the story of a bad boy(顽童故事)-第23节
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Whitcomb （who had no business to join in the charge； being weak in the
knees）； and Captain Fred Langdon； of General Harris's staff。 Whitcomb
was one of the most notable shots on our side； though he was not much to
boast of in a rough…and…tumble fight； owing to the weakness before
mentioned。 General Ames put him among the gunners； and we were
quickly made aware of the loss we had sustained； by receiving a frequent
artful ball which seemed to light with unerring instinct on any nose that
was the least bit exposed。 I have known one of Pepper's snow…balls； fired
pointblank； to turn a comer and hit a boy who considered himself
absolutely safe。
But we had no time for vain regrets。 The battle raged。 Already there
were two bad cases of black eye； and one of nosebleed； in the hospital。
It was glorious excitement； those pell…mell onslaughts and hand…to…
hand struggles。 Twice we were within an ace of being driven from our
stronghold； when General Harris and his staff leaped recklessly upon the
ramparts and hurled the besiegers heels over head down hill。
At sunset； the garrison of Fort Slatter was still unconquered； and the
South…Enders； in a solid phalanx； marched off whistling 〃Yankee Doodle；〃
while we cheered and jeered them until they were out of hearing。
General Ames remained behind to effect an exchange of prisoners。 We
held thirteen of his men； and he eleven of ours。 General Ames proposed to
call it an even thing； since many of his eleven prisoners were officers；
while nearly all our thirteen captives were privates。 A dispute arising on
this point； the two noble generals came to fisticuffs； and in the…fracas our
brave commander got his remaining well eye badly damaged。 This didn't
prevent him from writing a general order the next day； on a slate； in which
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he complimented the troops on their heroic behavior。
On the following Wednesday the siege was renewed。 I forget whether
it was on that afternoon or the next that we lost Fort Slatter； but lose it we
did； with much valuable ammunition and several men。 After a series of
desperate assaults； we forced General Ames to capitulate； and he； in turn；
made the place too hot to hold us。 So from day to day the tide of battle
surged to and fro； sometimes favoring our arms； and sometimes those of
the enemy。
General Ames handled his men with great skill； his deadliest foe could
not deny that。 Once he outgeneralled our commander in the following
manner： He massed his gunners on our left and opened a brisk fire； under
cover of which a single company （six men） advanced on that angle of the
fort。 Our reserves on the right rushed over to defend the threatened point。
Meanwhile； four companies of the enemy's scalers made a detour round
the foot of the hill； and dashed into Fort Slatter without opposition。 At the
same moment General Ames's gunners closed in on our left； and there we
were between two fires。 Of course we had to vacate the fort。 A cloud
rested on General Harris's military reputation until his superior tactics
enabled him to dispossess the enemy。
As the winter wore on； the war…spirit waxed fiercer and fiercer。 At
length the provision against using heavy substances in the snow…balls was
disregarded。 A ball stuck full of sand…bird shot came tearing into Fort
Slatter。 In retaliation； General Harris ordered a broadside of shells； i。 e。
snow…balls containing marbles。 After this； both sides never failed to freeze
their ammunition。
It was no longer child's play to march up to the walls of Fort Slatter；
nor was the position of the besieged less perilous。 At every assault three or
four boys on each side were disabled。 It was not an infrequent occurrence
for the combatants to hold up a flag of truce while they removed some
insensible comrade。
Matters grew worse and worse。 Seven North…Enders had been
seriously wounded； and a dozen South…Enders were reported on the sick
list。 The selectmen of the town awoke to the fact of what was going on；
and detailed a posse of police to prevent further disturbance。 The boys at
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the foot of the hill； South…Enders as it happened； finding themselves
assailed in the rear and on the flank； turned round and attempted to beat
off the watchmen。 In this they were sustained by numerous volunteers
from the fort； who looked upon the interference as tyrannical。
The watch were determined fellows； and charged the boys valiantly；
driving them all into the fort； where we made common cause； fighting side
by side like the best of friends。 In vain the four guardians of the peace
rushed up the hill； flourishing their clubs and calling upon us to surrender。
They could not get within ten yards of the fort； our fire was so destructive。
In one of the onsets a man named Mugridge； more valorous than his peers；
threw himself upon the parapet； when he was seized by twenty pairs of
hands； and dragged inside the breastwork； where fifteen boys sat down on
him to keep him quiet。
Perceiving that it was impossible with their small number to dislodge
us； the watch sent for reinforcements。 Their call was responded to； not
only by the whole constabulary force （eight men）； but by a numerous body
of citizens； who had become alarmed at the prospect of a riot。 This
formidable array brought us to our senses： we began to think that maybe
discretion was the better part of valor。 General Harris and General Ames；
with their respective staffs； held a council of war in the hospital； and a
backward movement was decided on。 So； after one grand farewell volley；
we fled； sliding； jumping； rolling； tumbling down the quarry at the rear of
the fort； and escaped without losing a man。
But we lost Fort Slatter forever。 Those battle…scarred ramparts were
razed to the ground； and humiliating ashes sprinkled over the historic spot；
near which a solitary lynx…eyed policeman was seen prowling from time to
time during the rest of the winter。
The event passed into a legend； and afterwards； when later instances of
pluck and endurance were spoken of； the boys would say； 〃By golly！ You
ought to have been at the fights on Slatter's Hill！〃
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Fourteen
The Cruise of the Dolphin
It was spring again。 The snow had faded away like a dream； and we
were awakened； so to speak； by the sudden chirping of robins in our back
garden。 Marvellous transformation of snowdrifts into lilacs； wondrous
miracle of the unfolding leaf！ We read in the Holy Book how our Saviour；
at the marriage…feast； changed the water into wine； we pause and wonder；
but every hour a greater miracle is wrought at our very feet； if we have but
eyes to see it。
I had now been a year at Rivermouth。 If you do not know what sort of
boy I was； it is not because I haven't been frank with you。 Of my progress
at school I say little； for this is a story； pure and simple； and not a treatise
on education。 Behold me； however； well up in most of the classes。 I have
worn my Latin grammar into tatters； and am in the first book of Virgil。 I
interlard my conversation at home with easy quotations from that poet；
and impress Captain Nutter with a lofty notion of my learning。 I am
likewise translating Les Aventures de Telemaque from the French； and
shall tackle Blair's Lectures the next term。 I am ashamed of my crude
composition about The Horse； and can do better now。 Sometimes my head
almost aches with the variety of my knowledge。 I consider Mr。 Grimshaw
the greatest scholar that ever lived； and I don't know which I would rather
be…a learned man like him； or a circus rider。
My thoughts revert to this particular spring more frequently than to
any other period of my boyhood； for it was marked by a
