with
rage.

By this time, a large number of idlers began to gather around, and
listen to the altercation of words. None of them seemed disposed to
interfere, although I saw that the mass were too much under the
influence of Bully to say a word in our favor, while half a dozen
sycophant curs boldly encouraged him in his course of aggression, and
whispered to each other, that we should soon knuckle into "nuggets,"
when the bully got fairly awakened.

We paid no attention to the crowd, but continued to keep our seats and
sip our coffee; but when we saw that Pete was determined to carry off
the horse at any rate, we concluded that it was time to interfere in
earnest.

The bully had begun to unfasten the halter which held the horse, when
Fred and myself rose to our feet. The crowd kept at a respectful
distance, for they knew that Bully was a man who did not stop to
consider who were for or against him, when in a rage, and that he had
been known to discharge a pair of pistols in the midst of a party of
friends, if he felt that it was necessary to keep up his reputation for
fierceness and decision. Under such circumstances, there is but little
cause to wonder why men were not disposed to press forward for the
purpose of listening and offering assistance.

As I said before, Pete had begun to untie the halter, and the crowd
applauded in approbation of his firmness. He held the strap in one hand,
when Fred and myself, followed by Smith at a short distance, reached the
spot.

"I have told you