the eureka stockade-第14部分
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wed to indulge in 'encroaching。' This； however； I assert as a matter of fact； that the Council of the Eureka Stockade never gave or hinted at any order to stop the usual work on the gold…field。
Towards ten o'clock； news reached our camp that the red coats were under arms； and there would be another licence…hunting。
The flames did not devour the Eureka Hotel with the same impetuosity as we got up our stockade。 Peter Lalor gave the order： Vern had the charge； and was all there with his tremendous sword。 〃Wo ist der Raffaello！ Du； Baricaden bauen；〃 and all heaps of slabs； all available timber was soon higgledy…piggledy thrown all round our camp。 Lalor then gave directions as to the position each division should take round the holes； and soon all was on the 'qui vive。'
Had Commissioner Rede dared to rehearse the farce of the riot…act cracking as on Gravel…pits； he would have met with a warm reception from the Eureka boys。 It was all the go that morning。
No blue or red coat appeared。It was past one o'clock： John Bull must have his dinner。 Lalor spoke of the want of arms and ammunition； requested that every one should endeavour to procure of both as much as possible； but did certainly not counsel or even hint that stores should be pressed for it。
A German blacksmith； within the stockade was blazing； hammering and pointing pikes as fast as his thick strong arms allowed him： praising the while his past valour in the wars of Mexico； and swearing that his pikes would fix red…toads and blue pissants especially。 He was making money as fast any Yankee is apt on such occasions； and it was a wonder to look at his coarse workmanship； that would hardly stick an opossum； though his pikes were meant for kangaroos and wild dogs。
Chapter XLV。
Populus Ex Terra Crescit： Multitudo Hominum Est Populus； Ergo； Multitudo Hominum Ex Terra Crescit。
Between four and five o'clock of same afternoon； we became aware of the silly blunder； which proved fatal to our cause。 Some three or four hundred diggers arrived from Creswick…creek； a gold…field famous for its pennyweight fortunesgrubbed up through hard work； and squandered in dissipation among the swarm of sly…grog sellers in the district。
We learned from this Creswick legion that two demagogues had been stumping at Creswick； and called the diggers there to arms to help their brothers on Ballaarat； who were worried by scores； by the perfidious hounds of the Camp。 They were assured that on Ballaarat there was plenty of arms； ammunitions； forage； and provisions； and that preparations on a grand scale were making to redress once for all the whole string of grievances。 They had only to march to Ballaarat； and would find there plenty of work； honour； and glory。
I wonder how honest Mr。 Black could sanction with his presence； such suicidal rant； such absurd bosh of that pair of demagogues； who hurried down these four hundred diggers from Creswick； helpless； grog…worn； that is； more or less dirty and ragged； and proved the greatest nuisance。 One of them； MICHAEL TUEHY； behaved valiantly and so I shall say no more。
Of course something must be done。 Thonen was the purveyor。 The Eureka butcher on the hill gave plenty of meat； and plenty of bread was got from all the neighbouring stores； and paid for。 A large fire was lit in the middle of the stockade； and thus some were made as comfortable as circumstances admitted； others were quartered at the tents of friends； the greater part； soon guessing how they had been humbugged； returned to their old quarters。
Arms and ammunition were our want。 Men were there enough； each and all ready to fight： such was the present excitement； but blue and red coats cannot be driven off with fists alone。 Lalor gave all his attention to the subject； but would not consent yet to press stores for it。
Vern was perpetually expecting every moment his German Rifle Brigade。 Have patience till to…morrow。
In the evening a report was made to the Council； that a reinforcement of soldiers from Melbourne was on the road。 Captains Ross and Nealson hastened with their divisions across the bush to intercept the expected troops； so as to get at their arms and ammunition。 All proved in vain。
When a revolution explodes as conspired and planned by able leaders； it is usually seen that it was their care from the very beginning； that arms and ammunition should be at hand when and wherever required； while usury； ambition； or vengeance lavishly provide the money to render the revolution popular： but we had never dreamed of making any preparation； because we diggers had taken up arms solely in self…defence； and as up to Saturday the Council of the Eureka Stockade counted in the majority honest men； themselves hard…working diggers； they would not turn burglars or permit anybody to do so in their name。
Truly； I heard from Manning； that a certain committee kept on their hallucinated yabber…yabber at the Star Hotel。 I never was there； and know nothing about Star blabs。 They； with the exception of Vern； were not with us； thank God； up to Saturday four o'clock any how。
