有声英语少儿童话故事 顽童故事 斯莱特山的雪堡 第13章

Perceiving that it was impossible withtheir small number to dislodge us, the watch sent for reinforcements. Theircall 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 ariot. This formidable array brought us to our senses: we began to think thatmaybe 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 abackward 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.

Butwe lost Fort Slatter forever. Those battle-scarred ramparts were razed to theground, and humiliating ashes sprinkled over the historic spot, near which asolitary lynx-eyed policeman was seen prowling from time to time during therest of the winter.

Theevent passed into a legend, and afterwards, when later instances of pluck andendurance were spoken of, the boys would say, “By golly! You ought to have beenat the fights on Slatter’s Hill!”