would have laughed
at the demands of Herrets, for he was as bold as a lion, and was just
the kind of a man that a romantic girl like Mary would take a fancy to.

"Villain!" shouted Herrets, presenting an old horse pistol, that looked
as though it had seen service in the war of Cromwell, "stop, and account
to me for the seduction of my wife, or I'll shoot you as you fly!"

"Shoot and be d----d!" replied Delvin, with a sneer; "but remember, I
can use a pistol as well as you." And as he spoke, he drew from his belt
a six inch revolver, and coolly waited for Herrets to commence
hostilities.

This the latter was in no hurry to do, when he saw that his opponent was
better armed than himself; so he checked his horse, and waited for us to
come up.

We rode leisurely towards the runaways, and did not think it worth our
while to make a show of hostilities, for while we had promised the
husband to assist him, we did not consider that we were bound to fight
his battles.

"Put up your pistol," said Fred, calmly, when we had reached the woman
and her paramour; "there will be no use for it at present."

Delvin hesitated for a moment, and only for a moment; then, with an
oath, he returned his pistol to its case, and waited our proceedings.

As for the woman, she appeared the most indifferent person in the
group, and instead of being overwhelmed with shame, actually smiled at
the expression of misery depicted upon her husband's face.

"We shall have to relieve you of your fair charge," Fred said,
addressing Mr. Delvin; "civilization has hardly arrived at such a point
in Australia that a man can run off with another's wife, and expect to
escape punishment."

"The woman goes with me!" cried Delvin, fiercely, and his hand again
sought his pistol; but seeing that we took no notice of the movement, he
withdrew it slowly, and appeared undecided what to do.

"Of course, you are not in earnest when you speak thus," replied Fred,
quite coolly; "you must be aware, if you enter Melbourne in company with
this man's wife, and we are disposed to lodge information against you,
that a long residence at the hulks would be your portion."

Delvin remained silent, but he looked as though he would like to try the
issue of the affair with an exchange of shots.

"We have promised this man to help recover his wife, and we mean to keep
our word. We have nothing against you, and therefore do not think it
worth while to risk our lives exchanging sh