Chapter XLVI。
Non Irascimini。
Saturday morning。 The night had been very cold； we had kept watch for fear of being surprised； every hour the cry； was 〃The military are coming。〃
Vern had enlarged the stockade across the Melbourne road； and down the Warrenheip Gully。
Suppose； even that all diggers who had fire arms had been present and plucky； yet no man in his right senses will ever give Vern the credit for military tactics； if that gallant officer had thought that an acre of ground on the surface of a hill accessible with the greatest ease on every side； simply fenced in by a few slabs placed at random； could be defended by a handful of men； for the most part totally destitute of military knowledge； against a disciplined soldiery； backed by swarms of traps and troopers。
Such； however； was our infatuation； that now we considered the stockade stronger； because it looked more higgledy…piggledy。
Chapter XLVII。
Non Nobis； Non Nobis； Sed Pax Vobiscum。
It was eight o'clock。 Drilling was going on as on the previous day。 Father Smyth came inside the stockade： it was my watch。 He looked very earnest； a deep anxiety about the hopelessness of our struggle； must have grieved his Irish heart。 He obtained permission from Lalor to speak to those under arms； who belonged to his Congregation。 Vern consented； and Manning announced it to the men。 Father Smyth told them； that the government Camp was under arms； some seven or eight hundred strong； that he had received positive information； that government had sent other reinforcements from Melbourne； which would soon reach Ballaarat； warned them against useless bloodshed； reminded them that they were Christians； and expressed his earnest desire to see all of them at Mass on the following （Sunday） morning。
Father Smyth； your advice was kindly received； if it did not thrive； was it because you sowed it on barren ground？
The following document may in time help to bring forth truth to light：…
Colonial Secretary's Office； Melbourne； lst December； 1854。 Rev。 Sir；
In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date； I am desired by his Excellency to thank you for the earnest efforts which； in your professional calling； you are making to allay the disturbances。 Unless the government enforce the laws which may be in operation； disorder and licentiousness must prevail。
You know a commission is issued for the purpose of inquiring into the state and condition of the digging population： until they make their report； the laws his Excellency found in force must be obeyed。
I have the honour to be； Rev。 Sir； Your most obedient servant； J。 MOORE； A。C。S。 The Rev。 Patrick Smyth； Catholic Priest； Ballaarat。
Chapter XLVIII。
The Things We Ardently Wish For In This Life； Either Never Come To Pass； Or If They Do It Is Too Late。 Hence； 'Better Late Than Never。'
The whole of the morning passed off as quietly as any well wisher to our cause could desire。 Towards twelve o'clock it was our decision that licence…hunting was over； for the day any how； since no digger recollected a search for licence taking place on a Saturday afternoon。 Our talk was of the coming meeting of the reform league at two o'clock on Sunday； at the Adelphi； as announced at the monster meeting on Wednesday。
The impression was almost general； that 'Charley' would soon dismiss the hated brood of our commissioners； and things would then be 'all right。' 'Off to get a bite；' was the pass…word。
I assert as a matter of fact； and a living eye…witness； that between one and two o'clock on Saturday； December 2nd； 1854； the Eureka stockade was comparatively deserted。 Those who remained （some one hundred） were such； as either had a long distance to go to reach their tents； and the day was very hot； or such as had no tent or friend on Ballaarat。 I took notice of this very circumstance from my tent； the second from the stockade； on the hill； west； whilst frying a bit of steak on the fire of my tent chimney； facing said stockade： Manning was peeling an onion。 I transcribe the above from the identical note I had taken down on my diary； at the identical hour aforesaid； and can afford to challenge contradiction。
Chapter XLVIX。
Taedet Animam Meam Vitae Meae。
The news of our private； though never acknowledged； disbandment must soon have reached the Camp。
THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY。
What a nonsense of mine to endeavour to swell up the Eureka stockade to the level of a Sebastopol！！
Good reader； I have to relate the story of a shocking murder； a disgrace to the Christian name。
I am a Catholic； and believe in the life everlasting。 On the day of judgment it will go milder with the Emperor Nicholas； than with the man whoever he may be； that prompted and counted on the Eureka massacre on the Sunday morning； December 3rd； 1854。
At four o'clock； the diggers crowded again towards the stockade。 The divisions of Ross and Nealson had returned from their excursions and were under arms。 The scene became soon animated； and the usual drilling was pushed on with more ardour than ever。
