the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第22节
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of course he smashes his sled against another boy's； of course be bangs his
bead on the ice； and he's a lad of no enterprise whatever； if be doesn't
manage to skate into an eel…hole； and be brought home half drowned。 All
these things happened to me； but； as they lack novelty； I pass them over； to
tell you about the famous snow…fort which we built on Slatter's Hill。
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Thirteen
The Snow Fort on Slatter's Hill
The memory of man； even that of the Oldest Inhabitant； runneth not
back to the time when there did not exist a feud between the North End
and the South End boys of Rivermouth。
The origin of the feud is involved in mystery； it is impossible to say
which party was the first aggressor in the far…off anterevolutionary ages；
but the fact remains that the youngsters of those antipodal sections
entertained a mortal hatred for each other； and that this hatred had been
handed down from generation to generation； like Miles Standish's punch…
bowl。
I know not what laws； natural or unnatural； regulated the warmth of
the quarrel； but at some seasons it raged more violently than at others。
This winter both parties were unusually lively and antagonistic。 Great was
the wrath of the South…Enders； when they discovered that the North…
Enders bad thrown up a fort on the crown of Slatter's Hill。
Slatter's Hill； or No…man's…land； as it was generally called； was a rise
of ground covering； perhaps； an acre and a quarter； situated on an
imaginary line； marking the boundary between the two districts。 An
immense stratum of granite； which here and there thrust out a wrinkled
boulder； prevented the site from being used for building purposes。 The
street ran on either side of the hill； from one part of which a quantity of
rock had been removed to form the underpinning of the new jail。 This
excavation made the approach from that point all but impossible；
especially when the ragged ledges were a…glitter with ice。 You see what a
spot it was for a snow…fort。
One evening twenty or thirty of the North…Enders quietly took
possession of Slatter's Hill； and threw up a strong line of breastworks；
something after this shape：
Ft Slatter graphic
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The rear of the entrenchment； being protected by the quarry； was left
open。 The walls were four feet high； and twenty…two inches thick；
strengthened at the angles by stakes driven firmly into the ground。
Fancy the rage of the South…Enders the next day； when they spied our
snowy citadel； with Jack Harris's red silk pocket handkerchief floating
defiantly from the flag…staff。
In less than an hour it was known all over town； in military circles at
least； that the 〃Puddle…dockers〃 and the 〃River…rats' （these were the
derisive sub…titles bestowed on our South…End foes） intended to attack the
fort that Saturday afternoon。
At two o'clock all the fighting boys of the Temple Grammar School；
and as many recruits as we could muster； lay behind the walls of Fort
Slatter； with three hundred compact snowballs piled up in pyramids；
awaiting the approach of the enemy。 The enemy was not slow in making
his approach…fifty strong； headed by one Mat Ames。 Our forces were
under the command of General J。 Harris。
Before the action commenced； a meeting was arranged between the
rival commanders； who drew up and signed certain rules and regulations
respecting the conduct of the battle。 As it was impossible for the North…
Enders to occupy the fort permanently； it was stipulated that the South…
Enders should assault it only on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons
between the hours of two and six。 For them to take possession of the place
at any other time was not to constitute a capture； but on the contrary was
to be considered a dishonorable and cowardly act。
The North…Enders； on the other hand； agreed to give up the fort
whenever ten of the storming party succeeded in obtaining at one time a
footing on the parapet； and were able to hold the same for the space of two
minutes。 Both sides were to abstain from putting pebbles into their snow…
balls； nor was it permissible to use frozen ammunition。 A snow…ball
soaked in water and left out to cool was a projectile which in previous
years had been resorted to with disastrous results。
These preliminaries settled； the commanders retired to their respective
corps。 The interview had taken place on the hillside between the opposing
lines。
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General Harris divided his men into two bodies； the first comprised the
most skilful marksmen； or gunners； the second； the reserve force； was
composed of the strongest boys； whose duty it was to repel the scaling
parties； and to make occasional sallies for the purpose of capturing
prisoners； who were bound by the articles of treaty to faithfully serve
under our flag until they were exchanged at the close of the day。
The repellers were called light infantry； but when they carried on
operations beyond the fort they became cavalry。 It was also their duty； 20w
hen not otherwise engaged； to manufacture snow…balls。 The General's
staff consisted of five Templars （I among the number； with the rank of
Major）； who carried the General's orders and looked after the wounded。
General Mat Ames； a veteran commander； was no less wide…awake in
the disposition of his army。 Five companies； each numbering but six men；
in order not to present too big a target to our sharpshooters； were to charge
the fort from different points； their advance being covered by a heavy fire
from the gunners posted in the rear。 Each scaler was provided with only
two rounds of ammunition； which were not to be used until he had
mounted the breastwork and could deliver his shots on our heads。
The drawing below represents the interior of the fort just previous to
the assault。 Nothing on earth could represent the state of things after the
first volley。
Fort Slatter detail graphic
The thrilling moment had now arrived。 If I had been going into a real
engagement I could not have been more deeply impressed by the
importance of the occasion。
The fort opened fire first…a single ball from the dexterous band of
General Harris taking General Ames in the very pit of his stomach。 A
cheer went up from Fort Slatter。 In an instant the air was thick with flying
missiles； in the midst of which we dimly descried the storming parties
sweeping up the hill； shoulder to shoulder。 The shouts of the leaders； and
the snowballs bursting like shells about our ears； made it very lively。
Not more than a dozen of the enemy succeeded in reaching the crest of
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the hill； five of these clambered upon the icy walls； where they were
instantly grabbed by the legs and jerked into the fort。 The rest retired
confused and blinded by our well…directed fire。
When General Harris （with his right eye bunged up） said； 'Soldiers； I
am proud of you！〃 my heart swelled in my bosom。
The victory； however； had not been without its price。 Six North…Enders；
having rushed out to harass the discomfited enemy； were gallantly cut off
by General Ames and captured。 Among these were Lieutenant P。
Whitcomb （who had no business to join in the charge； being weak in the
knees）； and
