Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/156

 him, and, in the same disguise, left in a ship sailing for California. Several other leaders, however, were taken, and were indicted for high treason, state trials being ordered for them; but of this more anon.

Many anecdotes are told of the military and their opponents during these troublous times. On one occasion a doctor, about to enter the camp, either not knowing or not willing to give the pass-word, was fired at by the sentry, but fortunately the ball only grazed him, passing through his coat; to his angry remonstrance to the General, he was told the soldier had but done his duty. On another occasion, one of the sailors who formed part of the force, like the disciple of Galen, endeavoured to pass the sentry, when, hearing the cocking of his firelock, called out, "Hold hard, mate, and I'll 'bout ship in a jiffy," and, suiting the action to the word, ran off from such a dangerous neighbourhood.

During the storming of the stockade the insurgents fought at a great advantage, having holes and places of refuge to lie in, and suddenly rushing out, firing on the soldiers. A party of soldiers, having put to route a large number, were proceeding at a quick pace to another part of the entrenchment, when one man, losing the percussion cap off his firelock, returned to pick it up, when he was immediately assailed by three or four men, suddenly jumping from a hole; with cool intrepidity he quickly levelled his piece, and fired on them, and, wielding his