Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/151

 at various places returned early to their camp, where they took up their quarters. Sentries were placed, and every precaution taken to prevent surprise from the military, which, however, was effected about 4 o'clock A.M. It would appear that there was some treachery in the matter, inasmuch as a party had been decoyed to look after arms, and the sentinels failed to perform their duty. However that matter stood, the Eureka party was fairly surprised, and had only time to order the men to 'fall in,' when a withering volley was poured in on them from the military. The diggers immediately returned the fire, and the melée became general. The soldiers made a rush and carried the stockade in a short time,—one principal reason of this being, the difficulty laboured under, from inexperience in loading the fire-arms, to return anything like an equal fire.

"Several of those present got off, and many prisoners were taken, to which were afterwards added all those who were so unfortunate as to show their heads out of their tents as the force marched back in triumph, carrying the dead bodies. To do the soldiers justice, while discharging their duty they were generally merciful, until the affair was over, when it is said the officers had to keep them in, or they would have butchered the prisoners in cold blood.

"The mounted troopers are coming in for a large share of ill-will; without an opportunity (and perhaps