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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 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
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The Story of a Bad Boy
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