, had a contrary effect,
for I saw by his eyes that his mind was made up, and all feeling of
compassion was banished from his bosom.

"You're to stand off twenty paces," Charley said, speaking to Fred; "I
had some thoughts of making the distance less, but I was afraid to trust
you so near, considering that you are a new beginne ..."

Fred glanced at me and smiled. The Californian little, thought that he
was acting as second to a man whose reputation as a hunter of
bushrangers was the theme of every miner's discourse, and that the
newspapers of Australia had spread our fame all over the island.

"You need not fear that I shall disgrace your patronage," Fred said. "I
have seen an enemy's front before to-day."

"Gad, I begin to think that you have," Charley cried, noticing that his
man displayed no sign of tremulousness.

"Stand one side, gentlemen," cried the Californian. "Our men are going
to fire."

"Let me get in front of them--that's the safest place," roared out some
joker.

"It's pluck the Yankee is," cried our Hibernian friend. "See, he don't
look a bit like running away."

"Five to one that Burley hits at the first fire," cried a sporting man.

"Done," yelled the Irishman. "How much does ye wish to come down?"

"Five pound to two that neither is killed at the first fire," roared
another.

"Make it mortally wounded, and Jim's your customer," replied an anxious
miner, producing his small bag of gold to cover the stake.

"I'll go this nugget that the Yankee hits his man at the first fire,"
cried one fellow, holding up a lump of virgin gold as large as a hen's
egg.

"I'll take it--I'll take it," a number of voices replied, and
straight-way there was a rush towards him.

"Jim," cried our bully opponent, "do you go into the crowd and take a
few bets on my account, as I am in want of money, and _after_ I've
killed this young sprig of insolence, I intend to go on a spree. Take
all the odds offered."

I saw no one accept of the mission, so I concluded that the ruffian's
words were merely intended as capital for the crowd, accessions to which
were constantly increasing.

"Come," said Fred, speaking to Charley; "let us have this concluded as
soon as possible, or the whole town of Ballarat will be here to witness
it."

"That is just what. I want," replied our new-found friend, with great
coolness. "If you are fortunate enough to kill the bully,--and I am sure
I hope you will be,--every one who sees him