_ CHAPTER XXXIV. THE BULLY OF BALLARAT.--FRED FIGHTS A DUEL
Horse stealing is not regarded as a very serious crime, I regret to say, in Australia. There is a certain class of people who make no scruple of borrowing an animal without the owner's consent, and if great objection is made to such a proceeding, a resort to firearms quickly settles the matter, generally to the disadvantage of the remonstrant.
The mines are overrun with ruffians, who have no fear of law, and can only be kept in awe by courage superior to their own. Of this we were quickly made acquainted, as we were considered, by the old residents, green, having but recently arrived, and not yet learned the mysteries of Ballarat.
The first case occurred even before we had finished our supper, and perhaps gave us a better insight into the manners and customs of the miners than we could have otherwise learned for months.
I have already said that Fred and myself rode two fine horses, formerly owned by the police department of Melbourne. The animals, owing to the care which we had taken of them during our journey, were in capital order, and worth full as much money as when we first purchased them.
As we had understood that horseflesh was scarce and dear at the mines, we had determined to hold on to the brutes for a few days, and then, if we liked Ballarat, and were disposed to locate there, we had resolved to sell them, to save expense of keeping--no inconsiderable item, where to turn a horse out to pasture was to lose sight of him forever, and where barley was worth about ten dollars a hundred.
We were leisurely sipping our coffee, after looking to the comfort of the animals, having fed and rubbed them down, and allowed them to drink their fill of water, when a thick-set, black-bearded man, evidently partially intoxicated, came swaggering towards us. He wore a blue flannel shirt, open at the neck, exposing a chest brawny enough for Hercules; and around his waist was a leather belt, such as is worn by sailors on shipboard. In the belt was a long knife on one side, and on the other a pistol of mammoth dimensions; but it looked to me as though more dangerous to the holder than the one who stood before it, for the stock was broken, and the barrel rusty and neglected.
Thus equipped, the ruffian--for we could see that he was a ruffian in every movement and in every line of his animal face--swaggered towards us, nodded to Smith in a patronizing manner, and after a broad stare of half-defiance and half-wonder at Fred and myself,--an act of impertinence of which we took no notice,--he began examining the animals as though he was a connoisseur in horseflesh.
We apparently paid no attention to his movements, and continued discussing our private affairs, and sipping our coffee. Rover, who was sharing our meal, once or twice showed his teeth, and manifested a disposition to commence hostilities; but we silenced him, and thought that we would let the fellow operate for a few moments without remonstrance.
"Who is he?" we asked of Smith.
"The worst man in Ballarat. He is called the bully of the mines, and it is as much as a man's life is worth to anger him. His real name is Pete Burley; he served out his time for breaking a man's head and then robbing him, in London. Say nothing to him, but if he speaks, answer him civilly."
This was all spoken in a tone not above a whisper, and we began to think that the fellow was indeed dangerous, if a man like Smith displayed signs of fear in his presence.
After Mr. Pete had satisfied himself which horse possessed the best bottom, he turned towards us, and condescended to honor us with his attention.
"Is them hosses yourn?" he inquired, with a growl, as though the effort of asking a question was painful.
Fred intimated that they belonged to us, and that he considered them, confidentially, fine animals.
"I want to use this ere one, to-night; where's the saddle and fixins?"
"Let him have the animal," whispered Smith, without raising his eyes; "it's better than having trouble with him."
The advice was intended for our benefit, but the Yankee blood which coursed through Fred's veins was opposed to such an inglorious acquiescence.
"You don't intend to take the animal without asking our consent, do you?" inquired Fred, mildly.
The ruffian actually looked astonished, and for a moment did not reply, so bewildered did he seem.
"Have you told them fellers who I is?" asked Pete, appealing to Smith.
"I don't think that I have," replied Smith, hurriedly; "it's all right, Pete; you can have the horse, if you want him."
"If it's all right, I've no more to say; but if it's not all right, I can make it right, d----d quick," the ruffian said, still looking towards us, as though he should like to see a little opposition, just for the sake of showing us who he really was.
"My friend, here," said Fred, pointing to Smith, "is slightly mistaken in what he says. I own the horse you have selected for a ride, and I have objections against loaning him to strangers. You can't have him."
Fred was as cool as ever I saw him in my life. He reached over to the coffee-pot while he was speaking, and deliberately helped himself to coffee, sweetened it to his fancy, and then drank it, without showing the least agitation.
To my surprise, the ruffian, instead of answering Fred's speech, burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, which lasted for some minutes.
