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.
Pages:
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116