有声英语少儿童话故事 顽童故事 斯莱特山的雪堡 第12章

Matters grew worse and worse. SevenNorth-Enders had been seriously wounded, and a dozen South-Enders were reportedon the sick list. The selectmen of the town awoke to the fact of what was goingon, and detailed a posse of police to prevent further disturbance. The boys atthe foot of the hill, South-Enders as it happened, finding themselves assailedin the rear and on the flank, turned round and attempted to beat off thewatchmen. In this they were sustained by numerous volunteers from the fort, wholooked upon the interference as tyrannical.

The watch were determined fellows, andcharged the boys valiantly, driving them all into the fort, where we madecommon cause, fighting side by side like the best of friends. In vain the fourguardians of the peace rushed up the hill, flourishing their clubs and callingupon us to surrender. They could not get within ten yards of the fort, our firewas so destructive. In one of the onsets a man named Mugridge, more valorous thanhis peers, threw himself upon the parapet, when he was seized by twenty pairsof hands, and dragged inside the breastwork, where fifteen boys sat down on himto keep him quiet.