"If this 'ere ain't jolly!" he said, after recovering his breath; "why, you fools, don't you know me? hain't you ever heard of me afore? I'm Pete Burley, the bully of Ballarat, and can lick any two men in the mines! Bah, greenies, don't be putting on airs afore you've been in this ere town two hours. Where's this hoss's bridle?"
"I have told you once," replied Fred, a small, red spot beginning to appear on each cheek, "that the animal is not at your disposal. We are strangers here, it is true, but we are not disposed to be imposed upon."
"Now, I've half a mind to hammer the whole party till you're black and blue, and then drive you from the mines. Why, you fools, who am I? what do you take me for? am I a fighting man or not?'" roared the ruffian, his eyes beginning to grow bloodshot, and his bloated face livid with rage.
By this time, a large number of idlers began to gather around, and listen to the altercation of words. None of them seemed disposed to interfere, although I saw that the mass were too much under the influence of Bully to say a word in our favor, while half a dozen sycophant curs boldly encouraged him in his course of aggression, and whispered to each other, that we should soon knuckle into "nuggets," when the bully got fairly awakened.
We paid no attention to the crowd, but continued to keep our seats and sip our coffee; but when we saw that Pete was determined to carry off the horse at any rate, we concluded that it was time to interfere in earnest.
The bully had begun to unfasten the halter which held the horse, when Fred and myself rose to our feet. The crowd kept at a respectful distance, for they knew that Bully was a man who did not stop to consider who were for or against him, when in a rage, and that he had been known to discharge a pair of pistols in the midst of a party of friends, if he felt that it was necessary to keep up his reputation for fierceness and decision. Under such circumstances, there is but little cause to wonder why men were not disposed to press forward for the purpose of listening and offering assistance.
As I said before, Pete had begun to untie the halter, and the crowd applauded in approbation of his firmness. He held the strap in one hand, when Fred and myself, followed by Smith at a short distance, reached the spot.
"I have told you once, that you cannot have my horse!" cried Fred, firmly and decidedly; "will you have the extreme goodness to let him alone?"
"Look here, you cussed counter-jumper," roared the bully; "if you utter another word, I'll make you eat the hoss and saddle, and then boot you out of town in the bargain. I'm going to have a ride; so stand aside, and don't interfere with me."
He was walking off with the animal, when Fred laid his hand upon the halter. The ruffian turned suddenly, and aimed a blow at Fred's head that would have crushed his skull, had he not quickly avoided it, and allowed the huge fist to pass within a few inches of his face.
The impetus of the blow turned the bully half round, so that he exactly faced Fred, and for a moment he was off his guard; that opportunity was improved by my friend, who saw his advantage.
Quick as lightning, I saw Fred's right hand raised, and with a "square shoulder hit," such as would have felled an ox, he let it fall full upon Bully's face. I saw the dark blood spurt out from beneath the eye of Pete, and I heard a crunching sound, as though bones were broken; but before I had time to think, the ruffian staggered, swung his arms aloft, and pitched heavily to the earth.
"By G----d, that was a Yankee blow," yelled a rough-looking genius, who had regarded the scene with great composure during the war of words. "Them fellers is Yankees, and my countrymen, and they is going to have fair play if I can get it. Stand back, all of you, and let us have this thing out. Bob," our new ally said, speaking to a friend, "you just run down to the Californe Saloon, and tell the boys a Yankee is in trouble, and needs help; and mind and tell 'um that they needn't stop to draw the charge of their revolvers."
The person addressed as Bob hastened from the spot; but before I could reward our new friend with a word of thanks, Pete, who had lain as if stunned for a few moments, began to show signs of reviving.
"We must look out for his pistol," said our rough friend, stepping from the crowd, and approaching me. "He will be certain to use it if he is not too groggy."
The words were prophetic; for hardly had the fallen man looked around, after rubbing his eye, when the whole transaction appeared to flash upon his mind.
"I have been struck," he yelled, springing to his feet, and stamping the ground in his rage. "Where is the man that dared to lay a hand upon me? Show him to me, and his blood shall run like water."
"Put up your pistol, Pete," said our new friend, laying his hand upon that weapon, which Burley had drawn, and was about to cock. "You begun this 'ere quarrel, and you are not going to use the barkers without giving the other side a chance. Is it a regular stand up and take match that you want, or do you like ten paces better? If you are for fight, you can be accommodated; but the fellow that fires the first shot, without a signal, dies, if there's any virtue in a revolver."
