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al 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 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！〃
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 an event that left an indelible impression on my memory。 As I pen these pages； I feel that I am writing of something which happened yesterday； so vividly it all comes back to me。
Every Rivermouth boy looks upon the sea as being in some way mixed up with his destiny。 While he is yet a baby lying in his cradle； he hears the dull； far…off boom of the breakers； when be is older； he wanders by the sandy shore； watching the waves that come plunging up the beach like white…maned seahorses； as Thoreau calls them； his eye follows the lessening sail as it fades into the blue horizon； and he burns for the time when he shall stand on the quarter…deck of his own ship； and go sailing proudly across that mysterious waste of waters。
Then the town itself is full of hints and flavors of the sea。 The gables and roofs of the houses facing eastward are covered with red rust； like the flukes of old anchors； a salty smell pervades the air； and dense gray fogs； the very breath of Ocean； periodically creep up into the quiet streets and envelop everything。 The terrific storms that lash the coast； the kelp and spars； and sometimes the bodies of drowned men； tossed on shore by the scornful waves； the shipyards； the wharves； and the tawny fleet of fishing…smacks yearly fitted out at Rivermouth…these things； and a hundred other； feed the imagination and fill the brain of every healthy boy with dreams of adventure。 He learns to swim almost as soon as he can walk； he draws in with his mother's milk the art of handling an oar： he is born a sailor； whatever he may turn out to be afterwards。
To own the whole or a portion of a row…boat is his earliest ambition。 No wonder that I； born to this life； and coming back to it with freshest sympathies； should have caught the prevailing infection。 No wonder I longed to buy a part of the trim little sailboat Dolphin； which chanced just then to be in the market。 This was in the latter part of May。
Three shares； at five or six dollars each； I forget which； had already been taken by Phil Adams； Fred Langdon； and Binny Wallace。 The fourth and remaining share hung fire。 Unless a purchaser could be found for this； the bargain was to fall through。
I am afraid I required but slight urging to join in the investment。 I had four dollars and fifty cents on hand； and the treasurer of the Centipedes advanced me the balance； receiving my silver pencil…case as ample security。 It was a proud moment when I stood on the wharf with my partners； inspecting the Dolphin； moored at the foot of a very slippery flight of steps。 She was painted white with a green stripe outside； and on the stern a yellow dolphin； with its scarlet mouth wide open； stared with a surprised expression at its own reflection in the water。 The boat was a great bargain。
I whirled my cap in the air； and ran to the stairs leading down from the wharf； when a hand was laid gently on my shoulder。 I turned and faced Captain Nutter。 I never saw such an old sharp…eye as he was in those days。
I knew he wouldn't be angry with me for buying a rowboat； but I also knew that the little bowsprit suggesting a jib； and the tapering mast ready for its few square feet of canvas； were trifles not likely to meet his approval。 As far as rowing on the river； among the wharves； was concerned； the Captain had long since withdrawn his decided objections； having convinced him…self； by going out with me several times； that I could manage a pair of sculls as well as anybody。
I was right in my surmises。 He commanded me； in the most emphatic terms； never to go out in the Dolphin without leaving the mast in the boat…house。 This curtailed my anticipated sport； but the pleasure of having a pull whenever I wanted it remained。 I never disobeyed the Captain's orders touching the sail； though I sometimes extended my row beyond the points he had indicated。
The river was dangerous for sailboats。 Squalls； without the slightest warning； were of frequent occurrence； scarcely a year passed that six or seven persons were not drowned under the very windows of the town； and these； oddly enough； were generally sea…captains； who either did not understand the river； or lacked the skill to handle a small craft。
A knowledge of such disasters； one of which I witnessed； consoled me somewhat when I saw Phil Adams skimming over the water in a spanking breeze with every stitch of canvas set。 There were few better yachtsmen than Phil Adams。 He usually went sailing alone； for both Fred La