ss the shoulders, with a face massive and determined, yet not
wanting indications of good nature.

"Don't be in such a stew, Ben," cried Charley, rushing towards him, and
preventing his leaving the saloon. "The thing is all right. The dueller
feller pays for all, and we're only waiting for my partner to roll in a
keg of some of the slickest Yankee whiskey that was ever made in York
State, I tell you."

"Is that so?" asked stout Ben, as he was called, and his face appeared
to express satisfaction at the news. "That is r-e-l-i-a-b-l-e, I s'pose,
Charley?" "My word for it, Ben. But come and shake hands with Burley's
tamer, and encourage the youngster with your patronage."

The giant, drew the back of his hand across his mouth as though it was
watering for the whiskey, but after a slight urging, the second time he
suffered Charley to conduct him to the corner of the saloon, where Fred,
Smith, and myself were standing, receiving congratulations from all who
wanted a drink of liquor free of cost.

"This is the chap, Ben," Charley said, nodding towards Fred, and that
was all the introduction which was deemed necessary.

"I am happy to know you," said "Fred, grasping n hand that was about the
size of a shoulder of mutton, and twice as hard and nubby.

"You did putty well with Burley, and I am glad of it," Ben replied,
shutting his fist and compressing Fred's bind for what he intended as a
gentle squeeze--but I could see by my friend's face that he would be
very glad when it was relinquished.

"A fine shot you made of it, sir," Ben said, not noticing that he had
inflicted a large amount of pain.

"Is the poor fellow badly hurt?" asked Fred.

"Well, he's got an ugly hole in him, and it's hard hunting--the sawbones
will have to find the lead."

"I hope that, he will live," repeated Fred. "I did not seek his life,
and I should be sorry to think that an act of mine sent him from the
world with all his sins unrepented of."

"Never you mind about that," replied Ben. "If a feller wants to take
your heart out, you've got the right to say to that feller, you don't
come it; and if the feller still persists, you is bound to act on the
defensive, and either lick him or kill him, I don't care which. I
jinerally lick 'em."

As I glanced at the sturdy limbs of the giant miner I thought that he
would be apt to meet but few men who would not prefer the shooting to
the licking.

"You often have trouble here in Ballarat?" Fred aske