"A fight, a fight," yelled the outsiders, and even while they were cheering, I saw a dozen or twenty brawny-limbed fellows break through the crowd and rush into the ring.
"We just got word from you, Charley, that an American wanted fair play. Who is he?" asked one of the new comers; and by his peculiar dialect, I knew him for a native of old Vermont.
"These two 'Mericans have been pitched into by Pete Burley, 'cos they won't let him have their hoss. I happened 'long and saw the whole of it, and I tell you it was butfully done, and, no mistake. The Yankee give him Jesse, and yet he fetched him only one winder."
"We'll stick by you, and no mistake," cried our generous countryman, standing between the bully and Fred, for fear that the former should do him some harm. "The fellow is a nuisance, and ought to be kicked from the mines, for he makes his living by sponging and stealing."
"Come, Burley," cried the American addressed as Charley, "is it a fair stand up fight that you want, or an exchange of shots? Our countryman will accommodate you with either, I have no doubt."
"I want his blood; d---- him, I'll have his heart out of him," yelled the ruffian, who was also surrounded by a small circle of admirers. "He has struck me, and I want revenge."
"Well, don't cry about it," cried Charley, quite jocular. "I suppose that there will be no trouble in satisfying you. What say? shall I make arrangements for a meeting, so that you can have a pop at each other?" he continued, addressing Fred.
"The fact of it is," Charley said, dropping his voice to a whisper, "the fellow is a bloodthirsty wretch, and has committed more than half a dozen murders, yet they cannot be brought home to him. You have struck him, and he will take your life on the first opportunity. You had better shoot him, and get him out of the way. I will explain the matter to the government inspector, and there will be nothing said about the matter."
"But you forget that the ruffian may shoot me," replied Fred, with a smile.
"Well, the fact of it is, I disremembered that. But I'll tell you what I will do, if you think it will be of any consolation to you. If he hits you, I'll challenge him, and revenge your loss."
"I am much obliged to you, certainly," Fred replied; "but I won't request you to put your life in danger on my account. If you think I am bound to give satisfaction for the blow, please act in connection with my friend as my second."
"We'll arrange it, never fear," Charley said, with great readiness, as though the meeting was one of the most natural things in the world.
Cowards are always fickle, and can be swayed by good or bad success. Those who a few minutes before were silent, or encouraged the English bully in his course, now left his ranks, arrayed themselves upon our side, and many a hand, rough and hard with toil, was stretched out for us to grasp and receive congratulations.
"Faith, Mr. Yankee," whispered a Hibernian to Fred, "ef ye can kill the divil, do so wid all your heart, for a bigger thief never lived. He stole me boots day afore yesterday, and the spalpeen refuses to return 'um."
"He licked me last week," said another, in an under tone, "and if you think you can afford to beat him for a pound, I'll give it, readily."
"When you aim at him, be sure to fire a second afore the word is given," cried another new, but not very conscientious friend. "It's a trick the bully is up to, and it's that way he treated poor Billy Hanes, who accused him of stealing his dust. Do as I bid you, and you'll be all right."
"We've fixed it," cried California Charley, as he was called by the crowd, interrupting the confidential advice which Fred was receiving. "We have concluded to let Burley have a shot to heal his wounded honor, as he calls his black eye. A devilish bad looking peeper he has got, and a stunning blow you must have given him to have produced such an effect."
"When is it to come off?" I asked, almost trembling for Fred.
"We have decided that it shall take place immediately, 'cos it would be cruel to disappoint the crowd assembled. They expect a duel, and we must gratify them. If you are successful, you will be the most popular man in Ballarat, and there is no knowing what is in store for you."
"What weapons are we to use?" Fred asked.
"Revolvers, to be sure. I've promised to let the fellow use mine for the sake of placing him on an equality with you. I see that you have a revolver, so that I know you will be able to shoot better with it than a strange pistol. But remember, we have no fooling about the affair. I never stand second for a man unless he tries to win, and I should hate to think that you were foolish enough to throw away your fire. Do you kill him the first time, or he will kill you."
Fred thanked our countryman for his advice, and for a moment we conferred together apart.
"The same directions which I gave you when I was compelled to fight my first duel, will answer for this," Fred said. "If any thing should happen, don't let me be buried near this place. Carry my body to the old convict's hut, and let me be interred there by the side of the stream."
I promised, although there were tears in my eyes and a choking sensation in my throat, as I did so.
"Don't give way to any weakness, here," Fred whispered. "Remember that the eyes of a thousand people are upon us. Let them see that we possess the true Yankee grit."
