MARTIN RATTLER. 135

pleasant grove of trees skirting the road by which
they had arrived. While sauntering here, enjoying
the cool night breeze and delicious perfume of flowers,
a woman uttered a piercing shriek near to them. It
was instantly followed by loud voices in altercation.
Ever ready to fly to the help of womankind, and,
generally, to assist in a “row,” Barney darted through
the bushes, and came upon the scene of action just in
time to see the white skirt of a female’s dress dis-
appear down an avenue, and to behold two Brazilians
savagely writhing in mortal strife. At the moment
he came up, one of the combatants had overcome the
other, and a fierce smile of triumph crossed his swarthy
countenance as he raised his gleaming knife.

“Och, ye murtherer! would ye attimpt that same ?”
cried Barney, catching the man by the wrist and
hurling him on his back. The other sprang up on
being thus unexpectedly freed, and darted away ;
while the thwarted man uttered a yell of disappoint-
ment, and sprang like a tiger at Barney’s throat. A
blow, however, from the Ivishman’s fist, quietly de-
livered, and straight between the eyes, stretched the
Brazilian on the ground. At the same moment a
party of men, attracted by the cries, burst through
the bushes and surrounded the successful champion.

Seeing their countryman apparently dead upon the