udible to the captain, who
began to feel all the discomfort of being an unintentional observer.
Uncertainty as to what he should do induced him to remain for a few
moments inactive, and he had half made up his mind to endeavour to
retreat unobserved, when the man suddenly struck down the female, who
fell with a faint cry to the earth.

In another minute the captain was at the side of the dastardly fellow,
whom he seized by the neck with the left hand, while with the right he
administered a hearty blow to his ribs. The man turned round fiercely,
and grappled with his assailant; and then Captain Bunting became aware
that his antagonist was no other than Smith, _alias_ Black Jim, the
murderer.

Smith, although a strong man, was no match for the captain, who soon
overpowered him.

"Ha! you villain, have I got you?" cried he, as he almost throttled the
man. "Get up now, an' come along peaceably. If you don't, I'll knock
your brains out with the butt of my gun."

He permitted Black Jim to rise as he spoke, but held him fast by the
collar, having previously taken from him his knife and rifle.

Black Jim did not open his lips, but the scowl on his visage shewed that
feelings of deadly hatred burned in his bosom.

Meanwhile, the girl had recovered, and now approached.

"Ah! plase, sir," she said, "let him off. Shure I don't mind the blow;
it's done me no harm--won't ye, now?"

"Let him off!" exclaimed the captain, violently; "no, my good girl; if
he has not murdered you, he has at any rate murdered one human being
that I know of, and if I can, I'll bring him to justice."

Kate, (for it was she), started at this reply, and looked earnestly at
the man, who hung his head, and, for the first time, shewed symptoms of
a softer feeling.

"Ah! it's true, I see, an' all hope is gone. If he'd commit a murder,
he'd tell a lie too. I thought he spoke truth when he said Nelly was
alive, but--"

The girl turned as she spoke, and left the spot hurriedly, while the
captain took out his pocket-handkerchief, and began to fasten the arms
of his prisoner behind him. But Black Jim was not to be secured without
a struggle. Despair lent him energy and power. Darting forward, he
endeavoured to throw his captor down, and partially succeeded; but
Captain Bunting's spirit was fully roused, and, like most powerful men
whose dispositions are habitually mild and peaceful, he was in a blaze
of uncontrollable passion. For some time Blac