The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 67

"Of course I did," replied Charley, with alacrity. "You don't think I'd forget my duty?"

"And what answer did the young feller make?" inquired the miner, as though a great deal was attached to Fred's reply.

"He said that he was ready to comply with the customs of Ballarat, and that he would wait a fortnight, if necessary, to allow the shaft miners to get out to see the fun."

"He said that, did he?" asked the spokesman, nodding his head with pleasure.

"Of course he did; and let me tell you he is one of 'em," Charley exclaimed, with enthusiasm.

"I believe ye, and the fight can go on without any further delay, after I've filled my pipe and lighted it."

We watched the miner as he slowly cut his tobacco and stuffed it into his pipe, and then, with great deliberation, sheltered it with his hands while he lighted it with a match.

"Now I'm comfortable--let the fight go on."

As soon as the miner, who appeared to have great authority over the crowd, uttered these words, there was a scattering on every side to get out of range of the bullets. The people fell back and left the two princ.i.p.als with their seconds in a double line, which extended for some distance.

"Let us shake hands again," said Fred, as the two men were brought into position. "You, too, Smith, are ent.i.tled to my thanks, and a farewell."

"Don't say that--G.o.d knows I did all that I could to keep you apart."

"I know that you did," replied Fred, with a smile; "but we have no time to talk of such matters. Stand one side, for I see the crowd and my opponent are impatient to smell blood."

Smith fell back, and I slowly and reluctantly followed him.

"Gentlemen," cried the Californian, taking his station about midway between the princ.i.p.als, "you are to fire when I say 'fire,' and not before. The man who discharges his pistol before the word is given shall get the contents of half a dozen different revolvers."

This piece of intelligence appeared to disconcert Burley, for he whispered to his second, and they glanced suspiciously towards the crowd.

"There'll be no firing afore the time at this fight," I heard the man say who had requested us to be on the watch for the bully.

"Now, then, gentlemen, are you ready?" asked Charley.

"Ready for half an hour past, 'cos I've got to be at old Steve's at eight o'clock," returned Burley.

The crowd cheered him for his s.p.u.n.k, as they termed it, and when Fred only bowed to the question, and pulled his hat a little more over his eyes, the Californian's party applauded.

"Now, then, remember what I told you. Are you ready?"

Both men c.o.c.ked their pistols, and aimed as though they meant mischief.

"Fire!" thundered the Californian.

I heard a bullet whiz past me, and I saw that Fred stood firm upon his legs, and then I had just time to look towards the bully to see him give a spring upward and fall heavily upon his face. The earth fairly shook as he struck it.

CHAPTER x.x.xV.

BALLARAT CUSTOMS, AFTER A DUEL.

A wild cheer, whether of joy or rage I could not tell, burst from the crowd as Burley fell. The vacant s.p.a.ce which had been kept clear for duelling was filled at once by a struggling ma.s.s of people, all pressing towards the fallen bully to learn the result of his injuries.

Amidst all the confusion and struggling, our California friends managed to keep close to us, as though to afford protection in case we were molested by adherents of Burley. But no one appeared to a.s.sail 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 said, still shaking his head and muttering to himself.

"Pray, what do you mean?" repeated Fred, beginning to feel a little nervous and a little angry at the same time.

"Well, I suppose you know something 'bout the customs of the miners, don't you?" Charley asked.

"I know nothing about your customs or laws, for I've been in Ballarat only two hours, and yet I've fought a duel and eaten supper, work enough for one man," Fred said.

"I forgive you," cried Charley, seizing our hands and shaking them in a sudden burst of friendship.' "Say no more--I forgive you."

"For Heaven's sake, what have I done that deserves forgiveness on your part?" demanded Fred.

"Why, didn't you know that on occasions like these 'ere the survivor of a duel is expected to have a few refreshments set out in his tent, and that all the princ.i.p.al men of Ballarat will be here to take a drink?"

"I certainly was not acquainted with such an understanding, and I don't think that even my friend Smith, here, who has made many trips to Melbourne and the mines, ever heard of it," replied Fred.