the eureka stockade-第13节
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11。 12。 There were two other individuals of the John…bull caste； perhaps cross…breed； who had taken up arms in the cause of the diggers； because their sly…trade was flagging； but； as a rotten case abides no handling； I will let them pass。
Manning； handed over to Lalor the motion drawn up in my tent。 Here it is：…
Proposed by John Manning；
Seconded by Carboni Raffaello；
I。 That Peter Lalor has acted worthy of the miners of Ballaarat； in organizing the armed men on Bakeryhill； against the wanton aggression from the Camp this morning。
II。 That he be desired to call in all captains of division now present on the spot； as well as other persons of importance； well…known good…wishers to the cause of the diggers。
III。 That said parties constitute the council…of…war for the defence。
IV。 Lalor to be the president pro。 tem。
V。 That he proceed at once to the election of the Commander…in…Chief； by the majority of votes。
Lalor tore up immediately the slip of paper containing the above motion； because he did not think it prudent to leave written things about in a public store。 I transcribe it from the scrap left among the papers in my tent。
Chapter XXXVI。
Quousque Tandem Abutere； Toorak； Patientia Nostra？
Lalor rose； and said：
〃Gentlemen； I find myself in the responsible position I now occupy； for this reason。 The diggers； outraged at the unaccountable conduct of the Camp officials in such a wicked licence…hunt at the point of the bayonet； as the one of this morning； took it as an insult to their manhood； and a challenge to the determination come to at the monster meeting of yesterday。 The diggers rushed to their tents for arms； and crowded on Bakery…hill。 They wanted a leader。 No one came forward； and confusion was the consequence。 I mounted the stump； where you saw me； and called on the people to 'fall in' into divisions； according to the fire…arms they had got； and to chose their own captains out of the best men they had among themselves。 My call was answered with unanimous acclamation； and complied to with willing obedience。 The result； is； that I have been able to bring about that order； without which it would be folly to face the pending struggle like men。 I make no pretensions to military knowledge。 I have not the presumption to assume the chief command； no more than any other man who means well in the cause of the diggers。 I shall be glad to see the best among us take the lead。 In fact； gentlemen； I expected some one who is really well known （J。 B。 Humffray？） to come forward and direct our movement！ However； if you appoint me your commander…in…chief； I shall not shrink； I mean to do my duty as a man。 I tell you； gentlemen； if once I pledge my hand to the diggers； I will neither defile it with treachery； nor render it contemptible by cowardice。〃
Brave Peter； you gave us your hand on the Eureka； and left there your arm： an incontestable evidence of Lalor's Pledge。
Manning then proposed Raffaello； and pointed at his scars as an evidence of his tiger…pluck against the hated Austrian rule； which was now attempted； in defiance of God and man； to be transplanted into this colony。
I declined； because； during the past winter； I had over…tasked my physical strength； and did not possess that vigour essential to such an emergency。 Confidence is the bond necessary between the soldier and his officer。 It was my decided opinion； however much a foreigner may be respected on the gold…fields； that the right man should be taken from among Britons。
Vern here began a portentous lecture on military science； military discipline； military tactics； and other sorts of militaryism； but his English was so wretched； his ideas so sky…blathering； his martial ardour so knocking down； that no one could make anything out of his blabberdom。
Of this I have perfect recollection。 He was boasting eternally of his German rifle…brigade！ 500 strong。 That he had this brigade he urgently asserted； but where it was； that's the rub！
No possible inquiry from Lalor could get at the bottom of Vern's prodigal brigade。 Is； then； the grand secret buried within Vern's splendid chest？ No； I mean to reveal it at four o'clock； Saturday； December 2nd。
Carboni Raffaello； who had heard heaps of cant in old Europe； did count for nothing the oceanic military knowledge of Vern； in spite of his big trail…sword； that made more jingling than enough。
I commended； in high terms； the conduct of Lalor during the morning； and it was my impression that he possessed the confidence of the diggers and should be their Commander…in…chief。
