ut no one appeared to assail us, while
hundreds rushed up and shook our hands, and congratulated us on the
result of the fight.

"It's well ye did it, by gar," cried our Hibernian acquaintance; "niver
fear but ye is all right now. I'll fight for ye, mind, for faith, I've
won a nugget on ye."

"Take your men off the ground, Charley," said the stout miner, who
appeared to exercise such unlimited control over the crowd. "Take 'em
off, and if they is wanted we know where to find 'em."

In obedience to this mandate we were forced off the ground towards our
tent, and when we reached it we did not have to wait long for news.
Indeed, we found some trouble in keeping people out, for crowds were
wishing to get a sight of the man who tamed the bully of Ballarat; and
had not our California friends reported that Fred was slightly wounded
and desired time to have his hurts attended to, I verily believe he
would have been paraded round the town on the shoulders of his
enthusiastic admirers. While we were speculating on the result of the
duel, and Fred was congratulating himself on getting off so cheap,
Charley rushed in.

"Well, how much injured is Burley?" I asked.

"He is pretty badly hurt, but I reckon he'll get over it. The shot hit
him on the hip, and if ever he does get well he'll be troubled in
walking, I should think."

"Then there is a prospect of his recovering?" demanded Fred, anxiously.

"Well, I should think there was a right smart chance of his getting on
his pins in the course of time. It's hard killing such ugly customers,
you know."

"I am thankful that he will not die by my hand," replied Fred, with his
whole heart.

"Well, it's just as one fancies, you know. Now I shouldn't have thought
it a great crime had the old scamp been peppered right through the
heart. But, how's this?"

The eyes of Charley wandered around the tent as though he saw something
that excited his suspicions. We looked at him with astonishment.

"It ain't the way the miners have been accustomed to be treated, and I'm
sorry that I had any thing to do with the duel, 'cos I'll be blamed,"
Charley said, shaking his head, and looking as mournful as though he had
just heard of the death of his grandfather.

"Will you be kind enough to tell us what you disapprove of," asked Fred,
anxiously.

"Well, I hope that I'll be acquitted of all blame, and I want you to say
so when the influential miners make their appearance," our new
acquaintance