The Eureka Stockade Part 13

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 x.x.xVII.

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 splendour--the G.o.d 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 flagstaff--a very splendid pole, eighty feet in length, and straight as an arrow. This maiden appearance of our standard, in the midst of armed men, st.u.r.dy, 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 b.u.t.t-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 s.h.a.gginess 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 x.x.xVIII.

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 s.h.i.+ns 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 x.x.xIX.

Disciplina, Suprema Lex In Bello.

In the afternoon, our camp on the Eureka was enclosed in by slabs, near-handy thrown down at random. All diggers who had been able to procure fire-arms kept coming in, in right earnest, and formed new divisions.

The pikemen grew stronger and stronger. Drilling was tolerably progressing.

We were of all nations and colours. Lalor gave me his consent and order to direct all foreigners in their respective language, however little they knew of the English, to fall in in divisions according to the arms they had got; and here I solemnly declare, to whomsoever it may concern, that up to four o'clock of Sat.u.r.day there was not one single division distinguished by nationality or religion.

The armed men numbered now (six o'clock) about five hundred.

Vern's gall was fermenting, but on PETER LALOR being proclaimed Commander-in-chief, the appointment was ratified by hurrah! from the diggers.

There was such a decided intention to do 'something' with the strong arm, and at once, that I was called on the stump. I requested the diggers to give us time for deliberation, and pledged my word that I would inform them of the result. 'Go a-head! Great works!' was the shout.

Chapter XL.

Beati Qui Sunt Pacifici, Quoniam Filii Dei Vocabuntur.

It was dark: myself took the light in the council room.

Father P. Smyth and Mr. George Black were present; both looking serious and anxious.

All of us were much concerned, and felt the responsibility of our position.

By this time the diggers from all parts had swelled to the number of eight hundred. They were not clamorous, they wanted to know what was determined on by the leaders.