Thonen seconded the motion。 The first 'unnamed；' shewed approbation； and the appointment was carried by a majority of eleven to one。
Peter Lalor thanked the council for the honour conferred on him； assured the members that he was determined to prepare the diggers to resist force by force。
It was perfectly understood； and openly declared； in this first council…of…war； that we meant to organise for defence； and that we had taken up arms for no other purpose。
The council adjourned to five o'clock in the evening。
Chapter XXXVII。
Lalor Stump； Bakery…Hill。
Brave LALOR Was found 'all there；' With dauntless dare； His men inspiring； To wolf or bear； Defiance bidding； He made us swear； Be faithful to the Standard； ） For Victory or Death！ ） （bis）
…
On that Thursday； November 30th； more memorable than the disgraced Sunday； December 3rd； the SUN was on its way towards the west： in vain some scattered clouds would hamper its splendourthe god in the firmament generously ornamented them with golden fringes； and thus patches of blue sky far off were allowed to the sight； through the gilded openings among the clouds。
The 'SOUTHERN CROSS' was hoisted up the flagstaffa very splendid pole； eighty feet in length； and straight as an arrow。 This maiden appearance of our standard； in the midst of armed men； sturdy； self…overworking gold…diggers of all languages and colours； was a fascinating object to behold。 There is no flag in old Europe half so beautiful as the 'Southern Cross' of the Ballaarat miners； first hoisted on the old spot； Bakery…hill。 The flag is silk； blue ground； with a large silver cross； similar to the one in our southern firmament； no device or arms； but all exceedingly chaste and natural。
Captain Ross； of Toronto； was the bridegroom of our flag； and sword in hand； he had posted himself at the foot of the flag…staff； surrounded by his rifle division。
Peter Lalor； our Commander…in…chief； was on the stump； holding with his left hand the muzzle of his rifle； whose but…end rested on his foot。 A gesture of his right hand； signified what he meant when he said； 〃It is my duty now to swear you in； and to take with you the oath to be faithful to the Southern Cross。 Hear me with attention。 The man who； after this solemn oath does not stand by our standard； is a coward in heart。
〃I order all persons who do not intend to take the oath； to leave the meeting at once。
〃Let all divisions under arms 'fall in' in their order round the flag…staff。〃
The movement was made accordingly。 Some five hundred armed diggers advanced in real sober earnestness； the captains of each division making the military salute to Lalor； who now knelt down； the head uncovered； and with the right hand pointing to the standard exclaimed a firm measured tone：
〃WE SWEAR BY THE SOUTHERN CROSS TO STAND TRULY BY EACH OTHER； AND FIGHT TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES。〃
An universal well rounded AMEN； was the determined reply； some five hundred right hands stretched towards our flag。
The earnestness of so many faces of all kinds of shape and colour； the motley heads of all sorts of size and hair； the shagginess of so many beards of all lengths and thicknesses； the vividness of double the number of eyes electrified by the magnetism of the southern cross； was one of those grand sights； such as are recorded only in the history of 'the Crusaders in Palestine。'
Chapter XXXVIII。
Un Bon Calcio； E La Canaglia； Stronga Va Come La Paglia。
The drill afterwards was gone through with eagerness。
Another scene； though of a different kind all together； was going on at a corner of the above picture。
Judas Iscariot； 'Goodenough；' was among us； in the garb of a fossiker； he appeared to me； then； to be under the influence of drink； so Vandemonian…like were his shouts about standing up and fighting for rights and liberties； and burning down the camp in a blaze like the late Eureka Hotel。
Mind good reader； I tell you no joke； I am not in humour just now to spin a yarn。I wished to shame the fellow for his villainy on such a solemn occasion。 The fellow persisted in his drunken shouts。 I lost my temper； and gave the scoundrel such a respectable kick； in a less respectable region； with a most respectable boot of mine； that it served me right when both my new watertight boots were robbed from my shins by Goodenough's satellites on the subsequent Sunday； at the Ballaarat Camp。
The Thursday's sun is setting： we returned to the Eureka。 I had to attend the 'Council for the Defence。'
Chapter XXXIX。
Disciplina； Suprema Lex In Bello。
I
