友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the eureka stockade-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



s。  The scene became soon animated; and the usual drilling was pushed on with more ardour than ever。

John Basson Humffray; of whom nothing was seen or heard since the previous Wednesday; now introduced; through a letter in his own handwriting; addressed 'To the Commander…in…Chief of the armed diggers; Eureka;' a Doctor Kenworthy; as surgeon; because he (Humffray) feared that a collision between the diggers and the military would soon take place。

Peters; the spy; was at the same time within the stockade。

The 'surgeon' had his Yankee face under a bell…top (French hat):  he entered into conversation with me in person。  I had my sword in hand; and was on watch。 We began to talk about MAZZINI and Captain FORBES:  this latter; a brave American officer; fought in the late struggle at Rome (1848)。 I perfectly recollect; that; pointing with a smile to our barricade; I told this Kenworthy; we had thrown them up for our defence against licence…hunting。  There is a living witness to the above circumstance; a countryman of mine; whose name I do not remember just now; but he wore at the time a red shirt; with picks and shovels all over it。

Previous to this; Vern; whose silly vanity would by no means allow him to put up with his not having been elected Commander…in…Chief; all on a sudden cried out in his sort of bombast; 〃Here they are coming; boys:  now I will lead you to death or victory!〃actually a band of men was tramping full speed towards the stockade。




Chapter L



Narravere Patres Nostri Et Nos Narravimus Omnes。


Was it then the long; long…looked for German Rifle Brigade?  Here is it's four…horned nameI copy from a slip of paper I wrote in pencil on that very Saturday; as the name was too long and difficult for me to remember'The Independent Californian Rangers' Revolver Brigade。'

I should say they numbered a couple of hundred; looking Californian enough; armed with a Colt's revolver of large size; and many had a Mexican knife at the hip。

Here is the very circumstance when M‘Gill made his appearance for the first time within the stockade; I recollect perfectly well the circumstance when a Mr。 Smith; of the American Adams's Express; was holding the bridle of the horse; from which said M‘Gill dismounted。

James M‘Gill is of the breed on the other side of the Pacific。  He is thought to have been educated in a military academy; and certainly; he has the manners of a young gentleman of our days。  He is rather short; not so much healthy…looking as wide awake。  'What's up?' is his motto。  This colony will sober him down; and then he will attend more to 'what's to be done。' His complexion bears the stamp of one born of a good family; but you can read in the white of his eyes; in the colouring of his cheeks; in the paleness of his lips; that his heart is for violence。  When he gets a pair of solid whiskers; he may pass for a Scotchman; for he has already a nose as if moulded in Scotland。  He speaks the English language correctly; and when not prompted by the audacity of his heart; shows good sense; delicate feelings; a pleasing way of conversation。  His honour was impeached by Vern; who never came up to the scratch; though; witness; Mr。 John Campbell; of 'The Age' office。

When a man is dead; there and then he is himself the horrible evidence of corruption; but; as long as he lives there is hopes for fair play; and hear his evidence on the resurrection of life:  hence the moral courage to assert the truth; shuts out the physical strength for blather to shampoo the lie; and an honest upright man of education and a Christian leaves 'duelering' to fools。

M‘Gill is not wicked in heart; though he may not yet have settled…principles。 If this world be such a puzzle even for grey…heads; who have seen enough of it; what then must it be for one; come out of College and learning life on the gold…fields?  Hence; if I say that he helped with others to draw the chestnuts out of the Eureka Stockade; for some old Fox; I cannot offend him。Who was the accursed old Fox?  Patience; there is a God。 When I was in gaol; I was not vexed at hearing him at liberty and happy: I could not possibly wish my misery to any one; but his boast on Ballaarat that his friend Dr。 Kenworthy had procured him a 'written free pardon' did smother me with bitterness。




Chapter LI。



Tota Domus Duo Sunt; Iidem Parentque Jubentque!


A confusion ensued which baffles description; marching; counter…marching; orders given by everybody; attended to by nobody。  This blustering concern; when brought forward on the stage at the State Trials; appeared so much to the heart's content of his Honour; of his and my learned friend Mr。 Ireland; that I must offer it here; 'nolens volens'; for the confirmation of the Cracker…of…high…treason…indictments' approbation。

Thomas Allen examined。(See Report of the Nigger…Rebel State Trial; in 'The Age'; February 24th; 1855。)

〃This witness was so very deaf that the Attorney…General had actually to bawl out (oh! pity the lungs!) the questions necessary to his examination。  He stated; he kept the Waterloo coffee…house and store at the Eureka。  He had just returned from Melbourne on the Saturday; December 2nd。  He heard inside the stockade the word to 'fall in' for drill。  Saw them go through several military evolutions。  They did not exactly go through them in a military manner; but in the way in which what call an 'awkward squad' might do。 (I believe you; Old Waterloo; go a…head)。  He had been at the battle of Waterloo; and knew what military evolutions were。  Saw one squad with pikes and another with rifles。  He heard one of them say; 'Shoulder poles;' then he said; 'Order poles;' 'Ground arms;' 'Stand at ease;' 'Pick up poles;' 'Shoulder arms;' 'Right face;' 'Quick march;' 'Right counter march;' and they were then marched for more than two hours。 After that he saw them 'fall in three deep;' and were then told (by Captain Hanrahan) to prepare to 'receive cavalry;' and 'charge cavalry'Poke your pike into the guts of the horse; and draw it out from under their tail。

〃 After that; in the evening; he saw the man who was in command again form his men around him; and he seemed to be reading a general order for the night。  After it got night; one of them came up to him and said; 'Now; Old Waterloo; you must come and join us;' and he threw down a pike which he told him to take。  He said; 'No; it is such a dd ugly one; I'll have nothing to do with it。' Another came; and witness asked what bounty he gave; saying 50 pounds was little enough for an old Waterloo man。  Because he would not join them he was taken into custody by them; and was guarded by three men with pikes at his door。  (Great works!) All this was on Saturday。  His tent was the second inside the stockade。  His tent and all his property was destroyed by fire; it all amounted to 200 pounds。  He believed it was set fire to by the police。〃 (And so it was; old Waterloo…no…bolter; good…hearted old man as ever lived in the world。  If you wish call for a copy of this book; do。)


NOTICE

GREAT WORKS!!

This day; Saturday; November 10th; 1855。  A glorious day for Ballaarat: Peter Lalor; our late Commander…in…Chief; being elected by unanimous acclamatio
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!