aturday 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。
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 on