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
principals 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 entitled to my thanks, and a farewell."

"Don't say that--God 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 principals, "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 spunk, 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 cocked 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 XXXV.

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 space which had been kept clear for
duelling was filled at once by a struggling mass 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. B