He squeezed my hand as he spoke, and the next instant I was restored to my usual calmness, as far as the prying eyes which were fastened upon us could discover.
"Am I to be kept waiting all day for the young feller to say his prayers?" roared the bully, who began to grow impatient for blood.
"Don't let him call again," said Charley; "if he does, the people will think we are rather backward to meet him. Sympathy is now all on our side, and we must not lose it."
"I am ready," replied Fred, after a brief inspection of his revolver.
"That's right--are you certain that those caps are not damp? Do you want any thing? Can I do any thing for you?"
With these questions, and half a dozen others in the same breath, which Charley asked as rapidly as though there was not a moment to spare, Fred was conducted near his adversary, who uttered an exclamation when he saw him, that was intended for an intimidation.
"Where shall I hit the d----d Yankee?" he cried, brandishing his pistol. "I'll pepper him just where you tell me to, and afterwards we'll drink his speedy passage to--"
The balance of the exclamation was so shocking that his only friend checked him by asking if his pistol was well loaded.
"It's loaded well enough to kill that d----d pup. I say, what a joke it will be! I kill a d----d Yankee with a Yankee's pistol. I suppose they want to thin the breed off."
The bully's words, instead of intimidating Fred, had a contrary effect, for I saw by his eyes that his mind was made up, and all feeling of compassion was banished from his bosom.
"You're to stand off twenty paces," Charley said, speaking to Fred; "I had some thoughts of making the distance less, but I was afraid to trust you so near, considering that you are a new beginne ..."
Fred glanced at me and smiled. The Californian little, thought that he was acting as second to a man whose reputation as a hunter of bushrangers was the theme of every miner's discourse, and that the newspapers of Australia had spread our fame all over the island.
"You need not fear that I shall disgrace your patronage," Fred said. "I have seen an enemy's front before to-day."
"Gad, I begin to think that you have," Charley cried, noticing that his man displayed no sign of tremulousness.
"Stand one side, gentlemen," cried the Californian. "Our men are going to fire."
"Let me get in front of them--that's the safest place," roared out some joker.
"It's pluck the Yankee is," cried our Hibernian friend. "See, he don't look a bit like running away."
"Five to one that Burley hits at the first fire," cried a sporting man.
"Done," yelled the Irishman. "How much does ye wish to come down?"
"Five pound to two that neither is killed at the first fire," roared another.
"Make it mortally wounded, and Jim's your customer," replied an anxious miner, producing his small bag of gold to cover the stake.
"I'll go this nugget that the Yankee hits his man at the first fire," cried one fellow, holding up a lump of virgin gold as large as a hen's egg.
"I'll take it--I'll take it," a number of voices replied, and straight-way there was a rush towards him.
"Jim," cried our bully opponent, "do you go into the crowd and take a few bets on my account, as I am in want of money, and
after I've killed this young sprig of insolence, I intend to go on a spree. Take all the odds offered."
I saw no one accept of the mission, so I concluded that the ruffian's words were merely intended as capital for the crowd, accessions to which were constantly increasing.
"Come," said Fred, speaking to Charley; "let us have this concluded as soon as possible, or the whole town of Ballarat will be here to witness it."
"That is just what. I want," replied our new-found friend, with great coolness. "If you are fortunate enough to kill the bully,--and I am sure I hope you will be,--every one who sees him fall will swear that the fight was a beautiful one, and that every thing was perfectly fair and just; 'while those who did not, will vow that murder has been committed, and urge the commissioner to arrest you. It's a great satisfaction sometimes to see a duel, and it's only right and proper that as many as possible should be gratified with the sport."
"But it appears to me that the population of the town is all here now," remonstrated Fred.
"There's where you are mistaken," replied Charley; "the news has hardly reached the miners in the shafts, and that class of people will feel deeply grieved unless they are among the spectators."
"There comes a gang of men," I said, calling the Californian's attention to thirty or forty, who, to judge by soiled garments, had just come from the bowels of the earth.
"Yes, there are some of the underground miners, and a rough set they are. Will you hurry up?" Charley shouted, "or are we to wait here all night?"
"Why weren't we called afore?" asked one of the party. "This don't look like the old style of doing things, I must say."
"I got word to you as quick as I could, and what more can I do? It's all owing to me that you got an invite at all. This young feller don't know our customs, and wanted to bang away afore any one was here," replied my assistant second.
"Did you tell him how we managed things?" asked the leading miner, gravely, as though a breach of etiquette had been committed of the rudest kind.
"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 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. _